asked the Secretary of State for Trade how much aid in grants and loans has been made available to the British tourist industry from the European Community in each year since 1973.

Figures for tourism allocations from the European regional development fund (ERDF) since 1975, when the fund was set up, are as follows:

	£
1975	Nil
1976	51,557
1977	231,602
1978	2,141,130
1979	6,594,669
1980	1,894,825
1981	4,392,736

The bulk of these funds has been committed for tourism infrastructure projects undertaken by local authorities and other public bodies; infrastructure receipts are paid to the authorities concerned to reduce the amount of borrowing needed to finance the projects. The remainder is a contribution towards assistance provided by the national tourist boards under Section 4 of the Development of Tourism Act 1969; these receipts are paid to the Treasury in line with the practice in other EC countries and enables the Government to allocate more funds to tourism projects than would otherwise be the case.The scheme whereby the Government guarantee the exchange risk on European Investment Bank loans for private sector projects in the assisted areas was extended to tourism projects in August 1980. Loans disbursed to date for tourism projects under these arrangements have amounted to:

	£
1981	2,682,000
1982(to date)	2,000,000

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will take steps in order to subject Japanese-built vans to the 11 per cent. ceiling agreement applicable to cars, in view of the fact that such vans took 25.6 per cent. of the United Kingdom market in 1981.

Although shipments from Japan of light commercial vehicles have been declining since 1980, the Japanese share of the United Kingdom market rose from 12-7 per cent. in 1980 to 18.8 per cent. in 1981. Within this category, the Japanese share for non-car-derived vans rose from 16.1 per cent. to 25.6 per cent. Following the talks last November between the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and its Japanese counterpart, the overall Japanese share of the United Kingdom market for light commercial vehicles is expected to be much smaller this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the value of United Kingdom exports to other member States of the European Economic Community in manufactured products of classes of goods which are protected by the common external tariff in the last accounting period of 12 months for which figures are available.

I regret that this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what progress has been made within the European Community on the dismantling of non-tariff barriers to trade since the judgment of the European Court in the "Cassis de Dijon" case.

The "Cassis" case and subsequent jurisprudence in the European Court have dismantled only individual non-tariff barriers with which particular cases have been concerned. Nonetheless they open up an eventual prospect of legal action against a number of other barriers throughout the Community. The jurisprudence no doubt also influences both Member States in considering the legitimacy of new national requirements, and the Commission in pursuing complaints against existing ones.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many letters were received from, and written to, hon. Members by Ministers in his Department in January.

Five hundred and ninety-two and 481.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he is satisfied with the working of the aviation security fund; and if he will make a statement about the general provisions for the security of airports in the United Kingdom.

I have decided to undertake a review during the next few months of the way aviation security is organised and financed in the United Kingdom. In particular, I shall be considering

(i)whether the present aviation security fund system remains the best way to finance aviation security measure!; at United Kingdom airports; or whether the present arrangements should be adapted; or whether the fund should be wound up altogether, and airports and airlines simply left to bear their own security costs; and

(ii)whether the present organisation of passenger searching and other security measures at United Kingdom airports, and the present allocation of responsibilities in these fields, can be improved.

I should make clear however that this review will not cover the present standards of security at United Kingdom airports.My officials will be inviting contributions to the review from all sides of the civil aviation industry. I expect to announce the outcome in the summer.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he has received any requests to refer to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission the practice of building societies insisting that insurance on buildings mortgaged should be placed through the agency of the building society; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the Director General of Fair Trading is considering whether it would be appropriate for him to investigate a case involving the practice under the anti-competitive practice provisions of the Competition Act 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) how much public money has been granted or loaned to British Airways, and for what purposes, in each of the last five years;(2) if he was consulted by British Airways when it was in the process of commissioning a review of its operations by Price Waterhouse.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he has any plans for the capital reconstruction of British Airways; and if he will make a statement.

I have no plans at present for the capital reconstruction of British Airways.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether his Department had any discussions with P & O lines about the group's decision to place an £80 million order for a new liner in a Finnish shipyard; what view he takes of this decision; and if he will make a statement.

