asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the items of Government capital expenditure within the Delyn constituency since 1979.

A comprehensive list of the main items of capital expenditure incurred or supported by central Government Departments or agencies in the Delyn constituency since 1979 cannot be provided except at disproportionate expense. However, within my own responsibilities readily identifiable expenditure includes phase 1 of the Holywell bypass costing £3 million, 75 per cent. urban programme grants on approved industrial projects costing £2·25 million and £4·3 million Welsh Development Agency expenditure on development of the new Delyn enterprise zone.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is the total amount of projected Government expenditure on the Delyn enterprise zone from the present time to the end of 1984;(2) what is the total amount of Government money spent so far on the Delyn enterprise zone.

Site development work within the boundaries of the enterprise zone has been under way since 1980 although the zone was not designated formally until last July. To date the Welsh Development Agency has spent approximately £4·3 million on land reclamation and industrial development and Delyn borough council has been given £1 million earmarked capital expenditure allocations for enterprise zone work. In addition, £1·9 million has been made available to the council under the urban programme for the support of specific industrial projects within the zone.As regards further investment to the end of the next financial year, I understand that the Welsh Development Agency intend to spend £0·6 million on land reclamation work. Decisions on authorities' capital allocations and urban programme grants for the coming year are not expected to be made for some weeks and resources applied by the council for future enterprise zone work are for the authority itself to determine.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many private security firms are employed by his Department or bodies associated with his Department; how many personnel are employed, at which locations, on what responsibilities and duties, and at what annual cost; what have been the comparable figures for each of the last three years; and what estimates he has made as to the likely figures for 1984.

It is Government policy to contract out services such as security guarding on non-sensitive sites when this is cost-effective and makes good management sense.The Foreign and Commonwealth Office at present employs five security firms in London and at the regional passport offices in Belfast, Glasgow, Liverpool, Newport and Peterborough. They are responsible for the custody of cash in transit and safeguarding some buildings. The nature of their responsibilities is such that it is not possible to say how many personnel are engaged on these duties at any one time. The total cost is estimated at £53,200 for the current financial year, and £31,700 for 1984–85. Expenditure in 1982–83 was £35,400; in 1981–82 if was £42,900; and in 1980–81 it was £31,500.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what rules govern the entry of people from the United Kingdom into France under the terms of the rules of the European Community.

Persons who are "United Kingdom nationals" for European Community purposes are entitled to enter France, to exercise their rights of free movement under the provisions of the treaty establishing the European Community, on production of a passport or national identity card.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he is having with the French Government as to the entry of black people from the United Kingdom into France.

Discussions are taking place on the operation of the 1971 Anglo-French memorandum of understanding on no-passport excursions. The memorandum of understanding makes no distinction as to colour.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to the numbers of black Asian people from the United Kingdom who have been refused entry into France so far in 1983; and if he will make a statement.

In the course of the year about 360 persons—not differentiated as to colour—who were on day excursions and sought to enter France on no-passport identity cards, complained on their return that they had been refused admission.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will step up the flow of aid promised for the rehabilitation of workers' accommodation on British-owned tea estates in Sylhet, Bangladesh; and if he will make a statement.

The rate at which aid funds are taken up for improving workers' housing on tea estates in Bangladesh, including British owned ones, depends crucially on decisions by the individual estates. Funds are immediately available and procedures for their use have been agreed with the Government of Bangladesh. We are monitoring expenditure and will do all we can to speed up the rate of disbursement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's financial contribution to the establishment of the Anglo-Irish Encounter Organisation.

This is expected to be about £17,000 in 1983–84. Parliamentary approval for this new service will be sought in a winter Supplementary Supply Estimate for the Overseas Representation: Diplomatic, Consular and other Foreign and Commonwealth Services Vote (Class II, 1). Pending that approval, necessary expenditure is being met by repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence who authorised the use of Territorial Army volunteers to guard the greens at the Royal Birkdale golf club; and whether any disciplinary action has been taken.

The small number of Territorial Army soldiers involved were responding to a request for volunteers from the Royal Birkdale golf club. The initial authorisation for their deployment, which was countermanded at a higher level as soon as it came to light, was given by a local duty officer. The officer concerned has been given a formal rebuke.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if will make a statement on the progress of plans for the type 23 frigate.

The design of the type 23 frigate has now been approved by the Admiralty Board. Design work is well advanced at the lead shipbuilders, Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd. of Glasgow, and a tender will shortly be invited for the first of class ship. The first order is planned for next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether in the exercise Display Determination, all equipment used by Royal Marines, particularly boots, stoves and rucksacks, proved adequate.

Taken overall, the Royal Marine equipment on exercise Display Determination proved very adequate.My Department was already aware of possible defects in limited quantities of the new combat high boot; rectification is in hand.The Bergen rucksack has certain limitations, particularly for the commando role, and we therefore plan to equip these forces next year with a new rucksack based on a British commercial design.The Hexamine personal solid-fuel cooker has given a dependable performance for many years.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what action he is taking to enable merchant ships to defend themselves in times of tension or war.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave on 18 October 1982.—[Vol. 29, c. 46–47.] The working party's recommendations are now being considered by the members of the shipping defence advisory committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total amount paid by the south Atlantic fund for the purchase by disabled beneficiaries of the fund of better quality prostheses than those provided by the Department of Health and Social Security; and if he will list the range of prostheses for which financial help has been provided by the fund.

