asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he proposes to make public funds available for the National Council for Educational Standards to undertake further research.

I assess each research proposal I receive on its merits, giving particular attention to questions of value for money and relevance to policy priorities. Should the National Council for Educational Standards apply for financial support for further research, I shall judge its proposal against these criteria.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has received any new proposals under sections 12 and 13 of the Education Act 1980 concerning grammar schools.

The latest proposals involving grammar schools were published by Calderdale education authority on 14 October and are for the comprehensive reorganisation of secondary schools in Brighouse and Restrick.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the projected level of expenditure on further education for 1983–84 and 1984–85.

The projected level of net recurrent expenditure by local authorities in England on further education in 1983–84, based on their budgets, is about £1,540 million. For 1984–85 the amount allowed for further education within the total of local authority relevant current expenditure allocated to services is £1,535 million, but this takes no account of the £660 million not allocated to services.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what written evidence he has that Her Majesty's inspectors of schools have criticised Norfolk and three other education authorities for spending too little on some aspects of education.

Her Majesty's Inspectorate has not criticised Norfolk or any other local education authority for spending too little on some aspects of education. In its reports on the effects of local authority expenditure policies on the education service, Her Majesty's Inspectorate has stated that in 1981 and in 1982 there were four authorities in which the levels of appropriate provision observed in schools were a cause for concern to Her Majesty's Inspectorate. In each year, having been so informed by Her Majesty's Inspectorate, Norfolk has identified itself publicly as one of those four authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what he is doing to encourage local education authorities to increase the cost-effectiveness of their services by inviting tenders from the private sector.

It is for the individual authority to judge in the light of its own circumstances which particular measures to adopt. We know that some see great potential in private sector tendering, and expect that others will he watching them closely.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will compensate those local education authorities which are encountering financial hardship due to their involvement in providing off-the-job training for persons on Manpower Services Commission programmes.

Local authorities' net expenditure on such activities will count as part of their total expenditure for the purpose of calculating their entitlement to block grant. No additional assistance is envisaged.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will have consultations with local education authorities about their future plans following the report of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of local education authority education expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will have consultations with local education authorities about the conclusion in the report of Her Majesty's Inspectorate on local education authority education expenditure.

The conclusions of Her Majesty's Inspectors' report on the effects of local authority expenditure policies on the education service in England 1982 informed my discussions with representatives of the local authority associations about the 1984–85 RSG settlement.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will now reconsider the question of education vouchers.

The idea of a voucher system was dismissed only after a full examination of the issues. I am, however, still considering other ways in which parents' choice and influence in their children's schooling might be extended.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent representations he has received concerning the reorganisation of Liverpool secondary schools.

Since the proposals were published on 4 November, 22 questions have been tabled by hon. Members and 691 letters have been received in the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has considered the report submitted to him by Youthaid on young people studying whilst unemployed; and whether he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply given earlier today to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Romsey and Waterside (Mr. Colvin).

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has for research and manning in Agricultural and Natural Environment Research Council establishments; and what costs will fall as a result on the Medical and Science and Engineering Research Councils.

Plans for research and manning are primarily a matter for the research councils themselves; both the Agricultural and Food Research Council and the Natural Environment Research Council are formulating plans for the redeployment of resources which will involve a measure of restructuring. The allocations for 1984–85 announced by my right hon. Friend last week involved no transfer of funds from other councils on this account.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to the average cost of educating an undergraduate student at (a) a university and (b) a polytechnic.

The net institutional average annual recurrent cost per student in 1981–82, the last year for which firm figures are available, is estimated as follows, excluding fee income:

	£ cash
Polytechnics—England (financial year)	3,120
Universities—Great Britain (academic year)	4,400

It is not possible to identify the average cost of undergraduate students separately.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what policy statements he has made recently as to the treatment of children from different racial groups and cultures.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 19 December to my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Norfolk (Mr. Ryder).

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the current annual median cost per secondary school pupil among education authorities in England and for the inner London education authority, respectively.

In 1981–82, the latest year for which full information is available, the median of net recurrent expenditure per secondary pupil by English local education authorities was £871; this compares with expenditure of £1,474 per secondary pupil by the inner London education authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent reports he has received about the achievements of comprehensive education.

Some of the reports of formal inspections by Her Majesty's inspectors which I receive and publish concern comprehensive schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what items he expects to discuss when he next meets the University Grants Committee.

My right hon. Friend has at present no plans for such a meeting.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is satisfied with the budget control of local education authorities.

The expenditure targets for local authorities for 1984–85, including those authorities with education responsibilities, reflect the Government's continuing concern about the overall level of local authority expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the current position about the proposed Roman Catholic sixth form unit in Warrington.

No new proposals have been published for sixth form Roman Catholic education in Warrington. I understand that talks are continuing at local level.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from employers over the future of the General Certificate of Education ordinary level.

