asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will review the criteria he adopts when considering proposals for the closure of village schools; and if he will make a statement.

No. Each proposal is considered on its merits taking account of any objections made against it. The educational interests of the children affected are of prime concern, but other factors, including linguistic, social, denominational and financial considerations, may have a bearing on individual cases.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he will ensure that income from holiday lettings continues to be assessed by the Inland Revenue under schedule D. case I, as trading income and not under schedule D, case VI, as unearned income;(2) whether he intends to take any action as a result of the court decision on the taxing of income from holiday lettings, and, in particular, self-catering establishments; and if he will make a statement;(3) whether owners of self-catering establishments will continue to be allowed by the Inland Revenue on sale to roll over and retirement relief in respect of any capital gains tax assessment.

We are continuing to study the position carefully but I have nothing to add at present to what I said on 14 April—[Vol. 40, c. 1026]—when the matter was raised on Second Reading of the Finance Bill by my hon. Friend the Member for Bridlington (Mr. Townend).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the 12-hour and 24-hour subsistence rates payable to Ministers, permanent secretaries, deputy secretaries and assistant secretaries in the Civil Service, respectively, at April 1982 and at April 1983.

The rates, which are the same for all of these groups, are as follows:

Over 24 hours
April 1982	£4·30
April 1983	£4·60
Over 24 hours
Inner London
April 1982	£47·55
April 1983	£51·85

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether there has been any further review of the income limits which govern the Inland Revenue's practice for remitting arrears of tax which have arisen through official error.

Yes. The Inland Revenue's practice of remitting tax in cases of official error is set out in a White Paper of July 1971 —Cmnd. 4729 —under which the proportion of arrears collected varies according to the size of the taxpayer's gross income; the balance of the arrear is remitted. The scale has been revised several times since 1971. The current scale, introduced in April 1982, is as follows:

	Percentage of arrears
Gross income	Collected	Remitted
Not above £7,000	None	All
Above £7,000 but not above £9,000	25	75
Above £9,000 but not above £11,500	50	50
Above £11,500 but not above £14,000	75	25
Above £14,000 but not above £19,500	90	10
Above £19,500	All	None

In the case of taxpayers aged 65 or over or who are in receipt of the national insurance retirement or widows' pension, each of the above limits is £2,000 greater.It has been decided to increase these limits. The new scale of limits will apply to arrears of tax, the actual or likely amount of which is first notified to the taxpayer, or his agent, on or after today. The date of notification will also be the date for testing eligibility for the pensioners' higher limit.The scale generally applicable will be as follows:

	Percentage of arrears
Gross income	Collected	Remitted
Not above £7,500	None	All
Above £7,500 but not above £9,500	25	75
Above £9,500 but not above £12,000	50	50
Above £12,000 but not above £14,500	75	25
Above £14,500 but not above £20,500	90	10
Above £20,500	All	None

The special increase of £2,000 in each of the income limits for taxpayers, who at the date of notification are aged 65 or over or in receipt of the national insurance retirement or widows' pension, will continue. If a taxpayer in this category has gross income of £9,500 or less, the whole of the arrears will be remitted, whilst some remission will be allowed on gross income up to £22,500.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons sentenced to borstal training spend time in adult prisons after sentence but prior to the commencement of borstal training.

[pursuant to his reply, 31 March 1983, c. 276]: Approximately 7,500 borstal trainees were received into prison department establishments in England and Wales in 1982. Of the borstal trainees in prison department establishments on 31 January 1983, it is estimated that immediately following their sentence and prior to their allocation to a training borstal about 40 per cent. were received into a remand centre, 40 per cent. into a local prison and 20 per cent. into a borstal allocation centre.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students entered medical school in each year since 1978.

The numbers of new entrant undergraduates to courses of pre-clinical medicine and dentistry in the universities of Great Britain since 1978–79 are as follows:

	1981–82		1982–83
	Payment	Numbers	Payment (estimated)	Numbers
	£		£
Bury grammar school (Boys)	28,243	36	48,395	64
Bury grammar school (Girls)	14,745	25	52,914	73

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will estimate the cost of the abolition of parental contributions to students in higher education for the year 1983–84.

The estimated cost of abolishing the parental contributions to students in higher education in the academic year 1983–84 is £180 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will seek powers to require companies involved commercially in the field of genetic manipulation to notify the Health and Safety Executive and Genetic Manipulation Advisory Group.