None of the men who lost limbs in the Falkland Islands conflict have received grants from the south Atlantic fund specifically for the purpose of obtaining prostheses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he is giving to the particular requirements of the education system adopted by Hertfordshire county council in assessing rate support grant for the coming year.

Block grant must, by law, be distributed according to principles which can apply to all authorities. Hertfordshire's grant related expenditure assessment for 1984–85 will reflect the factors affecting the relative cost of education provision in the county on the same basis as for all other authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government on the use of asbestos in new buildings.

The Government's policy is based on the recommendations of the report of the advisory committee on asbestos published in 1976. This recommended a ban on the use of a number of asbestos-containing materials in buildings. Most of these materials are no longer used and a consultative document which includes proposals to prohibit such materials will be published shortly by the Health and Safety Commission. Not all uses of asbestos in buildings can or should be banned. Many uses do not represent a significant hazard to the occupants and there are no cost-effective substitutes for some uses. The Government have encouraged and will continue to encourage the development of substitutes and welcome the considerable progress already made by industry. The Department's advice booklet "Asbestos materials in buildings" draws attention to the range of substitutes available. The Government expect the use of asbestos products in buildings to continue to decline as more substitutes are developed, but do not rule out legislation on specific products in the future, probably in concert with our European partners.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the answer of 25 July, OfficialReport, c. 300, what steps Her Majesty's Government have taken to ascertain the most effective means of preventing acid rain by processing of emissions; and what research Her Majesty's Government have commissioned on this subject.

The United Kingdom participates in international studies of emission abatement technologies under the aegis of the UN-ECE convention on long range transboundary air pollution and other international agencies. In addition, the Government have contributed to work on techniques of coal combustion which offer prospects for reducing emissions. The nationalised industries concerned conduct research on emission control under their research and development programmes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report details of use of the tenants' exchange scheme in its first two years, in particular by elderly people.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action has been taken on the four orders designating areas of outstanding natural beauty which have been made by the Countryside Commission but not confirmed.

I have today approved three of these orders covering the High Weald, Cranborne Chase and the west Wiltshire downs, and the Camel estuary in Cornwall.

Civil Service non-industrial union representatives
Estimates of numbers and cost of paid time off for industrial relations duties and trade union activities (as at 1 June 1983)
Table 1. Percentage of time off
Department	Under 5	6–10	11–20	21–30	31–40	41–50	51–60	61–70	71–80	81–90	91–99	Full time
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food	90	28	14	6	3	2	1	1	—	—	—	4
Customs and Excise	301	261	134	45	21	19	11	12	18	7	—	33
Ministry of Defence*	1,353	274	140	41	23	8	9	3	5	1	8	8
Department of Employment Group	635	1,009	209	68	37	10	15	3	3	—	—	9
Department of Environment/ Transport†	205	68	39	12	2	7	2	1	1	—	—	27
Foreign and Commonwealth Office‡	4	26	26	5	4	8	1	1	—	—	—	8
Department of Health and Social Security	541	405	421	172	111	54	45	20	27	19	8	118
Home Office║	724	79	104	77	2	9	8	1	3	2	—	10
Department of Trade and Industry	267	173	62	30	8	10	4	3	2	1	—	17
Inland Revenue	1,743	313	153	55	29	30	11	5	6	1	1	9
Lord Chancellor's Department	34	13	17	9	5	4	3	2	—	—	—	5
Department for National Savings	—	10	9	—	—	1	—	—	—	1	—	12
Property Services Agency¶	376	61	20	5	2	3	2	—	—	—	—	10
Scottish Office●	86	38	6	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	9
Other Government Departments	459	127	83	26	9	34	3	2	7	1	1	24
Total	6,818	2,885	1,437	551	256	199	115	54	72	33	18	303
* including Royal Ordnance factories.
† excluding Property Services Agency.
‡ including Passport Office and Overseas Development Administration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the latest estimates for each of the main Government Departments of the cost of facilities for elected representatives of Civil Service non-industrial unions; and what progress has been made by Departments in renegotiating their departmental facilities agreements.

The estimates as at 1 June 1983 are shown in the following table.Although the estimates are based on a recent review, they do not yet fully reflect the operation of the revised national facilities agreement. However, most Departments have renegotiated their own agreements and are now beginning to operate the control and accountability measures introduced in the national framework agreement. The aim of these measures is to ensure that this element of public expenditure is brought under tighter control and is monitored continually.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list in the Official Report those adult education organisations in Oxfordshire whose course fees have been made subject to value added tax in the current year, and in respect of which value added tax was not previously charged; if he will list such courses by category, showing those in respect of which value added tax is chargeable and any in respect of which it is not chargeable; and if he will make a statement.

