asked the Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts what is the expenditure per capita on the arts, excluding libraries, nationally.

In 1982–83 an estimated total of £6·57 per capita was spent on the arts in England, excluding libraries, by central Government, local authorities and business sponsors. There are no authoritative estimates of expenditure by private individuals. Corresponding figures for Scotland and Wales are matters for the Secretaries of State concerned.

asked the Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts whether the Minister for the Arts attended the meeting of European Economic Community Arts Ministers held in Greece in November.

My noble Friend the Minister for the Arts attended. It was an opportunity for an informal exchange of views.

asked the Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts which local authority would assume responsibility for (a) Liverpool Playhouse theatre, (b) Liverpool Everyman theatre and (c) Liverpool Empire theatre if the Government's proposals in "Streamlining the Cities" were implemented; and if he is satisfied that these local authorities would be willing to assume these responsibilities.

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

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland 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 Advocate to make, whether or not such appointments actually fell to be made in the year in question.

Other than procurators fiscal, who are civil servants, the total number of such appointments was 65 in each year since 1978–79 of which 15—to the Council on Tribunals—are made jointly with the Lord Chancellor.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland whether an energy manager with responsibility for supervising energy conservation has been appointed in respect of the Crown Office building in Edinburgh and the Lord Advocate's London chambers.

Energy conservation is one of the recognised responsibilities of the accommodation officer in both Departments.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the present levels of food aid in pound sterling to the third countries from the European Community and the United Kingdom, respectively.

In the calendar year 1982, the latest for which final figures are available, the European Community spent £281 million on food aid. The United Kingdom share of this was £72 million. In addition, the United Kingdom provided £12 million of food aid bilaterally as part of the Community's obligation under the food aid convention. The Community's 1983 budget includes £319 million for food aid, of which the United Kingdom share will be some £77 million. The United Kingdom aid programme has provision of £25 million for bilateral food aid in the current financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the value of United Kingdom bilateral aid to Honduras in 1982 and 1983, Nicaragua in 1981, 1982 and 1983, and El Salvador in 1983.

Gross bilateral aid provided by the United Kingdom for Nicaragua amounted to £91,000 in 1981, and £49,000 in 1982 and for Honduras £2,272,000 in 1982.Figures are not yet available for 1983, but it is expected that disbursements will total approximately £1,750,000 in Honduras and £20,000 in Nicaragua. At present we have no bilateral aid programme to E1 Salvador.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the value of loans made by the Inter-American Development Bank for each of the last five years to E1 Salvador and Nicaragua.

The Inter-American Development Bank has granted loans to El Salvador and Nicaragua in the following amounts:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the value of the loans made by the World Bank for each of the last five years to El Salvador, Nicaragua and Grenada.

The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development—IBRD—and its soft-loan affiliate the International Development Association —IDA—have granted loans and credits to El Salvador and Nicaragua in the following amounts:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what capital, running and removal costs arise from the removal from the north to the south tower of the Department of the Environment building in Marsham street of the private offices of Ministers in the Department of Transport; and whether the separation of these offices from those of the Department of the Environment will result in more staff or staff time being required to operate a separate typing pool and separate access to the building outside normal hours.

About 750 staff are being moved within 2 Marsham street to rationalise accommodation, group Department of Transport Ministers and headquarters officials together in the south Tower and podium, and accommodate aviation and shipping staff transferred from the former Department of Trade. The overall cost attributable to my Department is some £400,000. A substantial part of the cost is for redecoration, which was last carried out 10 years ago. I understand that separate records have not been kept of the capital costs of the removal of Ministers' private offices, but additional staff costs arising from this are estimated to be £60,000 a year. No extra staff are required to operate a separate typing pool or separate access to the building outside normal hours.Substantial and compensating benefits arise for my Department from the closer and more efficient working made possible by these arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will recondiser his decision not to reappoint Mr. Staden, London regional secretary of the Transport and General Workers' Union, to the Port of London Authority.

