asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the commitment made in Accra in November 1980 by the then Minister of State to support the Overseas Development Agency spending programme on rehabilitation of the water supply in Kumasi, Ghana, remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

:Support for the rehabilitation of the Kumasi water supply has been under consideration for some time. The costs of making the necessary improvements are likely to be very much higher than original estimates; and at the same time the overall economic situation of Ghana has deteriorated sharply. In these changed circumstances, we do not believe it would be a sensible use of resources to proceed with this project at this stage. We believe priority should be given to those sectors which have the best prospects for generating income and foreign exchange earnings, in accordance with the Ghana Government's economic recovery programme as agreed with the IMF and the World Bank.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether his Department received a request by post in September 1983 from Councillor Mrs. Haig McKitty on Wealden district council, East Sussex for the supply by post of a large number of individual company records; whether these records were supplied on microfiche; how many were supplied; and what was the price charged.

The request was received for information contained in the records of approximately 200 companies. Microfiche copies of the records of 148 companies were subsequently made available for collection. Due to a misunderstanding of instructions, a charge of £35 was made for this service. This amount, however, did represent the marginal cost of providing the copies.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report such information as he has concerning the profits on shipbuilding and repair earned in the major shipbuilding countries as a percentage of sales.

No. Such information as I have does not provide a valid basis for international comparison.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for 1970, 1977 and 1982 the proportion of United States imports in each standard industrial trades classification division for manufactures accounted for by imports from the United Kingdom, such information as he has as to the corresponding figures for imports from Germany and Japan, and the respective changes in the real exchange rate based on the Smithsonian parity.

The information on imports is in the following tables. There is no unique real exchange rate.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing each year since 1970 and 1983 to date the United Kingdom share of imports of manufactures into: (a) the European Community, (b) Denmark, (c) the Irish Republic, (d) Greece, (e) the European Free Trade Association countries, (f) the Commonwealth and (g) the world less the European Community and European Free Trade Association countries.

The data requested are in the follwing table, except in respect of the Commonwealth and the world for which comparable information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing each year since 1970 and for 1983 to date the export-import ratio for trade in manufactures with (a) the European Community, (b) Denmark, (c) the Irish

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will revise the tables in the Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics to include annual figures going back to 1970, quarterly figures to the beginning of 1979 and monthly figures only for 12 months.

Tables covering the additional information referred to in the hon. Member's question are published each year in an annual supplement. The frequency of revisions to the information does not warrant more regular publication.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what responsibilities he has for radio frequency regulation.

My right hon. Friend has all the responsibilities and functions arising from the provisions of the Wireless Telegraphy Acts, except for those relating to broadcasting matters which are exercised by the Secretary of State for the Home Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will outline the details and responsibility which his Department still has for metrication.

My Department's responsibility is to ensure that as those sectors of trade and industry which have not yet adopted metrication decide to do so, it is introduced in an orderly way. A particular concern will he to see that, where appropriate, consumers are adequately protected and informed.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in the light of the findings of the recent survey conducted by the Greater Manchester council consumer services department of petrol pumps in its locality, a copy of which has been sent to him, he will review the operation of the Weights and Measures Act 1963 as it affects delivery of short measures; and if he will make a statement.

I am aware of the concern that has been expressed about the setting of petrol pumps by some garages to take maximum advantage within the law of the permitted tolerance of plus or minus 0·5 per cent. in the Measuring Equipment (Liquid Fuel and Lubricants) Regulations. I am considering this matter in order to decide what action may be necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he proposes to introduce an open publicly advertised tender policy for his Department's telecommunications requirements and services nationwide; and if he will make a statement.

Tendering arrangements for my Department's telecommunications requirements are determined by the central computer and telecommunications agency which is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what changes have taken place in the last six months in European Community steel production quotas, listed by product and by country.

The quotas are allocated to steel producers by the European Commission in accordance with decision 2177/83/ECSC and its predecessors. No information is available concerning the breakdown by member states. The quota allocation to each steel producer is commercially confidential. The Commission does, however, publish each quarter overall quota levels, which have been as follows for each product:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from (a) the British Steel Corporation and (b) private sector steel companies concerning difficulties created by the operation of European Community production quotas.

