asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the number of staff in post in central Government Departments on 1 January.

At 1 January 1983 there were 652,500 staff in post—520,300 non-industrial and 132,200 industrial; that is a reduction of 2,500 since 1 October 1982. The number of civil servants has fallen by 79,800, or 10.9 per cent. since the Government took office.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many students from Northern Ireland are presently in receipt of grants from the Department of Education (Northern Ireland) to attend university or other institutions of further education in (a) Great Britain, (b) the Republic of Ireland and (c) elsewhere, excluding Northern Ireland.

The information requested is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the schools in Northern Ireland where capital works have been authorised for the past five years in each of the following sectors: (a) maintained secondary-intermediate schools, (b) voluntary grammar schools, (c) controlled secondary schools and (d) controlled grammar schools; whether they were under the major or minor works programme; and what was the tender price accepted in each case.

Details of those schools at which major capital works have been allowed to proceed in the past five years are as follows. For this purpose major works have been defined as those costing in excess of £25,000 to 31 March 1981 and £50,000 since that date. Details of minor works are not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland are at present receiving help with their rent or rates by means of (a) supplementary benefits and (b) rent and rates rebates or allowances.

At present some 105,000 householders on supplementary benefit are being assisted with their rent and rates. A further 66,200 are receiving rent or rate rebates or rent allowances.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science to what extent tertiary, technical and further education colleges will be affected by national advisory board for public sector higher education cuts; and how many colleges, teachers and courses will be affected.

The national advisory body's responsibilities and its advice to my right hon. Friend are limited to local authority higher education provision. However, in formulating this advice the NAB will be taking account of the links between higher and further education at the local level.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consultations have taken place over the proposed revised arrangements for funding student travel costs; and when he expects to announce a decision.

Officials of the Department have consulted the local authority associations, who are responsible for administering the present arrangements. My right hon. Friend is at present considering a number of possibilities for change and expects to announce a decision shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what adjustments have been made to the expenditure planned for student awards in 1983–84 as a result of the House of Lords judgment on ordinary residence.

My right hon. Friend is considering the financial implications of the judgment, and he will make a statement as soon as he can.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how he will implement the proposals contained in "The Government's Expenditure Plans", Cmnd. 8789-I, paragraph 15.

I refer the hon. Member to my statement of 8 November 1982 and to the announcement of 16 December 1982.—[Vol. 31, c. 39–42, Vol. 34, c. 187–89.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how the scheme for recruiting young researchers to universities will be financed.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bedfordshire, South (Mr. Madel) on 16 December last.—[Vol. 34, c. 187–89.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give details for Welsh local authorities of their approvals of improvement grants for the first six months of 1982–83 broken down by type of grant.

The information requested is shown in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is the normal practice of his Department to advertise in the national press in order to recruit staff to be concerned with inquiries into the reliability of employees and prospective employees of the Government communications headquarters.

The Civil Service Commission advertises in the national press whenever it is necessary to recruit such staff on behalf of the Government communications headquarters.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what responsibility Her Majesty's Government have for ensuring that Norwegian crude oil landed at Teesside is not supplied to South Africa in contravention of the Norwegian embargo; and if he will make a statement.

The disposal of Norwegian crude oil from the North Sea is essentially a matter for the Norwegian Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to the swap arrangements made by British oil companies to supply United Kingdom crude oil to replace supplies delivered directly to South Africa.

Any such arrangements would be a matter for the companies concerned. From contacts with the major British oil companies we believe that instances of such arrangements have been very rare.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will call upon Israel to release all Palestinian prisoners being held without legal reason.

We hope that all prisoners held as a result of the conflict in Lebanon will be released as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times in the past 12 months Her Majesty's Government have called upon the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to release a political prisoner or prisoners.

Over the past 12 months we have raised around 20 individual human rights cases with the Soviet authorities, several of them on more than one occasion, both in bilateral contacts and at the CSCE review meeting in Madrid. We have also repeatedly drawn attention to general Soviet violations of human rights.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost to the North of Scotland hydro-electric board of the report by management consultants Arthur Young McClelland Moores; if the contract was awarded after competitive tender; and, if not, what estimates were received before the contract was awarded.

