asked the Attorney-General whether there will be any increase in the time taken to process legal aid applications in civil cases as a result of the shortfall of £1·4 million in the sum requested (£27·248 million) to run the legal aid administration in the year 1987–88.

The amount allocated for legal aid administration in 1987–88 is £25·465 million. This is 3·4 per cent. higher than the figure for 1986–87 (£24·634 million) which in turn was 18·6 per cent. higher than the figure for 1985–86 (£20·767 million). The legal aid administration of the Law Society estimates that the length of time taken to process civil legal aid applications will increase during 1987–88. The Government are confident that the legal aid administration will do all it can to keep any such increase to the minimum.

asked the Attorney-General what is the number of social security commissioners and the respective populations served for each of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland; if he has any proposals to increase the number of social security commissioners for Wales; and if he will make a statement.

There are 17 commissioners (including two part-time) in Great Britain. For the purpose of this jurisdiction there are no formal divisions between England, Wales and Scotland. At present, however, two commissioners are located in Edinburgh. Commissioners also attend regularly at Cardiff to conduct oral hearings. Steps are being taken to appoint an additional commissioner, to be based in Edinburgh. I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland that there are three commissioners there, but this jurisdiction is separate from that of Great Britain. Latest approximate population figures are:

	million
Wales	2·8
Scotland	5·1
Northern Ireland	1·6

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to increase research and development in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Most of the research carried out in Wales is funded by research councils, other Government Departments and the private sector. My Department actively encourages the take-up of the funds available and in particular I have established WINTECH, the technology arm of the Welsh Development Agency, to further stimulate industrially orientated research and development.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will report on the steps taken by his Department and the Welsh Development Agency toward implementing the recommendations of the following reports concerning the industrial investment activity of the Welsh Development Agency: Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General, 1985; Welsh Office/Treasury Review, 1987; Public Accounts Committee 7th Report 1986–87.

Progress towards implementing the recommendations made in the 1985 report of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the investment activities of the development agencies is described in the Thirty-Eight report from the Committee of Public Accounts, Session 1984–85, published on 28 October 1985, and in the associated Treasury Minute of February 1986 (Cmnd. 9743).A number of the recommendations in the Welsh Office/Treasury 1986 review were anticipated by the agency and incorporated into its planning, appraisal and monitoring system. I have discussed the review with the agency's board, and work on an action plan is well in hand.The Government's response to the Public Accounts Committee's Seventh Report 1986–87 will be made in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how much money has been invested by the Welsh Venture Capital fund since its establishment by the Welsh Development Agency in 1985.

Since 1985 Welsh Venture Capital has invested or committed £2,665,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received regarding the number of hospital beds in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

While it is not disputed that there has been a reduction in the number of hospital beds in Wales, what I cannot agree with are attempts to use bed numbers by themselves as an indicator of the level of health care. Successive Governments have pursued a policy of replacing large numbers of old-fashioned hospitals with new more efficient ones with the potential to provide a higher level of patient care. In this context between 1974 and 1979 there was a decrease of 1,251 beds available in the NHS in Wales. Since 1979, some £490 million has been invested in the capital estate of the hospital and community health service in Wales, and five major hospital developments have been completed in this period, a sixth has been commissioned and there have been many other capital developments in existing hospitals, as well as the building of two nevi community hospitals. The revenue resources made available to health authorities in Wales have increased by 33 per cent., after allowing for inflation, between 1978–79 and 1987–88.A decline in bed numbers can actually represent an improvement in levels of care, as in the case of the fall of 996 in the number of mental illness and handicap beds between 1979 and 1985, which is in line with the Government's policy of returning such patients to more appropriate care in the community. Care in the community is also relevant to the acute hospital sector, and developments allowing increased treatment and care at home have contributed to the increase of 76,000 or 22 per cent. in the number of in-patient cases between 1979 and 1985. This additional health care has been supported by the increase of 13·5 per cent. in the numbers of hospital staff directly concerned with patient care between 1979 and 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning the number of chest consultants in Wales.

As far as thoracic medicine is concerned, changes in the pattern of chest disease and in clinical practice have led to new methods of dealing with chest disorders, including tuberculosis. The treatment of chest disorders is not the province of one specialty alone. Consultants in general medicine, cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology and geriatrics are now also involved. The numbers of consultants in these specialties has increased markedly since 1979. For example, the number in general medicine has increased by 34 per cent. in total (from 56 to 75 posts), and by 20 per cent. in whole-time equivalents (from nearly 53 to above 63).On matters of this kind, my Department is advised by the Welsh Medical and Dental Manpower Committee, composed of leading members of the medical profession in the Principality. If an authority wished to make any case to increase the number of consultants in thoracic medicine, then the committee would consider it and advise the Department accordingly. The fact that there have been no such bids recently indicates that these needs are properly catered for. The emphasis placed recently on the numbers of chest consultants remaining in Wales takes absolutely no account of the changes in medical practice that have taken place in the last 10 years under successive Governments whereby chest diseases are now treated by consultants with an interest in a range of specialties, which may include thoracic medicine. It should he remembered that this is not a new approach and follows from changes both in the pattern of lung disorders and in treatment. As a result the need for specialised chest consultants is much less than it was 10 years ago.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider introducing legislation to ensure that annual elections to local authorities are held in those local authorities currently elected en bloc every three or four years.