No. Mr. Staden has given valuable service to the authority, for which we are grateful, but, as I have explained to him, we believe that it now needs a board less representative of local interests and with a stronger element of business and financial experience.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to monitor heavy commercial vehicle noise levels on the roadside.

The Department carries out a continuing programme of checks on heavy goods vehicles by the roadside, covering all aspects of their mechanical condition. Vehicles with defective silencers or exhaust systems are among those prohibited from proceeding further until defects are remedied.Similar checks are also made at the annual HGV test.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has authorised any research into noise emissions from heavy commercial vehicles subsequent to the allocation of £5 million for this purpose in November 1982; and when he expects this research programme to be completed.

My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Industry and for Transport have agreed details of a programme of research and development — the QHV 90 project—to be carried out jointly with vehicle and component manufacturers.Several major contracts are being negotiated for the development and building of pre-production prototypes of engines, exhaust systems and other components, and complete vehicles. This will put United Kingdom industry in a good position to provide the full range of new equipment that will be needed to meet the much stiffer noise limits proposed recently by the Commission of the European Communities to come into effect later in this decade. The programme will be spread over the next four years.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what action he intends to take on the draft directive of the European Economic Community Commission to introduce a maximum heavy vehicles noise level of 84 dB(A) by 1989.

Adoption of this directive requires the unanimous decision of the Council of Ministers, which must first receive the opinions of the European Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee. My present inclination is to support the directive as proposed, but I shall of course take account of any points which my hon. Friend may wish to put to me on this.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department is monitoring progress on those recommendations of the Armitage report on heavy lorries which were accepted by Her Majesty's Government.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Faversham (Mr. Moate) on 13 December 1983.—[Vol. 50, c. 391]

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to the prices charged per mile by British carriers on domestic routes out of each airport from which they operate; whether there is any variation from provincial airports to the London airports; and if he will make a statement.

Statistics of this kind are not collected by my Department but the Civil Aviation Authority, the responsible regulatory body, may have some information of value to my hon. Friend. I am asking the chairman of the authority to write to him.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the estimated cost of lighting all non-lit existing motorways.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Bruinvels) on 13 December 1983.—[Vol. 50, c. 392.]

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many complaints have been received by his Department in each of the last three years on the subject of nuisance or potential nuisance caused by balloons used for the purposes of aerial advertising.

My Department and the Department of Trade, which until recently had the policy responsibility, have received expressions of concern at the potential effect on the environment of our proposed relaxation of the present ban on advertising by captive balloons. However, there have been few if any complaints to us about actual cases of such advertising.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what meetings representatives of his Department have had with Greater Manchester council and Trafford borough council over the last three months concerning the M63 motorway widening between junctions three and five; and if he will make a statement;(2) what information concerning the line of route of the M63 motorway between junctions three and five, following proposed widening, has been passed from his Department to Trafford borough council; when this will be publicly available; and if he will make a statement.

Officials from my Department met members and officers of both the Greater Manchester county and Trafford borough councils in November to discuss the details we had given them of possible alternative solutions for this widening. I intend to make a public announcement after considering the views of the councils and other public bodies; this should be early next year. I hope that construction will start by 1987.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether, before vesting the property rights and liabilities of British Airways Board, he will ensure that the new British Airways plc will enter into an undertaking to retain its capacity to overhaul its own aero engines in its existing sites.

The retention of engineering capacity in British Airways is entirely a matter for the airline, and will remain so after vesting.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether developments in technology and elsewhere since the issue of Home Office circular No. ES 3/1979 have occasioned changes in the guidance for standardising the procedures for transmitting and handling messages which is contained in that circular.

