asked the Prime Minister if, in view of the publication of intelligence material relating to Argentina and the Falklands, she will consider making more intelligence material relating to other areas available for public consideration.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Lewisham, West (Mr. Price) on 21 January 1983.—[Vol. 35, c. 238.]

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will state her official duties for 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list tier official engagements for Thursday 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for Thursday 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 February.

(Leith) asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her public engagements for 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her public engagements for 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 February.

This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and 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 if she will make an official visit to Boddam in the Aberdeenshire, East constituency.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister how many scrutinies and multi-departmental reviews were carried out by Lord Rayner; and what have been the annual savings achieved to date.

In the years 1979–81, 108 scrutinies and three multi-departmental reviews covering 35 departments were carried out in association with Lord Rayner. From these, firm decisions have been taken on recommendations which will produce savings and extra income of £180 million a year and £29 million once-for-all savings. Further savings, estimated at £85 million a year and £8 million once-for-all depend on further consideration and consultation.Additional savings will arise out of the 1982 central efficiency programme, which is not yet complete. This comprised 27 scrutinies and three multi-department reviews covering 25 departments. To date, savings of £60 million per annum have been identified from this work.

asked the Prime Minister if she will review the impact of Government policy on rural areas.

No. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment takes the lead in assessing the effect of our policies on rural areas, consulting colleagues as necessary. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland the respective Secretaries of State fulfil a similar role.

asked the Prime Minister how many hon. Members she has met to discuss factory closures since she last answered oral questions; and how many job losses were involved.

One and about 220, although all those facing redundancy have been offered jobs elsewhere.

asked the Prime Minister what continuing responsibilities Her Majesty's Government has for the bringing to justice of Nazi war criminals; and if she will make a statement.

Wartime and post-war agreements that provide for the arrest and bringing to judgment of Nazi war criminals remain in force. The director of Army legal services retains a residual responsibility for the prosecution of war crimes as the successor to the military deputy of the judge advocate general. In cases where the United Kingdom has jurisdiction legal machinery is available for prosecutions should evidence become available which warranted them.

asked the Prime Minister, in view of the appointment of top-paid former civil servants and public servants to highly paid part-time posts, with their public pensions intact, so they may receive as much as two or three times their former full-time public service salaries, whether she will introduce legislation to restrict public servants' retirement pensions if they take paid employment.

No. As the then Minister of State, Civil Service Department, said in his reply to the hon. Member on 1 April 1980—[Vol. 982, c. 131–32]—abatement arrangements are already applied to public service pensioners who are appointed to a public board or office. It would not be appropriate to legislate for their extension to appointments in the private sector, which make no additional call on public funds.

asked the Prime Minister what information she has as to how many other European Community Governments include within their ministerial teams a Minister with the sole or main task of disseminating Government information; and in how many cases the title of such a Minister is the equivalent of Minister of information.

The Federal Republic of Germany has a Government spokesman of Cabinet rank. This is the only example amongst our European Community partners of a Minister with the sole or main task of disseminating Government information. The Prime Minister of Luxembourg is the only other Minister who reflects his responsibilities for information and the press among his titles.

asked the Prime Minister if, as part of her declared policy of a balanced reduction in weapons and bases associated with nuclear war by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and Warsaw Pact forces, she will negotiate with the United States Government for the closure of the Brawdy sonar surveillance base, set up under project "Caesar" by the United States Government.

No. The oceanographic research facility at Brawdy is not relevant to the present negotiations for the reduction of nuclear weapons between the Soviet Union and the United States.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will consider publishing or making available details of the discussions she had with or approaches made to her by leaders of the various Opposition parties before, during, and subsequent to the Falklands war; and to what extent these persons warned her, advised, opposed or made suggestions as to what actions the Government should take prior to, during and after these events.

No. Some of my exchanges with the leaders of Opposition parties were made public by them at the time.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, of the new coal mining capacity envisaged in the "Plan for Coal" in 1974 for the year 1985, what has been attained to date (a) of the 9 million tonnes from extending the lives of pits, (b) of the 13 million tonnes from major schemes and existing pits and (c) of the 20 million tonnes from new collieries.

I am informed by the National Coal Board that "Plan for Coal" projects completed or under construction at the end of September 1982 would when fully operational produce 13·8 million tonnes of capacity at new mines and 29·0 million tonnes of capacity at existing mines.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will estimate the effect the substitution in Northern Ireland of natural gas from the Republic of Ireland for coal from British coalfields will have on the United Kingdom coal industry; and if he will make a statement.

