asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the level of sales of Government publications in 1981–82 as compared with 1978–79; and what has been the average percentage increase in prices of such publications over the corresponding period.

Sales of Her Majesty's Stationery Office publications have gone up by 90 per cent. and prices by 111 per cent. over this period.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people in Scotland have died in fires in each of the last five years.

The number of deaths were as follows:

1977	123
1978	171
1979	167
1980	136
1981	145

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the annual number of psychotropic drug prescriptions in Scotland from 1965 to the most recent available date.

My reply to the hon. Member on 17 May—[Vol 24, c. 418]—gave the available information up to 1980. Corresponding details for 1981 are as follows:

Number of prescriptions (millions)
	1981
Sedatives and tranquillisers	2·10
Anti-depressants	0·63
Anti-depressant and sedative/tranquilliser combinations	0·08
Hypnotics	1·76

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has studied the work on fire control at the fire research station in Hertfordshire; and if he will make a statement.

I am kept informed of developments at the fire research station, including work on fire control, by the joint committee on fire research of the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Councils for England and Wales and for Scotland; they report to me through the Scottish Advisory Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidelines he issues to fire brigades in Scotland with respect to (a) smoke and sprinkler control, (b) carbon monoxide, hydrogen chloride, and hydrogen cyanide control, (c) smoke ventilation to allow fresh air to enter a room at floor level and (d) sprinkler usage, and if he intends to review these in the light of the work carried out at the fire research station in Hertfordshire.

Guidelines to fire brigades on these matters are contained in the published manuals of firemanship. New developments, including projects undertaken at the fire research station, are considered by the Scottish Cent-al Fire Brigades Advisory Council and guidance to brigades is reviewed and revised as appropriate, in the light of the council's advice.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has plans to make funding available to health boards in Scotland, in addition to their annual budgets, to develop neonatal intensive care facilities.

No. It is for health boards to determine the appropriate level and pattern of service provision in the light of their existing financial resources and the national policy guidelines set out in the report on "Scottish Health Authorities' Priorities for the Eighties." A report on standards of perinatal care in Scotland prepared by the National Medical Consultative Committee and issued to boards in June 1980 contained specific advice on the provision of neonatal intensive care units which boards might take into consideration in the planning and development of such facilities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many new jobs have been created by firms locating in Scotland's enterprise zone; and if he is satisfied that the usual prudential inquiries are being made into applications for assistance given in these areas and that none of those applications approved has been from persons previously involved in insolvent businesses.

Companies which have approached the Scottish Development Agency's task force at Clydebank about their plans to set up within the zone have proposals which involve the creation of 1,400 jobs.Enterprise zone benefits are automatically available to firms in the zones; no application is required. Criteria for other forms of assistance are the same in enterprise zones as elsewhere. So far as assistance from my Department or the Scottish Development Agency is concerned, the fact that an individual concerned may have been previously associated with a failed business would cause an application to be scrutinised with particular care, but it would not automatically preclude an offer of assistance.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide a breakdown by sex of the number in Dundee in the following age groups: (a) under 18 years, (b) 18 to 24 years, (c) 25 to 34 years, (d) 35 to 44 years, (e) 45 to 59 years, and (f) 60 years and over; and what percentage of the total each age group comprises.

The Registrar General for Scotland's estimates of the population of the city of Dundee district at 30 June 1981 are as follows:

	Males		Females
Age	Number	Percentage	Number	Percentage
Under 18	24,131	27·4	23,192	23·7
18–24	11,571	13·2	11,428	11·7
25–34	11,918	13·6	12,165	12·5
35–44	9,950	11·3	10,323	10·6
45–59	15,924	18·1	17,344	17·8
60+	14,432	16·4	23,238	23·8
Total	87,926	100·0	97,690	100·0

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish information on the number of companies in Dundee which (a) have closed down and (b) announced redundancies since the beginning of the year; and in each case how many jobs have been lost.

Comprehensive statistics of redundancies and closures are not available. However, between 1 January and 31 July 1982, seven instances of redundancy involving 10 or more people and known to have resulted in closure were notified to the Manpower Services Commission as due to occur in Dundee with the loss of 255 jobs. In the same period a further 25 instances of redundancy have been notified involving 712 jobs.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now make provision for the Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine to recognise medical laboratory scientific officers as eligible for registration.

Medical laboratory scientific officers are eligible for registration with the Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine, and such registration is a condition of their employment in the NHS.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he proposes to take in response to the report of the Select Committee on Home Affairs on police complaints procedure.

The Committee directed its investigation mainly to procedures in England and Wales and its main recommendations are not directly applicable to the system in Scotland. I have, however, considered the implications for Scottish procedures of those recommendations which are relevant to Scotland, and I am today publishing a consultation note inviting the views of interested bodies on the Government's preliminary conclusions on these matters. Copies of the note have been placed in the Library and are being sent to the police authorities in Scotland, the police associations and the Scottish Council for Civil Liberties. I should welcome views from other interested parties, to whom my Department will make copies of the note available on request.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will discuss with the chairman of the Electricity Council problems created for pensioners and other low-income groups by the use of standing charges for electricity; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will discuss with the chairman of British Gas problems created for pensioners and other low-income groups by the use of standing charges for gas; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend and I have completed the first stage of the Government's examination of standing charges, in the course of which I have had discussions with the chairmen of the Electricity Council, the British Gas Corporation and the consumer councils.Following this examination, my right hon. Friend announced recently that the gas and electricity industries, after discussion with us, have commissioned independent reviews of standing charges. These studies are being undertaken by independent consultants. They are covering:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will tabulate the current percentage cost of coal-generated electricity to domestic consumers under the following headings: (a) regional electricity board services, (b) Central Electricity Generating Board costs other than generation of electricity, (c) generating cost, including capital repayments, (d) fuel transport, (e) cost of coal at pit head, (f) cost of weekly paid employees of the National Coal Board and (g) National Coal Board other costs.

