asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her public engagements for Tuesday 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 July.

(Leith) asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official duties for 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 July.

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others, including one with representatives of the Trades Union Congress. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I hope to have an audience of Her Majesty the Queen.

asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied with the standard of management within the Civil Service.

No. Some managers do very well indeed. But we are working hard to raise the general standard across the service as a whole.

asked the Prime Minister when she next expects to meet the Trades Union Congress.

I had a meeting with representatives of the Trades Union Congress this morning. I have no immediate plans to hold further meetings with the congress, but am available should it want a further meeting.

asked the Prime Minister whether she has any plans to meet representatives of the Confederation of British Industry.

Not at present.

asked the Prime Minister when next she intends to meet representatives of the Confederation of British Industry.

I have no immediate plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister how many times since coming into office she has met the Confederation of British Industry, and the Trades Union Congress.

Since coming into office I have had 11 official meetings with representatives of the Trades Union Congress, including meetings with the Wales TUC and the Northern Ireland TUC, and seven with representatives of the Confederation of British Industry. I do, of course, meet representatives of both organisations informally from time to time.

asked the Prime Minister when next she intends to meet other European Heads of State and Government.

In early December at the European Council meeting.

asked the Prime Minister if she will meet a delegation from the council of the London borough of Bromley to discuss the effect of the rate support grant formula on the borough.

This is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. I have no doubt that he or one of his departmental colleagues would be prepared to meet a deputation from the council.

asked the Prime Minister if she remains satisfied with the level of capital expenditure allocation for regional airports.

Yes. The total public expenditure provision in 1982–83 for capital investment by local authorities at regional airports amounts to £41·6 million. It represents the largest approved capital expenditure programme of its kind since the war, and compares with an annual average capital expenditure of £3 million in the years 1976–77 to 1978–79 and over £23 million in the years 1979–80 to 1981–82.

asked the Prime Minister, in view of the refusal of the South-West water authority to lease unoccupied offices of the district health authority in Exeter and instead to erect a new building, if she will set up procedures to require public utilities to establish that no suitable public buildings are unoccupied before erecting new offices.

It is already our policy to ensure that land no longer needed by public bodies is publicly identified on land registers and disposed of as soon as practicable. I agree entirely that public bodies needing accommodation should always consider first whether their requirements could be met by existing buildings listed on these registers or otherwise advertised as available. I am not however convinced that it is necessary to go so far as to impose a general procedure for advance scrutiny of this kind.In the case of the new headquarters building for the South-West water authority, we did, in fact, invite the authority to consider the former health authority offices at Renslade House. However, this option turned out to be more expensive than a new building; the house was not big enough; and the facilities were inadequate.

asked the Prime Minister, in view of the use by Government Departments of the terms "white" and "coloured" people, whether she will issue an instruction that Africans, West Indians, Nigerians, Indians and Pakistanis, and other groups should not be classified together as coloured but given their appropriate racial classification in all official Government publications and statements.

No. A variety of classifications of population are already in common use and the different circumstances in which it may be necessary to describe a population are so various that I am not persuaded that a hard and fast rule would be desirable.

asked the Prime Minister which Government Departments will be involved in the preparation of the new civil defence regulations.

All Government Departments with responsibilities for civil defence planning will be involved in considering new civil defence regulations. The lead will be taken by the home Departments.

asked the Prime Minister whether the full text of the communiqué of 5 October 1979, referred to in her answer to the right hon. Member for Down, South of 20 July 1982, Official Report, c. 112, was issued to the British press and placed in the Library of the House at the time.

The full text was issued to the press at the time of the meeting. The communiqué was referred to in newspapers the following day. It was placed in the Library of the House only in connection with the right hon. Member's question, which I answered on 20 July.—[Vol. 28, c. 112.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how much money was received and how much money went uncollected in each of the health authorities in Wales, for services and beds taken up by private patients for each year since May 1979.

Income from private resident patients and from private out-patients in 1979–80 and 1980–81 was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, further to his reply of 16 July, Official Report, c. 475, concerning employees in employment in Wales, when he expects to obtain this information for the period since 1978; and what were the reasons why the information was not available.

