asked the Attorney-General, for each of the last five available years, in how many divorces involving custody of children custody was awarded (a) to the mother, (b) to the father and (c) jointly to the mother and father.

The information requested by the hon. Member has been collected only since 1980 and only from county courts on a sample basis. It is given in the table. Custody orders granted jointly in favour of the mother and father are included under "others". Separate figures for joint custody orders are to be collected from 1984 onwards. My hon. Friend will be aware that his question and this answer relate solely to custody as distinct from care and control.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service when the report on the findings of the race relations review of personnel policies and procedures in the Civil Service will be published.

I am pleased to tell my hon. Friend that a report entitled "Race Relations: A Review of Policies and Procedures in the Civil Service" is published today. Copies have been placed in the Library. This report details the findings of the review and makes 30 recommendations as to how procedures can be improved to eliminate the possibility of unfair racial discrimination. The review is evidence of our determination to ensure that there is full equality of opportunity in the Civil Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport for each of the last two available financial years, what was the grant related expenditure assessment level for public transport subsidy and the actual level of such subsidies for each of the six metropolitan county council areas.

There is no separate grant related expenditure assessment for revenue support for public transport. Revenue support for public transport and expenditure on road maintenance and road safety are eligible for transport supplementary grant. There is a single GRE for this expenditure net of TSG, which also covers the proportion of general administration expenditure attributed to transport. These GRE's, and the provisional outturn and the budgets for rate fund contributions to passenger transport in 1982–83 and 1983–84 respectively are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken to secure the early completion of the road improvement scheme on the A40 between the Target, Northolt and Hoover's, Perivale; and if he will make a statement.

Work has proceeded well on this contract and we look forward to its substantial completion in the spring, several months ahead of its original schedule.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will seek to amend the Public Service Vehicles (Travel Concessions) Act 1955 to include the unemployed among the list of qualified persons.

No. I do not believe that additions to the categories of people eligible for travel concessions would be justified at this time.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport on what date he expects work to commence on the Maidstone to Ashford section of the M20.

Subject to completion of the outstanding statutory procedures, I hope that we could start construction in 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is considering ceasing to count helicopter movements among the total aircraft movements permitted annually at Heathrow.

My Department has made clear on several occasions, including the recent CAA hearing of British Caledonian and British Airways Helicopters' application for a renewal of their Heathrow-Gatwick licence, that air transport movements by helicopters would count toward the limit which will be imposed on such movements at Heathrow when the fourth terminal opens.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is considering raising the total number of aircraft movements now permitted at Heathrow.

There is no limit at present on the number of movements. The Government have made it clear that a limit of 275,000 air transport movements per annum will be imposed at Heathrow when the fourth terminal is opened in late 1985.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) further to his reply to the hon. Member for Tatton on Thursday 15 December, Official Report, c. 529, if he will list the organisations and individuals that have expressed concern to Government Departments at the potential effect on the environment of the proposed relaxation of the present ban on advertising by captive balloons;(2) further to his reply to the hon. Member for Tatton on Thursday 15 December,

I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether, in the light of financial restrictions imposed on the operation of traffic examiners and enforcement officers, he is satisfied that resources exist (a) to allow prosecutions to be brought, (b) to complete proper legal procedures on prosecution and (c) to enable departmental officials to monitor vehicles;(2) in what way he assesses the savings to his Deprtment to be gained from the introduction of the use of traffic examiners in the preparation and prosecution of summary cases before the lower courts;(3) what changes he is proposing in the use of traffic examiners in the prosecution of summary cases before the lower courts;(4) whether he will make a statement on the findings of the organisation and method review of enforcement and the use of traffic examiners for the preparation and prosecution of summary cases before the lower courts;

The many recommendations made in the Department's review of the organisation and methods of enforcement by traffic examiners are being considered. Those that contribute to more cost-effective enforcement will be implemented.Trials have been arranged in 2 traffic areas to evaluate the costs and savings of using Traffic Examiners for presenting guilty plea cases in court, although that was not recommended by the Review.I expect that the recent increase in the number of traffic examiners and implementation of the recommendations in the Department's review of traffic examiner enforcement, will together provide for a satisfactory level of enforcement. This will be kept under regular review.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in arrangements relating to the proposed black country route; and if he will make a statement.

