Written Answers

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Written Answers To Questions

Tuesday 28 February 1984

Overseas Development

Commonwealth Development Corporation

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on market borrowing by the Commonwealth Development Corporation.

My predecessor announced on 14 December 1981, at column 17–18, in reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Hertford and Stortford (Mr. Wells), that in each of the financial years 1982–83 to 1984–85 the Government would permit CDC to borrow in foreign currency on approved terms with a Government guarantee within a limit of £15 million a year. It has now been decided that CDC should be permitted to borrow up to £15 million in the financial year 1985–86 and up to £10 million in 1986–87—that is, up to the end of the period covered by the recent White Paper on the Government's public expenditure plans. No borrowing took place in 1982–83 as the corporation had adequate liquid resources at 31 March 1983.Section 1 of the Commonwealth Development Corporation Act 1982 enables the Secretary of State to provide CDC with loans from the national loans fund. It has been agreed that CDC may borrow £15 million from the NLF in 1983–84 as an alternative to commercial borrowing in foreign currency.

House Of Commons

Refreshment Department

asked the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what was the income and total expenditure of the House Refreshment Department in each of the last five years for which accounts are available, together with the cost of wages of catering and bar staff whose salaries are borne out of public funds.

Until 1979–80 all Refreshment Department income and expenditure was brought to account in the Department's trading and profit and loss account. In April 1980, the Department became a Department of the House, and staff wages and related payroll costs—excluding additional banqueting staff costs—have been borne on the House of Commons (Administration) Vote. The remainder of the Department's operations—apart from a proportion of certain major equipment and ancillary costs — has been part of a separate trading fund. information is as follows:

Trading and profit and loss account
	Income	Expenditure (excluding staff salaries)	Staff salaries	Grants^*
	£ million	£ million	£ million	£ million
1978–79	0·947	0·915	0·973	0·295
†1979–80	1·078	1·091	1·136	0·381

	Trading fund		Administration vote Staff salaries
	Income	Expenditure	Staff salaries
	£ million	£ million	£ million
1980–81	1·357	1·091	1·427
1981–82	1·387	1·138	1·566
1982–83	1·628	1·398	1·758

Notes:

^* Grants were made from public funds in the years indicated towards recess expenses and loan interest.

†In 1979–80, a further grant of £2·9 million was made from public funds to extinguish the accumulated deficit.

Trade And Industry

Tariffs

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 84 and 85 of the Brussels nomenclature which fall wholly or partly within division 73 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 imports of such items each year since the start of the Tokyo round and in the current year to date.

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 84–85 of the Brussels nomenclature which fall wholly or partly within division 73 of the standard industrial trade classification and in which one or more items will be subject to a tariff of 10 per cent. or more on 1 January 1987, together with the value of imports of such items each year since the start of the Tokyo round.

There are no items ins the specified categories.

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 84, 85 and 87 of the Brussels nomenclature which fall wholly or partly within division 74 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 imports of such items each year since the start of the Tokyo round and in the current year to date.

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 84 and 87 of the Brussels nomenclature which fall wholly or partly within division 74 of the standard industrial trade classification and in which one or more items will be subject to a tariff of 10 per cent. or more on 1 January 1987, together with the value of imports of such items each year since the start of the Tokyo round.

There are no items in the specified categories.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for SITC divisions 52, 56 and 59 the highest rate of duty proposed for 1987 in each case and the four or five digit headings in which the whole or most of the trade will be subject to a tariff of 10 per cent. or more, together with the rate of duty or range of duties applicable in each such case;(2) whether he will publish in the

Official Report a table showing for SITC divisions 54, 55 and 57 the highest rate of duty proposed for 1987 and the tariff/trade code numbers of the items on which the rate of duty will be 10 per cent. or more, together with the rate of duty on each such item;

(3) whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for SITC divisions 61, 62 and 67 the highest rate of duty proposed in each case for 1987 and the four or five digit headings in which the whole or most of the trade will be subject to a tariff of 10 per cent. or more, together with the rate or range of duties applicable to each such heading;

