asked the Prime Minister whether it is proposed that the Government data network will be connected to (a) the Post Office and (b) the driver and vehicle licensing centre.

No. There are at present no proposals for use of the Government data network other than by the Departments taking part in the initial examination of the concept.

asked the Prime Minister if she will establish a joint initiative by the Departments of Health and Social Security and of Education and Science, the Scottish Office and the Welsh Office on research into meningitis; and if she will make a statement.

I am not persuaded that a new joint initiative is necessary. Research into meningitis is, in fact, under way and arrangements already exist for liaison between the health Departments and the Medical Research Council.The Department of Health and Social Security has funded a study to measure the prevalence of carriers, and immunity to particular strains of meningococcus, in Stonehouse, Stroud. The results are expected within two months. Linked with that study, a team at Edinburgh university is investigating aspects of vulnerability to meningococci. An application for funding the continuation of that research is being made to the MRC. The Centre for Applied Microbiological Research at Porton Down is also researching the practicability of producing a vaccine against a particular strain of meningococcus—group B— which has proved particularly troublesome and for which as yet no vaccine exists.As part of their annual review of research activities, the health Departments will be discussing jointly with the MRC very shortly the possibility of further research into meningitis.

asked the Prime Minister if Her Majesty's Government's consent was sought for the publication of material about the security and intelligence services in the book by Nigel West entitled "Molehunt".

Mr. West sent in his manuscript to the secretary of the D Notice Committee and to the Treasury Solicitor and agreed, following discussion, to remove material which the Government considered could have damaged national security or was clearly derived from breaches of confidence by present or former public servants. The Government made absolutely clear to Mr. West that it neither authorised publication of the book nor gave any kind of approval.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the development divisions in Africa have any staff with experience in the areas of population and family planning; and what contact is maintained by these divisions with national family planning associations.

The ODA's team of six full-time health and population advisers all have relevant experience. They are based at headquarters in London but travel widely. They maintain contacts with national family planning associations both directly and through the International Planned Parenthood Federation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been Her Majesty's Government's response to the recent appeal by voluntary agencies for assistance with famine in Mozambique.

So far in 1987 we have made available over £2·4 million to British voluntary agencies for relief programmes in Mozambique. We have also provided £660,000 for UNICEF'S operations in that country.In addition, we contribute £3·5 million annually to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' general programmes, which include relief work in Mozambique.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to provide further assistance to Tanzania in support of that country's economic reform programme.

I announced a further £25 million of British aid when I visited Tanzania last week. Of this, £12 million will be for capital projects; about £6 million for the railways sector; and the remainder for programme aid on condition that Tanzania remains in agreement with the International Monetary fund on the economic reform programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of those countries where he estimates there will be food shortages this year.

The latest reports by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations list 11 countries facing abnormal food shortages: Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique, Sudan, Bangladesh, Kampuchea, Lebanon and Vietnam.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the size and content of Britain's aid programme to Kenya.

British bilateral aid to Kenya has averaged some £35 million a year over the last five years. This includes investments made by the Commonwealth Development Corporation. During my recent visit I offered the Kenyan Government a new capital aid grant of £50 million to be spent over the next few years on agreed development projects. The main economic sectors we are assisting are agriculture, energy and transport, while our technical co-operation programme concentrates on education, public administration and training in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress on the UNICEF programme for global immunisation; and what is the United Kingdom's contribution to it.

UNICEF is seeking US$222 million for immunisation programmes in 56 countries. So far US$91 million has been pledged. We have contributed US$7·44 million—£4·93 million—this financial year for programmes in China, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Botswana. Our total contribution to UNICEF over the last year is £13·07 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what was the amount of electricity saved during Energy Efficiency Year, expressed as a proportion of the total amount used;(2) what was the value of electricity saved during Energy Efficiency Year.

In spite of the considerable success of Energy Efficiency Year, electricity consumption went up in 1986 due to the increase in economic activity following the upturn in the economy. There is no doubt that substantial savings were made and will be made in the future as a result of Energy Efficiency Year. There are now over 10,000 energy managers compared with half that number but a few years ago. At the beginning of the last quarter of Energy Efficiency Year, applicants for surveys of commercial and industrial premises were 82 per cent. above the same period in the previous year. Energy survey grants have resulted in savings of over £250 million per year being identified. The energy efficiency demonstration scheme achieved its target, and savings of over £100 million will result. There has been a substantial increase in monitoring and targeting systems. At the end of the Year, such systems were in place in 200 major energy consuming sites.On the consumer side, the industries providing the materials for improved energy efficiency all report substantial increases in sales.

asked the Attorney-General if he has any plans to increase the speed with which the Land Registry is able to deal with applications for registration of land.

A number of steps have been taken by the Lord Chancellor to shorten the time taken up in dealing with applications for registration. These include overtime, recruitment, opening new offices and improvements in practice and procedure. Additionally, during 1987 computerisation and further improvement in productivity are expected to lead to a reduction in stocks of 100,000 applications. This will result in improved levels of service.

asked the Attorney-General what recent representations he has received about the provisions of clause 29 of the Criminal Justice Bill in so far as they extend his responsibilities in relation to sentences passed in rape cases; and if he will make a statement.

I have not received any specific representations at any time about the provisions of clause 29 of the Criminal Justice Bill in relation to rape cases.

asked the Attorney-General how many (a) barristers and (b) solicitors are currently employed by the Crown Prosecution Service; and if he will make a statement.

On 1 February 1987, 315 barristers and 922 solicitors were employed by the Crown Prosecution Service.

asked the Attorney-General when, pursuant to his answer of 23 January, Official Report, column 406, inquiries into the alleged unauthorised disclosure of personal data from the police national computer in Essex will be completed.