Companies involved commercially in genetic manipulation, as that term is defined in the Health and Safety (Genetic Manipulation) Regulations 1978, are already required to notify the Health and Safety Executive and the Genetic Manipulation Advisory Group. I am advised by the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the present arrangements for voluntary notification of the large-scale use of genetically manipulated organisms are working satisfactorily.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if the University Grants Committee figures for reduced intakes referred to in evidence to the Education, Science and Arts Committee, HC 449-i of Session 1980–81, represent ceiling or target numbers.

The references were to student target numbers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much has been paid to Bury independent grammar school under the assisted places scheme in each year since the implementation of the scheme; and how many pupils are supported in each year.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, pursuant to his answer of 13 April, Official Report, c. 407–8, whether Mr. Maurice Elderfield, former financial director of British Shipbuilders disclosed his interest in Saga Ltd. at the time when Vosper Thornycroft (UK) Ltd., a subsidiary of British Shipbuilders, concluded the agreement with Saga Ltd., of 28 March 1980.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the nature of the regime known as cellular confinement in Her Majesty's prison, Armagh;(2) if he will break down the information given in his answer of 4 March,

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

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress he has made with the announced new film arguing the case for basing United States cruise missiles in the United Kingdom; and when and where he intends to have it shown.

As I explained in my answer to the hon. Member on 9 February, consideration was given earlier this year to producing a short public information film to explain why, in the absence of results in the Geneva intermediate nuclear force negotiations, it will be necessary to base cruise missiles in Great Britain. —[Vol. 36, c. 402.] We have now decided not to proceed with the making of such a film.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate how many private sector companies are engaged in whole, or in part, in the manufacture of equipment purchased by the Ministry of Defence.

It is estimated that at any given time the Ministry of Defence has direct defence contracts with more than 10,000 firms. It is not possible to estimate how many additional firms are engaged on subcontract work.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied that the strength of the three armed forces stationed in Gibraltar is adequate for the protection of that territory and its inhabitants.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what training exercises of United Kingdom forces have taken place in Florida, United States of America, in the past 15 months.

During March 1983 Buccaneer aircraft from 12 Squadron, Royal Air Force, took part in an exercise nicknamed Western Fox.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, what action he is taking following the incident on 20 April in the vicinity of the Army firing ranges at Pirbright when Mrs Sheila Wenham of Sunbury-on-Thames was shot in the head; and if he will make a statement.

All firing at Ash ranges was suspended immediately following the incident to enable the police to pursue their inquiries. Pending the outcome of an Army board of inquiry into the incident firing will not be permitted on the range from which the shot may have come. I shall decide whether changes of procedure are necessary in the light of the findings of the board of inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what the responsibilities of his Department will be towards trainees who elect to do their training as members of the armed forces.

Responsibility for the armed services youth training scheme announced on 14 April rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people on the Health and Safety Executive are currently responsible for overseeing (a) manufacturers of vaccines and antibiotics, (b) clinical laboratories in hospitals and (c) medical centres.

In each HSE area, inspection of premises used for the manufacture of vaccines or antibiotics is a part of the planned programme of work of a small team of inspectors. This team is led by a principal inspector and specialises in dealing with the health and safety risks found in the whole range of chemical processes. A similar arrangement exists for the inspection of clinical laboratories in hospitals and medical centres. As a part of their duties 70 inspectors are involved in the inspection of chemical processes, and a similar number in the inspection of clinical laboratories and medical centres. They are supported by a further 15 specialist chemical inspectors, four of whom are microbiologists. Inspectors can also ask for advice on any medical hazards from the Employment Medical Advisory Service.

asked the Prime Minister why Her Majesty's Government have not facilitated the International Red Cross in arranging a visit to the Falkland Islands by bereaved Argentine relatives.

I outlined to the hon. Member on 31 March the basis on which we were prepared to permit such a visit. We have given full co-operation to the International Committee of the Red Cross. It announced on 20 April that the Argentine organisers' arrangements for the proposed visit were contrary to its principle of neutrality and that it was not willing to participate in the venture. It is clear that so far as the ICRC is concerned this visit should not go ahead. In these circumstances, there can clearly be no question of our agreeing to it. Meanwhile we stand by our undertaking to accept a purely humanitarian visit that meets our criteria and our offer to return to Argentina the bodies of their service men buried on the Falkland Islands.

asked the Prime Minister what account is taken in formulating the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards Third world countries of the effect on their economies of a consistently high price of North Sea crude oil.

