asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the results of the inquiry held into the oil spillage at Immingham in September; and if he will make a statement.

It is not the practice to publish reports on marine casualties, which are prepared for consideration within my Department.The inspector has completed his investigation into the circumstances of this incident and his report is now being considered. It appears that on 27 September 1983 the partially laden Iranian tanker Sivand arrived off the Immingham oil terminal. In manoeuvring alongside the vessel came against a mooring dolphin which eventually collapsed; Sivand then struck a second dolphin, which also collapsed, and continued to move towards the jetty, a third contact occurred which resulted in the rupture of a cargo tank and oil spillage. The tanker was eventually berthed and arrangements were put in hand to deal with the leakage of oil. My Department will consider the implications of this casualty and take any appropriate further action in the interests of marine safety.A report of the counter-pollution measures taken by my Departments marine pollution control unit is being prepared and will be made available.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will introduce proposals to require that all new vehicles, from a future date to be announced, shall be fitted with laminated rather then toughened windscreens in the interests of reducing facial damage to motorists or passengers after accidents.

No. The available evidence shows that windscreens of toughened glass provide adequate protection for the belted occupants of passenger cars. I am writing to my hon. Friend to explain why I do not think a requirement to fit laminated glass would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will take steps to advise parents of the dangers of carrying boys and girls under the age of 14 years in the front passenger seats of motor cars;(2) if he will introduce legislation to forbid the carrying of persons below the age of 14 years in the front passenger seats of motor cars.

Section 28 of the Transport Act 1981, which came into force on 31 January this year, already makes it illegal, subject to a few exceptions, for a child under 14 to ride in the front seat of a car unless suitably restrained. For reasons which were extensively discussed before the legislation was passed, I do not consider that there can be an outright prohibition on children travelling in the front.Advice on the law and on the safest means for children to travel in cars is contained in the Departments leaflet "Child Safety in Cars" which has been widely distributed free of charge. Copies are available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to reach a decision on the procurement of the Royal Navy surface-to-surface guided weapon.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply 1 gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn and Hatfield (Mr. Murphy) on 2 November.—[Vol. 47, c. 377.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied with the performance of the Tornado aircraft; and if he will make a statement on the recent loss of this aeroplane.

I am well satisfied with the performance of the Tornado. A Royal Air Force Tornado was lost off the east coast on 28 October on a routine training flight. I much regret that the pilot was killed. The accident is the subject of a full inquiry; but to date no evidence of any failure of the aircraft's systems has been revealed.

asked the Attorney-General what proposals the Lord Chancellor has made or implemented to improve the efficiency of the work of the Court of Protection.

Significant administrative changes took place in the Court of Protection on 1 January 1983 and I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that the Lord Chancellor gave to the Baroness Trumpington on 2 December 1982—[Official Report, House of Lords; Vol. 436, c. 1393–4]—and that given by the Solicitor-General to the hon. Member for Enfield, North (Mr. Eggar) on 26 January 1983.—[Vol. 35, c. 429.]Since then, simpler procedures for Security, accounting and winding-up of receiverships together with fixed costs for solicitors' work have been introduced. There are proposals to simplify procedures to terminate the court's jurisdiction on the recovery of a patient. Word processing equipment has speeded up the preparation of orders, and a computer is being installed to deal with accounts.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is prepared to consider making legal aid available for parents of children subject to care orders.

In so far as proceedings concern an unopposed application to discharge a supervision or care order and the court orders that the parent shall not be treated as representing the child, legal aid has been available to the parent since November 1976.As has already been announced, from 1 April 1984 legal aid will be available to the parent in all care proceedings where the court orders that he shall not be treated as representing the child. As an interim measure the Lord Chancellor extended assistance by way of representation to parents involved in these cases on 1 May 1983.The Government intend to implement in January 1984 the provision in the Healh and Social Services and Social Security Adjudications Act 1983 which extend legal aid to parents of children in care to enable them to apply to the court for an access order where access has been terminated by the local authority concerned.

asked the Attorney-General whether the Lord Chancellor is satisfied that the average number of sittings expected from lay magistrates is at a level which does not prevent or discourage suitable individuals from accepting such service; and if he will make a statement.

Before appointment to the commission, candidates are told that they will be expected to undertake a fair share of the work of the bench. The minimum required of any one magistrate is 26 attendances per annum. Many sit more than the minimum, and, where practicable, 30 or even 35 attendances are encouraged. In larger and busier courts even more may be attempted by individuals. It is recognised that many magistrates may not be able to achieve this level owing to difficulty with their employment or business or personal circumstances, which is why the minimum is set at a significantly lower figure. It is recognised that there are exceptional circumstances in which even the minimum cannot be reached in individual cases. But it is not possible to reduce the figure since the necessary experience to achieve efficiency can only be obtained by sittings of this frequency.

asked the Attorney-General how many magistrates are currently serving in England and Wales; what was the average number of sittings per magistrate in 1982; and how the position compares with that in 1972.

At the date of the last count, 12 January 1983, 25,934 active justices were serving in England and Wales, including 3,648 in the Duchy of Lancaster. It is regretted that the average number of sittings per magistrate in 1972 and 1982 respectively is not known and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Attorney-General what was the average number of sittings per magistrate during 1982 in each court in England and Wales.