The Crown Prosecution Service has recently received a report from the Essex police which is now under consideration.

asked the Attorney-General if he will arrange for further consideration to be given to the three opinions of counsel given to the Director of Public Prosecutions following the Department of Trade inquiry into Lonrho plc.

The Solicitor-General and the Director of Public Prosecutions have concluded that there is no justification to reverse the decision taken in 1978 not to proceed with a prosecution.

asked the Attorney-General if he will ask the Director of Public Prosecutions to prosecute Miss Lorrien Finley of Reproductive Freedom International under the Surrogacy Arrangements Act 1985; and if he will make a statement.

The police have been carrying out extensive inquiries into the activities of Miss Finley since May 1986. The Director of Public Prosecutions has considered the results of those inquiries and is satisfied that to date there is insufficient evidence to justify the institution of proceedings for any offence contrary to the provisions of the Surrogacy Arrangements Act 1985. The police inquiries are continuing, however, and any further evidence that is brought to the attention of the police will be forwarded to the director for his consideration.

asked the Attorney-General what assessment he has made of the comparative cost of briefing solicitors and barristers for legal aid work in the criminal courts (a) in London and (b) elsewhere in England and Wales.

	YOP/YTS	CI	STEP/CP	JRS4	EAS
1979–80
Number of women participants	103,872	2,721	1	1	—
Percentage of total participants	48	31	—	—	—
1980–81
Number of women participants	176,400	2,612	1	1	—
Percentage of total participants	49	32	—	—	—
1981–82
Number of women participants	259,910	2,917	1	2	—
Percentage of total participants	47	32	—	—	—
1982–83
Number of women participants	249,780	2,921	1	2	1
Percentage of total participants	46	33	—	—	—
1983–84
Number of women participants	148,671	3,049	30,912	5,371	4,037
Percentage of total participants	42	32	23	6	14·61
1984–85
Number of women participants	173,800	2,925	37,122	4,781	9,401
Percentage of total participants	44	31	23	7	20·4
1985–86
Number of women participants	177,760	3,007	53,064	3,814	14,529
Percentage of total participants	44	32	23	9	24·2
1986–87 (estimate)
Number of women participants	158,400	32,900	72,000	32,825	320,211
Percentage of total participants	44	32	24	11	26·4
1 Figures are not available.
2 Figures are available at disproportionate cost only.
3 Figures are for February 1987.
4 Previous figures were for entrants to the scheme. These figures are for the numbers of people being paid the Job Release Allowance. Figures for the number of women participating in the Scheme is only available in this form.

No assessment of the comparative cost of briefing solicitors and barristers for legal aid work in the criminal courts has been made. However, the Efficiency Commission, established in September 1986 by the Lord Chancellor to identify ways of improving the effiency of the legal profession in the Crown court, is considering how to compare actual and notional costs of advocacy in guilty pleas.

asked the Paymaster General, pursuant to his reply of 17 February to the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies), Official Report, columns 535–36, in regard to the employment, training and enterprise measures run by his Department and the Manpower Services Commission since May 1979, if he will indicate how many women have benefited from each measure in each year since that date, expressing each in actual (absolute) and percentage terms.

The figures which are available for the number of women participating in the employment, training and enterprise measures run by my Department and the Manpower Services Commission since 1979 are as follows:

asked the Paymaster General what was the number of authorised and filled places on the community programme on 31 December 1986 and 31 January 1987, respectively; what is the planned number of authorised and filled places in 1987–88; and if he will make a statement.

On 12 December 1986 and 31 January 1987 the number of filled places on the community programme was 247,607 and 247,531 respectively. The December figures were collected early due to the Christmas holiday period. For 1987–88 it is expected that the programme will operate at an average level over the year of about 245,000 filled places which will provide opportunities for around 300,000 entrants, about the same number as in the current year.In order to ensure there are sufficient places available to replace the normal turnover in projects, the number of authorised places in any region may normally exceed the target for filled places by up to 15 per cent. The number of authorised places on 12 December 1986 and 31 January 1987 was 285,613 and 287,168 respectively.

asked the Paymaster General what evidence he has on the relation between the regional cost per job on the community programme and the incidence of part-time and full-time positions, respectively, on the scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Regional variations in the cost per job on the community programme are not great. All costs fall within nationally applied limits on average wage levels and operating costs.Regional differences in the incidence of full and part-time workers on the community programme are also relatively small and at 30 January 1987 the position was as follows:

	Percentage of filled places which are:
Region	Full-time (35 hours or more)	Part-time (Less than 35 hours)
London	18·5	81·5
South-East	25·4	74·6
South-West	23·7	76·3
West Midlands	28·6	71·4
East Midlands	27·0	73·0
Wales	25·5	74·5
North-West	26·8	73·2
Scotland	23·1	76·9
North-East	22·4	77·6
Yorkshire and Humberside	24·7	75·3
Great Britain	24·7	75·3

Variations in the incidence of part-time work stem from a number of factors including the locally prevailing hourly wage rates, the ratio of managers and supervisors to participant workers, the type of projects and the extent of which managing agents supplement wage payments available out of programme funds.

asked the Paymaster General what information he has concerning the average cost per job on the community programme in (a) suburban, (b) inner city and (c) rural areas; if he has any plans to change the present method of funding for operating costs expenditure per participant place to take account of any disparities on cost per job variations across the regions of the country; and if he will make a statement.

