To ask the Attorney-General when he expects the civil justice review to be published, pursuant to his statement of 16 December, Official Report, column 1212.

My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor received the report of the civil justice review on 28 April. He has given instructions for the report to be printed and will present it to Parliament as soon as possible. It is expected that this will be early in June.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether, in the light of his proposals to privatise the electricity supply industry, he will issue a direction to the Central Electricity Generating Board to withdraw all its formal applications for the construction of new power stations under section 2 of the Electric Lighting Act 1909, until such time as the future pattern of the industry has been settled.

No. Until new legislation is brought forward and passed by Parliament, the Central Electricity Generating Board continues to have a statutory obligation to supply. It therefore remains its responsibility to plan sufficient generating capacity to meet the need for electricity in England and Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list current development projects in Lesotho for which United Kingdom national, Commonwealth or European Community assistance is given and the value of that assistance.

Under the bilateral aid programme to Lesotho, Britain is currently financing the following projects at a total cost of £8·078 million:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the United Kingdom contributions to Lesotho through national, Commonwealth and European Community action in each year since 1983.

United Kingdom bilateral aid expenditure and the estimated British share of Commonwealth and European Community aid expenditure to Lesotho since 1983 have been as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what measures he has taken, or proposes to take, to assist the Lesotho Government to strengthen their national economy and decrease their dependence on the economy of the Republic of South Africa;(2) if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy on the role of the Southern African Development Co-ordination Conference as an agency for diminishing Lesotho's economic dependence on the Republic of South Africa.

All our bilateral aid to Lesotho aims to strengthen the national economy. In addition we support the Southern African Development Co-ordination Conference, of which Lesotho is a member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment is available to him of Lesotho's repayment of foreign debt; and to which countries repayment has not been made.

The figures in the table show the debt service payments which were due and estimates of the actual payments made on public and publicly guaranteed debt from 1984 to 1987. I am not aware of any countries which have failed to receive repayments due from Lesotho.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment is available to him on the level of economic growth in Lesotho in each year since 1983.

The rate of economic growth in Lesotho as measured by the estimated growth in the gross domestic product is as follows for each year since 1983.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his assessment of the extent to which Lesotho has benefited from joining the Lomé convention and been given improved access to European Community markets.

Over the five years to 1990 Lesotho will get 41 million ecu (about £28 million) in planned aid from the European development fund, in addition to benefiting from SADCC and other regional projects. Lesotho also receives lending from the European Investment Bank, finance under the Stabex scheme, and emergency aid.Under the Lomé convention, Lesotho's exports of its industrial products and the great majority of its agricultural products enter the Community free of tariff or other restrictions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what feasibility studies were carried out before hand on the extent to which successor authorities to the Inner London education authority would be able to run specialist and support services and employ special advisers in the event of abolition.

In putting forward their proposals, the Government took account of the fact that outer London and other metropolitan borough authorities maintain services such as those referred to by the hon. Member. Detailed discussions on such services will clarify any further work required to ensure continuity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list those local education authorities which are providing training courses for school governors at public expense.

A survey conducted recently on behalf of the Department suggested that most local education authorities provide some school governor training. Section 57 of the Education (No. 2) Act 1986 places on every local education authority to provide every school governor with such training as the authority considers necessary for the effective discharge of the governor's functions. This duty will take effect from 1 September 1988 for county and maintained special schools, and 1 September 1989 for voluntary schools.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he has taken on the recommendations of the joint teachers' association, Police Federation working party report on police — school liaison.

The Government welcome co-operation between the teaching profession and the police as reflected in this report. Liaison between police and schools is important not only for education itself, but also for the prevention of crime and for maintaining the essential relationship of trust and confidence between the police and the public.The report covers very similar grounds to that covered by a report produced jointly by the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Society of Education Officers in 1986. The Government circulated this report to all schools and police forces. Both the Home Office and the Department of Education and Science have worked in hand to identify and disseminate examples of good practice in police-schools liaison. The Home Office is financing a research project to evaluate the effectiveness of various methods of police-schools liaison and Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools has begun an examination of good practice in a number of local education authorities.The arrangements for police-schools liaison need to be developed locally. We understand that since the publication of the 1986 report local working parties have been set up in many areas to develop joint police-schools programmes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consultations are currently taking place with teachers and local education authorities on pay increases.