The management consultants were commissioned by the North of Scotland hydro-electric board following discussion with the Scottish office. The contractural arrangements governing their appointment were, however, a matter for the board and I am therefore asking the chairman to wite to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will consider presenting an annual report to Parliament on the activities of his Department which will include up-to-date information on aid disbursement and commitments and an evaluation of the current British aid projects.

In the observations—Cmnd. 8734—presented to Parliament in November 1982 on the second report of the Foreign Affairs Committee 1981–82 on the Supply Estimates 1982–83 the Government indicated that they accepted in principle the Committee's recommendation that

"a descriptive annual report of the activities of the ODA should be published for wide circulation".

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is satisfied with the developmental value of European Community food aid.

Food aid has a special role in emergencies, but most food aid is not used to remedy disasters. If not administered with great care it can have unfortunate consequences. Free or cheap food can hold down the prices the farmer would otherwise receive, and undermine incentives to increase agricultural production; and it can accustom people to new diets and create a demand for imports that did not previously exist. Dairy products, which represent about two-thirds of the total cost of Community food aid, are in most cases a particularly inappropriate form of aid.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is satisfied that the disbursements under the aid trade provision do not subsidise inefficiency by British firms.

Yes. The aid trade provision is usually made available for development projects in which British firms are competing for contracts against foreign firms whose bids are backed by comparable concessional financial terms. Where the discipline of competitive bidding is absent the bid of the British firm is scrutinised to ensure value for money.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is satisfied that the aid trade provision is consistent with the Government's industrial policy of improving the competitiveness of British firms abroad.

Yes. The Government remain in favour of international measures to reduce the extent of competition among exporting countries through the use of subsidised financial terms. It regards the aid trade provision in this context as principally a device to enable British firms to compete on terms comparable to their counterparts in other industrialised countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will reduce the paperwork involved in applications for grant under section 8 of the Industry Act 1972.

The Government are aware of the need to avoid inessential paperwork and have already looked at the administration of various schemes with this in mind. If my hon. Friend is aware of a specific problem perhaps he will write to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will tabulate in the Official Report the amounts of money paid into the fund to augment the incomes of sub-postmasters following the altered arrangements for the payment of national insurance pensions together with details of the amounts paid out of this fund to date; and what are Her Majesty's Government's intentions concerning the use of this fund.

Provision will be made for a separately identified item to be included in the Department of Industry Estimates and Votes for 1983–84. The amount disbursed will be shown in the Appropriation Accounts. There have been no payments to date. The fund is intended to provide support of the Government's commitment to maintain an adequate sub-post office network.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will assess the possible use of airships for North sea surveillance as an alternative to Nimrod aircraft.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what evaluations have taken place as to the role of airships in surveillance duties; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether any staff of his Department, military or civilian, are designated to examine, evaluate and report on the possible uses of airships for defence purposes;

It is planned to place study contract shortly for the investigation of potential defence roles for airships. This will cover a wide range of possible applications including surveillance tasks; the results will be considered by the staffs having responsibility for assessing the defence value of future aerospace systems.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied that his Department has discharged its responsibilties to workers and their families who contracted asbestosis as a result of employment in Her Majesty's dockyards; and if he will make a statement.

The medical, welfare and compensation arrangements made by my Department are designed to meet the needs of those personnel who contrcted asbestosis as a result of their employment in Her Majesty's dockyards, and their families. The Department endeavours to discharge its responsibilities fully in this respect.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many compensation claims for asbestosis incurred through work undertaken in Her Majesty's dockyards have been met by his Department; and what was the average amount of compensation paid.

A total of 463 claims have been settled by or on behalf of my Department in an average amount of £6,310.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence on what date dangers to men working with asbestos in Her Majesty's dockyards were suspected; on what date such work was discounted; and if he will make a statement.