There are 623 petty sessional divisions in England and Wales. Some divisions have more than one court. It is regretted that the average number of sittings per magistrate in each court could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the monthly increase and the total number of persons employed by community industry in west Cumbria during the last month for which statistics are available.

In October 1983, 102 young people were employed by the community industry unit in west Cumbria, an increase of two compared with the previous month. 18 adult staff are employed at the unit.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons, both male and female, were placed in employment by the Workington jobcentre in the last month for which statistics are available.

Workington jobcentre placed 264 people in the five-week period ending 7 October 1983, the latest for which statistics are available. Separate figures for males and females are not compiled.There is likely to have been a substantial number of people who found jobs in the area other than through the jobcentre. Nationally it is estimated that about a quarter of all engagements are made through jobcentres.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people in the London borough of Brent left school in the current year; of these, how many are unemployed; and how many have not yet been offered places in the youth training scheme.

[pursuant to his reply, 2 November 1983, c. 397]: Of the 3,310 young people who left school in the 1982–83 academic year, and whose whereabouts were known to the careers service on 1 November, 357 were unemployed and 164 16-year-olds had not yet received an offer of a youth training scheme place.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the councils which have introduced byelaws as to the burning of straw or stubble.

The following councils in England and Wales have introduced straw burning byelaws:

• Adur District Council.
• Alyn and Deeside District Council.
• Arun District Council.
• Aylesbury Vale District Council.
• Babergh District Council.
• Barnsley District Council.
• Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.
• Bedfordshire County Council.
• Blaby District Council.
• Blackburn Borough Council.
• Boston Borough Council.
• Breckland District Council.
• Brighton Borough Council.
• Broadland District Council
• Cambridge City Council.
• Canterbury City Council.
• Castle Morpeth District Council.
• Cherwell District Council.
• Chester City Council.
• Chester-Le-Street District Council.
• Chichester District Council.
• Chiltern District Council.
• Christchurch Borough Council.
• City of Worcester
• Cleethorpes Borough Council.
• Congleton District Council.
• Cotswold District Council.
• Crawley Borough Council.
• Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council.
• Dacorum District Council.
• Darlington Borough Council.
• Dartford Borough Council.
• Daventry District Council.
• Derwentside District Council.
• Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council.
• Dover District Council.
• Durham City.
• East Cambridge District Council.
• East Hampshire District Council.
• East Hertfordshire District Council.
• Eastington District Council.
• East Northamptonshire District Council.
• East Yorkshire Borough Council.
• Ellesmere Port District Council.
• Elmbridge Borough Council.
• Epsom and Ewell Borough Council.
• Essex County Council.
• Fareham District Council.
• Fenland District Council.
• Forest Heath District Council.
• Gedling Borough Council.
• Glanford Borough Council.
• Gravesham District Council.
• Great Yarmouth Borough Council.
• Guildford Borough Council.
• Hambleton District Council.
• Harborough District Council.
• Harrogate Borough Council.
• Holderness District Council.
• Horsham District Council.
• Huntingdon District Council.
• Ipswich Borough Council.
• Kettering Borough Council.
• Langbaugh Borough Council.
• Lincoln City District Council.
• Luton Borough Council.
• Macclesfield District Council.
• Medina Borough Council.
• Medway Borough Council.
• Melton District Council.
• Mid-Bedfordshire District Council.
• Mid-Suffolk District Council.
• Milton Keynes Borough Council.
• Mole Valley District Council.
• Montgomery District Council.
• Newbury District Council.
• North Bedfordshire Borough Council.
• North Cornwall District Council.
• North Dorset District Council.
• North East Derbyshire District Council.
• North Hertfordshire District Council.
• North Kesteven District Council.
• North Norfolk District Council.
• North West Leicestershire District Council.
• North Wiltshire District Council.
• Peterborough City Council.
• Purbeck District Council.
• Radnor District Council.
• Richmondshire District Council.
• Reigate and Banstead Borough Council.
• Rotherham District Council.
• Rugby Borough Council.
• Runneymede Borough Council.
• Rutland District Council.
• St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council.
• Salisbury District Council.
• Scarborough Borough Council.
• Selby District Council.
• Sheffield City District Council.
• Shepway District Council.
• South Bedfordshire District Council.
• South Cambridge District Council.
• South Herefordshire District Council.
• South Holland District Council.
• South Kesteven District Council.
• South Norfolk District Council.
• South Northamptonshire District Council.
• South Oxfordshire District Council.
• South Wight Borough Council.
• Spelthorne Borough Council.
• St. Albans District Council.
• St. Edmundsbury District Council.
• Stratford on Avon District Council.
• Suffolk Coastal District Council.
• Surrey Heath Borough Council.
• Tandridge District Council.
• Test Valley District Council.
• Thamesdown Borough Council.
• Thanet District Council.
• Tunbridge Wells District Council.
• Vale of White Horse District Council.
• Vale Royal District Council.
• Wansbeck District Council.
• Warwick District Council.
• Warrington Borough Council.
• Waveney District Council.
• Waverley District Council.
• Wellingborough Borough Council.
• West Lindsey District Council.
• West Norfolk District Council.
• West Oxford District Council.
• West Wiltshire District Council.
• Wimborne District Council.
• Winchester City Council.
• Woking Borough Council.
• Worthing Borough Council.
• Wrexham Maelor Borough Council.
• Wychavon District Council.
• Wycombe District Council.
• Wyre Forest District Council.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the recent outbreak of salmonella in Leeds due to raw milk, he will take steps to ban the sale of such milk in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Reported cases of salmonella such as the Leeds outbreak are closely monitored and appropriate precautions are taken. I believe that the present arrangements provide adequate safeguards for the health of consumers and represent a reasonable balance between the health considerations involved and the freedom of consumers to drink untreated milk if they wish.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will report on the progress made in negotiations in the Council of Fisheries Ministers during the recess.

