asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to make the water authorities responsible for cesspool emptying arrangements.

No. This question has been under review for some time, but the Government have now concluded that the power to empty cesspools should remain with local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated annual cost of travel undertaken by civil servants employed by his Department (a) within the United Kingdom and (b) overseas.

Estimated travel and subsistence expenditure by civil servants employed by the Department of the Environment, including the Property Services Agency, during 1983–84 is as follows:

	£
United Kingdom	10,154,000
Overseas	1,022,000

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department maintains, or supports the maintenance of, any offices or personnel abroad.

Yes. The Property Services Agency maintains offices and personnel as part of the British forces presence in Germany, Gibraltar, Cyprus and Hong Kong. They provide works and supplies services to the defence estate. There are small numbers also in Belize, Ascension Island and the Falklands.Additionally, the Property Services Agency has staff on loan to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office at many overseas locations for the provision of works and supplies services to the diplomatic estate; and a few staff in Bermuda, Nepal and Trinidad on loan to the Governments of those countries.All told, PSA has 475 United Kingdom-based personnel abroad; 47 on loan to FCO; and five on loan to other Governments. In some locations these staff are assisted by locally entered civilians.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has plans to implement sections 12, 13 and 14 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974; and if he will make a statement.

There is no present plan to bring into force these provisions, the main effect of which will be to oblige district councils to collect commercial waste on request. A decision on this will be taken when a current examination of the financial implications for local authorities has been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to ensure that all timber now used in new private or public buildings and all timber used for improvements to private and public buildings is properly treated for preservation and for fire-proofing; and if he will make a statement.

While it is not practicable to set up controls on all timber used in construction, where the health and safety of people in buildings are concerned the building regulations apply. They require that materials used in the erection or alteration of a building should be of a suitable nature and quality and be properly prepared. They also require that the structural elements of buildings shall have appropriate fire resistance. Local authorities have adequate powers to enforce the regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what materials are being tipped at Collier's tip, Moss side lane, Rixton; and whether he is satisfied that none of the substances are dangerous to people living in the area.

The landfill site at Moss side lane, Rixton, operated by Collier's Industrial Waste is licensed to accept commercial and industrial waste, consisting of solids and non-pumpable sludges. I understand that in 1982 the total quantity of waste deposited there was 24,000 tonnes. Of this total, some 15,000 tonnes were classed as special waste under the Control of Pollution (Special Waste) Regulations 1980, although mainly at low levels of contamination. The total for 1983 is expected to be similar, but with a smaller proportion of special waste.Supervision of the disposal of waste at the site is a matter for the Cheshire county council as licensing authority. However, one of my hazardous waste inspectors has visited it and, while he is satisfied that in general the site is well maintained and operated, he has criticised the way in which certain acid tar has been lagooned and he has recommended the removal of a number of drums of anhydrous aluminium chloride. These points have been brought to the attention of the firm and the county council, and I understand that the terms of the site licence have now been tightened and that the council is currently considering how to deal with the drums already deposited.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average standing charge levied by water authorities.

For 1983–84, it is estimated that the average standing charge to a household receiving an unmeasured service is £8·25 for water supply and £4·88 for sewerage services.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now consider reforming the system of water charges to assist elderly people, particularly single persons, with the payment of bills; and if he will make a statement.

No. The present arrangements are working satisfactorily. Successive Governments have adopted the policy that if help needs to be given it is provided through the social security system. That is why the full cost of water services charges is taken into account when supplementary benefit is calculated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to introduce the Bill abolishing the 1985 elections to the Greater London council.

Next spring.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any proposals which would help council tenants exchange their homes.

My Department issued today a consultation letter containing proposals for giving a right of exchange to secure tenants of local authorities, new town development corporations and housing associations. Public sector tenants do not enjoy the same ease of movement as owner-occupiers. The national mobility scheme and the Government's own tenants exchange scheme are making valuable contributions to increased housing mobility, but public sector tenants who want to exchange still encounter unnecessary difficulty from landlords who refuse to allow exchanges. Subject to the response to the consultation letter, the Government will introduce an amendment to the Housing and Building Control Bill. Copies of the consultation letter have been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will increase the house price limits for the home loan scheme.

I have reviewed the limits in order to ensure that at least two thirds of first-time buyers in each region will continue to qualify for the benefits of the scheme, provided they fulfil the savings conditions. The new limits reflect recent movements in house prices in each region. An order is being laid to bring these new limits into effect on 7 December 1983.The new limits, compared with the present limits, are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to ensure that tenants exercising their right to buy are promptly informed by their landlord of the proposed price and terms of sale.

