asked the Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts whether consideration is still being given to the formal request by the Greek ambassador on 12 October for the return of the Parthenon marbles.

Yes.

asked the Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts what information he has about the operation of concert halls in other parts of the world; and which currently operate along commercially viable lines.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 December 1983, c. 337]: Very little comparative information is available. In the course of the recent financial scrutiny of the Royal opera house, the team examined opera houses in a number of other countries, some of which put on concerts as well as opera. Of those they examined, only the New York Metropolitan opera house operated without major public subsidy, although there is, of course, an element of tax revenue forgone in respect of private and corporate donations.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Energy what discussions he has had with the Central Electricity Generating Board about future investment plans concerning (a) refurbishment of existing turbines and (b) requirement for new turbines; and if he will make a statement.

My officials have frequent discussions with the Central Electricity Generating Board about various aspects of its investment plans, but detailed questions such as these are a matter for the board.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will substitute environmental criteria in place of economic assessment as the basis for his measurement of performance for nuclear power.

The electricity industry has to meet the environmental requirements of the relevant authorities. The cost of meeting these requirements is, of course, an essential part of the economic appraisal of nuclear power and of its overall costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to the press notice issued by his Department covering onshore petroleum licensing awards, what percentage of land represented by licence number PL259 is contained within the Christchurch parliamentary constituency; what steps he is taking to enable constituents in the area concerned to make representations in relation to the proposals he has enclosed with the notice; and if he will make a statement.

Approximately 35 per cent. of the area of PL259 is within the boundary of the Christchurch constituency. The licensee must obtain prior permission from any land owner and occupier for any operation, and he must obtain all other consents required including planning permission. Constituents in any area concerned will therefore be able to make their representations direct to the licensee or through the normal planning channels as appropriate.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will list for each year since 1978–79 the total number of appointments of all kinds it fell within the power of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to make, whether or not such appointments actually fell to be made in the year in question.

My noble friend is responsible for making the following appointments:1. All magistrates in the counties of Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside. The numbers of magistrates appointed each year since 1978 are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many people were employed in Wales in March 1974; of

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why the National Girobank will not accept accounts in the names of people suffering mental illness or mental handicap.

This is a commercial matter for National Girobank. However, I understand that a person who by reason of a mental handicap or disorder is incapable of managing and administering his property and affairs is also usually considered unfitted to give a bank legally binding instructions about the operation of a bank account. The appropriate course in these circumstances is for a relative of such a person to apply to the court of protection which has powers to appoint a receiver to look after that person's affairs. National Girobank would consider an application to open an account in the name of a properly appointed receiver for such a person.

The information is not available for March 1974. Figures for June 1974 and June 1983 are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what latest evaluation his Department has made of the total number of students who will be in state primary, secondary and tertiary places of education in Wales, respectively, in each year from 1983 to 1993 inclusive.

The latest available information is shown in the following table. A comparable evaluation is not possible for further and higher education.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will appoint to the tourist board members with a direct working experience of the industry; and if he will make a statement.

The majority of the present board members of the British Tourist Authority and the English Tourist Board have direct working experience of the tourism, travel or leisure industries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when grants under section 4 of the Tourism Act which have been authorised during 1983 will be paid.

Payments of section 4 grants are made when the projects to which they relate are satisfactorily completed. In the case of larger projects, stage payments may be made in respect of satisfactorily completed work as the project proceeds.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will make it his policy not to permit grants under section 4 of the Development of Tourism Act 1969 to be made to companies able to obtain funds from other sources;(2) if he is satisfied with the operation of section 4 of the Development of Tourism Act 1969 in relation to defining need; and if he will make a statement.

It is already a requirement of the section 4 scheme that assistance may be offered only in respect of desirable projects which would otherwise not go ahead at all or in the form or time scale proposed. The assessment of need takes account not only of an applicant company's available resources but also, in appropriate cases, the extent to which alternative investment options, which are more attractive to the company, are competing for those resources.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry under what statutory authority the grant of £270,000 towards the refurbishment of Blackpool tower by Trust House Forte was made.

A grant of £270,000 for the refurbishment of Blackpool tower has been offered by the English Tourist Board to First Leisure Corporation PLC under section 4 of the Development of Tourism Act 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the reply by the hon. Member for Suffolk, Coastal (Mr. Gummer) on 7 December to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe, what are his responsibilities for the effects on public health of the extensive use of microwaves in telecommunications; and what his Department has done in this matter.

