asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether "recent … initiatives designed to foster co-operation" between NATO member states, including particularly the "European Pillar" states, is to include, "research, development, production and procurement" of equipment to enable those countries to verify Soviet compliance with arms control agreements, and if not why not.

There have been no specific initiatives in this area but we would not exclude such co-operation in the future. Any co-operation would depend on the specific nature of the verification regime agreed for each arms control agreement and the obligations assumed by the Soviet Union in relation to the European states.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether within the "further development of a comprehensive concept of arms control and disarmament", referred to in the declaration of the NATO Heads of State and Government of March 1988, consideration is being given to the need for the "European Pillar" member states to participate in the verification of arms control agreements relating to Europe.

NATO has always emphasised the importance of securing an effective verification regime tailored to meet the specific provisions of each arms control agreement. This will continue to be a major consideration in alliance discussions of arms control. European members of the alliance participate in the verification of existing arms control agreements to which they are parties, such as the provisions for inspections in the Stockholm Document. They will continue to do so in any such future agreements.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the establishment of the British Railways police attached for service with London Transport on 1st January 1978, 1983 and 1987 respectively; and whether, and if so when, that unit was 1ast inspected by one of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary.

The police establishment of the relevant division of the British Transport Police on these dates were:

1978	1983	1987
152	270	350

The latest full inspection of this division by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary took place between December 1979 and January 1980 as part of the inspection of the British Transport Police. I understand that arrangements are in hand for a full independent inspection of the British Transport Police later this year by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they permit the export of equipment that might be used for repression or torture; and if so what is the scale of such exports and whether they take into account before permitting the exports the human rights records of recipient country.

The human rights record of the country concerned is taken into account in considering all applications for licences under the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1987 (SI 1987, No. 2070) for the export of equipment used in connection with repression or torture. It has been the practice of successive governments not to make public details of export licences applied for or granted.