The Confederation of British Industry has welcomed the Government's November 1982 document "Examination at 16+: A Statement of Policy" and has declared its support for the introduction of a single system of examinations at 16-plus. The Department has also received comments from the Engineering Employers' Federation on proposals for draft national criteria for the 16-plus examinations. My right hon. Friend is always glad to receive the views of employers on this as on other issues.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from Devon county council on the effects of Government spending limits in education provision in the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from Devon county council on the effects of Government spending limits on education provision in that area.

My right hon. Friend met members of the authority on 20 September 1983 and discussed the implications of the Government's expenditure policies for a number of local matters. No representations have been received since that date.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the reason for the lower per capita funding of polytechnic students as compared with those attending similar courses at a university.

The principal reason for the difference in funding between similar subjects in universities and polytechnics is the provision that is made for a higher level of research activity in the universities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to seek to extend the breadth of A-level courses and examinations in England.

I would like to see a broader curriculum for A-level students and I am exploring the possibilities. I hope to put some ideas forward early next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will now make a statement on his decision on the future of the west midlands college of higher education.

As my right hon. Friend stated yesterday in his reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Hall Green (Mr. Eyre) he has accepted the advice of the National Advisory Body on the provision to be made in 1984–85 in the local authority sector of higher education. He has accordingly informed the Walsall local education authority and the west midlands college of higher education that with effect from 1984–85 there will be no intakes to courses at the college other than to courses of initial and in-service teacher training. The future role of the college as an institution devoted to teacher education will be subject to review along with that of other colleges next year.

Lamond asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in the light of his Department's recent announcement that the increase in the main rate of grant for 1984–85 will be 4 per cent., he will be giving the same advice to educational institutions in regard to limiting increases in hall fees to that percentage as was given on 9 November 1982, Official Report, c. 415.

Yes. It is the Government's policy that institutions, taking one year with another, should balance the costs of catering and residence with the charges levied, but I hope that increases in hall fees for 1984–85, like the increases in the main rates of grant for that year, will reflect the Government's success in holding down the rate of inflation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consultations he has had with the Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals and the Association of University Teachers about his projections of demands for higher education.

The Department is studying the detailed comments of these and other bodies on the projections of demand for higher education published in the Department's report on education No. 99.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether his Department will now issue advice to education authorities on retaining schools in remote rural areas.

My right hon. Friend see no need to add to the advice already available. The Government's recognition of the value of rural schools to their communities is reflected in the calculations underlying rate support grant which make allowance for the additional costs of provision in sparsely populated areas; in the circulars to local education authorities about falling rolls; and in my right hon. Friend's careful consideration of all closure proposals that fall to him to decide, which in each case takes account of local circumstances, the view, of the local community, and the educational needs of the children concerned. Schools in Scotland are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the fall in schools rolls is still proceeding faster than the fall in school funding.

On the basis of provisional information on the outturn of expenditure for 1982–83 and local education authorities' budget estimates for 1983–84, local education authority recurrent expenditure on primary and secondary schools is expected to remain roughly constant in real terms between 1982–83 and 1983–84 while pupil numbers are projected to fall by about 2·5 per cent. over the same period. Expenditure per pupil is thus expected to continue to increase.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what savings to public funds he calculates will flow from his recently announced decisions on the methods of calculating parental contributions for student maintenance grants.

The level of expenditure on student awards in 1984–85 will be reduced by approximately £21 million compared to what it would otherwise have been as a result of the changes to the parental contribution scale and the minimum award announced by my right hon. Friend on 17 November 1983. The net effect of all the changes announced by my right hon. Friend, however, will be to increase previously planned levels of provision for student awards by £12 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what further representations he has received about the closure of schools; and if he will make a statement.

In exercising his responsibilities under sections 12 and 13 of the Education Act 1980, my right hon. Friend receives numerous and regular representations about individual schools or groups of schools which are proposed for closure. Such proposals are decided after careful consideration of all the factors involved including the views of local people, and in particular the educational interests of the children concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much it would cost to provide an allowance for every person in post-compulsory non-advanced education in schools and colleges at the rate of £30 per term-time week.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply given earlier today in reply to a question from the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish (Mr. Bennett).

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has for future consultations with local authorities on initiatives for development of education.

I have regular meetings with representatives of the Association of County Councils and the Association of Metropolitan Authorities to discuss matters of common concern. I will be meeting them next month to discuss possible initiatives which might be supported by education support grants in 1985–86.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what topics he proposes to discuss when he next meets representatives of the teachers' unions.

I have meetings with representatives of individual teachers' unions from time to time to discuss matters of mutual concern; but I have no outstanding request for such a meeting at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the financing of vocational courses, such as town and country planning at polytechnics, following recent discussions by the national advisory body.

As my right hon. Friend announced yesterday, he has accepted the advice of the National Advisory Body on the disposition of academic provision in local authority higher education and its associated funding in 1984–85. The plans embody a rationalisation of some expensive and highly specialised subjects, such as town and country planning, where there is evidence of over-supply of qualified manpower. The allocation of resources in respect of continuing provision in these, as of other subjects, is based on the number and relative cost of the students involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he takes to monitor the observation of law relating to school assemblies by local education authorities.