The health hazards to men working with asbestos in Her Majesty's dockyards were first recognised in the early 1960s. Since that time, by the introduction of asbestos-free alternatives wherever possible, the Ministry of Defence has drastically reduced the amount of asbestos present in Her Majesty's ships.There are also stringent and extensive safety procedures for dealing with asbestos. New regulations, as recommended by the Advisory Committee on Asbestos in 1979, came into force on 1 Januray 1983. These regulations, which tightened the control limits for exposure to asbestos and extended the atmospheric sampling period, were applied in Her Majesty's dockyards in advance of the statutory commencement date and provide the work force with the necessary protection.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what special arrangements have been made for payment of pensions to widows of men who contracted asbestosis as a result of working in Her Majesty's dockyards.

No special arrangements have been made. But if a civil servant dies as a direct result of a disease such as asbestosis contracted in Government service after the introduction of the principal Civil Service pension scheme in 1972 a lump sum equal to three months pensionable pay and an annual allowance may be paid to his widow in addition to any widows and childrens pension payable under the normal provisions of the principal Civil Service pension scheme. The allowance is designed to bring the total of occupational and certain social security benefits up to 45 per cent. of pensionable pay. An injury compensation payment may be paid to the dependants of non-industrial civil servants who contracted the disease prior to the introduction of the principal Civil Service pension scheme.In the case of service men, if the Department of Health and Social Security accepted that death arose front causes related to service, it would award a war widows pension; and if the MOD also accepted that death arose from such causes then provided the husband served on or after 1 March 1973 an attributable widows pension would be awarded.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has as to the range of the MM40 sea-launched Exocet missile.

The manufacturer's unclassified brochure quotes a range of 65 kilometres.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to hold the conference on the cleaning up of the river Mersey which he announced on 22 November 1982.

I have convened the Mersey conference for 18 March 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list the orders he has made since 1 December 1982 in consequence of reports received from the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.

Following is the list of orders, with the dates on which they were made:

• The Kempston and Kempston Rural (Areas) Order 1982 (SI 1982 No. 1746)—1 December 1982
• The Glanford (Parishes) Order 1982 (SI 1982 No. 1747)—1 December 1982
• The Betchworth (Area) Order 1982 (SI 1982 No. 1748)—1 December 1982
• The Macclesfield and Vale Royal (Areas) Order 1982 (SI 1982 No. 1759)—6 December 1982
• The North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire (Areas) Order 1982 (SI 1982 No. 1813)—14 December 1982
• The Gillingham and Swale (Areas) Order 1982 (SI 1982 No. 1814)—14 December 1982
• The Swale (Parishes) Order 1982 (SI 1982 No. 1864)—21 December 1982
• The West Lancashire (Parishes) Order 1982 (SI 1982 No. 1865)—23 December 1982
• The Avon and Somerset (Areas) Order 1983 (SI 1983 No. 84)—28 January 1983
• The Boothferry (Parishes) Order 1983 (SI 1983 No. 96)—31 January 1983
• The Knowsley (Parishes) Order 1983 (SI number not yet allocated)—8 February 1983

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied that he has sufficient legal powers for the award of urban development grants; and if he will make a statement.

Urban development grants will ba paid to local authorities on approved projects under section 1 of the Local Government Grants (Social Need) Act 1969 towards expenditure which they are required to incur to deal with special social need in urban areas.Local authorities may incur expenditure on urban programme and urban development grant projects under section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972, which is a qualified general power, and under a wide range of specific powers, and it is for them to satisfy themselves that their powers are adequate for their purposes.However, some authorities have expressed doubts about their powers under Section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972 to grant aid land acquisition and building works comprised in projects approved for urban development grant because one of the specific powers conferred on them is to make loans for these purposes. I am advised that there is sufficient ground for doubt that it would be right to amend the law in England and Wales to clarify the matter. I intend to do this at the earliest opportunity. In the meantime, I am prepared to pay urban development grant towards expenditure incurred for those purposes on approved schemes. I hope to announce the first list of project approvals shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has yet received the Sweet-Semple report on the Property Services Agency finance; and when he expects to make its findings available to the House.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the report of the working group on design costs in the PSA. My right hon. Friend is studying this document, but has so far taken no decision on its handling.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what reports he has received of sea flooding along the Sussex coast in the early hours of 3 February; to what extent such flooding will require the exercise of powers conferred under the Coast Protection Act 1949; and whether he will meet claims from local authorities for emergency assistance under section 138 of the Local Government Act 1972.