Together with my hon. Friend the Minister of State and the Minister of State, Scottish Office, I represented the United Kingdom at two meetings of the Council of Fisheries Ministers on 3–4 and 19 October.At the first of these two meetings the Council took decisions on a number of outstanding matters which had been under discussion at previous meetings.First, the Council adopted a regulation containing a series of important amendments to the existing regulation on technical conservation measures. These included the introduction on the basis of scientific recommendations of an enlarged "box" off the south west of England and Wales within which, with certain exceptions, fishing for mackerel will be prohibited in order to protect the juvenile stock in the interests of the whole western mackerel fishery. This "box" will come into effect as from November 16. The minimum mesh size to be used when fishing for white fish in the North sea was increased to 90mm with effect from January 1, 1985. New Community provisions were introduced to prevent the retention, landing and sale of undersized lobsters and certain other crustaceans and shell fish.The Council also adopted a three-year programme of grants to encourage necessary changes in the structure of member states' fishing fleets. The planned grants include aid for building and modernising vessels, decommissioning grants and laying of premia with a budget of £140 million for the Community as a whole. This decision was very welcome to the United Kingdom fishing industry which had been pressing for the implementation of this part of the common fisheries policy agreed last January. We are discussing how best to make use of these schemes with the main industry organisations and will make a further announcement on their detailed implementation as soon as possible after consultations have been completed.In addition in the interests of maintaining good fisheries relations with Norway, the Council approved the remaining elements of the quota allocations for Norway for 1983 under the EC-Norway agreement, including the allocation to Norway on an exceptional basis for 1983 only, of 31,000 tonnes of North sea herring as agreed between the Commission and Norway during their negotiations earlier in the year. In approving these the Council agreed at my request a formal declaration instructing the Commission in its future negotiations with Norway to seek to proceed on the basis of the relative ownership shares of North sea herring which we and the rest of the Community have hitherto considered appropriate.I should point out that the technical conservation measures and the Norway quotas referred to above were based on proposals recommended for the further consideration of the House by the Select Committee on European Legislation immediately before the recess. Although it had not been possible for the House to debate these proposals I judged that the national interest would not be served by my withholding agreement to them.The Council, both on 3–4 and on 19 October, also held intensive discussions on quota allocations between the member states for North sea herring but no agreement was reached. Proposed TACs and quotas for 1983 for other species were also discussed but in the light of the position on North sea herring and the Danish Government's objections to the proposed TACs and quotas for Greenland cod and redfish it did not prove possible to reach any agreement. I did, however, persuade the Commission to review the closure of the western mackerel fishery north of 58°N and I am glad to say that a proposal to defer this for a month, until 1 December, to the benefit of our pelagic fishermen, is expected to go through shortly.The Council will be meeting again on December 14. Meanwhile fishing continues to be governed by the rolled-over TACs and quotas for 1982 agreed earlier this year subject only to the amendment on western mackerel referred to above.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what will be the effect on home producers, marketing bodies and the doorstep delivery arrangements of his decision to remove curbs on milk imports from the continent and from the Republic of Ireland.

I recognise that there is concern about the possible effect of imports of milk. In the last resort, this will depend upon the British consumer: I know that the dairy industry as a whole is well aware of this, and of the resulting need to keep itself as competitive as possible. I welcome the steps it is taking to persuade consumers of the benefits of having fresh pasteurised British milk delivered to the doorstep.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, pursuant to the speech of the Parliamentary Secretary on 10 May, Official Report, c. 759, he will identify the sections of the decision of the European Court on milk imports which restricts the application of the judgment to ultra-heat treated milk.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing) on 1 November 1983.—[Vol. 47, c. 347.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made to date on redevelopment of Cardiff docks; and if he will take further steps to ensure that redevelopment goes ahead.

The local authorities, Government agencies, private developers and the major landowners, Associated British Ports have all contributed to bringing forward development proposals which must now be considered in detail. Considerable progress has been made. The next stages, on which continued progress will depend, will involve decisions on land acquisition, planning and grant aid applications.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many pupils were in attendance in maintained schools in Wales on the specified day in the autumn term in each of the following years when school meal statistics were collected: 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982; and how many pupils were in attendance when the school meals census was done in these years were taking their own food.