The Education Act 1944 requires that the school day in all county and voluntary schools shall begin with collective worship on the part of all pupils, except those withdrawn by their parents; and that unless the premises are unsuitable there shall b a single act of worship attended by all pupils. In county schools the collective worship must not be distinctive of any particular religious denomination.Local education authorities were reminded of the statutory requirements on collective worship and religious instruction in our document of guidance "The School Curriculum"; and any complaint made to the Department about the arrangemens for collective worship in a particular school is investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has yet received proposals from the boroughs of Richmond and Solihull to reintroduce selective education.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will include the nuclear issue in his definition of the core curriculum.

It must be for individual schools to decide how such issues should be treated.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assessment he makes of the cost-effectiveness in the preparation of graduates and diplomates of polytechnics and other local authority higher education colleges; and if he has any information on assessments of the cost-effectiveness of systems of higher education in western Europe, the United States and Japan which would provide the basis for a valid comparison.

Such an assessment necessarily entails qualitative judgments supported by appropriate data on unit costs and other performance indicators, taking account of the lengh of higher education courses, the proportion of studens successfully graduating and graduate employment statistics. Countries in western Europe, the United States and Japan use similar approaches to the assessment of cost-effectiveness; but, because a variety of assumptions and methodologies are used, international comparisons cannot be regarded as entirely reliable. The Department has played and will continue to play its part in improving the validity and reliability of such comparisons by co-operating fully in the work of OECD and UNESCO.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science during which years since 1965 the percentage increases in earnings of university senior lecturers have equalled or exceeded the rise in the cost of living.

The Department does not collect information about the earnings of university senior lecturers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his policy towards a system of financial incentives for women to return to higher education after marriage, children or financial difficulties.

Women wishing to follow degree or other designated courses of higher education can obtain mandatory awards, subject to the normal criteria of eligibility, which should enable them to pursue their courses without financial hardship.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take action to encourage married women and those who did not receive a higher education on leaving school to become mature students.

Action to encourage the participation of mature women in higher education must rest substantially with local education authorities and individual institutions. I welcome the efforts which some of them are making in this regard—for example, by the provision of access courses designed to prepare adults, including married women, for entry to higher education and making special arrangements for the admission of older students to courses of higher education.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to ensure equal opportunities; and if he will encourage positive discrimination for women to enter higher education and universities.

The percentage of women among young home initial entrants to higher educatiion in Great Britain has risen from 34 per cent. in 1972 to 44 per cent. in 1982. The Government hope to see further improvement, but do not believe that positive discrimination is necessary to secure it or desirable in itself. My right hon. Friend's school curriculum policy is designed to encourage girls to enter those areas, such as science and engineering, where there is an imbalance in higher education.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to ensure that more children from lower income homes gain access to higher, university and continuing education.

Local education authority careers officers are always concerned to alert young people to the opportunities that exist for further and higher education. The Department publishes a wide range of material designed to inform young people and to encourage them to consider the full range of options including further and higher education. The Government's concern to protect access to higher education for children from lower income homes is also reflected in the changes to the mandatory student awards scheme announced last month. Necessary savings on total student awards expenditure will be made by increasing contributions from those in the middle and upper reaches of the parental contribution scale and by halving the minimum award for those at the top of the scale, so that the threshold at which parental contributions begin needs to be increased only in line with earnings.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what consideration was given to the increasing number of children from social classes I and II in the Government's projection of lower student numbers in higher education in the 1990s;(2) what consideration was given to the continuing trend of increasing participation by women in higher education in the Government's projection of lower student numbers in higher education in the 1990s.

The Department's projections of the future demand for higher education in Great Britain are published in DES report on education No. 99, which makes clear that the underlying projections of those qualified to enter higher education take account of the increasing proportion of births occurring to families in social classes I and II. Statistical Bulletin 6/83 indicates that they also take account of the different trends for boys and girls in the numbers becoming qualified for entry.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consideration has been given by the Government to the skilled manpower needs of the economy in the year 2000 in their planning for the future of higher and continuing education.

In considering future plans for the education service, regard is customarily paid to the future manpower needs of the economy so far as these can be predicted. Material bearing on such needs—some of it highly speculative—is available from a wide range of sources.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to prevent the leakage of water through allegedly waterproof concrete carriageways.

The concrete specified for concrete carriageways—that is, rigid pavements—is sufficiently dense for water seepage through the concrete itself not to be a problem. Steps are being taken with the the cooperation of the manufacturers to improve the durability of joint sealants.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of steel bars used in motorway construction is galvanised.

Galvanised reinforcement is not used in the Department's roads and bridges.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he takes to ensure the correct water proofing and correct concrete strength in motorway construction in order to prevent water leakage and the corrosion that follows.

Concrete in carriageways and structures and the water-proofing of bridge decks are required to meet the Department's specifications which are regularly updated in the light of experience and developments.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what would be the percentage increase in bus fares required in each of the six metropolitan county council areas if the local authority were to reduce its actual level of subsidy to local bus services to the level of their grant related expenditure assessment for this purpose.