We have no present plans for such legislation. We are considering a recommendation by the Widdicombe committee of inquiry into the conduct of local authority business that all councillors in England and Wales should he elected every four years by whole-council elections based on single-member electoral areas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he has plans to enable category C prisoners at Her Majesty's prison, Haverigg, to receive fortnightly visits;(2) what criteria were used in deciding that category C prisoners at Her Majesty's prison, Haverigg are allowed only one visit per month; and if he will make a statement.

The frequency of visits to convicted prisoners above the minimum of one visit (of at least half an hour) every four weeks is a matter for the discretion of governors, who are, however, encouraged to permit visits as frequently as circumstances at their establishments allow. At Her Majesty's prison, Haverigg the visits may last up to two hours and additional visits above the minimum are permitted in exceptional circumstances, but fortnightly visits are not practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans to increase the number of letters per week which category C prisoners at Her Majesty's prison, Haverigg are allowed to write; and if he will make a statement.

Under present arrangements inmates at Her Majesty's prison, Haverigg are allowed to send one letter per week at public expense and two letters per week paid for from prison earnings.Last April the censorship of letters to and from inmates in open establishments was reduced and the restriction on the number of letters which they could send and receive were removed. In the light of experience of these changes we shall be considering in due course how far changes of this kind might be made in category C establishments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the circulars which offer guidance to local authorities who seek to develop contingency plans to mitigate the effects of radioactivity released into the atmosphere from incidents involving the transportation of radioactive weapons materials.

General advice on accidents involving radioactivity is contained in the "Emergency Planning Guidance to Local Authorities", a copy of which is in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fires were caused by wiring defects in England and Wales in the last year for which figures are available; and what was the approximate cost of the damage.

In 1984 local authority fire brigades in England and Wales attended 15,949 fires for which electrical wiring was recorded by the brigade as the source of ignition. Of these, 2,845 vehicles and 1,083 in other outdoor locations (excluding more minor outdoor fires, on which brigades do not report information on the cause). These figures for England and Wales correspond to those for the United Kingdom published in tables 34 and 58 of "Fire Statistics United Kingdom, 1984". Information on the financial cost of these fires is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the terms of reference for each working group of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Civil Defence Committee; what is the post, rank, and responsibilities of each representative of the United Kingdom on the working group of the Civil Defence Committee; and who attends which working groups.

The Civil Defence Committee has a working group which prepares for meetings of the Civil Defence Committee and may discuss any matters relevant to that committee. United Kingdom representation is from F6 (Emergency Planning) Division of the Home Office at grade 5 or 7. It also has two sub-groups of experts which provide more specialised fora for consideration of medical and warning and monitoring matters. The United Kingdom representatives are a senior medical officer in the Department of Health and Social Security and the director of the United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation (grade 6 ) respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the reply of 12 January, Official Report, column 67, why the minutes of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Civil Defence Committee carry a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation security classification; how many North Atlantic Treaty Organisation security classifications there are; if he will list them; and if he will explain the criteria applied by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation when deciding to place civil defence information under a security classification.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation uses four security classifications: restricted, confidential, secret and top secret. The unauthorised disclosure of information in these categories would be increasingly damaging to the Alliance. There are no distinct criteria applicable only to civil defence information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the title and duties of the senior employee of British Telecommunications plc who sits on the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Civil Communications Planning Committee; what meetings, in addition to the annual plenary session, are held by the Civil Communications Planning Committee; and where these meetings take place.

United Kingdom representation at the Civil Communications Planning Committee is provided by an official at grade 7 from the Home Office directorate of telecommunications. He is supported by a senior member of staff from the Government services division of British Telecom International as occasion demands.In addition to two plenary sessions of the Committee held annually, working groups of the committee have been meeting up to a total of nine times each year. Meetings are normally held at NATO headquarters in Brussels, but may be held in other locations at the invitation of member states of the Alliance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make the minutes of the plenary sessions of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's Civil Communications Planning Committee available in the Library.

No. The minutes of the Civil Communications Planning Committee carry a NATO security classification.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the reply of 15 January, Official Report, column 253, when the last review of the June 1984 "Guidance to Fire Service at Incidents Involving Radioactivity" was conducted; if any other specific guidance is issued to chief fire officers in the handling of incidents involving radioactivity arising from the transportation of radioactive weapons' materials; and if any guidance is issued to chief fire officers regarding the procedure for advance notification of the timings and routes of radioactive weapons' materials convoys to specific chief fire officers whose administrative areas are to be passed through.

The guidance on the role of the fire service at incidents involving radioactivity is about to be reviewed. As I indicated in my answer of 15 January, it is the policy of this Government, as it has been of their predecessors, not to comment in detail on the transportation of radioactive weapons materials. There is continuing liaison between representatives of chief fire officers and Ministry of Defence staff about the role of the fire service in the handling of incidents involving radioactive materials.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the posts, ranks and responsibilities of the senior civil emergency service officials who are briefed on a classified basis on contingency plans at incidents involving radioactive materials.

I do not know to which contingency plans the question refers. The dissemination of any classified information is on a need to know basis and is not determined by rank.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek powers to direct the Independent Broadcasting Authority to accept advertisements from any publication registered as a newspaper by the General Post Office and accepted as such for the Royal Mail.

No. It is for the IBA to decide whether particular advertisements are acceptable for broadcasting in the light of its statutory obligations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to how many people with disabilities were the victims of crime against (a) the person and (b) property, in the London borough of Southwark during 1986.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Warrington, North can expect to receive the information about empty prison officer accommodation at Culcheth which was promised in the answer of 24 February, Official Report, column 155, and 9 March, Official Report, column 28.

The information requested was included in my letter of 17 March, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to amend the Bail Act 1976 to provide that bail shall not be granted to any person charged with murder; and if he will make a statement.