The average gross cost per filled place year on the community programme is £4,450, excluding administration and marketing costs. No breakdown is available between suburban, inner city, and rural areas, although the Manpower Services Commission is planning to study the operation of the community programme in a sample of rural areas.There are no plans to change the present method of funding operating costs expenditure.

asked the Paymaster General if he will list the total number of people on the community programme in Batley and Spen for each year since its inception.

It is not possible to give the information in the form requested. However, the number of people on the community programme in the Bradford area, which includes the areas of Batley and Spen, are given in the table.

Year	Number of Entrants
1982–83	2,957
1984	3,285
1985	5,440
1986	7,799

asked the Paymaster General if, pursuant to his answer of 28 January, Official Report, column 277, he will provide similar figures of unemployment in Enfield, North on the basis of the most recent ward boundaries.

The information requested is not available. The wards used as a basis of the unemployment figures are those used in the 1981 census of population. This enables us to calculate totals for travel-to-work areas, which are defined in terms of 1981 census wards because they reflect commuting patterns revealed by the census. It would be both confusing and expensive to calculate unemployment figures on both the 1981 wards and the most recent ward boundaries.

asked the Paymaster General if he will list the total number of young people on the YTS in Batley and Spen in each year since its inception.

The information is not available in the form requested. In the local authority district of Kirklees, which includes Dewsbury, Huddersfield, Batley and Spen Valley, the total number of young people who have joined YTS in each year since its inception is shown in the table.

asked the Paymaster General how many men and women are currently being trained in the wool textile industry; and how many have been in training in each of the last 20 years.

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

asked the Paymaster General if he will give figures for the percentage improvement in productivity in the wool textile industry for those years for which information is available.

The information necessary to make reliable estimates is not available.

asked the Paymaster General (1) if he will give the number of (a) full-time and (b) part-time workers in the wool textile industry for each of the last 20 years;

Employees in employment in the woollen and worsted industry in Great Britain (a) Minimum List Heading 414 of the 1968 Standard Industrial Classification
	Males			Females			All employees
	Full-time	Part-time	All	Full-time	Part-time	All	Full-time	Part-time	All
June 1966	n.a.	n.a.	80·0	n.a.	n.a.	85·0	n.a.	n.a.	165·0
June 1967	n.a.	n.a.	75·0	n.a.	n.a.	77·0	n.a.	n.a.	152·0
June 1968	n.a.	n.a.	73·0	n.a.	n.a.	73·0	n.a.	n.a.	145·0
June 1969	n.a.	n.a.	75·0	n.a.	n.a.	71·0	n.a.	n.a.	146·0
June 1970	n.a.	n.a.	70·0	n.a.	n.a.	64·0	n.a.	n.a.	134·0
June 1971	59·0	2·0	61·0	41·8	10·3	52·2	100·8	12·3	113·2
June 1972	56·6	1·8	58·4	38·8	9·8	48·6	95·4	11·6	107·0
June 1973	56·7	1·9	58·6	37·4	10·7	48·1	94·1	12·6	106·7
June 1974	53·6	2·1	55·7	34·1	11·3	45·4	87·7	13·4	101·1
June 1975	46·7	1·7	48·4	29·9	9·7	39·6	76·6	11·4	88·0
June 1976	44·2	1·5	45·8	27·1	8·7	35·8	71·3	10·2	81·6
June 1977	44·4	1·5	45·9	27·3	9·1	36·5	71·7	10·6	82·4
June 1978	42·3	1·3	43·7	26·1	8·5	34·6	68·4	9·8	78·3
June 1979	n.a.	n.a.	41·5	n.a.	7·5	32·3	n.a.	n.a.	73·8
June 1980	n.a.	n.a.	36·0	n.a.	5·7	27·4	n.a.	n.a.	63·5
June 1981	n.a.	n.a.	31·8	n.a.	4·9	22·3	n.a.	n.a.	54·0
September 1981	30·7	0·7	31·4	17·4	4·9	22·3	48·1	5·6	53·7
n.a. Not available.

Employees in employment in the woollen and worsted industry in Great Britain (b) Activity heading 4310 of the 1980 Standard Industrial Classification
	Males			Females			All employees
	Full-time	Part-time	All	Full-time	Part-time	All	Full-time	Part-time	All
September 1981	30·3	0·7	30·9	17·3	4·8	22·1	47·6	5·5	53·1
June 1982	n.a.	n.a.	28·5	n.a.	4·8	20·0	n.a.	n.a.	48·5
June 1983	n.a.	n.a.	26·4	n.a.	3·2	17·7	n.a.	n.a.	44·1
June 1984	n.a.	n.a.	25·1	n.a.	3·5	17·3	n.a.	n.a.	42·4
September 1984	24·8	0·4	25·2	13·4	3·6	17·0	38·2	4·0	42·2
June 1985	n.a.	n.a.	24·9	n.a.	3·5	16·8	n.a.	n.a.	41·7
June 1986	n.a.	n.a.	24·0	n.a.	3·2	16·4	n.a.	n.a.	40·4
n.a. Not available.

Estimates of the number of full-time and part-time male employees are available only from the censuses of employment which were held in June each year from 1971 to 1978, September 1981 and September 1984. Estimates of the number of full-time and part-time female employees are available only from censuses of employment up to June 1978, but are available quarterly for periods after that date.The table gives, for the dates specified, the available information on employees in employment in the woollen and worsted textile industry in Great Britain. The Department's employment statistics are analysed according to the Standard Industrial Classification and the series is broken by the introduction of the 1980 SIC, which reclassified certain activities. The figures for June 1966 to June 1981 are for Minimum List Heading (MLH) 414 of the 1968 SIC, while those for June 1982 to June 1986 are for Activity Heading (AH) 4310 of the 1980 SIC.The census of employment figures for September 1981 are given on both bases.The estimates given in the table are subject to considerable potential estimation error due to the relatively small number of employees in the industry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the £2 million extra support for victim support schemes in 1987–88 is to be devoted to staff recruitment costs.