My right hon. Friend wrote on 19 April to the local authority associations, the teacher unions and bodies representing the interests of the governors of voluntary schools setting out his proposal to implement the recommendations on pay rates of the interim advisory committee on school teachers' pay and conditions. This letter invited the consultees to say if they would like a meeting with him or with officials, such meetings to take place by 13 May. A number of such meetings have been arranged.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the expenditure per pupil for primary and secondary schools in Kirklees metropolitan council area for each year from 1982 to the present date.

The net institutional recurrent expenditure per pupil by Kirklees local education authority in primary and secondary schools in the years 1981–82 to 1986–87, the latest date for which actual data is available, is set out in the table:

To ask the Prime Minister if she will publish a list of advertising contracts awarded by the Government in respect of the advertising programmes by the Government for the financial year 1987–88.

The following agencies were approved to work on the following campaigns contracted through the Central Office of Information for the financial year 1987–88.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will publish by Government Departments the latest estimate of expenditure on advertising for the financial years 1978–79 to 1987–88 and the forecast, if any, for the years 1988–89 and 1989–90, giving in each case a breakdown of advertising in (a) television and (b) elsewhere.

Information on publicity costs, including advertising, is not held centrally except where the expenditure incurred was through the Central Office of Information.Expenditure on advertising for the year 1978–79 through COI on behalf of Government Departments was £18·8 million.Details of departmental expenditure on publicity, including advertising, for the years 1979–80 to 1987–88 were supplied by Ministers in response to questions from the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson) and published in the

To ask the Prime Minister if the press offices of Government Departments are involved in the preparation of Government advertisements.

The deployment of staff in Government Departments is a matter for the Ministers in charge of the Departments.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the progress of the leak inquiry relating to the exchange of information between Mr. Paul Gray of her private office and the office of the Secretary of State for the Environment, concerning the poll tax and housing benefit.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 14 March 1988 at column 425.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the progress of the investigation into the unauthorised disclosure of a memorandum from her office to the Secretary of State for Scotland on the issue of opting out in Scottish school board legislation.

I have nothing to add to my reply of 15 April to the hon. Member at column 254.

To ask the Prime Minister when the news media were informed of her intended visit to the Great Ormond Street hospital for sick children.

In the normal way, the press was informed shortly before the visit took place.

To ask the Prime Minister why she did not inform the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras about her recent official visit to Great Ormond Street hospital for sick children; on what date the visit was decided upon; and if she will make a statement.

It is my consistent practice to inform any Member of a visit to his or her constituency shortly before the visit is due to take place. It has not, however, been my practice to do so when the visit is in the central London area. I have been hoping to visit Great Ormond street for some time.

To ask the Prime Minister what was the estimated cost to public funds of her visit to the Great Ormond Street hospital for sick children.

The costs of visits of this nature are not readily identifiable.

To ask the Prime Minister why Her Majesty's Government have refused to fund fully the refurbishment of the Great Ormond Street hospital for sick children; and if she will make a statement.

The Government are planning to commit over £27 million to this scheme. It was agreed with the trustees at the outset that private funds would play a major part in the development. This is entirely consistent with Government policy and I welcome the generosity and commitment already shown by industry, commerce and the general public.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting between Professor Brian Griffiths and parents in Strathclyde about educational changes.

Professor Griffiths, the head of my policy unit, like the other members of the unit, meets a wide variety of people in the course of his work. It is not my normal practice to comment on any such specific discussions.

To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions since May 1979 she has travelled by train while engaged on official business.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) on 14 April 1988 column 219. As I said in my reply to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West on 22 April 1988 column 583, I travelled by train in February 1987.

To ask the Prime Minister how many letters she has received regarding the changes in social security; and to how many she has replied to date.

I have received many such letters, from right hon. and hon. Members and others. Replies are sent as soon as possible. Some are transferred to the Department of Health and Social Security because they require details of personal cases and fall within the responsibility of that Department.

To ask the Prime Minister how many civil servants in her office are engaged on a regular basis in preparation for Prime Minister's Question Time.

