asked the Attorney-General if he has any plans for simplifying the procedure for obtaining a legal aid certificate.

In addition to the simplifications implemented in recent years, the Government are now considering a number of others, including the feasibility and desirability of a scheme of postal assessment to determine the financial eligibility of legal aid applicants and the introduction of computers into legal aid area offices.

asked the Attorney-General if he will prosecute Crass Records under section 2 of the Obscene Publications Act in respect of its record "How does it feel to be the mother of 1,000 dead?".

I have considered the record to which my hon. Friend refers and have decided that its publication does not amount to a contravention of section 2.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his reply of 21 October, why information op the cost of export rebates paid in respect of food and wine exports by the EEC to the Eastern bloc are not readily available; and whether the EEC Commission keeps any central record of these export rebates.

The Commission keep records of the total costs of export refunds. However, those data are not broken down to show the expenditure on exports to any one country or group of countries. Information supplied by the Commission in reply to a question from my hon. Friend on 7 April—[Vol. 21, c. 341–421]—represented an estimate only of the cost of refunds for exports to the Soviet Union from the Community—excluding the United Kingdom—for a short specified period. Equivalent estimates for the period 1976–80 for total Community exports to the Soviet Union and the Soviet bloc respectively could not be obtained except at an unacceptable administrative cost.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of EEC exports of food and wine, respectively, were sent to Eastern Europe, including the Soviet Union, in each of the past five years for which figures are available.

The figures requested are as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which local authorities do not allow their employees to use the herbicide 2,4,5–T; and which authorities, having previously imposed such a ban, have now relaxed it.

This information is not available. It is a matter for local authorities themselves.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to require the labelling of all products containing 2,4,5–T with the amount of the herbicide such products contain.

The active ingredients of some pesticide products must already be shown on the label, and I am at present holding discussions with interested organisations with a view to extending this requirement to pesticides in general.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the preparations containing 2,4,5–T which can be bought at garden centres.

Commercial information of this kind is a matter for the trade association concerned—that is, the British Agrochemicals Association.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ask for an updated report from the advisory committee on pesticides on the potential environmental dangers of the herbicide 2,4,5–T.

The advisory committee reported on 2,4,5–T in December 1980, and I expect to receive a further report shortly.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has now received the report from Government scientists on the use of nylon monofilament gill nets in inshore waters; and if he will make a statement.

The Department's scientists have produced preliminary reports providing detailed information on the use and distribution of gill and similar nets around the coasts of England and Wales, together with a survey of published literature concerning the use of gill nets in other countries. The reports—and summaries of them—have been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress is being made by the salmon sales group and the National Water Council in considering measures to be taken to reduce the illegal taking of salmon; whether he is considering legislation to establish controls over the sale of salmon and the licensing of salmon dealers; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the right hon. Member to my reply to him of 11 May.—[Vol. 23, c. 239.] I understand that members of the salmon sales group of the National Water Council have now visited Canada to study the arrangements in New Brunswick. Subsequently, the group has held meetings with salmon fishing interests in England and Wales and in Scotland and proposes to hold further consultations at regional level. I shall consider what action is needed once the group has issued its report.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many officers are involved in investigations of the black economy in Northern Ireland; and how many prosecutions have taken place in the most recent convenient period for tax evasion in Northern Ireland.

The prevention and detection of tax evasion forms part of the normal duties of the majority of the staff of the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise based in Northern Ireland. There were three prosecutions for tax evasion in Northern Ireland in the year to 31 March 1982.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the total manpower—not full-time equivalents—of central Government in England and Wales on a consistent basis for each year since 1952.

The information held centrally is only on the basis of full-time equivalents for the years in question. It would involve disproportionate effort and cost to prepare the figures on another basis.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the total number—full-time equivalent—of administrative grade civil servants in England and Wales in each year since 1952.

Figures relating to administrative grade civil servants in England and Wales only since 1952 are not available centrally. Disproportionate effort and cost would be involved in attempting to obtain this imformation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether there is evidence that itinerants evade tax obligations more than the rest of the community.

Itinerants clearly pose special problems for the Revenue Departments but there is insufficient data available to indicate whether as a whole they evade their tax obligations more than any other sector of the community.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost in a full year of decreasing the standard rate of tax by one point.