It is impossible to provide separate figures for the costs of domestic and non-domestic electricity generation in an integrated system servicing all types of consumer. Electricity generation is fuelled in several ways. For these reasons, the percentage breakdown of the costs for coal and other generated electricity can only be estimated on an allocated basis as follows:

	Percentage breakdown of costs incurred by domestic consumer
	Total costs Per cent.	Coal costs Per cent.
(i) Costs which might be attributed to coal generation
(a) Area board services	21	27
(b) CEGB costs other than generation	5	6
(c) CEGB generation costs other than fuel (including depreciation)	19	24
Non-fuel costs sub total	45	57
CEGB coal costs
(d) Transport	2	3
(e) Pithead price	*31	*40
Fuel costs sub-total	33	43
(ii) Costs which might be attributed to other fuel generation
Non-fuel costs	13	—
Fuel costs other than coal	9	—
	100	100
* Of the 31 per cent. for total costs—40 per cent. for coal costs—it is estimated, on the basis of a breakdown of the average pithead cost of production for all National Coal Board coal, that about 13 per cent.—17 per cent.—can be attributed to the cost of wages and related charges for NCB industrial employees, the balance of 18 per cent.—23 per cent.—being attributed to other operating costs.

asked the Prime Minister what were the total costs involved in disbanding the National Building Agency; and what the running costs of the agency were during its last year of operation.

It is not possible to indicate the total net costs of closure of the National Building Agency since its winding up is not yet complete. So far the Secretary of State for the Environment has paid £1,267,540 in grant to help meet the agency's net liabilities. A liquidator was appointed on 19 February 1982. At that date the NBA's current expenditure in 1981–82 was £2,970,000.

asked the Prime Minister how many nongovernmental public bodies have been disbanded since the report on non-departmental bodies (Cmnd. 7797) was published; and what have been the savings produced and the costs involved in redundancies and terminated leases by their wind-up.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19 February 1982—Vol 18, c. 219–232—to my hon. Friend the Member for Carlton (Mr. Holland). In that answer I listed 550 non-departmental public bodies which had been wound up, or which we intend to wind up, or whose budget will be reduced, since this Government took office. Of these, some 428 have been abolished, at a saving of about £15 million, since Cmnd. 7797 was published. Unfortunately, information on the costs of winding up these bodies is not held centrally. However, since almost 90 per cent. were advisory committees with no staff, no redundancy or accommodation costs were involved.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement as to the rules of conduct with regard to Ministers involving themselves in matters of controversy concerning their departmental responsibilities where such matters relate to the local authority of the constituency which they represent.

There are no specific rules governing this situation, but as a general rule Ministers should order theft affairs so that no conflict arises between their public duties as Ministers and their other interests and responsibilities.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is proposed that the full cost of the ships lost in the Falklands action be added i.o the annual defence budget; and over what time scale such an addition is proposed to be made.

The additions to the defence budget for the replacement of equipment lost in the Falklands conflict will be based on the full cost of replacement and will be spread over the period of procurement.

asked the Prime Minister whether, following her recent visit to China, she intends to send a trade mission to China to investigate the building of closer trade links with the Chinese People's Republic.

A. high level mission from the Sino-British Trade Council, which advises the British Overseas Trade Board on the market in China, will be visiting the People's Republic from 1–14 November.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing the indebtedness of each of the local authorities in Wales for each of the past five years in current money terms and adjusted to constant money terms, respectively.

Information on the indebtedness of local authorities is published annually by he Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy in "Return of Outstanding Dept", copies of which are placed in the House of Commons Library. The figures for 31 March 1981 are given in column 19. Estimates at constant prices are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he intends to make funding available, in addition to the health authority annual budgets, to develop neonatal intensive care facilities in Wales.

Not at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with the present level of neonatal intensive care facilities in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

The Welsh Office issued a consultative paper early in 1980 on perinatal mortality in Wales. Professional advisory committees and others have looked at this and related documents and submitted their comments which cover, inter alia, neonatal intensive care facilities. We shall be considering possible improvements in facilities in the light of these comments.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made in relation to the application by the Welsh water authority on 15 October 1981 for him to seek to resolve the dispute between the Welsh water authority and the Severn-Trent water authority concerning the level of payment which should have been made by the latter authority in the financial year 1982–83 for water which it obtains from Wales.

My right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment are considering this application, the WWA's submissions of March and July 1982 and the comments made on them by the Severn-Trent water authority. They will issue their determination as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning the new chairman of the Welsh Development Agency.

The executive recruitment consultants who are advising me in this matter have suggested a number of names which I am at present considering.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what new ideas have been forthcoming concerning support for the Welsh language following the recent invitation contained in a speech of the Under-Secretary, the hon. Member for Conway (Mr. Roberts), at Llangrannog; whether he regards the proposed Welsh language Sunday newspaper Sulyn as falling into this category; and what practical assistance his Department has been able to give to this venture.

A number of interesting suggestions have been made which I am currently considering. I am arranging to meet the directors of Sulyn to discuss this venture.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the British police failed to respond to an appeal by the police in Amsterdam to interview Patricia Ford until after a week had elapsed; why it took them three days to check and advise the Dutch police concerning her fingerprints and why up until 16 August the police had not prepared a formal application to the Director of Public Prosecutions to prepare extradition papers for Miss Ford.