There have been no developments so far necessitating changes to Home Office circular No. ES 3/1979. However, it will need revision to take account of the progressive modernisation over the next few years of the emergency wartime communications network and equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library the material from civil defence handbook No. 11 —"Communications: Volume I — Signals" — and other relevant matter which, according to paragraph 2 of Home Office circular No. ES 3/1979, were to be brought together in further guidance which would be issued in due course.

A copy of the Civil Defence handbook No. 11—"Communications: Volume I—Signals"—published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office in 1968, has been placed in the Library. Relevant guidance on communications will be incorporated in the consolidated guidance to local authorities which we are preparing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the report received by him from the Bank of England earlier in the current year on the supervision of banking in the Isle of Man.

Banking supervision in the Isle of Man lies within the competence of the island authorities. I understand that a report was compiled by officials seconded from the Bank of England to the service of the Isle of Man Government to assist in a review of Manx banking supervision practices. No copy of that report has been received or is expected by Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the authority for immigration officials searching the baggage of travellers to the United Kingdom without the passengers' knowledge or permission or photocopying private correspondence of passengers without the passengers' permission.

The powers are contained in paragraph 2 and subparagraphs 4(2), 4(3) and 4(4) of schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971. Where documents relevant for the purposes of the examination are likely to be needed in connection with proceedings on an appeal, they are usually photocopied in order that the originals may be returned to the passenger.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to permit Commonwealth passengers seeking to enter the United Kingdom as temporary visitors who are refused by immigration officials to seek a remedy from a British court before being returned to their country of origin.

Passengers who have a current entry clearance or work permit and are refused leave to enter have a right of appeal to the independent appellate authorities before they are returned. Furthermore, any passenger may apply to the courts for a judicial review of the immigration officer's decision to refuse leave to enter on the ground that it was wrong in law. We see no need to provide any further remedy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will issue instructions to immigration officers that they are not to require passengers who are able to sign undertakings before entering the United Kingdom and who do so sign to add their thumb or fingerprints to such documents, as occurred in the case of Chavda drawn to his attention by the hon. and learned Member for Leicester, West.

No. The guidance to immigration officers on the use of written undertakings will make clear that it is appropriate to require a thumbprint or fingerprint only if the person giving the undertaking is unable to sign his or her name, as was Mrs. Chavda.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of persons convicted and the level of fines for salmon poaching on the river Esk and its estuary during 1982 and 1983.

Salmon poaching may lead to conviction under the Theft Act 1965 or the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975. The records available to us, which relate only to convictions under the latter, may be incomplete and do not reveal the place where the offence was committed or the kind of fish involved. They show, however, that in 1982 in the petty sessional division of Whitby Strand, nine persons were found guilty and fined an average of £59.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total cost, expressed in cash terms, of policing Greenham common airbase in each of the last four years.

I understand that the Thames Valley police authority estimates the total cost of policing Greenham Common in the current financial year at some £3.7 million but that figures are not available for previous years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total cost, expressed in terms of the number of police hours worked, of policing Greenham common airbase in each of the last four years.

I understand that the Thames Valley police estimate that the total number of man-hours spent on policing Greenham common in the current financial year will be more than 600,000 but that figures are not available for previous years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the total numbers of arrests made in the course of policing Greenham common airbase in each of the last four years.

The chief constable of Thames Valley tells me that in 1980 and 1981 there were no arrests. In 1982 there were 82 arrests, and by 12 December 1,027 arrests had been made in 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers have been injured in the course of their duty when policing Greenham common airbase in each of the last four years.

The chief constable of Thames Valley tells me that information about injuries to his officers is not generally held in the form requested. Thirty officers, from Thames Valley and elsewhere, are recorded as having been injured during the demonstrations at Greenham common on 11 December this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ask for a report on the arrangements made for the clothing and shelter of the police from all the constabularies sharing duties at Greenham common airbase; and if he will make a statement.

I have asked for such a report and shall write to my hon. Friend when it is received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation akin to that in Scotland to regulate the sales of solvents to young people.