A reduction of 1p in the basic rate of income tax would cost about £950 million in a full year at 1982–83 income levels.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the rise in the retail price index and the rise in the pensioner price index for each month since January 1982, inclusive.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he has taken regarding the request sent to him for an early meeting by the Charities VAT Reform Group in order to discuss the removal of value added tax from registered charities which take care of the disabled; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 25 October 1982, c. 256]:My right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer looked very carefully before this year's Budget at the possibility of providing VAT relief for charities, and I met the VAT Reform Group in February to discuss its proposals in detail, but we reluctantly concluded that neither general relief nor selective relief nor certain charities was feasible. The VAT Reform Group has recently renewed its representations in general terms and my right hon. and learned Friend has expressed a willingness to consider any practical considerations that it may believe to have been overlooked.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government that the resources available to the EEC by way of the 1 per cent. value added tax contribution, customs duties and food levies should not be increased.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 October 1982, c. 205]:Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements he will make for the Emergency Provisions (Compensation) (Northern Ireland) Rules 1982 to be provided with a serial number or other identification.

The provisions of article 6 of the Statutory Rules (Northern Ireland) Order 1979 as to the registration and numbering of statutory rules do not apply to the Emergency Provisions (Compensation)(Northern Ireland) Rules 1982 made by the Lord Chief Justice under section 28 of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978. The rules are not within the terms of Article 4(a)(iv) of the Statutory Rules (Northern Ireland) Order 1979.The rules are printed by HMSO and are on sale in the Government bookshop, notice of their making having been given in the

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if, in the light of the results of the elections for the Northern Ireland Assembly, he will make a statement on his future policy with regard to the government of Northern Ireland.

The Government's policy remains as set out in Parliament this summer. For the first time for eight years Northern Ireland has an elected Assembly which, from the outset, will have a vital task in scrutinising the operation of direct rule.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 26 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 October.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for 26 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 26 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 26 October.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 26 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 26 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her public engagements for 26 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 26 October.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 26 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 26 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 26 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 26 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 26 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 26 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 26 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 26 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her public engagements for Tuesday 26 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 26 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 26 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 26 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 October.

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today.

asked the Prime Minister when she expects to receive the report of the Franks committee review of the events leading up to the Falklands invasion.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell) on 19 October.—[Vol. 29, c. 90–91.]

asked the Prime Minister whether she is satisfied with the present state of trade relations between the United Kingdom and Japan.

Japan's exports to this country continue to rise while our sales there are stagnant. I made it clear in my talks with the Japanese Government last month that there is much that Japan can do about this wide imbalance. It can make it easier for our exporters to sell to Japan; it can moderate exports in sensitive sectors; and it can step up efforts to encourage investment in this country and collaborative ventures with British industry and make major capital purchases from us such as aircraft. There has been some movement on these fronts but by no means enough.

asked the Prime Minister what steps the Government are now taking to help those people who have been out of work for one year or more to get jobs.

The full range of public employment and training services are already available to help the long-term unemployed. In addition, we are offering greatly increased opportunities for the long-term unemployed to engage in work of value to their communities through the new community programme which will offer work to 130,000 people. But the principal way in which we can provide lasting help for the long-term unemployed, and unemployed people more generally, is by tackling the underlying causes of our economic decline, by setting the economy to rights and creating the conditions for growth.

asked the Prime Minister when next she plans to meet leaders of the Trades Union Congress.

I have no immediate plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if she will pay an official visit to Cambridgeshire.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister when she will next meet the Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland to discuss relations with the Irish Republic.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if she will instruct all Departments that public funds are not to be used to support libel actions by civil servants.

No. Such assistance may be given under the present rules if it is in the interest of the Department concerned to do so and I see no reason to change the rules.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total cost to public funds of policing arrangements for the City of London's victory parade held on Tuesday 12 October.

We understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and the Commissioner of Police for the City of London that, because it was possible to arrange the precise numbers and duties of their officers well in advance and within ordinary working periods, no additional cost was incurred in police deployment on this occasion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were in police and court cells at the latest available date; what are their locations and the length of time so held; and if he is satisfied with the conditions.

On the morning of 25 October, 159 prisoners were held in police custody, 154 within the Metropolitan Police area, three within the area of the City of London police and two within the area of the Sussex police. Detailed information about the lengths of time such prisoners have remained in police custody could not be obtained without disproportionate cost, but the period is generally not more than a few days at a time. We cannot be satisfied with the conditions in which these prisoners are being held and I regret the circumstances that make it necessary for police and court cells to be used in this way. We are in no doubt however that the police do all they can to provide the prisoners in their custody with facilities comparable with those to which they would be entitled had they been in prison.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he is satisfied with the level of drugs being administered in Her Majesty's prisons;(2) if he is satisfied with the level of drugs being administered in Her Majesty's prison, Gartree.

