asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland whether he has issued any instructions or advice to procurators fiscal about prosecutions under the Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act 1875.

No special instructions or advice have been issued.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if he will set out the principal achievements of Her Majesty's Government within his Department's responsibilities since May 1979.

As the Government's chief legal advisers as regards Scotland, the Lord Advocate and I have participated in many of the achievements mentioned by my colleagues, including the Secretary of State for Scotland.The Lord Advocate and I are responsible for the Crown Office and procurator fiscal service, and for the Scottish parliamentary draftsmen. In some cases we provide legal representation in the courts for other Government Departments, including, on the invitation of the Attorney-General, representation in the European Court and in the European Court of Human Rights. In all these respects, we have sought to carry out these responsibilities fully and effectively, but our achievements are necessarily qualitative rather than quantitative and are not readily susceptible to listing.There are, however, certain other achievements since May 1979 which I might list. These include:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy to what extent women now have employment rights equal to those of men in the (a) gas and (b) electricity industries; and how many (i) women and (ii) men are employed in these fields.

The British Gas Corporation and the electricity supply industry subscribe fully to the principle of equal opportunity for all employees regardless of sex and this policy is endorsed in joint agreements with the trade unions.The numbers of men and women employed in the industries at end of February 1983 were as follows:

	BGC (CB)	ESI (GB)
Women	25,317	30,188
Men	76,344	129,106
Total	101,661	159,294

asked the Secretary of State for Energy to what extent women now have employment rights equal to those of men in mining; and how many (a) women and (b) men are employed in this field.

The employment of women in the mining industry is subject to the provisions of the Mines and Quarries Act 1954, as amended by section 21 of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, which inter alia states that no female shall be employed in a job the duties of which ordinarily require the employee to spend a significant proportion of his time below ground at a mine that is being worked. Consequently, no females are employed by the National Coal Board in jobs requiring them to spend a significant proportion of their time underground.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what use has been made of section 3 of the Coal Industry Act 1975 relating to the right to work coal measures underlying copyhold land.

I am advised by the National Coal Board that 26 notices relating to proposals to work coal under former copyhold land have been published pursuant to section 3 of the Coal Industry Act 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he proposes to extend the principle enshrined in section 3 of the Coal Industry Act 1975 for the benefits of mineral undertakers other than the National Coal Board.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what items using or consisting of niobium alloys are being imported to supply the JET project at Culham; what is their costs, insurance and freight value; to what percentage of the common sixteenth tariff of the European countries they are subject; and what value of revenue will be forgone if legislation is passed giving them tariff-free access.

I understand from the JET project that it has not imported any niobium alloys, nor does it plan to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the value of the output of North sea oil in each year since 1974; and what is his estimate for 1983.

The attached table shows the total value of oil—including natural gas liquids—produced from the United Kingdom continental shelf from 1974 to 1982.

Year	Value of oil production
	£ million
1974	3
1975	58
1976	645
1977	2,226
1978	2,805
1979	5,694
1980	8,851
1981	12,341
1982	14,273
1983*	15,000
* Provisional.

Given that production in 1983 is likely to be broadly similar to that in 1982, the value of production for 1983 has been obtained simply by taking the 1982 production valued at an assumed £145/tonne.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what action has been taken to date under the British Gas Corporation (Disposal of Offshore Oilfield Interests) Directions 1982.

[pursuant to the reply, 3 March 1983, c. 196]: I have now approved with modications the schemes submitted by the corporation under clauses 3 and 7 of the British Gas Corporation (Disposal of Offshore Oilfield Interests) Directions 1982. I have specified that these schemes shall come into force on 1 and 2 May 1983 respectively.The schemes include participation arrangements for the offshore oilfield interests. I am arranging for a summary of these arrangements to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses, in accordance with the undertaking given on 26 October1982.—[Vol. 29, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many school leavers were unemployed in January of each of the following years: 1950, 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the average level of earnings in Scotland for each of the past five years; and what has been the percentage increase in average earnings in each of these years.