The annual census of employment which was undertaken in June of each year was not undertaken in 1979 and 1980 for economy reasons. Figures at local level, which can only be derived from that source, will not be available for the years in question. The census was reinstated in September 1981 and it is hoped that national and regional figures will be available at the end of the year: local figures will be made available as soon as possible thereafter.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make available the report of the Welsh medical committee working party on cardio-thoracic services in Wales.

I have placed a copy of the report, with a copy of the report of a Welsh Office study team, in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what changes there have been in the ratio of unfulfilled exports orders to export sales of capital goods in the United Kingdom between 1972 and the latest available date in terms of a month's sales; and how the figures compare with the corresponding figures for Germany.

The information requested (except for the year 1972) is as follows. It should be noted that the engineering series includes improvements to the method of deflation and consequently the values given are not completely consistent with previous answers. Values for 1972 are not available on this revised basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will initiate discussions with firms producing asbestos to assist in their transference into asbestos substitutes and to provide alternative jobs for ex-asbestos workers.

I shall reply to the right hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he expects to announce details of the European Economic Community non-quota aid scheme for shipbuilding areas, which was signed in Brussels on 21 July.

I am pleased to report that the special programme of Community aid to certain United Kingdom shipbuilding areas has now been formally approved by the Commission of the European

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what financial assistance is available to British shipowners to enable them to have their ships built in British yards.

The home shipbuilding credit guarantee scheme under section 10 of the Industry Act 1972 makes credit available to United Kingdom shipowners ordering in United Kingdom yards. The current terms provide for credit of 80 per cent. of contract price repayable over up to eight and a half years from delivery at a fixed interest rate of 7·5 per cent. United Kingdom shipowners ordering in United Kingdom yards benefit from the home shipbuilding credit guarantee scheme under which credit is made available at 80 per cent. of contract price repayable at maximum, over eight and a half years from delivery, at a fixed interest rate of 7·5 per cent. These terms match the most favourable terms available to United Kingdom owners ordering abroad under the OECD export credit Understanding for ships. Prices for ships quoted by the United Kingdom shipbuilding industry also take into account the availability of intervention fund assistance.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if any systematic studies have been made or are available to him of the possible effects on United Kingdom employment, output and trade of changes in the relationship of the United Kingdom and the European Economic Community, including, among other possibilities, the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Economic Community; and if he will make such studies available in the Library.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if Her Majesty's Government will give financial assistance for the replacement of the "Atlantic Conveyor" to enable it to be built in a British shipyard.

The Government already provide considerable assistance to British Shipbuilders. Since coming to office they have advanced sums approaching £600 million to the corporation. However, discussions are taking place with Cunard about possible ways of closing the price gap between British Shipbuilders' offer and its competitors' bids.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he proposes to issue a general licence under section 15 of the British Telecommunications Act 1981, authorising companies to supply telecommunications value added services in competition with British Telecom.

My Department is today seeking the views of the consultative committee on telecommunications on a draft general licence for telecommunications value added network services. I am requesting written comments on the draft from any interested party before 15 August. I hope to issue the licence as soon as possible after these consultations have been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the extent of British involvement in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic's natural gas pipeline from Siberia to member countries of the European Economic Community.

I have been asked to reply.I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for West Stirlingshire (Mr. Canavan) on 19 July.—[Vol. 28, c. 14.]

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if the special study which he commissioned on the consequences of a terrorist attack on an irradiated nuclear fuel flask has been completed; and if he will make a statement.

In May 1980 my hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Thames (Mr. Lamont), commissioned a special study on the vulnerability to sabotage of a flask containing irradiated fuel while in transit and on the possible consequences to the local population. This study has now been completed. It is a comprehensive assessment covering both the security aspects and the safety aspects of an attack on a fuel flask in transit.While it would be imprudent for security reasons to publish the study, I can inform the House that the results have confirmed the initial assessment that my hon. Friend gave in answer to a question from the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Lewis) on 15 November 1979.—[Vol. 993, c. 723–24.] They show that even under a most adverse combination of circumstances these flasks would not give rise to any significant hazard to the local population. I am satisfied that the existing arrangements, which I shall continue to keep under review, are adequate to protect public safety against any consequences of such an attack and that there are no grounds for altering them.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether discussions are still proceeding on the proposal for supply of plutonium for use in the United States fast breeder programme; and what stage has been reached in negotiations.