We understand from the chief constable of Thames Valley police that at no time did he receive a request from the Dutch police authorities to interview Miss Ford; nor is there any record of any request for Miss Ford's fingerprints. The Chief Constable was informed that Miss Ford had given herself up to the police in Amsterdam on 13 August; on 14 August, after discussions with an official from the Director of Public Prosecutions, the police requested that she be detained to enable the Director to commence extradition proceedings. In the event, the Dutch were unable to consider extradition because the offences of which Miss Ford is accused are not extradition crimes in United Kingdom law and there was, therefore, no basis for extradition under the terms of the Anglo-Dutch extradition treaty.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish in the Official Report a table giving details of the number of cases reported of robbery of the person, with and without causing grevious bodily harm, and the offence commonly known as "mugging"; and in how many of these prosecutions were initiated, and with what success, since October 1979 until the latest most convenient stated date, giving similar details for a similar stated period as far before October 1979 as may prove possible.

Information is not collected centrally on the circumstances of offences of robbery. Information relating to all offences of robbery is published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales" (Tables 2.7, 2.14 and 5.1 of the volume for 1980 (Cmnd. 8376) and Table S2.1 (a) of supplementary tables 1980 Vol. 2) and quarterly data of the number of offences of robbery recorded by the police in England and Wales are published in Home Office Statistical Bulletins (Issue 17/82 relates to the first half of 1982). However, the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis includes some information on the circumstances of offences of robbery recorded in the Metropolitan police district in his annual report (Appendix 20 of the report for 1981 (Cmnd. 8569)).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will call for a report on the circumstances in which, on Friday 6 August 1982 the police were observed to pay £254 costs in fares by travelling by air instead of rail or road when fetching a woman social security offender from Scotland to face trial at Warley, West Midlands; and whether this sum of £254 will actually be paid by the police in accordance with the court's decision and not from taxpayers or public funds.

The chief constable of the West Midlands police has provided my right hon. Friend with a report which demonstrates that this method of transport was in fact most economical. The sum in question will be paid from the police fund.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will introduce legislation to provide for the certification of home video films.(2) whether he will make it a criminal offence for home video films of adult category certification to be shown to children under that certified age.

Legislation on the lines proposed would give rise to serious difficulties of enforcement. We are, however, keeping under review the operation of the law in relation to video cassettes in the light, amongst other matters, of the discussions which are taking place between the British Board of Film Censors and the British Videogram Association about the introduction of a certification scheme governing the sale or rental of video cassettes. Should such a scheme be introduced, we would wish to assess its effect before deciding whether any statutory controls were required.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report the names of organisations which have made representations concerning the free Phil Robins campaign and the use of CS gas in Liverpool during the Toxteth disturbances in July 1981.

No organisation has made representations to me concerning Mr. Robins' convictions. The Merseyside Community Relations Council and the Liverpool Graphical Society have suggested a public inquiry into the use of CS in Toxteth on 6 July 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further representations he has received concerning the use of CS gas in Liverpool during the Toxteth disturbances in July 1981.

Since the replies that I gave on 27 July to two questions from the hon. Member I have received 13 letters about or in support of a request for a public inquiry, including letters from eight other hon. Members; and the hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) has asked a question about such an inquiry, to which I replied on 19 October.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make arrangements to ensure that coroners' juries are selected on the same random principles as those for criminal cases.

Such arrangements cannot be made administratively. Amending legislation is necessary to apply to coroners' jurors the qualifications and disqualifications which at present apply to Crown court and county court jurors. My right hon. Friend accepted, in a parliamentary reply to the late Sir Graham Page on 11 November 1980—[Vol. 993, c. 151]—the necessity for such legislation in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether, in view of the size of the profits made by British Telecommunications and its anticipated fun her increase in profits in the year 1982–83 and the need for support of the Government's policy of containing and reducing inflation, he will formulate British Telecommunications' financial objectives so as to prevent the proposed further increase in telephone charges in April 1983.

No. I am, however, considering a change to the financial objective for British Telecommunications for the year 1983–84 in order to reflect equally the need to contain prices, to provide for the industry's investment programme and to encourage efficiency.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is satisfied with the progress to date of the British Telecom liberalisation programme; and if he will make a statement.

Although the British Telecommunications Act came into force only one year ago, there has been substantial progress towards the liberalisation of telecommunications.Mercury has been licensed to run a rival network in competition with British Telecom; this is a unique development and service will start early next year.My right hon. Friend expects to sign the general licence for value added network services as soon as his expert advisory panel on telecommunications liberalisation are satisfied with its terms. The licence will introduce the most liberal arrangements in the world permitting private enterprise to use the British Telecom and Mercury networks to provide a full range of value added network services.The supply of apparatus for connection to British Telecom's networks is being liberalised over a three-year period. The first five standards were approved on 14 October. The basic arrangements for independent testing and approval are now in place; BABT is now accepting apparatus for testing. The Marking and Advertising Orders which provide for consumer protection will come fully into force on 1 November. Work on writing further standards is progressing well but the programme has never been scheduled to be completed until well into next year.The steps already taken by the Government enable British firms to enter new markets directly and are giving telecommunications users the advantages of a wider range of choices and the benefits of competitive pricing. BT is no longer the only route to the market. Moreover the new standards procedure means that for the first time both users and manufacturers are able to participate fully in the setting of objective, minimum standards.Industry is beginning to respond to the challenge of liberalisation and there has been a gratifying response from small firms. We are determined to ensure that the consumer has a wide range of equipment from which to choose. And there is mounting evidence that British Telecom is improving its performance in response to competition.Although substantial progress has been made, I am exploring actively the scope for speeding up the programme and a growing quantity of apparatus is being given accelerated approval under special interim arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will discuss with the chairman of British Telecom problems created for pensioners and other low income groups by the use of fixed charges for telephone rental; and if he will make a statement.

