asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland what is the average length of time which elapses between the occurrence of an unlawful or unnatural death in Scotland and the opening of a fatal accident inquiry into that death.

No statistics are kept regarding the time between death and a fatal accident inquiry. In some cases, where an inquiry is mandatory and the facts are quickly ascertained, a public inquiry takes place very soon after death. In other cases, equipment, materials and the like may have to be tested and this can delay considerably the holding of a public inquiry. Likewise, where a fatal accident inquiry is held only because the Lord Advocate considers it expedient in the public interest to have one, there may be a delay in ascertaining the extent of public concern.

asked the hon. Member for Wokingham (Sir W. van Straubenzee), as representing the Church Commissioners, what happened to the plate of Holy Trinity, Price street, Birkenhead, when the church closed for worship.

I am informed by the diocesan authorities that the plate belonging to the former church of Holy Trinity, Birkenhead, was transferred to the church of St. Winifred, Birkenhead.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will review his policy with regard to permitting the use of the Irish language on street names in Northern Ireland, where the residents of that area wish the street names to be shown in Irish; and if he will ensure that no steps are taken to prevent the use of the Irish language in this way.

The Public Health and Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (Northern Ireland) 1949 provides that district councils shall not cause street names to be put up or painted otherwise than in English. I have no plans to change the legislation, implementation of which is a matter for district councils.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has received any representations concerning the exploitation and treatment of Saimiri sciureus squirrel monkeys by holiday photographers; and if he is satisfied that the present law is adequate to prevent the abuse of such animals in the United Kingdom.

We have received no representations; and we are satisfied that the general protection against cruelty afforded to squirrel monkeys under the Protection of Animals Acts 1911–1964 is adequate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe, on 14 July, Official Report, c. 399, if he will endeavour to make the further statement referred to on concessionary television licences for disabled people in residential homes or sheltered housing before the House rises for the summer recess.

We shall try to do so, but I cannot give an undertaking.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will move to include non-Government organisations which receive public funds from Departments within the terms of Standing Order No. 99(1).

No. It would be inappropriate to include within the terms of reference of Departmental Select Committees non-governmental organisations for which Ministers are not answerable to Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide a detailed breakdown, using the latest available figures, of the numbers of children at privately financed schools whose parents are in receipt of Government subsidies as dependants of members of the armed services and of the sum paid from public moneys to provide these subsidies.

At the start of the 1982–83 school year the number of children at boarding schools whose parents were in receipt of boarding school allowance as members of the armed forces was 21,308. This figure includes an estimated 4,000 children at boarding schools maintained by local education authorities. Expenditure on boarding school allowance in 1982–83 was £66·4 million. It is not possible without disproportionate effort to say exactly how much of this amount related to children attending privately financed schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, for the years 1981–82, how many men and women in the armed forces attempted to commit suicide when under investigation by the Special Investigation Branch for matters connected with homosexual offences.

The only case is of an officer in the Army who twice attempted to commit suicide whilst under investigation by the Special Investigation Branch in 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, for the years 1982–83, how many cases of blackmail of homosexuals in the armed forces have come to the attention of the authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the 1982 report and accounts of the Crown Agents' Holding and Realisation Board will be laid before Parliament.

The 1982 report and accounts are being laid before Parliament today. As soon as they are available, published copies of the report and accounts will be placed in the Library of both Houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what attempts have been made, since they were set up, to evaluate the work of the research councils; and if he will make a statement.

All the research councils, which operate under Royal charters, make arrangements based essentially on peer review for the monitoring and assessment of their scientific research. My right hon. Friend is advised on his responsibilities for the state of civil science, with particular reference to the research council system and to the allocation of the science budget, by the Advisory Board for the research councils. The accounts of the research councils are open to examination by the Comptroller and Auditor General.Beyond that, in 1981 the Department started regular reviews of the research councils in pursuance of the Government's general arrangements for periodically reviewing all non-departmental public bodies; a Rayner review of research council support services is nearing completion; and a pilot study of the relations between the Department and the science and engineering research council is in progress as part of the Department's activities under the Government's financial management initiative.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, for the years 1981–82, how many men and women have been required to leave each of the three armed services by way of administrative discharge because they were known to be homosexual, no charge having been preferred against them.

During the two years 1981 and 1982 there were 37 administrative discharges from the Royal Navy, 149 from the Army and 90 from the RAF involving homosexuals. In the time available it has not been possible to identify the proportion of those discharges in the Army in which a charge was preferred, but it is likely to be small. The breakdown is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to complete his consideration of the review of the legal basis of further education.

