asked the Attorney-General whether, in view of the recent activities of pickets, he will make a statement on the criminal law on picketing.

The statement that I made to the House on 19 February 1980 still applies in all its essentials, though there have, since that date, been certain changes in the relevant civil law which I shall explain later in this answer.So far as the criminal law is concerned, the position is, as it always has been, that the criminal law of the land applies to pickets as it does to anybody else. Picketing is permissible, in terms of criminal law, only if it is peaceful picketing, that is to say, it is carried out for the purpose of peacefully obtaining or communicating information or peacefully persuading another person to work or not to work. The freedom to picket is not a licence to obstruct or intimidate.This reflects the fundamental proposition of our law that each of us has the right to go about his daily work free from interference by anybody else. Each one of us is free, as an individual, to come and go as he pleases to his place of work. The law specificially protects our enjoyment of this right. If any one tries to deter us from exercising it by violence or intimidation or obstruction, he is breaking the law and may be punished. The freedom to picket does not confer or imply any right to stop vehicles: still less do pickets have the right to stop people going about their lawful business. Pickets have no right to link arms or otherwise prevent access to the place that they are picketing.If pickets by sheer numbers seek to stop people going to work, they are not protected by the law since their purpose is to obstruct rather than persuade. The courts have recognised that the police may limit the number of pickets in any once place where they have reasonable cause to fear a breach of the peace. This may involve not only asking some of those present to leave but also preventing others from joining the pickets. In this connection, the code of practice which was issued under the Employment Act 1980, with the approval of both Houses of Parliament, indicates that in general the numbers of pickets should not exceed six at any entrance to a workplace. The 1980 Act itself provides that the provisions of the code of practice may be taken into account in proceedings before a court.It is, of course, primarily the duty of the police to uphold and enforce the criminal law. It is for them to decide, consistently with that duty, what action any particular situation requires them to take. But there is no doubt that if a constable reasonably comes to the conclusion that persons are travelling for the purpose of taking part in a picket in circumstances where there is likely to be a breach of the peace, he has the power at common law to call upon them not to continue their journey and to call upon their driver to take them no further. Any person who fails to comply with a police request in those circumstances will be committing the offence of obstructing a police officer in the course of his duty.Turning now from the criminal to the civil law, it is and always has been a civil wrong to persuade someone to break his contract of employment or to secure the breaking of a commercial contract. However, the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1974, as amended, gives immunity from liability in respect of such a civil wrong to pickets who are acting in contemplation or furtherance of a trade dispute. But, since the Employment Act 1980, this immunity operates only for the benefit of a person who is attending a picket at or near his own place of work or for the benefit of a trade union official attending a picket at or near the place of work of a union member whom he is accompanying and whom he represents; and in either case only if the purpose of the picket is peacefully to obtain or communicate information or peacefully to persuade any person to work or not to work. Since the Employment Act 1982, trade unions themselves may be held liable for organising picketing which involves the commission of a civil wrong.I hope that this re-statement of the legal position, which the Lord Advocate agrees reflects the main principles of the law of Scotland also, will serve to remove any doubts that might remain in any quarter about the strict limits within which pickets may seek to press their views on their fellow-citizens. As I said in my earlier statement to the House, it is the function of the law to protect the right of every person to make his own decision, free from violence or any other form of intimidation, on whether or not to work. The law permits no interference with that right and recognises no privilege or immunity vested in any person, merely because he is engaged in picketing, to act in a way which constitutes a criminal offence. That has always been the law and I am sure that those responsible for enforcing it will have the support and encouragement of the vast majority of the people of this country in ensuring that it is indeed enforced vigorously and without fear or favour.

asked the Attorney-General what guidance is given to the judges, and what criteria are used, when evidence is given in a Diplock court by a supergrass witness concerning the verification of the testimony given.

The executive does not give guidance to judges. Their conduct of cases is governed by rules of law or statute. The law applicable to this matter is the same in Northern Ireland as in England and Wales. It is well understood and generally available in text books and reported decisions. I refer the hon. Member to the written answer that I gave on 24 October 1983 and to what I have said on the matter in this House on a number of subsequent occasions.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what retraining facilities and programmes there are for unemployed people over 50 years of age.

The Government support retraining of unemployed people, including those over 50 years of age, through the training opportunities scheme. Training is undertaken in a wide range of establishments, including skillcentres, colleges of further education and employers' premises.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many days prior to each of the last four meetings of the Youth Training Board the papers were dispatched to the Youth Training Board members.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that papers are normally distributed to members of the Youth Training Board one week prior to their meetings.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the percentage increase of total redundancies in the county of Derbyshire in 1983.

Total redundancies in the county of Derbyshire did not increase in 1983, but fell, compared with 1982. The decrease, in groups of 10 or more employees reported to the Manpower Services Commission, was 14 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the rate of unemployment amongst school leavers in the county of Derbyshire compared to the national rate.