The average gross weekly earnings of full-time male and female employees in Scotland at April of each year are given below:

	Men (21 and over)		Women (18 and over)
	£	Increase Per cent.	£	Increase Per cent.
1978	88·5	13·0	54·6	11·7
1979	101·2	14·4	60·4	10·6
1980	123·1	21·6	74·7	23·7
1981	140·0	13·7	87·1	16·6
1982	154·5	10·4	95·0	9·1

The figures relate only to those whose pay was not affected by absence, and are derived from the new earnings survey.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average length of time spent on the unemployment register in Glasgow and Scotland by age group.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will show the numerical and percentage changes for those in work (a) by age group and (b) by standard industrial classification order in Glasgow between May 1979 and the latest date.

Information for Glasgow is not available in the industrial detail requested or by age group. The latest available estimates for industrial groups within the manufacturing sector in Glasgow are set out in the table below.

Change in Numbers Employed Mid-1979 to Mid-1981 in Glasgow
	SIC	000's	Per cent.
III	Food drink and tobacco	-2·5	-12·4
IV, V	Chemicals, coal and petroleum products	-0·5	-21·1
VI	Metal Manufacture	-1·1	-43·3
VII	Mechanical engineering	-5·5	-35·7
VIII	Instrument and electrical engineering	*Nil	0·6
X-XII	Shipbuilding, vehicles and metal goods	-4·0	-14·7
XIII-XV	Textiles, leather, clothing	-3·0	-22·5
XVI-XIX	Other Manufacturing	-3·2	-16·8
III-XIX	Total Manufacturing	-19·7	-18·9
* Less than 50 people.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many registered disabled there were in (a) Glasgow and (b) Scotland on the latest available date; and, of these, how many were also registered unemployed;

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

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why he has reduced the funds paid by his Department to the Scottish Development Agency for environmental improvement.

Each year my right hon. Friend agrees with the agency how much of its total funding should be allocated to its various sub-heads. The reduction in provision for environmental improvement schemes from £23·9 million in 1982–83 to £19·4 million in 1983–84 has contributed to an increase from £2·4 million to £10·6 million in provision for grant funding for area initiatives, the LEG-UP scheme and other projects such as the Scottish Industrial exhibition centre, which contain a large element of environmental improvement work.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received any further information about the Romanian citizen Mr. Stancu Papasoiu, whom he deported a few weeks ago, as to whether or not he was a genuine political refugee; and whether he now intends granting this man asylum.

It has now been confirmed that Mr. Papasoiu was in a refugee centre in Austria from 22 September 1980 to 18 March 1981. The Austrian authorities rejected a claim for asylum on the grounds that Mr. Papasoiu did not meet the criteria of the 1951 United Nations convention relating to the status of refugees and Mr. Papasoiu returned voluntarily to Romania.This further information confirms our belief that Mr. Papasoiu has no claim to be treated as a refugee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will initiate an urgent inquiry into the importing and licensing of all types of firearms.

We are not persuaded that an inquiry would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been granted refugee status or given political asylum in the United Kingdom in (a) 1978 and (b) 1982; and what were their countries of origin.

Statistics on applications for asylum were not collected until 1979. The available statistics for the years 1979 to 1982 are in the Library. In 1979, 708 persons from 25 different countries of origin were granted refugee status or asylum in the United Kingdom. The corresponding figures for 1982 are 2,368 persons from 30 different countries. These figures do not include refugee status or asylum granted under the special programmes for Latin American and Vietnamese refugees.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he received the report from the Police Complaints Board made under section 8(2) of the Police Act 1976 and referred to in the board's 1982 report; what it was about; and if he will now publish it.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave today to the hon. Member for Norwood (Mr. Fraser).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will ask the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to send him a copy of any report of a complaint under the Police Act into the raid by police on 11 houses in Railton road, London SE24 in July 1981; and whether he will make any further statement to the House about the subject matter of the complaint.