My Department is responsible for licensing those, other than the broadcasters, seeking microwave radio facilities. As part of the licensing procedure applicants are asked to declare that the field strengths around stations will not exceed the permitted levels recommended by the Medical Research Council or that, where they do, safety precautions will be followed and members of the public will be excluded from the area.My Department liaises with the Health and Safety Executive about the work done in this field on the latter's behalf by the National Radiological Protection Board, which is now responsible for advising the Government on the standards of protection that should be adopted in the future.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much public money has been put into Norton Villiers Triumph either by grant or share purchase; what is the present state of the negotiations to sell the Government's shareholding; how long these negotiations have been taking place; and if he will make a statement on Government policy towards its continuing involvement with the company.

In 1973, financial assistance of £4·872 million was made available through the purchase by the Department of £3·5 million of A preference shares and £1.372 million of B preference shares in Norton Villiers Triumph Ltd. In 1977 the Department agreed to the redemption of £2·5 million A preference shares for a consideration of £500,000, reducing the Department's holding to £1 million of A and £1·372 million of B preference shares.It is the Department's intention to dispose of this remaining shareholding, and negotiations, which began in 1981, are currently taking place for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why no documents relating to Special Security Services Ltd., Hyde, Cheshire, are available at Companies house.

There is no such company registered at Companies house.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots are employed at the United Kingdom sovereign bases at (a) Dikelya and (b) Akrotiri.

Some 1,999 Greek Cypriots are employed at the United Kingdom sovereign base at Akrotiri, and 884 at the base at Dikelya; 337 Turkish Cypriots are employed at Dikelya. In addition, 156 Turkish and Greek Cypriots are employed at other British installations in the Republic of Cyprus.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the United Kingdom's host nation support arrangements with the Federal Republic of Germany have yet been confirmed in a formal agreement.

I am pleased to be able to say that, at a ceremony in Bonn today, the State Secretary of the Federal Foreign Ministry and the British ambassador have signed., on behalf of their respective Governments, an agreement governing the provision of host nation support to United Kingdom forces by the Federal Republic during tension or war. In response to the commitment by the United Kingdom Government to reinforce their armed forces in the Federal Republic in accordance with current NATO reinforcement plans at a time of tension or war after consultation between the two Governments and NATO, the agreement constitutes an undertaking by the Federal Government to provide appropriate civilian assistance in support of the United Kingdom forces.The agreement places on a formal basis the informal discussion and planning which has taken place between the two Governments over a long period. It will ensure that the reinforcement of the Federal Republic by United Kingdom forces in times of tension or war can be carried our promptly and efficiently.A copy of the text of the agreement has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give the starting date for each of the following road developments in Gloucestershire: the A417 Birdlip bypass, the A417 Brockworth bypass and A417 Stratton bypass.

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his interest in my constituency. Subject to completion of the necessary statutory procedures I expect construction to start on the Birdlip bypass towards the end of 1985 and on Brockworth bypass towards the end of 1986. As indicated in the White Paper "Policy for Roads—England 1983" (Cmnd. 9059) work on the Stratton bypass is currently suspended and I cannot say now when it may prove possible to restore this scheme to the active programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what review has been undertaken of progress to date in implementing the recommendations of the Armitage inquiry on lorries and the environment; and if he will make a statement.

We continue to make good progress in implementing the package of measures endorsed by the House in November 1982. Fifteen new bypasses were added to the trunk road programme in May bringing the total number now in planning or under construction to 160. New requirements for rear underrun protection, sideguards and noise limits have been brought into force. Work is continuing on further noise reduction and on spray suppression. Enforcement of the law on overloading has been stepped up; the number of traffic examiners has been increased and 47 dynamic axle weighbridges are now in operation. I expect the momentum to be kept up in 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each year since 1978–79 the total number of appointments of all kinds it fell within his power to make, whether or not such appointments actually fell to be made in the year in question.

The necessary information is not held centrally. It could be obtained, if at all, only at excessive cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what priority he now intends to afford to the bypasses of villages on the A419–A417 route from Swindon to Gloucester, in view of his decisions regarding the future use of the Severn bridge.