The north and west Oxford community education committee and the colleges of further education at Abingdon, north Oxfordshire, Oxford, south Oxfordshire and west Oxfordshire are now charging VAT on some course fees not previously charged.The north and west Oxford community education committee has charged VAT on its courses in light crafts, dressmaking, needlecraft, cookery, do-it-yourself, gardening, driving, drama, sport, dance, exercise and yoga. VAT has not been charged on its courses in drawing, painting, lettering, sculpture, architecture, archaeology, art history and appreciation, literature, music, computers, English, mathematics, typing, community studies, health, local studies, history, natural history, philosophy, religious studies and languages.At the five colleges of further education mentioned, VAT has been charged on courses in cookery, gardening, dance, exercise, sport, needlework, dressmaking, weaving, car maintenance, home workshop and photography. The other adult education courses supplied by these colleges have not been charged with tax.There is a wide measure of relief from VAT for education, but it is not intended to be open-ended and it does not apply to every activity that could be regarded as educational in the widest sense. The relevant relief provisions are contained in group 6 of schedule 6 to the Value Added Tax Act 1983. This allows exemption from VAT for adult education when it is provided otherwise than for profit and is of a kind provided by a school or university. However, sporting or recreational activities are specifically excluded from the exemption and so are liable to tax at the standard rate, along with other courses that do not satisfy the criteria for exemption.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the limit of £40 value was fixed in respect of gifts imported into the United Kingdom by post which may be released free of additional value added tax.

The £40 limit for gifts and other small, non-commercial, consignments was introduced on 19 December 1978 by the second Council directive 78/1034/EEC. The £40 limit applies to consignments sent from private individuals in other member states of the European Community. The limit for goods from outside the European Community is £20.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what revenue was received during the last financial year from value added tax charged to recipients of gifts imported by post into the United Kingdom.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what procedure is followed by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise to alert prospective donors of gifts to be imported into the United Kingdom by post that such gifts are liable to result in a charge to value added tax on the part of the recipient.

It would be administratively and economically impossible for Customs and Excise to mount and maintain overseas publicity to warn prospective senders that United Kingdom recipients of their gifts might be charged various taxes including value added tax. However, the post offices of over 160 countries, including that of the United Kingdom, exchange information through the Universal Postal Union for publication in their respective post office guides. Such information includes general notes on customs requirements.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will investigate and assess the potential cost benefits to the Government of giving tax relief on private health insurance payments.

I shall bear my hon. Friend's suggestion in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much would be saved by abolishing tax reliefs on pension contributions, life assurance premiums and mortgage repayments, respectively.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what studies his Department has undertaken on the independent consultant's report, published by the Association on the Conservation of Energy, on the 155,000 employment potential that would result from an investment programme in cost-effective energy conservation.

The report has been considered carefully by my Department and I have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the then Minister of State, Department of Employment to the then hon. Member for Cannock (Mr. Roberts) on 8 March 1983.—[Vol. 74, c. 367.]

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many homes have been insulated under the neighbourhood energy action programme; and how many are entitled to be so insulated.

In the first year of neighbourhood energy action to the end of September 1982 about 8,000 households had been insulated by 28 projects. Voluntary projects under neighbourhood energy action are continually being established. They offer their services to low income households without insulation, but no reliable estimate of the number of potential beneficiaries is available.

asked the Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts, if he will arrange for an exhibition on "Images of Jerusalem" to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall on 14 November for one week.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many (a) men and (b) women were in employment in June in each year since 1978.

The numbers of employees in employment in Great Britain are given in the following table. Estimates after 1978 are provisional and those for 1982 and 1983 include an allowance for underestimation in the basic estimates.

June	Male	Female
1978	13,096,000	9,158,000
1979	13,154,000	9,433,000
1980	12,960,000	9,396,000
1981	12,191,000	9,040,000
1982	11,793,000	8,978,000
1983	11,501,000	8,958,000

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many youths are unemployed in the Barnsley travel-to-work area; and, of these, how many have been unemployed for more than 12 months.

On 14 July, the latest date for which an analysis by age and duration of unemployment is available, there were 1,112 unemployed claimants under 18 years of age in the Barnsley travel-to-work area, 69 of whom had been unemployed for more than 52 weeks. There were also 2,505 unemployed new summer school leavers not yet entitled to claim benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to reduce the numbers of unemployed in Yorkshire and Humberside and in particular in the Barnsley and district travel-to-work area; and if he will make a statement.

Real and sustainable new jobs will be created in the Barnsley travel-to-work area, Yorkshire and Humberside and elsewhere as our industries become more competitive and sell more goods and services. There are continuing signs that the Government's policies are succeeding in establishing the economic conditions which will help them do so. Inflation is firmly under control, output is 2·5 per cent. higher than a year ago and productivity in manufacturing has risen by about 20 per cent. since 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will arrange for an exhibition on the subject of "Who Needs the Wages Councils", produced by the low pay unit, to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

I am not convinced that any useful purpose would be served by the arrangement of such an exhibition.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the regulations on the licensing of companies registered to remove asbestos from buildings.