The Bail Act 1976 establishes a general presumption in favour of bail. The nature and seriousness of the offence are among the matters to which a court must have regard when considering whether any of the exceptions specified in the Act to that general presumption apply. We are looking at the events which led, in a recent case, to the grant of bail to Winston Silcott. We will consider whether there are lessons to be learnt and report any conclusions to the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is yet in a position to announce proposals for legislation to control and regulate the availability of kidnap insurance; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many category A women prisoners there were in Her Majesty's prison, Durham; and how many strip searches were made on category A prisoners in Her Majesty's prison, Durham, in February 1987, indicating (a) strip searches before and after consultation with legal advisers, (b) after visits and (c) after cell change, wing search and cell search.

During February there were four category A women prisoners in Durham prison. Strip searches were carried out on women prisoners in this category in the circumstances and on the number of occasions shown:

	Number
After legal visits	Nil
After other visits	5
At the time of cell changes; during wing searches and cell searches	9
TOTAL	14

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prosecutions there have been since May 1986 against small, local retailers;(2) how many prosecutions for contravention of the Shops Act have been made since May 1986.

Information, other than age and sex, is not collected centrally on the characteristics of the defendant in court proceedings; nor is information yet available on the number of court proceedings in 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans to seek to remove the onus for prosecutions for contravention of the Shops Act from local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

We have no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy towards the carriage of toxic substances by publicly owned or publicly subsidised ships; if the same provisions apply throughout the private sector; and if he will make a statement.

Our policy is that all United Kingdom registered merchant ships in normal commercial services must comply with the relevant provisions contained in the Merchant Shipping (Dangerous Goods) Regulations when carrying toxic substances.No distinction is made in this safety policy, as between publicly owned, publicly subsidised or privately owned ships.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to (a) the number of new express coach services which became available, (b) the level of fares and (c) the volume of passengers before and after the Transport Act 1980.

By 1982 the number of regular long distance coach services had increased by some 16 per cent. and fares had been reduced by up to 40 per cent. in real terms. It was estimated that the number of passengers had increased from 15 million a year to 18 million a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will discuss the quality of commuter services at his next meeting with the chairman of British Rail.

The objectives we set for Sir Robert Reid last October emphasised the need to improve its performance so as to achieve the agreed standards for quality of service. Quality is of prime importance to the commuter, and I have asked the board to report to me every quarter on its performance.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his reply of 13 February, Official Report, columns 554–55, what information he has about the posts held by the two non-governmental officials who represent the United Kingdom on the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation planning board for ocean shipping; who shares joint chairmanship of the planning board for ocean shipping with his Department's director of shipping policy; and what meetings, in addition to the annual plenary session, are held by the planning board for ocean shipping and where these take place.

A senior official of the United States Government is joint chairman of the board. The non-governmental United Kingdom representatives provide technical and specialist expertise to the board and its sub-groups. In addition to the annual plenary sessions of the board held in London and Washington, sub-groups hold meetings in various locations within the member countries of the Alliance.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make the minutes of the annual plenary session of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's planning board for ocean shipping available in the Library.

No. The minutes of the board are treated in confidence, in consistency with the minutes of other NATO planning boards and committees.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of the level of investment by Her Majesty's Government on the road infrastructure in East Sussex.

There has been increasing investment in roads in East Sussex since 1979. Actual and planned expenditure on trunk roads amounts to more than £100 million at 1983 prices. In addition, transport supplementary grants amounting to £4½ million have been awarded to the county council in the past four years, with nearly another £1 million available for the next financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what funds he makes available for helicopter research: and what will be the proposed expenditure in 1987–88.

The Civil Aviation Authority is undertaking a three-year programme of research into helicopter safety costing £1·6 million and based upon recommendations made by the helicopter airworthiness requirements panel. It is the Government's policy that the civil aviation industry should normally meet the costs of research. But, exceptionally, my Department is contributing £400,000 towards the cost of this programme, including £165,000 in 1987–88. The Department of Energy, the United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association and the CAA are also contributing.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what further interim measures he proposes to improve safety and reduce traffic speeding on the Guildford to Milford section of the A3 trunk road during the current phase of upgrading to dual carriageway.

Construction of the Compton to Shackleford improvement is planned to start later this year.We are investigating the possibility of interim safety measures as suggested by my right hon. Friend. I shall write to him as soon as I can.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what changes he proposes to the cash limits on his Votes.

As foreshadowed in my statement on 9 March, at column 22, on the Zeebrugge ferry disaster, the Government have made a £1,000,000 (£1 million) contribution to the disaster fund, met by a repayable advance from the Contingencies Fund.The contribution will add £1,000,000 to Government expenditure, but as savings have occurred in Class VIII, Vote 2, the public expenditure planning total will not itself be affected. The cash limit for Class VIII, Vote 2, in 1986–87 is being reduced from £181,371,000 to £180,371,000.Parliament will be asked to vote a summer Supplementary Estimate to repay the advance to the Contingencies Fund in 1987–88. As an internal Government financial transfer, this will not affect the planning total of public expenditure in 1987–88. It will, however, be necessary to increase the cash limit for Class VIII, Vote 2, in that year from £190,446,000 to £191,446,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to publish the report on the state of bridges in relation to the new bridge assessment code.