The chairman of British Telecom and I are both well aware of the difficulties standing charges can

Crude Steel Production : Monthly Averages
Million metric tons
	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981	*1982
United Kingdom	1·9	1·7	1·9	1·7	1·7	1·8	†0·9	1·3	1·2
West Germany	4·4	3·4	3·5	3·3	3·4	3·8	3·7	3·5	3·2
Italy	2·0	1·8	2·0	1·9	2·0	2·0	2·2	2·1	2·1
France	2·3	1·8	1·9	1·8	1·9	1·9	1·9	1·8	1·6
* January to September.
† Production reduced by the effect of the steel strike.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the approximate level of manpower in the steel

Employment in the Steel Industry*
Thousands
	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981	†1982
United Kingdom	197·7	190·7	183·3	182·0	170·0	162·0	134·0	96·0	84·1
West Germany	230·6	226·7	220·3	214·4	205·0	204·0	201·0	192·0	182·3
Italy	93·8	96·0	96·9	97·3	96·3	98·0	101·0	98·3	95·7
France	155·7	157·0	155·1	149·3	135·8	125·0	114·0	100·2	97·4
* Figures are monthly averages for ECSC activities.
† January to September, provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when European Community Ministers last discussed demand for steel in EEC countries, respectively and in total, and the problems of overcapacity and of exports to the United States of America; and when Ministers will next be meeting to discuss these matters.

Specific steel issues are frequently discussed at meetings of EC Ministers: for example, the problem of exports to the USA was last discussed at the informal meeting of Foreign Ministers on 17 October; and both that issue and steel imports were discussed at the last session of the Foreign Affairs Council, on 20–21 September. The last wide ranging discussion on steel demand and over-capacity took place on 8 June at a Council of Industry Ministers. Specific matters will be discussed in the future as occasion demands. Further discussions on steel problems are likely at the Foreign Affairs Council on 25–26 October and at an informal meeting of Industry Ministers planned for 18 November.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the average monthly crude steel production in the United Kingdom, West Germany, Italy and France in each of the years from 1974 to 1981 and the figures for 1982 so far.

The available information is as follows:industries of the United Kingdom, Federal Republic of Germany, Italy and France in each of the years from 1974 to 1981 and the most recent figures for 1982.

The available information is as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is now in a position to make known aid proposals for the fishing industry and particularly the freezer fleet sailing from Hull.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 18 October to the hon. Member for Truro (Mr. Penhaligon).—[Vol. 29, c. 35.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Council of Agriculture Ministers' meeting in Luxembourg on 18–19 October; and if he will make a statement.

On 18–19 October, there was a meeting of the Agriculture Council at which the United Kingdom was represented by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary and myself.The Council discussed the Commission's proposals for the import quota for New Zealand butter in 1983. A number of member States argued that the Commission's proposal for 89,000 tonnes should be substantially reduced. The Presidency suggested a quota of 87,000 tonnes coupled with an adjustment of the import levy so as to retain New Zealand's market return. We consulted the New Zealand Government who asked us to endeavour to obtain agreement upon this basis. This was subsequently agreed in principle and formal adoption of the revised quota and levy should take place next week following the submission of a fresh text by the Commission. The New Zealand Government has expressed publicly its gratitude to the British Government for its support in these negotiations. The Council also agreed devaluations of 2·8 per cent. for the French Green Franc and 4·4 per cent. for the Belgian and Luxembourg Green Francs. These will take effect on different dates for the various commodities, commencing at the start of their marketing years as they arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he intends to make additional funding available to health authorities to develop neonatal intensive care facilities in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

There are no plans at present to make additional funds available to the health and social services boards for this purpose. However the Government are committed to increasing the number of intensive baby-care cots in the Province to the level recommended in the report of the advisory committee on infant mortality and handicap in Northern Ireland as resources and priorities permit.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to reduce unemployment in the Province.

The reduction of unemployment in Northern Ireland depends to a great extent on the recovery from recession of the United Kingdom and world economies. It also depends upon the success of our efforts to develop a broader industrial and commercial base; central to that task is our drive to promote the growth of a strong and viable private sector. The continued existence of the most generous industrial incentives in the United Kingdom and the creation of the new Industrial Development Board are evidence of the Government's efforts to this end. Furthermore, the implementation of the new youth training programme will provide a better trained and more adaptable work force.The Government also recognises the need to alleviate unemployment in the short-term and the Department of Economic Development operates a number of schemes with the direct aim of reducing the level of unemployment. At 27 August 1982, the latest date for which figures are available, 21,100 adults and young persons were engaged in employment and training activities for which the Department of Economic Development is responsible or which it co-ordinates.These activities include Government training centres and the attachment training scheme, whilst the Government are substantially expanding the action for community employment scheme and has recently announced a continuing role for Enterprise Ulster.In addition a new job splitting scheme will be introduced on 3 January 1983. This scheme, which will be run on identical lines to its Great Britain equivalent, will assist employers to split existing full-time jobs and so open up more part-time job opportunities for unemployed persons claiming benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the latest level of unemployment in the Province.

The most recent figures available are for 9 September 1982 when there was a total of 127,954 (22·3 per cent.) registered as unemployed in Northern Ireland.This represents, another increase in the level of Northern Ireland's unemployment, but while I would not wish to deny the gravity of these figures, some slight encouragement can be taken from the slowing down in the rate of increase and a continuation of small, but nonetheless significant, increases in notified vacancies

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the annual total cost of insuring Government property in Northern Ireland; and what is the justification for doing so :in this part of the United Kingdom only.