Yes. Given the experience which landlord authorities now have of processing applications under the right to buy, there is no reason why offer notices should be long delayed. The Government have therefore tabled an amendment to the Housing and Building Control Bill which will require all offer notices under section 10 of the Housing Act 1980 to be served on the tenant within eight weeks of admission of the right to buy.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the chairmanship of the Pilotage Commission.

I have appointed Mr. James Davidson, CBE as the chairman of the Pilotage Commission in succession to Dr. Denis Rebbeck, CBE. Mr. Davidson took up his appointment on 7 November; he has been a member of the commission since 1979.I would wish to pay special tribute to Dr. Rebbeck for his most distinguished leadership of the commission since its establishment in 1979. The tasks facing the commission during its formative years have been onerous and demanding. Whilst it has not been possible for me as yet to reach conclusions on the future direction of pilotage, the commission, under Dr. Rebbeck's leadership, has made a series of detailed recommendations on future actions; these will be of the greatest assistance to me in taking important decisions in the near future.Dr. Rebbeck has been a most distinguished figure in industrial, commercial and academic life, particularly in Northern Ireland and Scotland, and I would not wish his retirement from the Pilotage Commission to pass without reference to his notable record of public service in a very wide variety of forms over a period of more than 30 years, culminating, in the last decade, in his great contribution to the development of pilotage policy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated annual cost of travel undertaken by civil servants employed by his Department (a) within the United Kingdom and (b) overseas.

The estimated cost of travel, including subsistence, undertaken by civil servants in the Treasury, including the central computer and telecommunications agency and the Civil Service catering organisation, in the financial year 1983–84 is £855,000 within the United Kingdom and £332,000 overseas.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the percentage of firms at present registered for value added tax which would cease to pay value added tax if firms with an annual turnover of (a) less than £50,000 and (b) less than £100,000 were exempted from value added tax payment.

It is estimated that if the annual registration exemption limit for VAT were raised to £50,000 or £100,000 the percentage of the total number of persons currently on the VAT register who would be under no legal obligation to be registered and account for VAT would be 60 per cent. and 77 per cent. respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department maintains, or supports the maintenance of, any office or personnel abroad.

The Treasury has a staff of six in the British embassy, Washington, headed by an under-secretary who is the Economic Minister and the United Kingdom's executive director of the International Monetary Fund and of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied that enough manpower is being deployed to prevent the smuggling of heroin into the United Kingdom.

Yes. The investigation and prevention of drug smuggling is given high priority by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise. Greater emphasis is now placed on mobile and flexible, rather than static, controls, and the numbers of specialist drugs investigation officers have been increased. I will, of course, continue to keep the position under close review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider, when a suitable legislative opportunity arises, amending the Banking (Scotland) Act 1845 to (a) raise the limit on the fiduciary issue of Scottish bank notes to a level commensurate with the devaluation of the currency since 1845, (b) allow the Trustee Savings Bank to issue its own bank notes on a comparable basis to the existing three Scottish banks, and (c) give the Treasury powers to grant a similar right to any new banks that might be established in the future.

[pursuant to the reply, 10 November 1983, c. 193]: No.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the estimated annual cost of travel by civil servants employed by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (a) within the United Kingdom and (b) overseas.

Estimated costs in the current year are, respectively

(a) Negligible

(b) Less than £3,000

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the estimated annual cost of travel undertaken by civil servants employed by the Privy Council Office (a) within the United Kingdom and (b) overseas.

Estimated costs in the current year are, respectively

(a) About £600

(b) Nil

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether the Privy Council Office maintains, or supports the maintenance of, any office or personnel abroad.

No.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether the Department of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster maintains, or supports the maintenance of, any offices or personnel abroad.

No.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland what is the estimated annual cost of travel by civil servants employed by the Lord Advocate's Department (a) within the United Kingdom and (b) abroad.

The cost of travel by civil servants employed by the departments for which the Lord Advocate has responsibility was, in the last full financial year 1982–83, £116,000: £110,000 in the United Kingdom and £6,000 overseas.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland whether the Lord Advocate's Department maintains, or supports the maintenance of, any offices or personnel abroad.

No.

asked the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the application in Northern Ireland of the statement by the Lord Chancellor that rape trials should be heard only by senior judges; and in how many cases since that statement rape cases in Northern Ireland have been heard by judges other than those specified in the statement.

The Lord Chancellor gave directions on the distribution of Crown court business in Northern Ireland on 26 April 1983. The directions classify the offences which are to be tried by certain categories of judges. Since 26 April 1983 one plea of guilty to a charge of rape has inadvertantly been heard by a judge not included in the list of judges authorised by the directions to try such cases.

asked the Attorney-General how many rape cases in Northern Ireland have been tried before senior judges since 1980.