In the recent trial in Glasgow, which resulted in the conviction of the defendants of the sale of "glue-sniffing kits", the charge was based on the Scottish common law which is more extensive in this respect than the English equivalent. I am examining urgently the outcome of that case in the light of the Government's proposals for further action to combat solvent abuse announced today by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether refunds of television licence fees are to be granted to people who are deprived of all television services as a result of the withdrawal of the 405-line television service.

The 405-line service is being phased out, and is due to be closed down completely by the beginning of 1985. We have decided that people who lose this service and have no alternative television service available in their area may be given refunds on the unexpired portion of their black and white television licences. Anyone who considers that he or she may be entitled to a refund on their monochrome television licence under this new arrangement should write to the National TV Licence Records Office, Bristol BS98 1TL.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the United Kingdom is currently paying to the European Community as value added tax related own resources, expressing the amount as a percentage rate calculated on the same basis as domestic value added tax is calculated.

In 1982 the United Kingdom's VAT own resources payment to the Community was £1,554 million representing a VAT rate of 0·92 per cent. applied to the own resources VAT harmonised base. This would represent the product of a 1·05 per cent. rate of VAT applied to the United Kingdom's domestic VAT base which includes zero rated expenditure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table in the Official Report giving his latest estimates for 1983–84 of the following information

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table in the Official Report which sets out the percentage of income paid in income tax and national insurance contributions on a basis which allows comparision between the effect of child tax allowances and child benefits, by (a) a single person, (b) a married couple with one child, (c) a married couple with two children and (d) a married couple with four children on the following income levels: (i) half average earnings, (ii) three quarters average earnings, (iii) average earnings, (iv) one and a half times average earnings and (v) twice average earnings in 1960–61, 1978–79, 1982–83 and 1983–84.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the cost of mortgage interest tax relief in each year since 1963–64 at constant prices.

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

The figures are given in the table. They are those supplied to my hon. Friend the Member for Loughborough (Mr. Dorrell) on 2 December—[Vol. 49, c. 641–42]—deflated by the projected movement in the all-items retail prices index between 1978–79 and 1983–84.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what quantities of textiles and clothing coming from the Republic of Ireland have been seized by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise on account of fraudulent importation; and what is the total value of these goods impounded during the last two years and for the current year to date.

During the year ended 31 March 1983 a consignment of 4,170 pairs of men's corduroy jeans of Chinese origin value £19,152 was seized on importation from the Republic of Ireland for fraudulent misdescription of origin and for import licensing irregularities. No other seizures were made during the periods concerned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many consignments of (a) clothing and (b) textiles have been seized by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise on account of fraudulent importation during the last two years and for the current year to date;(2) what quantities of textiles and clothing have been seized by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise on account of fraudulent importation; and what is the total value of goods impounded during the last two years and for the current year to date.

Methods of quantifying clothing and textiles vary and the information is readily available only in terms of numbers of consignments and value. Moreover, the records available are maintained on the basis of financial years. Clothing and textiles seized for licensing irregularities are as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the increase in real net earnings for different household types, and at different income levels, between 1973–74 and 1978–79, 1978–79 and 1983–84 and over the last 10 years.

Expressing real net earnings in index number form.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the meeting of the European Community Finance Council in Brussels on 12 December.

I attended this half-day Council. After a short discussion, the Council adopted the Commission's annual economic report. Ministers also discussed the operation of the Community loan mechanism but no decisions on this were taken.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the outcome of consultations on the changes proposed by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in the value added tax partial exemption regulations; and if he will make a statement.

Some 80 organisations made written responses to a consultation document issued by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in June, which proposed changes in the regulations governing partial exemption calculations for VAT. There have been further extensive discussions.I am satisfied that it is necessary to amend the present regulations, which are intended essentially to simplify calculations of VAT liability, but are resulting in substantial losses of revenue. In the light of representations, some modifications will be made to the original proposals, to correct aspects of them which would have been unfair or unduly burdensome. The changes, as amended, which I am now authorising, are as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement about the proposed petroleum revenue tax treatment of payments to producers of seasonal supply gas.