Awards enabling schemes to employ salaried co-ordinators may include an element to cover contingent costs; but the amounts to be spent in this way on recruitment costs cannot yet be estimated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the £2 million extra support to victim support schemes is to be spent on recruiting regional support workers and additional staff in urban schemes.

The new funding is to help individual local victims support schemes, primarily by enabling them to employ salaried co-ordinators. It will not be available to finance posts at a regional level, nor to pay for staff additional to main co-ordinators.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will list each victim support scheme and the amount they are due to receive as a result of the £2 million extra grant in 1987–88.

All victims support schemes affiliated to the National Association of Victims Support Schemes have been given an opportunity to apply for awards from the new funding, but no awards have yet been made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, pursuant to his answer of 5 March, Official Report, columns 696–8, regarding cases involving police officers settled out of court, he will give details of the nature of the complaint, the name of the complainant and the numbers and rank of the officers involved in each of the 52 cases; and in each case what subsequent action was taken against those officers involved.

The nature of the complaint in each of these 52 cases was given in my reply on 5 March, at columns 696–8. Settlements of civil actions out of court are reached in confidence and I am unable for that reason to disclose the names of the complainants. I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the other information can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons on the prison disturbances in 1986 will be published.

We intend to publish the results of Her Majesty's chief inspector's review as soon as we have received and studied his report, which is expected shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the conditions in which women on remand are being held in the cells of magistrates courts in the Metropolitan police area.

We are conscious that court cells are not designed to hold prisoners for more than a few hours and that the facilities there leave much to be desired. The police, however, are doing all they can under difficult circumstances to provide the best possible conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many residential properties are owned by the Metropolitan police in (a) the Greater London area and (b) the constituency of Fulham; and how many of these are currently vacant.

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that, as at 2 March 1987, the Metropolitan police owned 3,203 residential quarters in the Metropolitan police district, of which 573 are vacant; 22 of these quarters, five of which are vacant, are in the constituency of Fulham.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will list the number of one, two, three and four-bedroom flats or houses owned by the prison department in Hammersmith; and how many in each category are currently occupied.

The information is as follows:

Flats/houses	Number owned	Occupied
One bedroom	10	10
Two bedroom	—	—
Three bedroom	37	24
Four bedroom	3	3

Twelve vacant flats are affected by a major structural defect which has made them unfit for occupation pending demolition as part of the redevelopment scheme for Wormwood Scrubs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will list, for the last year for which figures are available, the monthly occupancy rates of one, two, three and four-bedroom flats and houses owned by the prison department in Hammersmith.

The information for the year ended 31 December 1986 is as follows:

	One bedroom	Two bedroom	Three bedroom	Four bedroom
January to May	—	—	24	3
June	—	—	24	2
July to November	—	—	24	3
December	10	—	24	3

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 20 February, Official Report, columns 870–1, what information his Department collects relating to the specific nature of offences as opposed to offenders, under the Road Traffic Acts in the metropolis.

The details collected centrally on court proceedings are the same for all police force areas. Table 5 of "Offences Relating to Motor Vehicles, England and Wales, 1985, Supplementary Tables", shows the types of offence for which separate information was collected up to 31 December 1986 and for which the statistics are thought to be reliable. Details of the circumstances of offences are not collected centrally. More detailed information may be available locally, but the extent of local record keeping varies widely. As the result of a review in 1986 of the amount of detail on less serious motoring offences required to meet the needs of government, the costs of police forces and the details readily available to them, the number of types of motoring offences on which separate information is collected was reduced from 146 shown in table 5 to 64 from the beginning of 1987.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, pursuant to his answer of 28 January, Official Report, column 248, he has now received the report of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs on the adequacy of current controls.

Yes. We are looking very carefully at the conclusions reached by the advisory council on the adequacy of existing controls on opium poppies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what, on the most recent figures, is the daily average of prisoners offered employment in Leeds prison; and if he will make a statement.

Information is not available in the form requested. The number of jobs currently available for convicted prisoners at Leeds is 421. On 6 March, the latest date for which figures are available, the actual number employed was 401. In addition, 10 to 12 remand prisoners are regularly employed on cleaning duties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to announce his response to the proposals for the Standing Advisory Commitee on Human Rights relating to transfer of prisoners to Northern Ireland.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland wrote to the chairman of the Standing Advisory Committee on 20 January, informing him that the Government accepted, with slight modifications the committee's recent recommendation on this subject. A copy of the letter has been placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what would be the approximate cost in money and manpower, based upon experience to date, of the thorough investigation of every asylum-seeker's case by his Department.

Under current procedures all applications for asylum are thoroughly considered and investigated. It is not possible to say what the average cost of investigating an asylum application is. However, in 1985–86 the staffing costs of the central unit responsible for the consideration of the cases made by asylum-seekers and the representations received on those cases was estimated at over £780,000. This is only one element in the overall cost of our asylum procedures as part of immigration control.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the countries from which there are currently refugees seeking asylum in the United Kingdom.

The numbers of applications for refugee status by nationality which were undecided at the end of 1985 were published in table 1 of Home Office Statistical Bulleting "Refugee Statistics, United Kingdom, 1985", issue 12–86. It is hoped to publish corresponding figures for 1986 around the end of April.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to details of any 24-hour or part-day armed patrols deployed by the Metropolitan police in the last year, indicating the areas covered and the number and ranks of the officers involved.

