asked the hon. Member for Wokingham, as representing the Church Commissioners, if he will outline the criteria which the commissioners will follow in deciding upon requests to sell redundant churches to non-Christian religious faiths for religious purposes; and whether he will make a statement.

The commissioners' duty under the Pastoral Measure 1968 is to judge each case on its merits.

asked the Minister for Trade what assessment he has made of the implications of the decision of the governors of the Bank of Portugal to raise the present 10 per cent. import surcharge and 30 per cent. on all imported goods with effect from 1 February 1983 (a) for British trade with Portugal and (b) the terms of the current multi-fibre arrangement; and if he will make a statement.

No precise assessment is possible, but we are concerned that the surcharge should be reduced again as soon as possible, and are making representations to this effect. The recent increase, back up to the 30 per cent. level at which it was introduced in 1975, applies to a wide variety of imports of products from all sources. It has been justified under the terms of article 31 of the 1972 trade agreement by reference to Portugal's sharply deteriorated balance of payments.There is no effect on the multi-fibre arrangement, which is not applied to trade between the Community and Portugal. There are indeed no quantitative restrictions on Community textile exports to Portugal.

asked the Minister for Trade whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the United Kingdom share of world exports of manufactures in terms of volume each quarter since May 1979 on the basis of (a) 1975 weights and (b) current weights; and if he will provide a comparison between the growth in the volume of United Kingdom imports and exports of finished manufactures.

The information is as follows:

	United Kingdom share of volume of world*exports of manufactures†, per cent.		Volume index of United Kingdom trade in finished manufactures‡ 1975=100
	Current weighted	1975 weighted	Imports	Exports
1979
2nd quarter	8·7	10·3	167	114
3rd quarter	8·2	9·7	165	109
4th quarter	7·7	9·1	169	108
1980
1st quarter	8·0	9·4	175	113
2nd quarter	7·8	9·2	172	112
3rd quarter	7·9	9·4	157	109
4th quarter	7·2	8·6	155	108
1981
1st quarter	7·0	8·3	146	102
2nd quarter	6·7	7·9	166	102
3rd quarter	6·8	8·0	187	106
4th quarter	7·0	8·3	180	113
1982
1st quarter	║7·1	║8·3	180	107
2nd quarter	║7·2	║8·5	198	110
3rd quarter	║7·2	║8·5	187	103
4th quarter	¶	¶	193	106
Notes:
* Taken as the 12 main manufacturing countries.
† Taken as standard international trade classification sections 5 to 8.
‡ Taken as standard international trade classification sections 7 and 8.
║ Estimates.
¶ Not available.

asked the Minster for Trade when he expects to have completed the current review of the voluntary code of practice operated by the approved coal merchants scheme.

I understand from the Director General of Fair Trading, who is conducting the review, that comments are still outstanding from one or two of those involved, on a consultation document circulated in November 1982. Until these comments are forthcoming it is not possible to give a firm date for completion of the review.

asked the Minister for Trade how many investigations under each of the appropriate sections of the Companies Acts have been completed in each of the last five years; and whether he will provide an analysis of the action taken as a result of these reports.

A complete answer can be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the companies report, which my Department is required by Section 451 of the Companies Act 1948 to lay before both Houses each year, gives details of the activities of branch 2 of the companies division—now companies legislation division. This includes details of successful prosecutions and the number of companies wound up on the Department's petition. Because of the inevitable delay between the submission of a report and any resulting action, the provision of a direct correlation between the two in the companies report would be too costly for its limited value.The analysis of reports completed and action taken in each of the last five years is:

Reports Completed
	Companies Act 1967	Companies Act 1948			Successful Prosecutions	Winding Up Petitions
	Section 109	Section 334	Section 165	Section 172
1978	80	11	13		17	6
1979	61	12	7		22	7
1980	82	14	17	1	9	9
1981	110	5	11	1	17	16
1982	76	2	3		9	2

asked the Minister for Trade what is the current position concerning the question of exclusive purchasing agreements being dealt with by the European Community and its effects in the United Kingdom.

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

asked the Minister for Trade when he next proposes to meet representatives of the Merchant Navy and Airline Officers Association to discuss the role of the merchant ships in the Falkland Islands.

I have recently told the Merchant Navy and Airline Officers Association, the other maritime unions and the General Council of British Shipping that I hope the dialogue established in response to my approach about the lessons of the Falklands may be continued. No meetings have yet been arranged.

asked the Minister for Trade whether he is proposing any change in the level of light dues charged for the year 1983–84.