On the day that the information was collected in 1982 there were 443,965 pupils in attendance at maintained schools of whom

	Percentage of pupils present taking school meals				Percentage of pupils present taking own food to school
LEA	(i) on payment		(ii) free
	1978	1982	1978	1982	1978	1982
Clwyd	49·2	30·2	15·1	13·4	16·0	28·6
Dyfed	57·4	58·5	17·3	13·5	8·9	13·5
Gwent	37·0	31·0	17·7	20·6	11·6	16·8
Gwynedd	51·9	45·1	25·2	17·2	6·5	18·9
Mid Glamorgan	47·1	37·7	15·3	18·9	10·2	16·5
Powys	66·2	54·8	14·7	11·8	6·3	14·9
South Glamorgan	34·1	19·0	17·7	18·8	14·3	27·3
West Glamorgan	46·5	32·6	14·1	17·7	12·3	22·8

The corresponding information for the years 1979, 1980 and 1981 is published in section 8 of volumes 5, 6 and 7 of "Statistics of Education in Wales", copies of which are in the Library.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if, in the light of the observations of Mr. Harold Evans, a copy of which has been sent to him by the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe, he will make a further statement on his decision not to refer the purchase of The Sunday Times by Mr. Rupert Murdoch to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

No. In his observations to the right hon. Member, Mr. Evans makes the specific suggestion that, when reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission of the proposed merger between The Observer and George Outram was under consideration, my professional advisers included non-newspaper revenue and profit in assessing whether The Observer was economic as a going concern and as a separate newspaper under the Fair Trading Act 1973. That is not so. As in the case of The Sunday Times, non-newspaper business was excluded.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce a system of inquiries into the cost-effectiveness of local authorities similar to the Rayner studies.

No. The Audit Commission has a specific remit to undertake

"studies designed to enable it to make recommendations for improving economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in the provision of local authority services."

asked the Secretary of State for Wales in the years 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982, what percentage of pupils in attendance at maintained schools in each education authority in Wales (a) took school meals (i) on payment and (ii) free and (b) took their own food to school.

The figures for 1978 and 1982 are as follows:And every local authority auditor appointed by the commission has a specific duty to satisfy himself that the authority has made

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many new housing starts there have been in the London borough of Wandsworth in each of the last four years.

The available information is as follows:

Number of dwellings reported started in the London Borough of Wandsworth
	Number
1979	153
1980	*54
1981	507
1982	541
* Before deducting 71 starts previously reported, which were cancelled in 1980: the net figure of -17 appears in "Local Housing Statistics" No. 60.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Government will amend the definition of old dwellings for the purpose of qualification for repairs grants to include buildings erected before 1 January 1919.

Repair grants are already available for dwellings built before 1 January 1919. I assume my hon. Friend has in mind extending repairs grants to dwellings built after 1 January 1919.We are currently reviewing the operation of the home improvement grant system and we have the 1919 cut-off date under consideration, though the last English house condition survey showed that over 90 per cent. of dwellings in substantial disrepair were built before 1919.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has had any discussions with the building society movement proposing that specific conservation measures should be undertaken as a condition of receiving a mortgage.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to energy conservation measures. It is for building societies to decide whether to require these to be carried out as a condition of receiving a mortgage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether, in the light of current higher continental standards, he is satisfied that the current building regulations for thermal insulation are adequate; and if he has any plans to improve the standards required under those regulations;(2) whether he is satisfied that the current minimum standards of insulation in industrial premises are adequate; if he proposes to take steps to improve those basic minimum standards; and if he will make a statement.

The building regulations prescribe minimum standards of insulation in order to limit energy consumption in buildings. The standards they set for domestic buildings are broadly comparable with standards in other EC countries. For industrial buildings, requirements in the United Kingdom are often more stringent than in those other countries. We have no immediate plans to change our standards.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will earmark funds to local authorities so that they can make grants available specifically for home insulation schemes.

Some £31·9 million has been earmarked in the current financial year for local authorities to make grants under the homes insulation scheme in England. The allocations to individual local authorities met their bids for funds in full.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total number of grants made available for home insulation schemes in the last year for which figures are available and in the preceding three years.

The figures are published in "Housing and Construction Statistics", copies of which are in the Library. The latest figures are in part 2, No. 14 and those for earlier years are in the annual volume 1972–1982.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money will be received in the current fiscal year from value added tax payments upon the salaries of Department of the Environment staff currently on secondment to the Countryside Commission.

£140,000 is estimated. £84,334 had been paid up to the end of September 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state the amount of funding available to the Housing Corporation in each of the past four years; and how much was allocated to housing associations and housing co-operatives during the same period.

Government funding for the Housing Corporation is by cash limited approved development programme. Additionally, the Housing Corporation may take account of receipts when making loans to housing associations. The figures are as follows:

	Public Expenditure White Paper £ million (net)	Gross programme £ million
1979–80	397	401
1980–81	495	508
1981–82	492	520
1982–83	680	755

The net provision for 1983–84 is now £624·4 million.The distribution of funds to individual associations is a matter for the Housing Corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average percentage increase in rents being demanded by the New Towns Commission for commercial properties in Crawley in the present round of rent reviews; and what sum, in monetary terms, is the highest asked.

Rent levels for the properties it owns are a matter for the Commission itself to decide, subject to the usual arbitration provision, and in the light of its statutory duty to maintain and enhance the value of the land held by it and the return obrained by it from the land. I understand, however, that some rents for commercial properties not owned by the commission in Crawley town centre were determined at arbitration in December 1982 at levels averaging 400 per cent. of the 1977 figures.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many rent officers were in service in each financial year since 1979–80; how many have been recruited to deal with extra work resulting from the change in the rent review period from three years to two and the abolition of controlled tenancies, respectively; and what has been the additional cost.