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

asked the Attorney-General whether he has called, or will call, for the reports of the inquiry into the alleged corruption in the Metropolitan Police force, referred to as the Countryman inquiry, the reports on the alleged irregularities into the West Yorkshire and Kent police forces submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions some months ago, to ascertain whether he feels proper action has been taken in connection with these reports ; and whether he will make a statement.

The Director of Public Prosecutions has kept me informed of developments at frequent intervals throughout the course of the Operation Countryman inquiry. Where necessary—for example, when he has sought my consent to the institution of proceedings for alleged offences of corruption—he has placed the reports before me. As far as the investigation of allegations against officers of the West Yorkshire Metropolitan police and Kent constabulary are concerned, I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer that 1 gave him on 19 October 1982

asked the Attorney-General whether, having regard to costs in cases such as the recent High Court case affecting a charge of contempt of court against Sean Geraghty, which are estimated at £20,000 although only a few hours' legal work was involved, he will cause an investigation to be made to ascertain how and in what way such costs can be reduced in support of the Government's policy of reducing public costs and inflation.

These costs were incurred by private and unassisted litigants and no confirmation can be given of the estimate in the question. Both as between party and party and between solicitor and client they may be examined at the request of the parties, or either of them, and reduced by an officer of the court known as a taxing master, to ensure that the amounts charged are reasonable. No other investigation is required, but no request for taxation has been received to date and the amount of costs of this kind may well be the subject of agreement between the parties who may wish to avoid the cost of taxation.

asked the Attorney-General what representations he has received concerning the holding of the trial of Kenneth George Anderson at the Mold Crown court.

The Lord Chancellor received one letter expressing concern.

asked the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the decision to hold the trial of Kenneth George Anderson at the Mold Crown court.

The decision was made, after hearing argument, by the hon. Mr. Justice Cantley sitting at Leeds on 7 July 1982. No Minister was responsible for this judicial decision and the trial, which was duly held at Mold Crown court, resulted in an acquittal of the defendant on 14 October 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the various recommended levels of exposure to asbestos over the past 20 years; what these were expressed at as fibres per cubic metre of air; and if he will indicate the dates when the exposure levels were changed.

Prior to the introduction of the Asbestos Regulations 1969, Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate published as general guidance the threshold limit values adopted by the American conference of governmental occupational hygienists. The TLV for all forms of asbestos at that time was 177 particles per cubic centimetre of air; since this was based on a particle, not a fibre, count it cannot be expressed in fibres per cubic metre.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he now intends to improve industrial safety standards regarding asbestos exposure limits.

Yes. The Government's policy on asbestos is based on the recommendations of the advisory committee on asbestos, many of which would have the effect of improving standards regarding asbestos exposure at the workplace. Work is in progress on the implementation of all these recommendations in conjunction with the two draft European Community directives currently under negotiation in Europe. The Government have also welcomed the Health and Safety Commission's proposals to take urgent action in a number of important areas. These include the introduction of new control limits for exposure to asbestos at the workplace and measures which will improve standards generally in the area of work with asbestos insulation and coating.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if, pursuant to his answer of 29 July, Official Report, c. 663, he will estimate the totals of those excluded from the unemployment count following the recent changes in the method of compiling the figures of unemployment statistics.

The changed basis of compiling the unemployment statistics will be used for the November figures and onwards. A special press notice will be published on 18 November, comparing the main figures for October on the new and old bases, and indicating the effects of the changes in coverage and methods.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the latest unemployment figures for England and Wales.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions have taken place between Ministers and officials of his Department and representatives of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries about the relative levels of contribution to the alliance and the tailoring of types of contribution to the abilities of each member country.

Such discussions are held as part of NATO's annual planning review cycle, which enables national force contributions to be shaped through a central co-ordinating process. These plans are endorsed each year by NATO's Defence Ministers, who will meet again for this purpose in December.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's relations with Ethiopia.

The British Government have normal diplomatic relations with Ethiopia.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Spanish Government on the future of Gibraltar.

As my right hon. Friend reported to the House on 22 June, he met the Spanish Foreign Minister on 21 June. My right hon. Friend later had a meeting with the Spanish Foreign Minister in New york on 30 September during which he had a brief exchange of views on the subject of Gibraltar.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the assistance being given to Gibraltar.

A grant of £4 million was agreed in December 1981 for urgent development projects in Gibraltar. It has now all been either committed or earmarked for specific projects. A technical co-operation programme of £1 million over three years was also agreed in 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on recent developments regarding the Falkland Islands.

Good progress has been made on reconstruction and rehabilitation work in the aftermath of the Argentine occupation. The Government have welcomed Lord Shackleton's updated economic survey; both we and the islanders are now studying his recommendations. My hon. Friend the Minister of State visited the Falklands from 2–10 October and was able to discuss all these matters with the Falkland islanders and the civil and military commissioners.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what procedures exist to monitor the purchase of maps or charts of United Kingdom dependencies by representatives of foreign powers; and whether any intimation was received by Her Majesty's Government of the purchase by Argentine officials of maps of the Falkland Islands in 1981 and 1982.

Maps and charts of United Kingdom dependencies are on public sale and there are no specific procedures for monitoring their purchase. However, a run on any particular issue would come to the notice of Government Departments. No indications were received of a large scale Argentine purchase of maps of the Falkland Islands in 1981 or early 1982. Subsequent checks have confirmed that there was no such purchase.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date in February or March his Department received a letter from Dr. Carlos Ortiz de Rozas, ex-Ambassador of Argentina to the Court of St. James, relating to the Falkland Islands; and what were its contents.