The percentage increase in fares that would be required to achieve any particular level of subsidy to local bus services depends on the progress made in improving efficiency and on the level of service provided. The guidance that I have given to authorities on the maximum levels of subsidy that would be appropriate for 1984–85 recognises that there are limits to the economies that authorities will be able to achieve within the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport to whom complaints about the British Transport police should be submitted; who is responsible for first considering the validity of such complaints; who investigates such complaints; and who decides whether or not they should be submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The same complaints procedure applies to the British Transport police as to any other police force. These are set out in Cmnd. 9072, paragraphs 4 and 5.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport to whom the British Transport police force is accountable; and if he proposes any change in the future.

The chief constable of the British Transport police is responsible for the administration of the force to the British Transport Police Committee under paragraph 4 of the British Transport Police Force Scheme 1963 (Approval) Order 1964—S.I. 1964, No. 1456—and in accordance with directions from time to time given to him by that committee. There are no plans for changing the statutory instrument.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what are the present powers of the metropolitan county councils in relation to freight transport; and in which bodies those powers would be vested under the proposals to abolish those councils.

Metropolitan councils, as highway authorities, have power to enforce the regulations on maximum lorry weights and, as part of their general responsibilities for traffic regulation, to make orders restricting the movements of lorries. In both cases, it is proposed that the present powers of the metropolitan councils should be transferred to the district councils.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport which of the transport powers contained in (a) the Local Government Act 1972, (b) the Highways Act 1980 and (c) the Transport Act 1983 will be removed from local government and transferred to central Government consequent upon the implementation of the proposals contained in the White Paper "Streamlining the Cities" and its associated consultation documents.

The White Paper contains proposals for the transfer of powers from the GLC and the metropolitan counties to London boroughs, metropolitan districts and the proposed new joint public transport boards. They would not involve any significant transfer of powers from local to central Government. The final details of legislation would have to be determined on the basis of consultation with all the interests concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport in relation to the proposed joint boards for public transport referred to in his recent consultation document "Reallocation of Transport Responsibilities" in metropolitan county areas (a) which powers included in the Transport Act 1983 the joint boards will inherit from the metropolitan county council and (b) what are the remaining powers of the metropolitan counties under the Transport Act 1983 and what will happen to these.

It is the intention that the joint boards should take over from the metropolitan county councils those powers and duties conferred by the Transport Act 1983 which they require in order to exercise general control over the provision of public transport services in their areas, including control over fares and service levels and over the amounts of revenue support to be provided. Ultimately policy will be decided in the light of responses to the consultation document.

asked the Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts if he is in a position to announce the allocation of the arts and libraries programme for 1984–85.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the Supply Estimates, my noble Friend the Minister for the Arts proposes the main allocations listed as follows for the financial year 1984–85. They are intended to allow broadly the present level of activity to be continued, taking account of the Government's assumptions on pay and price movements. It has also been possible to include provision for the following significant developments.First, in the light of the report on the financial scrutiny of the Royal opera house and Royal Shakespeare company, the Government have decided to make special provision amounting to £4·1 million, within the total Arts Council grant of £100 million, to establish a satisfactory base line for the future operations of these two bodies, and to strengthen the financial base of the English national opera, Scottish opera, Welsh national opera and Opera north. Details of these arrangements are being given in a separate parliamentary answer.Secondly, the total recurrent provision for the national museums and galleries in England includes an additional £500,000 to help meet their conservation and other special needs, together with an allowance for certain technical adjustments. Detailed allocations to individual museums and galleries for purchase grants and other running costs will be announced later. Provision for the Museums and Galleries Commission also includes an additional £500,000 for a new scheme of grants to local museums for conservation and related purposes.Thirdly, provision to be made in the Supply Estimates for the Property Services Agency's Vote, which is charged against the arts and libraries programme, will allow for continued net expenditure on the new British library St. Pancras building project as the work already authorised progresses, and for a substantial increase in building work expenditure at the national museums and galleries. This will enable priority to be given to an enlarged programme of repairs, maintenance and refurbishment at the museums and galleries; it will also allow for continued building work on the new Theatre museum for which contracts have now been let.These allocations, together with provision for the staffing and administrative costs of the Office of Arts and Libraries and for certain other activities which will be the subject of separate announcements later, are within the total for the arts and libraries programme given in the Chancellor of the Exchequer's autumn statement, as adjusted by the subsequent decisions on funding for the Royal Shakespeare and opera companies.