This was the subject of a special report made to me by the Police Complaints Board and to which it referred in its annual report published on 13 April.—(HC 278.) It will be remembered that I had previously made a statement to the House on the same matter on 29 October 1981—[Vol. 10, c. 993]—when I confirmed that important lessons had been learned from the execution of the operation and the Commissioner had assured me that those will be taken fully into account in the future.The board's report was the first and, so far, the only such report made under section 8(2) of the Police Act 1976, which empowers the board to make a report on any matters coming to its notice to which it considers attention should be drawn by reason of their gravity or other exceptional circumstances. A copy of the report has now been placed in the Library, together with a copy of my reply. As I said in the latter, I shared the board's concern and was satisfied after further inquiry that the Metropolitan police had been quick to respond to the immediate and longer term implications of these incidents.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider introducing legislation to replace trial by jury in lengthy and complicated commercial fraud cases with trial by a high court judge sitting with assessors.

My right hon. Friend welcomes the discussion of problems regarding fraud trials in Mr. Justice Gibson's recent Howard League lecture and elsewhere, but he has no present plans for legislation in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he made of the likely impact on morale in the probation service when bringing forward his proposals to cut the pay scales of trainee probation officers; and if he will make a statement.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the pay scale of students sponsored for full-time courses of training leading to a qualification for eligibility to apply to join the probation service.From the contacts that my right hon. Friend and I and officials of the Department, including the Probation Inspectorate, have with officers of the probation service, I believe that generally morale is good, as is to be expected given the importance of the service's key role in dealing with offenders in the community and the continuing growth in the resources allocated to it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what financial savings have already been made through the reduction by 15 per cent. of the numbers of probation officers completing their training in 1983; and if he will make a statement.

The reduction to which my hon. Friend refers was in the number of students sponsored by the Home Office for courses of full-time training leading to the certificate of qualification in social work, with a view to applying to become probation officers. The number expected to complete their courses in 1983 is 282, 15·8 per cent. less that the 335 who completed their courses in 1982; the resultant expenditure will be about £800,000 less.The number due to be sponsored at the start of the 1983–84 academic year is 288. The number of sponsored students varies in line with expected vacancies in the service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of people prosecuted under section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 for carrying out the practice known as female circumcision since 1960.

The information collected centrally does not separately identify cases involving female circumcision.

asked the Attorney-General if he will set out the principle achievements of Her Majesty's Government within his Department's responsibilities since May 1979.

As the Government's chief legal adviser I have played a necessary part in the formulation of policy on a number of matters that have led to the achievements reported by my colleagues in their respective answers to corresponding questions put down by my hon. Friend. In addition, I have personally, and through my Department, striven to ensure the impartial and effective enforcement of the criminal law and the proper representation of the Government in civil litigation to which they have been a party. Although my Department is not directly responsible for the content of either the civil or criminal law I have taken an active part in the consideration and adoption of various measures to improve both the substantive law and legal procedures.

asked the Attorney-General what was the total cost of collecting and administering dog licences in Northern Ireland in each of the years 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82 and 1982–83; what was the total income from the sale of dog licences in Northern Ireland in these years; and how many dog licences were issued in Northern Ireland in each of these years.

Information for the years 1977–78 and 1978–79 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The following table gives information from 18 April 1979, the date on which responsibility for the licensing of dogs through magistrates' courts in Northern Ireland was transferred to the Northern Ireland Court Service. The licensing function is now undertaken by the magistrates' court staff and it is regretted that it is not possible to give a precise figure for the cost of collection and administration.

Year	Cost of Collecting and Administering Licences (Estimated)	Income from Sale of Licences	Number of Licences Issued	Number of Dogs Licensed
(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)
	£	£
1979–80	4,200	11,484	30,982	41,928
1980–81	6,000	13,853	36,973	50,777
1981–82	5,800	12,339	32,867	45,259
1982–83*	3,500	6,435	17,135	24,199
* Period 1 April 1982 to 31 Deceomber 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the estimated expenditure, net, by each individual local authority which will have to be borne out of rate support grant on education arising out of the technical and vocational education initiative in 1983–84.