The only letters received from Dr. Ortiz de Rozas during this period concerned routine matters of protocol.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has had from Mr. Peck and others of the Falkland Islands Council to move the capital from Port Stanley to Port Louis or some other site.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Member for Woking (Mr. Onslow) on 18 October.—[Vol. 29, c. 43.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made since 20 July to the Government of Turkey concerning those Greek Cypriots who disappeared during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974.

We do not believe that representations to the Government of Turkey would be effective. The right place to solve this distressing humanitarian problem is the intercommunal committee on missing persons, set up under United Nations auspices. We hope that a solution will be found to the procedural difficulties which have so far prevented the committee from investigating individual cases of missing persons. We have made this view known to both communities in Cyprus and to the Government of Turkey.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's relations with the Government of Malaysia.

We are in regular and close contact with the Malaysian Government at both ministerial and official level. I have had two meetings this summer with the Malaysian Foreign Minister. Our present efforts are devoted to the removal of any misunderstandings that may yet remain and to finding the basis for a mutually satisfactory and lasting relationship. As far as our trade with Malaysia is concerned, we want no more than the opportunity to compete on equal terms with others.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to visit Malaysia.

No. As you will know, my right hon. and noble Friend Lord Carrington visited Malaysia in February this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on British relations with Cyprus.

British relations with the Republic of Cyprus are excellent. My right hon. Friend met the Cyprus Foreign Minister, Mr. Rolandis, in New York on 30 September and had friendly and wide-ranging talks with him.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government support the United Nations General Assembly's recognition of the South West Africa People's Organisation as the sole representative of the Namibian people.

We, like other governments of the Western Five, have never endorsed the United Nations General Assembly's description of SWAPO as

"the sole and authentic representative of the Namibian people".

Such recognition in advance of free and fair elections puts at risk confidence in the impartiality of the implementation process.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has received any representations regarding the restoration of residence rights to the people of Diego Garcia.

I am not aware of any such representations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress on disarmament since the United Nations second special session in June-July 1982.

The negotiations between the United States and the Soviet Union in Geneva for reductions in intermediate range nuclear forces and strategic systems were recently resumed. In July a major new proposal was made by the West in the mutual and balanced force reduction negotiations in Vienna. Work has continued in the committee on disarmament for a convention banning the production of chemical weapons. The West is looking to the Russians for a constructive response to the range of proposals that has been put forward.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on British relations with Mauritius.

We maintain very close and friendly relations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on recent events in the Lebanon and on the action taken by Her Majesty's Government to help stabilise the situation in that area.

We have been appalled by the suffering inflicted on the civilian population of Lebanon. In their statement of 20 September, Foreign Ministers of the Ten reaffirmed their support for the early withdrawal of all foreign forces except, of course, any international forces authorised by the Lebanese Government. We have provided substantial humanitarian aid to Lebanon and are considering with out partners what more we can do to help in the task of reconstruction.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Lebanese refugees have been made homeless by the Israeli invasion.

There are no accurate figures for Lebanese made homeless as a result of the Israeli invasion.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Palestinian refugees in or near the Lebanon have been made homeless by the Israeli invasion.

There are no accurate figures for the number of Palestinian refugees made homeless as a result of the Israeli invasion. UNWRA estimates that housing for up to 60,000 Palestinian refugees was destroyed during the invasion. Figures for other areas are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will consider establishing local representation of the United Kingdom in Namibia.

We have no plans at present for establishing diplomatic representation in Namibia. We expect to set up a mission in Windhoek once Namibia's independence is achieved and internationally recognised.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the new school hostel at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands, is yet in use; and how many pupils will be provided with boarding places.

The new school hostel had not been made ready for use by the time of the Argentine invasion. It is designed to accommodate 80 pupils. The building is now being used by the military authorities in the Falkland Islands. Her Majesty's Government and the Government of the Falkland Islands are therefore currently considering alternative means of meeting the boarding requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation on the west bank of the river Jordan.

Tension remains high on the West Bank, as in all the territories occupied by Israel since 1967, as a result of the failure to make progress towards a peaceful settlement of the problems of the area.We remain concerned at the dismissal from their posts of the legally elected Mayor of Gaza and of the Mayors of eight other towns on the West Bank. We regard the programme of Israeli settlements in the West Bank as illegal and a major obstacle to peace.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about relations with Latin America.

Since this Government came into office they have sought to intensify contacts with Latin America. In the period following the Falklands crisis these contacts have been further developed. In the last three months there have been four ministerial visits and two visits by special Government representatives covering nine Latin American countries. These visits and other contacts have confirmed that, in spite of the rupture with Argentina, our relations with most Latin American countries remain good.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress Her Majesty's Government are making on ratification of the United Nations convention on the elimination of discrimination against women.

We are nearing completion of the inter-departmental consideration of the numerous legal and other points posed by this convention and aim to take a decision on ratification as soon as possible thereafter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the United Kingdom will support proposals made in the United Nations for convening an early conference on the designation of the Indian Ocean as a zone of peace.

The Government play an active part in the United Nations ad hoc committee which was set up to discuss the proposal to designate the Indian Ocean as a zone of peace. But we believe that a conference to implement the proposal would be premature until the views of States concerned can be brought closer together. The continuing Soviet occupation of Afghanistan is an obstacle to progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions there have been on the future of Hong Kong.