There were no discussions between my Department and P & O on the order in question. Decisions whether and where to order ships are for the commercial judgement of shipowners.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether one of the criteria applied in the allocation of air route licences is whether or not the company which applies for the route is registered in the United Kingdom.

[pursuant to the reply, 19 February 1982, c. 259]: The criteria are set out in section 22(3) of the Civil Aviation Act 1971, a copy of which is in the Library.

asked the Prime Minister, further to her reply to the right hon. Member for Ebbw Vale (Mr. Foot) on 9 February, Official Report, c. 854, if Her Majesty's Government will study the claim by Amoco Oil Co. Ltd. to have produced lead-free petrol which is compatible with current motor engines; and, if Her Majesty's Government are satisfied with the accuracy of the claim, if she will bring in earlier controls on lead in petrol.

The oil industry could produce lead-free petrol at reduced octane rating now; with additional plant, which would take time to build, it could produce lead-free petrol at maintained octane. However, not many cars in the United Kingdom have hardened valve seats, and very few have low compression engines. Cars without hardened valve seats could not use lead-free petrol in any form, and those with high-compression engines could use it only at maintained octane rating.I saw press reports that Amoco could have produced lead-free petrol for sale here some years ago. The reports in question contained no evidence that the majority of cars in use here at present could operate on such fuel. The company has written to me confirming that it has no plans to produce unleaded petrol in Britain.The Government have decided to require the introduction of petrol with the lowest lead content acceptable for use in existing cars. This is the quickest effective way to reduce lead emissions from cars.

asked the Prime Minister whether, as a matter of policy, she will instruct Government Departments to ensure that a fair share of their newspaper advertising appears in the ethnic minority press.

The basis on which all Government advertising is placed is that the limited funds available must be spent in order to obtain the best possible value for money in terms of the cost of space in relation to the target audience. Successsive Governments have upheld the principle that advertising funds are not spent to subsidise newspapers, whatever their status.Ethnic newspapers are included in advertising schedules when they are required to meet the needs of an individual campaign: and the Central Office of Information is currently discussing with the Commission for Racial Equality a means of establishing objective data about readership and circulation levels of the ethnic press to make possible a more reliable assessment of the coverage that they would contribute to an advertising schedule.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the names and nominating organisation for each appointment made to each area health authority in Wales since June 1979.

I have made the following appointments since June 1979:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is satisfied with British industry's take-up of microtechnology; and whether he intends to take any further initiatives during Information Technology Year.

A survey last year showed that some 30 per cent. of manufacturing companies are using or intending to use microelectronics in products and processes. While this is a considerable improvement over 5 per cent. in 1977, much remains to be done. If British industry does not use these new techniques it will decline. I certainly will be announcing further initiatives in IT year.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what have been the trading losses at British Shipbuilders for each of the last three financial years.

British Shipbuilders' trading losses over the three years 1978–79 to 1980–81, on a historic cost basis and after crediting intervention fund assistance, were £50 million, £110 million and £41 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he expects to be able to announce the terms of the bond to supplement the finances of British Telecom.

I hope an announcement will be possible before too long.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many full-time and Part-time places are childer under the age of five years in day nurseries in each local authority with social services responsibility in Wales.

The information requested is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will take steps to encourage new industries into the South Yorkshire area.

The biggest contribution which the Government can make to help industry is to continue the policies by which we aim to encourage a return to real competitiveness compared with our main competitors overseas, in contrast to the persistent decline over recent years. There is evidence that these are now beginning to work. In addition, most of South Yorkshire is to remain eligible for regional aid providing substantial incentives for industrial investment.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make further arrangements to assist those areas in South Yorkshire where unemployment has reached previously unrecorded levels.

The Government are naturally concerned about the level of unemployment in South Yorkshire, as elsewhere. Our policies are aimed at reducing inflation and restoring competitiveness, which is the only way to provide a secure basis for new jobs. In addition, in South Yorkshire most of the county is and will remain an assisted area.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is satisfied with the results of Her Majesty's Government's regional industrial policies as they affect the Northern region; and if he will make a statement.

A substantial range of aids is available to industry in the Northern region. When the final stage of the Government's 1979 regional policy decisions is implemented on 1 August 1982 the more selective approach will give even greater priority to the needs of the Assisted Areas, especially the North.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will consider granting development area status to the Sandwell-Dudley travel-to-work area in view of the continuing increases in unemployment.