The information is not available because percentage rates of unemployment cannot be calculated in respect of school leavers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current planned budget for the youth training scheme in 1984–85, showing separately the budgets for mode A, mode B1 and separated into training workshops, information technology centres, community projects, take-up of the youth training scheme places and the changed plans for the places required in 1984–85.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 March 1984 c. 464]:The current estimated cost of the youth training scheme in 1984–85 is given in the following table, together with the estimated number of entrants to YTS from which the costs have been derived.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list all privatisations that have taken place in the National Health Service, showing the number of people employed in each at the time of transfer of the work involved to the private sector; if she will give such information as she has as to similar privatisations by local authorities; and if she will give the total of all people employed in the private sector following privatisations, including the privatisations referred to in her answer of 16 January, Official Report, column 5.

There are no plans to transfer responsibility for any part of the National Health Service to the private sector, and therefore no privatisation as such. All health authorities have been asked to test the cost effectiveness of their support services by putting them to competitive tender, including in-house tenders. Authorities will be able to use savings made to increase the amount and quality of patient care that they can provide. Detailed information on the number of contracts let and the people employed at the time work is transferred is not held centrally.No systematic information is collected centrally about the extent of contracting out by local authorities, but up-to-date information on such matters will be found in such publications as "Contract Services" and "Public Services Review". No information is available on the manpower aspects.The number of persons employed at the time of the privatisation of major non-civil service bodies, was 134,509. In addition 11,646 civil service jobs have been transferred to the private sector through privatisation and contracting out. Current employment in companies which have been privatised is a matter for the individual managements.

asked the Prime Minister if she will publish for the last three occasions on which salary increases have been agreed for members of the Electricity Council the date on which the Government received the proposal for an increase and the date on which an increase was announced.

In 1980 the salaries of the board members in the electricity supply industry were still the subject of recommendations from the Top Salaries Review Body, together with other members of the nationalised industries boards. Proposals for increases in the pay of nationalised industries boards from 1 April 1980 were contained in the TSRB's 14th report, which was published on 7 July 1980 when I announced the Government's decision in the House of Commons.The present pay arrangements have applied from 1981. With regard to the 1 April 1981 increase, the Government received the electricity supply industry's proposals on 8 July and the Secretary of State for Energy notified the chairman of the Electricity Council on 30 September 1981 of the increases that had been approved.In 1982 the Government received the industry's proposals on 4 May and the Secretary of State for Energy notified the chairman of the Electricity Council on 23 December of the increases approved from 1 April 1982.

asked the Prime Minister, further to her answer of 29 February, Official Report, columns 218–19, whether the reference to increases submitted in respect of the Electricity Council also covers the chairmen and deputy chairmen of the 12 area electricity boards.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list the powers of individual Ministers to take action in cases where radioactive containers and materials and such containers or materials purporting to be radioactive are wilfully or carelessly abandoned in public places; if she will take steps to increase the penalties in such cases; and if she will make a statement.

The police will normally be the first authority to be informed of an incident in a public place. Under the national arrangements for incidents involving radioactivity which covers England, Scotland and Wales, expert advice is quickly available to them when an incident could involve the public being exposed to radioactivity; and each police area has a defined point of contact for that purpose. A similar arrangement exists in Northern Ireland.The use and disposal of radioactive substances are controlled, throughout the United Kingdom, by the appropriate Ministers and Secretaries of State under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960. Any person who disposes of radioactive waste without first having obtained an authorisation under that Act, or otherwise than in accordance with such an authorisation, would be guilty of an offence. Also, any person registered under the Act for the keeping and use of radioactive material would be guilty of an offence if he failed to notify the appropriate Department of the loss or theft of such radioactive material or failed to comply with any other conditions of a registration. Maximum penalties under the 1960 Act can be substantial and are regularly reviewed. Under section 10 of the Act, the Secretary of State would have power to arrange for the safe disposal of radioactive wastes if the need arose.

asked the Prime Minister whether the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards sporting links with South Africa is dependent upon the continuation of the apartheid system as administered by the South Africa Government.

The Government's policy of discouraging sporting links with South Africa is based on the 1977 Commonwealth statement on apartheid in sport. Any change would require a consensus within the Commonwealth.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the United Kingdom has received from the European Community in each year since 1979 from the following sources: the ERDF, the ESF, FEOGA, the European Investment Bank, the new Community instrument, and other funds; if he will break down such figures, where possible, on a regional or area basis; and if he will list the major local projects in the United Kingdom which have benefited from the Community funding since 1979.