Negotiations with the Republic of Ireland concerning supplies of natural gas are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. I understand that negotiations are still continuing.The market for United Kingdom coal in Northern Ireland will depend on the NCB's competitive position there.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will delay British withdrawal from the Super-Sara study of pressurised water reactor failures funded by the European Community until the report on the cost effectiveness of the project has been produced.

The Super-Sara project is part of the Community joint researh centre's current research programme and as such is financed entirely from Community funds. The United Kingdom could not therefore unilaterally withdraw from the project.The research council of 8 February will consider the future direction of the JRC's programme. The United Kingdom contribution to the discussion will be made in the light of all available advice, including that by the three eminent scientists from France, Germany and Denmark on the cost-effectiveness of the Super-Sara project.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if the Government are satisfied with the effectiveness of the coal mining subsidence compensation system.

The Government are to set up a thorough and independent review of the operation of the coal mining subsidence compensation system.My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Energy, Environment, Scotland and Wales have been considering the report, published in September 1981, by the Commission on Energy and the Environment on coal and the environment. Among many recommendations on subsidence and other issues, the commission emphasised in particular the importance of the NCB handling subsidence problems sensitively, speedily and efficiently. The NCB's code of practice on subsidence has been in operation now for over five years, and the Government therefore believe it would be timely to examine how it is working.The review will be wide-ranging. Its terms of reference will be:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether any change will be made to the cash limit for his Department's central miscellaneous services Vote, class IV, Vote 18.

Subject to the approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the cash limit is to be increased by £5·0 million from £52,355,000 to £57,355,000. This increase is made up of £1·3 million for capital expenditure on computers, £2·1 million for the purchase of consultancy and other specialist external advisory services, £0·9 million of due functioning grant to British Telecommunications for civil defence expenditure and £0·7 million to cover increased pay costs.This additional expenditure is being offset by a corresponding reduction in the scientific and technological assistance cash limit Class IV, Vote 6 from £260,050,000 to £255,050,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the total area of industrial floor space allocated for industrial or service trade occupancy by the English Industrial Estates Corporation in each of the travel-to-work areas in (a) Cumbria, (b) the northern region and (c) the north west region for the last month for which statistics are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will publish a table indicating the payments made in 1982 from the European regional development fund to each of the countries and regions within the United Kingdom, indicating how much, if any, of these payments was made in respect of projects in the inner city areas.

The following table shows the amounts committed from the quota section of the European regional development fund in 1982 in respect of industrial and infrastructure projects in each region of the United Kingdom and in the inner city districts designated under the Inner Urban Areas Act 1978—applicable to Great Britain only.

[pursuant to his reply, 2 February 1983, c. 111]: I regret that I am unable to provide this information, since the Department of Industry no longer maintains records of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the latest figures available for the consumption of United Kingdom-produced coal in Northern Ireland.

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

asked the Minister for Trade what steps are being taken to offset unfair competition from Soviet cruise liners.

The British Government have made it clear to the Soviet authorities that we would not be prepared to see Soviet cruise ships, operating out of United Kingdom ports, damage British cruise operators through disruptive non-commercial competition. I am glad to be able to tell my hon. Friend, therefore, that at the annual meeting of the Anglo-Soviet Maritime Commission in Moscow the Soviet authorities agreed that in 1983 the number of berths their cruise lines would offer out of British ports would exceed the level reached in 1982 by no more than 2 per cent. Both sides agreed that British and Soviet cruise line operators should meet at the commercial level to discuss their 1984 programmes. Those discussions will be held in London shortly, and I have asked for a report on the outcome.

asked the Minister for Trade what has been the value of imports of silicon chips to Great Britain in each of the past two years; and if he will provide a percentage breakdown by country of origin.

[pursuant to his reply, 2 February 1983, c. 110]: This information is not available. Silicon chips are not separately identified in the United Kingdom Overseas Trade Statistics. They are included with other items in sub-groups 776.4—electronic micro-circuits—and 776.3—diodes, transistors, similar semi-conductor devices and photocells—of the Standard International Trade Classification—revision 2.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will meet the Director General of Fair Trading to discuss the question of travel agents discounting tour operators recommended prices following the judgment of the restrictive practices court on 20 December 1982; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 January 1983, c. 245]: The clause on discounting in the standard agency agreement recommended by the Association of British Travel Agents was among the restrictions the court declared to be contrary to the public interest in its judgment on 20 December. Proceedings in the case are continuing and it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the tonnage of immature fish landed in the south-west during the past three, six and nine months; and what percentage of this has gone to fish meal.