The guidelines issued by the Manpower Services Commission to local education authorities say that the resources it is making available are intended to defray costs over and above what would otherwise have been spent on the education of the young people concerned. These guidelines do not prohibit authorities from using rate funds, but they also encourage authorities to explore other sources of finance, for example from local industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many and what percentage of schools in the United Kingdom are in breach of the requirement of the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1981 by failing to provide washrooms containing toilet and washing facilities together;(2) how many schools in the city of Leicester and the county of Leicestershire, respectively, are in breach of the requirements of the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1981 by failing to provide washrooms containing toilet and washing facilities together.

The information is not available. I understand that the Leicestershire education authority is planning a continuing programme of work to achieve the necessary provision. The rate of progress will depend upon the availability of resources.The Education (School Premises) Regulations 1981 apply in England and Wales. Schools in Wales are the concern of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what account he takes of the numbers of young people who have exhausted their entitlements to training schemes when providing funds for the youth services.

As I indicated on 28 March in answer to a question from the hon. Member in assessing local authorities' spending needs for grant distribution purposes, account is taken of various social and economic factors. The provision of youth services is primarily the concern of local authorities and voluntary organisations, which will no doubt take into account the circumstances of their potential client groups.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science by how much the age participation rate of under-fives has increased compared with the increase between 1974–75 and 1978–79.

The age participation rate of under-fives rose from 28 per cent. in 1974–75 to 37·3 per cent. in 1978–79 and 40·2 per cent. in 1981–82, the latest year for which figures are available. I regret that I incorrectly said in my speech — [Vol. 41, c. 817] — that the participation rate in the earlier period rose by one per cent., marginally more than the increase under this Government.

asked the Minister for Trade, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Eastleigh (Sir D. Price) on 24 January, Official Report, c. 264–65, whether he has now received a report from the relevant trade bodies on a voluntary code of practice for measures of wine sold by the glass in licensed premises; and if he will make a statement.

I have received the final report of the trade working group, chaired by the Brewers' Society. It covered the text of a voluntary code of practice. The code has been agreed by all the main trade organisations representing the interests of brewers, licensed victuallers, hoteliers, restaurateurs and caterers. Its main provisions are that:

a. the quantity and price shall be prominently displayed in all establishments;

b. each establishment must choose a size or sizes from either an imperial or metric range based on legal capacity measures; and

c. not more than two sizes shall be available in any establishment. In the case of imperial sales there shall be a minimum difference of two fluid ounces and in the case of metric, a minimum of 50ml between any two sizes.

In order to provide a flexible and legal framework for the code I have today laid before Parliament a draft order to amend schedule 3 to the Weights and Measures Act 1963 by adding three new capacity measures of 125 ml, 150 ml and 175 ml to the list of measures which it is lawful to use for trade in the sale of intoxicating liquor.Confusion over the variety of glass sizes used by the trade in selling wine by the glass has been a cause of growing public concern and I felt justified in asking the trade to consider taking steps to rationalise its sales. I therefore welcome the initiative shown by the trade organisations concerned, their willingness to co-operate in developing a voluntary scheme and the speed with which they have produced their code.I hope that the House will feel able to approve the draft order so that the voluntary code of practice can come into operation very soon after the order and the technical regulations, which are now being prepared, come into full operation on 1 December 1983.

asked the Minister for Trade what information is available on flights of aircraft below controlled air space in the Worthing area between 11 pm and 7 am in any recent convenient period and in a similar period in summer 1982.

The National Air Traffic Control Service does not collect data on those aircraft that fly over Worthing below controlled air space at any time and choose so to inform the area flight information centre by radio. Such communications are normally a matter of prudence and confirm to the pilot his ability to communicate or seek assistance should that be necessary. They are not obligatory. I regret, therefore, that the information called for is not avialable, if my right hon. Friend has received information that flights below controlled air space are occurring regularly, I should be glad to receive such evidence, and undertake to look into the occurrences.

asked the Minister for Trade whether he will bring forward legislation to implement the recommendations contained in the 1980 report of the Law Commission on insurance contract law.