The following table shows receipts and loans from various Community sources since 1979:

	£ million
Receipts	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983
EAGGF—Guarantee	353·7	511·7	625·1	737·4	1,007·1
EAGGF—Guidance	17·2	38·4	58·1	53·6	53·0
ESF	87·2	95·3	106·5	152·1	121·5
ERDF	71·4	172·9	145·0	110·5	139·3
Loans
European Investment Bank	487·0	417·3	122·6	273·8	350·8
New Community Instrument	66·3	—	20·0	—	60·0

Only information about ERDF receipts and EIB and NCI loans is available on a regional basis. This is shown in the following table:

	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983
ERDF Receipts*:
England	50·1	66·5	64·7	45·5	81·6
Northern Ireland	16·4	21·1	15·3	18·7	9·2
Scotland	21·3	26·9	39·5	26·8	40·4
Wales	19·5	21·9	23·7	28·5	38·6
EIB Loans:
England	203·0	151·1	30·1	105·5	138·0
Northern Ireland	52·0	49·0	5·0	—	12·6
Scotland	60·0	125·7	25·0	88·8	164·2
Wales	141·0	16·0	—	15·0	21·0
Unallocated†	31·0	75·5	62·5	64·5	15·0
NCI Loans:
England	—	—	20·0	—	20·0
Northern Ireland	—	—	—	—	—
Scotland	16·3	—	—	—	—
Wales	50·0	—	—	—	—
Unallocated†	—	—	—	—	40·0
* These figures do not sum to the EDF totals shown above as they cover the period mid-January to mid-January.
† Includes projects covering more than one region.

A list of the projects funded by EIB and NCI loans is shown in the EIB's Annual Reports. Details of the individual projects funded by the ERDF are given in issues of "British Business".

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will be making any changes to the target proportion of company accounts for in-depth investigations in 1983–84 and 1984–85;(2) if he will publish the amount of extra revenue collected in respect of the classes of accounts referred to in his answer of 5 March,

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

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the British firms which have received contracts of work relating to the proposed Trident D5 system, specifying the nature of the work to be undertaken and the total financial commitment involved.

To date 11 British firms have won subcontracts to the value of just over $6 million from the United States under the Trident D5 industrial participation arrangements. It is not the practice to give details of individual contracts.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will now publish the short list of flying training aeroplanes which his Department will consider to meet air staff target 412.

The short list of aircraft now being considered to meet Air Staff Target 412, as an alternative to refurbishment of the existing Jet Provost fleet, consists, in alphabetical order, of:

Australian Aircraft Consortium	A 20
Firecracker	NDN—IT
Pilatus	PC 9
Shorts (Embraer)	EMB 312

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many persons are currently employed on housing responsibilities in the Welsh Office; and how this compares with the numbers in such work in May 1979.

42½ Welsh Office staff were employed solely on housing matters on 1 March 1984, and the corresponding figure for 31 May 1979 was 54½. In addition, a small number of staff, particularly in the Finance group, spend a proportion of their time on housing matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many projects in South Wales have been financed by grants from the European Economic Community regional development fund.

Since 1975, grant aid has been committed to 488 industrial and infrastructure projects in the counties of Gwent, South, Mid and West Glamorgan under the quota section of the European regional development fund's governing Regulation (724/75, as amended). Article 13 of that regulation also provides for Community support towards special programmes associated with the regional effects of specific Community policies (the Non-Quota section) and so far commitments have been made in respect of 107 projects in South Wales under the five-year programme of measures covering steel restructuring areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, further to the answer to the hon. Member for Billericay (Mr. Proctor), Official Report, 9 February, column 685, and in view of the application by Italy of a discriminatory rate of state duty and value added tax on Scotch whisky, he has anything to add to that answer concerning tariff barriers between two European Economic Community countries; and what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to secure compliance with European Court of Justice judgments in 1982 and 1983 which declare these taxes to be illegal.

I have nothing to add to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Billericay (Mr. Proctor) on 9 February 1984 at column 685. The discrimination against Scotch whisky in the assessment of the rates of state duty "diritto erariale" — and value added tax in Italy is an example of a non-tariff barrier and I refer my hon. Friend to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Budget statement of 13 March 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, further to the answer on 22 February, Official Report, column 534, whether he will publish comparable figures for both imports and exports of manufactures generally together with the best available figures for the increase in the volume of world trade in manufactures.

The information is as follows:

Overseas Trade in Manufactures
Percentage change on previous year
	United Kingdom volume indices* (Fisher Ideal)		World trade in manufactures†
	Exports	Imports
1975	-2½	-6	-4
1976	+8	+8	+12
1977	+6½	+9	+4½
1978	-1½	+11	+4
1979	—	+15	+5½
1980	+1½	-1	+5
1981	-6½	-2½	+2½
1982	+1	+8	-3
1983	-2	+11	‡+½
* OTS basis.
† Exports of manufactures; main manufacturing countries; volume index.
‡ Estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is satisfied with the current and projected position of the balance of trade in manufactured goods.

The prospects for exports of manufactures are excellent. The balance must be viewed in the context of our overall trading position which was in surplus on current account in each of the last four years and is expected to show a surplus again in 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the Office of Fair Trading's plans to set up an inquiry into discriminatory discounts for retailers.