As respects Gloucestershire, I have nothing to add to the answer I have given to the hon. Gentleman today.As respects Wiltshire, we will be improving the road between Blunsdon and Crickland in our main programme April 1985 to March 1987; work on the Latton bypass is currently suspended, and I cannot say now when it may prove possible to restore this scheme to the active programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what were the findings of the roadside interviews carried out on the A677, A674 and A59 routes between east Lancashire and the M6 during September 1982.

Roadside interviews were carried out on A677, A674 and A59 on 8 and 15 September 1982 in connection with the Department's proposals to improve the A677–A6119 trunk route between Whitebirk and the M6. There were no "findings" as such from the exercise, the origin and destination data obtained being simply one element of a validation check on the traffic flows on the network.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will mount a campaign to prevent drivers using bad weather bright rear lights in good visibility.

The Department already undertakes publicity to encourage the correct use of rear fog lamps and a new rule 111A on this subject has recently been introduced into the "Highway Code".I will continue to do all I can to bring this problem to public attention within the limits of the many competing claims on our publicity funds.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce measures to reduce the intensity of bright rear lights, for use in bad weather, in order to reduce dazzle to following drivers in good visibility.

No. Rear fog lamps must necessarily be very bright to penetrate when visibility is seriously reduced by fog or similar conditions. They should not be used in good visibility, and we shall continue to remind motorists of this.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the cost of installing motorway lights throughout the remaining parts of the motorway system, including the whole of the M25.

The initial cost of installing lighting throughout the remaining parts of the motorway system is approximately £90 million, including £7 million for the M25. The corresponding running costs, including maintenance, are estimated to be about £9 million per annum.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of motorway have lighting installed along them, by motorway; and how many miles of motorway lighting were installed during, and how many after, construction of the motorway.

The following motorways have lighting:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport to what speed the humps of the design authorised by the Transport and Road Research Laboratory are intend to reduce (a) motor cycles, (b) motor cars, (c) lorries.

Road humps are designed for use on 30 mph roads. Experience has shown that the speed of vehicles on humps varies between about 10 and 18 mph, heavier vehicles, generally, being the slowest. Between humps speeds vary from about 20 to 30 mph, depending on the type of vehicle, the character of the road and the layout of the humps.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ask British Rail to make available to Members of this House on request any information it has on passenger train timekeeping on any particular route.

I am sure that British Rail will meet reasonable requests from hon. Members so far as it has the information available.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if, in view of his statement of objectives for British Rail, he will now answer questions on general matters relating to the level of fares.

My right hon. Friend, like his predecessors, will answer questions about fares which are of a general nature. It is, however, the British Railways Board's responsibility to determine fares.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he is in a position to announce the capital expenditure allocations for local authority airport investment in 1984–85.

I have decided to designate as projects of national and regional importance the following new airport investment schemes and to make the appropriate capital expenditure allocations for 1984–85:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is satisfied that the guidelines for aerial advertising by banner towing will provide adequate control of those involved with the activity, to prevent either environmental damage or threats to the safety of other air users.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 December 1983, c. 312]: The General Aviation Manufacturers and Traders Association has devised a code of practice, in constultation with my Department, the Department of the Environment and the Civil Aviation Authority, which covers the safety aspects of banner towing and is also designed to minimise environmental disturbance. In addition, aeroplanes towing banners will be subject to the same safety regulations as apply to all other aircraft.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport why the application by Singapore Airlines for a licence to use Manchester international airport was turned down: if he will arrange for the matter to be urgently reviewed and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 December 1983, c. 312]: Singapore International Airlines has not applied for a permit to serve Manchester since I explained the conditions under which I should welcome a service by it in a reply to the hon. Member on 6 July. — [Vol, 45, c. 107.] I have received no subsequent request from the Singapore Government to serve Manchester, nor any indication that the airline would be prepared to make a corresponding reduction in the frequency of its London services if it were allowed to serve Manchester.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is Her Majesty's Government's policy for the future ownership of airports currently owned in part by metropolitan authorities; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply,12 December 1983, c. 312]: The White Paper "Streamlining the Cities" indicated the Government's proposal to transfer the airport interests of Metropolitan County Councils to the relevant new joint boards acting as passenger transport authorities. The Government is also, however, anxious to see private capital introduced into loacal authority airports and is considering ways in which this can become possible.

asked the Attorney-General if, in the light of his letter to the hon. Member for Peckham on 29 November, he has anything to add to his answer of 14 November, Official Report, column 605, relating to free legal aid for persons in dispute about the purchase of their council homes; and if he will make a statement.