The black Country route is a local road project, and the responsibility of the West Midlands county council. The council told us last year that they planned to let the first contract in 1982–83, but they did not manage to do so. Their latest transport policies and programme submission forecast a start in October of the current year. I understand that they have not yet made a substantive start, but that some advance work has been done.As a separate initiative, the county council has suggested that part of the eventual cost of the road might be funded by private finance, and the construction done under a novel form of management contract. The council has also requested substantial additional Government grants towards this method of carrying out the project. These proposals are under discussion between the county council, other interested parties, and my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport why it was decided to surface the newly completed section of the M1 in concrete; and if it is intended that any further motorways will be surfaced in concrete.

The new southbound carriageway of the M1 in Hertfordshire was constructed in concrete as a result of accepting the lowest of the competitive tenders received for alternative forms of construction in accordance with the Department's normal policy. I have no plans for changing this policy and it is likely therefore that some future motorway pavements will be constructed in concrete.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the latest figure for the percentage of drivers killed in road accidents who had blood alcohol levels above the legal maximum.

Provisional 1982 figures for Great Britain are 36 per cent. for motor vehicles drivers and 28 per cent. for motorcycle riders.Those and earlier figures appear in table X of "Road Accidents Great Britain 1982", a copy of which is in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how London Transport's Underground services outside Greater London will be financed when the London Regional Transport Bill is enacted; and whether he will make a statement.

London Regional Transport will be responsible for the whole of the Underground network both inside and outside Greater London. My grants to London Regional Transport from the beginning of the financial year after enactment and onwards will take this into account.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the price on the world market of each product covered by the common agricultural policy; what is the European Community price; and what is his estimate of producing each such product in the United Kingdom.

There is no single, generally accepted definition of "world" prices. Set out as follows for each of the main commodities covered by the common agricultural policy arc the estimated lowest prices at Community ports which underlie the Commission's calculation of variable import levies applicable on 22 November 1983. These prices can fluctuate markedly. They are the lowest prices recorded and it is highly likely that we would need to pay higher prices on average if we purchased more on world markets, but the precise level is a matter for speculation. Also shown are the corresponding support prices obtaining in the European Community. Information about production levels and aggregate production costs in the United Kingdom were contained in the "Annual Review of Agriculture 1983—Cmnd. 8804.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, if land or forest prices fall, the Forestry Commission proposes to sell more land to meet the £82 million target Her Majesty's Government require from the Forestry Commission.

The Forestry Commission's disposals programme is set in financial rather than area terms, and it is for the forestry commissioners to select properties for sale to meet that programme taking account of the guidelines provided by Forestry Ministers. The Commission does not sell land or plantations below a price that represents their value to them for forestry purposes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any plans for the introduction of headage payments in respect of beef cattle.

Under the suckler cow subsidy scheme, headage payments for beef cows were introduced in the United Kingdom in 1980. In addition, United Kingdom beef producers benefit from variable premium payments on slaughtered cattle.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has as to the headage payments made in respect of beef cattle by other member states of the European Economic Community.

In addition to the basic FEOGA-funded suckler cow subsidy of 15ecus per head payable throughout the Community, I understand that France, Italy, Greece and Belgium pay a national supplement from their own funds of up to 25ecus per head. In the Irish Republic — and Northern Ireland — a supplement of 20ecus per head is funded by FEOGA.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each of the past 10 years and at the latest available date the quantity of surplus commodities in stock under the common agricultural policy in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) the European Economic Community as a whole together with the cost of storage in terms of pound sterling at 1983 prices and the current exchange rate against the European currency unit.