There are no significant exports of North Sea crude oil to Third world countries. The price of North Sea crude oil is determined by world market conditions.

asked the Prime Minister if she has yet decided to which of her Ministers to allocate responsibility for children's play in view of the assurance given in the Adjournment debate on 20 October 1982; and if she will make a statement.

I have asked the Secretary of State for the Environment to take on responsibility for coordinating Government policy in relation to children's play. Within his Department, he has asked my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, the Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. Macfarlane) to take on special responsibility for this subject. The Secretary of State for Education and Science will, of course, continue to have responsibility for play activities organised through the education service, and the Secretary of State for Social Services for the play activities of local authorities' social services departments.I have decided upon these arrangements in view of the leading role of local authorities' recreation departments in providing out-of-school play facilities, and the extensive funding of play activities through the urban programme. But I am also well aware of the very important role played by voluntary organisations in developing children's play activities, and of the importance of play in enabling children to discover themselves and to develop their capacity for intitiative and self-discipline. My right hon. Friend will be making a further detailed announcement as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in the light of the visit of the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office to Tunisia, he will give an assurance that there has been no change in Government policy regarding ministerial contacts with the Palestine Liberation Organisation, and that therefore no meeting will take place with Mr. Farouk Qaddumi without explicit prior recognition by the Palestine Liberation Organisation of Israel's right to exist, and renunciation of terrorism.

My right hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Oxon (Mr. Hurd) met Mr. Qaddumi of the PLO on 22 April in the course of a visit to Tunisia. This meeting represents no change in our attitude to the PLO. We use our contacts with it to urge acceptance of the principles on which our policy is based.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the countries other than the United States of America and the United Kingdom who supply contingents for the United Nations force in South Korea.

Thailand and the Philippines, like the United Kingdom, supply small contingents to the United Nations command honour guard in Korea.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government have any seats on the armistice commission in South Korea.

The United Kingdom, together with Australia and New Zealand, is represented on the military armistice commission by the Commonwealth liaison mission. The head of the liaison mission is a Britsh officer.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Minister of State will be raising the question of the extradition of Walter Rauff, the Nazi war criminal, when he visits Chile.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment where it is proposed that the waste material from the colliery to be established in the Vale of Belvoir will be tipped; and whether it will be transported by rail or road.

The National Coal Board's planning application for a new colliery at Asfordby, Leicestershire, envisages that some 90 per cent. of the waste brought to the surface will be deposited adjacent to the mine in a tip so designed to blend into and conform with the contours of the landscape. The remaining 10 per cent. will be taken by road to restore disused quarries and other derelict areas in the vicinity. However, when my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 18 March—[Vol. 39, c. 285]—that this planning application would not be called in, he said that he expected the board to take account of any changes in the technology or economics of colliery waste disposal that there may be in the years ahead which might help to modify the environmental impact of coal mining in this area and in particular to reduce the amount of land taken out of agricutural use at any one time. In this context, he referred to the working parties which are due to report in July and which are studying, among other things, the potential of taking the mine waste by rail to remote sites such as the Bedfordshire brickfields.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to publish amendments to the Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1977/289; and whether he proposes that all investigatory operations should be in a class of permitted developments under the order as recommended by Sir Roger Stevens.

Proposals to amend the provisions on minerals in the 1977 order were issued on 19 April in a consultation paper, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend. The paper suggests that there should be a new class of permitted development for mineral exploration. Amendments to the order on matters other than minerals are also in preparation and will be subject to consultation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the European Commission's proposals suggesting that environmental assessment studies should be prepared and made mandatory in mining applications.

The Commission's proposals are directed to a wider range of projects. The position of the Government is that we fully support the principle of environmental assessment and encourage its use in appropriate cases, but we are not convinced of the need for a rigid statutory approach which would involve prescribing a long list of types of project for which assessment would be compulsory. Discussions are continuing in the Council of Ministers to identify a common basis for environmental assessment which can be accepted by all member states.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will arrange for an exhibition relating to the Girl Guides Association "Adopt and Cherish" campaign to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

I shall be happy to open, on Monday 25 April, an exhibition in the Upper Waiting Hall of this House depicting the achievements of the "Adopt and Cherish" project initiated by the Girl Guides Association in co-operation with the "Keep Britain Tidy" group and Lloyds bank.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report the following information: (a) the total stock of dwellings of each housing authority at the latest date for which figures are available, (b) the number of right-to-buy applications received by each housing authority since October 1980, (c) the number of completions of sales by each housing authority since October 1980 and (d) the total number of council house sales by each housing authority since October 1980.