Yes. A seasonal supply gas field —otherwise known as a low load factor gas field—is one intended to supply gas only, or predominantly, at times of high winter demand by consumers. New forms of contractual arrangements have been developed for such fields involving not just a payment for each unit of gas produced—a "commodity charge"—but also a payment made at periodic intervals whether any gas is produced or not—a "capacity charge". In return the supplier agrees to deliver specified quantities of gas at short notice if the purchaser so requires. The existing petroleum revenue tax legislation would not charge the "capacity charge" as received by the producer but would require deliveries of gas to be valued at a level taking account of both the "commodity" and "capacity" elements of the contract. This would be difficult to operate and produce a number of anomalous results. Accordingly, we intend to legislate in the 1984 Finance Bill to ensure that a capacity charge will be treated for PRT as a payment for gas for the period in which it is received. It is also intended to treat the capacity charge in the same way for royalty.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many representations he has received following his decision to remove the tax advantages of offshore life assurance policies; what was the sense of these representations; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 9 December 1983, c. 262]: Up to 9 December, eight written representations had been received. While not dissenting from the fundamental objective of the proposals, these mainly expressed concern about two detailed aspects. First, that the proposals may unfairly penalise United Kingdom expatriates, some of whom may have taken out such policies to save for a pension. Secondly, some representations have also complained that no warning of the Government's intentions was given, or that the announcement did not give full details of how the legislation would apply.As to the first point, I made it clear in my announcement of 17 November that, in removing this clear — and possibly very expensive — anomaly in the life assurance legislation, special provisions would be made for bona fide United Kingdom expatriate business written after that day. We intend that where an expatriate returns to the United Kingdom and is subsequently taxed under this legislation, the gain attributable to the period of non-residence in the United Kingdom should be exempt. Compared with the tax treatment of policies issued by United Kingdom life offices, this seems the right approach. I do not think the proposals can usefully be compared with the tax treatment of pensions, where entirely different circumstances apply. Thus, normally pensions may not be paid until retirement age and—apart from a limited lump sum — they are taxable. Proceeds from a qualifying life assurance policy can be taken after 10 years—or even less—and are normally entirely tax-free.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now announce the outcome of his consultations on aspects of the procedures for investigating complaints against the police in Scotland.

As I indicated in my reply to my hon. Friend, on 20 October 1982— [Vol. 29, c. 129] —a consultation document was issued at that time seeking views on those recommendations in the report of the Home Affairs Committee which had implications for Scottish procedures. I am grateful to all who submitted comments. For the most part these suggested that in general the present procedures are operating satisfactorily, and I have therefore concluded that no case has been made out for introducing radical changes to the present arrangements. Specific areas have, however, been identified where modest improvements can be made, where guidance would be desirable, and where existing good practices in individual forces might usefully be extended nationally. In particular, it is clear that some clarification of the double jeopardy rule" in its application to Scottish procedures would be helpful, and I am considering with my noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate what guidance might be issued to chief constables.The Lord Advocate has also decided that every person who alleges that a police officer has committed a criminal act will receive from the procurator fiscal, along with a request to attend for precognition, a standard note, which will explain to the complainer the procedures for investigating such allegations and the considerations which are taken into account in deciding whether criminal proceedings should be instituted.Where complaints are dealt with under police disciplinary procedures it is desirable that complainers should be informed of the outcome in terms as full as circumstances allow. Chief constables already seek to do this, but I propose to re-emphasise the point. There was a general feeling that, subject to certain modifications, the leaflet on complaints procedures which is presently used by some chief constables should be available for issue in all forces. I see considerable advantage in a leaflet of this kind and I propose to recommend its use by all chief constables.Police authorities also expressed their general satisfaction with the arrangements made within forces to enable them to discharge their statutory duties in complaints matters.My Department will now discuss with the police representative bodies how best the suggestions made during the review can be carried into practice.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for mechanical engineering products the value of imports from and exports to other EEC countries each year since 1970 and in the current year to date, together with the export-import ratio.