The Director General of Fair Trading has a general duty under section 2 of the Fair Trading Act 1973 to keep commercial activities in the UK under review. In fulfilling this duty, since publication of the MMC report on "Discounts to Retailers", he has held discussions with representatives of all sections of the distributive trades. He is also currently considering undertaking a fact-finding exercise to up-date some of the information in the MMC report. The purpose of these activities is to help him assess whether circumstances in the distributive trades have changed sufficiently since publication of the MMC report to justify more formal inquiries under the competition legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the benefits of the securities market so far as Her Majesty's Government's privatisation policy is concerned.

The Government's privatisation programme has involved making equity currently worth some £2·2 billion available to individuals and freely tradeable by them through the securities market. The main benefit of the programme lies in public ownership becoming a reality. The benefits to the market are not readily quantifiable.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals Her Majesty's Government have received from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics about the resumption of the mutual and balanced force reduction talks in Vienna.

In the mutual and balanced force reduction talks, NATO and the Warsaw Pact negotiate as alliances. Following the refusal of the East in December 1983 to accept the West's proposal to begin the next round in January, both sides have now agreed through normal diplomatic channels to resume the talks on 16 March.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the OfficialReport a table showing the amount of money spent per child by education authorities in West Yorkshire during the years 1980–81, 1981–82 and 1982–83.

The information for primary and secondary schools is as follows:

Net Institutional recurrent expenditure per full-time equivalent pupil (cash)
	Primary and Secondary
L.E.A.	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83
	£	£	£
Bradford	636	719	797
Calderdale	622	710	788
Kirklees	591	683	752
Leeds	616	703	759
Wakefield	632	691	752

Costs are generally higher for older pupils; the figures for individual authorities will be affected by the balance of younger and older pupils in their schools and by the numbers remaining at school after 16.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish the number of students living away from home who claimed more than £100 travel grant ' during 1981–82 and 1982–83.

This information is not collected by the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what evidence of the influence of Soviet propaganda in high schools, colleges, polytechnics and universities he received prior to his speech on 3 March.

We have received a number of letters about the distribution of Soviet literature to schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will issue guidance to local education authorities about the sanctions to be taken against teachers who persist in teaching peace studies separately from other relevant subjects in schools.

My right hon. Friend made our views on peace studies clear in his recent speech, a copy of which is in the Library. It is for the schools themselves to decide exactly how to approach the issues involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has about the volume of Union of Soviet Socialist Republics' literature' being received in schools in the United Kingdom.

The Department does not collect information on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much British literature is being sent to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for distribution in schools, colleges, polytechnics and universities.

I have been asked to reply.Approximately 78,500 items of printed material and films, of which some 72,000 items are scientific literature are sent to Soviet academic institutions annually by the British embassy in Moscow.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what arrangements there are between the United Kingdom and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for the distribution of political literature amongst the school population at all levels.

I have been asked to reply.No formal agreements exist between ourselves and the Soviet Government for the distribution of Soviet and British political literature to schools in the United Kingdom and the USSR respectively. Material is sent on an

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps have been taken to develop pupil profiles; what assessment he makes as to the efficacy of such profiles; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave him on 14 March at column 172. The Government's preliminary views on these matters were set out in the draft policy statement published last November. My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Education and Science and for Wales hope to issue a revised statement in May or June.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he plans to introduce standard energy units for billing all types of energy sales.

No. Billing is a matter for the industries concerned. Consumers can obtain guidance on heating costs using different fuels and heating systems from the booklet "A Guide to home heating costs", which is available free of charge from the Energy Efficiency Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about the reasons for the delay in publishing the Waddilove committee report on coal mining subsidence.

I understand that the report is now approaching completion and I expect to receive it very soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what discussions he has had, or intends to have, with the Electricity Council regarding its pricing policies in relation to its statutory financial duties; if any of the electricity boards have sought advice from his Department on this matter; and if he will make a statement.

None of the boards nor the Electricity Council have sought advice from my Department on this matter. I shall be having discussions during the coming months with the chairman of the Electricity Council on the electricity supply industry's future financial targets and related matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on his recent discussions in the United States of America on energy conservation and the regulation of private energy utilities.

[pursuant to the reply, 9 March 1984, c. 725]: I can say that during my visit to Washington on 6–8 March I had wide-ranging discussions with the United States Secretary for Energy Mr. Donald Hodel, and with other senior Members of the Administration and Congress. Amongst other matters I discussed the scope for closer collaboration in the field of energy efficiency, both in research and through exchange of experience. This will now be pursued through regular contacts between my Department and the United States Department of Energy.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his Department and the Forestry Commission recognise the term "ancient woodland" as a category of forestry.

My right hon. Friend's Department and the Forestry Commission are aware of the criteria on which the Nature Conservancy Council are basing their identification of such sites. It has to be borne in mind, however, that the trees on such sites vary considerably in species and age.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will give the name of any ancient woodlands that have been sold by the Forestry Commission up until 21 January.

It is not possible to give a comprehensive reply to the question pending completion of the Nature Conservancy Council's inventory of ancient woodland sites.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the report of the review Committee on Housing Co-operatives in Scotland established by the Tenant Participation Advisory Service and Co-operative Union Education Service, a copy of which was sent to the Scottish Development Department.