I am publishing today the report on a sample survey of bridges on local authority roads. A copy has been placed in the Library. I am grateful for the cooperation of all the major public bridge owners and for their help in producing this useful report; I shall now be seeking their comments on the findings.

asked the Paymaster General whether he will state for (a) Manchester and (b) the United Kingdom the number and percentage of (i) men and (ii) women who have been deemed unavailable for work; and of these, how many decisions were based upon the person having child care responsibilities.

some claimants have always been disallowed benefit by independent statutory adjudicating authorities in accordance with long-standing legal rules adopted by successive Governments because they were not available for work. If the hon. Member is asking how many claims have been disallowed in this way since we introduced modified procedures to enforce the rules, the answer as on 27 February 1987 was 72 in the Manchester city council area and 8,866 nationally.These disallowances represent 0·5 per cent. of all those completing the modified availability form in the Manchester area and 1·1 per cent. nationally. Our records do not separately distinguish between the sexes or those with child care responsibilities.

asked the Paymaster General what are his latest estimates of the current size of the work force in manufacturing industry.

In December 1986 (the latest quarter for which figures are available) there were 5,367,000 employees in employment and self-employed people in the manufacturing industries in Great Britain.

asked the Paymaster General what assessment his Department has made of the effect of inflation on employment; and if he will make a statement.

Inflation damages the prospects for growth and destroys jobs. The firm financial framework established by this Government has reduced inflation, encouraged growth and led to the generation of over 1 million extra new jobs in this country since spring 1983.

asked the Paymaster General whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the median earnings in each case illustrated in the charts at 5·4 of the latest issue of Social Trends.

The information requested is shown in the table:

Median of average gross weekly earnings GB April 1985 Full-time employees on adult rates, whose pay was not affected by absence
	Males £	Females £
Industry
Manufacture of motor vehicles and parts thereof	182·8	122·2
Textiles	143·8	92·3
Retail distribution	134·3	87·6
Banking & Finance	221·3	133·9
Education	201·6	164·2

asked the Paymaster General what percentage of the estimated expenditure on adult training at skillcentres by Manchester, north area of the Manpower Services Commission's vocational educational and training group during 1986–87 was authorised following competitive tenders or quotations from other providers of training.

None.All the 1986–87 expenditure on adult training courses in skillcentres in the Manchester, north area of the Manpower Services Commission's vocational educational and training group was authorised following direct discussions between the VETG area manager and the staff in the skills training agency.

asked the Paymaster General what representations he has received concerning the effects on the health of the residents of the Highlands Estate, Hanwell, W.7, of the discontinuation of the removal of asbestos from their homes by Ealing council; if the Health and Safety Executive proposes to take any action; and if he will make a statement.

I have not received any representations concerning the health of the residents of flats at Highlands Estate, Hanwell, W.7. Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive have visited the flats and formed the opinion that the temporary cessation of the work does not pose a risk from asbestos to the health of the residents.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will indicate the amount of uranium required to fuel a nuclear power station of 2,000 MW for 20 years, and the volume of spoil associated with the uranium refining in this country;(2) if he will indicate the reserves of uranium available to the United Kingdom in terms of years if used in

I am advised by the CEGB that, on the basis of average figures for PWRs worldwide and excluding initial cores, 2000 MW of PWR nuclear capacity operating over a 20 year period would require some 6,000 tonnes of natural uranium.Uranium is imported for use in the United Kingdom either in the form of uranium ore concentrate or as uranium hexafluoride. Chapter 106.24 of the Sizewell report says that about 1 tonne of solid tailings, and up to 5,000 litres of liquid waste, results from the production of 1 to 2 kg of uranium ore concentrate.Based on the latest OECD/IAEA estimates, low-cost uranium resources are adequate to meet demand well into the next century. Fast reactors can utilise uranium at least 50 times more effectively than thermal reactors.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received concerning the expenditure of public money on the promoting of nuclear power.

I have received many representations about the importance of informing the public of the facts about the safety of nuclear power and its economic and strategic benefits.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what further initiatives he proposes to take to promote energy efficiency.

I outlined a programme of 14 energy efficiency initiatives in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Erewash (Mr. Rost) on 26 January, at columns 52–53. These are being pursued with the relevant industries and professions to build upon the success of Energy Efficiency Year and to achieve further progress with the programmes and schemes of the Energy Efficiency Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has set objectives for the new chairman of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority.

I have settled objectives with the UKAEA chairman, Mr. John Collier, on the following terms.

asked the Prime Minister what instructions are given to the private offices of Government Ministers in relation to reporting to Ministers information given to them by police forces.

None.

asked the Prime Minister what was the purpose of her recent lunch with Sir Jack Lyons and Bain and Company; and if she will make a statement.

The purpose of the lunch which I attended at Bain and Company on 7 January w as to discuss the economy. It was attended by more than 40 people, most of whom were neither directors nor employees of Bain.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make the gathering of information on ethnic origins compulsory, and publish the percentage of entrants to the Cabinet Office who failed to respond to the ethnic origins questionnaire.

Surveys of the ethnic origin or staff in post and new entrants to the Civil Service have been carried out in agreement with the Council of Civil Service Unions on the basis of voluntary self-classification. There are no plans at present to change to a compulsory system. However, the Civil Service and the Council of Civil Service Unions are keen to improve the data base and are discussing practical ways in which this can be done.Information on response rates in the existing new entrant surveys is not readily available. For example, new entrants to the Cabinet Office include both recruits to the service and those joining on loan from other Government Departments. The number for whom ethnic origin data is not currently held should fall as data are transferred from parent Departments. Service-wide response rates to staff-in-post surveys have averaged 70 per cent. Applicant surveys have had higher response rates of 80 to 95 per cent. Departments will shortly start a comprehensive programme of applicant monitoring and this should help to improve the new entrant data base.All the arrangements for ethnic origin monitoring are kept under review jointly by the Management and Personnel Office, Departments and the Council of Civil Service Unions. The objective is to increase the effectiveness of the implemenation of equal opportunity policy.The results of the surveys will be published. Reports on the first phase of recruitment monitoring and the London and south-east and East Anglia staff-in-post surveys will be published later this year.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 24 March.