While I recognise that the Dudley and Sandwell travel-to-work area has, in common with many other parts of the West Midlands, suffered a substantial increase in unemployment as a result of the world-wide recession, I am not convinced that the granting of assisted area status would be an appropriate response to the area's present problems.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he is satisfied with present arrangements for auditing the accounts of the nationalised industries for which he is responsible.

I am satisfied with the present arrangements which allow for independent audit by professional firms appointed by my right hon. Friend to standards at least comparable to those expected of large industrial or commercial undertakings in the private sector.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will assist the parishes of Anston, Dinnington, Firbeck Gildingwells, Harthill, Kiverton Park Laughton, Letwell, Thorpe Salvin, Todwick and Woodsetts, in view of the fact that their rates of unemployment exceed 25 per cent. and that their area assisted status has been removed.

Assisted area status, as the hon. Member knows, has always been based on travel-to-work-areas. The parishes concerned are situated in the Sheffield and Maltby travel-to-work-areas. While the Sheffield TTWA is to become non-assisted on 1 August this year, the Maltby TTWA will continue to have intermediate area status.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he expects to issue a licence to the Mercury consortium to establish an additional network in the United Kingdom.

I am pleased to announce that following wide ranging consultations including with British Telecom a licence under section 15 of the British Telecommunications Act 1981 has been issued to enable the Mercury Consortium of Cable and Wireless, British Petroleum, and Barclays Merchant Bank to run an independent telecommunications system within the United Kingdom.In discussion with the Government, BT has accepted the principle of connection between Mercury and the public switched networks and of Mercury's access to separate international circuits. Negotiations between BT and the consortium will now take place to establish the appropriate terms.The terms of the licence are commercially confidential but the licence is valid up to 25 years with provisions for review. In the interests of fair competition and in the public interest generally, the Government have reserved powers in the licence to place the same obligations on Cable and Wireless as on BT and to require royalty payments.The Government are conscious that the establishment of a second network with access to separate international outlet provides the United Kingdom with a virtually unique position in world communications. The BT Act 1981 and the licence have been structured in a way to enable the Government to ensure that both BT and the licensee co-exist and compete to generate new service and job opportunities and to enhance customer choice within the United Kingdom while increasing the national share of the expanding world communications market.I particularly welcome the partnership between the public sector and private capital which is represented in the Mercury Consortium. The combination of the resources of a British oil company, a leading British merchant bank and Cable and Wireless represents a vindication of the policy of new opportunity created by the BT Act 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what has been the percentage change in the level of manufacturing production since May 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he expects an upturn in the total output of the United Kingdom manufacturing industry.

I refer the hon. Members to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave earlier to the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick) and my hon. Friend the Member for Eastleigh (Sir D. Price).

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he expects to announce a decision on further funding of the Airbus A320.

The Government are considering the question of assistance for British Aerospace's participation in the proposed Airbus A320. I cannot yet say when a decision will be reached.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is now able to make a statement on the result of discussions between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of France on the future of Concorde.

As I informed my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, North-West (Mr. Colvin) on 12 February, I hope to meet the French Minister of Transport before Easter to reach conclusions on options being jointly studied by British and French officials. The results of these studies are expected to be presented to the two Governments shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he has yet received any firm indications from the Nissan Company about its intention to establish a motor manufacturing plant in the United Kingdom.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Chester-le-Street (Mr. Radice).

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many television sets have been manufactured in the United Kingdom during the last three years; and whether he is satisfied with the level of manufacturing investment being undertaken in that industry.

I am pleased that many companies in the industry are undertaking significant programmes of investment in both new plant and the development of new products. This investment has been crucial to the industry's strategy for achieving international competitiveness. The following table shows the production of sets over the last three years.

United Kingdom Production of TelevisionSets
	Monochrome	Colour	Sets
			incorporating
			Teletext andl
			or Viewdata
	Thousands	Thousands	Thousands
1979	787	1,693	*
1980	586	1,755	†23
1980‡	437	1,281	*
1981‡	298	1262	76
* See Note 1.
† See Note 2.
‡ To end September.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what further assistance the Government intend to give to the private sector of the steel industry.