Information is set out in the following tables. However, that necessary to value past storage operations at 1983 sterling rates of expenditure is not readily available and the calculations could be done only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to the answer of 13 December, what arrangements have been made for local authorities to purchase and maintain stocks of food and equipment to enable them to provide emergency feeding to the local population in the interim period after a nuclear attack.

Home Office circular ES 1/79 to local authorities contains guidance on planning for food and agriculture controls in war. Paragraph 1(b) of appendix C of the annex to this circular envisages that as soon as possible after a nuclear attack, controllers would need to acquire local food stocks. Stocks of equipment held by the MAFF would be released to local authorities to supplement existing or improvised facilities.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in what way and for what reasons releasing specimens of forms referred to in paragraph 21 of the annex, "Food and Agriculture Controls in War", the Home Office circular No. ES1/1979 would prejudice their security; and what is their current security classification.

To release specimens of the forms would reveal aspects of the arrangements for their use which are currently classified as confidential and might also enable replicas to be made which could jeopardise these arrangements if they ever had to be implemented.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the names and qualifications of the agricultural experts selected by his Department in implementation of paragraph 28 of the annex to Home Office circular No. ES1/1979.

No. The experts referred to would be selected from staff of the agricultural development and advisory service in post in the relevant locations at the time.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether any appointments remain to be made of the commodity officers and other expert advisers referred to in paragraph 32 of the annex to Home Office circular No. ES1/1979.

Yes. The experts referred to in paragraph 31 of the circular are selected from the food industry. Changes in personnel and their location are frequent, but every effort is made to maintain adequate coverage.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether any appointments remain to be made of designated or earmarked county food officers and district food officers and other staff referred to in paragraph 34 of the annex to Home Office circular No. ES 1/1979.

This is a matter for the local authorities concerned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many persons designated as county or district food officers or their assistants attended courses or studies at the Home Defence college in each of the years 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983 in pursuance of the suggestion in paragraph 37 of the annex to Home Office circular No. ES 1/1979.

I have been asked to reply.Persons designated as county or district food officers or their assistants attended courses at the Civil Defence college — formerly the Home Defence college — as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence there is of changes in sea current activity in the Irish sea over the last four years.

The main evidence on currents in the Irish sea comes from measurements of concentrations of caesium made by my Department's fisheries radiobiological laboratory. Caesium is a mobile element which moves with the water and is therefore a good indicator of current flows.For the period from 1970 to 1976 the flow rate through the Irish sea was relatively low, but there was an increase in 1977. In 1981 the currents through the Irish sea reverted to the low flow rate which existed before 1977. However, during 1982 the flow again increased.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the results of the environmental monitoring undertaken by his Department following the recent incident at Sellafield; and if he will make a statement.

Immediately on being notified of the incident, scientists in my Department initiated a special monitoring programme covering both marine and agricultural sectors. A report on their findings has now been completed and I have placed copies in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to the documentary basis of the Guatemalan claim to Belize; and to how this is formally recorded by Guatemala.

The 1965 Guatemalan constitution, since suspended, asserted Belize to be a part of Guatemala, but the Government of Guatemala have never published the documentary basis for their claim to Belize. Belize is internationally recognised as an independent sovereign nation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council held on 19 December.