My Department is in regular contact with the British Steel Corporation and the British Independent Steel Producers Association on the Community's steel production quota system, which they have generally supported. Contacts also take place from time to time with individual private sector steel companies. These discussions provide the opportunity for dealing with any specific problems that arise in connection with the operation of the quota system.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will extend after 1983 the Government's boiler conversion scheme for industry on a long-term basis; and if he will widen the scheme to include service activities such as hospitals, schools and local authority offices.

The future and scope of the coal firing scheme is under consideration and an announcement will be made within the next few weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will use his powers under section 8 of the Industrial Development Act 1982 to establish temporary aid schemes to support the restructuring of certain traditional industries and fish processing in rural areas.

[pursuant to his reply, 18 November 1983, c. 587]: We prefer Industrial Development Act schemes to encourage particular technologies or innovation without reference to the sector or location in which applicants operate, and to support individual firms under those schemes and against the criteria of sections 7 and 8 of the Industrial Development Act 1982.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements on 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 November.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend is attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in New Delhi.

asked the Prime Minister what representations she has made to President Reagan regarding the possible resumption of American arms sales to Argentina in advance of a formal agreement to end hostilities by the Argentine Administration.

I have been asked to reply.As the House knows, my right hon. Friend made our position very clear to the President when she saw him in September. The United States Administration are very well aware of our concern. We have been glad to note the remarks by the United States Defence Secretary that the United States would exercise caution about the resumption of major new supplies.

Short asked the Prime Minister if Her Majesty's Government will issue guidance to chief officers of police about the manner in which the police respond to information they receive alleging serious crime.

I have been asked to reply.No. How the police respond to information they receive is an operational matter for each individual chief officer of police.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the conclusions of the booklet published by the metropolitan borough of Tameside "Tameside: The Case for Aid", a copy of which has been sent to her.

asked the Prime Minister if she has studied the booklet published by the metropolitan borough of Tameside "Tameside: The Case for Aid" a copy of which has been sent to her by the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish; and if the Government will now give Tameside the same treatment as other areas with similar problems.

I have been asked to reply.Tameside's case for assisted area status, and for designation under to Inner Urban Areas Act has been regularly reviewed. My right hon. Friends at the Departments of the Environment and Trade and Industry will assess the material in the booklet "Tameside: The Case for Aid" in relation to other relevant facts and the claims of other areas. It is too early to say what the coverage of a revised assisted areas map might be. The White Paper on regional industrial policy, which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry will publish shortly, will seek views on this aspect of regional industrial policy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the European Community Commission reached its figure showing that the United Kingdom contribution to the European Community budget was less than Her Majesty's Government had claimed.

The Commission suggested changing the definition of Community expenditure used for calculating budgetary burdens so as to exclude part of administrative expenditure and the part of CAP guarantee expenditure which corresponds to food aid restitutions and sugar imports from ACP countries and India. It also proposed that the remainder of CAP guarantee expenditure should be attributed to member states taking account of shares of production of CAP-supported commodities, rather than by its geographical location. The Government have made clear that they regard these proposed changes in the methodology which has been accepted for the past four years as unsound, unhelpful and unacceptable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the real rate of return earned by nationalised industries in the last financial year.

The information is available only on a calendar year basis and is not yet available for 1982. Figures for previous years were given by my right hon.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out in the Official Report details of where the imposition and impact of value added tax in the United Kingdom differs from European Community requirements and practice.

The main European Community requirements are included in the sixth VAT directive which was implemented by United Kingdom legislation in 1977. The directive allows for considerable variations in administrative practice between member states, and it is not practicable to list these.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out in the Official Report the level of public expenditure as a proportion of gross domestic product in each country in the European Community for each of the last five years.

[pursuant to his reply, 18 November 1983, c. 596]: International comparisons of public expenditure are not available. Total Government outlays^* as a percentage of GDP for 1977–1981 are as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost to the Exchequer of allowing (a) all tax reliefs and (b) personal tax allowances against higher rates of tax rather than the standard rate only.