The number of rent officers in post were as follows:

	Numbers
31 March 1980
full-time officers	470
part-time officers	3
Total	471·5
31 March 1981
full-time officers	469
part-time officers	3
Total	470·5

	Numbers
31 March 1982
full-lime officers	457
part-time officer	1
Total	457·5
31 March 1983
full-time officers	464
part-time officer	1
Total	464·5
30 September 1983
full-time officers	469
part-time officer	1
Total	469·5

The marginal addition of 12 posts since 31 March 1982, at an estimated annual cost of £202,000 has been needed to cope with an increasd workload which cannot be related wholly to any particular changes introduced by the Housing Act 1980. However, since 31 March 1980 the total number of rent officers has been reduced by two posts.In the period 1979–80 to 1982–83 the annual output of the rent officer service in England rose from 349,423 to 418, 946 decisions, an increase of 19·9 per cent. Over the same period the cost per case was reduced by 25·2 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he considers that the policy of reducing nitrate levels in public water supplies by biological denitrification involves any significant health hazards to the general public; and if he will make a statement.

Biological denitrification is one of the methods which is being considered for reducing the level of nitrates in drinking water supplies. Experience with a full-scale trial plant, in the Anglian water authority area, indicates that the process can be readily controlled to avoid any health risks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will update the table giving information on sales of dwellings by each local authority in England which was referred to in the answer given to the hon. Member for Wirral, South on 22 July, Official Report, Vol 46, c. 252.

I have today placed in the Library the latest version of the table to which my hon. Friend refers, giving information reported by each local authority in England on the progress of council house sales to the end of June 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the cash limits on Department of the Environment Votes and non-voted cash blocks.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimates, the following adjustments will be made.The cash limit for Vote VIII 7, Urban Development Corporations England will be increased by £14,175,000 from £80,649,000 to £94, 824,000. The increase comprises:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to monitor the performance of local authorities in carrying out their new responsibilities under the new civil defence regulations.

We are considering how best to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the co-ordinator of voluntary effort in civil defence obtains information of progress in the harnessing of volunteer effort throughout the United Kingdom.

In England and Wales, Sir Leslie Mayor keeps in close and continuous touch with local authorities and all voluntary organisations, national and local, which make or could make a contribution to civil defence. He obtains progress reports, visits local authorities and attends meetings with local civil defence volunteers.The Scottish co-ordinator of voluntary effort in civil defence obtains information in similar ways.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will review the responsibilities he has for charities.

My right hon. and learned Friend keeps under review his responsibilities for the general law concerning charity in the light of proposals which are made from time to time. We have no plans at present for legislation in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if Her Majesty's Government will introduce legislation to control the use of the names of charities in promotions or events with which they have no formal connection.

We have no plans at present to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to improve the police complaints procedure.

The new Police and Criminal Evidence Bill, published on 27 October, develops substantially the proposed reform of the police complaints system contained in last Session's Bill. Details of the proposed new arrangements are set out in the White Paper "Police Complaints and Discipline Procedures" (Cmnd. 9072), also published on 27 October.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of recorded crimes for the first nine months of 1983.

In the first six months of 1983 the police recorded 1·6 million notifiable offences in England and Wales almost exactly the same number as in the first six months of 1982. Figures for the third quarter are not yet available but will be published in a Home Office statistical bulletin in December.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the provisional figures for the numbers of crimes and offences for the year to date; and what were the comparable figures for the same period five years previously.

Figures of notifiable offences recorded by the police are published quarterly in Home Office statistical bulletins; issue 17/83 published on 28 September contains information up to the second quarter of 1983. In the first six months of 1983 the police recorded 1,618,000 notifiable offences; the corresponding number for the first six months of 1978 was 1,287,000 but these figures are not directly comparable because of changes to the counting rules introduced at the beginning of 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to propose amendments to the laws relating to discrimination on the grounds of race or sex.

We have no present plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the new radiac survey meters will be ready for issue.

The new meters will be issued to users as they are produced under a three-year contract which ends in May 1986. A small number are available now to help with familiarisation and training.A letter will shortly be sent to county councils, police and fire services explaining the arrangements for distribution.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress of the Boundary Commissions' work on European Assembly constituencies.

I understand that the Parliamentary Boundary Commissions for England, Scotland and Wales expect to submit their reports recommending new European Parliament constituencies by the end of March 1984, provided there are no unforeseen setbacks. This 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 how much financial support has been provided to the Thames Valley police constabulary since March 1983.

Up to 31 October the Department had paid £16,942,000 in police grant to the Thames Valley police in the current financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further steps he proposes to take to reduce the prison population.

My right hon. and learned Friend is laying the necessary order to reduce from 12 months to 6 months the minimum qualifying period of custody before a prisoner can be released on parole.He is also examining ways of reducing the number of fine defaulters, those convicted of offences of drunkenness, and mentally disordered offenders in prison.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further consultations he intends to have before introducing the Police and Criminal Evidence Bill.

Before reintroducing the Bill my right hon. and learned Friend carefully reviewed its provisions in order to secure the best possible balance between the interests of the community and the rights of the individual suspected of crime. As part of that process we had discussions and correspondence with several interested individuals and bodies. These included, as well as the police representative bodies, the Law Society, the General Medical Council, the British Medical Association, the Media Law Group, the British Guild of Newspaper Editors, the National Council for Civil Liberties and the Community/Police Consultative Group for Lambeth.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make provision in the allocation of cable television licences for the provision of one or more channels for the use of religous organisations.