I represented the United Kingdom at the Foreign Affairs Council which met in Brussels on 19 December. This was the last such meeting under the Greek Presidency. A ministerial conference with Spain was also held in the margins of the 'Council.Ministers discussed the European Parliament's vote last week on the draft 1984 budget. The Council agreed that in unilaterally altering the classification of United Kingdom and German refunds, in placing them in the reserve chapter and in increasing the maximum rate for non-obligatory expenditure without Council agreement as required by the treaty, the Parliament had exceeded its powers. The Council's position on these major points and other points of difficulty, was set out formally and specifically in a letter to the President of the European Parliament.Ministers discussed the next stage in the negotiations under the mandate given by the Stuttgart European Council. The French Presidency will be putting forward its own procedural suggestions in due course. I urged more intensive preparation in the months ahead to enable the March European Council to focus on a shorter agenda than the one submitted to Heads of Government at Athens. I emphasised that there would need to be an overall agreement on the main elements identified at Stuttgart which had not changed as a result of the Athens European Council.Ministers discussed progress on Greenland's application to withdraw from full membership of the Community and agreed to conclude negotiations as soon as possible so that Greenland's new status could come into effect from 1 January 1985. The Council will consider the matter further at its meeting in January.The Council discussed its relations with Cyprus under the EC-Cyprus association agreement and it was agreed that the second financial protocol to the agreement should be signed. The Council asked the Commission to consider further the technical aspects of trade with Cyprus and to report back.Progress was made towards agreement on six new regulations to provide aid under the non-quota section of the European regional development fund in sectors including steel, textiles, shipbuilding, and energy. There was also some discussion of other energy matters, including a proposal for renewed action to promote intraCommunity trade in coking coal and new regulations for energy demonstration projects to promote alternative sources of energy in the Community. These, together with social aid to the coal industry and Community policy on solid fuels, will be discussed again early next year.The Council adopted a declaration stating the Community's intention of taking certain steps to implement international commitments to roll back protectionism as recovery proceeds. These include accelerated tariff reductions, on a reciprocal basis with major OECD trading partners and subject to the confirmation of current forecasts of economic growth in the European Community of the order of 2 per cent. in 1984; and the elimination to the maximum extent possible of quantitative restrictions on imports from the least developed countries.Ministers agreed to open an interim duty-free import quota for 500,000 tonnes of newsprint from 1 January 1984. This was the highest figure on which agreement could be achieved, and we made it clear that it is inadequate to meet the United Kingdom's, let alone the whole of the Community's needs; the Commission will review the position and submit further proposals in April. Ministers also agreed on future procedures for drawing up the Community's annual food aid programmes.At the ministerial conference, the Community and Spain reached agreement on the substance of the Euratom chapter. The Community and Spain also made further progress on technical aspects of the European Coal and Steel Community and external relations chapters. In the context of the latter, the Community and Spain agreed that application of Community obligations in respect of external trade meant, from accession, the elimination of all obstacles to trade between Spain and Gibraltar except as permitted by exceptions and derogations in accordance with Community law.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will report further on the Government's policy towards overseas students following the statement on 8 February by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Official Report, c. 883–84.

Following the statement on 8 February 1983 by the then Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary, a paper was placed in the Library of the House setting out in some detail the Government's response to the Overseas Students' Trust—OST—study. A number of important developments in these fields have taken place since then. The new shared-funding and other scholarships and awards schemes and new machinery to handle these have been established; more flexibility over fixing fees has been introduced; and there has been wide consultation on the Government's policy for overseas students culminating in the recent round table meeting under the chairmanship of my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State. I am placing in the Library a further paper bringing up to date the information given in the February paper and containing the Government's response to those recommendations of the OST study which required further examination.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report a list of the four-digit headings in chapter 42 of the Brussels nomenclature which fall wholly or partly within division 83 of the standard industrial trade classification and in which one or more items in that division will be subject to a tariff of 10 per cent. or more on 1 January 1987, together with the value of such items each year since the start of the Tokyo round and in the current year to date.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report a list of the four-digit headings in chapters 88 and 89 of the Brussels nomenclature which fall wholly or partly within division 79 of the standard industrial trade classification and in which one or more items in that

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

The available information is as follows:

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he w ill publish in the Official Report a table showing the value of chemicals imported from and exported to other EC countries each year since 1970 and in the current year to date, together with export-import ratio.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the value of sales of commercial aircraft, helicopters and land vehicles by the United Kingdom to Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador during each of the last five years.