Light dues have been held at the same level for the last two years. As part of my continuing efforts to reduce cost burdens on the British merchant fleet, and having regard to the reserves currently held in the general lighthouse fund, I now propose to cut light dues for 1983–84 to 10 per cent. below the current level. I estimate that during the coming year the reduction I am now making will save shipping using United Kingdom ports some £5 million. I will lay the necessary statutory instrument for this purpose.

asked the Minister for Trade what are his plans for implementing the remaining provisions of the Estate Agents Act 1979; and whether he will make a statement.

I have decided that, for the time being, it would not be advisable or necessary to implement the remaining provisions of the Estate Agents Act. It is important that, subject to the provisions and regulations already in force, new methods and opportunities for selling property should be free to develop. This accords with my general belief that consumers are best protected by free and fair competition backed up by self-regulation.I am, however, aware that there are still complaints about certain aspects of estate agency. I look to competition as the best means of improving value for money and quality of service. But I also look to the estate agents themselves to maintain and improve the highest standards of openness and integrity in their dealings with vendors and purchasers. I will keep a close watch on this area and I will not hesitate to use my powers under section 3 of the Act to prescribe offences or to declare a practice undesirable if I become aware that unethical or dishonest practices by estate agents are constituting a serious threat to consumers. Moreover, the Director General of Fair Trading will continue to exercise his powers to ban or warn "unfit" estate agents when necessary.I will also keep a close watch, in conjunction with the Director General of Fair Trading on the effectiveness of the Estate Agents (Accounts) Regulations in protecting pre-contract and contract deposits. Whilst I see no urgent need to require estate agents to have a fidelity bond or equivalent as a pre-condition for accepting deposits, I propose to reconsider implementation of sections 16 and 17 of the Act when there has been more experience of the operation of the existing regulations.

asked the Minister for Trade whether he has determined a new financial target for British Airways.

Yes. In accordance with Section 13 of the British Airways Board Act 1977, my right hon. and noble Friend has decided that a reasonable financial duty for British Airways would be to achieve an average annual rate of return in current cost terms of 5¾ per cent. on net assets, during the two financial years 1982–83 and 1983–84. The current cost profit as the basis for this target would be before taking account of interest and before profits or losses on asset disposals.My right hon. and noble Friend is reinforcing the target by urging the British Airways Board, in conjunction with the target, to use its best endeavours to make progress in eliminating the excess of liabilities over assets in the Board's balance sheet as at 31 March 1982.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will report on the compliance by British companies with the European Commission code of conduct for companies with interests in South Africa during the 12-month period up to 30 June 1982.

By 14 March 1983, the Department had received reports under the Community's code of conduct from 182 companies for the period from 1 July 1981 to 30 June 1982. Copies of the report and of the Department's analysis and summary, have been placed in the Library of each House. These documents may also be inspected at the Department's library, the British embassy in Pretoria, the British consulate-general in Johannesburg, and at the British consulates in Cape Town and Durban.The Government welcome British companies' continuing compliance with the voluntary provisions of the code, and the fact that most British companies have once again submitted reports. As in the previous year, companies' reports indicate that most black African employees of British subsidiaries were paid at rates in excess of those stipulated in the code.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will set up an inquiry into the circumstances of the liquidation of L. Landers Ltd., Liverpool; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 29 March 1983, c. 116]: L. Landers Ltd. is being wound up by order of the High Court of Justice dated 8 November 1982. Accordingly, the official receiver is under a statutory duty to investigate its affairs and his inquiries are continuing. I am not in a position to intervene.

asked the Minister for Trade if he is satisfied with the working of the Consumer Credit Act 1974; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 29 March 1983, c. 116]: I believe that the operative provisions of the Act are working satisfactorily. They will be supplemented in due course by the further regulations I hope to lay before Parliament shortly.

asked the Prime Minister, pursuant to the reply of 14 February, Official Report, c. 62–63, whether any Government Department is responsible for ensuring compliance with the Companies (Directors' Report) (Employment of Disabled Persons) Regulations 1980; and if she will make a statement.

The Companies Acts place responsibility for ensuring compliance with these regulations on the directors of the company. However, if a complaint were to be made about non-compliance, the Department of Trade would approach the company concerned and its directors with a view to seeking compliance. No such complaint has so far been received.

asked the Attorney-General how many staff there are in his Department; and what was the number in May 1979.