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. I was also present at Victoria to mark the arrival of King Fahd. In addition to my duties in this House I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I shall be attending a state banquet in honour of King Fahd.

asked the Prime Minister what has been the average number of letters received by all Ministers each year since 1979 from right hon. and hon. Members.

Information in the form requested is not available and could he supplied only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what information his Department has collected, since the relaxation of licensing hours in Scotland, about the number of extensions granted for different times of day.

The central collection of liquor licensing statistics ceased in 1981; before then the only figures collected related to the numbers and types of licences issued, not to regular or occasional extensions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when patients at Woodilee hospital were transferred to temporary accommodation as a result of structural defects; where they are currently being cared for; what plans he has for the construction of suitable short-term temporary accommodation; when he expects the existing buildings at Woodilee to be fit for re-occupation; and if he will make a statement.

Following the recommendation of a consultant structural engineer on Friday 13 March that the safety of the patients accommodated in the main block of Woodilee hospital was at risk, all the patients in that block were transferred over the following two days to alternative temporary accommodation at Woodilee hospital itself and at Stoneyetts, Gartloch, Stobhill, Leverndale, Ruchill and Mearnskirk hospitals. Since then, some of the patients at Mearnskirk have been transferred to the David Elder infirmary; further transfers may be made if other more suitable accommodation can be brought into use.The consultant engineer is currently engaged on a further more detailed survey of the main block at Woodilee. Once his full report and supplementary building advice is available the greater Glasgow health board will be considering, in consultation with the Scottish Home and Health Department, whether the main block can and should be brought back into use and alternative options.My right hon. and learned Friend is concerned that this situation has arisen but commends the speed with which the health board acted in response to the structural engineer's advice.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the latest developments in negotiations on shorter-range nuclear forces in Europe.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had about the possibility of including short-range intermediate nuclear forces in any imminent treaty.

There are currently no separate negotiations betwen the United States and Soviet Union on shorter-range systems. It has been, however, part of NATO's position for many years that within an agreement on longer-range intermediate nuclear forces there should be constraints on those short-range systems which could circumvent such an agreement and a United States right to match. NATO has also agreed that the overall imbalance in shorter range systems must be addressed in follow-on negotiations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his assessment of the implications for United Kingdom policy on defence of United States policy towards the interpretation of the anti-ballistic missile treaty.

United States policy on the interpretation of the anti-ballistic missile treaty is a matter for the United States Administration. They have made it clear that any change in policy would be a matter for consultations with us. The implications for our defence policy would be an important element in such consultations. The United States Administration are fully aware that we share their wish to see an arms race in outer space prevented and to work towards the success of the Geneva nuclear and space talks.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what issues will be discussed at the meeting of the Western European Union on 27 to 28 April.

At their meeting next month in Luxembourg, Western European Union Foreign and Defence Ministers will discuss issues relating to European security and progress in Western European Union reactivation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received regarding reductions in intermediate nuclear weapons.

The negotiations between the United States and Soviet Union on longer-range intermediate nuclear forces are continuing in Geneva. I have nothing further to report from the answer that my right hon. and learned Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Broxtowe (Mr. Lester) on 18 March at column 918.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response the United States has given to the challenge inspection proposal outlined by the United Kingdom for the verification of a chemical weapons treaty.

The United States has made clear its willingness to consider any approach that provides a level of effectiveness equivalent to that of its own proposals on challenge inspection. The United Kingdom proposal remains under discussion among delegations in the chemical weapons negotiations in Geneva.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the nature of the employment of KMS Ltd. by his Department in 1982; and if he has any evidence that British subjects working for KMS are operating in (a) an operational or (b) a training role in Sri Lanka.

KMS Ltd. was employed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from May to August 1982 to provide close protection to Her Majesty's ambassador in Montevideo.The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not employed KMS since then. We understand that KMS employs British citizens under a private commercial contract with the Sri Lankan Government to provide training services to its security forces. As a commercial company it contracts to provide services and is not controlled by Her Majesty's Government. We have throughout emphasised to KMS and to the Sri Lankan Government alike our clear view that British subjects should be involved only in training, and should certainly not be engaged in military operations of any kind in Sri Lanka.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will give the total number of staff employed annually by the Soil Survey from 1979; and if he will give the projection for the next two years.

The information requested is as follows:

	Number
1979	80
1980	79
1981	78
1982	78
1983	78
1984	78
1985	75
1986	40·5
1987	40

Subject to the negotiation of satisfactory terms, the Agricultural and Food Research Council and Cranfield Institute of Technology have agreed that the Soil Survey and Land Resource Centre should be transferred to Cranfield during 1987. It will be for Cranfield to determine staffing levels beyond 1987.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received concerning the establishment of a city technology college in Thamesmead.

My hon. Friend will he aware that there is considerable local interest in the possibility of establishing a city technology college in Thamesmead, which he has done much to encourage. We would gladly look at any proposals which emerge.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science to whom the governing bodies of city technology colleges will be financially accountable.