It would not be right to add to the information given in my reply of 2 March, as to do so could prejudice the arrangements made for the security of the diplomatic community.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis stating the number of persons who have been contacted by the Metropolitan police, in the last year, to confirm that photographs taken by the police had been destroyed in accordance with force procedures.

No. Paragraph 4·1 of the code of practice for the identification of persons by police officers requires the police to notify an arrested person whose photograph is taken that it will be destroyed if he is prosecuted for the offence and cleared, or is not prosecuted, unless he admits the offence and is cautioned for it, and that he may witness its destruction. There is, however, no requirement on the police under the code to notify persons that their photographs have been destroyed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish, for each shire and metropolitan county, and for the area covered by the former Greater London council, his Department's assessment of civil defence preparedness under each of the headings cited in schedule 2 of the Civil Defence (General Local Authority Functions) Regulations 1983, relating to plans, emergency centres and communications.

No. These assessments were provisional and intended only for use in the bilateral discussions with individual local authorities. A general report on progress in the implementation of the 1983 regulations is in the Library

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received on the activities in the United Kingdom of the New Patriotic Movement cult; and if he will make a statement.

No representations have been received in the Home Office about the New Patriotic Movement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what investigations his Department has carried out through specific projects on violence on television and its effect on young persons; and if he will make a statement.

The Home Office Research and Planning Unit has recently published a paper, "Television violence: a note on recent research"—Research Bulletin 22/1986—a copy of which is in the Library, which reviews the studies undertaken in recent years on the relationship of television violence to aggression. Original research is also sponsored by the broadcasting authorities which are responsible for keeping in touch with developments in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the Government's policy concerning the admission into the United Kingdom of members of the Unification church, the Moonies, who are not British subjects; and if he will make a statement.

Overseas nationals are not admitted to work in the United Kingdom as ministers of religion or missionaries of the Unification church. There is no general prohibition on the admission of members of the church if they meet the requirements for admission under other provisions in the Immigration Rules, HC 169 as amended.

	Number of persons1
	Decision taken
Application status	Granted refugee status	Refused asylum but granted leave to remain on exceptional grounds	Refused asylum	Total
All decisions	460	1,680	770	2,910
Applied outside United Kingdom	30	10	10	50
Applied at port	30	560	20	600
Applied in United Kingdom of whom	410	1,110	740	2,260
Visitors	240	540	420	1,200
Students	110	410	230	760
Others2	50	160	80	300
1 The figures are independently rounded and may not sum to the totals; they include dependants, who are categorised under the same status as the applicant;
2 Includes some whose status is not recorded on the computer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many persons have been detained on Merseyside under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) legislation since 1974 to the latest

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report the number of burglaries for each year since 1979 to the latest available date in Thurrock, indicating in each year the clear-up rate for burglaries in Thurrock.

The information collected centrally relates to police force areas. Numbers of burglaries recorded in each police force area are published each year in the Command Paper "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales"—table 2·5 of the issue for 1986, Cmnd. 10—and most recently in table 6 of the Home Office Statistical Bulletin issue number 4/87. Clear-up rates for offences of burglary recorded by the Essex police are given in the following table:

Clear up rate1 for offences of burglary recorded by Essex police
	Number
1979	32
1980	37
1981	36
1982	32
1983	33
1984	33
1985	38
1986	33
1 Burglaries cleared up as a percentage of the total number of burglaries recorded by the police in the year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a breakdown of the immigration status on arrival in the United Kingdom of all those (a) granted refugee status or asylum and (b) refused it over the latest available 12 month period.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 March 1987, c. 709]: The available information is for the period October 1985–September 1986 and is given in the table. The figures relate to the date of decision and do not indicate the number of arrivals in the period indicated.available date; how many have been charged and how many found guilty under the Act; and if he will make a statement;(2) how many exclusion orders have been made against persons from Merseyside under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) legislation since 1974 to the latest available date.

[pursuant to his reply, 23 February 1987, c. 31]: The number of persons detained since 1974 under prevention of terrorism legislation, by police force area, is published annually in Home Office statistical bulletin, copies of which are in the Library—table 4 of issue 2/87 gives figures up to the end of 1986. Figures are also presented for Great Britain on charges and their outcomes for those detained—tables 6 and 7 of the same bulletins. For individual police force areas, the available information on charges and their outcomes relates only to the

Persons detained by Merseyside police under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1976 and 1984 and subsequent charges, by outcome
1 January 1979—31 December 1986
Type of charge	Total charged	Outcome
		Not proceeded with	Awaiting trial	Acquitted or not proven	Found guilty
Persons charged under the Prevention of Terrorism Acts	21	—	1	—	20
Persons charged with conspiring to commit an offence under the above Acts	2	—	—	—	2
Persons charged under other legislation	13	3	—	2	8
Total detained and charged	36	3	1	2	30

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how frequently national security has been invoked in immigration cases as a reason for removing or deporting individuals in each year since 1973.

[pursuant to his reply, 22 January 1987, c. 667]: The information is not available in the precise form requested, nor for the whole period mentioned. In 1977 two individuals were deported on grounds of national security and between 1976 and 1983 there were no other deportations on those grounds. In 1984, 1985 and 1986 the figures for deportations on grounds of national security were six, 14 and 29 respectively.Separate statistics of persons removed from the United Kingdom on grounds of national security are not available, but figures of persons refused leave to enter under rule 85 of the immigration rules on the Home Secretary's personal directions are as follows:

	Number
1976	7
1977	20
1978	29
1979	12
1980	8
1981	7
1982	6
1983	4
1984	7
1985	6
11986	13
Total	119
1 January–October.