Original 1983–84 allocations and proposed 1984–85 allocations
Arts and Heritage	1983–84 *	1984–85
	£ million	£ million
Arts Council	92·000	100·000
British Film Institute	7·200	7·710
National Film and Television School	0·850	0·990
Crafts Council	1·700	1·777
Public Lending Right	2·000	2·000
South Bank Theatre Board	0·300	0·100
Government Art Collection	0·110	0·144
National Heritage Memorial Fund	0·001	1·500
Acceptances in Lieu	1·000	1·000
Museums
National museums and galleries: purchase grants and other current provision	55·086	58·227
Museums and Galleries Commission	2·543	3·041
Libraries Etc
British Library (current)	45·865	46·850
Royal Geographical Society	0·050	0·052
Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts	0·373	0·386
British Records Association	0·011	0·012
* As in original 1983–84 Supply Estimates.

asked the Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts whether he is yet in a position to indicate the Government's conclusions on the report on the financial scrutiny of the Royal Opera House and Royal Shakespeare company.

The Government broadly accept the findings and conclusions of the scrutiny, and have decided subject to parliamentary approval of the Supply Estimates to include, within the total grant of £100 million to the Arts Council for 1984–85, an additional sum of £4·1 million, over the allocation which would otherwise have been made. This sum comprises an additional £2·8 million for the Royal opera house and Royal Shakespeare company, and an additional £1·3 million for four other opera companies: English National opera, Scottish opera, Welsh national opera and Opera north. A corresponding addition will be made to the total arts and libraries programme for 1984–85 as announced in the Chancellor of the Exchequer's autumn statement, to be met from the contingency reserve. Provision will also be made for subsequent years.The additional sums for the ROH and RSC are intended to establish the following new total provision for them., in line with the Priestley recommendations:

	£ million
ROH	12·350
RSC	4·900

The special provision of £1·3 million for the four other opera companies is also intended to strengthen their financial base, in recognition of the particular difficulties which they have experienced; allocation of this sum will be a matter for the Arts Council of Great Britain.In addition, parliamentary approval will be sought for a Supplementary Estimate in the current financial year 1983–84, to increase the revised cash limit on Class X Vote 21 by £3·5 million from £108·3 million to £111·8 million. This additional money will be allocated to the Arts Council, to enable the accumulated deficits of all the companies mentioned— including that on the Scottish opera's theatre in Glasgow — to be written off. The increase will be charged to the contingency reserve and will not therefore add to the public expenditure planning total.My noble Friend the Minister for the Arts believes that these increases, together with the writing off of accumulated deficits, will enable the companies concerned to operate on a satisfactory financial basis in future. My noble Friend has asked the Arts Council to emphasise to the companies that the higher level of operating activity allowed by the new figures must be regarded as a level which they do not exceed; and to ensure that financial management is strengthened on the lines recommended in the Priestley report, that close cost controls operate in future, that budget ceilings for all activities are set and held, and that the possible savings identified by the report are pursued. Given these measures my noble Friend believes we have now reached a satisfactory level of operating subsidy for the companies in question.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service when the 1983 edition of "Public Bodies" will be published; what additional information will be included this year; and whether any further reductions have been achieved in the number of non-Departmental public bodies.

"Public Bodies 1983" is published today; copies have been placed in the Library.In addition to information about non-Departmental public bodies and nationalised industries included in last year's edition, the 1983 edition gives details of staffing, expenditure and appointments to National Health Service authorities and appointments to certain public corporations. Men's and women's appointments are also shown separately for the first time.I am pleased to report that the Government's policy of continuing scrutiny of all non-Departmental public bodies has enabled a further reduction in their number, from 1,779 to 1,697, since last year.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the ratio of youth training scheme trainees pursuing off-the-job training in the public further education sector compared with the private sector.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he takes to publicise the opportunities and aims of the youth training scheme (a) nationally and (b) locally.

My colleagues and I take every suitable opportunity to publicise the youth training scheme both at national and local level. In addition, we arranged for national press and television advertising campaigns earlier in the year to help bring the youth training scheme to the attention of employers, other sponsors and to young people. Since August, selective regional and local campaigns have been under way aimed specifically at young people.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many trainees on the Government's youth training scheme in Coventry, the west midlands and nationally presently occupy places under (a) mode A and (b) mode B; and what are the numbers of places currently unfilled for Coventry, the west midlands and nationally of (a) and (b).

[pursuant to his reply, 19 December 1983]: At the end of October, the latest date for which information is available, the numbers of young people in training were as follows:

	Mode A	Mode B
Coventry Area*	2,562	1,279
West Midlands	22,991	8,229
Great Britain	163,418	67,044

At the same time, the total number of approved places was as follows:

	Mode A	Mode B
Coventry Area*	5,602	3,048
West Midlands	41,566	16,030
Great Britain	314,329	119,550
* The figures relate to the Manpower Services Commission Coventry area office which covers the whole of Warwickshire as well as the Coventry travel-to-work area.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, for the purposes of his Department, young people on the youth training schemes who have an allowance negotiated above the stipulated level of £25 a week are regarded as employees.

[pursuant to his reply, 19 December 1983]: Whether or not a young person on the youth training scheme is to be considered an employee is in the first instance a matter for the employer with whom he is training to determine.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the effect on the Health and Safety Executive's guidelines on noise of the proposed European Community directive on noise.