At present there are no regulations on the licensing of companies registered to remove asbestos from buildings. However, my right hon. Friend intends to introduce regulations requiring the licensing of work on asbestos insulation and asbestos coating shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to assist those notified to his Department as being made redundant at Lone Star Products in Hatfield.

The Manpower Services Commission will, of course, do all it can to help the redundant workers to find new jobs, and all its advisory, placement and retraining services will be at their disposal. I understand that 128 people, most of them part-time workers, have so far been made redundant. The local

Deaths from hypothermia, bronchitis, pneumonia, influenza and other cold-related diseases, Scotland, First quarters 1978–83 and Fourth quarters 1977–82.
All causes of deaths mentioned on death certificates
	First quarters						Fourth quarters
	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982
Hypothermia	113	158	94	106	115	82	52	47	58	69	114	52
Bronchitis	2,043	1,376	1,135	907	1,120	858	1,248	1,324	951	860	877	697
Pneumonia	4,168	3,960	3,575	3,541	4,908	4,368	2,764	2,919	3,177	3,049	3,231	3,189
Influenza	214	41	39	38	240	209	10	25	16	23	20	17
Other cold-related diseases	194	134	100	91	164	129	99	91	74	80	99	79

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will tabulate in the Official Report the expenditure of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland on fishery protection by sea and air, respectively, for the years 1981–82 and 1982–83.

The following expenditure was incurred by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland:

£ million
		Sea	Air
	1981–82	8·43	3·301
	1982–83	8·982	3·869

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the transfer of

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he proposes to take to fulfil the pledge given by the Minister of State, Scottish Office, to the Scottish Federation of Fishing Co-operatives that representatives of the co-operative sector of fishing would be appointed to the Sea Fish Industry Authority.

Fisheries Ministers are presently considering the membership of the Sea Fish Industry Authority. The possible appointment of a person with experience of a fishing co-operative will be borne in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many deaths registered in Scotland in the last quarter of 1982 and first quarter of 1983 mentioned (a) hypothermia, (b) bronchitis, (c) pneumonia, (d) influenza and (e) other cold-related illnesses; and how these figures compare with the corresponding figures for the five previous years.

The information is given in the following table:Bell college of technology, Hamilton, to central institution status; what effect this will have on courses at that college and on its staff; and when he expects to provide detailed proposals for this college and the two others affected by his announcement of the principle of transfer.

Informal discussions have taken place between officials of the Scottish Education Department and of the regional authorities with responsibility for the colleges affected by the Secretary of State's announcement of 19 July 1983, but further consideration of the implications of the transfers is awaiting a formal response from the authorities to my right hon. Friend's decisions in principle. We have no specific proposals regarding courses to make at this stage, and my right hon. Friend has already indicated that the interests of staff and students will be taken into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to change the name of the Scottish Economic Planning Department.

The Department is being renamed the Industry Department for Scotland. I believe this new name more accurately reflects the Department's functions and purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the number of prison adjudications heard by members of prison boards of visitors in each of the prisons in Northern Ireland during each of the last three years.

The following table gives the information requested and also the number of such adjudications carried out so far this year:

Prison	1980	1981	1982	1983 (to 25 October)
Armagh	6	—	5	3
Belfast	5	1	1	15
Magilligan	1	—	—	2
Maze	7	13	20	46

In some cases more than one charge may have been dealt with at a single adjudication.

asked the Attorney-General what is the average time that now elapses between the laying of an information with a justice of the peace and the issue of a summons.

I have been asked to reply.The information is not available centrally, but I understand that normally no more than one or two days would pass between the laying of an information and the issue of a summons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action the Government are preparing to take in consequence of the proposed European animal protection convention.

The Government intend to introduce legislation on the lines of the White Paper published in May as soon as the parliamentary timetable allows.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what charges are levied upon a farmer who calls out the fire brigade to deal with straw or stubble burning.

By virtue of section 3(4) of the Fire Services Act 1947, no charges may be levied by fire authorities for fire-fighting. It is important to minimise any delay in calling the fire brigade to a fire in order to prevent the fire becoming too difficult to control or spreading to adjoining property. If farmers commit an offence against local byelaws when burning straw or stubble, they are liable to prosecution.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present number of vacancies for prison officer grades at Wandsworth prison; and if he will list the grades of the vacancies.

The information requested, relating to all grades within the prison officer class, is as follows:

	Authorised Staffing Level	Staff in Post	Vacancies
Chief Officer I	3	3	—
Chief Officer II	4	4	—
Principal Officer	35	34	1
Senior Officer	51	39	12
Officer	290	269	21
Prison Auxiliary	7	7	—
Night Patrol	—	1	—

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the amount of money spent during each of the last three years on improving officers' accommodation at Wandsworth prison; and if he will list the major projects of this work.

The figures, excluding maintenance, for improvements to officers' accommodation for the last three financial years are as follows:

	£
1980–81	4,000
1981–82	115,000
1982–83	198,000

The major projects covered by this expenditure, which are largely completed, are the provision of central heating in some 200 quarters and refurbishing existing officers' fiats for bachelor accommodation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met the general secretary of the Prison Officers Association; and what issues were discussed.