The Government have no plans for any assistance in addition to the £22 million scheme announced on 14 December last.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on the prospects for and performance of the aerospace industry.

The aerospace industry continues to make an important contribution to the UK economy in terms of output, employment and exports. The Society of British Aerospace Companies has recently announced United Kingdom aerospace exports exceeding £250 million for the first time in a single month. The industry's prospects will inevitably depend on its continued ability to satisfy market needs and the country's defence procurement requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will take steps to encourage the awareness of young people to industry's importance to the economy.

I am deeply concerned that young people should have an awareness of the importance of industry to the economy and that more of them should be challenged to use their talents in industry. I know my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science shares this commitment; our two Departments work closely to increase mutual understanding and cooperation between industry and education.The Department of Industry has an industry/education unit which actively pursues objectives of bringing an understanding of industry's role in wealth creation to all young people and also encouraging more young people to take up technological and scientific careers in industry. This unit supports specific projects which aim to achieve these objectives, including e.g. teacher secondments into industry, bringing more industrially based case studies into examination syllabi, running the annual Young Engineer for Britain competition, helping for example to set up a new advanced level in industrial studies through the Oxford examining board. It is important that young people should have an understanding of how a business operates both in terms of organisation and finance.You will know also of the Department of Industry Micros in Schools scheme which is helping secondary schools towards the purchase of micro equipment. This very successful scheme aims to help towards bringing literacy to all young people and I am pleased to say we shall be the first county in the world to ensure that all our secondary schools are equipped with at least one microcomputer, and at the same time make provision for relevant teacher training. All these activities help prepare young people for life after full time education and in some cases I hope they will encourage them to think of setting up their own businesses.I can assure my hon. Friend of my intention to continue and extend links between industry and education.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if, in the light of the difficulties experienced by Mr. Mike Rogers in setting up his own letter delivery service, he will amend the terms of the Postal Privilege (Suspension) Order 1981 (S.I., 1981, No. 1483).

No. The requirement of a minimum fee of £1.00 per letter was included in the order so as to strike a reasonable balance between the need to introduce greater competition into certain areas covered by the postal monopoly and the need to bear in mind the statutory obligation of the Post Office to offer a letter service throughout the United Kingdom. The Post Office has no monopoly of parcel deliveries.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will take steps to provide assistance to stimulate the traditional industries of the city of Leicester

Assistance is available under national schemes to projects in the Leicester area which meet the necessary criteria, and has been offered for 15 projects there since May 1979. However, the best prospects for stimulating the traditional industries of Leicester, and industry generally, lie in the efforts of firms to produce the right goods at the right prices. The Government have taken many steps to create an environment in which firms can more readily achieve that goal.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether his Department had any discussions with P & O Lines about the placing of its recent order for an £80 million cruise liner; what was the view of his Department; and if he will make a statement.

My Department has had no discussions with P& O about this order. The choice of

Halifax travel-to-work-area
Industry Act 1972	Total number of	Value of offer made/	Number of offers not	Value of offer made
	offers made	RDG Payments	accepted	RDG Payments
		£		£
(i) Section 7	25	1,654,000	1	63,000
(ii) Section 8	31	294,000	6	6,000
(iii) Regional development grants (See Note (ii))	—	1,397,000	—	—
		3,345,000

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he has yet completed his consideration of the request by the North-East Lancashire Development Association for development area status for north-east Lancashire; and, if so, with what result.

No, but as part of that consideration my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has agreed to meet a deputation from the North-East Lancashire Development Association (NELDA) in the near future to discuss the problems in the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy with whom he is discussing the possibilities of international collaboration on the fast reactor programme; and when he expects to be able to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he plans any new policy initiatives on the regional development of industry.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Flint, East (Mr. Jones).

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will provide a breakdown of the sum of £3,345,000 in aid which has been offered to, or accepted by, firms in Halifax since May 1979 referred to on 16 February, Official Report, c.263, indicating how much of it was offered and not accepted, and what reason was given for not accepting the offers.

The following is the information requested:

Exploratory talks have been initiated with the United States and French Governments on the possibility of fast reactor collaboration. I will keep the House informed of developments.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many appendix B applications have been submitted to his Department in respect of fields in the North Sea; and what are the total recoverable reserves involved therein.