During her recent visit to China my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister held talks on the future of Hong Kong with both Premier Zhao Ziyang and Chairman Deng Xiaoping. The talks were held in a friendly atmosphere and both sides made clear their respective positions on this subject. It was agreed that talks should be entered into through diplomatic channels following the visit, with the common aim of maintaining the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong. Meetings in Peking to follow up the Prime Minister's visit have already begun.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any attempt has been made to secure a date for trial from the Saudi authorities for Mr. Carmichael, at present in gaol in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

No. Court: proceedings can commence after the creditor; and Mr. Carmichael, who also has claims, have submitted a full statement of their claims to the civil rights centre. This has not yet been done.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what dates Mr. Carmichael, at present in gaol in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has been visited by a consular official since he was imprisoned.

The British embassy first gained access to Mr. Carmichael on 31 January 1982. Since then he has been visited by consular officers on 28 February, 20 March, 21 April, .15 May, 5 June, 16 June, 1 August, 24 August, 6 September and 13 October.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any attempt has been made by Her Majesty's Government to secure an independent medical examination of Mr. Carmichael., at present in gaol in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Mr. Carmichael has asked for a medical examination by a British doctor known to him. Our embassy has approached the doctor in question to ask him to see Mr. Carmichael. In the meantime our embassy has done all it can to ensure that Mr. Carmichael receives whatever medical treatment he needs.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty 's Government have made any representations to the Saudi Arabian authorities in respect of the treatment received by Mr. Carmichael, at present in gaol in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during the course of his period in gaol and in the prison hospital.

Our embassy in Jedda made representations to the Saudi authorities on 8 August and 11 October about Mr. Carmichael's case. My right hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Oxon (Mr. Hurd) also raised the case with the Saudi ambassador en 14 October.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a document for wide public circulation summarising the effects of United Kingdom membership of the European Economic Community.

No. The Government's views about the advantages of our membership of the European Community have been set out often inside and outside the House. White Papers on developments in the European Community are published at six-monthly intervals. The most recent was Cmnd. 8669, published in September.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the meeting of EEC Foreign Ministers in Denmark; whether any discussions took place on the establishment of a common European Community voting policy on the draft United Nations resolution urging the resumption of negotiations on the Falkland Islands sponsored by Latin American countries; and what is the policy of Italy and the Republic of Ireland in this matter.

This was an informal meeting and I do not propose to make a statement. I can confirm that the matter referred to by the hon. Member was discussed. There will be further discussions on the same subject. It is not for me to describe the policies of other Governments.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress towards a common European Economic Community foreign policy.

The Ten are steadily strengthening their co-operation on foreign policy matters. Their ability to respond collectively to international events has been demonstrated in the past few months in the case of the Falklands, Poland and the Lebanon. Based on the London report of October 1981, the Government are committed to work for still closer and more effective co-operation among the Ten. In particular, we have recently put forward ideas to improve co-operation between the embassies of the Ten in third countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what discussions have taken place within the contact group about the need for training of Namibian students in the light of the impending independence of Namibia;(2) what further action is envisaged for the training of Namibian students in the United Kingdom in the light of progress on the independence negotiations between the contact group and South Africa.

The hon. Member will be aware from replies to questions on 30 June 1982—[Vol. 26, c. 324]—that Britain is already involved in the training of Namibians in the United Kingdom. Members of the contact group continue to be in touch with one another and with other Governments about various aspects of Namibia's future developmental needs. Such further assistance as might be considered by the British Government after independence would take account of the developmental needs of the country.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contributions have been made so far by the United Kingdom towards UNESCO's international programme for the development of communications launched in 1981; and what help is envisaged in the future.

Her Majesty's Government have welcomed the establishment of the international programme for the development of communication, as a useful co-ordinating mechanism with a positive role to play in assessing communication development needs and resources, but sees no necessity for either a separate fund or any separate contribution to the IPDC.We believe that adequate multilateral, bilateral, public and private channels of finance for communication development exist already. The allocation of available resources depends very much on the priority attached by the developing countries themselves to their communications sectors. Within the limits of available resources, we shall continue to be ready to consider requests from individual countries for assistance for sound projects including those that may be identified by the intergovernmental council of the IPDC.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list in the Official Report those projects financed wholly or in part by British bilateral aid during 1981–82 and 1982–83 which are intended to improve communications in the recipient countries either through the provision of equipment or training and including press, broadcasting, television, and international news gathering or reporting.

The following communications projects supported from capital aid funds were in progress in January 1982:

• Bangladesh
• Police Telecommunications
• Colombia
• Postal Sorting Offices
• India
• Indian Ocean Submarine Cable System
• Lesotho
• Radio Transmitters
• Maseru Trunk System
• Malawi
• Rural Telecommunications
• Malaysia
• Madras-Penang Cable Link
• Mauritius
• Rodrigues Radio Rebroadcasting Station
• Nepal
• Telecommunications

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what contribution the United Nations Disaster Relief Co-ordinator is making towards relief in the Lebanon; and what is the scale of the United Kingdom contribution to his work;(2) whether any contribution will be made by the United Kingdom to the UNICEF relief and rehabilitation programme for the Lebanon;(3) whether any contribution has been made by the United Kingdom to the restoration of water supplies and basic hygiene services in Beirut.

UNDRO has made an invaluable contribution towards relief in Lebanon by gathering, evaluating and disseminating information and by mobilising relief contributions. In addition to the United Kingdom's annual contribution of about 4 per cent. of the United Nations budget, which benefits UNDRO, the Overseas Development Administration has worked closely with UNDRO and on two occasions was able to respond to an UNDRO request for a charter aircraft to lift urgently needed supplies.United Kingdom multilateral and bilateral relief aid for Lebanon now totals over £2 million, but we have not earmarked any of this specifically for repairs to water supplies or basic hygiene services.So far as UNICEF's appeal is concerned, although the United Kingdom is willing to join international discussions about relief and rehabilitation, no decision has been made about a United Kingdom contribution nor about how such a contribution might be channelled. The United Kingdom is currently a major donor to UNICEF's general resources and contributes about £6 million a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any contribution will be made by the United Kingdom to the UN Relief and Works Agency emergency relief plan for displaced Palestinian refugees in the Lebanon.