I refer my hon. Friend to the table placed in the Library following the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Lichfield and Tamworth (Mr. Heddle) on 14 April 1983.—[Vol. 40, c. 451.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will arrange to meet representatives of the Commonwealth Development Corporation to discuss the projects in which they are involved in the Philippines.

My predecessor, my right hon. Friend for Banbury (Sir N. Marten) had very full discussions with the corporation before approving CDC's investment in the NGPI project, and the corporation continues to keep me informed of developments in regard to this and other projects in which it may wish to become involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has prepared any development plan for Gibraltar.

The Gibraltar Government prepare their own development plans, and their current proposals are contained in the 1982–86 development programme. The Overseas Development Administration is contributing £13 million towards this programme, of which £9 million is already committed. Approved projects include a causeway and a water distillation plant as well as a number of small-scale infrastructural projects.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has agreed to finance the disillation plant project recently submitted by the Gibraltar Government.

I have approved the Gibraltar Government's request that the total cost of this project, £6·8 million, should be met from our contribution towards Gibraltar's 1982–86 development programme. To comply with EC requirements, the, project was advertised in the EC Official Journal and the best bid received on both technical and financial grounds was from a French company, although its proposals include a United Kingdom content of about 45 per cent. The cost of the best British tender was 48 per cent. above that of the French company. The Gibraltar Government have awarded the contract to the French company.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will update his reply to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr, on 25 October 1982, Official Report, c. 253, in respect of gas and electricity standing charges to show the latest information.

There has been no change in the level of gas and electricity standing charges, apart from the rebates for small consumers introduced by both industries under the 50:50 scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) how many domestic gas supply disconnections there were in each year from 1974 to 1982;(2) how many domestic electricity disconnections were there in each year from 1974 to 1982.

I have asked the chairmen of the British Gas Corporation and the Electricity Council to provide the information direct to the hon. Member.

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

I refer my hon. Friend to the statement which I made in the House yesterday.—[Vol. 41, c. 422.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by how many the total number of farms in the United Kingdom has declined over the past four years.

Between 1978 and 1981 the net reduction in agricultural holdings was 2,894—1·1 per cent.—after making due allowance for minor holdings not included in the annual agricultural censuses. Similar information for 1982 is not yet available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what level of ultra-heat treated milk imports has come into the United Kingdom since the ban on imports was lifted.

The temporary ban on imports of ultra-heat treated milk which I announced on 9 February is still in place, but arrangements have been made to allow a small volume of established trade to continue.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list cases of chrysanthemum rust reported in imported flowers or plants since January, giving details of the date, place and origins in each case.

There has been one finding of white rust on material imported since January. This was at Gateshead market on 3 March where three pustules were found on two stems of cut chrysanthemums understood to have come from the Netherlands.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the legislative powers he has used to force trout farm owners to slaughter whirling disease infested stock; if he will estimate the number of fish which have been slaughtered; and if he will now take powers to compensate fish farmers for their losses.

No powers have been used by my Department to force producers of trout to slaughter whirling disease-infected stock. Programmes involving the clearance of stock from infected fish farms and disinfection have been undertaken in response to commercial judgments following the imposition of movement restrictions. I understand that five fish farmers have so far decided to pursue such a policy involving some 600,000 fish. Compensation from public funds would not be appropriate in such cases.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make representations to the European Community Commission to ensure that its proposal to make surplus grain available as foodstock to pig farmers will also apply to poultry farmers: and if he will make a statement.

The Commission is continuing to review the possibilities for releasing surplus grain for animal feed at reduced prices. If it makes firm proposals, I shall seek to ensure that those would not distort competition between the different sectors of the livestock industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he plans consultations with his European colleagues to ease the difficulties of pig farmers in the United Kingdom.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Saffron Walden (Mr. Haselhurst).—[Vol. 41, c. 401.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the future prospects of the pig industry.

I have been in close contact with all concerned with the situation in the pig industry.As my right hon. Friend informed the House on Monday, we have successfully negotiated in Brussels substantial increases in export refunds, amounting to 60 per cent. on whole carcases and main cuts. This I know will substantially improve the opportunities for pigmeat exports. I have also decided to relieve the meat industry of the cost of veterinary inspections in those plants which are eligible to produce meat for export by meeting these from public funds with offsetting savings in other areas of Government expenditure. Details of these arrangements will be announced shortly.We have therefore succeeded in making the two changes the industry told me were of most importance in helping it to improve its competitive position in overseas markets.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make it his policy to exercise his veto with regard to any European Community agricultural price proposals the Government's commitment to which would lead to increases for those commodities in surplus.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Newham, North-East (Mr. Leighton) on 22 March.—[Vol. 39, c. 389.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide further details of the scheme to pay veterinary costs in meat plants.