The report of the Review Committee, is of considerable general interest. I am considering those of the recommendations which are addressed to central Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the proportion of the total Scottish National Health Service budget which has been spent on salaries and wages in each of the past 10 years; and how these sums, in each year, have been divided among medical staff, nursing staff, scientific and technical staff, adminstrative staff and ancillary staff.

Information in the form requested is available from 1978–79 in respect of salaries and wages expenditure by Health Boards and is set out in the table below.

Salaries and wages of staff of health boards
£000's
	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83
Total expenditure by health boards	674,612	801,677	1,019,302	1,159,064	1,241,785
Expenditure by boards on salaries and wages	454,200	559,162	732,688	796,354	855,861
Percentage salaries and wages of total expenditure	67·33	69·75	71·88	68·71	68·92
Salaries and wages by category of staff:
Medical and dental	58,715	75,164	100,424	108,372	115,428
Nursing	209,756	259,175	359,658	390,374	424,517
Scientific and technical	35,675	45,100	59,878	66,760	73,221
Administrative	41,244	49,150	64,444	70,459	76,458
Ancillary and others	108,810	130,573	148,284	160,389	166,237

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to announce his determination under section 1 of the Horserace Betting Levy Act 1969 of the horserace betting scheme beginning 1 April.

I have today sent the following letter to the chairman of the Horserace Betting Levy Board and the Secretary of the Bookmakers' Committee. A copy of the scheme has been placed in the Library of the House.

In your letter to me of 1 November 1983 you reported that the Board has been unable to approve the recommendation of the Bookmakers' Committee for the Scheme to have effect for the 23rd Levy period and that the Scheme accordingly fell to be determined by me. I have now reached my decision and enclose a copy of the Schemes I have determined.

In reaching my decision I have taken into account all the submissions made to me by the Levy Board and the Bookmakers' Committee about bookmakers' capacity to pay and about the needs of racing.

The Scheme I have determined provides for an increase in levy rates of about 3 per cent. The Levy Board estimates that horserace betting turnover will increase by 5 per cent. in the period of the 23rd Levy Scheme. The Bookmakers' Committee suggested in October 1983 that it would increase by 6 per cent. On the assumption of a 5 per cent. increase in horserace betting turnover the levy rates I have determined should produce a yield of about £19·2 million.

I am satisfied that bookmakers will be able to make their contributions to the levy at this rate without making any increases in deductions from the punter. At the same time the projected yield from the 23rd Scheme, although £0·9 million less than the Board would like, should in my view enable the Board to continue to pursue the police objectives outlined in Appendix 10 of its 22nd Annual Report.

The Scheme incorporates some minor technical changes agreed by the Levy Board and the Bookmakers' Committee.

I have taken note of the recommendation made to me by the Bookmakers' Committee that a review should be undertaken of the Levy Board and its activities on the line proposed in the Report on Non-Departmental Public Bodies (Cmnd. 7797). I would accordingly be grateful if you would set in hand such a review, agreeing its terms of reference with my officials. The review should in particular look at whether the Board's activities are being carried out well and economically. I would hope that its results would be available before the 24th Levy Scheme is determined.

This is the third successive Levy Scheme which has had to be determined by the Home Secretary. The levy cannot continue

to function effectively unless it is agreed. I therefore welcome the Levy Board's proposal, made to me in one of it submissions, "to initiate discussions with the Bookmakers' Committee about the whole question of the way in which the levy is applied and collected, with a view to establishing whether alternative methods might make levy disputes less likely in the future to the advantage of all concerned". I hope the Bookmakers' Committee will respond to this inititiative.

The future health of racing and of bookmaking depends on the co-operation of all those involved in the racing industry. My hope is that this determination and the other proposals I have mentioned will stimulate a spirit of co-operation and compromise for the benefit of racing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many houses belonging to his Department in the village of Gartree, Leicestershire, have now been sold off to members of the public; and how many more houses it is intended to sell.

None. The houses adjoining Gartree prison are now being retained as staff quarters; the site is regarded as within a security area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to visit the Channel Islands; how long he will be there; whom he will meet; and what is the purpose of his visit.

My right hon. and learned Friend will be visiting the Channel Islands for four days at the end of April. He will be meeting the Lieutenant Governors and representatives of the island authorities. It has been a longstanding practice for Home Secretaries to make such visits to reflect their responsibilities for certain island matters and to improve their knowledge of the islands. In addition to these purposes, the meetings will provide an opportunity for discussions of matters of mutual interest.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce amending legislation to prohibit the infliction of substantial pain in animal experiments.

The Government's proposals for new legislation to replace the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 were published in the White Paper 'Scientific Procedures on Living Animals' published in May 1983. Those proposals contemplate that specific authorisation will be necessary before any work likely to cause pain may be started and the retention of at least the existing limit on the maximum amount of pain an animal may be permitted to suffer once such work is in progress. Discussions are continuing as to the precise form of these proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his Department's policy on the granting of licences under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 to researchers who perform work abroad which causes severe suffering to animals such as would not be allowed in the United Kingdom.