Twenty-six annex B applications have been submitted to date to my Department in respect of North Sea oil fields. The Department estimates that the recoverable reserves of these fields amounts to 1,490 million tonnes; in addition some 45 million tonnes of condensate are associated with the fields.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will take steps to introduce a payment to those miners suffering from pneumoconiosis who are classified as workmen's compensation commuted cases and make a similar payment to surviving widows of such cases.

As I told the House during the Second Reading of the Coal Industry Bill on 2 February 1982—[Vol. 17, c. 203.]—the Government are currently considering this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will place in the Library details of those research projects sponsored by his Department at each university institution in the United Kingdom, specifying the exact nature of each project.

Yes. I will provide the information for financial year 1981–82 as soon as it can be assembled.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state for each year from 1970 to the latest available date, the total numbers of homicides for the United Kingdom and the Northern region, respectively.

The information readily available for the police force areas which comprise the Northern region and comparable figures for England and Wales are published annually in "Criminal statistics, England and Wales" (table S. 3.1 of the supplementary tables 1980, Vol. 3). More detailed information on homicides in England and Wales as a whole is to be found in chapter 4 of "Criminal statistics, England and Wales, 1980" (Cmnd. 8376). Information for Scotland, which is on a different basis of counting, is published in "Criminal statistics, Scotland" (table 3.1 of the volume for 1979, Cmnd. 8215) and for Northern Ireland on another basis in "Digest of statistics, Northern Ireland" (table 54 of the volume for 1980).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which would be the feeder prison if the proposal to situate the Crown courts in Luton were accepted.

A number of factors would have to be taken into account, including the effect on overcrowding at the establishments concerned, and no decision has so far been taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the research programme designed to find an acceptable non-animal alternative to the LD 50 and Draize test, and of the fact that certain manufacturers of cosmetics and pharmaceutical products have made significant contributions to the cost of the project, Her Majesty's Government will consider making a contribution; and if he will make a statement.

The Government have no plans to contribute towards the cost of such a project. We are advised by the Medical Research Council that alternatives to the use of live animals are best developed by scientists in the course of their own work. The Government regularly urge licensees under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 to give thought to the possibilities. The advisory committee which reported on the LD50 test in 1979 concluded that "at the present time for the proper safety evaluation of new substances some acute and chronic toxicity tests must be carried out on whole live animals" and made recommendations for the additional protection of the animals which have been acted upon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will amend the law to ensure that reasons must be given for rejecting a juror in order to limit the number required to be kept in reserve at public expense;(2) if he will seek to amend the Juries Act to ensure that no person who has been convicted of an indictable offence, other than a traffic offence, for which a term of imprisonment is an option open to the sentencing judge, shall be eligible for jury service for a period of 10 years.

My right hon. Friend is considering whether any changes are called for in the law relating to disqualification for jury service and related matters. He will take both of my hon. Friend's proposals into account.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the use of proportional representation in the next European Assembly elections.

We are waiting for the proposals for a uniform electoral system which the European Parliament is required under the Treaty of Rome to submit to the Council of Ministers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the gross emoluments, including any allowances, that were paid to Dr. A. Clift for each of the fiscal years since his suspension to date; and whether the suspension is still in force.

The total salary and allowances paid or due to Dr. Clift since his suspension from duty are as follows:

	£
1977–78 (part)	4,535
1978–79	8,839
1979–80	10,439
1980–81	13,029
1981–82 (to 1
March 1982	12,894

Dr. Clift remains suspended from duty until his last day of service, 1 March 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement about the date for closure of the Sopley refugee camp;

On 15 February 1982 there were 563 Vietnamese refugees in Sopley reception centre awaiting resettlement. Current rates of resettlement of refugees from reception centres, which depend upon the availability of resettlement housing, suggest that it will not be possible to close Sopley before the autumn.The Home Office has no interest in Sopley beyond its use as a reception centre. Upon closure, it will be returned to the Ministry of Defence from whom it has been temporarily loaned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library details of those research projects sponsored by his Department at each university institution in the United Kingdom, specifying the exact nature of each project.

Details of social science research projects sponsored at universities by the Home Office research unit—now the research and planning unit—are contained in the unit's "Programme of Research 1981–82", a copy of which is in the Library. I will write to the hon. Member about other research.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give for each of the calendar years 1950, 1960, 1970 and 1980 the total number of serious offences, that is to say offences which before 1979 would have been known as indictable, known to the police and the percentage of those convicted by any court of such offences who were sentenced to immediate imprisonment; and if he will further give the percentage of those convicted by any court of such offences who were given suspended sentences in 1970 and 1980.

We will reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the average daily prison population for each of the calendar years 1950, 1960, 1970 and 1980.

The daily average population of Prison Department establishments in England and Wales was as follows:

Year	Number
1950	20,474
1960	27,099
1970	39,028
1980	42,109

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the result of his re-examination of the use of X-rays to assess the age of prospective immigrants.

I asked the Chief Medical Officer, Sir Henry Yellowlees, to re-examine this question in the light of the reaction to the earlier findings set out in his report of April 1980. He has now advised me that, although t he risk from bone X-ray examinations remains negligible, they are unlikely to provide more accurate evidence of age than the assessment of other physical characteristics of an individual, and therefore can add little to the general clinical examination of which they form one part.In consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, I have therefore concluded that such X-ray examinations are of limited value and their continued use in the immigration context can no longer be justified. Accordingly, instructions have been issued that X-rays should no longer be used for this purpose at our posts abroad and similar advice is being conveyed to those doctors concerned in the United Kingdom. I am placing copies of the advice from the Chief Medical Officer in the Library of the House

asked the Attorney-General when he next expects to meet the Director of Public Prosecutions.

I have regular meetings with the Director of Public Prosecutions during which different aspects of prosecution policy are discussed.

asked the Attorney-General whether he has now reached his decision whether to refer the decision in Regina v Arthur to the Court of Appeal under section 36 of the Criminal Justice Act 1972.

No.

asked the Attorney-General in what percentage of complaints made against the police in the last full year or other period for which figures are available alleging assault, the Director of Public Prosecutions has initiated prosecution of the policeman concerned.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answer which I gave to an identical question on 25 January 1982.

asked the Attorney-General if he will introduce legislation to provide an automatic and facilitated right to civil damages for victims of rape.

Victims of rape, like victims of any other wrongful action, already have an unqualified right to claim civil damages including aggravated damages. Additionally, since rape is a crime of violence, victims may recover compensation under the criminal injuries compensation scheme. There is thus no need for special legislation limited to this class of victim.

asked the Attorney-General if he will publish tables showing the numbers of applications for legal aid in magistrates courts in the Metropolitan Police area in 1980 with the numbers granted and refused, distinguishing between summary offences, summary trials of indictable offences and committal proceedings.

The numbers of applications for legal aid granted and refused for all magistrates' courts

Applications for and refusals of legal aid for proceedings in magistrates' and juvenile courts in the Metropolitan area.
Number of Applications—1980]
	Committal proceedings			Summary trials
		Indictable/triable-		Summary offences
		either-way offences
	Total	Refused	Total	Refused	Total	Refused
Inner London and City of London
Guildhall	83	—	196	4	43	20
Mansion House	68	4	177	6	62	25
Bow Street	445	1	2,176	382	601	251
Camberwell Green	754	—	2,245	80	586	185
Clerkenwell	581	1	1,792	113	67	7
Greenwich	536	—	1,372	242	191	124
Hampstead	109	—	558	12	49	16
Highbury Comer	779	106	1,075	267	671	292
Inner London Juvenile	202	—	3,841	81	829	99
Horseferry Road	434	3	2,111	279	708	309
Marlborough Street	354	1	1,855	233	255	60
Marylebone	932	114	2,301	203	122	33
Old Street	293	11	879	67	35	29
South Western	928	37	1,660	86	399	131
Thames	336	1	928	28	264	97
Tower Bridge	382	7	1,134	198	325	155
Wells Street	17	2	188	32	129	47
West London (Southcombe Street)	615	—	1,111	141	868	121
West London (Walton Street)	1	—	2	—	20	5
Woolwich	378	5	699	96	62	52
Total Inner London	8,227	293	26,300	2,550	6,286	2,058
Outer London
Barnet	53	—	208	51	64	53
Barking	196	3	872	290	206	111
Bexley	110	—	688	6	238	65
Brentford and Ealing	346	1	2,052	381	767	331
Bromley	83	1	1,307	58	326	132
Cheshunt	11	—	216	8	40	14
Croydon	186	—	1,681	115	646	201
Dartford	94	4	363	28	146	86
Dorking	2	—	247	19	72	12
Edmonton	553	39	1,661	215	679	437
Epping and Ongar	83	2	335	52	138	79
Epsom	55	—	289	13	49	14
Esher and Walton	77	—	266	41	45	19
Gore	365	9	820	234	272	133
Havering	200	—	770	24	195	111
Highgate	211	25	609	206	147	93
Kingston-upon-Thames	30	1	628	82	137	75
Newham	393	1	2,156	329	562	296
New Spelthorne	63	1	223	31	66	20
Redbridge	23	—	1,042	278	289	147
Richmond-upon-Thames	219	11	705	159	186	124
South Mimms	26	—	130	29	40	18
Staines and Sunbury-on-Thames	105	1	342	116	80	37
Sutton	44	—	168	55	85	33
Uxbridge	416	58	1,207	428	227	175
Wallington	124	2	412	116	103	55
Waltham Forest	584	—	2,242	275	6	—
Watford	84	—	772	6	335	61
Willesden	385	1	1,178	103	307	171
Acton	82	1	611	102	98	57
Wimbledon	80	2	349	60	110	63
Total Outer London	5,283	163	24,549	3,910	6,661	3,223
Total	13,510	456	50,849	6,460	12,947	5,281

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many students from Wales have attended Welsh universities in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement;(2) how many students from Wales have attended English universities in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

The information requested is as follows:

Students domiciled in Wales attending English Universities
	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81
Undergraduates	5,847	6,092	6,263
Postgraduates	710	675	737
TOTAL	6,557	6,767	7,000

Student domiciled in Wales attending the University of wales
	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81
Undergraduates	5,167	5,170	5,349
Postgraduates	1,020	1,095	1,081
TOTAL	6,187	6,265	6,430

The figures for the current academic year are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will place in the Library details of those research projects sponsored by his Department at each university institution in the United Kingdom, specifying the exact nature of each project.

Yes. A list of educational research projects being supported in 1981 by the Department of Education and Science, including projects being carried out in university departments, will be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) whether he has received representations seeking the return of the beard of the Sphinx presently in the British Museum;(2) whether he will discuss with the board of trustees of the British Museum the desirability of acceding to the request of the Egyptian Government for the return of the beard of the Sphinx to be reattached to its head and body outside Cairo.

I have received no formal representations about the return of the Spinx's beard which would in any case be a matter for the trustees of the British Museum. The matter was, however, mentioned during the recent amicable talks that I had with the Egyptian Minister for Culture. I understand that he has discussed the plans for the conservation and repair of the Sphinx with the British Museum. Any further action is a matter for the British Museum trustees and the Egyptian authorities. I know that the trustees and the Egyptian authorities are very anxious to continue their friendly co-operation which has existed for many years.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what legislative provisions govern the definition of the mouth of a river in Northern Ireland; and if he will bring forward proposals for the amendment of the law.

Section 16 of the Fisheries Act4, (Northern Ireland) 1966 empowers the Department of Agriculture to define, by order, the mouth of any river in Northern Ireland, other than a river in the Foyle area. Section 13 of the Foyle Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1952 similarly empowers the Foyle Fisheries Commission to define, by regulations, the mouth of any river within the Foyle area. There are no plans at present to amend these provisions. The mouths of all the important salmon rivers are defined in subordinate legislation and the need for redefinition is kept under review. I understand that the redefining of the mouth of the River Roe is currently being considered by the Foyle Fisheries Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he is satisfied that the extent of the sea areas adjacent to the mouths of rivers in Northern Ireland in which netting of migratory fish is prohibitied is sufficient to afford the necessary degree of protection to such fish.

I am satisfied that the existing statutory prohibitions on the use of nets for salmon fishing in areas adjacent to river mouths are adequate. Provision exists for the imposition of additional prohibitions by means of statutory rules where these are considered necessary.