As my right hon. and learned Friend explained in his letter of 29 November to the hon. Member for Peckham, the supplementary questions she put on 14 November related to legal aid. His reply was therefore based on the provisions of the Legal Aid Act 1974. The provision of assistance by the Secretary of State, as envisaged in clause 10 of the Housing and Building Control Bill, which we now understand was what she had in mind, is a separate matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. The circumstances in which assistance might be provided, if the Bill is enacted, are set out in the clause. The Government's intentions have been explained to the Standing Committee which considered the Bill.

asked the Attorney-General if he will list for each year since 1978–79 the total number of appointments of all kinds it fell within the power of the Law Officers to make, whether or not such appointments actually fell to be made in the year in question.

It falls to my right hon. and learned Friend to nominate counsel, whether generally as standing counsel or specifically for particular cases, to represent the Crown or a Government Department in legal proceedings or inquiries, or otherwise to assist the court or tribunal as counsel in such matters. The number of such nominations varies from year to year, and I could not, without disproportionate cost, ascertain how many were made in any particular year. Apart from these nominations, there is no appointment which falls within the Attorney-General's power to make.

asked the Attorney-General if he will list for each year since 1978–79 the total number of appointments of all kinds it fell within the power of the Lord Chancellor to make, whether or not such appointments actually fell to be made in the year in question.

The Lord Chancellor's powers of appointment are wide and include members of the higher judiciary, the circuit bench and recorders, the lower judiciary, Queen's counsel, legal and lay members of tribunals and inquiries, lay magistrates and general commissioners of income tax, and legal and lay members of non-departmental public bodies. The cost of listing the total number of all such appointments would be disproportionately high.

asked the Attorney-General if he will list the responsibilities within his Department of the Treasury Solicitor.

The Treasury Solicitor's Department does not form part of the Law Officers' Department but is a separate Department for which the Attorney-General answers in the House.The main functions of the Treasury Solicitor are, in England and Wales, as follows:

asked the Attorney-General when the Director of Public Prosecutions expects to announce his decision regarding fresh charges being brought against the two youths who attacked Nora Hussey on 24 July 1982 in Bradford and inflicted injuries from which she died on 16 July 1983.

The Director of Public Prosecutions has decided that in the circumstances of this case the public interest does not require a further prosecution against the two youths already convicted of the attempted robbery and unlawful wounding of Nora Hussey. This decision was communicated to the chief constable of the West Yorkshire metropolitan police in a letter dated 6 December 1983.

asked the Attorney-General how much money has been paid to each person who has turned Queen's evidence in Northern Ireland in 1983.

I have been asked to reply.The financial arrangements made prior to trial for the support of witnesses who give evidence against former accomplices in terrorist organisations were set out in my right hon. and learned Friend's reply of 4 November 1983.—[Vol. 47, c. 472–73]. As to the arrangements made after trial for the safety of such individuals, I refer the hon. Gentleman to my replies of 16 November 1983.—[Vol. 48, c. 451–52.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any Metropolitan police officers have been on duty at Greenham Common during each of the last two years; what has been the cost; and who has paid for their services.

Up to 30 October 1983, the Metropolitan police had provided mutual aid to the Thames Valley police for duty at Greeham Common on only two occasions: from 30 March to 2 April 1983 and from 4 to 9 July 1983. The total additional cost involved, which was met by the Thames Valley police, was £14,000. I shall write to the hon. Member about the cost of the further aid which has been provided since 31 October, when this information is available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which local authorities sell their electoral registers; how many have been sold; and what income was derived in the last year for which figures are available.

This information is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will discuss with the police the adequacy of their powers to prosecute those who abuse citizens band radio channels by the broadcasting of offensive or indecent messages.

The primary responsibility for enforcement of the wireless telegraphy legislation and of conditions of citizens band radio licences rests with the radio interference service of British Telecom, acting on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Merseyside about solvent and drug abuse on Merseyside; and if he will make a statement.

The chief constable of Merseyside has provided my right hon. and learned Friend with a copy of a report he submitted to his police authority on 29 November on this subject, and I understand that the hon. Member has also received a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received any representations from the Devon and Cornwall constabulary to increase or decrease their present establishment.