Following extensive consultations on this report the Government have decided to introduce a Bill, as soon as legislative time is available, broadly on the lines of the Law Commission's proposals in Cmnd. 8064, but limited to private consumer insurance contracts. The Bill would apply to Scotland as well as England and Wales. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has it in mind that the Bill should extend to Northern Ireland; he will be seeking the views of the Northern Ireland Assembly on the Government's proposals.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will state her official duties for 28 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 28 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 28 April.

This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. After my duties in the House I shall be leaving for an official visit to Sheffield and the east midlands.

(Leith) asked the Prime Minister if she will make representations to the United States and South Korean Governments calling for the removal of the wall dividing North and South Korea.

There is no wall dividing North and South Korea, although there is a demilitarised zone some 4,000 metres wide. While the goal of the peaceful reunification of Korea has been consistently supported by Her Majesty's Government, the obstacles to it do not lie in the United States or in South Korea.

asked the Prime Minister, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Macclesfield (Mr. Winterton) Official Report, 7 February, c. 282, how Her Majesty's Government monitor progress towards racial integration of South African sport.

On the basis of the reports which we receive from our embassy and elsewhere.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will raise with President Reagan the unsatisfactory effect on British-American relations of continuing financial support by organisations based in the United States of America of groups engaged in terrorism in Northern Ireland.

President Reagan is well aware of the problem. In a statement made on St. Patrick's day he appealed to Americans not to support organisations which perpetuated violence in Northern Ireland. The United States authorities have made a great effort to stamp out the illegal arms traffic to Northern Ireland. I am grateful to President Reagan and the United States Administration for their efforts.

asked the Prime Minister if she will meet the leaders of the Trades Union Congress.

I have no plans for such a meeting.

asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied with the level of co-ordination between Government Departments on policies to increase and improve public and private sector investment in new industrial and commercial assets in the United Kingdom.

Yes. We have taken many steps to improve the quality of public investment, and to assist the private sector in developing investment in growth areas.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will give consideration to the suggestions made by the chief constable of Northumbria for measures to deter criminals from carrying guns.

All suggestions made by chief constables for curbing violent crime merit close attention. As regards those of the chief constable of Northumbria, I wholly accept that severe punishment must be available for offences involving firearms. The law already provides maximum penalties up to life imprisonment for such offences and where firearms are used in the commission of other offences such penalties apply in addition to any other sentence imposed. The courts have a well-established policy of imposing severe sentences for offences where firearms are involved.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a cost estimate for the Mulberry harbour for Port Stanley.

We have no plans to instal a Mulberry harbour at Port Stanley, since a natural harbour already exists.

asked the Prime Minister what is the latest cost estimate of the airstrip at Fitzroy.

Tenders have not yet been received.

asked the Prime Minister if she will seek to ensure that the Williamsburg summit meeting discusses the implications of world population growth for any measures to strengthen the world economy.

As I told the hon. Member on 14 March, discussion at the Williamsburg summit is likely to concentrate on the state of the world economy and related economic issues. Population related issues are undoubtedly an important factor affecting the economic prospects of many contries. As such, they may form part of the discussion as on previous occasions, but we do not ourselves propose to submit to the summit a paper on population.

asked the Prime Minister what functions in the operation of magistrates courts are the responsibility of the Home Secretary; and what functions are the responsibility of the Lord Chancellor.

The Lord Chancellor, who as head of the judiciary has a special relationship with the magistracy, is responsible for the appointment and training of magistrates and for expenditure on legal aid and costs out of central funds. He makes rules of procedure for magistrates courts and has some responsibility for duty solicitor schemes. All other aspects of magistrates courts administration and procedure are, within central Government, the province of the Home Secretary.

asked the Prime Minister if Her Majesty's Government will introduce legislation specifically to prohibit local authorities funding political advertising.

I deplore the misuse of ratepayers' money on party political advertising, but we have at present no plans to introduce legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many new firms have been set up in the North-west region since the beginning of 1982; and how many new jobs were created by them.

I regret that a complete answer cannot be given to this question. Although limited companies must register with Companies House, only their registered office is recorded. No details of operational establishments and employment are given.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will publish such information as he has as to the number of people under the age of 30 years starting new businesses during the financial year ended 5 April 1983.