No such reports of sea flooding along the Sussex coast have been received by my Department. The prevention of sea flooding is dealt with under the Land Drainage Act 1976 which is administered by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. I am not aware that any expenditure incurred under section 138 of the Local Government Act 1972 has been beyond the resources of the local authorities concerned.

asked the Secretary of the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report details of Government financial assistance for individuals, businesses and local authorities affected by sea flooding during the calendar years 1979, 1980 1981 and 1982, respectively.

The Government have in recent years given special financial assistance to local authorities who incurred an undue financial burden in dealing with emergencies arising from floods, storms and severe weather. The following amounts have been paid:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the status of the document "Notes for Rent Officers", and whether he will consider making them more widely available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the instructions and guidance issued to rent officers when fixing the fair rents payable by private tenants.

Having considered representations from both tenants' and landlords' organisations, and having consulted the Institute of Rent Officers and Presidents of Rent Assessment Panels, I have concluded that the Department's statistical "Notes for Rent Officers" should be made publicly available. Statistical "Notes for Rent Officers" have been issued by the Department since 1973. The present Government's view of the status of "Notes for Rent Officers" is exactly the same as that of our predecessors as set out by the then Under-Secretary of State on 6 November 1978. That is that the status of "Notes for Rent Officers" is informal. They are intended to assist the efficient functioning of the service. Rent Officers are not obliged to take account of them or to use them. Some notes consist of statistical information on registered rents and on movements in other relevant costs and prices. No advice is given about how to fix rents or what use should be made of the information contained in the notes. Copies of all statistical rent officer notes issued in 1982 have been placed in the Library and are also now available on request from the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the order for further electrification projects in the United Kingdom, the estimated costs of each and the date each is expected to be commissioned.

[pursuant to his reply, 7 February 1983, c. 290]: My right hon. Friend is considering the Railways Board's formal proposals to electrify the east coast main line to Leeds and Newcastle at a cost of £118 million, the line from Tonbridge to Hastings, £24 million, and the lines to Cambridge from Royston and from Bishops Stortford, £19 million. Decisions will be taken as soon as possible.The east coast main line proposals comprise the first two projects in the Board's 10-year programme of main line electrification. They submitted the programme last summer, and decisions on the balance of it will be reached in the light of the wider debate on the future of a modern and efficient railway.Preliminary work has already started on electrification between Colchester and Harwich, Ipswich and Norwich at a cost of £29 million, and between Paisley and Ayr, £25 million. All costs quoted are estimates at 1982 prices and cover only infrastructure.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reductions in real terms in European Community common prices for cereals and sugar have been achieved since 1979.

The common support prices for bread making wheat, barley and sugar have been reduced in real terms by about 19 per cent., 18 per cent. and 14 per cent. respectively since 1979.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the EEC Commission has yet authorised exports of European Community butter to the Soviet Union.

To date no bid has been received in relation to exports to the Soviet Union.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what decision has been taken by the EC Council about the import of New Zealand butter in February and succeeding months.

Agreement on an import quota of 87,000 tonnes for New Zealand butter in 1983 was reached at the Agriculture Council meeting in Luxembourg on 18 to 19 October. However, reserves placed by the French and Irish Governments have prevented adoption of the necessary implementing regulation. As I made clear in my statements on the Agriculture Councils of 17 to 18 January—[Vol. 35, c. 333]—and 7 to 8 February—[Vol. 36, c. 1003]—the Council has instead adopted regulations providing for the import of New Zealand butter in February and March in amounts equal to one-twelfth of the quantity provided for in the October agreement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has yet received the judgment of the European Court in case 124–81 concerning restrictions on imports of ultra heat treated milk and cream; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Devon, West (Sir Peter Mills) on 8 February.—[Vol. 36, c. 323–24.].

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has had regarding Land Settlement Association staff desiring to purchase their tied houses at the same concession prices accorded to Land Settlement Association growers; and if he will make a statement.

Staff employed by the Land Settlement Association who currently occupy LSA accommodation will be given the opportunity to buy a house on their estate. As has been the case with the growers, the terms under which they will be able to buy will in general depend on their tenancy status.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reports he has received of sea flooding along the Sussex coast in the early hours of 3 February; and to what extent such flooding will require the use of powers conferred under the Land Drainage Act 1976.