I cannot say at this stage, but I repeat my predecessor's offer to let my hon. Friend know as soon as there are developments.—[Vol. 40, c. 343.]

asked the Secertary of State for Education and Science if he will list all those independent non-Government organisations which receive funds from his Department together with the amounts of money involved.

The organisation concerned and the amounts awarded to each in the financial year 1983–84 are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received about the effect of the High Court ruling of 1981 on music tuition in schools in Surrey and elsewhere in the United Kingdom; what action he is taking to review this question; and if he will make a statement.

As a result of the High Court ruling in 1981 concerning the arrangements for charging for voluntary instrumental music tuition in Hereford and Worcester, to which my hon. Friend refers, several local education authorities have made changes to their own arrangements for music tuition. In some instances the availability of instrumental music tuition has been reduced as a result, and the Government much regret this. A number of hon. Members, members of the public and representatives of the local education authorities concerned have written to my right hon. Friend on this matter. We have made it clear that we hope that authorities and schools will make use of the ways open to them within the law of sustaining instrumental music tuition in our schools; we have also made it clear that the Government have no plans to amend the relevant provisions of the Education Act 1944.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken by Her Majesty's Government to ensure that the work of the Turkish Cypriot Claims Commission, where it involves compensating British nationals for loss of property during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, is speeded up.

We do not recognise the "Turkish Federated State of Cyprus" and therefore have no formal relations with its authorities. The British high commission in Nicosia, nevertheless, has such informal dealings as are necessary with those authorities to try to protect the interests of British nationals, and is continuing to press for outstanding compensation claims to be dealt with expeditiously.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made by the Turkish Cypriot Claims Commission in compensating British nationals for loss of property during the Turkish invasion and occupation of Cyprus in 1975; and when he anticipates the work of the commission will be completed.

Of 1,000 claims registered by private British nationals, the Turkish Cypriot Claims Commission has so far recommended ex-gratia awards on 398. Some 225 awards to a value of £661,935 have been paid. We hope that the remainder, excluding those by British nationals with Greek-Cypriot connections, which are not currently being considered by the claims commission, will be settled by the end of this year. Our understanding is that the claims commission will then deal with commercial claims.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will assess the impact of the increase in the price of petrol on the rural areas of Wales; and if he will make a statement.

I recognise the importance of transport costs in rural areas and understand the concern expressed about the recent increases, though in fact the increases have been smaller than at first anticipated. It is difficult to assess in detail the impact of these increases on particular areas of activity because circumstances can vary markedly, but I would not expect the impact overall to be substantial.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the current perinatal mortality rate for Wales; and what it was in 1979.

In 1982 the perinatal mortality rate was 11·1 per thousand total births; the comparable figure for 1979 was 15·6.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales in which Welsh districts maternity liaison committees have been established; and when he expects all districts to have such a committee.

I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list in the Offical Report the number of obstetricians and paediatricians in each Welsh district and the number of general practioners providing (a) antenatal care and (b) intrapartum care in each.

The information on consultants is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many signs reading "Welcome to Wales" in English and in Welsh exist on the main trunk roads between England and Wales; and how long they have been in position.

[pursuant to his reply, 15 July 1983, c. 453]: There are 10 bilingual "Welcome to Wales" signs on trunk roads in Wales. Information about when each sign was erected is not available, but all have been put in position in various dates since 1974.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his proposal to authorise the dumping of 3,900 tonnes of nuclear waste 400 miles off the Spanish Galician coast.

Under the Dumping at Sea Act 1974, the main factor which my right hon. Friend and I have to take into account when deciding whether to grant an application for a dumping licence is whether the waste concerned would cause scientifically significant damage to the marine environment or its living resources. My right hon. Friend and I are satisfied, on the basis of the scientific advice that we have received from our fisheries radiobiological laboratory, that this year's proposed operation to dump some 3,500 tonnes of radioactive waste at sea would not pose any scientifically significant risk to the marine environment or to human health. The proposed operation also accords with the requirements of the London dumping convention and the multilateral consultation and surveillance mechanism for sea dumping of radioactive waste established by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.My right hon. Friend and I therefore took the view that there were no relevant grounds for refusing a dumping licence. Consequently, my right hon. Friend has issued a licence that provides the applicants with the necessary authority to dump this waste at the internationally-agreed site some 400 nautical miles—about 700 km—from the nearest land.Once such licences are issued, the licensee is responsible for the organisation of the dump.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received about the proposed bread and flour regulations; and if he is proposing to allow the addition of chemicals to wholemeal flour for bread making.