The scheme will apply to the costs of employing veterinary surgeons for supervisory duties in export approved red meat slaughterhouses, cutting plants and cold stores, in export approved meat product and game establishments, and in poultry slaughterhouses and cutting plants which apply the EC health mark and cold stores used for export consignments of poultry meat. Subject to certain conditions, the Government will meet the cost of veterinary supervision and certification in export plants, where this is currently charged to the industry, both where it is carried out by official veterinary surgeons appointed by local authorities and where it is carried out by local veterinary inspectors appointed by myself or — in Northern Ireland—by Government veterinary officers. The Government will also meet the cost of testing for trichinosis and residue examinations where these are needed to meet the requirements of importing countries.The cost of the scheme is estimated at about £2·5 million in a full year. The payments will be made under the Minister of Food (Financial Powers) Act 1949. The scheme will be financed by savings in other areas of expenditure by the Agriculture Departments. Parliamentary approval for this new service will be sought.I intend the scheme to operate in respect of veterinary costs incurred from 1 June 1983. The detailed operational arrangements will be discussed as soon as possible with interested organisations.I emphasise that this is an exceptional measure and in no way prejudices the general principle that the costs of meat inspection should he charged to the industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many day care places for the mentally ill are currently available; how many of these are provided by voluntary organisations; and how many by local authorities;(2) if he will list those local authorities that do not provide

Statistics on the provision of day care and residential places for people who are mentally ill by local authorities in England are published annually in the Department's series of booklets "Department of Health and Social Security: Personal Social Services: Local Authority Statistics"—reference Nos, A/F82/8 on day centres and A/F 82/11 on homes and hostels. The figures for 31 March 1982, which are available in the Library of the House, include some places provided by voluntary organisations where the residents are supported financially by local authorities. The total number of day care and residential places provided by voluntary organisations is not known. Day care places are also provided in NHS mental illness day hospitals and at the end of 1981 there were about 15,200 such places.The guidelines in the 1975 White Paper "Better Services for the Mentally Ill" (Cmnd 6233) were not intended to provide fixed targets achievable within a set period of time. The White Paper recognised that progress towards them would depend on economic circumstances. Subsequent developments in alternative ways of providing these services have eroded their validity—for example, those recovering from mental illness may live in "housing" not "residential accommodation". Because facilities can be provided by local authorities and voluntary organisations and because statistics on the latter are not available centrally, it is difficult to reach conclusions on the progress being made in individual local authority areas. In general we are pleased that progress is being made by local authorities, although we are aware of problems. The allocation of extra funds for joint finance announced by my hon. and learned Friend the Minister for Health on 14 March 1983—[Vol. 39, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people in Grimsby were waiting for an appointment with a dental specialist on 1 March.

The information requested is not held centrally, but health authorities do submit details of those waiting for treatment. At 1 September 1982, 155 people were waiting for oral surgery. In no case was treatment urgent.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he is going to implement the decision contained in Cmnd. 8402 to cease payment of special hardship allowance to those who reach normal retirement age; and whether it is his intention to stop the payment to those over the age of 65 years who are still in receipt of special hardship allowance.

Implementation of this and other proposals for the reform of the industrial injuries scheme set out in Cmnd. 8402 need legislation which is not at present in prospect. The intention—set out in paragraph 38 of the Command Paper— is in general not to withdraw the allowance from people over pension age who are already drawing it when the change is made.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether any female circumcisions have been carried out under the National Health Service in the last three years.

No, so far as I am aware. I would deplore any suggestion that female circumcision for non-medical reasons might be carried out under the National Health Service, but I know of no suggestion that any such operation might have taken place.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will instruct supplementary benefit offices to note the names of sick claimants refused benefit because their resources exceed requirements by less than £12 so that the office can invite them to reclaim when the invalidity trap is removed in November.

This will not be necessary. It is proposed that nearer the time all those in receipt of long-term incapacity benefits who might benefit from the removal of the invalidity trap will be informed individually of the new arrangements and told of their possible entitlement to supplementary benefit.