Details of exports of motor vehicles are as follows. Information on overseas trade in aircraft, including helicopters, with individual countries is not available for publication.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) on 7 December, Official Report, c. 115, what steps he took to satisfy himself that it would not be right to interfere with the export of dogs to Nigeria.

Any ban on direct exports of dogs to Nigeria could readily be overcome be sending the dogs through a third country. Effective measures would therefore require controls on exports to all countries, which would interfere unacceptably with legitimate exports. I am not satisfied that such an exceptional step would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which of the interim franchises for cable television licences have been granted to firms using United Kingdom developed technology.

United Kingdom developed technology forms a part of all the cable systems submitted by the eleven applicants for pilot cable licences with whom we are having further discussions.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is prepared to make arrangements for the Export Credits Guarantee Department to guarantee bonds issued for the purpose of financing United Kingdom exports.

The bond market is an important source of finance which has been little used in recent times for export financing. ECGD, with the assistance of City institutions, has developed a means to enable exports of major items of UK captial equipment to be financed by bond issues. Following discussions with the Treasury, agreement has been given for ECGD, subject to the case by case consent of the Treasury and the Bank of England, to guarantee privately or publicly placed bonds denominated in sterling or foreign currency. This facility will increase the opportunities open to British capital goods exporters to offer financing packages at competitive fixed rates of interest and without subsidy cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how productivity in the United Kingdom steel industry compared with that in France and West Germany in 1979 and in the latest period for which figures are available.

The comparative productivity figures, in tonnes of crude steel per man-year, are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the outcome of the European Community Research Council on 13 December.

The Research Council met on 13 December 1983. I represented Her Majesty's Government.Five main issues were discussed.The principle agreement reached concerned the programme of the Joint Research Centre for 1984–87. The main areas of activity in the new programme include nuclear research, non-nuclear energy and research into safety and the environment. Agreement in principle was reached on the Governing Board of the Centre. Agreement was also reached on a programme for the decommissioning of nuclear installations.Following detailed discussion, the Council agreed upon all aspects of the management and administration of the proposed European Strategic Programme of Research in Information Technology (ESPRIT). No decision was reached on the finance of this programme. The Council also discussed proposals for programmes of research into non-nuclear energy and industrial technology. These as well as the ESPRIT programme, are to be discussed further and the Council will return to them in the New Year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will give details about the outward processing arrangement between Hong Kong and the People's Republic of China; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to the reply, 19 December 1983]: There is no formal agreement between Hong Kong and the People's Republic of China concerning outward processing. There are informal arrangements which allow the sub-contracting of intermediate processes of manufacture to places outside Hong Kong, but a certificate of Hong Kong origin is only issued if the terminal or origin-conferring process has been carried out by a factory in Hong Kong. The arrangements are in line with international practice.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give, since the abolition of exchange controls (a) the investment in shares overseas by United Kingdom financial institutions and (b) the investment overseas in factories and so on by United Kingdom industrial firms.

[pursuant to the reply, 19 December 1983]: This information is not available in the form requested.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the responsibilities of the Metropolitan police special branch: under what guidelines it operates; how it is controlled; and to whom it is accountable.

I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers are engaged full or part-time on special branch activities.

The Metropolitan police special branch at present numbers 379 officers who are all engaged full-time on special branch duties. The strength of special branches in other forces in England and Wales is about 870 altogether. Figures concerning those engaged part-time on these duties are not held centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has given any guidance to chief constables as to the functions and duties of police patrols (a) on motorways and (b) on other main highways.