The governing bodies of city technology colleges will be financially accountable to those who fund them. They will be accountable to the Secretary of State in respect of grant received from the Department, and to their private sector sponsors for funding made available by them.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what work is being sponsored by the Medical Research Council into the biological causes of senile dementia; and if he will make a progress report.

The Medical Research Council is supporting 20 projects into the biological causes of senile dementia. I will write to my hon. Friend with details. Progress in this work will continue to be reported in the scientific literature.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will now arrange for London weighting to be applied to the grants received by students attending the University of Surrey in Guildford.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what guidance he gives to local authorities on spending on teacher training for children with special needs;(2) what action he plans to take to ensure that teachers of children with special needs have sufficient training.

Training for teachers of children with special needs will be a national priority under the local education authority training grants scheme for 1987–88 as described in the Department's circular 6/86. As such, this training is eligible for grant at the higher rate of 70 per cent. within the amounts of expenditure notified to local education authorities; additional expenditure is eligible for 50 per cent. grant under the scheme.My right hon. Friend will also be taking the training needs of these teachers into consideration when determining the arrangements for the scheme in 1988–89.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science for each of the past five years, what has been the excess of income over expenditure for the teachers' superannuation fund; and if he will make a statement.

There is no teachers' superannuation fund and consequently there are no cash surpluses. Teachers' and employers' contributions are paid into the Consolidated Fund and benefits are paid out of moneys voted by Parliament. An account is maintained of receipts and payments under the Teachers' Superannuation Regulations 1976 (as amended) or under previous provisions. The balance in the account and any excess of receipts over payments each year are deemed to be invested in Government securities and interest added accordingly to the account. These notional investments are selected by the Secretary of State after consultation with the Government Actuary.Copies of the accounts for 1981–82 to 1984–85 are in the Library. A copy of the account for 1985–86 will be placed in the Library in the next few days.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he will publish the findings of Her Majesty's inspectors of schools survey into good practices in schools in relation to homework.

The inspectorate's report on its limited inspection of the extent, nature and quality of homework in all types of school has been published today. The report draws attention to examples of good practice. Copies of the report have been placed in the Library.Her Majesty's inspectors found that the potential of homework as part of the learning process was not being fully exploited in many schools. Its most successful use was where it was interpreted and implemented flexibly as part of the school's policy for the curriculum which was understood by staff, pupils and parents, and where it was clearly related to other teaching and learning approaches. Other hallmarks of good practice included high-quality assignments to pupils which were appropriate to their age and ability; and use of the opportunity to develop skills of independent learning and to make the most of the local environment. Good practice also depended upon enlisting the constructive support of parents and other adults.The findings confirm the Government in their view that appropriately set and marked homework valuably reinforces work in the classroom. It can support the objectives of the school curriculum in a number of ways, for example by extending the pupils' day and by giving individual pupils work which is matched to their ability. But it is also clear that parents have a central role to play in co-operating with teachers to ensure that homework is done and to get best value out of it for their children. Too often parents ignore their responsibilities, allow TV to take precedence over homework, and fail to make the contribution they might to raising standards in schools.I hope that, in discharging their responsibilities for the curriculum under the Education (No. 2) Act 1986, local education authorities, governing bodies and head teachers will consider carefully the findings of this report and will review the place of homework in the work of their schools. Every local education authority and school should have a policy for homework as part of its policy for the curriculum as a whole. It should state clearly what is expected of parents in order to make homework an effective contribution to their child's education. The policy should offer guidance on the amount, range and character of homework which should be expected of pupils at different ages and abilities in both the primary and secondary stages. It should recognise the different needs of pupils and the importance of homework being properly assessed in ways that are helpful and constructive for the individual pupil; and it should give guidance on ways of helping pupils whose home circumstances make it difficult for them to study at home.I shall take account of the report's conclusions in the proposals I am developing for a national school curriculum.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table showing, for each year, 1982–83 onwards, an analysis of capital allocations each year expressed as a percentage of expenditure bids submitted, broken down between (a) local education authorities in Greater London, (b) metropolitan district education authorities outside Greater London and (c) non-metropolitan county education authorities; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 March 1987, c. 260.]: The information requested for the years 1984–85 to 1987–88 is given in the following table. Authorities were not asked for cash plans for 1982–83 or 1983–84. so percentage figures cannot be given for those years.

Local Education Authority	Authorities allocations as a percentage of their plans
	1984–85	1985–86	1986–87	1987–88
(a) LEAs in Greater London
Barking	1207	59	31	38
Barnet	89	45	22	16
Bexley	61	36	31	61
Brent	66	19	33	30
Bromley	13	14	52	49
Croydon	71	60	79	46
Ealing	50	73	38	28
Enfield	64	70	42	41
Haringey	42	25	18	13
Harrow	19	10	77	53
Havering	25	33	37	36
Hillingdon	25	22	17	28
Hounslow	62	34	14	24
Kingston-upon-Thames	50	52	28	17
Merton	48	54	30	44
Newham	49	33	19	23
Redbridge	51	77	53	60
Richmond-upon-Thames	35	50	24	9
Sutton	45	49	25	13
Waltham Forest	34	42	55	49
Inner London	44	54	43	34
(b) Metropolitan districts outside Greater London
Birmingham	68	56	56	35
Coventry	57	42	35	46
Dudley	65	38	30	26
Sandwell	50	43	29	19
Solihull	64	49	49	28
Walsall	25	41	30	33
Wolverhampton	61	54	21	27
Knowsley	77	49	54	20
Liverpool	61	58	37	19
St. Helens	70	57	33	17
Sefton	36	81	67	39
Wirral	52	30	50	27
Bolton	69	43	34	33
Bury	57	53	89	32
Manchester	63	42	30	27
Oldham	55	38	49	58
Rochdale	39	62	48	40
Salford	37	54	48	62
Stockport	1115	52	39	31
Tameside	55	39	18	21
Trafford	63	50	47	36
Wigan	66	37	72	60
Barnsley	47	89	55	49
Doncaster	69	31	44	91
Rotherham	40	27	35	12
Sheffield	60	43	30	30
Bradford	37	62	70	25
Calderdale	32	36	70	56
Kirklees	56	48	26	19
Leeds	56	36	31	22
Wakefield	40	43	61	40
Gateshead	15	30	29	27