(4) whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for SITC division 63 the highest rate of duty proposed for 1987, the highest rate for an article not made from cork, fibreboard or plywood, as shown in the tariff and the four or five digit headings in which the whole or most of the trade will be subject to a tariff of 10 per cent. or more, together with the rate or range of duties applicable to each such heading;

(5) whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for SITC division 64 the highest rate of duty proposed for 1987 and the four or five digit headings in which the whole or most of the trade will be subject to a tariff of 10 per cent. or more, together with the rate or range of duties applicable to each such heading;

(6) whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for SITC division 68 the highest rate of duty proposed for 1987, the highest rate for a product not made out of aluminium and the four or five digit headings in which the whole or most of the trade will be subject to a tariff of 10 per cent. or more in 1987, together with the rate or range of duties applicable to each such heading;

(7) whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for SITC division 69 to the highest rate of duty proposed for 1987, the highest rate for items not made out

	Crude Steel Production Potential		^Capacityfor the Production of Hot Rolled Products*
	million tonnes		thousand tonnes
	1970	1980	1980	Cuts required by the European Commmission between 1980 and end 1985
Belgium	14·8	19·7	16,028	3,105
Denmark	0·5	1·1	941	66
France	26·1	32·5	26,869	5,311
Greece	0·8	2·3	na	—
Irish Republic	0·1	0·1	57	—
Italy	21·2	39·4	36,294	5,834
Luxembourg	6·0	6·4	5,215	960

of aluminium or falling within tariff chapters 82 or 83 and the four or five digit headings in which the whole or most of the trade will be subject to a tariff of 10 per cent. or more, together with the rate of duty or range of duties applicable to each such heading;

(8) whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for SITC divisions 71–75 and division 79 the highest rate of duty proposed for 1987 in each case and the four or five digit headings in which the whole of most of the trade will be subject to a tariff of 10 per cent. or more, together with the rate or range of duties applicable to each such heading;

(9) whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for SITC divisions 81–83 the highest rate of duty proposed in each case for 1987 and the four or five digit headings in which the whole or most of the trade will be subject to a tariff of 10 per cent. or more, together with the rate of duty or range of duties applicable to each such heading;

(10) whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for SITC division 89 the highest rate of duty proposed for 1987 and the four or five digit headings in which the whole or most of the trade will be subject to a tariff of 10 per cent. or more, together with the rate of duty or range of duties applicable to each such case.

whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for SITC divisions 87 and 88 the highest rate of duty proposed in each case for 1987 and the four or five digit headings in which the whole or most of the trade will be subject to a tariff of 10 per cent. or more, together with the rate of duty or range of duties applicable to each such heading.

This information is not readily available in the form required.

Steel

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the capacity of the steel industry agreed to date and the capacity which the EEC has proposed compared to actual capacity in 1970; and if he will provide similar figures for other EEC countries.

The Commission decisions of 29 June 1983 about reductions in capacity to be made between 1980 and 1985 were expressed in terms of capacity to produce hot rolled products. Comparable figures for 1970 are not available, but production potential in terms of crude steel is available for 1970.The information is as follows:

	Crude Steel Production Potential		^Capacity for the Production of Hot Rolled Products*
	million tonnes		thousand tonnes
	1970	1980	1980	Cuts required by the European Commmission between 1980 and end 1985
Netherlands	5·3	8·5	7,297	950
United Kingdom	29·3	28·0	22,840	4,500
West Germany	53·1	66·9	53,117	6,010

Sources: OECD (1970); Investment in the Community Coalmining and Iron and Steel Industries (1980)

Notes: One tonne of hot rolled products is equivalent to roughly 1·2 tonnes of crude steel.

Pirate Radio

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will list the pirate radio stations currently broadcasting; and how this compares with 1979 and 1974;(2) if he will consider taking out injunctions against those illegal stations which, having been fined, continue to broadcast illegally;(3) in how many cases illegal broadcasters' equipment has been confiscated following action by his Department;(4) how many illegal stations have resumed broadcasting after being fined in 1983.