I have received reports of flooding which occurred when the harbour walls at Shoreham, Newhaven and Littlehampton were overtopped by the sea. A total of 109 houses were affected, as well as a small number of shops and other commercial premises. The main sea defences along the rest of the Sussex coast were not overtopped, though some minor structural damage did occur.The powers provided in sections 17 and 98 of the Land Drainage Act 1976 enable water authorities and district councils to carry out works to maintain or improve existing flood defences, or to construct new defences. Although the precise combination of surge and high spring tide which led to these incidents is still being investigated, it is not expected that large scale repairs or improvements to the defences will be required.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how soon he expects the Committee on Safety of Medicines to recommend whether B17 is safe for human consumption.

The committee is expected to consider this matter at its meeting on 24 February.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is proposing any changes in the arrangements for claiming travelling and subsistence expenses given to general practitioners under section 63 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968.

No, but I intend to discuss with the appropriate educational and professional bodies how best to control the cost of travelling and subsistence allowances without adversely affecting the range of continuing education activities available to general practitioners.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will introduce measures to provide that when doctors write or speak about pharmaceutical drugs it will be obligatory for them to declare any financial relationship they have with the company producing the drug.

No. This is a matter for the judgment of doctors, although I would expect professional people to declare such an interest in appropriate circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, pursuant to his answers of 20 January, Official Report, c. 197–98 and 25 January, Official Report, c. 395–96, Eli Lilly or its British subsidiary gave the Committee on Safety of Medicines percentage figures for the incidence of photosensitivity to Opren or details of its likely severity, either with the application for a product licence or subsequently; and whether the company at any time indicated that deaths could arise from photosensitivity.

As I stated in the House on 27 January—[Vol. 35, c. 1120]—the Committee on Safety of Medicines received evidence from Lilly Industries Ltd. in support of their product licence application relating to the incidence and severity of photosensitivity adverse reactions.No deaths have been reported associated with a photosensitivity adverse reaction to Opren. The four deaths categorised under "skin disorders" in my previous reply to the right hon. Member on 20 January—[Vol. 35, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his answer of 25 January, Official Report, c. 397, if he will list in the Official Report the statutory requirements related to the advertising of medicines; if he will give the number and qualifications of his Department's staff scrutinising advertisements; how many complaints about such advertisements have been received by his Department in the last year; what action was taken; whether his Department takes action as a result of its own scrutiny regardless of whether or not a complaint is received; and, if so, how many times it has done so.

The main regulatory powers are contained in the Medicines Act 1968 under which it is an offence to issue false or misleading advertisements or to make false or misleading oral representations. Advertising claims have to be consistent with the details set out in the product licence and the Act empowers Ministers to make regulations for controlling the content of advertisements.There are separate regulations governing advertising to the public and advertising to medical and dental practitioners. The regulations are contained in statutory instrument 1978 No. 41 and 1978 No. 1020. The regulations relating to medical and dental practitioners require advertisements to contain certain specified information so that these practitioners may be fully informed about the medicines they are likely to prescribe. In addition, advertisements or representations directed to practitioners may be sent only if a data sheet has teen sent to the practitioner. The form and content of data sheets are laid down in regulations—SI 1972 No. 2076—so that practitioners are provided with a uniform document containing the essential information about uses, doses, administration, contra-indications, warnings and so on. So far as the public are concerned, advertisements may not be issued that would be likely to lead to self-diagnosis or self-treatment for certain defined serious conditions, for which proper medical advice should be obtained. In some cases, self-treatment could be harmful or dangerous, and the advertising to the public of medicines that are available only on prescription is prohibited.Since 1968 Departmental staff carry out random scrutinies of various journal advertisements. This is done by three officers in the administrative section of the Department's Medicines Division which deals with matters relating to advertising, labelling, packaging, and leaflets for medicines. In addition, other staff within the division, particularly medical officers and pharmacists, recognise the need for vigilance, and they report any doubtful practices which they themselves observe, to the section concerned. No record is kept of the numbers of complaints received, but valid complaints of substance on infringements against the Act or regulations are infrequent.All allegations or complaints about advertisements are investigated regardless of whether the complaint originates from within or outside the Department but no record is kept of the numbers of internal complaints. Where the details in an advertisement are not consistent with either the product licence or the regulations, the Department usually first makes an informal approach to the company. In the rare cases where a speedy correction is not agreed, the matter is normally referred for investigation to the administrator of one of the self-regulating codes of practice operated by trade associations. In serious cases, the Department will consider taking legal action and has conducted two successful prosecutions in the last two years.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his answers of 20 January, Official Report, c. 197, if he will give the totals for all companies supplying medicine to the National Health Service to the value of more than £1·5 million of (a) expenditure on research and development, (b) expenditure on marketing and (c) profits; and if he will express each of these as a percentage of the overall turnover of those companies.