No statistics are available on landings of immature sea fish and the quantities of such fish disposed of for fish meal.Landings and disposals for fish meal of demersal and pelagic fish in the south-west for the latest available periods are shown below:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will consider lowering the requirements to qualify for grants under the agriculture and horticulture development scheme and the agriculture and horticulture grant scheme, so that small and part-time farmers can benefit.

Small and part-time farmers are already eligible for grants on certain items—such as drainage and land improvements—under the United Kingdom financed agriculture and horticulture grant scheme. To qualify for grant on the complete range of items, including buildings, a holding must be capable of providing at least 1,800 hours of employment per year for a reasonably skilled occupier. This requirement is intended to direct public funds mainly to units which are potentially viable.The conditions of eligibility under the agriculture and horticulture development scheme, which is partly financed by the European Community, are laid down in EC directive 72/159. Small and part-time farmers are not disqualified but they may find it difficult to meet all the requirements.I have no plans to ease the eligibility conditions of these schemes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of Community net expenditure exclusive of refunds to the United Kingdom and Germany is likely to be spent on agriculture, taking into account the current disparity between European Community and world agricultural prices.

If no allowance is made for the payment of the 1982 refunds for the United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Germany, the provision allocated to the common agricultural policy would take up about 68 per cent. of the total Community Budget for 1983.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how Community fishing rules are to be enforced in areas outside the United Kingdom's direct jurisdiction; what direct involvement the Government will have in these controls; and how he intends to satisfy himself that such controls are being carried through effectively.

It is the responsibility of individual member states to enforce Community fishing rules in waters under their jurisdiction. The European Community Commission's inspectorates of inspectorate is to ensure efficient and consistent enforcement.

asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will report on the progress he is making in his consultations with the Brewers Society on the effectiveness of the code of practice regulating licensed tenancies.

The Brewers Society met the National Union of Licensed Victuallers last November to discuss the voluntary code of practice on tenant security. Both organisations have since written to inform me of measures they have agreed to improve the effectiveness of arrangements for applying the code.

asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the Commission has found that the recent agreement between the French Government and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the supply of French agricultural and food products is incompatible with the treaty of Rome; and what action is being taken.

The Commission, whose responsibility it is to ensure that the treaty is observed, have thoroughy examined the exchange of letters signed in Moscow on 15 October 1982 between the French Minister of Agriculture and the Soviet authorities, which provides for the supply of agricultural and food products of French origin to the USSR during the period 1983–85 at world market prices. They have concluded that the exchange of letters concerned is a breach of the treaty and of a specific Council decision of 1969 but before reaching a final decison on what steps to take they have written to the French Government requesting further information.I have made clear to the Commission my concern about the damaging consequences which unilateral undertakings of this kind by a major exporting member of the Community, if allowed to stand unchallenged, could have for the operation of the common agricultural policy. We look to the Commisssion to exercise its full responsibility in this matter in a clear and impartial fashion.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the average number of pupils per class in the maintained sector in each of the last 10 years; and what has been the pupil-teacher ratio for each of those years.

The information requested for maintained primary and secondary schools in England is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to the system of student finance and, in particular, the level and application of parental means test in each European Community country.

I shall send my hon. Friend a copy of the latest available information.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, for each of the past 10 years, what was the maximum net parental income that could be received before a student loses all his maintenance grant.

Under the Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations a student's maintenance grant is assessed according to the balance between his requirements and his resources; these vary depending on individual circumstances. It is not, therefore, possible to determine a single value of net parental income that could be received before a student becomes entitled to a minimum award.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in view of the decision of the Greater Manchester council to increase fares for children using buses serving independent religious schools on the basis that these schools are outside the state system and that the pupils attending these schools should not receive any subsidies, he will issue guidance on the subject to metropolitan counties as distinct from local education authorities.

My right hon. Friend has no standing in this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to confine the right to vote in United Kingdom elections to British citizens.

We have no plans to do so. The Select Committee on Home Affairs, is, however, looking into aspects of the franchise as part of its enquiry into the Representation of the People Acts and we shall, of course, carefully consider any proposals they may make on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last exercised his powers in relation to the Charity Commissioners.

On 16 September 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the Council of Europe convention on the use of live animals in research and product testing to be completed.

The complete texts of the draft convention and its ancillary documents should be ready for submission to the Committee of Ministers by the end of April.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total cost, in the financial year 1981–82, of the Metropolitan police air support unit; and what is his estimate of the cost of the unit in the financial year 1982–83.