The Government do not consider it right to impose on cable operators an obligation to reserve channels for particular uses, other than for carrying the public broadcasting services; but cable operators will be free to provide channels for the use of religious organisations, provided they are not dominated by any sectional group.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further representations he has received over concessionary television licences for retired people living in their own accommodation.

In recent months we have received four letters from members of the public about concessionary television licences for retirement pensioners living on their own.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total expenditure from public funds on the probation service in each of the past four financial years.

Expenditure on the probation service, including probation officers working in prison department establishments, and on the sponsorship of students intending to join the service, in each of the last financial years was as follows:

	Current £000	Capital £000
1979–80	85,997	1,288
1980–81	*111,640	3,012
1981–82	*128·187	2,652
1982–83	* 144,209	*3,599
* Provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the latest figure for the number of people in prison in England and Wales; and how this compares as a percentage of the population with figures for other European Community countries.

On the night of 27 October the prison population in England and Wales was 43,898 plus 259 in police cells. This represents about 88 per 100,000 of the population of England and Wales. Comparative figures for other EEC countries are not held and could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to increase the civilian establishment of the Metropolitan police.

The Metropolitan police civil staff ceiling — excluding traffic wardens, cadets, school crossing patrols and other grades for whom the force is reimbursed by other authorities—was raised by 200 on 1 April 1983 to its present level of 13,140. On 30 September 1983, the strength was 12,563. Manpower levels for 1984–85 will be announced in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce amending legislation to strengthen section 28 of the Race Relations Act to close the loophole revealed by the industrial tribunal ruling on appeal by Percy Ingle Bakeries Ltd.

The amendment of section 28 of the Race Relations Act 1976 is one of a number of proposals for amendents to the Act contained in the consultative document issued by the Commission for Racial Equality in July. When my right hon. and learned Friend receives the commission's final proposals these will be carefully considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce minimum sentences for mugging; and if he will make a statement.

The term "mugging" covers a wide range of circumstances and the appropriate sentence must vary according to these circumstances. In the Government's view the guidance of the Court of Appeal on sentencing for serious offences in any case makes the introduction of minimum sentences unnecessary. The Government's proposal to empower the Attorney-General to refer to the Court of Appeal a sentence which appears to have been unduly lenient will enable that guidance to be clarified and reinforced where necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider giving the special constabulary a bonus similar to that given to the Territorial Army.

The possibility of payments to special constables was most recently considered by a working party of the Police Advisory Board in 1981. After taking account of arrangements in other bodies, including the Territorial Army, the working party concluded that such payments would not help recruitment to the special constabulary. My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans at present to reconsider this question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, following the opening of the new Metropolitan police station in Orpington, there are any plans for additional policing in the Biggin Hill area.

The new police station at Orpington will become operational on 12 December. I understand from the Commissioner that from that date the police strength of the Biggin Hill station will be increased from 11 to 17 officers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the chairman of the Prison Officers Association concerning instructions on race relations procedures sent recently to prison governors; what representations he has received on this matter and from whom; and if he will make a statement.

The statement on race raltions to the prison service, issued on 5 August, has my right hon. and learned Friend's full backing. He did not discuss its despatch with the chairman of the POA. We are aware of public comments attributed to the chairman but not of any representations from him or from any other person about the statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each of the counties in England the number of calls made by county fire services to straw or stubble fires.

Fires involving straw or stubble are identifiable in the reports made by fire brigades only when they spread to property or involve casualties. In 1981 there were 87 such fires in England in which straw or stubble was reported as the material first ignited and which resulted from intentional burning. There were also 1,442 fires in which straw or stubble was reported as the material first ignited but which were ignited accidentally or maliciously and may have occurred in outdoor locations such as ricks or indoor ones such as barns or stables. The following table indicates how many of each of these types of fire was attended by each brigade. There were additionally 158 fires ignited as a result of the intentional burning of grassland, gorse, and so on, which may include some resulting from the intentional burning of stubble or straw.

Fires in which straw or stubble was the material first ignited
Brigade	Resulting from intentional burning	Resulting from accidental or malicious ignition
Total—England	87	1,442
Avon	1	12
Bedfordshire	2	19
Berkshire	2	18
Buckinghamshire	2	22
Cambridgeshire	4	50
Cheshire	1	31
Cleveland	1	16
Cornwall	—	21
Cumbria	—	15
Derbyshire	1	27
Devon	1	30
Dorset	2	14
Durham	1	29
East Sussex	—	19
Essex	4	62
Gloucestershire	6	23
Greater London	—	12
Greater Manchester	—	18
Hampshire	2	39
Hereford and Worcester	4	37
Hertfordshire	1	34
Humberside	4	49
Isle of Wight	—	2
Kent	4	51
Lancashire	—	25
Leicestershire	3	33
Lincolnshire	12	75
Merseyside	—	20
Norfolk	5	89
North Yorkshire	6	68
Northamptonshire	3	31
Northumberland	4	13
Nottinghamshire	1	36
Oxfordshire	1	26
Shropshire	1	28

Brigade	Resulting from intentional burning	Resulting from accidental or malicious ignition
Somerset	—	17
South Yorkshire	1	45
Staffordshire	—	39
Suffolk	3	53
Surrey	—	12
Tyne and Wear	—	21
Warwickshire	2	22
West Midlands	—	15
West Sussex	—	22
West Yorkshire	—	57
Wiltshire	2	45

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to issue the national code of practice on fire precautions and means of escape in houses of multiple-occupation for the guidance of fire and housing authorities.