The prescription of a medicine for a prisoner is a matter for the professional judgment of the responsible prison medical officer. The prison medical service has complete clinical freedom and the same ethical standards as doctors practising elsewhere.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the doses of major tranquillisers and psycho-active drugs, such as phenothiazines, promazines and chlor-promazines, which have been administered to prisoners during each six-month period from 1 January 1980.

Information is not collected in the form requested, but the following table lists the number of doses of psychotropic drugs—that is anti-depressants, sedatives and tranquillisers—dispensed in all prison department establishments during each six-month period from 1 January 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the doses of major tranquillisers and psycho-active drugs, such as phenothiazines, promazines and chlor-promazines, which have been administered to prisoners in Her Majesty's prison, Gartree, during each six-month period from 1 January 1980.

The medical services at Her Majesty's prison Gartree are provided largely by a single medical officer and we are not prepared to publish information about an individual doctor's prescribing practice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many notifications of drug addicts there were in 1980 and 1981, respectively, from Cheshire, Derbyshire and Merseyside;(2) how many notifications of drug addicts aged 21 years and over there were in 1980 and 1981, respectively, from Cheshire, Derbyshire and Merseyside;(3) how many notifications of drug addicts aged under 21 years there were in 1980 and 1981, respectively, from Cheshire, Derbyshire and Merseyside.

The information requested is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are in prison per 100,000 population in each country within the European Economic Community.

We refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Edge Hill (Mr. Alton) on 30 July.—[Vol. 28, c. 769.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there is evidence that itinerants using caravan sites set up under the Caravan Sites Act 1968 have, in percentage terms, a higher level of crime involvement than the rest of the community.

The information requested is not available. Information collected centrally on offenders apprehended does not include the addresses of offenders, which could be obtained only at disproportinate cost

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many policemen per thousand of the population there are in the London borough of Newham; and how this compares with other London boroughs and the rest of the United Kingdom.

I can answer only for England and Wales. For the London borough of Newham there were 2·5 police officers per thousand of the population on October 1982. This ratio is based on the strength of the police divisions covering the borough and on 1981 population census figures. The corresponding ratios for other London boroughs generally varied between less than two and six. For the Metropolitan Police district as a whole, there were 2·8 officers per thousand of the population. These figures exclude headquarters and centrally controlled staffs. If these are included the ratio becomes 3·6 per thousand. The corresponding figure for the rest of England and Wales was 2·2 on 30 September 1982.

Wells asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for the introduction of computer-based techniques, including simulation, at the London police training school.

We understand from the Commissioner that the Metropolitan Police training school, Hendon, is currently evaluating a number of systems involving computer-assisted learning with a view to introducing a pilot scheme aimed at improving the initial training course and the performance, of students.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review his policy towards the granting of political asylum to Iranian nationals and in particular students in the United Kingdom, while the present Khomeni regime remains in power.

Policy towards Iranians is kept under continuous review. We are not persuaded that it would be right to allow all Iranians to remain in this country regardless of circumstances. Every application for asylum is carefully considered in accordance with the immigration rules and the 1951 United Nations convention relating to the status of refugees. Where an applicant expresses a fear of return to his own country but does not qualify for asylum here, he may be allowed to remain, at least for the time being, exceptionally outside the immigration rules. Officials have been instructed to consider applications from Iranians with understanding, humanity and sympathy and to refer cases of continuing doubt to me.

Lewis asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact that on Friday 2 August the Director of Public Prosecutions was criticised by the magistrate, Mr. Denis Purcell, for being discourteous, whether, in view of this further example of failure to act correctly by the Director of Public Prosecutions, he will dismiss him from office.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why there is a backlog in dealing with applications for amateur licences for wireless operation; why applications have been dealt with only up to 18 March; and if, in view of the fact that the issue of licences is self-financing from the fees collected, he will take steps to ensure their prompt issue.

The long delay in issuing radio amateur licences earlier this year was caused by difficulties in producing a revised schedule to the licence; these were resolved in April when a new schedule was published.The delay currently being caused by the volume of applications received following the August results of the twice-yearly radio amateur examination is now about two months and steps have been taken to reduce it further.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on the number of persons suffering from the effects of solvent misuse who come to the attention of the police.

Such information as is collected by the police is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations have been made by his Department to ensure that adequate coverage is given to Devon and in particular Tavistock and Okehampton to receive Channel Four television; and if he will make a statement.