There are 19 staff in my Department; and in May 1979 there were 19. On 1 May 1979 there were three Ministers in the Department; from 5 May 1979 there have been two.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for the longest and most convenient stated period of time, how many life sentence prisoners have been let out to visit slick relatives whose sickness was not of a terminal character; who pays the expenses of such visits; and on what criteria such visits are allowed or disallowed.

The expenses of prisoners' visits to sick relatives are met from public funds. My noble Friend is writing to the hon. Member about the criteria for allowing such visits. The other information requested is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what grounds and for what purpose the governor of Portsmouth prison allowed a life sentence prisoner to visit his sick mother during the week commencing Sunday 13 March; how many men accompanied this prisoner; what were the costs involved; and who is to pay.

The escort for this visit consisted of two prison officers and the estimated cost, which will be met from public funds, was £83. My noble Friend is writing to the hon. Member about the other matters he raises.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will dismiss the governor of Portsmouth prison.

No.

asked to Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to encourage research establishments using animals in experiments to substitute tissue cultures or simple life forms for whole animals.

Each year we bring to the attention of all licensees the importance of taking every reasonable step, including consultation with their colleagues and a study of available scientific literature, to confirm, before using living animals, that their investigations cannot effectively be carried out by any alternative means; and urge them to give thought to the possibilities of developing new alternatives to the use of new methods, so that other licensees may be helped to reduce the number of animals. Our inspectorate is also concerned to see that the use of animals is limited to the minimum necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people from each of the east European countries have (a) applied for asylum while in the United Kingdom and (b) been granted it in each of the last five years; whether those not granted it are always sent back to their own country; whether force is used for this purpose, if necessary; and what percentage the total number of such people refused asylum in each of the five years represents of the total number of immigrants to the United Kingdom from each country in the years concerned.

I regret that figures in the form requested are not available. The following annual tables from 1 January 1979 show the number of asylum applications received in the years concerned and their outcome. From 1980 onwards, the totals of applications will not necessarily balance with decisions made and cases

Country	Applications for asylum and refugee status	Granted asylum with refugee status	Granted asylum only	Withdrawn	Refused	Outstanding at end of year	Total number of persons admitted in temporary capacity	Asylum refusals as percentage of arrivals
								per cent.
1979
Bulgaria	6	—	3	—	2	1	3,717	·02
Czechoslovakia	44	1	21	2	19	1	15,538	·12
GDR	—	—	—	—	—	—	2,841
Hungary	39	—	18	9	10	2	17,935	·05
Poland	41	2	6	4	18	11	47,149	·04
Romania	10	—	2	—	7	1	3,863	·18
USSR	1	1	—	—	—	—	10,340	—
1980
Bugaria	10	1	4	—	1	5	3,087	·03
Czechoslovakia	66	14	14	6	27	6	14,123	·19
GDR	—	—	—	—	—	—	3,524	—
Hungary	68	—	27	13	25	4	18,234	·14
Poland	41	—	8	11	25	8	48,117	·05
Romania	21	2	12	3	2	3	4,075	·05
USSR	g	7	—	—	—	1	8,627	—
1981
Bulgaria	3	2	1	3	2	—	3,747	·05
Czechoslovakia	76	14	7	6	48	7	12,782	·38
GDR	—	—	—	—	—	—	3,747	—
Hungary	53	7	3	6	40	1	17,301	·23
Poland	110	6	6	23	48	39	48,510	·1
Romania	20	6	4	6	7	—	4,085	·17
USSR	5	3	1	—	2	—	10,021	·02
1982
Bulgaria	2	1	—	—	1	—	3,424	·03
Czechoslovakia	57	11	6	—	44	3	11,583	·4
GDR	1	—	—	1	—	—	3,817	—
Hungary	40	4	—	5	24	8	16,784	·14
Poland	513	24	14	63	96	351	18,339	·5
Romania	26	8	4	1	10	3	2,883	·03
USSR	6	1	1	1	3	—	10,342	·03

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what definition of solitary confinement he used in his answers of 17 March, Official Report, c. 215–216.

In my earlier reply, I took solitary confinement to be a form of punishment, the essential feature of which is to deprive the prisoner of all forms of human contact.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Her Majesty's Chief Inspector for Prisons report made on Brixton prison in September 1981 was published only in March 1983; and if he will reduce the delay between the carrying out of the inspection and the publishing of a report in the future.