Most, although not all, of the above refusals were on grounds of national security. The figures for the years 1976–84 may include a small number of cases in which removal from the country did not follow the initial refusal of entry.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his policy on the export of Optica aircraft to South Africa.

It is the Government's policy that civil trade with South Africa should, within the limits of our international obligations and undertakings, be determined by the commercial judgment of those engaged in it.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list all communications satellites (a) currently in orbit and (b) proposed.

Attempting to list all the communication satellites either currently in orbit or in prospect would be a very major task. Confining the question to national satellites, there are currently no normally operational United Kingdom communication satellites, although some remain live in a technical sense. Looking to the future, the possibilities become too speculative unless the test is applied of a launch having been reserved already for a satellite which will be for the United Kingdom to register internationally. On this basis there are launch plans for up to three Skynet-4 defence communication satellites. Plans for two satellites for direct television broadcasting are also being prepared on a commercial basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the effect on the United Kingdom engineering switchgear industry of the Central Electricity Generating Board's policy towards replacement of obsolete switchgear equipment; what support his Department gives towards research and development in this field; what information he has on the level of capital investment in the switchgear industry; and if he will make a statement.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff of his Department are currently involved in the investigation in relation to Guinness plc; at what average daily cost; and if he will make a statement.

The investigation into Guinness plc is being carried out by inspectors in private practice who provide their own staff, and recover the costs from my Department. As part of their duties, staff in my Department are engaged on work associated with this and other investigations. It is not possible to identify such staff costs in relation to any particular investigation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if in the light of the shareholder and board level connections between GBL and Givert he will appoint inspectors under section 442 and section 446 of the Companies Act 1983 to investigate the ownership and dealings in shares in IC Gas; and if he will make a statement.

At present, I know of no reason for doing so, but I shall consider any information the hon. Member may have about this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the number of export licences granted by his Department for military walkie-talkie radios in 1985 and 1986 giving the quantity in each case.

It has been the policy of successive Governments not to make public information of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many export licences were granted by his Department for Blowpipe missiles in 1985 and 1986 giving the quantity in each case.

It has been the practice of successive Governments not to make public information of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many export licences have been granted by his Department for military uniforms in 1985 and 1986 giving the quantity in each case.

Military uniforms are not subject to export licensing under the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1985.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if Her Majesty's Government have considered any application for a licence to supply British arms to the Contra forces in central America in the last two years.

No export licence application with an end user identified as the Contra forces has been received.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will give the volume of imported wool textile products into the United Kingdom for each of the last 20 years expressed as a percentage of the total trade in such products;(2) what percentage of United Kingdom exports was contributed by the wool textile industry in each of the last 10 years;(3) what, in constant value prices, has been the level of

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information his Department has on the exports of trapped and farmed animal skins, by species, from the United Kingdom for the last year.

The information is as follows:

United Kingdom exports of skins 1986
SITC division 21	£'000s
Bovine and equine	93,761
Calf	7,459
Goat	303
Sheep and lamb	56,293
Parings and other	3,918
Mink	54,474
Rabbit and hare	170
Persian, astrakhan, caracul, indian, chinese, mongolian and tibetan lambs	12,569
Sea-lions and seals (excluding whitecoat pups of harp seals and pups of hooded seals)	86
Sea-otters, nutria and beaver	1,103
Musk-rat and marmots	1,106
Wild felines	113
Other	45,400

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information his Department has on the importation of skins from trapped and farmed animals, by species, into the United Kingdom and the European Economic Community for the last year.

The available information is in the following table:

Imports of animal skins 1986
ECU '000
	European Community1	United Kingdom
Bovine, equine hides, raw	941,474	55,828
Calf and kip skins, raw	274,389	3,669
Goat and kid skins, raw	100,935	1,572
sheep and lamb	627,071	63,764
Parings and other	51,745	2,845
Mink	540,371	103,978
Rabbits and hares	8,305	21
Persian and other lambs	37,719	14,885
Seals and sea-lions	774	24
Sea-otters, nutria and beaver	14,518	2,213
Musk-rats and marmots	25,839	4,513
Wild felines	9,984	395
Others	279,642	67,641

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether his Department monitored the loss of pay suffered by teachers employed by the Bedfordshire local education authority who withdrew their labour during the recent dispute; and if he will make a statement.

No. It is for local education authorities to determine what deductions should be made when teachers break their contracts of employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how he intends to operate the system of teacher appraisal as demanded by the Education Act 1986 and the new conditions of employment for teachers following the decision of the National Union of Teachers and the National Association of Schoolmasters and the National Union of Women Teachers to boycott teacher appraisal pilot schemes; and if he will make a statement.

I expect preparatory work and training for appraisal to go ahead in the summer term in the six pilot local education authorities with the assistance of consultants commissioned by the Department. It remains our objective to arrive at a national framework for teacher appraisal agreed by the teachers' associations and the local education authority employers. I hope that the trade unions concerned will have reconsidered their recent withdrawal by the time work has progressed to a point where actual appraisals of teachers would be conducted. I believe it is very much in the interests of teachers, from the standpoints of career development, job satisfaction and public recognition of their professionalism, that appraisal should be successfully brought into operation, as well as in the interests of education authorities and of pupils.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he proposes to take to satisfy himself as to whether the proposed sale by Ealing council of the Ealing Green high school playing fields at Clayton road. Ealing, for housing development, complies with the provisions of the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1981; what assessment he has made of the implications of this proposal for the provision of adequate facilities for competitive sports; and if he will make a statement.