Proposals for new bread and flour regulations were issued for public comment in April, and would allow certain additives in wholemeal bread but not in wholemeal flour for retail sale. The Government have received comments both for and against the proposals, and these will be carefully considered before any final decision is taken.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether any changes are envisaged in the regulations governing the composition of bread.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend yesterday to the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish (Mr. Bennett).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what decisions he has reached on the recommendations contained in the first report from the Agricultural Committee (Session 1982–83); and if he will make a statement.

The report, published on 17 June, contains some far-reaching recommendations which I am studying and which my colleagues and I will need to consider together. The work was started following my colleagues and I taking up our new responsibilities, but, in view of the importance of the issues which have been raised, some time will be needed to complete the task.

asked the Prime Minister what power Her Majesty's Government possess to prevent immigrants from the Republic of Ireland taking jobs in the United Kingdom which would otherwise be available for British citizens.

None.

asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied with the operation of the National Economic Development Council and its sectoral committees; and if she will make a statement.

There is always scope for improvements in the operation of public bodies, but the council will continue to be an important forum for the discussion of economics and industrial issues.

asked the Prime Minister (1) if she will make it the policy of Her Majesty's Government to review annually all grants to independent non-Government organisations;

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be able to give his decision on the application to set up a law centre in Wolverhampton under the urban aid scheme and which has been approved by the local authority.

A decision on this application will be announced as soon as possible.

The present arrangements already allow for parliamentary scrutiny of grants to such bodies and for regular review by departmental Ministers, who consult colleagues as appropriate. I see no case at present for change, but we will continue to seek improvements in efficiency and economy in this area, as in all other areas of public spending. Ministers are, in addition, always willing to look into questions about individual grants raised by hon. Members. I shall reply in more detail to the letter my hon. Friend sent me on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the average change in the number of (a) full-time and (b) part-time employees of local authorities in 1982.

Figures taken from the joint manpower watch returns show the following:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to proceed with the implementation of part II of the Control of Pollution Act 1974; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment, for Scotland and for Wales are continuing with the phased implementation programme for part II, announced by my hon. Friend the Member for Pudsey (Mr. Shaw) on 15 February 1982 in reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Reading, West (Mr. Durant). However, some revision of the previously announced timetable is now needed to take account of the extensive nature of the necessary public consultations. It is the intention to introduce phase 1 in two stages: the first stage, an order which initially exempts certain discharges from control, to be in force in August this year; the second stage, the remainder of phase 1, to come into force in November. No change to the announced timing of the subsequent phases is proposed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider the need of national charities such as the National Council for One Parent Families for adequate funds from municipal authorities before introducing proposals for the abolition of the metropolitan authorities and the Greater London council.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether it is his intention that the contractor engaged to construct the new airfield in the Falklands will be required to use British merchant ships for the carriage of the necessary stores and supplies.

The contractor is required to use United Kingdom shipping lines, so far as is practicable and economic.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he intends to take with regard to payment of hostel subsidy under section 15(2) of the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act 1958.

It has come to my notice that section 106 of the Housing Act 1974 unintentionally removed the power to make payments of hostel subsidy to local authorities for the benefit of housing associations under section 15(2) of the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act 1958 and that, therefore, since 1 April 1975, such payments have been made on the sole authority of part I of the Estimates and on the confirming Appropriation Acts. We shall take the necessary legislative steps to remedy the position at the earliest opportunity.Meanwhile I shall take the first opportunity of a Supplementary Estimate to make it clear that payments are continuing to be made on the authority of the Appropriation Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to encourage greater community use of industrial sports facilities.

I am anxious to increase opportunities for all people to participate in sport and recreation, individually or as a family or a local community. Many new facilities have been provided in recent years. Since 1979 the Government have substantially increased spending through the Sports Council and other programmes. We will maintain this commitment. But we must also seek the fullest use of existing facilities in the public and private sectors. There are in many areas facilities which could be opened up to the local community, to the benefit of families, housewives and young people. To this end I have had talks with the public sector industries, the police authorities and the CBI. Their response was very encouraging and I am now writing to over 100 of Britain's top employers, asking them to make available what facilities and opportunities they can to the community. An initiative of this kind needs good liaison at the local level, for which I look to voluntary and sporting organisations which will have the support and advice of the Sports Council and the regional councils for sport and recreation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is now able to announce a decision on the future management of the golf courses in Richmond park.