As my hon. and learned Friend explained in reply to a question by the hon. Member on 16 November 1982, the completion of reports has been delayed because of the additional work load falling on senior inspectorate staff following the illness and subsequent death of the former Chief Inspector. The Brixton report was not published until there had been careful and thorough consideration of the difficult issues raised. The present Chief Inspector has taken steps which should eliminate the backlog of reports currently in preparation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide full details of each occasion the minimum use of force tactical intervention force was employed, and the number of officers and prisoners involved or injured on each occasion; and what was the stated reason for the disturbance in 1982 and so far in 1983.

Minimum Use of Force—Tactical Intervention—MUFTI—teams have been deployed on one occasion since 1 January 1982. This was during an incident at Her Majesty's prison Aylesbury on the evening of 13 August 1982 when a number of prisoners refused to return to their cells as a protest against certain aspects of the regime and conditions at the prison. They were joined later by another group of prisoners who had succeeded in breaking out of their cells. Two MUFTI teams, a total of 12 officers, were deployed in sight of the demonstrating prisoners who then agreed to return to their cells. The MUFTI teams did not go into action and no force was used. Fifty-three prisoners were involved in the demonstration; none was injured. One officer was slightly injured.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department from how many hon. Members he received correspondence about Mr. Papusoiu, the Romanian citizen to whom he refused political asylum; and at approxiamately what date he first received such representations.

Before Mr. Papasoiu's removal, correspondence was received from one hon. Member, the first of whose five letters arrived on 19 November.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether information is available to him on the proposed assistance by the European Parliament to political parties in the United Kingdom contesting the European Community elections in 1984; and whether he makes any assessment of the amount and distribution of this aid in reviewing his policy on election expenses and the conduct of the election.

I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs that the European Parliament has so far made provision for the allocation of 20 million European currency units—£12·6 million, at the current rate of exchange—in preparation for the 1984 European Parliament elections. A further sum will be made available from the 1984 budget, but the amount has not yet been decided. This money will be allocated to the political groups in the European Parliament, roughly in accordance with their present level of representation in that Parliament. The European Parliament's bureau has laid down that these funds shall be used solely to finance activities directly connected with the preparation and implementation of the information campaign for the 1984 elections.The provisions in United Kingdom law relating to election expenses regulate the money a candidate may spend on account or in respect of the conduct of an election. The maximum amount is determined by the number of electors in the constituency. The source of candidates' campaign funds is immaterial.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners (a) women, (b) girls and (c) young men aged under 21 years have been detained in police cells overnight to the latest date in 1983 because of lack of space in a penal establishment; where they were located; and for how long.

Since the beginning of this year three female and 42 male prisoners under the age of 21 have been held overnight in police custody. The females were all held by the Sussex constabulary; of the males, 28 were held by the Metropolitan police, seven by the Sussex constabulary, six by the Hertfordshire constabulary and one by the Surrey constabulary. Two male prisoners each spent two nights in police custody; the remaining males and all the females spent only one night. Information about the detailed locations of these prisoners while in police custody, and the age of the female prisoners, is not centrally available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners regarded as having some degree of dependence on drugs were reported by prison medical officers in 1980, 1981 and 1982.

In 1981 a total of 1,558 prisoners were reported by medical officers as having some degree of dependence on drugs at the time of their reception into custody compared with 1,003 in 1980. Information in respect of 1982 will be published shortly in the report of the Work of the Prison Department 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the division of financial responsibility for the repairs for New Scotland Yard between himself and the landlord, Land Securities plc;(2) when the scaffolding was first installed on the pavements outside New Scotland Yard; and when the repairers anticipate demolishing it;(3) if he will publish in the

The question of responsibility for remedying various defects which have become apparent in the external cladding of New Scotland Yard is currently the subject of civil proceedings initiated by the receiver for the Metropolitan police district against various parties, not including the landlord—Land Securities plc.The scaffolding outside New Scotland Yard was first erected in March 1981, and will be removed when the remedial work is completed. The commencement of this work is, however, dependent upon the consent of the landlord which has not been given and which is the subject of separate legal proceedings brought by the receiver.Provision for starting the remedial work was included in the annual estimates of the Metropolitan police for 1982–83, but has not been spent because the landlord has not consented to the work. The necessary estimate provision has accordingly been deferred to subsequent years. The remedial work will be put out to competitive tender when it becomes possible to proceed with it, and no estimate of the eventual cost can be given at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when a reply will be sent to the letter dated 31 January from the hon. Member for Goole to the Minister of State, the hon. and learned Member for Clitheroe (Mr. Waddington), about the appeal of Mr. M. S. G. to the adjudicators for immigration appeals.