In 1983 there were 40 prosecutions involving 20 pirate radio stations and in all cases the court granted forfeiture of equipment. Four of the stations were heard broadcasting again after a conviction. Since 1 January this year radio stations using the following names have been heard broadcasting:

Alice's Restaurant
Britain Radio International
City Sounds
County Radio
Dread Broadcasting Company
East Coast Commercial Radio
Floss Radio
Horizon Radio
Imagine Radio
Krypton Radio
London Rock
London Weekend Radio
Our Radio
Radio Amanda
Radio Atlanta
Radio Apollo
Radio Caroline
Radio Caroline International
Radio Enoch
Radio Freedom International
Radio Invicta
Radio Jackie
Radio Linda
Radio Laser
Radio Sunshine
SCR
Skyline Radio
Sounds Alternative
South East Sound
Sovereign Radio
Weekend Music Radio

Details of pirate radio stations broadcasting in 1979 and 1974 are not available. On the question of injunctions, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Nuneaton (Mr. Stevens) on 23 February at column

602.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is satisfied that existing legislation is sufficient to curb pirate broadcasting.

The Government are seeking new powers in the Telecommunications Bill which will enable a pirate station's equipment to be seized pending prosecution. This, together with the provisions announced by my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary on 20 February which will increase the maximum fine available to the courts to £2,000, will I hope prove an effective weapon against pirate broadcasters.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he intends to seek injunctions against those who practice illegal broadcasting.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Nuneaton (Mr. Stevens) on 23 February at column 602.

Trade Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the United Kingdom share of European Economic Community imports of manufactures from other European Economic Community countries in 1957, 1970 and the latest 12 months for which figures are available.

Data for 1957 are not readily available. In 1970 and the year ending June 1983 the shares were 10·7 per cent. and 10·2 per cent., respectively.

Import Tariffs

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing, in terms of the tariff code excluding the tariff/trade code numbers, the proposed rate of duty in 1987 for items in 32·05, 32·06, 32·10 and any other tariff heading in tariff chapter 32 on which the duty will be 10 per cent. or more in 1987.

The information requested is as follows:

Tariff Heading	Duty Rate in 1987
32·05A	10·0 per cent.
32·05B	10·0 per cent.
32·05C	10·0 per cent.
32·05D	6·0 per cent.
32·05E	5·5 per cent.
32·06	10·0 per cent.
32·10	7·6 per cent.
&
32·09 AII	10·0 per cent.

This last is only other heading in chapter 32 which will have a duty of 10 per cent. or more in 1987.

Manufacturing Investment

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the current level of investment in United Kingdom manufacturing industry.

The provisional estimate of capital expenditure—including leased assets—in the manufacturing industries — revised definition^* — in the fourth quarter of 1983 is £1,318 million at 1980 prices seasonally adjusted—about 4 per cent. higher than in the previous quarter. This upturn was not sufficient to offset the decline in the level of investment earlier in the year so that the total investment for 1983 at £5,102 million was lower than in the previous year. On the basis of the survey of investment intentions carried out by my Department, total investment in manufacturing is expected to rise by around 9 per cent. in 1984.

^* Divisions 2–4, standard industrial classification (Revised 1980).

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the current level of investment in manufacturing industry in the North West Region.

The latest available information on the level of manufacturing investment in the north west region relates to 1981. In that year manufacturing net capital expenditure in the region is estimated to have been £766 million—14 per cent. of the United Kingdom total.

Post Office Board (Membership)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the current members of the Post Office Board, together with the lengths outstanding of their contracted period of service; and if he will list the factors taken into account in assessing candidates for such appointments.

The following table lists the current members of the Post Office Board and when their present appointments expire. When making appointments to the board, candidates of proven ability are sought who will maintain a wide range of expertise on the board, jointly reflecting experience both inside and outside the Post Office.