Since 1980 57 cases of rape have been tried before judges of the Northern Ireland Crown court. Until 26 April this year no account was taken of the seniority of judges in allocating cases of rape for trial. Since then directions by the Lord Chancellor specify the judges before whom rape cases may be tried.

asked the Attorney-General how much has been spent in relocating informers who have been granted immunity in return for information about activities of terrorists in Northern Ireland.

I have been asked to reply.So far as the considerations involved in the grant of immunity are concerned, I refer the hon. Gentleman to my right hon. and learned Friend's reply of 24 October 1983. [

asked the Attorney-General how many informers in Northern Ireland have been settled outside the United Kingdom; and what has been the estimated cost of such resettlements.

I have been asked to reply.It would not be appropriate to give detailed information on matters that bear on the safety of individuals. As regards expenditure, I refer the hon. Gentleman to my earlier answer.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps are being taken by the Government to ensure a high standard of mathematics teaching in secondary schools.

The teaching of mathematics in schools was the subject of a recent major inquiry by a committee under the chairmanship of Sir Wilfred Cockcroft. Their report — which is available in the Library — was published in January 1982. My right hon. Friend has made it clear that we see the Cockcroft report as the foundation for work to improve the teaching of mathematics by all of those concerned: central government, local education authorities, the examination boards, teacher training institutions, those who fund and carry out curriculum development and, especially, teachers themselves.The Government's first priority has been to secure the widest possible dissemination of the report's conclusions and recommendations for both primary and secondary schools. Some 40,000 copies of the report itself have been sold, and the Department has distributed 65,000 copies of an introduction to it for primary schools and 25,000 copies of a guide to the report for employers. We hope that within the resources available to them local education authorities and schools will continue to take action to ensure that all those who teach mathematics are fully aware of the report's analysis and conclusions.The Cockcroft committee placed special emphasis on in-service support for teachers as a necessary precondition for improvements in the teaching of mathematics. We have identified mathematics as one of the priority areas for the new in-service training grants scheme and have provided £2·1 million to support attendance by teachers at designated in-service courses in mathematics in the first period of the scheme—April 1983-August 1984. Taking account of the recommendations of the Cockcroft report, the scheme applies to training for mathematics co-ordinators in primary schools, heads of mathematics departments in secondary schools, teachers of low attainers in mathematics in secondary schools, and teachers of mathematics in secondary schools who are inadequately qualified for the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether his Department maintains, or supports the maintenance of, any offices or personnel abroad.

Yes. The principal areas of direct support are the European schools, where 114 teachers are seconded for service and the European university institute in Florence where the Department contributes towards the running costs. Several organisations, wholly or partly funded by the Department maintain, or support the maintenance of. offices and personnel abroad.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what guidance he gives to local education authorities as to the minimum period that should elapse between the diagnosis of a school-age child as dyslexic and its admission to specialist schooling; what is the average time which elapses; and if he will make a statement.

The provision of special education, including education for children with specific learning difficulties—"dyslexia"—is governed by the Education Act 1981 and subordinate legislation. Neither these provisions nor my right hon. Friend's guidance to local education authorities lay down such a minimum period. When a local education authority has made a statement of a child's special educational needs, it is under a duty to arrange provision for the child in accordance with the statement, unless the parent has made suitable arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the progress of the work of the Institute of Hearing Research.

The programme of research being undertaken at the Medical Research Council's Institute of Hearing Research continues to develop well. The annual report from the institute for 1982, which summarises the work being carried out both at its headquarters and at its out-stations, is available in the Library.

asked the Prime Minister how much money will be allocated in 1984–85 and, if known, in the two following financial years to the support financing scheme in Scotland, and how this compares (a) in terms of gross amount and (b) in terms of amount per head of population with amount to be allocated over the next three financial years to health authorities in England and in Wales under the parallel joint financing scheme.

The funds to be set aside in the health programme for the support finance scheme in Scotland in 1984–85 will be determined after the provision for the total health programme has been decided at the conclusion of the public expenditure survey, and in the light of expected demands. Comparison with prospective expenditure on parallel schemes in England and Wales cannot yet be made.

asked the Prime Minister whether she is satisfied that public expenditure by the European Community is adequately controlled.

There is always scope for improvement in the control of public funds, including the expenditure of the European Community. The major responsibility for control of Community spending rests with the European Commission and we support both the Commission's efforts to improve control, and those of the Court of Auditors to ensure the sound and effective management of Community spending.

asked the Prime Minister by what authority Sir Nicholas Henderson used unpublished diplomatic and intelligence material for an article published in The Economist of 12 November relating to diplomatic exchanges during the Falklands conflict.