There have been no further developments since my statement in the debate initiated by the hon. Member on 21 December 1981. There have been no negotiations.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will make a further statement about the uses to which the United States of America put the plutonium exported to it in the period up to 1971.

As explained in my answer to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr. Cook) on 1 April, the United Kingdom Government was informed by the United States Government in 1964 that plutonium produced in the generating boards' Magnox reactors and consigned to the United States before 1971 under the United Kingdom/United States defence agreement would be for civil purposes. The United States authorities have recently confirmed to us that the bulk of the material in question is in the form of "coupons" for the zero energy fast reactor critical assembly and in the core of fast flux test facility. Both of these are part of the United States fast reactor programme. A sizeable quantity was used to make Californium for medical purposes. The remaining small quantity is in use for experimental purposes elsewhere in the civil programme, for example at Argonne and Battelle. it is therefore clear that the assurance given to the United Kingdom Government in 1964 has been fulfilled.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will not authorise any extensions of opencast coal mining in South Yorkshire.(2) if, in view of the despoilation of the mining areas in South Yorkshire, he will make it his practice to refuse all applications from the Opencast Executive to extend opencast mining operations which are referred to him for final determination.

I shall continue to deal with applications from the NCB for authorisations under section 1 of the Opencast Coal Act 1958 on their merits.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make available to the House a daily copy of the transcript of the Sizewell B inquiry.

Yes. Arrangements are being made to place a copy of the daily transcript of the Sizewell B inquiry in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the current annual rate of public expenditure in alternative, non-nuclear, energy sources in each of the EEC countries, converted as near as possible to £ sterling at the present rate of exchange.

[pursuant to his oral reply, 26 July 1982, c. 728]: Preliminary figures from the IEA show the following Government expenditure on renewables in 1981:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the individual organisations and bodies he is consulting in connection with his stated intention to remove the prohibition on the private supply of electricity at a main business.

[pursuant to his reply, 26 July 1982, c. 371]: Following is the list:

• Advisory Council on Energy Conservation
• Area Electricity Boards (including Scotland and Northern Ireland)
• Association of County Councils
• Association of District Councils
• Association of Metropolitan Authorities
• Association of Scottish Chambers of Commerce
• British Electrical and Allied Manufacturers Association Ltd.
• British Gas Corporation
• British Nuclear Fuels Ltd.
• Central Electricity Generating Board
• Chemical Industries Association Ltd.
• Confederation of British Industry
• District Heating Association
• Electricity Consumers' Council
• Electricity Council
• Employees' National Committee (representing electricity supply industry unions)
• Greater London Council
• Highlands and Islands Development Board
• Institute of Energy
• Institution of Electrical Engineers
• Institution of Mechanical Engineers
• London Boroughs Association
• National Association of Local Councils
• National Coal Board
• National Society for Clean Air
• North and South of Scotland Electricity Consultative Councils
• Scottish Landowners Federation
• Slough Estates
• Trades Union Congress
• United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
• Windpower and Co. Limited

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish a Keeling schedule bringing up to date part II of schedule 2 and part II of schedule 3 to the Petroleum and Submarine Pipe-lines Act 1975 in the form these schedules would have when schedule 2 of the Oil and Gas (Enterprise) Bill has been enacted; and if he will issue consolidated regulations similarly bringing up to date schedules 4 and 5 to the Petroleum (Production) Regulations 1976 as proposed to be amended by the Oil and Gas (Enterprise) Bill.

[pursuant to his reply, 18 January 1982, c. 9]: Consolidated Petroleum (Production) Regulations were laid before Parliament on 22 July and will come into operation on 16 August. These regulations will govern the arrangements for the eighth round of offshore production licensing as well as future landward licences.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Her Majesty's Government accept the recommendations on prosecution arrangements made by the Royal Commission on criminal procedure in part II of its report; and whether they have any proposals for early action on this matter.