Guidance has been given to the police from time to time, covering a range of specific road traffic matters which are relevant to the work of traffic patrols, whether on motorways or on other roads; for example a recent circular gave guidance on the respective roles of police and the fire service at road traffic accidents.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Government have any proposals for the reform of the law governing the registration, administration and supervision of charities; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend is considering various proposals suggested recently but, before concluding that changes are needed, he will need to be satisfied that adequate grounds for them exist.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will advise Her Miktesfy to appoint a Royal Commission to inquire into the Government and affairs of the Isle of Man.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state for each of the six prisoners who have been in prison on remand for the longest period of time, the offences with which they have been charged and the Length of time they have so far been held in prison on remand.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 December 1983, c. 106]: The information requested is not recorded centrally. Central records show the date of initial remand in custody and the six earliest dates are given for those on remand in prison department custody on 30 September 1983, together with the alleged offence. In all cases most of the intervening time was spent on bail or unlawfully at large.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) men, (b) women, (c) girls of school age and (d) boys of school age were remanded in custody at the latest available date; and how many in each category have been waiting for (i) over two years, (ii) 18 months to two years, (iii) one year to 18 months, (iv) nine months to one year, and (v) six to mine months.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 December 1983, c. 106]: The most recent information available is given in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review urgently the terms of the law and the level of penalties for breaches of the law relating to sales of cigarettes to young persons, in view of the increasing medical evidence of the dangers of smoking.

I have been asked to reply.We see no need at present for a review of the terms of the law, but I am concerned that the existing law should be complied with. To this end I am having discussions with the retail trade. So far as the level of penalties is concerned, I understand that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department intends to make an order next year raising the maximum fine for this offence to £400.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent steps he has taken to publicise the law relating to the sale of cigarettes to young persons; and if he issued any recent advice on the subject to chief constables.

I understand that, following a recent meeting between my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and the Tobacco Advisory Council, the tobacco industry has re-issued copies of its warning notices for display in shops concerning the illegality of retailers selling cigarettes to children under 16. My right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary has issued no recent advice on the subject to chief officers of police and has at present no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take measures to encourage more overseas students to study at British universities and colleges of further education.

A package of measures of support for overseas students was announced by my right hon. Friend the then Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary on 8 February 1983. Details of the progress that has been made since that announcement are being placed in the Library of the House this week.

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

The total number of forms issued by the Department to the public and to businesses is not recorded.The Department currently has about 450 different types of administrative forms which are for use by the public or by businesses; corresponding figures for 1979 are not available. However, in the first year following the publication of "Administrative Forms in Government" (Cmnd. 8504) in February 1982, 144 such forms were reviewed of which 14 were abolished. The review of forms is continuing and figures relating to progress from February this year to April 1984 should be available in May next year.

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

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Mr. Pawsey) on 22 July 1983.—[Vol. 46, c. 244–5.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied with the controls over institutions purporting to offer degrees and diplomas.

I view with concern the incidence of bogus qualifications but this Department has no statutory responsibility for the control or inspection of independent further education institutions. It is in the long-term interests of such institutions to provide sectoral registration and inspection arrangements. I welcome the continuing growth of such schemes. They will make it increasingly difficult for the few independent establishments which do not offer a bona fide service to find a market.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what contribution was made by the United Kingdom to the European university in Florence in the latest financial year; how many students attended the university; and how many of those students were British citizens.

The contribution of the United Kingdom to the European University Institute was £627,000 in the financial year 1982–83. In the academic year 1982–83, 113 students were engaged in postgraduate work at the Institute; 13 of these were British citizens.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from the Natural Environment Research Council that the council should be designated as a service within the meaning of section 2(3) of the British Nationality Act 1981; what response he has made; and whether he will make a statement.

Responsibility for designations under section 2(3) of the British Nationality Act 1981 rests with my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary. My right hon. Friend has recently received a request from the Natural Environment Research Council for designation of service with the Council under section 2(3) of the Act. He is currently considering the Council's request.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the reports of the recent Rayner review of research council support services are available; and whether their recommendations will be accepted.