Information before 1975 is not readily available. Figures from 1975 onwards are given in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the average length of time taken to process inquiries with the Export Credits Guarantee Department.

Most inquiries received by the Department are from exporters seeking credit limits on overseas buyers. Regular checks show that at least a quarter of these are being answered by return and more than 40 per cent. within five days. Less than one third take longer than two weeks and almost always these involve ECGD in having to seek information from credit sources overseas, often a lengthy process in many countries. No record is readily available of the time taken to process other kinds of inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the current figures for concentration ratios by standard industrial classification similar to those included in the 1978 White Paper, Cmnd. 7178, "A Review of Monopolies and Mergers Policy".

I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legislation to extend the advertising and quotations regulations of the Consumer Credit Act to cover building society and local authority mortgages so that both have to quote an annual percentage rate for mortgages; and if he will make a statement.

As I announced on 28 July — [Vol. 46, c. 575] —I have accepted the Director General of Fair Trading's view that the regulations should apply equally to all those engaged in house mortgage lending. I have consulted interested parties on the implementation of the Director General's recommendations, and I am now considering certain technical problems which have been raised. I shall make a further statement in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether, in the current negotiations with the People's Republic of China, it is Her Majesty's Government's policy that the coverage of the agreement should be extended beyond the standard multi-fibre arrangement categorisation to include other textile products where China is a significant supplier, for example medical textiles;(2) what is the current position of negotiations with the People's Republic of China by the European Economic Community Commission over access of textiles and clothing to the Community and to the United Kingdom in particular;(3) whether it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government that the People's Republic of China will not be treated more favourably in current negotiations than the multi-fibre arrangement countries which have signed bilateral agreements;(4) whether in the current negotiations it is Her Majesty's Government's policy that the established global ceilings for sensitive products will not be increased to accommodate further imports from the People's Republic of China and that the present basket extractor system should continue;(5) in the current negotiations with the People's Republic of China, what has been the average growth rate for 1984 of the five quota levels already agreed, including sensitive items; and if he will make a statement.

The Government support the decision of the Council of the European Community that the Commission negotiations in respect of the textile and clothing trade with the People's Republic of China should be conducted on broadly similar principles to those of the Commission's mandate determined for the earlier bilateral negotiations under the MFA. The current negotiations have just ended, amicably but inconclusively, and will be resumed in 1984. Specifically, the inclusion of surgical dressings is under discussion.I shall write soon to my hon. Friend in respect of the specific import figures requested, and arrange for them to be published in the

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will now review the origin marking and labelling legislation in respect of clothing in order to reflect a minimum percentage of United Kingdom fabric and manufacture.

I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in implementing the reports of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on architects' and surveyors' services.

The Monopolies and Mergers Commission reports on architects and surveyors services were published in 1977. Both reports dealt with the practice of architects and surveyors fixing their fees by reference to published fee scales. The fees were mandatory in the case of architects and recommended in the case of surveyors. The Commission found that this practice restricted competition and operated against the public interest. It recommended that in the case of architects, fee scales should cease to be mandatory and that in both cases published recommended scale fees should carry an indication that they were for guidance only. The Commission also recommended that members of both professions should be free to compete on the basis of fees.Following discussions with the Office of Fair Trading and subsequently with Ministers about the reports, the professional bodies representing both professions agreed to make the recommended changes regarding fee scales. The associations also agreed to amend their rules of bye-laws to allow their members to compete on the basis of fees.All the professional bodies concerned have now amended their rules and byelaws accordingly. I welcome the steps that have been taken to remedy the adverse effects specified in the Commission's reports.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will estimate the cost to public funds for teaching ethnic minorities in their mother tongues.