The extension of coverage of the fourth channel service is the responsibility of the IBA. The authority's plans are designed to ensure that the vast majority of homes in the major areas of population in all regions will receive the service from the outset. It is a considerable achievement that some 87 per cent. of the population will be catered for by 2 November 1982.The main transmitters at Caradon hill and Stockland hill will serve large parts of Devon from the outset; the former can be received by some residents of Tavistock. The Tavistock and Okehampton relays will be converted as priorities and resources permit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will include in the forthcoming White Paper on immigration rules a list of the European and Commonwealth countries which confer a legal right, as against a discretion, to spouses of residents of both sexes to enter and settle in the country.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which penal establishments currently contain allocation centres for borstal trainees.

Borstal trainees are allocated by the following establishments: Bedford, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter, Gloucester, Holloway, Leicester, Lincoln, Low Newton, Manchester, Norwich, Oxford, Pucklechurch, Reading, Risley, Rochester, Shrewsbury, Swansea, Winchester.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which penal establishments will contain allocation centres for those sentenced to youth custody when the provisions of the Criminal Justice Bill come into operation.

Most youth custody trainees will be allocated from units in local prisons; a minority will be allocated from remand centres.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of West Midlands police on the attack on a police station and subsequent incidents which took place in Thornhill Road, Birmingham, on 1 September; and if he will make a statement.

We understand from the chief constable that at approximately midday on 1 September a crowd of between 40 and 50 people gathered outside Thornhill Road police station in a demonstration about the arrest and subsequent remand proceedings in respect of a local person. The demonstrators left Thornhill Road at about 4 pm, moving to Soho Road, where they sat down and obstructed traffic. When the police removed them the demonstrators went to Grove Lane and again sat down in the road. some of the demonstrators there threw stones at the police as they were again removed, and two officers received minor injuries. Nine people were arrested for public order offences, of whom one subsequently pleaded guilty and was fined and the others are awaiting trial.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give consideration to the introduction of legislation relating to the removal of canine wastes in towns and cities.

I am writing to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the maximum accepted size of a smallholding in Scotland and in particular in the Highlands and Islands area of Scotland, for such a smallholding to be treated as a "croft".

There is no maximum accepted size for crofts in Scotland ; nor is there any provision for creating new crofts.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he is taking over the combined heat and electrical power generation studies following the initial feasibility study in the Glasgow area.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy is responsible for this study. The report of the lead consultants on the combined heat and power/district heating feasibility programme is at present being considered by the nine cities involved in the initial study and by other interested parties. Comments are expected to be received shortly and the report will then be published.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in theOfficial Reporta table showing by district council the number of units for rehabilitation(a)acquired and(b)completed by housing associations in the financial year 1981–82 and the total capital expenditure by housing associations in each local authority.

The information requested is set out in the following table. Schemes may be funded through the Housing Corporation or the individual local authorities. Details of expenditure shown in the table relate to actual expenditure on schemes funded by the Housing Corporation but for local authorities schemes expenditure is estimated on the basis of the financial allocations made for 1981–82.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give, for the latest available period, the figures for Scotland on health manpower as set out in table 3.2 of the Royal Commission on the National Health Service (Cmnd. 7615).

The figures for Scotland at 30 September 1981 for health manpower per 10,000 population are as follows, with the 1977 figures quoted by the Royal Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects information to be available on the number of places awarded under the assisted places scheme and the number of places awarded to pupils from fee-paying schools in 1982–83 at each participating school.

I expect to have the provisional totals available very shortly and to announce the details for each participating school before the end of November.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the percentage increases from August and September 1981 to August and September 1982 in the number of people unemployed in the Edinburgh travel-to-work area.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the cost to date of the assisted places scheme; and what has been the amount of other public funds given to private fee-paying schools over the same period.

Expenditure on the assisted places scheme in Scotland amounts to £822,000 since the scheme started in August 1981. Over the same period to October 1982, maintenance grants to the grant-aided secondary schools amounted to £3,298,000 and grants to grant-aided special schools amounted to £3,847,000. Details of grants or fees paid to the schools by local authorities are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many young people are on youth opportunities programme schemes in Lothian; and how this compares with a year earlier.

In September 1982, 2,840 young people were taking part in the youth opportunities programme in Lothian, compared with 2,730 in September 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many vacancies there were in each employment exchange of the Edinburgh travel-to-work area in August and September, respectively.

The following table gives the numbers of vacancies notified to employment offices and careers offices in the Edinburgh travel-to-work area and remaining unfilled on 6 August and 3 September 1982. These figures do not purport to be a measure of all vacancies in the area.