The initiative in writing this article was Sir Nicholas Henderson's alone. In accordance with normal procedures, he consulted officials about certain points reflecting material to which he had access during his time as ambassador in Washington.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will set out in tabular form, for each Government Department as appropriate, the full list of occasions since May 1979 when internal classified documents have been published or broadcast in the press or media and she or other Ministers have ordered an internal inquiry into the unauthorised circulation of the documents; on which of these occasions police assistance was sought; in which cases the inquiry identified a person or persons allegedly responsible; what disciplinary action was taken in each case; and whether she will make a statement.

It is my practice not to disclose information about investigations of this kind, for reasons which I am sure my hon. Friend will understand.

asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied with the co-ordination between the Department of Health and Social Security and the Department of the Environment regarding the application of the law as it relates to the application for planning permission on Crown lands by owners of such land; and if she will make a statement.

Yes. I am satisfied with co-ordination between the two departments on the application of planning legislation to Crown land. I recognise that amending legislation is needed.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will estimate the cost to public funds over a 10-year period of a redundant mineworker.

The average total cost of statutory redundancy payments under the redundant mineworkers payments scheme, and payments made through pensions schemes, to mineworkers currently being made redundant will, at present rates, amount to between £30,000 and £35,000 per head over a 10-year period.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will publish the operating results of National Coal Board deep mine collieries for 1982–83.

The publication of such results is a matter for the NCB, and I have drawn the hon. Member's question to the chairman's attention.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many jobs were lost to the mining industry in the financial years 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82 and 1982–83.

The number of men on NCB colliery books increased by 765 during the Board's financial year 1979–80. It fell by 8,322 during 1980–81, by 11,998 during 1981–82, and by 10,174 during 1982–83.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many privately owned coal mines are currently operating; how many were operating in 1979; and whether he has any plans to liberalise their licensing.

The number of privately operated small mines working under licence from the National Coal Board at the end of the financial years 1979–80 and 1982–83 was as follows:

	1979–80	1982–83
Opencast sites	56	56
Underground mines	161	155

The Monopolies and Mergers Commission recommended in its recent report on the National Coal Board that the present statutory limit on individual opencast licences should be raised from 25,000 tons to 100,000 tonnes. We are giving careful consideration to this recommendation.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what plans he has to privatise the coal mining industry; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy on 4 July.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the current average price of derv in the United Kingdom.

The average retail price of derv on 15 September 1983 was 168p per gallon, inclusive of duty and VAT. This is the latest date for which fully reliable information is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the cost to public funds of the study undertaken by the accountants Peat Marwick Mitchell into the operation of the Atomic Energy Authority.

The payment made for the first stage mentioned in the reply by my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, Central (Mr. Moore) of 30 November 1982 was £20,193. The second stage mentioned in that reply, also being carried out by Peat Marwick and Mitchell, is expected to cost some £121,000, of which £79,000 has been paid.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will set out the staffing levels of his Department's energy conservation division for each year since its establishment, together with the current staffing of the energy efficiency unit.

The number of staff working in energy conservation division in each year since it was established is as follows (figures as at 1 April each year):

	Numbers
1978	25
1979	30
1980	30

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Erewash (Mr. Rost), Official Report, 7 November, c. 13, he will place a copy of his response to the Energy Committee's report on energy conservation in buildings in the Library.

I understand that the Clerk to the Select Committee has placed a copy of the Government's response in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the estimated annual cost of travel undertaken by civil servants employed by his Department (a) within the United Kingdom and (b) overseas.

The estimated annual cost of travel, including subsistence allowances, undertaken by civil servants employed by the Department of Energy for the financial year 1982–83 was was:

(a) within the United Kingdom—£650,000;

(b) overseas—£253,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the reply of 8 November to the right hon. Member for Down, South, how many members of the United Kingdom delegation to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation have a claim to the citizenship of a country other than the United Kingdom.

As far as can be ascertained from the information held by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, four members of the United Kingdom delegation to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation may have a claim to the citizenship of a country other than the United Kingdom. We cannot rule out the possibility that other members of the delegation might, by virtue of their place of birth or ancestry, also have some claim to the citizenship of other countries. This would depend on the nationality laws of the countries concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish an annual report of his Department's work.

Reports on my Department's work are frequently given to Parliament by way of White Papers, statements, answers to parliamentary questions and evidence to parliamentary committees. There are no plans to publish an annual report on the work of the Diplomatic Service, but the first annual review of the work of the Overseas Development Administration, entitled ' British Overseas Aid 1982", was published on 26 October, and copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Billericay on 3 November, Official Report, c. 447, if he will publish in the Official Report the names of the five British citizens and one British subject who are presently detained by the authorities without trial in the Republic of Zimbabwe; what information he has as to the specific grounds on which each has been detained; what response has so far been forthcoming from the Zimbabwe Government following representations by Her Majesty's Government; and if he will make a statement on the position of the one mono-British citizen.