Local education authorities are not asked to make returns on which an estimate of their spending could be based. Some specific financial support is given by central Government as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent representations he has received from individuals and organisations regarding the future funding of polytechnic students; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has received a number of such representations. As he announced to the House on 17 November, he has determined the total resources to be available for polytechnics and other local authority higher education institutions in 1984–85. He will be determining the distribution of these resource shortly in the light of advice from the national advisory body.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how the areas of priority are being determined in the proposed cuts in agricultural research in Wales.

As far as agricultural research funded through the Department's science budget is concerned, priorities are determined at national level by the Agricultural and Food Research Council and at local level by the directors of the institutes and units funded by the council. In recent years the Welsh Plant Breeding Station has diversified its activities to include, for instance, agronomic work on hill and upland pastures. Much of its work will continue, though I understand there are plans to cut back on developmental genetics, chemistry and spring barley breeding.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many places he estimates will be available for the 59,259 applicants for university places before 15 November; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend estimates that there will be between 70,000 and 74,000 places for new entrant home undergraduates in universities in the academic year 1984–85.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the distribution of the science budget for 1984–85.

Having considered the recommendations of the Advisory Board for the Research Councils (ABRC), I have decided that the science budget for 1984–85 should, subject to approval by Parliament of the Estimates in due course, be allocated as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice he has received from the Secondary Examinations Council about the reform of 16-plus examinations; and if he will make a statement.

I received earlier this week the advice of the Secondary Examinations Council on the desirability and feasibility of a single system of examinations at 16-plus, in the light of the draft national criteria. I have arranged for copies of the chairman's letter to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I will now consider that advice with a view to announcing our decision on the nature of reform of 16-plus examinations in the second quarter of 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the level of public funding per student in (a) universities and (b) polytechnics in each of the last three years; and what proportion of the total funding on higher education has been spent on (a) universities and (b) polytechnics in the same period.

[pursuant to his reply, 13 December 1983]: The net institutional average recurrent costs per student in each of the last three years for which firm figures are available are estimated as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will launch a national campaign to persuade commercial and industrial consumers to switch to those new forms of electric lighting developed by British manufacturers which reduce energy consumption whilst improving light output.

On 31 October my right hon. Friend launched a comprehensive publicity campaign directed at promoting energy efficiency and providing advice and information on the advantages of cost-effective energy savings. The campaign includes measures to promote energy efficient lighting. In addition, we have published a booklet on good lighting practice in the fuel efficiency booklet series; we have produced a film on lighting in factories and commercial buildings which is available for free loan; and we have supported a number of projects on lighting under the energy conservation demonstration projects scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will recommend public sector purchasers to use a three-year payback period when calculating the benefits of putting in energy-saving installations such as new light sources.

The energy-saving campaign is designed to make consumers fully aware that many investments in energy-saving equipment can be highly profitable, with attractive payback periods. Public sector bodies are being urged to take every advantage of energy saving investments, within the resources available and their overall objectives. I would not feel it necessary to supplement existing guidance to the public sector on investment appraisal.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what percentage of the total electricity generated is consumed by lighting; and how this percentage is changing.

Estimates on the basis of the use of electricity for lighting are made by the public electricity supply industry and published only for certain years.The most recent figure relates to 1980, when 17 per cent. of the total electricity delivered to final users was estimated to be used for the purpose of lighting. Although this percentage has been increasing, no strictly comparable figures are readily available for earlier years. Expected technical improvements are likely to limit growth in this area.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received from the textile fibres industry about the proposed increases in gas and electricity prices.

My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations recently concerning possible increases in gas and electricity prices to industry, none specifically concerned with the textile fibres industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will list those pits, either closed or proposed to be closed, which were included in the appendices to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's report on the coal industry.