The Devon and Cornwall police authority applied in September 1983 for an increase of four constable posts in the authorised establishment of the force for the financial year 1984–85. The police authority has been informed that the application will be further considered by my right hon. and learned Friend early next year with similar applications from other police authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Hampshire police as to how many arrests under section 1 of the Street Offences Act 1959 were made in the Portswood subdivision of Hampshire in each of the last five years; and how many have been made so far in 1983.

The chief constable of Hampshire has provided the following information. Offences under section 1 of the Street Offences Act 1959 are confined to one particular area in Southampton which, until 31 December 1982, came within the Southampton central subdivision. For the period 1978 to 1982, figures for cautions and charges for offences committed under section 1 in the Southampton central subdivision are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the breathalyser units being used by the police in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. We are satisfied that both the roadside screening devices and the evidential breath testing devices approved for use by the police in England and Wales are accurate and reliable. The forensic science service has investigated all the allegations that have been made about the accuracy of the evidential machines since they were introduced and so far each one has proved to be unfounded.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the breathalyser machines currently approved for use, the forces using each, and the number of units of each type used by each force;(2) if he will list all police authorities using the Lion Intoximeter breathalyser; and what is the number of units available in each force.

The following breath testing devices have been approved for use by the police:

• Roadside screening devices
• Draeger Alcotest R 80 and R 80 A
• Lion Alcolyser
• Lion Alcolmeter SL2
• Draeger A.L.E.R.T.
• Evidential Breath Testing Devices
• Camic Breath Analyser
• Lion Intoximeter 3000

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the Governor of Ranby prison is being transferred.

The Governor of Ranby prison, Mr. Harrap, is to be transferred in April 1984 to take charge of Lincoln prison for career reasons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the staff at Ranby prison are refusing to attend the monthly meetings to discuss internal problems.

Only the local branch of the Prison Officers' Association is refusing to attend monthly meetings with the governor in pursuance of a local industrial dispute. Otherwise staff and management continue to communicate as usual.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what industrial action has been taken and threatened by prison officers at Ranby prison, Retford, in recent weeks; and what is the dispute about.

On 23 November between 2 pm and 3 pm members of the Prison Officers' Association at Her Majesty's prison, Ranby, took industrial action. This included attendance at an unauthorised meeting during working hours which left the establishment temporarily undermanned for its normal routine. The action was taken in connection with a dispute about manning levels.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what emergency services he intends to introduce if the prison officers at Ranby prison walk out on 19 December.

We hope that discussions now being held will resolve the dispute, but it would anyway not be sensible to disclose contingency arrangements for dealing with emergency action.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why there is to be a reduction in the surveillance of the Ranby prison perimeter fence.

A temporary increase in the level of perimeter surveillance at Ranby was required because contractors had begun work at the prison. It has since been made possible to reduce the level of surveillance, as improved physical security measures have been taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further measures are proposed to ensure that defendants held in custody are tried as soon as possible after committal proceedings; and if he will make a statement.

We shall continue to seek ways of reducing the length of time prisoners spend on remand in custody awaiting trial. In the Crown court, additional judges have been appointed; new court rooms opened; and cases transferred between courts in order that they may be heard more quickly. The court building programme is planned to continue throughout the decade. My right hon. and learned Friend is keeping a close watch on the situation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there has been any improvement in the educational qualifications of recruits to the police service during the past five years; and how many graduates have been recruited during this period.

In 1978, only 39 per cent. of recruits had educational qualifications of five O-levels or better; in 1982, the figure was 59 per cent. During the five years ending on 31 December 1982, 2,000 graduates joined the police service, 626 of them in 1982.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the net cost of increasing the married man's allowance to provide a gain in weekly net income for a standard rate taxpayer of (a) £1 and (b) £2.

On the assumption that the same increase in net income was provided to taxpayers qualifying for the married age allowance, the costs in a full year at 1984–85 levels of income would be about £610 million and £1,210 million compared with the illustrative income tax regime for 1984–85 in table 4.1 of autumn statement 1983. If the change excluded aged taxpayers, the costs would be £570 million and £1,130 million, respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the saving in the financial year 1984–85 if only the first £1,785 of the married man's tax allowance were uprated in line with the increase in the retail price index under the formula introduced in section 22(2) of the Finance Act 1977, assuming that that increase is 5 per cent.

On the assumption that the restriction did not apply to the married age allowance the extra tax due for 1984–85 would be about £160 million, of which some £130 million would be collected in 1984–85.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out the detailed calculations which produced a figure of 2,680·7 million European currency units for the 1982 United Kingdom contribution to the European Community own resources in respect of value added tax; why this figure was more than 50 per cent. higher than that in 1981; and if he will make a statement.