[pursuant to his reply, 18 November 1983, c. 596]: The cost at 1983–84 levels of income of allowing personal tax allowances at rates in excess of the basic rate of income tax is estimated at about £300 million. Information on the similar cost of other reliefs is available only in respect of mortgage interest, retirement annuity premiums and employees' superannuation contributions. These reliefs are estimated to cost about £250 million. It is not possible to estimate precisely the combined yield from restricting these reliefs and personal allowances to the basic rate, but it is thought to be about £600 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total rateable value of the National Health Service medical facilities for each local authority in 1981–82 and 1982–83.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 November 1983]: Property in the occupation of the Crown, which includes National Health Service property, is exempt from rates, but contributions in lieu of rates are made on values determined by the Treasury Valuer. In the case of the National Health Service, payments of contributions are made to each local authority by the health authority concerned. I regret that the values, by individual rating authority, cannot be provided without a disproportionate expenditure of time and resources. The equivalent rateable values of all National Health Service hereditaments on which contributions are based throughout Great Britain are as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total rateable value of non-National Health Service medical facilities for each local authority in 1981–82 and 1982–83.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 November 1983]: I have today placed a copy of the information for each rating authority in England and Wales in the House of Commons Library.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total rateable value of the charitable private hospitals and nursing homes for each local authority in 1981–82 and 1982–83.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 November 1983]: I regret that this information is not available centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Under Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts, in the light of the proposals in the White Paper, "Streamlining the Cities", if he will permit the Arts Council to use Exchequer finance to make good any shortfall in local authority contributions.

It is for the Arts Council to decide, within the resources available to it, what grants to make to individual arts bodies and activities in the light of its judgment of their artistic merits, their financial needs, and the extent of funding from other sources. The Government's proposals envisage that additional funding will be provided to the Arts Council in respect of a small number of arts bodies and activities which are of special national significance and have hitherto relied substantially on the Greater London council and the metropolitan county councils for support.

asked the Attorney-General (1) how many maintenance orders, and for what amounts, were made to wives, wives and children, and children, following divorce over a recent convenient period; and if he has figures to show how many of these orders are compiled with;(2) how often maintenance is granted to women in a divorce when there are no dependent children.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) on 14 November 1983.

asked the Attorney-General how many staff were employed in county courts for the years 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982; and how many small claims applications were lodged in 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982.

The number of county court staff—including bailiffs—in post at 1 April in each of the years mentioned was as follows: 1979–5886; 1980–5528; 1981–5383; 1982–5351.As regards small claims application, it is not possible to give precise figures, but the estimated numbers of money plaints issued for amounts that were below the financial limit for the time being for the small claims procedure are shown in the table below.

asked the Attorney-General what was the total cost to public funds of the recent conspiracy trial at Cardiff crown court.

Where costs are payable from public funds, they are subject to taxation by the appropriate officer of the court. This process has not yet commenced. No payment will be made until the process is complete.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Arapho project.

Further to the statement made by my hon. Friend the Member for Hertfordshire, North (Mr. Stewart) on 12 May 1983—[Vol. 42, c. 472] I can now report that equipping and converting MV Astronomer to carry the Arapho helicopter operating and maintenance system is now virtually complete. The ship, which was renamed RFA Reliant on 16 November 1983, is expected to be accepted from the contractors in early December. After a period of sea trials and working up which will involve helicopter operations, the Reliant is planned to deploy in its operational role as a Royal Fleet Auxiliary support ship in February 1984.The operational experience which will be gained with Reliant and the Arapaho system will be invaluable in the development of future plans for the use of merchant vessels in the emergency support of naval operations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on the latest available figures, how many inmates of Leeds prison were (a) under the age of 17 years and (b) how many of these were on remand.

According to the records held centrally there were no juveniles in Leeds prison on 30 September 1983, the latest date for which information is readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners, whether awaiting trial or convicted, have escaped from custody or escort and are still at large; and (a) what number of these are deemed to be dangerous and (b) how many were convicted or awaiting trial on offences involving violence.

Reliable information is not available for the period before 1981. Of those adult prisoners who escaped from closed prisons between 1 January 1981 and 30 September 1983, 24 were still at large on 17 November 1983. A further 75, who had absconded from within open establishments were also at large. We have no set definition of "dangerous", but nine of the 99 prisoners referred to above had been convicted of offences of violence against the person.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the new changes as to the legal representation of prisoners appearing before prison boards of visitors' adjudications.