Colliery closures and proposed closures are a matter for the National Coal Board. I am asking the chairman of the board to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the nationalised industries for which he is responsible and the plans he has for their future privatisation.

My right hon. Friend does not sponsor any nationalised industries. He is, however, responsible for the following executive non-governmental bodies:

• International Military Services Ltd
• The Services Sound and Vision Corporation
• The National Army Museum
• The RAF Museum

asked the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the United Kingdom renounced the manufacture, deployment and use of biological and chemical weapons; and what has been the Soviet response to these British initiatives.

The United Kingdom abandoned the manufacture and possession of chemical weapons in the late 1950s. The Soviet Union has retained and is adding to its stockpile of chemical weapons, which is already estimated to amount to some 300,000 tonnes. The United Kingdom remains committed to a verifiable and comprehensive ban on chemical weapons through the committee on disarmament in Geneva, and we await a positive Soviet response to a number of Western proposals in this forum. The Soviet Union is, like the United Kingdom, a party to international conventions which ban the development, possession, stockpiling and use of biological weapons.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what use he will make of the results of the ethnic survey being conducted in his Department.

The results of the surveys, which are taking place among non-industrial civil servants in all Government Departments in the north west economic planning region and the county of Avon, will be used to establish a statistical basis for ethnic monitoring in the two areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will specify the date of the order of all Her Majesty's ships ordered after 5 May 1979, noting those that were ordered as replacements for Falkland Islands campaign casualties.

The following of Her Majesty's ships have been ordered since 5 May 1979, of which, three type 22 frigates are replacements for vessels lost in the south Atlantic:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he takes to present his policies to the public.

All the usual means of communication, including public speaking engagements, the press, television, films, radio and information leaflets, are used.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the take-up of places proposed to be made available by his Department under the youth training scheme.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Shrewsbury (Mr. Shepherd) on 29 November 1983. — [Vol. 49, c. 760–61.]The take-up of places has so far been disappointing. I am therefore taking steps to stimulate among those responsible for administering the scheme within the Ministry of Defence a greater awareness and commitment to its success.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current British Government estimate of the number of British personnel who took part in the Australian and Christmas Island British nuclear weapons tests in the 1950s; and if any breakdown has been made into groups according to the degree of likely exposure to radiation.

The number of United Kingdom personnel who took part in the United Kingdom atmospheric nuclear weapon test programme is estimated to be about 20,000. Information has always been held showing the actual exposures recorded, where measurable, by the personal film badges issued to all those individuals who entered areas where there was any possibility of exposure to radiation from the United Kingdom tests.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he can now give a publication date for the report by the study group on censorship.

Further to my answer to my hon. Friend on 1 December — [Vol. 49, c. 598–99]— the report by the study group on censorship has been published today as Cmnd. 9112. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House. I wish to record my thanks to General Sir Hugh Beach and to the member of his study group for their thorough and useful analysis of these important issues. The report will be of widespread interest and the Government commend it for public discussion. The Government will be studying the report carefully and will wish to take account of views expressed in public debate before reaching a decision on its recommendations. The Government will announce their conclusions in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out the measures currently taken by the United Kingdom to advise travellers to the United Kingdom from the Commonwealth that entry clearance is necessary before they depart.

The immigration rules do not require a Commonwealth citizen to obtain prior entry clearance for a visit to Great Britain, though an intending traveller can apply for an entry certificate if he so wishes. Prior entry clearance is mandatory only for Commonwealth citizens who wish to enter the United Kingdom for settlement.Publicity on entry clearance requirements is given by our posts in Commonwealth countries through the media and travel agencies and by the widespread distribution of guidance notes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether a reply has been given to a proposal put forward to lease Henderson Island in the Pitcairn group.

We have decided, after careful consideration of the proposals put forward by Mr. Ratliff for the lease of Henderson Island, that on administrative and environmental grounds we are unable to accept his proposals.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for Thursday 15 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 December.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for 15 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 December.