United Kingdom contribution to EC VAT own resources are assessed by applying the EC VAT rate to a harmonised VAT expenditure base. This United Kingdom expenditure base is calculated using:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will outline the effects variations in the total value of bank notes issued by Scottish banks authorised to do so under the Bank Notes (Scotland) Act 1845 have on the Bank of England's operations as a central bank.

Variations in the total value of Scottish bank notes issued have no significant effect on the Bank of England's role as a central bank.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what level of tax subsidy he estimates will be used in the next year on the business expansion scheme as applied to private hospitals.

It is not possible to forecast the extent to which the business expansion scheme will apply to investments in particular types of activity because the timing and amount of any relief will depend on the number of companies which qualify under the scheme, what shares they issue, how much investment they attract from qualifying individuals, and when they start trading.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is satisfied that the design and size of the 20 pence piece is acceptable to the public.

Yes, the seven-sided shape—equilateral curve heptagon—wide raised rim and plain edge of the 20p coin are features designed to distinguish it from other coins both by sight and by touch. Public reaction to the coin has been favourable with some 827 million issued to meet demand.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost of the Government's advertising campaign to sell their shares in Cable and Wireless.

I estimate that advertising costs incurred to date in connection with the offer for sale of Cable and Wireless shares on 2 December will not exceed £790,000 plus VAT of about £90,000. In addition, there may be some modest further expense in due course to remind purchasers when the balance of purchase price of the shares is due. These and other costs of the sale will be met from the Contingencies Fund, as I announced on 27 October, in advance of approval of a spring Supplementary Estimate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the responsibilities, within the Treasury, of the Treasury Solicitor.

The Treasury Solicitor's Department does not form part of the Treasury but is a separate Department for which the Attorney-General answers in the House.The main functions of the Treasury Solicitor for the Treasury are, in England and Wales, the provision of legal advice, the conduct of civil litigation and the provision of a conveyancing service. He also collects bona vacantia on behalf of the Crown. The Treasury has a power to direct the disposal of property forming bona vacantia subject to certain statutory rules.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to publish the draft legislation allowing companies to pay interest on Eurobonds without deduction of tax.

With my approval the Inland revenue is today publishing draft legislation on this subject.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the draft clause will be available concerning the proposal to remove the tax disadvantages suffered by pension funds on transactions in financial futures.

The draft clause is now ready and I have authorised the Inland revenue to publish it today. The legislation will apply from today; and the clause will be included in next year's Finance Bill.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the Government's autumn forecasts since 1979 of output and inflation in the following year have compared with the outturn or latest estimate.

Industry Act forecasts for increases in GDP and the retail prices index published each autumn since 1979, together with the latest estimates or outturn figures, are given in the following tables. No adjustments have been made for the effects of subsequent policy measures.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the likely maximum and minimum financial cost to the Community of the accession of Spain and Portugal.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 December 1983, c. 344]: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to my hon. Friend the Member for Wells (Mr. Heathcoat-Amory) on 7 December.—[Vol. 50, c. 321.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further evidence he has received to support his estimate in the autumn statement of a 5 per cent. growth in imports of goods and services in 1984.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 December 1983, c. 343]: It is much too early to expect any new information to throw significant light on the forecasts for 1984 contained in the autumn statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further evidence he has received to support his estimate of growth in 1984 in the export of (a) manufactures, (b) non-manufactured goods, (c) services and (d) fuel.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 December 1983, c. 343]: It is much too early to expect any new information to throw significant light on the forecasts for 1984 contained in the autumn statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much he estimates exports will grow in 1984, in both percentage and money terms, in (a) manufactures, (b) non-manufactured goods, (c) services and (d) fuel.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 December 1983, c. 343]: It is not the practice to publish a quantitative breakdown of the exports forecasts, but I refer the hon. Gentleman to paragraph 1.16 of the autumn statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the amount paid in (a) income tax, (b) national insurance, (c) indirect taxes, and (d) superannuation in 1982–83 by (i) a staff nurse on a basic salary of £4,998 with overtime earnings of £850 per annum and (ii) a hospital cleaner on a basic salary of £3,433 with overtime earnings of £1,294 per annum.

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

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister, if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 December.