:The Health and Safety Executive has no plans for amending its current guidance on noise, which is based on the code of practice first published in 1972 with the support of both sides of industry, to take account of the proposed European directive. I understand, however, that the executive intends to take steps to ensure a more widespread compliance with existing guidelines, pending discussion in the Council of European Communities on the proposed directive, and on future United Kingdom regulations dealing with this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the bodies with which he has had consultations about noise in the workplace.

We are being advised on this matter by the Health and Safety Commission, which has been undertaking its own consultations. We have also received representations from a number of hon. Members and from various organisations which are concerned about the European Commission's proposal for a Council directive on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many firms in (a) Great Britain and (b) the west midlands region are receiving payments under the young workers scheme; and if he will supply this information by industrial sector.

Statistics on the young workers scheme are not held in the form requested.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of young people currently employed under the young workers scheme were (a) previously employed under the youth opportunities programme and (b) previously employed directly by the employer now receiving a young workers scheme grant (a) in the west midlands and (b) in Great Britain.

In Great Britain, it is estimated that a quarter of young workers entering the young workers scheme had been on the youth opportunities programme. Employers may apply in respect of new or current employees, and in practice the majority of young people employed under the scheme are recruited by their employer before an application is made. Separate information is not available for the west midlands.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young workers scheme allowances are paid (a) at the full rate and (b) at the reduced rate, in (i) the west midlands and (ii) Great Britain; and of these new recruits employed under the young workers scheme, how many are employed for less than one year in (a) the west midlands and (b) Great Britain.

It is estimated that nationally 80 per cent. of young workers scheme allowances are paid at the full rate and 20 per cent. at the reduced rate. The average duration of an approved application is nine months; about one half of the young people for whom grants are paid are on the scheme for a period of one year. Comparable information in the form requested is not available on a regional basis.

Ross asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the level of average earnings in 1979–80; and what is the current level.

Estimates of average weekly earnings of full-time adult employees working a full week in April 1979 and April 1980, and in April 1983, the latest date for which comparable information is available, are published in table 5.6 of Employment Gazette for November 1983, a copy of which is in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will now announce a date for the opening of an adult skillcentre in Lambeth.

Since I met the hon. Members for Vauxhall (Mr. Holland) and for Norwood (Mr. Fraser) on 5 December to discuss adult training provision in Lambeth, I have written to them to confirm that a final decision on the scale and nature of such training will be taken in the new year.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will announce the results of the review of the rates of allowance payable under both the full-time and part-time job release schemes; and whether there will be changes in the rules of the full-time scheme from 1 April 1984.

Following the review of the rates of allowance under the job release scheme, the allowances which will apply from 9 April 1984 are as follows:FULL-TIME SCHEME

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the European Community Council of Labour and Social Affairs Ministers held in Brussels on 8 December.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment represented the United Kingdom at this Council.The Council reached agreement on a resolution concerning the promotion of youth employment which gives further recognition to the needs of young people. We believe that this resolution, taken together with the recent reform of the European social fund and the resolution on vocational training, represents a clear and effective commitment by the EC to tackling the problem of youth unemployment.A draft regulation on social aspects of the Greek memorandum could not be formally agreed at the Council because the question of relevant financing was unclear following the inconclusive results of the European Council on 4 to 6 December. The Council was, however, able to agree on the general principle of special measures for Greece in the social field, and this means that provided the outstanding financial issues are resolved the regulation can be officially adopted.The Council also briefly discussed the draft recommendation on working time and draft directive on informing and consulting employees—commonly known as the Vredeling directive. No agreement was reached on either item.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the occasions year by year since 1979 when allegations of malpractice in the matter of election to the principal executive committee of trade unions have been made to his Department; if he will indicate which trade unions were involved; and on how many occasions convictions followed such allegations.

[pursuant io his reply, 19 December 19831: This Department receives a number of letters each year alleging election malpractice in trade unions but these form only a part of a very large volume of correspondence on trade union matters. It would not be possible to analyse this correspondence in the way requested without incurring disproportionate cost. Since the Department has no power to investigate such allegations, correspondents are normally recommended to seek independent legal advice. There are no means of identifying how many of the allegations of malpractice which are the subject of letters to the Department also become the subject of legal proceedings.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if, in view of the late date of Easter in 1984, he will give consideration to the timing of the next Easter adjournment.

Yes. I recognise that it may be for the convenience of hon. Members if it were proposed that, subject to the progress of parliamentary business, the House should rise for the Easter recess in the week ending Friday 13 April 1984 rather than in the following week.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will now announce the launch vehicle selected for the placement of the next generation of Skynet in orbit.

The two satellites Skynet 4A and 4B will be launched by the United States space transportation system —the shuttle.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what grants he has made in the current year to voluntary bodies charities and pressure groups.