The Ealing education authority has a statutory duty to provide the minimum playing field area appropriate to the size of the school as laid down in the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1981. Provided these requirements are met, the authority is free to dispose of surplus land if it wishes. The authority is not required to inform my Department of its intention to dispose of land considered surplus, and my Department has received no formal complaints on the matter to suggest that the Secretary of State would be justified in intervening.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has yet decided what action he will take following discussions about academic freedom with Ruskin college; and if he will make a statement.

In recent months, I have had a series of discussions and exchanges with Ruskin college on the question of academic freedom. In particular, I have discussed with representatives of the college a statement on academic freedom made by the college's executive committee. That statement is based on, and in general terms endorses, a paper prepared by the college's academic advisers. Copies of both have been placed in the library.The Government welcome the college's affirmation of its commitment to the principle of academic freedom. But the academic advisers' paper gives insufficient basis for confidence that this principle will in fact predominate over other considerations. In particular, the suggestion in the paper that the feelings or convictions of some members of staff or students may in effect circumscribe the freedom of expression of other members of the staff, is unacceptable.The Government are determined to sustain the free circulation of ideas and freedom of speech within the law in all publicly funded institutions of further and higher education. Like some other educational institutions, Ruskin college has its own traditions which the Government do not wish to call into question. But such traditions must be expressed within a clear framework of academic and intellectual freedom.The Government therefore intend to seek an independent assessment. The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Essex, Dr. Albert Sloman, has agreed to lead a team of three members to carry our an inspection with the following terms of reference:

asked the Lord Privy Seal for what category of hon. Members' functions it is proposed to use the Westminster Hall Cafeteria; whether it is proposed that a charge will be made; what representations he received in advance of the resolution of the Services Committee favouring such a course of action; if he will seek to increase the time available for consultation before implementation of the proposal; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.The Refreshment Department proposes to use the Westminster Hall Cafeteria as a banqueting room available to Members and Officers of the House on the same terms and conditions as for Banqueting accommodation elsewhere.Full consultation took place with representatives of the regular users of the Westminster Hall Cafeteria before the Services Committee resolution of 17 February; and the General Purposes Sub-Committee of the House of Commons Whitley Committee have been invited to comment before the end of March. Subject to these and any other representations that may be received by that date, the Services Committee has agreed that the proposal may be implemented after the Easter Adjournment.On all changes in the Refreshment Department, it is the policy of the Catering sub-Committee to have wide ranging consultations, and in this particular case consultations were commenced in December 1986.

United Kingdom visits: Session 1986–87
Committee and destination, dates of visit and estimated total cost	Total length of visit in days	Number of Members taking part in part of the visit	Number of Members taking part in the whole visit	Number of Members not taking part in the visit
Agriculture
1. Shell Laboratories, Kent 3 December 1986£82·00	1	0	3	8
2. Compton 29 January 1987 £85·40	1	0	3	8
3. Wye College, Kent 19 February 1987 £107·00	1	0	3	8
Education, Science and Arts
1. Hertfordshire 11 February 1987 £95·70	1	0	8	3
2. Sheffield/Derbyshire 15–17 February 1987 £1,936·91	2	2	6	3
Energy
1. Edinburgh 4–5 December 1986 £617·50	2	0	3	8
2. Aberdeen/Lerwick 16–19 February 1987 £3,559·07	4	0	4	7
Environment
1. Thames Estuary 17 February 1987 Nil cost	½	0	7	4
2. North-West England 2–4 March 1987 £2,912	3	4	3	4
Home Affairs
1. Feltham Youth Centre 10 December 1986 £178·02	1	0	7	4
2. Holloway Prison 28 January 1987 £103·50	1	0	6	5
Sub-Committee on Race Relations
1. Heathrow Airport 16 February 1987 £78·66	1	0	3	2
2. Dover Port 2 March 1987 £143	1	0	3	2
Scottish Affairs
Greenock 17 November 1986 £653·23	1	1	4	8
Social Services
1. South West Durham 24 November 1986 £541·66	1	0	3	7
2. Birmingham 8 December 1986 £606·96	1	0	4	6
3. Department of General Practice, St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington 16 December 1986 £19·00	½	0	2	8
4. Edinburgh 11–12 March 1987 £2,395	2	2	4	4
Trade & Industry
Midlands 2–5 March 1987 £2,104·70	4	9	0	2
Transport
1. Birmingham & Doncaster

asked the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, how much has been spent on travel (a) in the United Kingdom, (b) in Europe and (c) in the rest of the world, excluding Europe, by each Select Committee during the current Session; which countries were involved; how long each trip lasted; how many hon. Members attended part of each visit; how many did not take part in any visit; how many hon. Members attended for the totality of each visit; and if he will make a statement.

The information in respect of those Select Committees which have travelled is set out in the tables. The Commission relies on the Liaison Committee to examine applications for overseas travel from individual Select Committees and to advise on general principles concerning Select Committee travel.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has of the annual costs since 1979 of vandalism and arson in schools in Wales county by county; what measures he has taken to combat vandalism in schools in Wales; what liaison he has with the police in Wales on this subject; and if he will make a statement.