Local Education Authority	Authorities allocations as a percentage of their plans
	1984–85	1985–86	1986–87	1987–88
Newcastle upon Tyne	63	43	30	36
North Tyneside	20	52	48	43
South Tyneside	34	47	25	38
Sunderland	66	65	27	17
Non-Metropolitan Education Authorities
Isle of Scilly	—	—	—	50
Avon	48	36	38	40
Bedfordshire	54	30	31	26
Berkshire	81	65	51	43
Buckinghamshire	37	47	35	58
Cambridgeshire	76	67	53	34
Cheshire	70	53	34	54
Cleveland	49	60	39	51
Cornwall	63	73	47	70
Cumbria	SO	72	40	46
Derbyshire	67	67	52	45
Devon	87	58	50	42
Dorset	62	61	41	45
Durham	48	67	36	22
East Sussex	45	61	37	32
Essex	38	41	36	34
Gloucestershire	44	64	64	70
Hampshire	47	50	44	38
Hereford and Worcester	50	55	49	46
Hertfordshire	93	71	43	29
Humberside	59	56	70	72
Isle of Wight	66	58	50	43
Kent	50	55	65	56
Lancashire	81	76	58	32
Leicestershire	86	55	57	41
Lincolnshire	50	40	65	60
Norfolk	55	46	63	64
North Yorkshire	49	57	45	40
Northamptonshire	60	72	58	37
Northumberland	39	54	37	32
Nottinghamshire	61	71	52	43
Oxfordshire	78	40	15	17
Shropshire	48	69	49	62
Somerset	76	42	30	42
Staffordshire	70	71	53	42
Suffolk	78	60	68	76
Surrey	52	45	33	41
Warwickshire	52	55	41	32
West Sussex	77	61	35	23
Wiltshire	57	55	44	45
1 The information given in the authority's plans was incomplete, and compensating adjustments were subsequently made; the allocation was greater than 100 per cent. of planned expenditure as initially notified.

asked the Minister for the Arts what representations he has had about possible initiatives to widen the audience for theatre.

The recent report to the Arts Council on the theatre in England looked inter alia, at widening the audience; I look forward to receiving the council's views. The Arts Council already includes in its criteria for the allocation of grant the extent of an arts body's commitment to attracting wider audiences. My new arts marketing scheme will, I hope, also encourage many arts bodies to produce imaginative ideas for improving their marketing.

asked the Minister for the Arts if he will make a statement on his arts policy priorities insofar as they relate to industrial archaeology.

I am pleased to report that many museums in both public and private sectors are active in the field of industrial archaeology and liaise with other organisations which have interests in this area.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make the gathering of information on ethnic origins compulsory and publish the percentage of entrants to the Privy Council Office who failed to respond to the ethnic origins questionnaire.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister today, which also applies to the staff of the Privy Council.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the scheme of value added tax scale charges for fuel used by businesses for private motoring will apply to vehicles other than cars.

No. Although the legislation in the Finance Act 1986 is widely drawn, the derogation for which application was made under article 27 of the sixth VAT directive was confined to cars and there will therefore be no change in the VAT treatment of road fuel used by businesses for private journeys in vehicles other than cars. However, Customs will be keeping the operation of the scheme under review and any changes found to be necessary will be announced in due course.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for the most recent year for which figures are available, the revenue from capital gains tax and the amount collected on the disposal of (a) shares and (b) real property; and if he will give separate figures for the personal sector.

The estimated receipts in 1986–87 are £1,050 million from capital gains tax and £650 million from tax on capital gains within corporation tax. Capital gains tax applies to gains realised by individuals and trusts and corporation tax to gains realised by companies.Virtually all of the tax yield is derived from disposals of shares and real property, with 50 to 60 per cent. of the total from shares.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will describe the types of studies that were undertaken to plan the Government data network; and whether he will place these studies in the Library.

Planning Government telecommunications is an evolutionary process. The current proposals for the Government data network derive from the data communications recommendations of the "Eosys" Study. Extracts from that study and the Government's response were published in 1984 as "Strategic Study of Government Administrative Telecommunications", IT series No. 5. A copy is in the Library. Follow-up work included a major study, by PACTEL, in 1985, of "Non-Telephony Administrative Telecommunications Needs", which was distributed and discussed among Departments. I have placed a copy in the Library. Those studies envisaged an integrated Government network for both speech and data transmission, developing incrementally as a longer-term objective. Other work has been done by individual Departments to determine their telecommunications strategies and requirements. The proposals for a Government data network are one way of making the first step towards an integrated network.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from organisations representing the owners and operators of launderettes about the effect of value added tax on launderettes; and if he will make a statement.

My colleagues and I have received four letters from two hon. Members about various aspects of the VAT treatment of launderettes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, pursuant to his reply of 9 February, Official Report, columns 31–32, concerning the rate of exchange between sterling and the European currency unit, he will update the appropriation figures in table C and convert European currency units to sterling for the years 1984–86 at the average rates for sterling against the European currency unit in the European monetary system and for 1987 at the average for this year to date.