The information available on business start-ups in 1982 was published in British Business on 8 April, but no records are kept of the ages of the people concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether, following talks between his Department, the British Steel Corporation and the private companies involved in the proposed Phoenix 2 joint venture, he is yet able to provide information on the structure of the new company; when trading will begin; whether rationalisation will arise and when that will begin; what are the employment implications of the proposals; and when employee consultations will take place and at what level.

Pursuant to my reply yesterday to the hon. Member—[Vol. 41, c. 330]—the Department has received no agreed proposals from the companies. It is for the companies, if and when such proposals are made, to release information and undertake employee consultations as they think appropriate.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will seek to invite the Rayner scrutiny team to consider the catering facilities in the House of Commons.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied that the two planning applications for a refuse transfer station on the Wandsworth gasworks site do not represent a significant departure from the initial development plan for Greater London; and whether he has called these planning applications in or taken any other action concerning them.

The question what constitutes a significant departure from the initial development plan is for the local planning authority to determine. In this case, as the GLC owns the site it was able, by virtue of the Town and Country Planning General Regulations 1976, to deem itself both outline and detailed planning permissions to build the solid waste transfer station. There was no reason for my right hon. Friend to intervene and call in the applications for his own determination.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of the possible departure from the structure plan, he will hold a public inquiry into the application for an itinerant gipsy caravan site in Middle Bickenhill, near Solihull.

The proposal for an itinerant gipsy caravan site in Middle Bickenhill Lane, Solihull is still at an early stage. No planning application has been made. If it is decided to proceed with the proposal, the local planning authority must decide whether it constitutes a departure from the development plan which should be referred to the Secretary of State.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the new eligible expense limits announced in the Budget statement and detailed by the Minister for Housing and Construction in the reply of 22 March, Official Report c. 402–3, will come into operation.

The grants by Local Authorities (Eligible Expense Limits) Order 1983 has been laid before the House today. Subject to its approval the new limits set out in the table attached will come into effect on 20 May.Any grant approved after the coming into effect of the order will be eligible for the increased level of eligible expense. However, where a grant has already been approved—even if work has not begun—the applicant will not be able to submit a new application to take advantage of the higher limits.Subject to parliamentary approval the new eligible expense limits for home improvement grants which will come into operation on 20 May are set out below.

Intermediate Grants
Standard amenities
Description of amenity	Maximum eligible amount (£)
	In Greater London	Elsewhere
A fixed bath or shower	450	340
A hot and cold water supply at a fixed bath or shower	570	430
A wash-hand basin	175	130
A hot and cold water supply at a wash-hand basin	300	230
A sink	450	340
A hot and cold water supply at a sink	380	290
A water closet	680	515

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will be making an announcement about the appointment of a new chairman of the Nature Conservancy Council.

I am pleased to announce that I have today appointed Mr. William Wilkinson as chairman of the Nature Conservancy Council. Mr. Wilkinson is 50 years old and has been a director of Kleinwort Benson Limited for the past 10 years. He has had a life-long involvement with conservation. He has been a keen ornithologist for many years and is currently the hon. treasurer of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. He is a vice-chairman of the Game Conservancy and a Board member of West Palearctic Birds Ltd.Mr. Wilkinson's management background and his knowledge of and concern for the natural environment make him ideally suited to lead the Nature Conservancy Council.I should like to take this opportunity of paying tribute to the retiring chairman, Sir Ralph Verney, for the dedicated way in which he has carried out his duties during a period of considerable change and great significance for nature conservation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what conclusions he has reached in the light of the responses of the consultation letter on the Mobile Homes Bill [Lords] announced by the Under-Secretary of State on 18 March, Official Report, c. 286.

The consultation letter invited views on two issues:

1. the desirability of amending the Bill to introduce an element of implied terms guaranteeing certain rights for residents of mobile homes;

2. a possible amendment to the Bill to provide that a site owner could terminate his agreement only with a resident for breach of its terms following an application to the court.