A number of officials in my office are engaged in preparation for Question Time, in addition to their other responsibilities.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will, pursuant to the answer of 26 April, Official Report, column 97, to the hon. Member for Pontypridd on the criteria governing civil servant press briefings, investigate the circumstances in which Mrs. Elizabeth Attridge and Mr. Grant Meaking of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food came to hold a press briefing on 21 April dealing with an Opposition research document, in the light of the criteria for the political neutrality of civil servants; and if she will make a statement.

I am advised that no such press briefing has taken place. If, during the course of briefings given for declared reasons, journalists ask for comments on criticisms of the Departments' handling of a particular matter, factual answers will be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from small firms following the Budget proposals; and if he will make a statement.

Small firms have welcomed the changes announced recently in the Budget. In particular the reductions in rates of personal taxation represent a further encouragement to the strong and expanding small firms sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of the small firms service.

The small firms service, through its information and counselling arms, works to promote the growth of viable and profitable small businesses, and is increasingly developing its help to established businesses. In 1987–88, in England, it handled more than 266,000 inquiries and gave 39,138 counselling sessions. Inner city businesses are receiving extra help with the establishment in 1988 of six new inner city offices and the recruitment of specialist business advisers. The service's annual report for 1987–88 is planned for publication in the summer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently employed and if he will make a statement.

The latest estimates show that the employed labour force in Great Britain numbered 24,654,000 in December 1987. The employed labour force has now risen for 19 successive quarters, and by more than half a million in the last year alone.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the percentage increase in unemployment since May 1979.

Between May 1979 and March 1988 the seasonally adjusted level of adult unemployment increased by 117 per cent. on a consistent basis. However, since July 1986 unemployment has been falling. It is now 2,504,800 the lowest figure since December 1981.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the change in employment levels in the south-west since 1983.

The latest estimates show that the civilian employed labour force in the south-west region increased by 121,000 between December 1983 and December 1987.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the most recent percentage unemployment figure in the European Economic Community.

The unemployment rate in the European Community was 10·4 per cent. seasonally adjusted, in February 1988.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many more people are employed in East Anglia currently than in 1983.

By December 1987, the latest date for which figures are available, the civilian employed labour force in East Anglia had increased by 159,000 compared with December 1983. The civilian employed labour force is the sum of employees in employment and the self-employed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the disparities between male and female unemployment in various parliamentary constituencies, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Daventry of 11 March, Official Report, column 371.

The level of both male and female unemployment varies with local labour market conditions, but the variations tend to be more marked among men than among women. Therefore, there are local variations in the ratios of female to male unemployment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the present level of unemployment in the west midlands, and what was the figure 12 months ago.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on levels of unemployment in the west midlands.

On 10 March 1988, the number of unemployed claimants in the west midlands region, seasonally adjusted and excluding school leavers, was 254,800. This is a fall of 61,300 since March 1987 when the comparable figure was 316,000, nearly 20 per cent. lower.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the comparable current unemployment levels in the United Kingdom and other Organisation for Economic Development and Cooperation countries; and if he will make a statement.

Following is the information for all the Organisation for Economic Development and Co-operation countries for which standardised unemployment rates are available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures for unemployment throughout the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

On 10 March 1988 seasonally adjusted adult unemployment in the United Kingdom was 2,504,800—a fall of 27,800 since February and the lowest figure, on a consistent basis, since December 1981.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the ratio of unemployed claimants to unfilled vacancies in jobcentres, using current measurement criteria, in (a) May 1979 and (b) the latest date for which figures are available.

Vacancy figures are not available, on a consistent basis, for May 1979. The earliest available figures, January 1980 are given in the table, together with the March 1988 figures. The figures are on a consistent basis with current definitions. It is not meaningful to calculate a ratio of unemployment claimants to unfilled vacancies at jobcentres, since only about a third of all vacancies in the economy are notified to jobcentres.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he intends to take to promote equal opportunities for the deaf in the new adult training programme.