Yes. These courses within the royal park are at present operated by my Department. I have concluded that it would be more appropriate for them to be managed and operated privately. Advertisements will appear shortly inviting proposals from interested applicants.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report the following information on sales of dwellings by each local authority in England up to March 1983: (a) the number of right-to-buy claims received since October 1980, (b) the number of right-to-buy claims admitted, (c) the number of right-to-buy sales completed, (d) the number of right-to-buy sales with a council mortgage, (e the total number of sales, right-to-buy and voluntary, completed since April 1979 and (f) the total number of dwellings owned by each authority in April 1982.

The information provided by local authorities and requested by my hon. Friend is contained in a table which I have placed in the Library today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the outturn figure for 1982–83 on the Royal Palaces and Parks etc. Vote (Vote VIII.4).

Whilst the outturn figures are still subject to scrutiny, it appears that the net expenditure on Vote VIII.4 was £51,504,368 against a cash limit of £51,315,000. An overspend of some £190,000, — 0·4 per cent. of the Vote—as shown in the cash limits 1983 provisional outturn White Paper— Cmnd. 8987 — has therefore occurred. The cash limit on the Vote is a net figure after allowing for receipts from a number of sources, particularly facilities in the parks and admission fees at ancient monuments, which are appropriated-in-aid. The excess Vote occurred because income from these sources was less than anticipated. When the final outturn figures for 1982–83 are determined the 1983–84 cash limit on Vote VIII.4 will be reduced by a sum equal to the overspend.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what figures are available to his Department of late passenger train arrivals; and if he will publish figures for 1982 in the Official Report.

The figures which are available to my Department are those which appear in the published annual reports of the British Railways Board and of the Central Transport Consultative Committee for Great Britain.The 1982 figures for passenger trains arriving within five minutes of their schedule time were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to the amount spent annually by the motor cycle industry on research into and on the promotion of road safety for motor cyclists.

I understand that in 1982–83 the motor cycle industry contributed £556,200 to the British Motor Cycle Safety Foundation. I have no detailed information as to how much the motor cycle manufacturers themselves have spent on safety research.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how much consultation has taken place with representatives of cycling organisations regarding the greater use of canal towpaths by cyclists.

References to the use of canal towpaths were included in the cycling consultation paper of May 1981 and in the recent consultation paper on shared cyclist and pedestrian facilities. There have been discussions with individual organisations about particular proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he can yet report on his plans for the restructuring of British Airways debt.

I have nothing at this stage to add to the position as already reported to the House —namely, that British Airways has asked the Government for a capital reconstruction. The Government are considering this request, but have not yet made any commitment.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will encourage local authorities with inner city traffic problems to designate more cycleways.

Through technical advice and financial support, my Department encourages all local authorities to provide improved facilities for cyclists.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the reason for the coning off of one of the two lanes on the southbound carriageway of the A1(M) south of Doncaster on Sunday 17 July, resulting in delays to traffic using the motorway.

Safety barriers are being erected in the central reservation, requiring the closure of the offside lanes in 4km stages. Although entitled to work on Sundays, in the event the contractor stopped work at 12.30 pm on Saturday and resumed at 8 am on Monday 18 July.Further inquiries are being made.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if it is his intention to make any United Kingdom speed limits the same as those of other countries in the European Community.

No. Although there may be some merit in seeking to harmonise the principles by which such limits are determined, it would be inappropriate to harmonise the limits themselves which are dependent on internationally variable factors. Maximum speed limits vary widely in the EC.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions in each of the last three years track damage due to overheating of rails has been reported to the railway inspectorate; and what assessment the inspectorate has made of the possible hazards to travellers from such damage.

The number of heat-induced distortions of railway track reported during 1980, 1981 and 1982 was respectively 21, 35, and 38. Fewer than half of the distortions occurred in lines laid with continuous welded rails. The last accident on British railways caused by heat-distorted track occurred in July 1977. The railway inspectorate is satisfied with the measures taken by the railways to reduce the possible hazards; these include additional patrolling in hot weather and the imposition of speed restrictions when heat distortion is anticipated.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the conversion of boilers from oil to coal in the United Kingdom will be facilitated by the acceptance of the draft European Community directive requiring the removal of sulphur dioxide and other emissions.