I hope to be able to publish the code of guidance on fire safety in houses in multiple occupation during 1984, after consultation with all the relevant interests.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases, where local review committees recommended against release on parole, prisoners were refused parole, without reference to the Parole Board, in 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982, respectively.

The number of prisoners who were refused parole without reference to the Parole Board where the local review committee had considered them unsuitable for release was as follows:

	Number
1978	3,258
1979	3,234
1980	3,066
1981	2,646
1982	2,525

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any reliable measure of the respective effectiveness of deterrence of the non-custodial sentences available to the courts.

There is no reliable measure of the deterrent effect on potential offenders generally of the existence of a particular sentence. With regard to the offender on whom a particular sentence is passed the best available measure of the deterrent effect is the rate of subsequent reconviction. A study undertaken by the Home Office statistical department reported in "Previous Convictions, Sentence and Reconviction"—Home office Research Study No. 53 — showed that non-custodial measures are generally followed by a lower rate of reconviction than custodial sentences. However, the factors most closely related to subsequent reconviction are age on conviction and the number of previous convictions. When allowance is made for these factors, it does not appear that any particular non-custodial measure is in general more or less effective in terms of deterrence than others.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to increase the staff of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.

The recruitment of 21 additional staff was authorised earlier this year, and most of these are now in post.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to which local authorities have already established nuclear shelters for members of the general public.

No central record is kept. The regulations which the House debated last week require local authorities to make plans for using existing buildings as shelters for the public.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in his consideration of future arrangements for the Remembrance Day ceremony at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, he will examine the suggestion that a single wreath be laid by the Sovereign or, in her absence, by Her Majesty's representative.

Yes, but I do not think this would be likely to command general support.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have taken place for offences under the Badgers Act 1973 or the relevant successor sections of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; and in how many of these cases a conviction was secured.

Records available to us, which may be incomplete, show from 1974 to 1982, 182 persons proceeded against under the Badgers Act 1973—which came into force on 25 January 1974—of whom 146 were convicted. Proceedings can be taken under section 11 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981—which came into force on 28 September 1982—but our records do not distinguish offences against badgers; we have no record of any such proceedings in 1982. Information for 1983 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners held in Her Majesty's prisons are segregated under rule 43; at which prisons; and, of these, how many are aged under 17 years, from 17 to 30 years, from 31 to 40 years and from 41 to 50 years, respectively, at each location.

The number of prisoners segregated under prison rule 43 either at their own request or for the maintenance of good order and discipline on the latest date for which information is available is as follows:

Number of inmates segregated under prison rule 43 on 31 July 1983
Her Majesty's Prison	Own request	Good order and discipline	Total
Acklington	1	—	1
Albany	23	3	26
Bedford	7	—	7
Birmingham	8	11	19
Blundeston	5	—	5
Bristol	12	9	21
Camp Hill	10	5	15
Canterbury	8	—	8
Cardiff	13	—	13
Channings Wood	7	—	7
Chelmsford	—	5	5
Coldingley	—	2	2
Dartmoor	23	6	29
Dorchester	3	1	4
Durham	36	1	37
Exeter	4	—	4
Frankland	11	4	15
Gartree	6	2	8
Gloucester	2	3	5
Haverigg	4	1	5
Highpoint	1	—	1
Hull	1	3	4
Lancaster	2	—	2
Leeds	40	1	41
Leicester	13	1	14
Lewes	4	4	8
Lincoln	27	3	30
Liverpool	76	7	83
Long Lartin	8	1	9
Maidstone	1	2	3
Manchester	40	5	45
Norwich	12	—	12
Nottingham	3	1	4
Oxford	1	1	2
Parkhurst	11	7	18
Pentonville	9	7	16
Preston	4	1	5
Ranby	2	—	2
Reading	2	1	3
Sbepton Mallet	—	1	1
Shrewsbury	7	—	7
Stafford	21	2	23
Standford Hill	1	—	1
Sudbury	1	—	1
Swansea	11	1	12
The Verne	—	1	1
Wakefield	12	5	17
Wandsworth	89	7	96
Winchester	17	2	19
Wormwood Scrubs	11	5	16
Wymott	3	—	3
	613	122	735

I regret that information is not kept centrally on the ages of prisoners segregated under prison rule 43.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the research findings into the effectiveness of short, sharp, shock treatment at detention centres.

In the new year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will introduce the legislation necessary to allow the international transfer of sentenced prisoners; and if he will make a statement.

Having signed on 25 August the Council of Europe convention on the transfer of sentenced persons, we intend to introduce the consequent legislation as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers and ranks are employed (a) full-time and (b) part-time in investigating complaints made against the police and internal discipline; and at what cost in each case.