The six men detained under the emergency powers regulations are Philip Hartlebury—the only mono-British citizen — Colin Evans, Nigel Lewis-Walker, Barrington Lloyd, Neville Weir and John Cox.The reasons given by the authorities in respect of Mr. Hartlebury and Mr. Evans are allegations of spying and, in respect of the other four, allegations of involvement in the sabotage at the Thornhill air base in July 1982.The Zimbabwe Government have said that the review tribunal procedure is to be followed. They are well aware of our concern that the men should be released as soon as possible.We understand that the review tribunal in respect of Mr. Hartlebury has not recommended his release. The tribunal procedure provides for a review every six months. When Mr. Hartlebury was last visited by a consular officer on 25 October he was reported to be fit and well.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress he made in his discussions with the Irish Foreign Minister on Monday 7 November on European Community financing, the budget and the common agricultural policy; and if he will make a statement.

There was agreement on the need to reach early decisions on the main issues currently under negotiation. My right hon. and learned Friend stressed the need for an equitable and lasting arrangement to deal with our budget burden. We agreed on the need to control surplus agricultural production. My right hon. and learned Friend made clear our view that this could be achieved only by a strict mechanism, such as that already proposed by the United Kingdom, accompanied by a rigorous price policy.Both parties agreed that the Community must develop new policies. My right hon. and learned Friend described our own far-reaching and cost effective proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he or his Department's officials have met representatives of Amnesty International to discuss its report on human rights; and if he will make a statement.

A meeting to discuss a report covering 117 countries would be unwieldy but we maintain contact with Amnesty about the situation in particular countries and shall take the report into account in formulating policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much profit or loss has been made from passport fees during each of the last five years for which records are available.

It is Government policy that the costs of providing passport and consular services should be covered by revenue from fees. The following figures are the profit or loss made on the passport and consular services in the last five financial years:

	Profit	Loss
	£	£
1978–79	3,874,145	—
1979–80	5,895,528	—
1980–81	6,825,746	—
1981–82	2,609,566	—
1982–83	—	2,822,002

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultation he held before deciding upon the new passport fees.

None. The existing level of passport and consular fees were no longer sufficient for revenue to cover increased costs. The present increases are therefore necessary to meet the Government's policy of ensuring full recovery of costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what profit or loss he expects to make from passport fees from 14 November.

After taking into account the fee increase on 14 November there is expected to be an overall loss on the passport and consular services in the financial year 1983–84 of approximately £4·9 million. On present estimates this will turn into a surplus of £3·9 million in 1984–85.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions in the last year the Governor of Gibraltar has overturned a decision of the Gibraltarian magistrates.

My right hon. and learned Friend is not aware of any such occasion.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will exercise his power under section 70 of the Children Act 1975 by prescribing conditions to be met before the court may issue an unruly certificate.

Section 70 of the Children Act 1975 has not yet been brought into operation. I have no immediate plans to implement the section and make regulation under it, but in the light of recent studies I am considering whether any further action is desirable to reduce the number of unruly certificates.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what share of dental treatment costs were met by patients' charges in Scotland in the financial years 1975–76 and 1982–83.

The income from charges to patients represented 15·97 per cent. of the total costs of the general dental services in 1975–76 and 24·42 per cent. in 1982–83.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) which bodies, other than the health boards and Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, he intends to consult about changes he proposes to make to the support financing scheme as a consequence of (a) the forthcoming implementation of section 2 of the Health and Social Services and Social Security Adjudications Act and (b) his current review of the scheme's administrative arrangements;(2) whether he has any plans similar to those announced for England in Department of Health and Social Security circular HC(83)6/LAC(83) 6;(3) whether he will make the support financing scheme more attractive to non-health board funding partners by amending the guidance on the proportion and duration of health board funding to bring it into line with the guidance issued in Department of Health and Social Security circular HC(83)6/LAC(83)6 in respect of the parallel English joint financing scheme.

In reviewing the operation of the support finance scheme, including its possible extension to housing and education as well as social work, we are taking into account the recently announced changes to the similar joint finance scheme in England. We have not yet considered which interested organisations should be consulted about any consequential changes to the existing arrangements, other than health boards and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of the finance available under the support financing scheme in Scotland was taken up in the financial year 1982–83.

Expenditure by Health Boards amounted to £1·03 million, slightly more than half the sum available in that year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he proposes to announce the results of his current review of the arrangements for the support financing scheme in Scotland.

As soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money he proposes to allocate in the financial years 1984–85 to 1989–90 for the establishment and running costs of designated places under section 5 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980; and whether this allocation is separately identifiable.

The level of funding will depend on the number of grant applications received and approved. My Department is paying a capital grant of up to £150,000 to the sponsors of a designated place in Aberdeen which opened in September, and will meet the greater part of the running costs for three years from that date. Any further applications will be carefully considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for formal public consultation on the proposals of "Keeping Offenders Out of Court: Further Alternatives to Prosecution", the second report of the Stewart committee on alternatives to prosecution, which was presented to Parliament on 6 July.

As my right hon. Friend indicated in his answer to the hon. Member for Aberdeen, South (Mr. Malone) on 7 July 1983, he and his noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate have invited comments from a wide range of interested bodies, including legal, medical and other organisations.—[Vol. 45, c. 145.] Comments from members of the public would be welcome, preferably before the end of 1983. In accordance with normal practice, a public file has been opened for all comments, except those which we are asked to treat as confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he has given to the new town development corporations on future house construction; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to the reply, 21 March 1983; c. 342]: I regret that there was an omission, due to a typing error, in the reply given. The full text of the reply is as follows:

"I have recently confirmed the view set out in the Government's policy statement of September 1981 that new house building in the new towns must be undertaken increasingly by the private sector. The obvious exception will be the special needs category, for which new housing to rent will still be built by the development corporations. In pursuit of that objective the development corporations have been asked for detailed proposals on how they can help the private sector to provide the housing required for the continued expansion of their new towns."

Whole-time equivalents as at 30 September
	Physiotherapists		Radiographers		Occupational Therapists		Speech Therapists		Laboratory Technicians
	1981	1982	1981	1982	1981	1982	1981	1982	1981	1982
Clwyd	55	56	58	63	10	12	11	13	55	66
Dyfed*	40	40	42	43	10	9	7	7	70	80
Gwent	43	45	63	66	20	21	9	7	78	80
Gwynedd	29	30	30	34	6	8	8	9	41	43
Mid-Glamorgan	48	47	73	75	19	19	13	12	98	98

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the current waiting list and the average waiting time for chiropody treatments in each of the health authorities in Wales.

This information is not held centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with the availability and requirements of domiciliary chiropody treatment

The level of the chiropody service in a particular area is essentially a matter for the health authority concerned. But the main factor limiting expansion of services is the national shortage of state registered chiropodists. It is for this reason that health authorities in the main confine services to the priority groups, which would include elderly and disabled housebound people. The requirements of treatment in a domiciliary visit are matters for the professional judgment of the chiropodist concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if there are any unfilled vacancies for chiropodists in Wales at present.

This information is not held centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many beds in each health authority in Wales have been kept unoccupied for the past three months, six months and 12 months.

Information on bed occupation is obtained from nightly bed counts, the results of which are averaged over a quarterly period. It is not possible to derive from this the length of time for which any particular bed has remained unoccupied.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what have been the changes in the numbers of physiotherapists, radiographers, occupational therapists, speech therapists and fully qualified laboratory technicians in each of the health authorities in Wales over the past two years.

The information is given in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of the nursing staff employed (a) in hospitals and (b) in the community by each health authority in Wales are in possession of SRN, SEN or an equivalent qualification in the nursing profession.

The information, as at 30 September 1982, is given in the following table:

	Percentage Qualified
Health Authority	Hospital Nursing/Midwifery Staff	Community Nursing/Midwifery Staff
Clwyd	65·1	87·3
East Dyfed	64·2	91·5
Gwent	63·5	92·3
Gwynedd	60·7	87·6
Mid-Glamorgan	64·7	88·1
Powys	51·5	70·6
South Glamorgan	61·2	80·4
West Glamorgan	74·6	88·6
Pembrokeshire	65·2	93·7

Specialty	Clwyd	East Dyfed	Gwent	Gwynedd	Pembs.	Powys	Mid Glam.	South Glam.	West Glam.
Geriatrics	2	—	1	1	—	—	1	—	—
Radiology	1	—.	—	—	—	—	1	2	—
Anaesthetics	2	1	1	—	1	—	—	2	1
Mental Illnes	1	—	1	—	—	—	—	—	1
Traumatic and Orthopaedic	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	1
Obstetrics/Gynaecology	—	1	—	—	1	—	1	—	1
Orthodontics	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	—	—
General Medicine	—	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Cardiology (Paediatric)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	—
General Surgery	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	—
General Surgery/Urology	—	—	1	—	—	—	—	—	—
Chemical Pathology	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	—
ENT	—	1	—	—	—	—	1	—	—
Urology	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Ophthalmology	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1
Neurology	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1
Neuro-Surgery	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	—
Clinical Genetics	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	—
Clinical Neuro-Physiology	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	—
Paediatrics	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	—
Oral Surgery	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	—
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	—

asked the the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the status of the proposed command and control system for New Scotland Yard; and if he will place a copy of the detailed operational requirement or specification of the system in the Library.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the first phase of the

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many qualified nurses are on duty between the hours of 8 pm and 7 am per 1,000 patients in each of the health authorities in Wales (a) in acute district general hospitals, (b) community or cottage hospitals and (c) mental hospitals.