We are contributing £4 million to UNRWA generally this year, some of which will be used in the Lebanon, plus £1 million of food aid and special disaster aid of £386,534 both specifically earmarked for the Lebanon. The question whether any further provision might be made in the current financial year is being kept under close review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will discuss with the chairmen of the water boards problems created for pensioners and other low-income groups by the use of fixed charges for water supply; and if he will make a statement.

A two-part tariff in which those costs which do not vary with use are recovered to a large extent by a fixed charge reflects the principle of economic pricing and has the support of the National Water Council.Last year, the Council asked its working party on charging policies to re-examine the water industry's long-term cost structure and to advise on the appropriate structure of charges for household water supply and sewerage and the relationship between standing charges for measured and unmeasured users. As this work is still in progress we have no present plans to discuss the level of fixed charges for water supply with water authority chairmen.Meanwhile, assistance with bills for low-income groups continues to be available through the social security system.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many new jobs have been created by firms locating in enterprise zones in England; and if he is satisfied that the usual prudential inquiries are being made into applications for assistance given in these areas and that none of those applications approved has been from persons previously involved in insolvent businesses.

Our estimate is that by 31 May this year 1,600 jobs had been provided by new and incoming firms in enterprise zones in England. Enterprise zone benefits are automatically available to firms moving into the zones: no application is required. Criteria for other forms of assistance are the same in enterprise zones as elsewhere.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will tabulate the projected areas of office accommodation in the City and West End and the rest of Greater London, respectively, envisaged in the Greater London development plans for the years 1980 to 1985, together with the areas now used or available or for which planning permission has been given.

No projected areas of office accommodation were tabulated in the Greater London development plan. The area of commercial office floor space (in thousands of square metres) on 1 April 1981 was as follows:

Area	'000s square metres
City	3,402 ·9
West End (including parts of Camden, Kensington and Chelsea)	5,907 ·6
Rest of Greater London	7,402 ·2
Total	16,712 ·7

These figures include empty office accommodation. The areas for 1 April 1982 are not yet available. No information is readily available for the amount of office floor space for which planning permission has been given.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the area of office space in the City and West End and the rest of Greater London, respectively, which is (a) empty but ready for occupation, (b) under construction, and (c) for which planning permission has been granted.

This information is not readily available, and could only be assembled at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will make a further statement concerning the responses he has received to his consultative paper on the future of the Ordnance Survey; and if he will place copies of the responses he has received in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.

I hope to make a statement on this matter shortly, and at that time a full report of the consultations will be laid before Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to take with regard to the latest amendment to the Gleneagles agreement.

The Gleneagles agreement has not been amended. Only the Heads of Government can undertake amendments to this agreement and no alterations were made when they last met in Melbourne in 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply to the right hon. Member for Brent, East on 28 July, what is the practice of his Department with regard to the handling and circulation of all categories of confidential correspondence between senior civil servants in his Department and local authority officers.

Correspondence received by the Department, whether from local authorities or others is not normally made generally available except with the consent of the sender. The Department does not regard letters it sends as confidential unless an indication to this effect is given.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to extend the provisions of the assured tenancy scheme to newly renovated and converted properties; and if he will add appropriate developers, organisations and private landlords to his approved list for this purpose.

I shall bear the right hon. Member's suggestion in mind. His proposed change would, however, require primary legislation, as under section 56 of the Housing Act 1980 assured tenancies are confined to buildings erected after the passing of that Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now make a statement on the rent increases he will be expecting local authorities to apply in the next financial year.

My right hon. Friend will make his determination of reckonable income for 1983–84 under Section 100 of the Housing Act 1980 after he has carried out the necessary statutory consultation. This consultation has not yet commenced.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will have comprehensive discussions with all interested parties directly involved in the travel trade regarding the introduction of an alternative to the "Stabiliser"; and if he will make a statement.

It would be premature for me to comment on "Stabiliser" or any alternative to it until the judgment has been given in the action at present before the restrictive practices court.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will make a statement, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Fife, East on 30 March, Official Report, c. 54–55, concerning shipping rate disparities between the United Kingdom and the Continent; and whether the Government propose to take any action.

The Department of Trade has been investigating freight rate disparities between the United Kingdom and the Continent in great detail. Its investigations confirm that disparities are widespread and, in general, are of considerable concern to exporters, some finding them significant enough to make the difference between winning and losing an order. The Department's investigations have also confirmed that while there are a variety of causes for the disparities, the two most significant are higher United Kingdom port costs and the greater competition conferences face from non-conference lines on the Continent.My right hon. and noble Friend, the Secretary of State therefore considers that the Department's investigations demonstrate the importance of ensuring competition in liner shipping from United Kingdom ports. My right hon. and noble Friend has decided that this can be best achieved through the proposed European Community regulation applying the competition rules in the Treaty of Rome to shipping, subject to certain changes in the Commission's proposals. The draft regulation is currently under discussion between member States in Brussels.The Government consider that the regulation should:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether any change is proposed in the speed limit for heavy goods vehicles on the dual carriageway sections of the A1 trunk road in West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire.

As stated in the White Paper, "Lorries, People and the Environment" (Cmnd. 8439, paragraph 29), the Government accept the case for increasing the speed limit for heavy goods vehicles from 40 mph to 50 mph on unrestricted dual carriageways, and will bring forward amending regulations in due course.