All training agents and training managers in employment training will be required to have an effective equal opportunities policy. The individual assessment available to everyone in employment training will help to identify whether any additional help is needed for people who have hearing difficulties to enable them to participate fully in the programme. Depending on identified needs, extra assistance could include a communicator service, the loan of special equipment, and the possibility of a supplementary grant for training managers for higher cost training.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the rate of the fall in unemployment in the last 12 months in Yorkshire and Humberside.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of persons unemployed in Yorkshire and Humberside; and how this figure compares with the position 12 months ago.

In March 1988 seasonally adjusted adult unemployment in the Yorkshire and Humberside region was 243,400; a fall of 50,100, over 17 per cent. lower than a year ago.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of people currently in employment in the United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on current trends in employment levels in the United Kingdom.

In December 1987, the latest date for which figures are available, the employed labour force in the United Kingdom was 25,200,000. This is an increase of 501,000 since December 1986. The employed labour force is the sum of employees in employment, the self-employed and Her Majesty's forces. The figures have been adjusted for the effects of seasonal variations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently employed in the north-east region of England; what were the comparable figures 12 months ago; and if he will make a statement.

The latest available information is taken from the September 1984 census of employment. There were then 882,700 employees in employment, excluding self-employed people and members of Her Majesty's forces, in the north-east region of England. More comprehensive and up-to-date employment statistics can be provided for the standard economic regions. These show that in December 1987, the civilian employed labour force in the northern region was 1,209,000. The figure for 1986 was 1,193,000. The civilian employed labour force is the sum of employees in employment and the self-employed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the current levels of unemployment in south Yorkshire.

In March 1988, the number of unemployed claimants in the county of South Yorkshire was 88,220, a fall of 13,930 or 13·6 per cent. since March 1987.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many long-term unemployed people there were in June 1983 and in March 1988; and what assessment he has made of their employment prospects for the next year.

Unemployment figures are analysed only by duration quarterly. On 14 January 1988 (the latest available date) the number of unemployed claimants who had been unemployed for one year or more in the United Kingdom was 1,100,615. The figure for July 1983 was 1,050,431. The comparison is affected by changes in the coverage of the count. Long-term unemployment has fallen by 234,000 over the last 12 months, the largest fall on record.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current level of unemployment in the north-west; what was the comparable level 12 months ago; and if he will make a statement.

In March 1988, the level of seasonally-adjusted adult unemployment in the north-west region was 347,800, compared with 413,000 in March 1987, a fall of almost 16 per cent. over the last 12 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state the number of jobs lost in the Rotherham-Mexborough travel-to-work area during the last six months; what specifically is the number of jobs lost in the last few days at the Swinton glassworks; and what is the number of full-time vacancies at the present time.

The information on jobs lost in the Rotherham and Mexborough travel-to-work area, for the period requested, is not available.Information given to the Department under the redundancy provisions of the Employment Protection Act 1975 and the redundancy provisions of the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978 is given in confidence and remains confidential until made public by the company concerned. On 4 March 1988 the number of full-time unfilled vacancies at jobcentres covering an area closely corresponding to the Rotherham and Mexborough travel-to-work area was 325.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of the enterprise allowance scheme.

Since the enterprise allowance scheme began in 1982, just over 333,000 unemployed people have been helped to start their own business. 110,000 places will be available during the current year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement on the progress of YTS.

Two-year YTS was introduced in April 1986 and the programme is now firmly established as the major route from school to work, providing training for around 60 per cent. of all 16 and 17-year-old entrants to the labour market. Three quarters of all young people leaving YTS go into a job, full-time education or further training.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures for YTS trainees going into work or further education and training.

The Manpower Services Commission conducts regular follow-up surveys of all YTS leavers. The latest results show that 75 per cent. of young people who left YTS schemes betweeen April 1986 and October 1987, were in work, further education or training at the time of the survey.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people are currently on YTS training schemes.

At the end of March 1988 the Manpower Services Commission management information system shows some 389,000 in training on YTS. This figure represents an impressive achievement in convincing young people the value of training. It also represents significant progress towards our objective that all young people under 18 years of age should have the opportunity either to continue in full-time education or of entering a period of work experience combined with work-related training and education.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of YTS participants leave the scheme with a recognised qualification.