The Government have carefully considered the responses of the representatives of site owners and residents, and others, to the consultation letter, and have decided to recommend to the House that the amendments be made. Government amendments have been tabled today on both these issues, for consideration at Report stage. Their main effect will be to guarantee certain rights for residents, including security of tenure and the right to sell a mobile home on site, while allowing free negotiation between resident and site owner on the level of pitch fees and other matters. Site owners will be required to provide residents with a written statement setting out both the implied terms and the express terms of the agreement between them. The Government believe that these amendments will further strengthem the protection for residents that the Bill provides, without adversely affecting responsible site owners.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of staff in post, on a basis comparable with that given in the reply by the Minister for Housing and Construction on 8 April 1981, Official Report, c. 302, of the structural integrity division of the Building Research Establishment on (a) 1 April 1982 and (b) 1 April 1983.

On a basis comparable with the reply given on 8 April 1981, the division had (a) a staff of 24 plus division head on 1 April 1982 and (b) a staff of 22 plus division head on 1 April 1983.The civil engineering laboratory was transferred to the Building Research Establishment from the Property Services Agency on 1 April 1982 and became part of the structural integrity division, adding 10 and nine to the above figures.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will bring up to date the table of staffing of the Building Research Establishment given in the reply by the Minister for Housing and Construction on 20 July 1982, Official Report, c. 119; what is the current shortfall of staff in post compared with the authorised complement (a) overall and (b) in the science category; and what is the proposed complement for 1983–84.

The manpower allocation for the Building Research Establishment — including civil engineering laboratory, the responsibility for which was transferred from the Property Services Agency, to the Building Research Establishment on 1 April 1982—was 846 at 1 April 1983 and is 816 for 1 April 1984 subject to revision after studies of contracting-out. There were 842 staff in post on 1 April 1983. On that date there were (a) overall four fewer staff than allowed for in the complement and (b) in the science category 13 fewer staff than in the complement. A detailed table is as attached.

Building Research Establishment	Authorised Complement 1 April 1983	Staff in Post 1 April 1983
Science Category
Director	1	1
CSO(B)	1	1
DCSO	5	5
SPSO	17	19
PSO	64	62
SSO	92	94
HSO	120	118
SO	87	83
ASO	26	17
	413	400
Research Officers
SRO	—	—
Professional and Technology Category
Superintendent Eng.	1	1
Supt Architect	1	1
PPTO	9	8
PTOI	17	18
PTOII	14	15
PTOIII	22	12
PTOIV	22	12
	64	67
Administration Group
Principal	1	1
SEO	2	2
HEO	5	5
EO	12	11
CO	60	52½
CA	5	6½
	85	78
Information Officers
Senior Information Officers	1	1
Information Officers	2	3
Assistant Information Officers	2	2
	5	6
Graphics Officers
Graphics Officer III	1	1
Graphics Officer IV	1	—
Drawing Office Assistant	6	5½
Tracer	2	1½
	10	8
Personal Secretaries and Typists
Senior Personal Secretary	1	1
Personal Secretary	16	17
Senior Superintendent of Typists	1	1
Superintendent of Typists	2	2
Typists	16	17½
	36	38½

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is yet able to say when he expects to reach a decision on the restructuring of the Property Services Agency and on potential staffing implications.

My right hon. Friend has decided to proceed with the development of proposals for the restructuring of the Property Services Agency on the basis of a reduction from three to two tiers in the agency's regional structure and the separation of defence and civil work into two organisations. Further work is now in hand to assess the detailed implications and to draw up the necessary implementation programme on the basis of implementation by 1 April 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when next he intends to review local authorities councillors' attendance and special responsibility allowances.

A review of local authority councillors' attendance and special responsibility allowances has recently been completed. A draft statutory instrument, specifying the new allowance rates, was laid before the House on 22 April, and these are due to come into effect on 14 May.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what have been the allocations for housing expenditure, in constant prices, to the London borough of Tower Hamlets in each year since 1972; and what is the estimate for 1983.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the amount paid in constant prices, to the London borough of Tower Hamlets in rate support grant in each year since 1972; and what is the estimated payment for 1983.