This information is not held centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many additional consultants, and in what specialties, he expects to approve during the current financial year for each of the health authorities in Wales; and what will be the starting dates of each individual appointment.

I have given the following approvals for 1983–84. Individual authorities are responsible for making appointments and arranging starting dates.command and control system is expected to begin its final trials in March 1984 and to come into operational use in June 1984.The commissioner informs me that, primarily for reasons of security, he does not wish to make the operational requirement or specification widely available. We do not consider, therefore, that it would be right to place these documents in the Library.

asked the the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place a copy of the fifth edition of the Association of Chief Police Officers publication "Police Use of Computers" in the Library, together with a copy of the codes of practice for use of information on the police national computer which has been produced by his Department in conjunction with the Association of Chief Police Officers.

The fifth edition of "Police Use of Computers" was placed in the Library in September. A copy of the "Code of Practice for the Protection of Personal Data Held on the Police National Computer" has been placed in the Library today.

asked the the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans exist for the standardisation of software, hardware, communications equipment or data between police force criminal information computer systems; and whether these plans provide for a common use of communications equipment and standards between neighbouring police forces or the provision of terminal connections to neighbouring police forces.

Some data standards have been issued, and work on this is continuing. The Department is also working on a model operational requirement for criminal information systems which it hopes to commend to police forces in due course, following consultation with the Association of Chief Police Officers.In addition, we have issued guidance to police forces on the use of computers in major criminal investigations, which commends the use of a particular software package, and stresses the need for compatibility in case the databases of linked enquiries need to be merged.No other national plans have been made for the standardisation of force criminal information systems, nor have any such plans been made for the common use of communications equipment or the provision of terminal connections to neighbouring forces.

asked the the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the status of the proposed criminal information system for New Scotland Yard; if he will place a copy of the detailed operational requirement or specification of the system in the Library; what facilities this system will have, not currently provided by the Metropolitan C department computer; and whether the C department computer will be linked to the proposed system.

My right hon. and learned Friend is considering, with the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, whether to proceed to detailed design work on a computerised crime report information system.If implemented, the system would replace crime books, some associated indices and the present crime statistics computer. There would be no overlap with the computer facilities dedicated to C department and there are no plans for any link with these facilities.The commissioner informs me that, primarily for reasons of security, he does not intend to make the operational requirement or specification widely available. We do not consider therefore that it would be right to place these documents, when available, in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to appendix C of his White Paper on police complaints and discipline, how many of the 1,455 convictions of police officers on discipline charges in 1982 led to punishment or loss of pay; and if he will publish a table showing as nearly as may be the number of punishments imposed on police officers sentenced for disciplinary offences in 1982 which led to penalties in each of the following categories; loss of less than one week's pay, more than one week but less than four weeks' pay, more than four weeks' but less then three months' pay, more than three months' but less than six months' pay and more than six months' pay.

This information is not collected centrally in the form requested, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The information available records the number of officers convicted of one or more disciplinary offences and the heaviest punishment imposed in respect of each officer. In 1982, 743 police officers were convicted of a total of 1,455 disciplinary offences. Of these, 367 officers received a fine as their most serious punishment, and 30 a reduction in their rate of pay. Information on the size of financial penalties is not centrally available; but the Police (Discipline) Regulations provide that a reduction in rate of pay may not take an officer's pay below the minimum for his rank and may not be imposed for more than 12 months, while a fine imposed for any one offence may not exceed the equivalent of 13 days of an officer's pay.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to incorporate civil defence in the training programmes of the uniformed youth organisations associated with the armed forces as an option additional to the training directly related to the appropriate certificates.

I do not believe this would be the right use of the cadet force organisations whose main aim is to give encouragement and training to those considering a career with the armed forces, whose tasks do not include civil defence. Cadets are, however, free to undertake civil defence training as individuals if they wish to do so, and under the new regulations that the House approved recently, local authorities are required to train suitable civil defence volunteers.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress is being made on the liberalisation of trade in services throughout the world.