The Department does not collect information on the cost of vandalism and arson in schools.Last year my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales opened the all-Wales crime prevention seminar which was chaired by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and was attended by education interests. In addition, the Department has informed county councils that they will be asked shortly for reports on action taken on crime prevention as a consequence of the seminar. My right hon. Friend has recently approved applications for education support grant in 1987–88 and beyond from South and Mid Glamorgan for projects to promote social responsibility in their area.Advice on relationships between the police and schools has been circulated to LEAs in the document "Liaison Between the Police and Schools," issued jointly by the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Society of Education Officers. Further guidance for LEAs and school governors on such relationships will be given in a circular on the provisions of the Education (No. 2) Act 1986 which will be issued by the Department shortly. In addition, senior officials of the Welsh Office are in regular contact with the four chief constables in Wales on matters of common interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to meet the Chairman of British Rail concerning the prospects of the electrification of rail routes in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Electrification of railway lines in Wales was one of the items discussed between my right hon. Friend and the chairman of British Rail at their meeting on 25 November last year. I understand that British Rail has no plans for electrification of services at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the completion date of (a) the Ruabon by pass and (b) the Conwy tunnel scheme.

The contractor has indicated that he expects substantially to complete work on the Ruabon bypass by 22 May 1987, but that date is dependent on reasonable weather conditions in the intervening period.Subject to no unforeseen difficulties, I expect the scheme for the A55 Conwy crossing to be completed in early 1991.

£ million
	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85	1985–86	1986–87	Total
Clwyd	4·6	4·5	1·3	2·9	3·4	2·6	1·1	20·4
Dyfed	7·3	8·0	3·2	2·8	2·2	2·7	2·7	28·9
Gwent	4·8	8·5	10·4	9·0	7·9	3·1	2·5	46·2
Gwynedd	5·5	4·8	1·3	1·9	3·0	3·5	0·4	20·4
Mid Glamorgan	6·3	3·5	3·7	4·1	6·4	3·9	2·9	30·8
Powys	6·2	5·5	1·1	1·2	1·0	0·3	0·1	15·4
South Glamorgan	11·1	8·6	7·0	6·4	4·2	6·7	5·8	49·8
West Glamorgan	2·0	1·4	2·0	2·7	2·9	3·7	4·0	18·7
Total	47·8	44·8	30·0	31·0	31·0	26·5	19·5	230·6

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to tackle homelessness in Wales.

In addition to the significant increases in the allocations made to local authorities and to the Housing Corporation to help meet housing need in Wales, we have helped to secure the introduction of substantial private finance for housing association schemes in Wales. We have significantly increased our financial support for voluntary bodies working to help relieve homelessness in Wales. The Government are also preparing a guide for publication which will contain advice about the statutory rights of those who are homeless, and are financing research into the operation of the homeless persons legislation in England and Wales.

Home Improvement Grants
	1984		1985		1986
	Completed grants (No.)	Completed grants (£'000)	Completed grants (No.)	Completed grants (£'000)	Completed grants (No.)	Completed grants (£'000)
Aberconwy	207	674	204	552	155	741
Alyn and Deeside	274	643	131	472	134	423
Arfon	567	2,117	413	1,645	480	1,935
Blaenau Gwent	1,209	4,454	529	2,149	414	1,507
Brecknock	417	1,522	136	601	141	343
Cardiff	2,745	9,119	2,456	7,478	2,572	7,942
Carmarthen	1,398	5,648	358	1,505	518	2,129
Ceredigion	522	2,309	348	1,186	336	1,720
Colwyn	225	1,012	58	258	310	762
Cynon Valley	495	2,211	271	930	549	1,529
Delyn	196	634	150	438	179	449
Dinefwr	348	1,338	146	651	196	550
Dwyfor	457	1,713	125	415	186	683
Glyndwr	407	1,740	170	807	130	569
Islwyn	909	2,596	1,109	2,617	1,162	2,853
Llanelli	1,137	2,383	398	1,015	324	725

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the transport supplementary grant for Wales in each of the counties of Wales in the years 1980–86.

Transport supplementary grant has been paid as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many Welsh people were on the waiting list for rented council houses at the end of 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985 and 1986; and what measures he has to lessen these waiting lists.

Information about waiting lists for local authority accommodation is not held centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the details of home improvement grants, numbers and cash value, for each local authority in Wales for the years 1984, 1985 and 1986.

The numbers and values of home improvement grants completed in the years requested are given in the following table:

	1984		1985		1986
	Completed grants (No.)	Completed grants (£'000)	Completed grants (No.)	Completed grants (£'000)	Completed grants (No.)	Completed grants (£'000)
Lliw Valley	438	1,652	257	865	416	1,287
Meirionnydd	996	3,489	547	2,018	241	840
Merthyr Tydfil	751	1,852	374	1,099	456	1,188
Monmouth	555	1,925	223	831	362	1,039
Montgomeryshire	527	1,947	142	457	158	490
Neath	840	2,376	284	848	506	501
Newport	852	3,094	486	1,479	822	2,593
Ogwr	1,361	3,086	859	2,634	855	2,417
Port Talbot (Afan)	175	437	186	386	317	703
Preseli	625	3,180	232	1,025	335	1,337
Radnor	209	706	142	440	102	257
Rhondda	3,288	9,888	1,973	6,416	2,066	6,598
Rhuddlan	55	90	34	56	63	108
Rhymney Valley	959	3,550	433	1,838	518	1,763
South Pembrokeshire	756	3,191	388	1,750	408	1,587
Swansea	2,094	6,926	1,974	6,547	1,474	5,356
Taff Ely	1,444	5,052	536	1,684	555	1,795
Torfaen	613	2,056	327	1,312	373	1,067
Vale of Glamorgan	1,007	3,373	328	1,160	460	1,604
Wrexham Maelor	120	428	112	381	90	292
Ynys Mon	800	3,249	313	1,275	208	759
Wales	29,978	101,663	17,152	57,221	18,571	58,443

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has had from teachers and parents concerning (a) a national curriculum, (b) student grants and (c) proposals on teachers' pay; and if he will make a statement.