asked Her Majesty's Government:How many coal mines were operating under the National Coal Board and British Coal during each of the years 1967–1970 and 1984–1987 and to the nearest date in 1988; what was the total manpower in each of those years, and what was the annual output in each of those years and the output per man shift?

The information requested by the noble Lord is as follows:

asked Her Majesty's Government:When, following the announccement by the Secretary of State for Defence on 20th October 1987 in another place, they intend to publish the findings of the internal inquiry conducted by the Director General of the Meteorological Office into the weather forecasts that the Meteorological Office made in the period preceding the storms of Thursday 15th/Friday 16th October over Southern England, and when they intend publishing the report prepared by Sir Peter Swinnerton-Dyer, FRS, and Professor Robert Pearce.

Sir Peter Swinnerton-Dyer and Professor Pearce presented their report in January. They considered the findings of the internal inquiry by the director general. Their report found that the lack of adequate public warning occurred because uncertainty about atmospheric conditions in the Biscay area led to a lack of agreement between computer forecasts and, although no individual was seriously to blame for this, because the forecasters did not recognise that the computer forecasts would underestimate the speed of the wind over Britain. Their report recommends changes in training forecasters, the use of more senior staff for forecasting, enhanced computer and associated facilities, and changes in methods of working (including the way in which weather information is presented by the media).In saying all this, their report endorses the findings and recommendations of the director general's report which are concerned in particular with the need for more and better observations, for developments in the computer models and for a review of the procedures for handling severe weather warnings to the emergency authorities. We have accepted all the recommendations of both reports, and, where further action is required, it will be taken as soon as possible. Copies of both reports are being published; and copies have been placed in the Library of each House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in view of Senator Nunn's proposals for developing anti-missile devices which could be deployed so as to "produce options for limited deployments to deal with the frightening possibility of an accidental or unauthorised missile launch", such deployment or the probable Soviet reaction to it would require them to obtain larger numbers of Trident missiles, if available.

This is a hypothetical question. No developments in Soviet anti-ballistic missile defences are foreseen which are likely to negate the deterrent effect of the Trident force during the lifetime of the system.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many industrial designs were registered in total in 1987 and whether they will indicate the numbers of such designs in each major industrial category.

A total of 7,040 industrial designs were registered last year. The five largest categories accounting for over 50 per cent. of the applications received were: measuring, identifying and computing instruments (912); containers (833); radio and audio/visual electronic devices (800); games and toys (714); furniture (661); and displaying etc. (600).

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many of the industrial designs registered in 1987 would have been denied protection if the Copyright, Designs and Patents Bill as amended in Committee in this House had been enacted in 1986.

The information requested by the noble Lord could only be provided at disproportionate cost. However, we estimate that some 15 per cent. of the designs which were registered in 1987 would not have been registered if the Copyright, Designs and Patents Bill as amended in Committee had been enacted in 1986. It is not possible to say how many of these registrations would be held not to be valid registrations under the Registered Designs Act 1949.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How the proposed move of the Patent Office to Newport in South Wales will affect the operation of the Designs Registry.

The main business of the Designs Registry is carried out by correspondence and will be unaffected by the move. However, the registry will maintain a small public office in London for receiving applications, dealing with register inquiries and holding hearings. The search and examination work will, of course, be done from the main office in Wales.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether a study has been made of the effect that the proposed changes to the criteria for registering designs will have on British obligations to other countries.

No such study has been made because the proposed changes to the criteria for registering designs will have no effect on British obligations to other countries.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What consideration they have given to furthering mutual assistance in criminal matters between the United Kingdom and other countries.

At present the United Kingdom can provide only limited assistance to other countries in the investigation and prosecution of criminal offences. Unlike most other European states, we are not a party to any treaties or conventions establishing mutual assistance arrangements of wide scope. The assistance we receive from other countries is inevitably limited by our inability to offer them the full assistance which we would wish. The nature of much crime—terrorism, drugs, fraud, kidnapping, racketeering, etc., has been increasingly international and we must play our part in combating it.In November 1986, my right honourable friend the Home Secretary set up an inter-departmental group of officials to review the position. They have concluded that there are strong arguments in favour of legislation which would enable us to accede to the European Convention on Mutual Assistance, implement the scheme relating to mutual assistance in criminal matters within the Commonwealth adopted at Harare in 1986, and enter into bilateral arrangements of a similar nature.The proposals are outlined in a discussion paper which has been issued today. Copies have been sent to a wide range of interested organisations, and I have placed a copy in the Library. The Government would welcome the views of Peers and others on the group's proposals, and we shall be glad to receive comments by 30th April.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether there is reason to believe that goods-carrying vehicles on board the "Herald of Free Enterprise" were carrying goods of a type prohibited from carriage on passenger vessels despite such goods not being disclosed on the manifest.

My department has been informed by the Belgian authorities that they discovered that one lorry on board the "Herald of Free Enterprise" was carrying a number of substances in drums and other small containers which were prohibited from carriage on a passenger ship. I understand that these substances had been wrongly declared by the consignor.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress towards the privatisation of the Crown Suppliers has been made.

I announced on 3rd February that it was intended to invite bids for those of the Crown Suppliers' businesses which can be undertaken on a normal commercial basis. We expect soon to appoint a financial institution to advise on the best method of effecting the sale.