The Royal Commission found the existing prosecution arrangements in England and Wales to be deficient in respect of fairness, openness, accountability and efficiency. It considered whether the right course would be to set up an independent prosecution service organised on a national basis, on the lines of the procurator fiscal service in Scotland, but rejected this option because it believed that, if applied on the much larger scale appropriate to England and Wales, such an organisation would prove bureaucratic and top heavy. Its preference was for a locally based system, and it recommended that statutory provision should be made for the appointment of a Crown prosecutor for each police area, with the following functions: the conduct of all criminal cases once the decision to initiate proceedings had been taken by the police, with discretion to alter or drop charges; the provision of legal advice to the police on prosecution matters; and the provision of advocates in the magistrates' court, to the exclusion of the police, and briefing of counsel in the Crown court. At local level the Crown prosecutor would be accountable to a police and prosecutions authority. At national level my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General would have responsibility for prosecution policy, and he or I would have responsibilities with regard to the administration and finance of the prosecution service similar to those which I have in relation to the police.The Government recognise that there is a strong case in principle for establishing in some form a prosecution service independent of the police. At the same time we have to bear in mind the need to contain public expenditure and public service manpower, and to ensure that any changes made or planned keep within the limits of available resources. Moreover, we share the reservations which have been widely expressed, not least in the debate in this House last November, about the Royal Commission's proposals on how such a service should be organised and controlled. These proposals envisaged that a Crown prosecutor for each police area should be appointed by a local supervisory authority, subject to central Government approval, and should be accountable to that authority not only on administrative matters but also, in what the Royal Commission called an "explanatory" mode, for this general policy. We share the misgivings that appear to be widely felt about whether these proposals would be workable, and about the effect that they might have on the independence of prosecutors' decisions.However, the alternative of a service organised on a national basis raises quite a different set of problems which were not examined by the Royal Commission in any detail, and which have not otherwise received the study that they require. At present the only national prosecuting agency dealing with crime in general is the department of the Director of Public Prosecutions, dealing with a relatively small number of cases, though they include the most important. An expansion of the Director's responsibilities to take in all prosecutions, regardless of their importance, would mean a dramatic change in the nature of the Director's office and in the size and organisation of his Department. There would be implications, too, for the nature and extent of the Law Officers' accountability to Parliament for prosecution decisions. There would also be some danger, as the Royal Commission feared, of creating a bureaucratic and too heavy structure. For these reasons it would, in the Government's opinion, be unwise to dismiss altogether the concept of a prosecution system organised on a local basis: there may be alternatives to the Royal Commission's scheme which would avoid the dangers both of over-centralisation and of the kind of local accountability which the Commission proposed.For the purpose of carrying out a further analysis and study of these problems, the Government proposes to reappoint the working party on prosecution arrangements which last year carried out a preliminary assessment for Ministers of Part II of the Royal Commission's report. This is a working party of officials under Home Office chairmanship, comprising also representatives of the Lord Chancellor's and Law Officers' Departments, and including the Director of Public Prosecutions. Given that the Government do not find the Royal Commission's proposals acceptable as they stand, the working party's task now will be to advise Ministers on what would be the best model for the organisation of an independent prosecution service on some other basis; what problems would arise and how best they could be solved; and what the resource implications would be. They will not be limited to considering organisation on a national basis, but will be able also to examine local, regional and ether possible forms; and they will carry out their tasks in consultation with representatives of the bodies which have an interest in the subject—including the prosecuting solicitors now in office, the legal profession as a whole, local authorities and the police.The Government do not, however, intend to await the outcome of the study before taking steps in the direction which the Royal Commission wanted. The Commission itself saw the transition to an independent prosecution service as a gradual process. In keeping with that view, we propose to take three steps which we regard as interim measures. First, my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General proposes to give to all who prosecute on behalf of the public some guidance on criteria for prosecution which will be closely in accordance with the spirit of the Royal Commission's recommendations. My Department will bring this guidance to the attention of chief officers of police. Secondly, the Director of Public Prosecutions will, with the approval of my right hon. and learned Friend, ask chief officers of police to consult him in every case in which the chief officer wishes to continue criminal proceedings contrary to the advice of the solicitor having the conduct of the proceedings. Thirdly, we shall maintain the policy of favouring the establishment of prosecuting solicitors' departments; and my Department will proceed to draw up models for the organisation of prosecuting solicitors' departments with a view to promoting efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Interim measures on these lines will be taken after consultation with bodies outside Whitehall, and will be supplemented by research aimed at updating the information obtained by the Royal Commission about the working of the existing arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give details of the numbers of men, plant and equipment connected with the security arrangements at Buckingham Palace and the change in the number and costs since 1979; and, if this information is not available for public communication, he will ensure that it is made available to those investigating the most recent security problems which occurred in July.