I refer my hon. Friend to the full list of grants-in-aid which appears in Vote 1, section K, of the Defence Estimates 1983–84.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many premises he now has occupied by International Military Services; what is the total of staff employed; and if he receives commission on armaments sold which exceeds his expediture;(2) when the lease for 35 Great Smith street, London S.W.1, to house International Military Services, was purchased; what is its cost annually; when the lease is due to expire; if the building is still being used by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

International Military Services Ltd. presently occupies two premises; its head office at 4 Abbey Orchard street, London, SW1P 2JJ, and nearby offices at 35 Great Smith street. As part of an overhead reduction programme earlier this year, the company's staff was reduced to its present level of 189. The company is now in the process of vacating the Great Smith street premises and accommodating all its staff at 4 Abbey Orchard street with significant cost and operational advantages.By the end of this year, the Great Smith street premises will be available to re-let and discussions are already taking place with several potential new tenants. It would not be appropriate to disclose IMS's financial commitments under the head lease which it took on in 1981 for a period of 25 years.IMS is charged with making a profit on its operations which accrue to its shareholder — the Ministry of Defence.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will publish in the Official Report the written instruction given to members of Her Majesty's forces guarding Greenham common concerning the circumstances when the use of force and weapons may be used.

It is not the practice to publish such instructions.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Western Isles of 1 November 1983, he will give additional figures to show (a) the acreage of land in Scotland over which his Department has rights and (b) the figure for the Borders region, inclusive of the two Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve facilities.

The Ministry of Defence has rights over 20,566 acres of land in Scotland. Apart from a few small properties, which overall total less than one acre the MOD holds no land in the Borders region; TAVRA, which holds land in its own right, leases some 567 acres.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will inform the public in advance of any exercises on or use of public roads by cruise missile convoys.

I cannot add to paragraph 209 of the statement on Defence Estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many remand prisoners have been transferred from London to police and court cells in the west midlands in the last year; where they were located; for how long; and what is the total cost to public funds of the transportation of each prisoner each way.

During 1983 the following numbers of remand prisoners from London have been held in the custody of the West Midlands police:

	Numbers
18–20 November	22
21 November	21
22 November	22
23 November	19
24 November	22
25–27 November	20
28 November	20
29 November	20
30 November	20
1 December	19
2–4 December	19
5 December	19

The other information requested is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive the report of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on the shooting of Stephen Waldorf; and if it will be published.

My right hon. and learned Friend expects to receive shortly a report on the operational implications of the incident. When it has been received we will be considering whether and to what extent it would be in the public interest to make its contents known.The Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis is keeping officials in touch with the progress of disciplinary proceedings in the case; I understand that he has recently forwarded a report of the discipline inquiry to the Police Complaints Board. It has never been the practice to publish such reports.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Bruinvels) on 30 November, Official Report, c. 518, if he will estimate the percentage of private security firms which belong to one of the self-regulating associations.

Information on which to base such an estimate is not collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the estimated costs and income from the issue of travel documents by his Department during 1983–84 and 1984–85.

Following is the information:

	1983–84 £	1984–85 £
Estimated cost of providing travel document facilities	227,041	227,745
Estimated income from the issue and renewal of travel documents	110,012	143,016

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many travel documents were issued by his Department during each of the years 1978–79, 1979–80, and 1982–83 to (a) refugees under the 1951 convention, (b) stateless people under the 1954 convention and (c) other people not covered by either of these conventions.

The numbers of travel documents issued for the first time in each of these three years were as follows:

	Financial years
	1978–79	1979–80	1982–83
Refugee documents	958	1,092	4,491
Stateless persons documents	27	16	14
Other documents	1,438	1,145	1,045
Total	2,423	2,253	5,550
The total numbers of travel documents renewed and replaced were:
	5,513	5,854	5,558

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the costs to his Department of issuing travel documents during 1978–79, 1979–8 and 1982–83; and what was the income from fees for such documents in each of these years.

The costs of issuing and renewing travel documents in these three years, and the income from fees were as follows:

	1978–79	1979–80	1982–83
	£	£	£
Costs	72,474	89,080	197,290
Income	74,477	80,088	140,044

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he makes of the level of offences under the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 of supplying cigarettes to young persons; and if he is satisfied that the level of non-compliance with the law is reflected fully in the number of prosecutions.

I am aware, as doubtless is my hon. Friend, of the findings of the OPCS study "Smoking Among Secondary School Children". The identification and prosecution of persons committing offences under this Act of supplying cigarettes to young persons is a matter for the operational discretion of chief officers of police.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer given by the Under-Secretary of State, Official Report, 9 December, c. 264, what proportion of the 250,000 British citizens of voting age resident in European Community countries is attributable to each of the nine European Community countries.