The information is not available in the form requested. The number of officers employed full-time in discipline and complaints departments of police forces in England and Wales at 31 December 1982 was as follows:

	Provincial forces	Metropolitan Police	Total
Deputy Assistant Commissioner	—	1	1
Commander	—	1	1
Chief Superintendent	13	7	20
Superintendent	92	28	120
Chief Inspector	10	54	64
Inspector	123	7	130
Sergeant	21	91	112
Police Constable	8	2	10
Total	267	191	458

In addition, a significant number of complaints are investigated by officers at divisional level, in addition to their normal duties; and the most senior officers, especially at the level of deputy chief constable, also spend a substantial proportion of their time dealing with complaints and discipline.Precise figures for the cost of investigations are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many letters he has received on the issue of immigration and race relations since 13 October 1983.

About 70.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of traffic wardens employed in the Metropolitan police district; what is the cost of the traffic warden service to public funds; what revenue is collected from fines for traffic offences; and if he will give comparative figures for each of the last five years.

I shall reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will exercise his discretionary powers to detain child sex murderers for periods longer than that recommended by the trial judge where this is necessary to ensure custodial sentences for such murderers of not less than 20 years.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the present arrangements for absent voters to register their vote at all elections held in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has now completed his study of the report of the Home Affairs Committee on the Representation of the People Acts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now introduce legislation to enable voters who are absent on holiday to vote by post during parliamentary elections.

I refer my hon. Friends to the answer given earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Bridlington (Mr. Townend).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received urging the reform of the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876; and if he will make a statement.

The Government's proposals for modernising the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876, announced in the White Paper in May, have been widely endorsed. There have been representations urging greater restrictions but we believe that our proposals, and in particular the new licensing system, will strike the right balance between the protection of animals and the protection of the health of the community and of animals.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many recipients of legal aid in consistorial cases in Scotland had their maximum legal aid contribution increased after final decree in each of the financial years 1980–81, 1981–82 and 1982–83;(2) how many recipients of legal aid in divorce cases in Scotland had their maximum legal aid contribution increased as a result of an award of a capital payment in their favour, either by the court or in implement of a joint minute between the parties, in each of the financial years 1980–81, 1981–82 and 1982–83.

This information is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many general hospitals in the Scottish health board areas provide a specialist doctor for the treatment of arthritic conditions.

There are seven consultants in rheumatology in Scotland, as shown in the following table. In addition, treatment of patients suffering from arthritis may also be undertaken by consultants in general medicine, rehabilitation medicine and orthopaedic surgery. The following details therefore represent only a small part of the specialist services available in Scotland for the treatment of arthritis.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the provision of arthritic services in the Grampian health board area; and if he will make a statement.

In the Grampian health board area. medical treatment for arthritic conditions is available at a rheumatology unit in the City hospital, Aberdeen. Surgical treatment, where required, is provided in other hospital departments. The Grampian health board keeps under review the adequacy of all its services and makes such improvements as are possible within available resources.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons are at present awaiting hospital treatment for arthritis in each of the Scottish health board areas; and what has been the average period of waiting for the treatment by a patient once seen by the specialist.

Information about patients awaiting hospital treatment is not collected in the form requested. For patients discharged from hospital after treatment of arthritis and osteoarthrosis the mean waiting time for 1981 was as follows:

Mean wait* in days during 1981
Health Board	Rheumatoid Arthritis	Osteoarthrosis
Argyll and Clyde	61	207
Ayrshire and Arran	68	81
Borders	85	131
Dumfries and Galloway	39	77
Fife	245	294
Forth Valley	158	306
Grampian	29	100
Greater Glasgow	73	145
Highland	90	117
Lanark	93	169
Lothian	231	205
Orkney	—	—
Shetland	69	25
Tayside	187	273
Western Isles	32	27
Scotland	126	194
* The time which patients admitted from the waiting list and discharged from hospital in that year awaited admission.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average time taken from the date of referral by a general practitioner to a specialist for a person suffering from an arthritic condition until the person is seen by the specialist in the Grampian health board area.

I understand that in the Grampian health board area a patient whose condition is not urgent could expect to be seen as an outpatient by a rheumatologist about six weeks after referral by his general practitioner.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce measures to reduce the number of unemployed qualified nurses in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

More nurses are employed in the National Health Service than ever before. I am confident that health boards are devoting as high a proportion of their resources as they can to this end.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce measures to reduce the number of unemployed doctors in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

More doctors are now employed in the Scottish Health Service than under any previous Administration. The information available suggests that unemployment amongst doctors is mainly of short duration when moving from one stage of specialist training to another, but my Department, in consultation with the health boards and the profession, is keeping a close watch on the position.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he plans to make any changes in the cash limits for 1983–84 which are within his responsibility.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Winter Supplementary Estimate, the cash limit on Class XV, Vote 17, the national library of Scotland, will be increased by £95,000 from £2,744,000 to £2,839,000. The increase is a consequence of the need to meet certain contractual payments in respect of the Scottish libraries co-operative automation project —SCOLCAP—and the need to meet a shortfall in receipts because of slippage in SCOLCAP implementations. This increase is fully offset by a corresponding reduction in the cash limit for Class XV, Vote 15 — Education, Libraries, Arts and Social Work, Scotland — from £111,823,000 to £111,728,000 and therefore does not involve any increase to the public expenditure planning total.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the largest consumers of energy generated from primary fuels, distinguishing between the use of energy generated by (a) coal, (6) gas and (c) electricity isolating that proportion of electricity produced by nuclear power stations.

The following is the information requested.