It is not possible to update the appropriation figures in table C because the relevant figures for 1986 will not become available until the European Court of Auditors report for 1986 is published towards the end of this year. Average exchange rates between sterling and the European currency unit have been used up to 1985 in table C. The average exchange rate for 1986 was £1 = 1·489 ecu. The average exchange rate for 1987 until the end of February was £1 = 1·353 ecu.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, following his Budget proposals, any of the pension rights secured by additional voluntary contributions can be commuted into a tax-free lump sum, whether any restrictions will apply only to contributions paid after 17 March 1987 regardless of when the arrangements to pay such contributions was entered into; and if he will make a statement.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his reply of 13 March, Official Report, columns 319–20, about MV Silver Sea on what date Her Majesty's Customs and Excise began its inquiries; when he expects the inquiries to be completed; and whether he will place a copy of any report on the conclusion of the inquiries in the Library.

[pursuant to his reply, 23 March 1987]: It is not the practice of Customs and Excise to disclose details of operational matters while inquiries are continuing. I shall consider how far it might be appropriate to publish the results of these inquiries, once they are complete.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on proposals for a joint space station.

This would he premature at the moment. Since President. Reagan invited the United Kingdom and other member states of the European Space Agency to join the United States of America in building a manned space station, studies have been proceeding on the elements that Europe might provide and on how we should use the space station to maximum benefit. The results of these studies are due later this year and only then will decisions be possible on whether to proceed into the development stage and with what goals.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will list in the Official Report the amounts and recipients of regional development grants and regional selective assistance amongst companies in the Corby travel-to-work Area since 1 May 1979.

The requested data, above certain thresholds, are published in British Business. The dates of publication, in respect of regional development grant (RDG) payments to the Corby travel-to-work area (TTWA), are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the quantity, and reason for disposal, of chrome ore which had been held in stockpiles of strategic materials.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Central (Mr. Caborn) on 3 November 1986, at column 312, concerning the Government's policy on the maintenance of supplies of strategic minerals. It remains the Government's policy not to confirm details of individual transactions relating to the strategic mineral stockpile given the commercially sensitive nature of the information concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has for each of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries as to the value of exports per capita in United States dollars in (a) manufactured goods and (b) services, including oil, in the latest year for which figures are available.

The information is in the following table:

Exports per capita
	United States dollars
	Manufactures (1985)	Services (1984)
Canada	2,122	338
United States	607	4 230
Japan	1,412	164
Australia	234	275
New Zealand	452	..
Austria	2,006	1,128
Belgium/Luxembourg	3,889	31,204
Denmark	1,896	817
Finland	2,221	520
France	1,336	511
Germany	2,648	416
Greece	239	253
Iceland	661	1,413
Ireland	1,870	324
Italy	1,182	346
Netherlands	2,458	829
Norway	1,791	1,731
Portugal	5 422	192
Spain	454	287
Sweden	2,966	624
Switzerland	3,964	..
Turkey	99	24
United Kingdom	1 1,200	2 521
1 $1,410 in 1986.
2 $650 in 1986.
3 Belgium only.
.. Not readily available.
Sources:
OECD National Accounts Volume 2.
OECD Main Economic Indicators.
except:
4 United States Bureau of Census.
5 Portuguese Monthly External Trade Bulletin.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has as to how many persons were employed in the steel industries of each of the European Economic Community member states in 1979; and how many are now employed.

Employment in ECSC production at the end of 1979 and end of November 1986, the latest period for which complete figures are available, is as follows:

Thousands: end of month
	December 1979	November 1986
Federal Republic of Germany	204·8	145·3
Belgium	48·7	31·7
France	120·6	69·5
Italy	98·7	67·6
Luxembourg	16·4	12·3
Netherlands	20·9	19·0
United Kingdom	156·6	55·9
Denmark	2·8	1·8
Ireland	0·7	0·6
Total EC(9)	670·0	403·7
Greece	—	4·2
Spain	—	51·1
Portugal	—	5·8
Total EC(12)	—	464·8

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the GATT panel inquiring into the treatment of Japan of imported alcoholic drinks is to have its first meeting; and what is the nature of the evidence being submitted to it by Her Majesty's Government.

The Community presented its outline case to the GATT on 18 March. The panel will hold its initial meeting on 28 April. The Government have liaised with and supported the Scotch whisky industry and the European Commission in the presentation of detailed evidence of Japanese discrimination against imported alcoholic drinks and will continue to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has as to what percentage of the European market for chlorofluorocarbons is accounted for by British manufacturers.

I regret that this information is commercially confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether there are any other significant uses for halons in the United Kingdom, apart from in fire extinguishers.

No; over 99 per cent. of halons are used in the controls of fires.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures he is taking to ensure that alternatives to fully halogenated chlorofluorocarbons are developed by British manufacturers.

It is open to British manufacturers to apply for grants, under the support for innovation scheme, towards the cost of developing new alternatives to chlorofluorocarbons.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has as to how many aerosol units containing chlorofluorocarbons are sold annually in the United Kingdom.

I regret this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legislation requiring aerosol manufacturers to label those canisters which use chlorofluorocarbons as a proportion of their propellant; and if he will make a statement.

The Government are participating in the United Nations environment programme discussions to decide on measures to control production of chlorofluorocarbons. In these circumstances, I consider a requirement for labelling of aerosol cans to indicate that they contain chlorofluorocarbons would he otiose.