Until recently, as a result of the conversion to two-year YTS, 90 per cent. of leavers were early leavers and therefore not representative. Most young people will not have completed their two-year training programme until after March 1988. A national survey of those trainees who have stayed into their second year shows that 54 per cent. have already gained a qualification, and that a significantly higher proportion will have entered for a qualification by the end of their second year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what forecast he has on the growth of inbound Channel tourism following the construction of the Channel tunnel; and if he will make a statement.

Numbers of visitors to this country from the rest of Europe have been rising, and in 1987 reached the record number of 9·3 million. While the opening of the Channel tunnel is bound to encourage further growth, it is not possible to forecast how many of the 15 million expected travellers using the tunnel in 1993—the first year of operation—will be incoming.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently on Manpower Services Commission training schemes.

In March 1988 there were some 390,000 young people on YTS and 30,000 people on the new job training scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what progress he has made in his assessment of the likely impact upon employment and registered unemployment of the completion of the single European market in 1992.

This Department welcomes moves towards the completion of the single market. It is actively considering the likely effects of completion upon the United Kingdom labour market.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about the target teams for the inner cities set up by Business in the Community.

This Department and the Manpower Services Commission welcome the formation of the eight inner city target teams and will continue to work closely with Business in the Community.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if there are any plans to expand the number of places on the travel and tourism course for the disabled sponsored by the Manpower Services Commission.

Manpower Services Commission-supported travel and tourism courses respond to local needs and as with their programmes for unemployed people generally, account is taken of the specific needs of disabled people locally.The Manpower Services Commission's area office at Taunton currently supports a 14-place course in travel and tourism at the Hotel Careers Centre, Bournemouth. One of the trainees is a disabled person.A further travel and tourism course is planned at Bournemouth. It will begin on 23 May, and offers a further 14 places.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many inquiries were made at jobcentres concerning job vacancies in 1987; and if he will make a statement.

We do not have precise information for 1987. However, I would expect the total to be broadly similar to the 19 million inquiries recorded in 1985–86, the last year for which comprehensive information is available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of job clubs.

The job club programme has made significant progress over the last 18 months. At 31 March 1988 a total of 1,204 job clubs were open, compared with only 254 in October 1986. The number of people helped in 1986–87 was 25,695. In 1987–88 the number helped rose to 105,677 of which 57,080 (54 per cent.) went into jobs and a further 14,521 (14 per cent.) went into training, the community programme or enterprise allowance scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the Engineering Council's proposals in its discussion document "Restructuring of Engineering Higher Education", a copy of which has been sent to him.

This Government welcome the discussion document as a focus for debate on this important area, and I have referred it to the Manpower Services Commission who will be commenting in the near future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much Britain has received in European Community grants for tourism-related projects over the last three years.

Over the last three calendar years (1985 to 1987) tourism and tourism-related projects in England have received nearly £70 million in infrastructure grants from the European regional development fund.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many overseas visitors came to London in 1987; and how much they spent.

It is estimated by the London tourist board that there were 9 million overnight visits to London by overseas residents in 1987, spending £3·7 billion during the period they stayed in London.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the relationship between tourism and jobs in rural areas.

The English tourist board calculates that in 1986 a total of £3,000 million was spent by visitors to the countryside, with much of this revenue going to local shops, pubs, hotels, restaurants and attractions thereby helping to support rural jobs.The English tourist board anticipates a growth in rural tourism of 20 to 25 per cent. by 1992 with jobs in rural areas also increasing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he intends to take to monitor the employment progress of disabled people, in particular through the new adult training programme.

A wide range of information will be collected on the identity and progress of participants in employment training including those separately identified as having a disability. Data will be available from their referral to a training agent for assessment and through the stages of action on the agreed training programme to their exit from employment training into a range of possible outcomes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received following the publication of Cm. 316, "Training for Employment", and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received on the White Paper "Training for Employment"; and if he will make a statement.

We have received a number of representations from hon. Members and others about our important and ambitious proposals contained in the White Paper "Training for Employment".

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the implications for deaf people of the White Paper "Training for Employment".

The new adult programme employment training will provide quality training for all eligible participants including those with hearing difficulties. All organisations participating in employment training will be required to have an effective equal opportunity policy. Trainees with hearing difficulties will have access to the full range of opportunities with, as necessary, additional help through a communicator service, loans for special equipment and the possibility of supplementary funding for training managers for parts of their training programme that would be particularly expensive.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about proposals to deal with skill shortages.