It would not serve the interests of security to make these details public. The information is fully available to those inquiring into the problems.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will arrange to have a special inquiry conducted by a police force unconnected with the Metropolitan force into the various failures in the security arrangements at Buckingham Palace since October 1979;(2) whether he will take action to appoint a Committee of the House of Commons or Privy Councillors or a committee of judicial inquiry into all aspects of the failures of the security precautions which have occurred on several occasions since October 1979.

No. In my statement on 21 July—[Vol. 28, c. 397–407]—I reported on the investigations which had been undertaken and are continuing, and announced new arrangements and the inquiry by Lord Bridge. I believe that these measures fully meet the need for thorough and dispassionate inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give a detailed list of the security breakdowns in the protection of Buckingham Palace and the Royal Family since October 1979, the dates of such incidents, and what happened in each instance.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 19 July to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Aldridge-Brownhills (Mr. Shepherd), to my statement on 21 July on Buckingham Palace security—[Vol. 28, c. 397–407]—and the related detailed account of the major breach of security on 9 July—[Vol. 28, c. 19–20]—which I have had placed in the Library, and to the reply I have given today to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Greenway).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will cause an investigation to be made to ascertain how and why the interim police report on the security breaches at Buckingham Palace was given or leaked to the press, radio and television before his promised official report to the House.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 21 July to a supplementary question from the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Sparkbrook (Mr. Hattersley), which applies generally to the prior, speculative reporting of the report.—[Vol. 28, c. 399–400].

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on security at Buckingham Palace on 21 July, following the entry into the precincts of a minicab containing cartridges.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the driver of a vehicle which had taken a guest to an investiture ceremony at the Palace on 21 July explained to representatives of the press that he had a number of shotgun cartridges in the boot of his car. It would not serve the interests of security to give in detail the security measures that were in operation on 21 July. They included a check on everyone attending the ceremony, including the passenger of the vehicle, on entry to the Palace building. There were checks of vehicles by "sniffer" dogs trained to detect materials used in the manufacture of explosive devices. The drivers of vehicles parked within the Palace precincts were required to remain with their vehicles, under police supervision.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will state the police district which covers and deals with security arrangements at the House of Commons, Buckingham Palace and the Westminster area and, since October 1979, the numbers of breaches of security that have occurred in this police district in public buildings and the dates and details of such incidents; and what action was taken against those responsible for these breaches in security.

The City of Westminster is policed in part by A, C and D districts of the Metropolitan Police. Buckingham Palace and the Palace of Westminster are within A district. I indicated in my statement on 21 July—[Vol. 28, c. 397–407]—the nature of the previous arrangements for the discharge of police responsibilities in respect of security at Buckingham Palace and explained the new arrangements that have been instituted. Responsibility for security at the Palace of Westminster rests primarily with the authorities of both Houses. Such of the detailed information sought in respect of all public buildings within A district as may be available to the police could be collated centrally only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Lewis) on 25 March, Official Report, c. 384, he will set out in the Official Report the provisions of section 1 of the Metropolitan Police Act 1829 relating to the appointment of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis which remain unrepealed.