A reply was sent on 28 March.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the number of volunteers available for civil defence duties additional to those in existing voluntary bodies.

The recruitment of such volunteers is a matter for individual local authorities. No central records are kept.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the prison service, in co-operation with the National Association for the Care and Settlement of Offenders and the Standing Conference on Drug Abuse, has created an organisation specifically devoted to work with ex-drug dependents within prison.

No, but the prison service is co-operating with those organisations in the development of a pilot scheme to increase the options available for drug dependents on release from prison.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to the practice of the Metropolitan police in deciding whether to take action in respect of vehicles parking on pavements; and whether particular categories of circumstances are taken into account in deciding on the action to be taken.

We understand from the Commissioner that where an officer considers that a vehicle parked on the footway may be committing an offence it is a matter for his discretion as to what action to take to deal with it. In general, particular attention is paid to parking by heavy commercial vehicles and any vehicle causing an obstruction. The hon. Member will be aware that not every instance of footway parking amounts to an offence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many refugees from Communist countries in eastern Europe have applied for permission to settle in the United Kingdom since 1979; and how many have been refused permission.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Tynemouth (Mr. Trotter) today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the criteria by which decisions are made on whether to refuse admission to refugees from eastern European countries to the United Kingdom.

So far as applications for refugee recognition are concerned, the criteria applied are those contained in article 1 of the convention relating to the status of refugees. Otherwise, the immigration rules apply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Polish refugees from Austrian camps have been given permission to settle in the United Kingdom.

Seventeen applications have been received, of which seven have been granted and five refused; five are still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Polish nationals have applied for asylum in the United Kingdom since the imposition of martial law in Poland; and how many applications have been accepted.

Two hundred and seventy-five individual applications for asylum were received between 13 December 1981 and 28 March 1983. Between the same dates 37 Polish nationals were granted asylum or refugee recognition. Other applications are still under consideration. Where asylum has not been granted, the individuals have been allowed exceptionally to remain in this country in accordance with the policy set out in the answer given to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Essex, South-East (Sir Bernard Braine) on 9 March.—[Vol. 39, c. 399.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the number of warning and monitoring posts staffed by the Royal Observer Corps which have modern communication systems.

The United Kingdom warning and monitoring organisation has 870 monitoring posts staffed by the Royal Observer Corps for detecting and reporting nuclear bursts and radioactive fallout in the event of war. All posts are linked by landline to a parent sector or group control. A major programme initiated in 1980 to convert these links to dedicated private wires and replace their terminals with new loud-speaking telephones is nearing completion.In each cluster of two, three or four posts, one post responsible for the collation of local information is equipped with radio. Re-equipment with new VHF sets has been started in the south of England and is due to be completed by 1985.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to extend the provisions of the Race Relations Act 1976 to make unlawful advertisements offering jobs by overseas employers which stipulate "for whites only".

Such advertisements are unlawful by virtue of section 29 of the Race Relations Act 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations his Department has received from the Liverpool city council concerning the draft Civil Defence (General Local Authority Functions) Regulations 1983; and if he will make a statement.

The council wrote on 21 March conveying its views on the proposed regulations. My right hon. Friend will take these into account in considering the final draft form of the regulations which will be laid before Parliament after Easter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will list in the Official Report the number of (a) successful prosecutions, (b) unsuccessful prosecutions, (c) complaints received and (d) investigations carried out under the Protection of Animals Acts 1911 to 1964 in each of the last five years for which figures are available, relating to the welfare of livestock in markets.

The only information readily available to us shows a total of 833 persons proceeded against in England and Wales in 1981, and 719 persons found guilty, for offences against the Protection of Animals Act 1911, as amended. This information may be incomplete on proceedings brought other than by the police. Information on the circumstances of the offence is not collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report the results of the monitoring by the Metropolitan police since the beginning of May 1982 of racial attacks and incidents using a definition of racial attack which relies on the perception of the victims.

From 1 May 1982 to 20 March 1983 there were 1,638 incidents in the Metropolitan police area which had, in the view of either the persons concerned or the officers investigating them, an element of racial motivation.