The approximate number of British citizens of voting age resident in August 1983 in each of the nine European Community countries was as follows:

	Numbers
Belgium	18,000
Denmark	6,000
Federal Republic of Germany	5,000
France	36,000
Greece	11,500
Italy	25,500
Luxembourg	2,000
Netherlands	20,000
Republic of Ireland	50,000
Total	254,000

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on the two-night exercise in Fulham in which 100 special constables were involved; what was the number of road blocks that were set up; and why, for how long and on whose authority this was done.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that a crime prevention exercise, in which Metropolitan Police special constables were involved as a part of their operational training, was held on two beats in the Fulham division of F district of the Metropolitan police district on Thursday 3 November and Friday 4 November 1983 between 8 pm and 1 am each evening. Eighty-one special constables were involved on 3 November and 107 on 4 November; regular police officers were also present. On the authority of the Deputy Assistant Commissioner in charge of No. 1 area, two road blocks, each lasting for between half and three-quarters of an hour, were set up at four places on each of the two evenings to interview drivers on a selected basis for possible road traffic offences. No crime was reported on either evening in the areas covered by the exercise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what responsibilities his Department has for the functions and duties of police patrols on motorways.

The policing of motorways is the responsibility of chief officers of police.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many official forms are issued by his Department; and how this compares with 1979.

My Department currently has about 4,050 different types of forms which are issued to the public or to businesses; the corresponding figure for 1979 is not available. The total number of forms issued is not recorded.In the first year following the publication of "Administrative Forms in Government"—Cmnd. 8504— in February 1982, 178 forms were reviewed of which 27 were abolished. The review of forms used by the Home Office is continuing. Figures relating to progress from February 1983 should be available in May next year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether action has now been completed to organise regional police war duties courses as envisaged in paragraph 8(i) of appendix F to Home Office circular No. ES 4/1979.

Yes. Police war duties courses have been held in all regions for some years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of police officers of the rank of inspector and above now in post have not yet attended a regional police war duties course, as was envisaged in paragraph 8(i) of appendix F to Home Office circular No. ES 4/1979.

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

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied that all police forces maintain an adequate number of trained officers who can lecture on home defence matters as required by paragraph 8(iv) of appendix F to Home Office circular No. ES 4/1979 and that full use is being made of the lecturing capabilities of these officers.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the workings of the Cinematograph (Amendment) Act; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. So far as we know, the Act is operating satisfactorily.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to exempt licensed premises with video juke boxes from the requirement to be licensed as a cinema under the Cinematograph (Amendment) Act; and if he will make a statement.

No. The effect of the licensing requirement in respect of public houses is less onerous than in respect of cinemas. An exemption for licensed premises could seriously weaken the effect of the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether funds disbursed by Her Majesty's Government to voluntary organisations for their work in the United Kingdom may also be used for work which benefits United Kingdom citizens living abroad and paying United Kingdom taxes.

Grants may only be used for the purposes for which they are given, which will vary according to the circumstances in each case. I am aware that funds are given to some organisations whose work benefits, for example, service men abroad and their dependents. If my hon. Friend has a particular situation in mind, perhaps he will write to me.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in his calculations about the probable effects of a nuclear war, he assumes that Merseyside would be a prime target for attack; and what are his most recent estimates of the likely number of deaths which would occur in Merseyside.

It is impossible to predict with any certainty the size of a nuclear attack, the targets it would include, or its effects. They would depend upon the political and strategic intentions of an enemy at the time. There is always the possibility that any large city might be a target. The Government's policy of deterrence aims to prevent an attack of any sort happening, and we believe it to be unlikely.We do not make detailed estimates of the numbers who might be killed in an attack. This would depend upon many unforeseeable matters such as the number and size of weapons, whether they were detonated in the air or at ground level, upon weather conditions, and upon the extent to which the public had followed advice on protective precautions. It could also depend on the extent to which local authorities had carried out the obligations required by the civil defence regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many defendants in custody pending trial are now held in police cells and court cells who would normally be held in remand prisons in London.

On the night of 18–19 December there were 316 prisoners held in police and court cells in London and the south-east.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the progress being made by the Greater London council and the London borough of Camden in carrying out their duties under the new civil defence regulations.

The new civil defence regulations came into force on 1 December and it is too early to comment on the progress being made so far by these authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been extradited to and from the United Kingdom in each of the last five years; and which countries were involved.

The following tables give information about the numbers of persons extradited to and from the United Kingdom in the years 1978 to 1982, by country:

TABLE A
Persons extradited to foreign countries under the Extradition Act 1870
	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982
Belgium	—	1	3	—	2
Denmark	1	1	1	—	1
Finland	—	—	—	—	1
France	2	2	1	1	—
Federal Republic of Germany	4	3	—	3	2
Israel	1	—	—	—	1
Italy	1	2	—	2	1
Netherlands	1	1	3	1	3
Norway	—	1	—	1	—
Panama	—	—	1	—	—
Sweden	—	—	—	1	4
Switzerland	2	1	3	2	—
United States of America	2	2	5	2	3
TOTAL	14	14	17	13	18

TABLE B
Persons extradited to Commonwealth countries and Dependent Territories under the Fugitive Offenders Act 1967
	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982
Australia	2	3	3	—	2
Canada	—	2	—	4	2
Cyprus	—	—	—	1	—
Hong Kong	1	1	—	—	—
Malta	—	—	—	1	—
Nauru	—	—	1	—	—
New Zealand	1	—	2	—	—
Singapore	—	1	—	—	—
TOTAL	4	7	6	6	4