Progress towards a possible international agreement on the liberalisation of trade in services is still in its early stages. As the result of the GATT ministerial meeting last November, interested countries are working towards a decision, probably in late 1984, about a next stage towards such an agreement. We will certainly play our full part in this.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will take steps to assist those industries in Leicester that are labour intensive

There is already considerable Government aid available to firms in Leicester under our national schemes of assistance. Since 1979 over £1·5 million has been offered for 173 projects under section 8 of the Industrial Development Act 1982. In addition, grants are available under the support for innovation programme towards the adoption and development of new technology, whilst my Department's manufacturing, technical, design and small firms advisory services offer excellent business counselling.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress is being made in the discussions on reducing the barriers to trade within the European Community.

The discussions of the Council of Ministers on the internal market on 26 October made some progress on the three priority areas identified at the Copenhagen European Council last December. These were, first, the creation of an early warning system for new standards and technical regulations adopted by member states and which might impede intra-Community trade; secondly, the adoption of a series of measures to reduce frontier formalities; and, thirdly, a resolution of the problem of certification of third country goods.The early warning system for standards was agreed in March this year and is in the process of being set in place. As I said in my statement on 1 November, the last internal market Council reached agreement on all the main elements of the proposed frontier facilitation directive which in particular provides for common opening hours for major customs posts at adjacent frontiers, streamlined checking procedures, fast lanes for transit traffic. There was also agreement at the 26 October Council to resume progress on the technical aspects of those article 100 standards harmonising directives which have been blocked by the question of Community certification of third country goods. The aim is to identify directives which do not have this so-called third country problem and which could be adopted at an early stage.In addition, the Council has agreed a number of other minor but useful internal market measures durng the course of this year.The next meeting of the Council will be on 25 November. I hope that there will be further progress at this Council. The removal of the remaining non-tariff impediments to trade in both goods and services within the Community is a matter to which the Government attach high importance.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legislation to remove limited liability from the directors of failed companies up to a period of three years from the date of liquidation or receivership of the company concerned.

The report of the insolvency law review committee contained a number of recommendations for dealing with the problem of directors of failed companies, including removal of limited liability. I think that it is important that proposals for insolvency law reform should be dealth with as a whole. I intend to issue a White Paper in the new year stating the Government's conclusions with a view to legislation as soon as possible thereafter.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will reform the system of tariffs on imports of microprocessors and semi-conductors so that they no longer operate in favour of foreign-made microprocessors.

The Government are considering the recommendation of the electronics economic development committee that the tariff on semi-conductors should be reduced. As the unanimous agreement of EC member states is necessary for any reduction to be made in the common customs tariff, we will also have to discuss this within the Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the current level of industrial production compared with May 1979.

The index of industrial production for the third quarter of 1983 is 101·0. This compares with a figure of 106·9 for the first half of 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many research projects are currently being undertaken or sponsored by his Department's small firms division.

There are 10 research projects currently being undertaken or sponsored by the small firms division.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will announce his review of regional policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is yet in a position to publish the conclusions of the departmental review of regional policy; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member and my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) and my hon. Friend the Member for Cornwall, South-East (Mr. Hicks).

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he is having with local authorities concerning his review of regional economic policy.

As I said in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Darlington (Mr. Fallon) and the hon. Members for Stoke on Trent, Central (Mr. Fisher) and Blackburn (Mr. Straw), the White Paper, which I intend to publish shortly, will invite views from interested parties on a number of issues. No doubt many lc cal auhorities will make their views known. We shall, of course, take their views into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the European Community Commission draft directive on motor vehicle pricing.

I presume that my hon. Friend is referring to the draft Commission regulation under the competition rules.The Government would in principle welcome an exemption of the motor vehicle distribution agreements provided certain conditions were met. But a good deal of further discussion in Brussels will first be necessary. I shall take account of the views of manufacturers, dealers and consumers before deciding the line we take.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he is taking about the restrictions imposed by the United States Government on special steel imports.

The Government fully support the vigorous efforts that the European Community is making to obtain appropriate compensation from the United States for the effect of these restrictions; and to secure exemption from the restrictions for a number of products of interest to our own producers.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside, of 1 November, Official Report, c. 327, whether the Office of Fair Trading has reached a conclusion regarding the proposed takeover of J. Bibby Edible Oils Ltd. of Liverpool by Bunge and Co. Ltd.

This appears to be a merger qualifying for investigation under the Fair Trading Act 1973; and the Director-General of Fair Trading will advise me on it in the usual way.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make proposals to help the United Kingdom container manufacturers retain their share of the United Kingdom market.

My Department operates a number of schemes, both financial and technical, which encourage the development of more sophisticated design and production techniques by which the competitiveness of our engineering industries can be improved both at home and overseas. That support is available to British manufacturers of freight containers, and I would encourage them to take due advantage of it.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the value of footwear imports from Italy over each of the past three years.