In 1980, companies supplying medicines to the National Health Service to the value of £1·5 million or more spent £144 million on research and development and £105 million on sales promotion. Our Department assessed profits as £140 million including expenditure disallowed. This represents a percentage on turnover of 16·2 per cent., 11·8 per cent. and 15·8 per cent. respectively. Expenses and profits relating to export sales and sales of medicines direct to the public are excluded.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his answer of 25 January, OfficialReport, c. 397, if he will give details of the limits on sales promotion of drugs; and if he will express the £18 million expenditure on sales promotion, which was disallowed, as a percentage of the total spent on sales promotion.

In 1980 £18·6 million expenditure on sales promotion was disallowed. This represented 17·8 per cent. of total sales promotion expenditure in that year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the committees of inquiry into the efficiency of the National Health Service will be serviced by private consultants; whether contracts will be awarded after competitive tender; and what is the estimated cost of such contracts.

It is for Mr. Griffiths and his team to determine what assistance they need to complete their task. They can call on the services of private consultants, if they so wish. They have not yet decided whether to do so but, if they do, such contracts will be awarded in accordance with the Governement's code of practice.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will encourage the adoption of codes of practice in industries which make use of doorstep selling techniques.

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

asked the Minister for Trade (1) on what date he received the report of the Anglo-Norwegian working group established to investigate whether the Norwegian authorities have set any barriers to the use of British registered vessels in the Norwegian sector of the North sea; if he will set out the main conclusions of that report; and when he expects to announce his own assessment of the report;(2) further to the reply to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) on 7 February,

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what actual and percentage wage increases have been awarded to skilled assistants by the Retail Trades (Non-Food) Wages Council for each of the last two years; and what increase is now proposed for the current year.

The information requested is:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what recent representations he has had from small businesses in rural areas about the wage increases awarded by the Retail Trades (Non-Food) Wages Council.

The Retail Non-Food Council, as required under the Wages Councils Act 1979, gave notice on 4 February of proposed changes in its minimum rates and has allowed 21 days from that date for representations to be made by those affected by the proposals. The council must consider all such representation before deciding whether to confirm or amend such proposals. Representations are made direct to the councils, which are independent of Government and do not publish details of representations received.We have, however, received several letters protesting about the proposals of the council from employers' associations and individual employers, and these include some from small businesses in rural areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will reverse his Department's decision not to renew the temporary short-time working compensation scheme support for Atlas Bolts (Darlaston) Ltd.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what emergency services his Department provides on Saturdays to claimants with children whose Girocheques have not arrived and who are penniless.

Emergency services are available through local authority social services departments and the Department of Health and Social Security.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what checks his Department makes to ensure that unemployment benefit Girocheques are sent out in the correct mailbag and correct trains from Reading on Fridays.

Girobank cheques for unemployed people are produced by the Department of Health and Social Security's computer centre at Reading. The cheques are pre-sorted according to postal codes and those for more distant or difficult destinations are produced first. Cheques are passed immediately to the Post Office which has a permanent presence at the computer centre and who are then responsible for delivery by first-class post.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment why Mr. Kevin Staley, of 5 Cheriot Court, Carlton in Lindrick, Worksop, did not receive his unemployment benefit Girocheque on time on Saturday 5 February.

The Post Office mailbag containing girobank cheques which should normally have been delivered on Saturday 5 February did not reach Worksop until Monday 7 February. Mr. Staley's cheque was among those delayed.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many complaints there have been in the past three months at the Worksop employment office about the late arrival of Girocheques.