We understand from the Commissioner that the costs of the Unit in 1981–82 were some £1·2 million and are expected to be about £1·3 million in the current financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make an analysis of the level of offences involving firearms in the past 10 years.

An analysis of the numbers of notifiable offences recorded by the police in which firearms were reported to have been used is published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales". Chapter 3 of the volume for 1981 (Cmnd. 8668) gives statistics for the period 1971/1981.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made with his survey of the methods by which the variation between police forces in the use of cautioning in shoplifting cases may be reduced.

A survey was conducted last year of general cautioning practice and policy amongst police forces. The results of that survey are to be considered by a working group of officials and chief officers with a view to recommending a basis for more consistent and effective practice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further progress has been made by his Department in studying whether persons living in homes for the disabled may be relieved of paying television licence fees; and if he will make a statement.

We are still considering whether a concession could be made to physically and mentally handicapped persons in local authority residential accommodation without creating further anomolies in the television licensing system. We hope to make an announcement soon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to publish revised immigration rules under the Immigration Act 1971.

Next week.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to encourage the development of community policing along the lines of that current in south Yorkshire.

My right hon. Friend will continue to encourage all chief officers to develop policing that is adapted to local circumstances and takes account of the wishes of the local community.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present strength of the Lancashire police force; and what was the strength in May 1979.

On 30 November 1982 the strength of the Lancashire Constabulary was 3,167. This is a gain of 74 on the strength of 3,093 in May 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will issue a circular to police forces proposing the use of tranquilliser darts, rather than real bullets, in all possible circumstances, in order to avoid danger to criminals and innocent people.

This suggestion has been carefully examined in the past but has been rejected. In circumstances where the police would be justified in using firearms a tranquillising weapon would be too slow and uncertain in its effects to be effective. In circumstances falling short of justifying firearms a tranquillising weapon would be unsuitable because of the risk that it could kill the target if, for example, a dart struck the head.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the conditions governing the residential qualifications necessary for eligibility to vote.

It is the responsibility of each electoral registration officer to decide whether a person satisfies the residential qualifications necessary to be registered as an elector. The electoral registration officer's decision can be challenged in the courts. The Select Committee on Home Affairs is looking at the registration of electors as part of its inquiry into the Representation of the People Acts.

(Leith) asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to control the advertising and sale of bugging equipment in the United Kingdom.

The Government have no plans to introduce legislation to control the advertising and sale of such equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the rise in reported crime, especially violent crime, whether he is satisfied with present establishments for police forces and recruitment thereof.

On 30 November 1982, the strength of the police service in England and Wales was 120, 708 an increase of 9,215 since May 1979. Forces remain at or very close to their authorised establishment. Force establishments are kept under review by chief officers, police authorities and Her Majesty's inspectors of constabulary. Police authorities are responsible for maintaining adequate and efficient police forces for their areas and for fixing the authorised establishment of forces, subject to my approval. I shall consider carefully any requests for my approval to increases in establishment for 1983–84, but I shall have to be satisfied that existing manpower is being used as effectively as possible to meet current priorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to make selling solvents to young people an offence.

As my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Health announced in reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Paddington (Mr. Wheeler) on 19 January, the Government are consulting statutory and voluntary bodies concerned with solvent misusers on ways of tackling solvent misuse, including the role of the criminal law.We shall be considering further whether any changes in the law are desirable in the light of responses to that consultation, but on present evidence the Government do not consider that statutory restrictions on the sale of solvents to young people would be desirable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he refuses to transfer Peter Sutcliffe to a secure mental hospital.

Section 72 of the Mental Health Act 1959 requires my right hon. Friend, before he may direct the removal of a prisoner to a hospital, to be satisfied that the prisoner is mentally disordered to a degree warranting his detention in a hospital for medical treatment and that, having regard to the public interest and all the circumstances, his removal would be expedient.My right hon. Friend has given very careful consideration to medical reports, matters brought out at Sutcliffe's trial and appeal, the offences of which he was convicted, his present circumstances in prison, and his likely future if removed to a hospital. My right hon. Friend has concluded that it is not in the public interest to direct his removal at present.My right hon. Friend has however, given instructions that Sutcliffe's mental condition and his progress in prison should be kept under careful review, and he will look again at the question of removing him to a hospital if there is any significant change of circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of deportation of Bangladeshi students, who have ceased their studies, there have been since 1979.

I regret that the information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The total number of Bangladeshi citizens deported in the years in question were:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now give further consideration to bringing in a concessionary television licence fee.