The strength of our economy means that some employers are finding it more difficult to meet some of their skills needs through recruitment. Employers can improve the supply of skills they need by providing the proper incentives for individuals to acquire the right skills and experience and by stepping up investment in training.We have given a lead by expanding our investment in training to around £3 billion in 1989–90 from £458 million in 1979–80. YTS guarantees up to two years' training for 16 and 17-year-old school leavers and the new 1·4 billion employment training programme will provide unemployed adults with the skills which today's jobs demand.The Manpower Services Commission is also continuing to develop its programmes to encourage employers to recognise and meet their own training needs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the chairman of the Training Commission; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State frequently meets the chairman of the Manpower Services Commission, which will be renamed the Training Commission subject to the Employment Bill 1988 receiving Royal Assent. He will, of course, continue to meet the commission chairman to discuss training issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the development of the adult training programme.

The Manpower Services Commission is well advanced in its development work for employment training which is to be introduced from 5 September. MSC officials will shortly be providing detailed information to existing providers and others interested in taking part.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the special arrangements being made for disabled people and those with special needs under the new adult training programme.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Glanford and Scunthorpe (Mr. Morley) on Tuesday 29 March, Official Report, column 414.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if special schemes for disabled people on the new adult training programme will be available at the assessment stage.

Yes. The special help schemes for people with disabilities will be available at all stages of employment training, including the assessment stage.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many school leavers are expected to come onto the job market in each of the next five years; and how that compares with the latest year for which figures are available.

It is projected that 510,000 school leavers in the academic year 1988–89 will be available for employment in Great Britain and that the corresponding numbers for the following two years will be 480,000 and 460,000. Projections for later years are not yet available. The latest year for which estimates are available is the 1984–85 academic year. An estimated 620,000 young people leaving school in that year were available for employment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have become self-employed since 1 January 1983; and if he will make a statement.

Between December 1982 and December 1987 there was an estimated net increase of 727,000 in the number of self-employed people in Great Britain.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what he is doing to encourage the success of the hotal and restaurant trainee placement scheme.

A total of over 10,000 training placements for trainees in hotel and catering occupations is currently available under the YTS and the new job training scheme. The Hotel and Catering training board has expressed interest in increasing the number of training placements available to adult trainees by participating in employment training, which commences in September.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about the Manpower Services Commission's enterprise in higher education initiative.

I have been most encouraged by the amount of interest shown by institutions: 85 outline bids were received. Up to 10 projects will be selected for support in 1988–89.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on current Government plans for trade union reform.

The Employment Bill, which received its Third Reading in another place on 25 April, contains the Government's current proposals for changes in trade union law.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many staff are employed in unemployment benefit offices at the present time; and how many were employed three years ago.

Staff employed in unemployment benefit offices are included with Department of Employment (DE) regional staff in our departmental staff record system. The staff in post figures for DE regional staff for 1 April 1988 and 1 April 1985 are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what instructions have been issued to jobcentres about advertising vacancies for jobs which are subject to wages council orders.

Jobcentres have instructions that, where vacancies are notified for occupations affected by wages orders. Rates must not be less than those specified. Staff are advised not to display vacancies offering wages below the minimum level and to consult the wages inspectorate in cases of doubt.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he intends to announce any new initiatives to improve health and safety at work.

The Health and Safety Commission and its executive currently have a number of initiatives under way to improve health and safety at work. I expect the commission to submit proposals for future action to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will undertake a review of the extent of employers' compliance with the requirement under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act to publish and keep up to date a safety policy for their firm.

No. I am satisfied that the inspection measures described in the reply I have to the hon. Member on Monday 18 January 1988, Official Report, column 509, are adequate to monitor the extent of compliance with this requirement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received following the launching of the action for cities initiative; and if he will make a statement.