Name	Appointment Ends
R. E. Dearing, (Chairman)	September 1986
S. Wainwright (Deputy Chairman)	September 1986
A. Clinton	September 1984
W. Cockburn	September 1984
Miss. E. Cole	March 1986
Sir Clifford Comford	September 1984
A. Garrett	February 1986
D. Gladwin	March 1986
P. Moody	September 1984
K. Young	December 1986

Special Steels

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has made to the European Economic Community Commission on the subject of Council regulation (EEC) (No. 349/84); and whether he will make statement.

This regulation, which was approved by representatives of the United Kingdom and of the other member states of the Community on 6 February, implements the decision of Council of Ministers in November 1983 to retaliate against United States of America measures restricting imports of special steels unless an acceptable settlement was reached. Her Majesty's Government fully support this retaliatory action by the Community.

House Of Fraser (Inspector's Inquiry)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the cost to date of his inspector's inquiry into the House of Fraser shareholdings; when he expects the inspector's report; and what he expects the final cost to be.

The cost to date of the inspection of House of Fraser plc under section 172 of the Companies Act 1948 is £60,217.The inspector is proceeding with his inquiry as quickly as possible, but I cannot estimate when it will be completed, or the final cost.

British Telecom

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether it is his intention, when valuing the assets of British Telecom prior to privatisation, to do so on the basis of (a) historic cost, (b) current cost or (c) earnings/ratio;(2) what price-to-earnings ratio he intends to use if he values the assets of British Telecom on earnings;(3) at what level he intends to project a tax charge when valuing British Telecom assets prior to privatisation;(4) what amount he intends to include as an element of debt in the balance sheet when preparing British Telecom for privatisation;(5) by how much he intends to project increased future efficiency when valuing British Telecom assets prior to privatisation.

The capital structure of British Telecom plc will only be finalised fairly close to the flotation. The Government intend to ensure that British Telecom plc has the right capital structure both to allow a successful flotation to occur and to provide a sound basis for investment and the future development of the business.

Steel (Privatisation)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Attercliffe, dated 22 February, Official Report, c. 536, whether, when he receives such proposals, he plans to consult the trade unions involved.

Consultation with trade unions would be a matter for the companies concerned.

Industrial Assistance

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will list the total amount of Government grants and loans to industry in Wales for which his Department was responsible during the last financial year;

(2) if he will list the total amount of European Economic Community aid to industry in Wales which was channelled through his Department during the last financial year;

(3) what has been the total amount of Government grants and loans to industry in the last financial year;

(4) what has been the total amount of European Community grants and loans to British industry in the last financial year.

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

Wales

Civilians (Injuries)

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many persons other than members of the armed forces have, since the beginning of 1978, been treated in hospitals for gunshot wounds of for injuries caused by bombs or blast.

The information is not available centrally.

Industrial Assistance

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the total amount of EEC aid to industry in Wales, which was channeled through his Department during the last financial year.

In the 12 months ending December 1983 my Department handled applications in respect of regional aids made available to manufacturing firms in Wales which in that year generated some £12·7 million in European regional development fund commitment. Over the same period, some £300,000 was made available to small firms in Wales under special European regional development fund programmes in steel closure areas. Over the same period my Department agreed to provide exchange risk cover on loans from the European Investment Bank and the European Coal and Steel Community totalling £10·4 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the total amount of Government grants and loans to industry for which his Department was responsible during the last financial year.

Grants totalling £25·7 million were accepted under section 7 of the Industrial Development Act for industrial projects in Wales during the year ended 31 March 1983.

Home Department

Fine Defaulters

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prostitutes were imprisoned for non-payment of fines or sureties in connection with soliciting and loitering offences since the introduction of section 71 of the Criminal Justice Act 1982.

The information requested is not yet available. Numbers of receptions into custody of fine defaulters in the calendar year 1983 will be included in the issue of "Prison Statistics" to be published later in the year.