My right hon. and learned Friend met the chairman and general secretary of the Prison Officers Association on 28 July and discussed a wide range of prison service matters.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by category of firearm the most recent figures available for 1983 of the number of firearms licences issued and the total number of firearms licensed in each category.

Information on the number of firearm and shotgun certificates held is collected annually and relates to the position as at 31 December each year. Figures for 1983 are accordingly not yet available. The latest information is set out in the answer which I gave my hon. Friend on 7 July this year.—[Vol. 45, c. 142.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Norfolk constabulary as to the additional costs incurred in policing during the encampment in the summer of 1983 of a peace convoy in the city of Norwich; and if he will make a statement.

The chief constable estimates the additional cost incurred by his force in policing the peace convoy during its recent stay in Norwich at around £282,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Berkshire concerning incidents of public disorder which occurred in Slough between 5 and 11 June 1983; what was the ethnic breakdown of the persons involved; and if he will make a statement concerning the substance of the report.

We have asked the chief constable of Thames Valley police, but on the information supplied he has been unable to identify the incidents to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of West Yorkshire concerning incidents of public disorder which occurred in the Savile Town, Dewsbury area between 24 July and 31 July 1983, inclusive; what was the ethnic breakdown of the persons involved; and if he will make a statement concerning the substance of the report.

I understand from the chief constable that on the nights of 23, 24 and 25 July fights took place in Savile Town, Dewsbury, between groups of Asian and white men as a result of drunken behaviour on the part of customers at a public house in the area. In the most serious of these fights one man received a fractured skull. Twenty arrests were made on those evenings for assaults on police, threatening behaviour and criminal damage. Ten of those arrested were white and 10 Asian. No injuries to police were recorded. On 30 July scuffles broke out when Asians marched to the centre of Dewsbury to draw attention to local grievances. Five arrests were made, but no one was seriously hurt. The chief constable informs me that these events were not typical of the area, and that there have been no later incidents of disorder there.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the extension of the concessionary television licence scheme to physically handicapped and mentally handicapped people living in residential accommodation announced in the Official Report on 23 February will be introduced.

Before long, I hope. But we are considering other proposals affecting the regulations which, if agreed, it would be sensible to introduce at the same time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is his intention to earmark one of the new prisons now being constructed as a special prison for male psychiatric prisoners.

The prison service already has one establishment with a psychiatrically oriented regime at Grendon, Buckinghamshire, and there are no plans at present for further purpose-built psychiatric prisons. The need for specialised facilities of this kind within existing establishments is, however, kept under continuous review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he expects the European Parliament elections in June 1984 to be fought on new boundaries.

If the Parliamentary Boundary Commissions for England, Scotland and Wales report by the end of March, as they expect, that should leave sufficient time to complete the remaining procedures so that the European Parliament elections in June 1984 can be fought on new boundaries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received seeking tighter controls over the sale of ammunition for shotguns; and what response he has given.

It has been suggested that a person should be able to buy such ammunition only on production of his shotgun certificate. We have replied that this would require legislation amending the Firearms Act 1968, that we do not intend this at present, but that we would carefully consider the suggestion in any future review of the controls.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the anticipated completion date for each of the remaining parts of the M25 currently under construction.

The estimated completion dates for those sections of the M25 currently under construction are as follows:

Section	Estimated Completion Date
Heathrow Airport Spur-M4	Summer 1985*
M4-M40	Summer 1985
M40-Maple Cross	Spring 1985
A10–M11	January 1984
Reigate-Leatherhead	Spring 1985
Leatherhead Interchange	Spring 1985
Leatherhead-Wisley	Autumn 1984
Wisley-Chertsey	December 1983
* Completed M4 interchange spring 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ensure that the M11–A10 section of the M25 motorway is open in time for the Christmas holiday in 1983.

Although not programmed for final completion until mid-January, we had hoped to bring this section of M25 into use before Christmas. However, the lighting, ventilation and telecommunication systems, which are essential to the safety of the two tunnels involved, will not be ready by then. The section should be open by the end of January.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions the northbound carriageway of the M1 motorway has been completely closed during the last three years; if he will list the access point at which the vehicles have been diverted on each occasion; and if he will state the dates and the reasons for each closure.

During the past 3 years, there have been about 200 planned night closures of the M1's northbound carriageway associated with the M1 widening works between junctions 5 and 8. I am sending the hon. Member details of the dates and the junctions used for diversions.Further north, the northbound carriageway has been closed on two occasions, during the nights of 20–21 February 1982 and 13–14 March 1982, to allow the replacement of the footbridge at Rothersthorpe service area. In addition, diversions have on occasions been set up by police under their emergency powers, but these have been of short duration and have not been recorded by the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those areas of the M1 motorway in which road works have been carried out or are currently planned that have previously had work carried out during the previous five years.