The draft European Community directive would require member states to ensure that emissions of sulphur dioxide and other pollutants from fixed industrial plant do not exceed certain limits. These limits are not specified in the draft directive and it is not yet clear what impact the directive might have on particular types of industrial plant. Discussions between member states and the Commission on the draft directive are at an early stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the cost of maintaining the Electricity Council and the percentage of that cost assigned to research and to co-ordinating the operations of the industry over the last five years.

This information is set out in the Electricity Council's annual reports and statements of accounts and statistics. The council's annual report and statement of accounts and statistics for 1982–83 will be published on 4 August.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many people are on the staff of the Electricity Council; what has been the net gain or loss in staff in the past five years; what is the average cost per employee; and what part of the work of the council is already duplicated in other parts of the state electricity industry.

On 31 March 1982, the latest date for which figures have been published, the Electricity Council had a staff of 1,288, representing a net reduction of six employees since 31 March 1977. The average cost per employee, based on the total expenditure of the Council offset by income, was approximately £20,953. I am advised that no part of the council's work is duplicated in other parts of the electricity supply industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what volume of condensate has been discovered on the United Kingdom continental shelf; and what percentage of the 26 discoveries is economically recoverable under the current tax regime.

I shall answer my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what he estimates will be the production of condensate in the next five years; and what targets have been established for 1985 and 1990.

At present condensate output is limited to the byproducts from the treatment of dry gas and northern basin associated gas. Production from this source amounted to approximately 500,000 tonnes in 1982 and is expected to continue at or slightly above the level for the next few years. Total production will increase significantly from 1987 onwards when the first condensate reservoir on the United Kingdom continental shelf is developed as part of the North Alwyn field.No targets for condensate production have been established.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on condensate development on the United Kingdom continental shelf and the use of constituent gases as a feedstock for the petrochemical industry.

At present the production of condensate is mainly as a byproduct from (a) dry gas fields and (b) associated gas in oilfields. Between 1977 and 1982 inclusive the quantities produced per year were of the order 500,000 tonnes (mt).At present there is no condensate production from officially listed condensate fields, but these will start to come on stream towards the end of the 1980s.North Alwyn field is already approved for development and the development plan for North Brae is under consideration. A number of other discoveries which could contain significant quantities of condensate are currently being appraised.The disposal of the heavier natural gases — ethane, propane and butane — plus fractions of the condensate stream is a commercial matter for the companies involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each planning authority in Scotland the number of appeals received by him in each of the past five years.

The information requested is set out in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each planning authority in Scotland the percentage of planning applications they have determined within the statutory period in each of the past five years.

The figures submitted to my Department by planning authorities of applications dealt with, and applications determined within the statutory period of two months, are set out in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what data are held on each index of the Scottish criminal records office computer system; and what are the data fields to be used in accessing the information on each index.

The data to be held on the Scottish criminal record office computer system, which is not yet in operation, will be restricted to factual details relating to persons convicted of crimes or offences or against whom proceedings are outstanding. In addition, a record will be kept of shotgun and firearm certificate holders and registered dealers to assist chief constables in their functions under the Firearms Act 1968. The means of access to the information on the computer have yet to be finalised, but searches are likely to be possible using names, physical characteristics, types of crime and offence and modus operandi.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will issue a consultation paper on the law of trespass in residential premises.

I have today arranged for copies of a consultation paper on trespass on residential premises in Scotland to be placed in the Library. My Department will be distributing it to interested individuals and organisations, with a request for comments by the end of the year. Interested bodies or persons may obtain copies of the paper from my Department on request.

asked the Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the arts if he will publish in the Offical Report details of the proposed lease for the theatre museum project.

The document which was to have been signed on 7 July was an agreement between the Greater London council and the Property Services Agency to enter in due course into a lease of the premises owned by the GLC. The draft agreement covered a specified maximum period for the completion of building works on the theatre museum to be carried out at the Government's expense, at the end of which the lease itself would be granted. It is not the practice of the Government to reveal the detailed terms and conditions including rental arrangements, of a lease or agreement. Such matters are treated as commercial and in confidence.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were working in the National Health Service, local government, the Civil Service and nationalised industries in the years 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980 and 1983; what was the total public expenditure on these services for each of those years; and if he will publish these numbers and costs both as a total and broken down between the four sectors mentioned.

The information is set out in the following table.In some cases the information requested is not readily available. Where figures for 1983 are not yet available, either an estimate or the latest available information has been given, as indicated.