Since the launch of the action for cities programme on 7 March 1988 this Department and the Manpower Services Commission have been taking forward the various initiatives that were announced. There has been a high level of interest from the private sector in the new initiatives. A large number of inquiries have been received from companies, employer groups and other organisations about the schools-industry compacts initiative. A number of possible projects have been identified for potential support under the local enterprise agency project scheme. Support has also been expressed for the new small firms service office in Sheffield.This interest is being sustained by the programme of action for cities working breakfasts, in which this Department is closely involved. These aim to stimulate further private sector involvement in inner city regeneration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many long-term unemployed have been offered help under the restart programme since its inception.

Since 1 July 1985, some 3·5 million interviews have taken place under the restart programme, of which just under 90 per cent. have resulted in an offer of positive help being made.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number of meetings which have taken place between his Department and trade unions, as part of the social dialogue recommended by the European Commission in order to consider the implications of the creation of the EEC internal market by 1992.

There have been no such meetings between this Department and trade unions. The social dialogue consists of discussions between the two sides of industry and is currently conducted at a European level.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is Britain's share of the world market for international conferences and association meetings.

In 1986 (the most recent year for which figures are available) Great Britain had 9 per cent. of the world market for international conferences and association meetings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the criteria in terms of size, equipment, number of employees and other factors, which determine whether the factory inspectorate visits a factory, and the interval between visits.

All factories registered with the Health and Safety Executive are subject to inspection, regardless of size, equipment and number of employees. The factors taken into account in determining when an inspector visits a factory include the factory inspectorate's system of priority assessment for preventive inspection, required remedial action following an earlier visit, an incident, a complaint, necessary special inquiries or a request for advice by the management. There is no fixed period between inspections.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action he is taking to promote single union agreements in industry.

It is for individual employers to decide which unions, if any, they wish to recognise. This is not a matter in which the Government can usefully intervene.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what provisions are being made, in light of recent critical reports, to improve non-statutory training organisations.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 29 March 1988, Official Report, column 412.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the numbers employed in the catering industry, broken down by the categories of hospitals, armed forces, school, institutional and industrial catering.

Figures are not available for the categories specified. The latest available information, which is for December 1987, is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will review the employment implications of the bids by Jacobs Suchard and Nestlé Ltd. for Rowntree plc; and if he will make a statement.

Under the Fair Trading Act 1972 the Director General of Fair Trading has a duty to advise my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether a merger or prospective merger should be referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission for further investigation. The director general takes into account all matters which may raise questions of public interest including any likely significant employment effects of the merger or prospective merger.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what provisions his Department has made for additional funding to be made available for those projects in the community programme which may be unable to generate the funding necessary to meet the costs of the management team salaries and running costs, following the changes in the Manpower Services Commission community programme due to come into force on 5 September; and if he will make a statement.

The funding arrangements for employment training were set out in the White Paper "Training for Employment" (Cm. 316). Higher cost training places, including places on projects carried over from the community programme may attract a supplementary grant of up to £40 a week.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many representations he has received concerning the impending changes in the Manpower Services Commission community programme criteria, due to take place on 5 September; and if he will make a statement.

The community programme and our other provision for unemployed adults will be replaced by employment training from 5 September. My right ho n. Friend has received a number of representations from hon. Members and others about these important proposals to provide quality training for longer-term unemployed people.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to receive the annual report of the Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service.

I have received the ACAS report for 1987, which will be laid before both Houses of Parliament tomorrow. The report is also to be published tomorrow and copies will then be available from the Vote Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many substitute teachers were employed in primary schools in each of the education and library boards in Northern Ireland in each academic year from 1980–81 to 1987–88.

The information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the full-time teacher equivalent based on the number of days for which salary was paid to substitute teachers in primary schools in the financial year 1987–88 (the only year for which figures are available) is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of certificates of work completed in Housing Executive contracts were paid at the date due under the contract conditions during 1986–87; and how many payments were delayed beyond that date.

This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but I have been advised by the chief executive that the information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those recommendations of the Housing Executive committee set up as a result of the Rowland inquiry which have not yet been put into practice.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will raise in the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference the question of police investigations by the Garda Siochána and the Royal Ulster Constabulary in each other's jurisdiction; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 28 April 1988]: We have regularly discussed a wide range of security matters in the Intergovernmental Conference, and will continue to do so. Details of proceedings are generally confidential, except as they are recorded in joint statements issued after each meeting.