In respect of major roadworks on the M1 the information requested is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is satisfied with the procedures for controlling the progress of and the expenditure upon maintenance and improvement of the M1 motorway.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the cost, expressed as a cost per mile, of improvement between junctions 14 and 16 of the M motorway during each of the last five years; and for what reasons any recently resurfaced stretch of this road has had to be replaced within less than two years.

The costs per mile of major renewal works on the M1 motorway between junctions 14 and 16 have been as follows:

Year	Costs per mile £ million
1979–80	0·1
1980–81	0·3
1981–82	0·2
1982–83	0·3
1983–84	*0·6
* The treatment costs in 1983–84 include more extensive major structural works which will further extend the life of the motorway.

Only one stretch of this section of road has required retreatment within two years. That was near junction 15 where some material which proved to be outside the contract specification had to be replaced at the contractor's expense.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has for the future ownership, operation and maintenance of the piers in the River Thames now owned and operated by the Greater London council.

We shall be discussing this with the London boroughs.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for the future ownership and maintenance of bridges over the River Thames other than in the City of London within the area of the Greater London council.

Our consultation paper proposals to trunk certain routes would make Twickenham and Kew bridges a Department of Transport responsibility.Ownership and maintenance of other bridges not at present maintained by the City of London will be decided after consultation with the London boroughs.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for the future operation of the Woolwich free ferry if the Greater London council is abolished.

We shall be discussing this with the London boroughs.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the greatest daily vehicle flows on the M1, M6, M2, M3, M4, M5 and M25 motorways, respectively, and where these maxima are occurring.

My Department does not count daily traffic on all links of the motorways specified, therefore the information required is not available. However, average daily traffic flows within a year are estimated for motorway links, and those sections with the highest average are as follows:

Motorway	Location	Estimated average daily traffic flow thousands motor vehicles (in 1982)
Ml	Between Junctions 7–8	87
M2	Between Junctions 2–3	45
M3	Between Junctions 3–4	39
M4	Between Junctions 3–4	90
M5	Between Junction 1(M5)-8(M6)	62
M6	Between Junctions 8–9	82
M25	Brasted (West of Junction with A21)	36

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether, pursuant to the answer on 30 June, Official Report, c. 128, he is yet in a position to make a statement on whether he is prepared to relax the legislative ban on noisier United Kingdom-registered aircraft using United Kingdom airports after 1 January 1986.

Most United Kingdom airlines have already made plans to replace, or modify with hush-kits, noisier aircraft which do not meet the requirements of the 1 January 1986 ban. Some operators who have delayed making their plans have put it to me that in current economic circumstances a general relaxation of the ban is justified; or have argued that a temporary exemption for some existing aircraft would enable them to introduce replacement aircraft more conveniently or economically. However, in view of the importance that the Government have attached to the relief that this ban should bring to those living near airports, and taking account of the position of those airlines which have already taken steps to comply with the ban, I can see no case for such a general relaxation of policy. I would need to see a very strong case related to the circumstances surrounding individual aircraft before I could contemplate giving any encouragement to the Civil Aviation Authority to use its powers to grant exemptions.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if, in view of the likely completion of stage 1 of the Leicester southern district distributor road by the end of 1983, and the consequent likely congestion which will occur by heavy lorries passing through Wigston town centre, he will now authorise the go-ahead for stage 2, for a start in the autumn of 1984, through the Leicestershire county council transport policies and programme.

I am not yet able to give my hon. Friend any additional information about stage 2 of this route at present, but, as indicated in my 12 September letter, I shall do so as soon as I can.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what further reconsideration he has now been able to give to his earlier decision not to bypass the A47, at East Norton, Leicestershire.

A revision of design standards has enabled a simpler form of bypass south of East Norton to be considered. We have asked local residents for comments and will continue our investigation of the scheme in the hope of adding it to our east midlands regional programme of work, with a possible start of construction in five or six years' time.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will arrange to have included in the official booklet "Your Driving Test" additional information, such as that contained in the letter of 8 September from the Under-Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Harborough.

No. There is a limit to the amount of information on any one aspect of the test that can be included in it.There is no evidence that candidates for the driving test are generally concerned about the eyesight procedures. These are explained more fully in the Department's publication "Driving" which learners are advised to study.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish in the Official Report the letter of the Under-Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Harborough of 8 September relating to the readibility of road signs by applicants for drivers' licences.

The information requested is as follows:

Thank you for your letter dated 25 July, questioning the way in which driving examiners conduct the eyesight test.

The eyesight requirement is laid down by Regulations which require that a candidate for the driving test must satisfy the examiner that he can read in good daylight (with the aid of glasses if worn) a registration mark fixed to a motor vehicle at a distance of 75 feet for characters 3½ inches high (or 67 feet for characters 3 ⅛inches high).

This is a minimum requirement and examiners do in practice ask candidates to read a motor vehicle registration mark at a distance that is clearly further than this. This means that they can be sure to have met the legal requirements without spending time on measuring the distance. In fact most candidates have no difficulty in reading a registration mark from a point that is beyond the prescribed distance.