Alan Tschelebinski

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to be able to reply to the letter of the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish of 8 August 1983 calling for a public inquiry into the death of Alan Tschelebinski in January 1983.

My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State will write to the hon. Member very shortly.

Fines

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Government have any plans to explore the possibility of introducing a day fine system, such as the one suggested by the National Association of Probation Officers in its paper, "Default and Debtors' Gaol", equating an offender's means to the level of the fine.

We are considering this proposal as one of various possible ways of improving the effectiveness of fines and fine enforcement.

Vietnamese Refugees

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government on the reunification of Vietnamese families where some family members have been settled in the United Kingdom and others. having applied to settle in the United Kingdom, are still in Hong Kong.

Our policy is to agree to the admission of the spouse and minor children of the Vietnamese refugee settled in the United Kingdom and look carefully on a case by case basis at applications for reunion from other relatives.

Straw Burning

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the National Association of Local Councils was not sent copies of the draft model byelaws on straw burning.

Copies of the draft of the proposed new model byelaws were sent only to the local authority associations which represent authorities empowered to make and enforce these byelaws and fire authorities. I regret that the National Association of Local Councils was not included. It has now been sent a copy.

Horse Maltreatment (Itinerants)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received alleging maltreatment of horses by members of the itinerant population; what response he has made; and if he has any plans to take action following these representations.

We have received no representations on this subject recently.

Police (Control Of Sporting Events)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has given to police authorities relating to the provision of police at sporting events in connection with (a) control of traffic generated by a sporting event and (b) control of persons attending a sporting event.

None. It is for chief officers of police to decide, in liaison with the organisers of sporting events, on the provision of police officers.

Police (Escorts)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has given to police authorities about the costs of providing escorts for visitors to the United Kingdom making journeys by road in connection with visits to members of Her Majesty's Government.

None.

Civil Defence

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is now satisfied that Welwyn Hatfield district council is complying with its statutory obligations with respect to civil defence; and if he will monitor this.

It is too early to say. The new regulations came into force on 1 December 1983 and we shall monitor their implementation by local authorities.

London West Euro-Constituency

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the Uxbridge Gazette that local newspapers were not notified

	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83
	£	£	£	£	£
Salaries	2,724,220	3,464,273	4,701,916	5,241,007	5,660,897
Building construction and land purchase	917,234	875,695	1,517,570	2,009,283	1,958,915
Purchase of plant vehicles and machinery	535,568	742,599	834,367	1,018,678	1,167,946
Other costs	2,129,294	2,916,911	3,170,458	3,404,056	3,341,627
Total	6,306,316	7,999,478	10,224,311	11,673,024	12,129,385

Note: The figures include, under "other costs", part of the cost of the Metropolitan police laboratory, in respect of services provided by that laboratory —which is not part of the Home Office forensic science service—for police forces other than the Metropolitan police.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the procedure that is followed by the forensic science service when a judge makes a criticism, either major or minor, of evidence given by a member of the Department; and if he will list the last five occasions when a criticism was made, giving the date and the names of the judge, the forensic scientist and the defendant.

The information requested in the second part of this question is not available. The action taken in any particular case would depend on the nature of the criticism.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will accede to any requests from people convicted of an offence for the names of any of his Department's forensic scientists who gave evidence against them at the trial.

by the Boundary Commission of the hearing relating to the boundary changes of the London West Euro-constituency and were denied access to transcripts of the hearings; and if he will take steps (a) to ensure that the transcripts are made available and (b) that all local newspapers are informed of such hearings in future.

My right hon. and learned Friend received written representations about these matters from the editor of the Uxbridge and Hillingdon Gazette on 16 February 1984, together with a copy of similar representations to the Parliamentary Boundary Commission for England. The way in which a parliamentary boundary commission conducts its affairs is entirely a matter for that commission and he has no power to intervene. I understand from the commission that transcripts of public inquiries are made available where it is practicable to do so and that the commission has written to the editor of the Uxbridge Gazette informing him of this.