Arrangements have been made to ensure that boards of visitors are aware of the Divisional Court's judgment in the case of R. v. Board of Visitors, Her Majesty's Prison Albany, ex parte Tarrant and others. Boards will ensure that prisoners charged before them are aware of their discretion to grant legal representation and are given an opportunity to apply for it. My right hon. and learned Friend has decided that where a board grants legal representation to a prisoner who is unable to pay for it the cost should be met from public funds on an ex gratia basis. He has also decided that where a prisoner is legally represented the governor should be represented also by a lawyer, who will ensure that evidence supporting the charge is presented to the board.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what will be the rights of solicitors asked to appear on behalf of prisoners appearing before prison boards of visitors adjudications as to the calling of witnesses and the visiting of prisons; and if he will make a statement.

As the divisional Court emphasised in its judgment in the case of R. v. Board of Visitors, Her Majesty's Prison Albany, ex parte Tarrant and others, a board of visitors is the master of its own procedure. However section 47(2) of the Prison Act 1952 provides that a person charged with an offence under the rules should be given a proper opportunity of presenting his own case, and this is developed by prison rule 49(2). It is clearly open to a prisoner or, where he is legally represented, to his representative to ask for witnesses to be called and a board will consider whether it is right to grant the request in the light of its duty to give the prisoner a full opportunity of presenting his case. When a board grants legal representation it will be open to the representative to visit the prison to interview his client or, by arrangement with the governor, to interview any other person who is willing to see him and who has relevant evidence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what public funds are to be made available to prisons so as to meet the cost of legal representation of prisoners, in view of the new procedures in the hearing of prison boards of visitors adjudications; and if he will make a statement.

Prisoners are not entitled to have the costs of legal representation before boards of visitors paid out of public funds, and the legal aid scheme does not cover such representation. My right hon. and learned Friend has however decided that where a prisoner cannot afford to be legally represented, some or all of his costs will be paid out of public funds on an ex gratia basis.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Prison Officers Association on the changes of procedures in prison board of visitors adjudications.

My right hon. and learned Friend has not yet discussed this with the Prison Officers Association but he will be glad to do so at an appropriate opportunity.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if, in view of the changes in legal representation now available to prisoners appearing before prison boards of visitors adjudications, he will now ensure that all boards have a clerk who is legally qualified;(2) if he will introduce a new system of hearing prison adjudications by people who are legally qualified.

No, but these matters will be for consideration by the departmental committee on adjudications, the establishment of which my right hon. and learned Friend announced in answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesham (Mr. Brinton) on 24 October.—[Vol. 47 c. 20–21.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Broxbourne (Mrs. Roe) on 15 November, Official Report, c. 377, what encouragement he is giving to the introduction of neighbourhood watch schemes throughout the rest of England and Wales.

The introduction of neighbourhood watch or any other crime prevention scheme requiring police help is a matter for the chief officer of police of the area concerned. Home Office Ministers have, however, on several occasions expressed support for neighbourhood watch, and I recently visited the Metropolitan police scheme in Fulham.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now reconsider his decision to cut the pay of trainee probation officers; and if he will make a statement.

No. As I stated in my reply to a previous question by the hon. Member, on 13 July, we cannot accept that expenditure levels should be maintained when the special circumstances which justified the previous level of expenditure have ceased to apply.—[Vol. 45 c. 353.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to obtain and place in the Library the national instruction manual for gun-carrying policemen which is due to be issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers of England and Wales to all officers before the end of the year.

I am writing to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will cause a local inquiry to be held under section 32 of the Police Act 1964 into the conduct of the south Wales police and other forces during the police investigations leading up to the recent conspiracy trial in Cardiff; and if he will make a statement.

No. In accordance with the provisions of section 49 of the Police Act 1964, the deputy chief constable of the south Wales police has invited an assistant chief constable from the Merseyside police to investigate complaints against the police made by defendants in this trial.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of south Wales police as to the total cost of the police operation leading up to the recent conspiracy trial at Cardiff Crown court.