If a candidate cannot at first read a registration mark, the examiner will select another and, if necessary, allow the candidate to move forward to a point just beyond the prescribed distance. If he is again unsuccessful the examiner will measure the precise distance to a third registration mark. Only if the candidate is unsuccessful at this third precisely measured attempt and the examiner is satisfied beyond doubt of the candidate's inability to comply with the eyesight requirement, will the candidate fail the test for this reason. Over the years we have found this method to be the simplest and fairest way in which to conduct the eyesight test.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements his Department has for the maintenance of the specialised salvage equipment held for use in oil or chemical tanker emergencies at sea.

The task of maintaining and storing the emergency cargo transfer equipment owned by my Department has been transferred from the Ministry of Defence to United Towing Ltd.This equipment, consisting primarily of specialised pumps for transferring oil or chemical cargo from a tanker, is owned by my Department to ensure immediate availability in a pollution emergency around the United Kingdom. Until recently it has been stored in two separate depots at Pembroke and Rosyth naval dockyards, where it has been maintained by Ministry of Defence staff. It will now be held centrally at United Towing's headquarters in Hull and maintained by it alongside its own stocks of similar equipment, which it holds for world-wide deployment. In an emergency United Towing will also provide a team of operators for the equipment, to be mobilised at two hours' notice and deployed anywhere around the United Kingdom coastline. The new arrangements will ensure a better response capability and more cost effective storage and maintenance.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when interested bodies will be consulted on the results of his Department's review of the method for allocating road track costs to different classes of lorry.

A consultation paper entitled "Possible Changes in the Allocation of Road Track Costs and the Vehicle Excise Duty Structure for Lorries" is being issued by my Department today, and a copy is being placed in the Library. Responses to the paper are being sought by no later than 1 December 1983, and should be sent to my Department as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if a decision has yet been reached on British Rail's proposal to electrify the Tonbridge-Hastings line.

Yes. I have written to the chairman of British Rail to give approval to the board's proposal to modernise the railway between Tonbridge and Hastings, involving electrification, route clearance and resignalling at an estimated cost of £23·925 million—at third quarter 1982 prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when a decision on the electrification of the Tonbridge-Hastings railway can be expected and if he will make a statement.

I wrote to the chairman of British Rail yesterday to convey approval for the board's proposal to electrify this line.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will tabulate in the Official Report the expenditure of his Department on fishery protection by sea and air, respectively, for the years 1981–82 and 1982–83.

The expenditure incurred by my Department in 1981–82 and 1982–83 on fishery protection was as follows:

£'000
	1981–82	1982–83
RAF Nimrods	2,939	3,469
Civilian Aircraft	143	492
RN Vessels:
Running Costs	2,369	3,176
Capital Costs	3,612	780
Total	9,063	7,917

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish in the Official Report the current definition of the expression "free range eggs" accepted by Her Majesty's Government.

There is no extant legal definition of "free range eggs".

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many establishments known to him in England and Wales were used for the raising of animals for the production of fur, by species, in each of the last five years.

The only figures available for establishments which rear animals for the production of fur in England and Wales are those for mink farms licensed for the purposes of the Destructive Imported Animals Act 1932. The licences issued in each of the financial years 1978–79 to 1982–83 were respectively 57, 58, 56, 54 and 50.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now invite the Farm Animal Welfare Council to investigate the welfare conditions in establishments raising animals for the production of fur.

No. I do not wish to ask the Farm Animal Welfare Council to add this to its existing activities.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the grants, subsidies and any other schemes of assistance which are available to British growers and processors of the following products: wheat, barley, beef, lamb, pig and pig products, poultrymeat and eggs; and if he will provide details of the legislative basis of such provision.

[pursuant to his reply, 27 October 1983, c. 177]: Producers and processors of these commodities can receive assistance under a wide variety of measures operated by the Community and nationally. A comprehensive list could be assembled only at disproportionate cost, but details of the principal aids for agricultural producers administered by my Department are contained in the booklet "At the Farmer's Service 1983/84". A copy is available in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teaching staff were employed in higher education in May 1979 and for each year since.

Estimates for public sector institutions in England and figures for universities in Great Britain are as follows. Public sector higher education in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is the responsibility, respectively, of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland, for Wales and for Northern Ireland.

Teaching staff employed in higher education
Thousands
Academic year	Public sector institutions* (England)	Universities (Great Britain)‡
	Full-time plus full-time† equivalent of part-time	Full-time	Part-time (numbers)
1978–79	31·0	32·4	6·5
1979–80	31·0	32·9	6·1
1980–81	30·5	33·0	5·9
1981–82	30·0	32·5	5·9
1982–83	29·0	30·5	║6·1
* Including voluntary and direct-grant institutions.
† All figures are estimated and have been rounded to nearest 0·5 thousand.
‡ Including Open University.
║ Estimated.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many private security firms are employed by his Department or bodies associated with his Department; how many personnel are employed, at which locations, on what responsibilities and duties, and at what annual cost; what have been the comparable figures for each of the last three years; and what estimates he has made as to the likely figures for 1984.

It is Government policy to contract out services such as security guarding on non-sensitive sites when this is cost effective and makes good management sense.Although the Department itself does not employ private security firms, they are employed on physical security duties by two of the 31 "controlled" bodies associated with the Department. These firms cover seven sites at a total cost of about £204,000 in 1983–84. The approximate figures for previous years are 1980–81, £142,000; 1981–82, £162,000; and 1982–83, £183,000. The estimated cost for 1984–85 is £231,000. Physical security arrangements at public bodies associated with the Department are, however, the responsibility primarily of the bodies themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will introduce legislation to prevent the selling or giving of bogus degrees or qualifications.

The possibility of legislation has been considered but has been ruled out because of the difficulty and high cost of enforcement in covering a wide range of professional, vocational and other qualifications. There are already legal remedies which can be used in certain circumstances, including the Trades Description Act and fraud legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why he has agreed to end nautical education at the Humberside college of higher education; and if he has taken into account the repercussions of this decision on the Humberside region.

In deciding to withdraw approval for certain advanced courses, principally those leading to the Department of Transport's certificates of competency for deck and engineer officers, at the Humberside college of higher education, my right hon. Friend took account of the advice of the national advisory body for local authority higher education—NAB—concerning the substantial national over-provision of these specialist courses. After considering all relevant factors, including the proportion of students sponsored by the British shipping industry at each of the existing centres, he concluded that provision in this highly specialist area should, as advised by the NAB, be concentrated on four centres. Humberside college still has approval to provide courses in fisheries studies, marine radio and electronics.My right hon. Friend took account of the interrelationship of each college's provision with the local economy but felt obliged to conclude that rationalisation of provision, on the lines now determined, was in the national interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many appeals under section 68 or 99 of the Education Act 1944 he has received from parents or their representatives requesting the further education of handicapped students from the ages of 16 to 19 years, which has been refused by a local education authority, in the years 1980–81, 1981–82 and 1982–83; and how many of these have been successful.

The Department does not keep records which would enable it to provide the information for the years requested. I am currently considering complaints on behalf of a small number of handicapped young people which allege that local education authorities are failing to fulfil their duty to provide education for them.

asked the Secretary of State for Health and Social Services on what date the amendments relating to access to children in care (sections 6 and 7 of the Health and Social Services and Social Security Adjudications Act 1983) will come into force.

We aim to bring in section 6 of the Health and Social Services and Social Security Adjudications Act towards the end of January 1984. I understand that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland intends to bring in section 7 at about the same time.

asked the Secretary of State for Health and Social Services if he will estimate the number of people who are living below the supplementary benefit level.

The latest estimates relate to 1981 when about 2,810,000 persons were living in families where the family income was below the supplementary benefit level. More details of the estimate are contained in "Low Income Families—1981", copies of which have recently been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Health and Social Services how many families claiming family income supplement pay income tax.

Of 186,000 families receiving the supplement in April 1983, 157,000 had a weekly taxable income above the tax threshold at the time they claimed.

asked the Secretary of State for Health and Social Services how many day care places are available for the young physically handicapped; and how many were available in May 1979.

Figures on local authority provision of day care places for the young physically handicapped are provided in "Adult Training Centres for the Mentally Handicapped and Day Centres for the Mentally Ill, the Elderly and the Younger Physically Handicapped", produced annually by the Department and placed in the Library of the House.The latest available information is for 31 March 1982 and is as follows, together with equivalent information for March 1979. There are no figures for May 1979.

Local Authority Day Care Places for Younger Physically Handicapped People—England
	31 March 1979	31 March 1982
Day centres for physically handicapped people	10,475	9,382
Day provision in residential homes	81	284
"Mixed" day centres (for physically handicapped and other client groups)	*3,793	*3,854
Total	14,349	13,520
* Estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children are living in households which receive family income supplement.

The latest estimate is that there were 418,000 children living in families receiving family income supplement in July 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the supra-regional services advisory group has started discussing the location of new bone marrow transplant facilities in addition to the centres in London; and when he expects firm recommendations from the group.

The supra-regional services advisory group has now considered the future development of bone marrow transplant facilities, and we have received its advice. I shall be making a statement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many private security firms are employed by his Department or bodies associated with his Department; how many personnel are employed, at which locations, on what responsibilites and duties, and at what annual cost; what have been the comparable figures for each of the last three years; and what estimates he has made as to the likely figures for 1984.

It is Government policy to contract out services such aw security guarding on non-sensitive sites when this is cost-effective and makes good management sense.A firm is employed at a DHSS location in Reading; another at one in Bristol. They guard buildings outside normal working hours and during public holidays. The firm concerned provides relief guards as necessary and numbers employed are not known. At least five are on duty—three in 1981–82—at any one time.The details of costs are as follows:

	£
1981–82	56,700
1982–83	85,570
1983–84*	91,000
1984–85*	97,000
* Estimated.

Guards are sometimes employed to safeguard cash deliveries to local officers, but details are not available centrally. Information of this type is not collected centrally for the NHS, nor are details available of any guards employed by bodies associated with the Department.