Metropolitan Police District 1982: Certain offences cleared up by the police
	Police District	Number of offences
		Rape	Indecent assault on a female	Unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl		Incest
				Under 13	Under 16
A	(Part) Westminster	—	11	—	1	—
B	Kensington and Chelsea	8	16	—	1	—
C	(Part) Westminster	4	8	—	—	—
D	(Part) Westminster	6	13	—	3	—
E	Camden	6	18	—	2	—
F	Hammersmith	7	12	1	3	—
G	Hackney	17	32	8	4	—
H	Tower Hamlets	6	12	—	—	—
I	Heathrow, etc.	—	8	—	3	—
J	Waltham Forest, Redbridge, etc.	3	26	1	7	—
K	Havering, Barking and Newham	10	117	2	7	1

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Thames Valley police as to the additional cost of policing the last major demonstration at Greenham Common; what problems such demonstrations pose for the police; and if he will make a statement.

We understand from the chief constable that the additional cost of policing the related demonstrations at Greenham Common on 12 and 13 December, when demonstrators first encircled the site and then sought to blockade it, was of the order of £35,000. This was the overtime element of the cost of approximately £57,000 for deploying a total of 633 officers. The freedom to demonstrate within the law is long-standing and important, and the policing of demonstrations is a proper duty for the police, which chief officers of police seek to discharge as economically as possible and without impairing effectiveness in other areas. But the duty inevitably places considerable burdens on police resources. Demonstrators who decline to liaise or co-operate with the police, who seek to interfere with the rights of others to go peacefully about their business, or who transgress the law, add to the difficulties. The police are not helped by failures to understand that they are not present at demonstrations in support of or in opposition to the views being expressed. Their duty is to maintain the peace and prevent the commission of offences. It is only right that demonstrators should be aware that their actions incur costs, both in policing and in terms of the social and economic disruption that demonstrations can cause the community.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state in each of the following categories, in each district of the Metropolitan police, the number of reported crimes cleared up and the number of arrests for rape, indecent assault, unlawful carnal knowledge under 16 years, unlawful carnal knowledge under 13 years, and incest, during 1982.

[pursuant to his reply, 10 March 1983, c. 465]: I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the requested information is as given in the following tables.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many senior members of the Diplomatic Service have been recruited in the past 10 years from outside the service; at what level they have served; and for how long.

In the last 10 years two senior members of the Diplomatic Service have been appointed from outside the service:

• United Kingdom Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York 1974–79.
• Her Majesty's Ambassador, Washington 1977–79.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many representations Her Majesty's Government have made to other countries about summary and arbitrary executions; to which countries; and how many times representations have been made to each of them.

As I made clear in the debate on 24 March—[Vol. 39, c. 1175–83]—we have made several representations to Governments about human rights violations, often with other partners in the Ten, but we consider these most likely to have some effect if they generally remain confidential. We have also given strong support to United Nations action and appeals to Governments on this question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he is making to the Government of Uganda to provide proper compensation for those Asians expelled under the Amin regime who took refuge in the United Kingdom.

We have pressed each Ugandan Government since the overthrow of President Amin to pay adequate and effective compensation to those whose assets were expropriated in Uganda. The Ugandan Expropriated Properties Act 1982, which came into force on 21 February 1983, and the accompanying regulations provide that compensation will be paid by the Ugandan Government to those former owners who do not wish to repossess their properties, or whose applications to do so fail to meet the requirements specified in the legislation.The British high commissioner in Kampala most recently met the Ugandan Deputy Minister of Finance on 16 March 1983 to seek further detailed information on the implementation of the Act, which the Minister undertook to provide.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any information as to the number of Gibraltarians who have sought asylum in Spain over the last five years.

I am not aware of any such case.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what were the circumstances which led to some Civil Service personnel in the Falkland Islands being required to report to Mr. Dick Baker on work done the previous week.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any briefing has been given by his Department to the Rev. Dr. Philip Morgan, general secretary of the British Council of Churches, before his forthcoming visit to Argentina.

At his own request, the general secretary of the British Council of Churches will be calling on officials of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office today.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what grants have been made to the Commonwealth Youth Exchange Council by the Government; and when.

The Commonwealth Youth Exchange Council is funded by the British Council, and also receives grants from commerce and the Silver Jubilee Trust. The British Council grant is divided between projects and administrative costs. For the past five years, actual expenditure has been as follows:

	Projects	Administrative Costs	Total
	£	£	£
1978–79	74,120	7,500	81,620
1979–80	82,340	10,000	92,340
1980–81	57,200	9,375	66,575
1981–82	122,461	11,500	133,961
1982–83	121,671	13,500	135,171

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has been sent copies of the reports of the consultants investigating standing charges in the gas and electricity industries; and if he will make a statement.