Forensic Science Service

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many forensic scientists are employed by his Department, how many laboratories there are; what has been the cost of the service in each of the last five years; and if he will subdivide the total cost into that for staff, buildings and equipment.

The Home Office forensic science service has six operational laboratories and one central research establishment, and on 1 January 1984 employed 494 scientists. Its costs in each of the last five financial years were as follows:

I would endeavour to meet such a request if it were put forward as being relevant to the validity of the conviction and the convicted person's legal adviser had been unable to supply it from records available to him.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions forensic scientists employed by his Department have given evidence for the defence in court cases.

This information is not available.

Criminal Convictions (Statistics)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the approximate number of criminal convictions in the last year for which figures are available; and in how many cases (a) a non-custodial penalty and (b) a custodial one was imposed.

The latest information is published in table 7·1 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, 1982"—Cmnd. 9048.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the reply of 13 February, Official Report, columns 9–12, approximately how many of the annual 1,900 representations alleging wrongful conviction are made by people who received a custodial penalty; and in what proportion of these cases the complaint is concerned with the forensic evidence that was presented at the trial.

The sample survey from which the figure of 1,900 was derived suggests that the number of representations alleging wrongful conviction in cases where a custodial penalty was imposed is around 700 a year. The survey provided no basis for estimating the proportion of cases in which the complaint is concerned with forensic science evidence.

Class or classes of procession banned	Date ban commenced	Districts(s)	Duration
1974
All public processions	20 November	Solihull	1 month
		Birmingham
		Coventry
1977
All public processions	21 September	Tameside	41 days
1978
All public processions other than those of a religious, educational, festive or ceremonial character customarily held	24 February	Metropolitan Police District	2 months
All public processions other than those of a religious, educational, festive or ceremonial character customarily held	24 February	City of London	2 months
All public processions other than those of a religious and ceremonial character customarily held	20 April	City of Leeds	18 days
1980
All public processions other than those of a religious, educational, festive or ceremonial character customarily held	16 August	Sandwell	30 days
		Dudley
		Wolverhampton
		Walsall
		Birmingham
		coventry
1981
All public processions other than those of a religious, educational, festive or ceremonial character customarily held	5 March	Metropolitan Police District,	27 days
		City of London	27 days
All public processions other than those of a religious, educational, festive or ceremonial character customarily held	20 March	Leicester	1 month
All public processions other than those of a religious, educational, festive or ceremonial character customarily held	21 March	Wolverhampton	14 days
All public processions other than those of a religious, educational, festive or ceremonial character customarily held	21 March	Leeds	29 days
All public processions other than those of a religious, educational, festive or ceremonial character customarily held	22 March	Barnsley	7 days
		Doncaster
		Rotherham
		Sheffield
All public processions except those traditionally held on 1 May to celebrate May Day and those of a religious character customarily held	25 April	Metropolitan Police District,	28 days
		City of London	28 days
All public processions other than those of a religious, educational, festive or ceremonial character customarily held	19 June	Coventry	23 days

Dr Alan Clift

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many requests he has had from people convicted of an offence wanting to know whether Dr. Clift gave the forensic evidence at their trial: and what replies he has given.

I have received no such requests.

Public Order (Processions)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Leicester East on 22 February, Official Report, columns 530–1, he will give such details as are readily available of each of the orders prohibiting processions made under the Public Order Act 1936 in each of the past 10 years.

The following is the information in respect of banning orders made in England and Wales under section 3(2) or section 3(3) of the Act in each of the past 10 years:

Class or classes of procession banned	Date ban commenced	District(s)	Duration
All public processions other than those of a religious, educational, festive or ceremonial character	11 July	Metropolitan Police District,
		City of London
All public processions except those of a religious, educational, festive or ceremonial character customarily held
17 July	Walsall	10 days
All public processions except those of a religious, educational, festive or ceremonial character customarily held	18 July	Oxford	11 days
All public processions except those of a religious, educational, festive or ceremonial character	18 July	Plymouth	30 days
All public processions except those of a religious, educational, festive or ceremonial character	24 July	Scunthorpe	17 days
		Great Grimby
		Cleethorpes
All public processions except those of a religious, educational, festive or ceremonial character customarily held	1 August	North Bedfordshire	9 days
		South Bedfordshire
		Luton
All public processions except those of a religious, educational, festive or ceremonial character customarily held	14 August	North Bedfordshire	29 days
		South Bedfordshire
		Luton
All public processions except those of a religious, educational, festive or ceremonial character customarily held	21 August	Crawley	17 days
All public processions except those of a religious, educational, festive or ceremonial character	21 August	Peterborough	31 days
All public processions except those of a religious, educational, festive or ceremonial character customarily held	26 August	Liverpool	43 days
All public processions except those of a religious, educational, festive or ceremonial character	28 August	Metropolitan Police District,	31 days
		City of London	31 days
All public processions except those of a religious, educational, festive or ceremonial character	4 September	Northampton	25 days
All public processions except those of a religious, educational, festive or ceremonial character customarily held	19 September	Ipswich	9 days
		Bury St. Edmunds	9 days
All public processions except those of a religious, educational, festive or ceremonial character customarily held	26 September	Luton	9 days
All public processions except those of a religious, educational, festive or ceremonial character customarily held	3 October	Sheffield	2 days
All public processions of a political nature within the London Borough of Croydon	16 October	London Borough of Croydon	2½days
All public processions except those of a religious, educational, festive or ceremonial character	31 October	Oldham	7 days
All public processions except those of a religious, educational, festive or ceremonial character, or those customarily held in remembrance of the dead	7 November	Rochdale	7 days
All public processions except those of a religious, educational, festive or ceremonial character customarily held	4 December	London Boroughs of Brent and Harrow	2½days
All public processions except those of a religious, educational, festive or ceremonial character	4 December	Rochdale	7 days
All public processions except those of a religious, educational, festive or ceremonial character customarily held	11 December	London Boroughs of Brent and Harrow	2½days
All public processions except those of a religious, educational, festive or ceremonial character customarily held	19 December	Rochdale	29 days
1982
All public processions except those of a religious, educational, festive or ceremonial character customarily held	23 January	Calderdale	9 days
All public processions except those of a religious, educational, festive or ceremonial character customarily held	30 January	City of Coventry	9 days
All public processions except those of a religious, educational, festive or ceremonial character customarily held	6 February	Calderdale (Halifax)	23 days
All public processions except those of a religious, educational, festive or ceremonial character customarily held	13 March	London Borough of Southwark	2 days
All public processions except those of a religious, educational, festive or ceremonial character customarily held	26 March	Kirklees	24 days

Class or classes of procession banned	Date ban commenced	District(s)	Duration
All public processions except those of a religious, educational, festive or ceremonial character customarily held	31 March	North Bedfordshire	9 days
All public processions except those of a religious, educational, festive or ceremonial character customarily held	9 April	London Boroughs of Hounslow, Hillingdon and Ealing	3 days
All public processions except those of a religious, educational, festive and ceremonial character customarily held	31 July	South Bedfordshire	9 days
		Luton	9 days
All public processions except those of a religious, educational, festive and ceremonial character customarily held	28 August	London Boroughs of Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham	3 days
All public processions except those of a religious, educational, festive and ceremonial character	11 September	Metropolitan Police District	1 day
All public processions except those of a religious, educational, festive and ceremonial character	11 September	City of London	1 day
All public processions except those of a religious, educational, festive and ceremonial character	23 October	London Boroughs of Southwark, Lambeth and Lewisham	2 days
1983
All public processions except those of a religious, educational, festive and ceremonial character	22 January	London Boroughs of Hounslow and Richmond-upon-Thames	2 days
All public processions except those of a religious, educational, festive and ceremonial character	29 January	London Borough of Bexley	2 days
All public processions except those of a religious, educational, festive and ceremonial character customarily held	29 January	Dartford	2 days
All public processions except those of a religious, educational, festive and ceremonial character	19 February	London Borough of Southwark	2 days
All public processions except those of a religious, educational, festive and ceremonial character	19 February	London Boroughs of Lambeth, Lewisham, Greenwich and Tower Hamlets	2 days
All public processions except those of a religious, educational, festive and ceremonial character customarily held	23 April	Slough	2 Days
All public processions except those of a religious, educational, festive and ceremonial character	16 July	London Boroughs of Barking, Dagenham, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets and Newham	2 days
All public processions except those of a religious, educational, festive and ceremonial character customarily held	30 July	London Borough of Haringey	2 days
All public processions except those of a religious, educational, festive and ceremonial character customarily held	30 July	London Boroughs of Islington, Hackney, Waltham Forest, Enfield, Camden, Barnet and Tower Hamlets	2 days