I have today arranged for copies of the report by the central team and of the reports of the reviews of the support services of the Agricultural and Food Research Council—formerly the Agricultural Research Council—the Medical Research Council, the Natural Environment Research Council and the Science and Engineering Research Council to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament. The Economic and Social Research Council, formerly the Social Science Research Council, was not included in the scope of the review.Each research council has been responsible for deciding the extent to which it accepts the recommendations of the individual reports. Accordingly each head of research council has now submitted an action document recording its decisions on this matter to my right hon. Friend. Copies of these action documents have also been placed in the Libraries.The Department intends to produce an action document relating to the central report shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the second year's experience of the school admission provisions of the Education Act 1980.

Inquiries made of local education authorities by the Department indicate that, in 1983, there was some 10,000 appeals by parents dissatisfied with school admission decisions, of which about 3,500 were found in favour of the parents. This compares favourably with the 1982 figure of about 9,000 appeals and 3,000 found in favour of tie parents. Overall, the arrangements for school admissions and appeals introduced under the 1980 Act are working well.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is able to announce the membership of the School Curriculum Development Committee.

[pursuant to his reply, 15 November 1983, c. 401–2]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I are glad to announce that Miss Julia Cleverdon, director of education for Industrial Society, has accepted our invitation to serve as a member of the School Curriculum Development Committee. Also, at the request of the Association of County Councils and with the agreement of the individuals concerned, Mrs. D. J. Main, Chairman of Wiltshire education committee, has been appointed to serve in place of Dr. Marsh.The full list of those 22 individuals who will form the committee, under the chairmanship of Professor Roger Blin-Stoyle FRS, is as follows:

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will publish a table indicating the total cost to the House of Commons Vote of travel (a) by road, (b) by rail and (c) by air for hon. Members during 1982–83.

The total cost to the House of Commons Vote during 1982–83 in respect of hon. Members travel was as follows:

asked the hon. Member for Berwick upon Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, whether it is proposed that a parliamentary gift should be presented to the House of Representatives of St. Christopher and Nevis to mark the attainment of independence on 19 September last.

The House of Commons Commission has noted with pleasure the recent independence of St. Christopher and Nevis. It is sure that the House will wish to offer a suitable gift to the House of Representatives of St. Christopher and Nevis to mark this occasion. An appropriate motion will be moved in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if there are any North Atlantic Treaty Organisation plans to acquire cruise missiles for the delivery of conventional warheads.

NATO has recently agreed to study the possibility and value of this and other kinds of long range missile equipped with conventional warheads. We have at present no plans to acquire such missiles. Our studies are at an early stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether there are plans for the location of cruise missiles in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

There are no plans for the location of cruise missiles in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the circumstances of official unpublished documents, consisting of communications between Ministers, being made available to The Observer newspaper.

The matter is under investigation.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence which senior United States defence or military personnel have visited communications bases under the control of Her Majesty's Government in the north of Scotland since 1979.

I regret that centralised records are not maintained of visits of this nature and so I am unable to answer the hon. Member's question.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his assessment of the pilot scheme for the Home Service Force; and whether there are plans to expand the force.

We began a two-year pilot scheme to assess the feasibility of establishing the Home Service Force in September 1982. Recruiting and training for the four companies set up at that time have gone extremely well and we have been encouraged by the high standard and enthusiasm of the volunteers. In the light of this success we have now given approval for the expansion of the Home Service Force to a strength of up to 5,000. The precise timetable for the expansion remains to be decided but we hope to begin recruiting next autumn. We also intend to examine the scope for further expansion of the Home Service Force in the longer term. The expanded Home Service Force will be a valuable addition to our home defence capabilities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many occupational therapists are employed in each health board region; and what ratios and percentages of recommended establishment levels for each area based on population served these represent.

The numbers of occupational therapists in the NHS are set out in the table. There is no generally recommended establishment level for such staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals exist for improved staff involvement in prisoner care in Scotland.

The report of a Departmental working party, which recommended, inter alia, an enhanced role for the prison officer, is at an advance stage of consideration by officials and will thereafter be considered by Ministers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received supporting the upgrading of the educational qualifications for entry to the post of prison officer; what standards have been suggested; and what action will be taken in this regard.