We have no plans to introduce any general concessionary television licence. We are, however, reviewing the position of those physically and mentally handicapped people in residential homes whom I mentioned in the reply I gave today to the question by the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek to introduce a system of control by the British Board of Film Censors over video cassette films available for rent or sale.

The British Board of Film Censors and the British Videogram Association are currently considering the extension on a voluntary basis of the existing film classification system to video cassettes for home viewing. If such a system is introduced, we shall wish to assess its effect before deciding whether statutory controls are required.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the revenue, to date, from citizens band licence fees.

Revenue from the sale of citizens band radio licences in the period 2 November 1981 to 31 December 1982 was £4,141,440.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next intends to meet representatives of the Association of Magisterial Officers to discuss the working of magistrates courts.

We have received no request from the association for a meeting but if it makes such a request we shall consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the general issues relating to telephone tapping about which he will answer parliamentary questions.

I have already made it clear that the general issues on which I should be prepared to answer questions are those relating to the procedures and safeguards set out in the White Paper "The Interception of Communications in Great Britain" (Cmnd. 7873) and the role of the judicial monitor.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is yet in a position to amend section 29 of the Sex Discrimination Act in order to make it unlawful for mixed clubs to discriminate against members of one sex.

The Government are still considering the amendment to section 29 of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 which has been proposed, along with a number of other amendments, to equal opportunity legislation, by the Equal Opportunities Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons had been on remand in custody for more than 110 days at the latest available date.

Information in the form requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. It is estimated that on 30 November 1982, in prison department establishments in England and Wales there were about 1,100 persons on remand awaiting trial and more than 300 convicted persons awaiting sentence whose date of initial remand into custody was more than 110 days earlier. This period includes any time spent on bail after the initial remand in custody and may involve consecutive periods on remand resulting from different charges.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last visited Hendon to discuss the training of Metropolitan policemen.

On 29 September 1981. Since then there have been discussions with the Metropolitan Police at both ministerial and official level on a range of training issues; for example; the training aspects of the Scarman report and of the Commissioner's recent report of his preliminary assessment of the problems and priorities of the force. In addition, my noble Friend visited the uniform branch training school at Hendon on 30 September 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Walsall, South (Mr. George) on 22 December, Official Report, c. 534, why he has decided that there is an insufficient justification for a further amnesty for those holding firearms illegally.

It has been the normal practice to relate an amnesty to particular circumstances such as a change in legislation, rather than to hold them at regular intervals. My right hon. Friend is not persuaded that the effect of a further amnesty on levels of crime, without the impetus of a change in the law would justify the expense and police time required.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects next to meet the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to discuss the increasing amount of crime in London.

I am regularly in contact with the Commissioner about all aspects of the policing of London. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Ravensbourne (Mr. Hunt) on 24 January.—[Vol. 35 c. 1266–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money has been collected by his Department since naturalisation fees have been fixed at £200.

The fees for naturalisation, and for registration at discretion under section 5A(2) of the British Nationality Act 1948, were raised to £200, and became payable with the application on 1 April 1982. Since that date and up to 31 December 1982 it is estimated that £1,045,000 has been received with new naturalisation applications and £771,000 with new applications for registration under section 5A(2). These totals include fees paid with applications where a wife has applied jointly with her husband at the combined fee of £270.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in Winson Green prison, Birmingham, are currently sharing a cell with (a) one other individual and (b) two or more other individuals; and how this position compares with the situation in January 1980, January 1981, and January 1982, respectively.

The numbers of inmates at Her Majesty's prison Birmingham accommodated two and three to a cell on the second Sunday in January in each of the past four years were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied with the training methods at the Metropolitan police firearms training school.

The methods employed by the Metropolitan police for firearms training are of a high standard. But, as part of the continuous efforts to improve them, those responsible for training will be studying the full report of the incident in Kensington on 14 January to see whether any lessons can be learned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give figures for street crime in Z district of the Metropolitan police force for the period from October 1981 to January 1983.

We understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that it is not possible to identify separately all those recorded offences that occurred in the street. The information available relates to those types of offences of stealing most likely to occur in the street and the latest figures available are given in the following table; corresponding information for the fourth quarter of 1982 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to reach a decision on the case of Mr. Bharatcumar Chandarana, whose application to join his family in the United Kingdom has been outstanding for over two years.

I have written to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on the disturbances and looting that took place in Stoke Newington on Saturday 22 January; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis concerning incidents of public disorder which occurred in Stoke Newington on Saturday 22 January 1983; if he will estimate the cost to public funds of these incidents; and if he will make a statement.