I have received copies of the consultants' reports from the industries. Copies of the reports on BGC's standing charges have been placed in the Library of the House. I expect the Electricity Council to publish soon the results of the consultants' examination of electricity standing charges.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what assessment he has made of the employment implications of the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the development of nuclear power; and if he will make a statement.

Employment questions are primarily a matter for the Department of Employment. But clearly construction of a station such as Sizewell B will provide a significant boost for United Kingdom industry and employment. And in the longer term cheap nuclear electricity should enhance the United Kingdom industry's competitive position and therefore employment possibilities.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish an updated table of the ophthalmology inpatients' waiting times at hospitals in Wales.

The information, as at 30 September 1982, is as follows:

Hospital	Urgent cases waiting more than 1 month	All urgent cases	Non-urgent cases waiting more than 1 year	All non-urgent cases	Total of all urgent and non-urgent cases awaiting admission
HM Stanley	170	192	255	428	620
Maelor General	—	3	6	133	136
Llanelli General	—	—	—	10	10
Bronglais	—	—	—	65	65
West Wales General	—	—	—	30	30
St. Woolos	10	22	75	333	355
Caemarfon Eye and Cottage	—	—	130	217	217
Bridgend General	4	7	15	138	145
East Glamorgan General	7	7	13	104	111
Porth and District	8	9	42	82	91
Prince Charles	—	—	7	84	84
University Hospital of Wales	92	96	28	340	436
Singleton	—	6	52	344	350
Neath General	—	—	14	73	73

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the total number of hours worked by consultants contracted to each area health authority in Wales each year over the last five years.

Consultant contracts are in terms of sessions per week and the total numbers of such sessions are:

Contracted Consultants sessions per week*
Health Authority	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982
Clwyd	865	862	860	887	861
Dyfed	741	739	766	828	—
Gwent	932	932	934	974	1,007
Gwynedd	455	465	474	531	516
Mid Glamorgan	1,044	989	1,069	1,074	1,117

Waiting Lists: 30 September 1982
PQ No. 636/82/83 (Cont'd)
	Clwyd	East Dyfed	Pembs.	Gwent	Gwynedd	Mid Glamorgan	Powys	South Glamorgan	West Glamorgan
All specialties
Total in-patient waiting list	4,429	1,965	1,828	7,542	1,802	10,483	100	6,184	4,294
Total out-patient waiting list	5,995	4,110	1,724	8,475	3,257	15,797	279	15,490	14,631
Obstetrics
In-patients
Urgent cases waiting more than than one month	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Non-urgent cases waiting more then twelve months Total	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Out-patients
Cases waiting more than three months	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Total	401	—	—	—	67	2	—	—	—
Paediatrics
In-patients
Urgent cases waiting more than one month	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	17	—
Non-urgent cases waiting more than twelve months	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	12	—
Total cases	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	73	—
Out-patients
Cases waiting more than three months	—	—	—	—	—	10	—	21	5
Total cases	84	40	7	126	42	289	9	262	87
E.N.T.
in-pauents Urgent cases waiting more than one month	—	—	—	18	7	149	—	359	1
Non-urgent cases waiting more than twelve months	103	4	—	407	8	1,420	—	773	111
Total cases	764	652	—	1,418	252	2,534	—	2,692	501
Out-patients
Cases waiting more than three months	21	20	275	391	53	1,055	35	1,515	3,825
Total cases	697	346	580	1,208	360	*2,415	86	2,747	4,517
Geriatrics
In-patients
Urgent cases waiting more than one month	—	—	—	42	—	—	19	—	—
Non-urgent cases waiting more than twelve months	9	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	—
Total cases	23	7	—	45	63	15	35	—	36
Out-patients
Cases waiting more than three months	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	—
Total cases	6	6	—	31	—	45	—	46	3
General surgery

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, further to the answer of 4 March 1982, Official Report, c. 189–92, if he will update the information on the total number of patients awaiting treatment in each of the eight area health authorities in Wales.