Unemployment in the Edinburgh travel-to-work area rose by 14.8 per cent. between August 1981 and August 1982, and by 16.1 per cent. between September 1981 and September 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were unemployed in each employment exchange in the Edinburgh travel-to-work area in August and September, respectively.

The information is set out in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of males, females and all people were unemployed in the Edinburgh travel-to-work area in August and September, respectively.

The information is set out in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost of maintaining the Invergordon smelter beyond the six months' agreement with the British Aluminium Company Ltd.

In my statement to the House on 18 January—[Vol. 16, c. 21–22.1—I announced that the British Aluminium Company had undertaken to maintain the plant in a useable condition until the end of June, during which time it was hoped a new operator could be identified. Towards the end of this period and in order to assist in these efforts the company agreed to a one-month extension of the deadline for dismantling the plant. The Government agreed to compensate the company for the cost of maintenance of the smelter for the month of July. A claim for £178,000, supported by an auditor's certificate, was submitted by the company and reimbursement was made earlier this month. Parliamentary approval to this new service will be sought in a winter Supplementary Estimate for the Selective Assistance and Compensation Scotland Vote, Class XV, 5. Pending that approval, the necessary expenditure was met by a repayable advance from the Contingencies Fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many companies are prosecuted each year under the Statistics of Trade Act 1947 for failing to provide information for the annual census of production.

The information requested is given as follows.The number of companies prosecuted each year under the Statistics of Trade Act 1947 for failing to provide information for the annual census of production is:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much regional financial assistance was granted in the Keighley travel-to-work area in 1979, 1980, 1981 and in 1982 up to 31 July; and how many jobs were created by such assistance in those periods.

Regional financial assistance has been made available in the Keighley travel-to-work area under parts I and of the Industry Act 1972 as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether improvements in rig stability have been introduced as a consequence of the "Ocean Ranger" disaster.

We have recently proposed an amendment to our stability requirements which is now being considered by offshore industry representatives. The changes proposed do not specifically relate to the "Ocean Ranger" disaster because we will not know to what extent stability may have been a factor in this loss until the Canadian authorities have completed their official investigations. Our stability requirements will be reviewed as necessary in the light of their findings.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he proposes that the British Gas Corporation should dispose of, or otherwise privatise, subsidiary F referred to in paragraphs 6 and 7 of S.I., 1982, No. 1131.

Once the schemes referred to in the directions have been brought into force, subsidiary F will hold participation rights in relation to the oil interests held by subsidiaries B, C, D and E. The Government intend subsequently to use section 11(5) of the Oil and Gas (Enterprise) Act 1982 to transfer subsidiary F's shares to the Secretary of State with a view to vesting them in BNOC. The final outcome will therefore be the establishment of participation arrangements between BNOC and the new companies holding BGC's interests in offshore oilfields.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy for what reason he proposes that the British Gas Corporation should establish subsidiary A instead of permitting the British Gas Corporation Gas Council (Exploration) to transfer scheduled assets directly to subsidiaries B, C, D and E pursuant to paragraph 5 of S.I., 1982, No. 1131.

The directions aim to maintain as much flexibility as possible because the Government have not yet decided how the disposal of BGC's offshore oil interests will be carried out. Subsidiaries B, C, D and E are therefore being established as a group of companies all owned by subsidiary A so that they could be disposed of either separately or collectively in the form of subsidiary A.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether there will be any flexibility in the time permitted under paragraph 2 and paragraph 9 of the British Gas Corporation (Disposal of Offshore Oil Fields Interests) Regulations 1982 (S.I No. 1131) to accommodate unforeseen contingencies and market conditions.

The timetable provided for in clauses 2 and 9 of the directions was set in consultation with the British Gas Corporation. The Government believe that it is reasonable and that it can be met.Since the directions merely require the Corporation to carry out initial work in preparation for the disposal of its interests in offshore oilfields, market conditions are not relevant at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy in what period of time the British Gas Corporation is intending to dispose of its interest in petroleum production licence PL089 pursuant to a direction contained in British Gas Corporation (Disposal of Wytch Farm Oil Field Interests) Direction 1981 (S.I., 1981, No. 1459); and how he intends to expedite the sale.

The Government wish to see the disposal completed as quickly as possible, consistent with obtaining a fair price for the assets. British Gas is currently engaged in commercially confidential negotiations with a number of bidders, and it would not be right for me to speculate on the outcome of these negotiations.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what recent representations he has received regarding reduced standing charges for pensioners; and if he will make a statement.

I have received a number of letters concerning the possibility of reducing standing charges. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Cannock (Mr. Roberts) on 20 October.—[Vol. 29, c. 132.]