Precise figures are not available. The Worksop unemployment benefit office received a number of complaints when mail arrived too late at the local post office for delivery of girobank cheques on 10 December, 8 January and 5 February.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment why applicants signing on for benefit in Worksop on Thursdays cannot be transferred to a day earlier in the week, in view of the difficulties such people experience in receiving their Girocheques on time the following Saturday.

As the hon. Member knows we accept that Thursday signing ought ideally to be avoided. Regrettably, this is not possible when the numbers of claimants required to sign on cannot be contained within earlier weekdays. During the last few weeks the Worksop unemployment benefit office has transferred a significant amount of work to the Retford office. This may provide scope for reducing Thursday signing at Worksop. The most straightforward solution would be for the Post Office to ensure prompt delivery of first-class mail.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations his Department has received from the ombudsman following a complaint in early January about the non-arrival of unemployment benefit Girocheques in Worksop, Nottinghamshire.

To date my Department has not received any representation from the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration about non-arrival of girobank cheques in Worksop.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were notified to the Reading computer centre as being eligible for unemployment benefit by the Worksop office of his Department on Thursday 3 February; how many Girocheques were sent out on Friday 4 February to pay these people; and at what time they were posted.

Figures for notifications to the computer centre do not distinguish between those eligible for payment of unemployment benefit, those due for supplementary benefit and those who are not entitled to any payment. On 3 February the Worksop office put in details of 380 unemployed people who signed on that day. 369 people were entitled to some payment and all the appropriate cheques were passed to the Post Office at 9.49 am on 4 February.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many places have been filled on the community programme by each local authority and by each voluntary organisation to the most recent convenient date.

Information on the number of places filled under the community programme is held centrally only on an aggregate basis, and the number filled by each sponsor separately could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the police investigation into the sale of blood from certain London hospitals is now completed; and if he will make a statement.

We understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that a preliminary report on this case has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions. The police are continuing their inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) junior and (b) senior attendance centres there are in England and Wales.

There are 106 junior attendance centres in England and Wales: 90 boys' centres, 10 mixed centres and 6 girls' centres. They take offenders aged 10 and under 17, except for 5 of the girls' centres which take only those aged 14 and under 17.There are 15 senior attendance centres for offenders aged 17 and under 21.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to revise the pay of probation officers in training; and if he will make a statement.

The salary scale for probation students whose training costs are met by the Home Office was revised in 1982. The new rates are due to take effect with students starting their courses this autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will amend the qualifications required for appointment as police constables so as to exclude persons who do not possess British citizenship.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what breeds of dogs other than beagles and labradors are being purposely bred for research.

My right hon. Friend has no responsibility for breeding establishments and therefore no knowledge of the variety of breeds produced.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action is taken by his Department to ensure that dogs which have been stolen are not used in research laboratories.

Whilst the Government have no reponsibility for the sources from which animals used in reseach laboratories are obtained, and cannot therefore ensure that stolen dogs never reach them, it has long been the practice of the cruelty to animals inspectorate, to advise laboratories to obtain supplies, particularly of cats and dogs, from reputable suppliers. We have every reason to believe that laboratories are fully aware of their responsibility to ensure that supplies of animals are legally obtained. The criminal law provides severe penalties for theft or dishonest handling of animals and these matters are the subject of investigation by the police when alleged offences are reported.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to complete the sale of Haldon open prison before it is wrecked by vandals; for how many months his Department has been trying to sell it; why it has failed to date to sell it; and whether he will now take effective action to secure its sale.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply my hon. and learned Friend gave to a question by him on 11 November.—[Vol. 31, c. 220.] Preparation of the necessary legal documentation, including the conditions of sale, has taken longer than expected. It is now hoped that the appointed agent will be ready to invite public tenders for the property in April. We are satisfied that effective action is being taken to sell the property.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were arrested for assaults on police officers on duty in the Brixton police division in each of the last seven months; if he will give a breakdown of these figures in terms of the ethnic appearance of the persons arrested; and if he will make a statement.

We shall reply as soon as possible.