The information is given in the table:

	Clwyd	East	Pembs	Gwent	Gwynedd	Mid	Powys	South	West
		Dyfed				Glamorgan		Glamorgan	Glamorgan
In-patients
Urgent cases waiting more than one month	—	2	64	9	23	161	—	144	19
Non-urgent cases waiting more than twelve months	68	5	442	419	148	759	—	61	192
Total cases	1.025	431	968	1,570	632	2,931	—	906	1,071
Out-patients
Cases waiting more than three months	99	478	63	241	24	989	—	161	1,036
Total cases	889	914	239	1,386	613	2,131	29	1,234	1,871
* Includes 482 cases where the waiting times are not known.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many persons were employed in the steel industry in Wales in each of the last 10 years.

This information is not readily available. I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is the present manpower of British Steel in Wales; and what were the figures in each of the last 10 years;(2) what is the production capacity of the steel industry in Wales at the latest date and in 1975.

I shall write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will ensure that medical students in Wales are not used to deputise for housemen and junior doctors, to prescribe drugs without the supervision of qualified persons, or to perform minor operations; and if he will make a statement.

Guidance issued by the Welsh Office is that final year medical students may, at the discretion of the consultant in charge, undertake clinical work provided it is closely supervised by a registered medical practitioner. Such students must not initiate treatment or prescribe dangerous drugs.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the detailed breakdown of public expenditure for Wales equivalent to that published in Cmnd. 8789 in the same form as that provided by the Secretary of State for Scotland in "Public Expenditure to 1985–86: A Commentary on the Scotland Programme."

The information in respect of public expenditure for Wales is not available in the form requested. For a detailed breakdown of public expenditure within our responsibility I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 21 February 1983. —[Vol. 37, c. 324–32]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report the amount of money that industry in Wales received from the quota section of the European regional development fund in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

In terms of commitment, the amounts allocated totalled over £32 million, broken down as follows:

	£ million
1980	18·46
1981	0·44
1982	13·82

Receipts for industrial projects are retained to defray the cost of assistance already provided by central Government. The figures inevitably fluctuate from year to year according to the timing and availability of eligible projects.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing (a) the cost and (b) the publication date for the "Digest of Welsh Statistics" for each of the past 10 years.

The table is as follows:

Costs and Publication Dates for Digest of Welsh Statistics
Series Number and Date of Publication	Cost £
18 September 1972	1·95
19 September 1973	1·95
20 October 1974	2·50
21 October 1975	3·90
22 October 1976	3·90
23 November 1977	5·25
24 December 1978	5·25
25 November 1979	6·75
26 December 1980	16·50
27 May 1982	4·00

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will publish in the Official Report a list of all the voluntary projects programme in Wales which are being supported by the Manpower Services Commission together with their costs;(2) if he will publish in the

I shall write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he is now in a position to make a statement about further enterprise zone developments in Wales.

Following further consideration of proposals by a number of local authorities in Wales and consultation with interested bodies I have decided that land on both sides of the Milford Haven waterway shall be designated as the third enterprise zone in Wales. I shall be discussing with the local authorities involved and other bodies the exact boundaries of a zone, planning proposals and administrative arrangements.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which clause or amendment to the European Community directives concerned with the protection of animals during international transport allows the lifting of restrictions on the purposes for which live animals may be exported to third countries or on the destinations which are permissible.

Community directives 77/489/EEC and 81/389/EEC lay down provisions intended to protect the welfare of animals during international transport, and have never contained any restrictions on the purposes for which animals are transported or the destinations involved. The directives do provide that on long journeys, food and water must be made available, and the latter directive introduced a certificate which assists in the enforcement of this provision.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how he ascertains that live food animals exported from the United Kingdom do not go beyond European Community countries.

Under the Export of Animals (Protection) Order 1981 applicants for export licences in respect of live food animals must state the final destination of the journey in their application form. It would be an offence against section 69 of the Animal Health Act 1981 for an applicant to declare a false destination on the form for the purpose of obtaining a licence. My officials have instructions to investigate any substantial allegations of irregularities under the order, but are not aware of any recent allegations concerning the export of live food animals to final destinations outside the Community.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the United Kingdom is alone in banning live animals exported for food to non-European Community countries.

As far as I am aware, the United Kingdom is the only member state of the European Community that does not at present permit the export of live food animals to countries outside the Community. I do not have detailed information on the rules which non-Community countries may apply in these circumstances.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is meant by "third countries" in the answer of 9 March concerning the export of live food animals, Official Report, c. 400.

The term "third countries" in the reply mentioned means all countries other than the member states of the European Community.