Education And Science

Nursery Education

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to the percentage of students going to universities who have attended nursery school for a year or more.

The information is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will indicate whether the current provision of nursery education should be cut, maintained or expanded in the Inner London education authority.

It is for local education authorities to decide on the level of service to provide in the light of local needs and priorities and the availability of resources.

Further Education

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what will be the funding arrangements for courses in further education which are in part academic, O and A-level, and part technical or vocational, Business and Technician Education Council examinations.

It has not been decided which courses will be funded by the MSC in the first year of the new arrangements within vocational education. The detailed arrangements will be the subject of prior consultation between the MSC and education interests, employers and other interested parties.

Student Courses (Recoupment Arrangements)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, under the new arrangements, students will still be free to cross authority boundaries in seeking an appropriate course; and whether recoupment arrangements will continue as they are at present.

It is not expected that the new arrangements within vocational education will restrict existing opportunities for cross-boundary provision. The detailed arrangements will be the subject of prior consultation between the MSC and education interests, employers and other interested parties.

Postgraduate Courses

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many postgraduate courses are available in the United Kingdom; how many of these courses qualify for a grant from his Department; and how many qualify for a grant from the Economic and Social Research Council and its forerunner the Social Science Research Council.

The Department does not collect information about the number of postgraduate courses in the United Kingdom. Figures for the number of students in United Kingdom further and higher education, analysed by level of course and subject group appear in table 27 of "Education Statistics for the United Kingdom" — 1983 edition —copies of which are in the Library.The support of students and courses at postgraduate level is selective. The basis upon which applications for support are decided is a matter for the award-making bodies. In 1981–82, 3,319 postgraduate students in humanities subjects held awards from the Department and 2,197 students from the Social Science Research Council.

Secondary Education (Liverpool)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he now expects to announce a decision on the reorganisation of secondary education proposals submitted to his Department by Liverpool education authority.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 10 November last at column 197.

Medical Students (Grants)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on grants available to medical students.

In accordance with regulations drawn up under Education Acts, a medical student receives the same basic rate of grant and allowances as any other student undertaking a first degree or comparable course.The basic rate of grant covers a period of 38 weeks comprising 30 weeks term time and eight weeks short vacations. For each additional week of study an additional allowance is payable for which, among others, medical students undertaking clinical training qualify. My right hon. Friend is proposing to make a real increase in this allowance of £2·80 per week in addition to an increase of 4 per cent. in line with the increase in the main rate of grant and an additional amount pro rata to the proposed new flat rate provision for travel in the main rate of grant.

Students (Grants)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what response he has made to the National Union of Students' survey, a copy of which has been sent to him, regarding the extent of parental contributions towards students' grants; and if he will make a statement.

I have not yet received a copy of the full report of the survey. I was, however, encouraged to note that the provisional summary of findings published by the NUS suggested that in 1982–83 some 53 percent. of students holding mandatory awards whose grants were reduced by an assessed parental contribution received amounts equalling or exceeding the assessed contribution from their parents, as compared with only 27 per cent. in 1974–75.