The Secretary of State's power to grant licences under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 is discretionary and licences are granted only to applicants whom the Secretary of State is satisfied are fit and qualified to hold a licence. Every application is considered on its individual merits. The fact that an applicant has done work abroad under different controls from those in the United Kingdom would not of itself disqualify him for obtaining a licence; but if it appeared that in the course of such work he had caused deliberate and unnecessary suffering to animals he would not be considered a fit person to hold a licence in the United Kingdom.The licences of people who have been in the United Kingdom for less than five years are made subject to a written undertaking from a senior licensee that he will see that the provisions of the 1876 Act and conditions of the licence are observed by the visitor.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take appropriate action in relation to the Channel 4 television series, "How we Learned to Ski", funded by Peter Stuyvesant Travel in relation to contravention of section 8(6) of the Broadcasting Act 1981; and if he will make a statement.

The IBA is responsible for ensuring that the programmes it broadcasts, including those on Channel 4, comply with its obligations under the Broadcasting Act 1981. It would be contrary to the practice endorsed by successive Governments for my right hon. and learned Friend to comment or take action on a particular programme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of crimes cleared up per member of staff for each police authority in England and Wales.

[pursuant to his reply, 7 March 1984, c. 588]: The ratios requested are given in the following table. The ratio of the number of offences cleared-up to total notifiable offences recorded differs markedly for different categories of offence; hence the number of offences cleared-up is affected by variations between police forces in the numbers of each type of offence recorded and the circumstances of those offences. It is also affected by variations in police practices in recording offences cleared up. Many officers may be involved in clearing-up a single offence and the ratio does not indicate how many offences, on average, are dealt with successfully by each officer. Variations in the number of offences cleared up per officer may also reflect variations in other duties carried out by the police in respect of public order, crime prevention, traffic, etc. and variations in the numbers of civilian staff supporting the police, and in the duties which those staff perform.

The ratio of the number of notifiable offences recorded as cleared-up* to the total police strength† in each police force area in England and Wales, 1982
Police force area
Avon and Somerset	9
Bedfordshire	12
Cambridgeshire	10
Cheshire	11
Cleveland	13
Cumbria	8
Derbyshire	12
Devon and Cornwall	9
Dorset	10
Durham	11
Essex	9
Gloucestershire	8
Greater Manchester	13
Hampshire	8
Hertfordshire	12
Humberside	12
Kent	9
Lancashire	9
Leicestershire	11
Lincolnshire	10
London, City of	2
Merseyside	12
Metropolitan Police District	4
Norfolk	10
Northamptonshire	12
Northumbria	19
North Yorkshire	9
Nottinghamshire	16
South Yorkshire	12
Staffordshire	10
Suffolk	9
Surrey	5
Sussex	9
Thames Valley	11
Warwickshire	8
West Mercia	10
West Midlands	10
West Yorkshire	12
Wiltshire	9
Dyfed-Powys	8
Gwent	13
North Wales	11
South Wales	12
England and Wales	9
* Notifiable offences recorded as cleared up in 1982; excluding offences of "Other criminal damage" value £20 and under.
† Police strength on 31 December 1982; excluding special constables, civilian traffic wardens.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council's latest report on asbestos-related diseases without asbestosis is to published; and whether he will make a statement.

The report, which amends the recommendations contained in an earlier report, is published today. The council is now recommending that workers who have been exposed to asbestos should be covered under the industrial injuries scheme for any measurable disablement caused by bilateral diffuse pleural thickening and for lung cancer where it is accompanied either by bilateral pleural thickening or by asbestosis. The Government have accepted these recommendations and regulations will be laid to bring them into operation by the Summer of 1985.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what period of time elapses between a pronouncement by the Committee on Safety of Medicines on a particular medication and official notification to members of the medical profession.

Where the Committee on Safety of Medicines issues advice to doctors on urgent matters of safety current practice is to send an individual letter to doctors by first-class post in about 24 hours. Less urgent advice is published quarterly in the Committee's bulletin "Current Problems".

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what steps he is taking to ensure that full tests of drugs to be used by geriatric patients over the age of 65 years are done before use by the National Health Service;(2) if he is satisfied with the Federal Drug Administration trials of drugs of United States origin proposed to be used in the United Kingdom with particular reference to potential patients over the age of 65 years.

All drugs used in patients over the age of 65 are already subject to the stringent testing requirements laid down by the licensing authority under the Medicines Act. In addition, with effect from 1 January 1985, all new drugs likely to be used in elderly patients in this country will be required to be tested in clinical studies in such patients in certain circumstances, for example, where the active ingredient in the new product is in the same class as those in existing products which are known to have produced adverse effects in elderly patients.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will list the precise financial allocations to each of the regional health authorities for 1983–84 and the proposed allocations for 1984–85.