Information prior to 1974–75 is not readily available. Figures from 1974–75 are as follows:

	£ million
1974–75	49·781
1975–76	42·508
1976–77	48·255
1977–78	43·103
1978–79	46·052
1979–80	44·847
1980–81	40·171
1981–82	33·665
1982–83	31·558
1983–84	31·073

Figures from 1974–75 to 1980–81 contain needs and domestic elements revalued to 1981–82 settlement prices; the council did not qualify for resources element. The figure for 1981–82 is in cash terms after the implementation of holdback and includes grant paid in respect of GLC and Metropolitan police. The figure for 1982–83 is also in cash terms after the implementation of holdback but includes only grant paid in respect of the Metropolitan police. The figure for 1983–84 is in cash terms, prior to holdback. Payments or receipts under the London rate equalisation scheme are included for all years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is now prepared to make financial assistance available to local authorities such as Bradford which wish to remove lead paint on both internal and external surfaces of schools and replace it with non-toxic paints; and if he will make a statement.

Wholesale removal of lead paint is usually neither feasible nor cost-effective — simple coating with low-lead paint in the course of routine redecorating will normally reduce any hazard appreciably. If any additional remedial measures are necessary which require an increase in expenditure, I would expect the local authorities concerned to reorder expenditure priorities so as to meet the requirement within their existing targets. Circular 22/82, issued in September last year by my Department, explains the position in more detail.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to provide the pedestrian crossing, promised by 1982, for the A6 at Oadby, Leicester.

Work on the installation of a pelican crossing at the junction of Waldron drive with the A6 trunk road at Oadby is expected to start in June.The pelican crossing will be replaced later by traffic signals with a pedestrian phase when necessary improvements have been carried out at the junction. To enable this work to be done a draft order under the Highways Act 1980 will be published in the summer.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to seek to increase the maximum penalties for offences involving injury and death to cyclists in road accidents.

No. There are already severe penalties for serious road traffic offences, including imprisonment, heavy fines and disqualification from driving. Nor do I believe that it would be right to single out offences involving death or injury to any particular class of road user for special treatment.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects work to start on the Airedale trunk road; how long the construction of the Keighley-Kildwick section will take; and when he anticipates this will be open to traffic to relieve congestion and intrusion on the existing Keighley-Skipton trunk road.

I expect the advance works on the Airedale trunk road to start towards the end of 1984. Construction of the Keighley-Kildwick section is planned to start in April 1985 and the road should open to traffic in April 1987. These dates are subject to completion of the necessary statutory procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received concerning the payment of compensation to Ugandan refugees.

Several hon. Members, including the hon. and learned Gentleman himself, have written to me and my ministerial colleagues about the Government's action in communicating to claimants against Uganda details of the procedure which the Uganda Government wish them to follow to make a claim for compensation for the property that was taken from them under the Amin regime. There have also been representatiions from the Ugandan Evacuees Association.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response he has received from the Ugandan Government concerning the extension of the 90-day limit for applications to claim compensation for Ugandan refugees who are now British citizens.

None yet.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many nuclear tests have been undertaken by the United States of America, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, China, France and the United Kingdom in each year since 1970; when discussions were last held on proposals for a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty; and with what results.

The following is a list of announced nuclear tests. It has not proved possible to include all tests carried out in the last three years for all five countries. Discussions on the scope and verification of a comprehensive test ban treaty continue in the Committee on Disarmament in Geneva. The United Kingdom representatives have been active in the relevant working group, and have emphasised the essential need for adequate verification provisions in any future agreement.

Announced Nuclear Tests
	USSR		US		UK		France		China
Year	a	b	a	b	a	b	a	b	a	b
1970		10		30			8		1
1971		14		11			5		1
1972		14		8			3		2
1973		14		9			5		1
1974		8		7		1	7		1
1975		6		16				2		1
1976		10		15		1		4	3	1
1977		11		12				6	1
1978		20		11		2		7	2
1979		15		14		1		9
1980		10		14		3		11	1
1981						1
1982						1
1983						1

a=atmosphericb=underground