Section 1 of the Metropolitan Police Act 1829, as amended by the Justices of the Peace Act 1968 and the Administration of Justice Act 1973, now reads:

"It shall be lawful for his Majesty to cause a new police office to be established in the City of Westminster, and from time to time by warrant under his sign manual to appoint during his Majesty's pleasure a Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to execute the duties of chief officer of the police force hereby established, together with such other duties as shall be hereinafter specified, or as shall be from time to time directed by one of his Majesty's principal secretaries of state, for the more efficient administration of the police within the limits hereinafter mentioned."

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made on bringing the matter of a uniform electoral procedure before the Council of Ministers.

The Foreign Affairs Council decided at its meeting on 26 April that the European Parliament's proposals for a uniform electoral procedure should be examined by a working party of experts reporting back to the Council in due course. The experts are continuing their work.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government toward the proposals recommended by the European Parliament on a uniform electoral procedure.

The proposals are being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 14 July, Official Report, c. 395, if, when reviewing the planning regulations in connection with the Hard Rock civil defence exercise and the introduction of new regulations under the Civil Defence Act 1948, he will consider assisting local authorities with the financial burden of complying with such regulations.

In considering the need to amend the planning regulations made under the Civil Defence Act 1948 we shall have regard to all relevant factors.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in order to ensure a sympathetic response to appeals made by the police in connection with the car involved in the park bombing incidents in London, he will ask the Commissioner of Police to ensure that members of the general public and hon. Members are not treated aggressively and in a rude manner by police officers as is often the case in other circumstances when they report unlicensed road vehicles without Ministry of Transport test certificates, without motor insurance and often unfit for use on the roads.

Any help the public can give in bringing to justice those responsible for those bombing incidents would be most welcome. Police officers are expected at all times to conduct themselves properly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Consett, on 29 June, Official Report, c. 269, when he expects the police negotiating board to report on the question of improving the compensation payable under the police pension scheme for death or incapacitating injury sustained on duty.

The staff side of the police negotiating board is now considering a proposal from the official side. Its response will be given at a meeting in November.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for an inquiry into the wounding and conviction of Phil Robins, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Scotland Exchange.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Caernarvon (Mr. Wigley) on 7 July regarding inquiries into Mr. Robins' conviction.—[Vol. 27, c. 118.] As to Mr. Robins' injuries, I refer the hon. Member to my reply today to his other question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider the ballistic evidence provided to him that Phil Robins was hit with direct shots by Ferrett 100 CS gas shells in Liverpool on 6 July 1981.

I have asked the chief constable of Merseyside for a report on claims that Mr. Robins was hit in this manner.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department from which hon. Members he has received representations concerning the "Free Phil Robins" campaign.

The right hon. Member for Bristol, South-East (Mr. Benn) and the hon. Members for Bolsover, (Mr. Skinner), Hackney, North and Stoke Newington (Mr. Roberts), Liverpool, Edge Hill (Mr. Alton), Liverpool, Scotland Exchange (Mr. Parry), Liverpool, Walton (Mr. Heffer), Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher), Preston, South (Mr. Thorne), West Stirlingshire (Mr. Canavan), and Thanet, East (Mr. Aitken).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, (1) if he will name all those London boroughs and district councils which refused to take part in operation Hard Rock;(2) if he will name all those district and London boroughs which agreed to take part in operation Hard Rock only on the basis of very limited participation.

The invitation to take part in exercise Hard Rock was extended to the GLC and county councils. They in turn were to invite London borough and district councils, whose response is not recorded centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will name all those county councils which refused to take part in operation Hard Rock.

All county councils were invited to take part in exercise Hard Rock. The following declined:

• Cleveland
• Cumbria
• Derbyshire
• Durham
• Gwent
• Mid-Glamorgan
• South Galmorgan
• West Glamorgan
• Gwynedd
• Humberside
• Lancashire
• Greater Manchester
• Merseyside
• West Midlands
• Nottinghamshire
• Staffordshire
• Tyne and Wear
• South Yorkshire
• West Yorkshire

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which countries had been invited to send observers to Armed Forces headquarters during operation Hard Rock; and which had accepted.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there will still be a command post exercise despite the postponement of operation Hard Rock; and which personnel will be involved.

This matter is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what grants were made to which authorities in England and Wales under the Civil Defence (Grant) Regulations in the fiscal years 1970–71 to 1981–82 inclusive.

The information requested is extensive. I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what capital grants and what revenue grants were made to which local authorities in England and Wales for the purpose of developing their capacity to deal with accidents, disasters or other civil emergencies in their areas in the fiscal years 1970–71 to 1981–82 inclusive.

Specific grant is not paid on local authority expenditure in peace-time emergency planning, which attracts rate support grant in the normal way. Much of the war planning supported by civil defence specific grant is applicable to peace-time emergencies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department with which non-governmental bodies he intends to consult before laying new draft civil defence regulations before this House; and, in particular, whether he intends to consult the local authorities.

In accordance with usual practice we shall consult the local authority representative bodies before laying new draft civil defence regulations before the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many claims for compensation have been made against Merseyside police following the Toxteth riots in 1981.

We understand from the chief constable of Merseyside that 12 claims have been made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the new parliamentary boundaries of Yorkshire have now been agreed by the Boundary Commissioners; what appeals are still outstanding in the United Kingdom; when he expects to lay the orders before Parliament for approval; and if he will make a statement.

The information requested is as follows:—

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what response he has made to the comments put forward to him by the Commission for Racial Equality concerning the recommendations made by the Home Affairs Committee in its report on the operation and effectiveness of the commission's work; and if he will make a statement.

The commission's comments on the Home Affairs Committee report were taken into account before the Government's reply to the report was published in April 1982 (Cmnd. 8547).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his response to the criticisms of Government action in the field of race relations by the Commission for Racial Equality in part I of its annual report 1981; and if he will make a statement.

In fulfilling its statutory remit to produce a report the commission is fully entitled to express views that are critical of Government action. It has done so in its report for last year. Our response to criticism from any reputable body is to give it due consideration. That does not mean that we accept it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans for further legislation or other measures in the light of the Commission for Racial Equality's recommendations contained in its annual report 1981; and if he will make a statement.

As to legislation, we are still reviewing the Public Order Act 1936, which the commission would like to see strengthened. As to other measures, we share the commission's view of the importance of the Report of the Home Affairs Committee on Racial Disadvantage (HC 424ߝ1 : 1980ߝ81) and of Lord Scarman's report (Cmnd. 8427); and we shall continue to respond positively to both these documents.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now set up a formal public inquiry into the use of CS gas projectiles during the Toxteth riots in 1981.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to the total number of persons over 18 years of age (a) in Wales and (b) in the United Kingdom who are at present disqualified from voting at parliamentary elections; and for what reasons.

Those disqualified from voting at parliamentary elections include:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on ethnic minority recruitment into the police.

A study group was set up in March in response to Lord Scarman's recommendation that an urgent study should be made of ways of improving ethnic minority recruitment to the police.I received its report last week and I am grateful to the members of the study group for its help. The study group has made detailed recommendations designed to increase the number of black and Asian applicants for appointment to the police service and the special constabulary and to ensure that the selection procedures do not present disproportionate obstacles to such candidates. They do not recommend changes in the entry qualifications but they identify positive steps which can be taken by forces to attract suitably qualified applicants from the minority communities and to help those who narrowly fail to meet the entry standards.I have accepted those recommendations which call for action by my Department. I shall commend the other recommendations to police authorities and chief officers of police when copies of the report are sent to them. Copies of the report will also be sent to community relations councils by the Commission for Racial Equality. A copy is being placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report the unemployment figures for each county in England categorised by sex, age and duration of unemployment in April 1979, together with the rate of change in each of the figures between April 1979 and April 1982.

The information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table comparing unemployment figures for (a) the Bury travel-to-work area, (b) the North-West region, (c) the South-East region and (d) the United Kingdom based on quarterly estimates since 2 March 1979.

The following table gives the numbers of people registered as unemployed at each quarter month from March 1979 on the areas specified. The figures include school leavers and are not seasonally adjusted.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report a chart giving the unemployment figures in the Bury travel-to-work area over each of the last 12 months.

The following is the information. The figures include school leavers and are not seasonally adjusted.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will bring forward new measures to deal with the deteriorating employment situation in the North-West region.