The following table sets out, for each regional health authority, the revenue and capital cash limits for 1983–84 and 1984–85.

Regional health authority	Revenue cash limits (£m)		Capital cash limits (£m)
	1983–84	1984–85	1983–84	1984–85
Northern	554·6	577·7	42·6	39·3
Yorkshire	622·8	646·6	53·2	52·0
Trent	745·3	783·8	56·4	57·1
East Anglian	313·3	328·5	21·6	21·8
North West Thames	660·0	680·1	39·4	41·5
North East Thames	836·6	860·3	51·0	48·9
South East Thames	729·4	750·4	50·8	46·7

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will give details of the average waiting time for inpatients and outpatients in each of the district health authorities within the North-East Thames region.

Outpatient waiting time information is not collected centrally. The latest available information on inpatient waiting time relates to patients admitted to NHS hospitals from a waiting list during 1981 analysed by area health authority. I shall let my hon. Friend have the available information as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much has been spent on redundancy payments by the regional health authorities since March 1983.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 10 November 1983 at column 250. Information on redundancies has not been collected centrally since 31 March 1981, when the claiming of redundancy rebates from the Department of Employment was devolved to health authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress he is making on his study of the Binder Hamlyn report; and when he will publish it.

I have nothing to add to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton, South (Mr. Morris) on 28 February at column 151.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals he has to expedite consultant appointments for the deaf or to provide suitable alternative treatment.

Discussions are taking place with the medical profession with a view to finding a way of accelerating the service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will introduce measures to register and safeguard the standards of care at private rest homes.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Peckham (Ms. Harman) on 10 February 1984 at column 820–21.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the number of pregnancy terminations in the York area in each year since 1960.

The following table shows the number of legal abortions to residents of York local authority between 1968, when the Abortion Act came into effect, and 1974; and to residents of York health district for 1975 to 1982. These areas are not conterminous so the two sets of figures cannot be compared with each other.

Legal abortions performed on residents of York County Borough 1968 to 1974
	Numbers
*1968	18
1969	41
1970	104
1971	165
1972	192
1973	197
†1974	201
* 27th April to 31st December only.
† York County District.

Legal abortions performed on residents of York Health District 1975 to 1982.
	Number
1975	397
1976	337
1977	350
1978	377
1979	449
1980	472
1981	432
1982	502

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current estimate of the likely level of spending by family practitioners in 1983–84 compared with the original estimate and that on which the Chancellor of the Exchequer based his July measures on the National Health Service.

The current estimate (see Supplementary Estimate Class XI/2 HC 292 of 1983–84) is £2,765.4 million. The original estimate was £2,593.8 million. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer had available early versions of the Winter Supplementary Estimate of £2,694.5 million (see HC 97 of 1983–84) before the July measures were taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now extend the mobility allowance scheme to cover those who become house-bound after the age of 65 years.

We have no present plans to extend the scope of mobility allowance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the London Boroughs Association regarding the Government's proposals for the single homeless in the event of abolition of the Greater London council

I must ask the hon. Member to await the summary analysis of the main points arising from consultation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how the Government propose to ensure that organisations providing a London-wide service for single homeless people are funded if the Greater London council is abolished.

Voluntary organisations now funded by the GLC will be able to look to the London boroughs for support, acting either individually or collectively on a voluntary basis — as takes place at present through the scheme operated by the London Boroughs Association. We are considering in the light of representations received whether any further arrangements are needed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the report on recreation management training.

The report is being published today and I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library of the House.I welcome this report, which is a comprehensive survey of training in recreation management. It will be of value and interest to a broad range of organisations in the field of provision for leisure, sport and recreation. Some of the changes in the field of recreation management recommended by the report are already in hand. There is one specific recommendation for Government, on which I should comment. We see no clear role for, or need of, a national leisure council. Various statutory bodies already exist with an interest in leisure provision; their roles should not be duplicated. If there is a need for better co-ordination, I look to the bodies concerned to achieve this.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will report progress on the external cleaning of the Palace of Westminster, with particular reference p when the Clock Tower will be completed.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Greenway) on Monday 16 January, at column 86.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider strengthening the present laws against the demolition of listed buildings; and if he will make a statement.

The question of penalties for offences against listed buildings is kept under review within my Department. In particular the Government are considering, when a suitable opportunity occurs, the introduction of legislation creating a separate offence for the unlawful total demolition of a listed building. If my hon. Friend has any specific proposals in this field I would be happy to consider them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many listed buildings there are in England; how many listed buildings have had that status withdrawn in the last five years; and what have been the main reasons for removing this status.

On the latest date for which figures are available, 31 December 1983, there were 308,465 listed buildings in England. In the five years from 1 January 1979 to 31 December 1983, there were 392 deletions from the statutory lists.Buildings are removed from the statutory lists because:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many listed buildings have been demolished in the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

The following table shows the consents given for the total demolition of listed buildings in England in the last five calendar years.

Consents for total demolition, 1979 to 1983
Year	Numbers
1979	372
1980	268
1981	148
1982	161
1983	172

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards sporting links with South Africa is based solely on the provisions of the Gleneagles agreement or if other criteria also apply.

The Government's policy is founded on our commitment to the 1977 Commonwealth statement on apartheid in sport. I also have regard to the damage such contacts might cause to other sports and events and to British sporting interests in general.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied that the system of selection of sports teams on the basis of race, colour or ethnic origin, as defined in the Gleneagles agreement, does not apply to any Commonwealth countries with which the United Kingdom has sporting links.

The 1977 Commonwealth statement makes no reference to team selection.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if, he will take steps to ensure that the information on turnout at the May 1984 local council elections is collected and analysed centrally;(2) if he will commission a study into voting patterns of the May 1984 local elections to investigate the influence of local elections.

I have been asked to reply.We have no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the reply of 23 February, Official Report, column 621, if he will give a detailed breakdown of the 6·3 million disclosures of personal information, stating who received the data and the number of disclosures to each Department or other recipient.

A complete breakdown of disclosures is not readily available. The following tables show an estimated breakdown for both the vehicles and drivers registers.

	Number of disclosures
Vehicles register
Police	393,000
Central ticket office	2,818,000
Releases to assist in prevention or detection of crime, or to assess or collect any tax or duty:
Local authorities	1,166,000
Other government departments. (DHSS, Customs and Excise, Inland Revenue, Intervention Board, Scottish Development Office and other parts of the Department of Transport)	30,000
Other enforcement agencies (Water Bailiffs, Sheriffs, Official Receivers, RSPCA, RSPB and AA/RAC/RSAC when acting for foreign customs authority)	3,000
Other releases
Insurance Companies	45,000
Solicitors	8,000
Registered keepers and Vehicle owners	30,000
General public	25,000
Vehicle manufacturers—safety related recalls	550,000
Drivers register
Police	950,000

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many motor cyclists were (a) killed, and (b) sustained serious injury in accidents in 1982 and 1983.

In Great Britain 1,090 motor cyclists (including moped and motor scooter users) were killed and 21,597 were seriously injured in 1982.Provisional estimates for 1983, based on incomplete returns, are 950 and 19,200 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many motor cyclists killed in accidents in 1982 and 1983 were between the ages of 17 and 22 years.

In 1982 672 motor cyclists (including moped and motor scooter users), aged between 17 and 22 were killed in Great Britain. The corresponding estimate for 1983, based on incomplete returns, is 540. There was a 12 per cent. reduction in total motor cycle traffic.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total number of motor cycle accidents recorded in London, Manchester and Birmingham in 1983.

Figures for motor cycles (including mopeds and motor scooters) involved in accidents are more readily available than accidents involving one or more motor cycles.Provisional figures for 1983 are:

	Figures
Greater London	11,100
Greater Manchester	2,300
West Midlands	1,900

Final data, available in April or May, are not expected to be significantly different.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the practice of British Transport police collecting drunks at railway stations and dumping them subsequently on Hampstead heath; and under what statutory or other authority such action is taken.

I assume the question relates to a recent newspaper article. The chief constable of the British Transport police has appointed a senior officer to investigate the allegation.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are taken to maintain records of the movement and origins of radioactive materials and their containers; and if he will make a statement.

The safety requirements for the transport of radioactive materials are based on International Atomic Energy Agency regulations. These require all consignments of such materials to be accompanied by documents giving prescribed details of the movement, the material and the container. Responsibility for providing these documents rests on consignors. There is no requirement for the documents to be retained once the movement to which they relate has been completed.Radioactive materials on sites are subject to the provisions of either the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 or the Radioactive Substances Act 1960. The administration of these provisions is the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Energy and the Environment respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set up an inquiry into the circumstances in which a container for transporting radioactive material was abandoned at Mill Hill East station on 8 March; and if he will make a statement on the steps taken by the emergency services.

I am aware of this incident and have no evidence that any radioactive material was involved or that any public hazard resulted. Nonetheless a report on the circumstances of the incident and the action taken to respond to it has been requested from the police.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy that no alteration will be made to the existing public consultation and public inquiry system in so far as it affects those who live on the 70 miles of existing metropolitan roads proposed for designation as trunk roads, when subject to new roadbuilding and traffic management schemes.

[pursuant to her reply, 9 March 1984, c. 718]: The arrangements for public consultation and inquiry into new construction or traffic management schemes will be no different on the roads I propose should become trunk roads from those which will apply on other trunk roads in Greater London.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will ascertain from the chairman of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive how many empty properties were owned by the Executive on (a) 31 March 1983 and (b) the latest date for which figures are available; if he will give a breakdown of the figures by executive district offices; if he will also set out the figures for those properties which have been empty for more than three months in each case; and if he will make a statement.

I understand from the chairman of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive that the information requested is as follows: