asked the Attorney-General how much was spent in total on expenses of justices of the peace in each year since 1980.

I have been asked to reply.The cost of travelling, lodging and financial loss allowance paid to justices of the peace in England and Wales in accordance with the Justices' Allowances Regulations 1976 and in respect of membership of the Crown court is as follows:

	£
1980–81	2,259,000
1981–82	2,611,000
1982–83	3,027,000

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has yet reached conclusions on the studies announced into hiving-off the companies registration offices and the Patent Office.

Yes. I have decided not to proceed with proposals to transfer the work of companies registration offices to a quango and they will remain answerable to me as Secretary of State and will continue to be part of my Department. Since 1979 there has been an increase of almost one third in the number of companies registerd by the Companies Registration Offices. The priority given to this work has led to an increase in delays in providing information to the public and difficulties in pursuing registered companies in default of their obligations to submit regular returns and accounts. In order to improve the service to the public and the pursuit of non-conforming companies, the number of staff in these offices will be increased by 100 over the coming months. I am also undertaking an examination of the functions and operations of the CRO offices, and work analysis studies to improve the efficiency of their operations.The future of the Patent Office will be further reviewed in the contect of consideration of the Green Paper on "Intellectual Property Rights and Innovation".

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will provide a schedule of the various funding schemes sponsored by his Department which offer support for investment related to energy conservation, energy research and development and energy demonstration projects in industry; if he will specify the criteria for qualification; and what publicity he is giving to prospective applicants to assist take-up.

The industrial heat recovery consultancy scheme is the only specific scheme sponsored by the Department of Trade and Industry whose objective is either to encourage energy conservation or energy research and development, or to support energy demonstration projects in industry. All other specific energy schemes for industry are handled by the Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency Office.However, Department of Trade and Industry funds are available under the Science and Technology Act 1965 and the Industrial Development Act 1982 to support certain investment and research and development provided there are United Kingdom benefits which would not otherwise be obtained. These benefits may include improved energy efficiency.The qualifying criteria for aid under the Science and Technology Act 1965 and the Industrial Development Act 1982 (including notes on the support for innovation and industrial heat recovery consultancy schemes) are set out in the guide to industrial support—an annex to

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received concerning the importation of Spanish slate which falls below BSI 680; what action he has taken in the matter; and if he will make a statement.

I have received one representation, from my hon. Friend the Member for Delyn. BSI 680 is a matter for my hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. If there is any question of dumping, my Department's Anti-Dumping Unit would be glad to advise on the possibility of a case.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the overall increase in the level of imports into the United Kingdom from Japan from 1979 to the latest available date.

This information may be derived from table IB of the annual edition of the Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom for 1979 and of the monthly issue for December 1983, copies of which are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing imports and exports of manufactures less precious stones from the EEC and from the rest of the world in the first two months of 1984 on a balance of payments and on a trade statistics basis.

Balance of payments estimates of monthly trade with the other European Community countries and the rest of the world are not available. The figures on the "Overseas Trade Statistics" basis are in the table.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what was the balance of trade in manufactures with the European Economic Community and the rest of the world, respectively, expressed on the balance of payments basis, in the year 1983;(2) what was the balance of trade in manufactured goods with the European Economic Community and the rest of the world, respectively, expressed on the "Overseas Trade Statistics" basis, in the year 1983.

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

	Year
	1983	1982	1981	1980	1979
Total	833	626	681	555	745
Place of accident
1. Family or private party	311	189	231	168	239
2. Semi-public party (eg scouts, cricket club)	84	53	58	47	135
3. Large public display	111	88	101	95
4. Casual incident in street etc.	257	220	229	194	290
5. Other place	54	61	46	31	52
6. Indoors	16	15	16	20	29
Type of firework
1. Banger	184	147	167	135	190
2. Rocket	107	71	102	66	73
3. Roman candle, coloured fire etc.	114	84	107	81	124
4. Home-made or extracted powder	15	35	26	19	34
5. Other proprietary fireworks	78	82	64	46	65
6. Sparklers	95	40	48	33	48
7. Unspecified type	240	167	167	175	211
Severity of injury
1. Fatal injury	—	—	—	—	—
2. Detained more than one night	61	33	24	46	49
3. Sufficient to cause absence from work or equivalent	147	67	62	82	97
4. Minor injury	592	489	531	403	565
5. Unspecified injury	33	37	64	24	34
Eye injuries (included in 2–5)	293	241	261	261	310
Age group of injured persons
Over 20	215	139	132	100	146
16–20	108	73	89	66	80
13–15	173	149	173	151	211
Under 13	337	265	287	238	308

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate how many jobs have been created through housing development since 1979.

I have been asked to reply.I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much of the £88 million cash cost in 1983–84 of the sale of Scott Lithgow was represented by payments to the new owners.

I shall reply to the right hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish the figures of injuries caused by fireworks in 1983.

According to reports from hospitals in England, Wales and Scotland, 833 people required treatment for injuries caused by fireworks during a four week period in October and November 1983. The figures for 1983 and the preceeding four years are as follows:

asked the Prime Minister if an award is to be made to members of the armed forces and civilians who served with, or in support of, the British contingent of the Multinational Force in Lebanon.

In recognition of the outstanding service performed by those who served with the British contingent in Lebanon and those, both service men and any civilians, who served in direct support of it, Her Majesty the Queen has graciously approved the awards of the General Service Medal 1962 with "Lebanon" clasp. A Command Paper (Cmnd. 9224) is being laid before the House today.

asked the Prime Minister what is the overall total for the United Kingdom of (a) all rates paid to all local authorities, (b) all water and sewerage rates paid, (c) all money paid by central Government to all local authorities and (d) all moneys received from all sources by local authorities and water authorities for 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983.

The information relating to local authorities is published in tables 4.1 and 4.2 of "Financial Statistics" (HMSO). The rent receipts shown in table 4.1 include central Government subsidies to local authority housing as follows (in £ million):

	£ million
1970	1,449
1980	1,719
1981	1,242
1982	755
1983	599

Available information for the water industry in the United Kingdom is as follows (in £ million):

	Income from charges for water and sewerage services	Income from all sources
1978–79	1,247	1,509
1979–80	1,386	1,719
1980–81	1,693	2,083
1981–82	1,899	2,297
1982–83	2,041	2,458

asked the Prime Minister if she will list the organisations considered to be fascist organisations for the purposes of determining suitability for holding senior positions in the public service.

No.

asked the Prime Minister if she will establish a Registrar General for Wales; and if she will make a statement.

No. The law governing marriages and registration of births and deaths is uniform throughout England and Wales. Fresh legislation would be needed to establish a separate office of Registrar General for Wales and a separately administered local registration service. This would not be justified on legal, administrative or economic grounds, nor can it be foreseen that it would offer any practical advantage to the public in Wales.

asked the Prime Minister how many copies of the printed version of the United Nations world programme of action concerning disabled persons have been obtained for use by Government Departments; what action she is taking to ensure that the policies and programmes of the Government conform with the world programme; and if she will make a statement.

This document only recently became available in its final printed form, and we have obtained over 700 copies to ensure a wide distribution to interested bodies including relevant Government Departments. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House. The aims and recommendation contained in the world programme broadly reflect current policies in this country as they affect disabled people.

asked the Prime Minister under what circumstances district organisers of the Women's Royal Voluntary Service are expected to sign the Official Secrets Act.

I understand that only those members of the WRVS (38 at the present time) who hold services welfare appointments (both at home and overseas) are required to sign a declaration, because of the possibility that they might become aware of classified information.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport which organisations have objected to the proposal to widen the Barton high level bridge section of the M63 motorway; and whether such organisations or any individuals who have objected are in any way adversely affected directly by the proposals as occupants of nearby properties.

There are now four objections to our published bridge widening proposals. The Greater Manchester transport action group, Friends of the Earth, and one individual—who does not live near the bridge —do not accept the case for widening the motorway. The North-West gas board requires a more detailed explanation of the effect on a gas main.The public inquiry to begin on 15 May will also concern our proposals for widening M63 north of Barton bridge where there are two objections from occupants of nearby property; British Rail has also objected about the effect of the scheme on a railway bridge.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will investigate the effectiveness of the electric cable detectors now in use in Bristol, with a view to recommending them for all road maintenance work should they prove reliable.

I have written to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many nursery schools there are presently in the Southern education and library board area; and if he will state their locations.

Fourteen, located as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the staff-to-pupil ratio in each of the (a) controlled primary and (b) maintained primary schools in the Southern education and library board area.

The available information is for January 1983 when pupil-teacher ratios were as follows:

(a) Controlled primary	23·5:1
(b) Maintained primary	24·2:1

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the staff-to-pupil ratio in each of the (a) controlled secondary, (b) maintained secondary, (c) voluntary grammar, (d) controlled grammar and (e) maintained grammar schools in the Southern education and library board area.

The available information is for January 1983, when pupil-teacher ratios were as follows:

(a) Controlled secondary	15·4:1
(b) Maintained secondary	15·6:1
(c) Voluntary grammar	16·0:1
(d) Controlled grammar	15·2:1

There are no maintained voluntary grammar schools in Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish in the Official Report the number of perinatal and infant deaths and the perinatal mortality rates for Northern Ireland in 1981 and 1982.

The information is as follows:

	Perinatal mortality		Infant mortality Number
Year	Number	Rate per 1,000 births*
1981	422	15·3	360
1982	363	13·3	369
* Life and still.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each year since 1954 the tonnage of (a) apples and (b) pears, produced in the United Kingdom, the amount imported from the European Economic Community and the rest of the world and the amount exported to the European Economic Community and the rest of the world.

The following is the information required:

Apples and pears—output marketed in the United Kingdom*
'000 tonnes
Crop Year	Dessert Apples	Culinary Apples	Pears
1954–55	185	289	34
1955–56	173	188	50
1956–57	205	282	62
1957–58	213	215	43
1958–59	241	290	72
1959–60	225	260	62
1960–61	258	272	67
1961–62	192	110	51

Crop Year	Dessert Apples	Culinary Apples	Pears
1962–63	249	220	51
1963–64	259	214	60
1964–65	288	267	64
1965–66	251	210	62
1966–67	206	129	36
1967–68	185	109	22
1968–69	192	136	66
1969–70	259	132	54
1970–71	256	182	65
1971–72	284	153	64
1972–73	190	148	50
1973–74	257	169	43
1974–75	189	168	46
1975–76	229	128	26
1976–77	195	131	57
1977–78	132	132	36
1978–79	193	164	26
1979–80	198	135	60
1980–81	160	153	38
1981–82	146	78	45
1982–83	192	138	38
†1983–84	170	123	49
*Output is the actual quantity which moved off the farm and for which revenue was received. It is arrived at by reducing gross production— the maximum available supply during a single crop year — by a wastage factor. In determining waste, consideration is given to the amount of mature crop fit for sale but left in the field; damaged by weather; losses in grading, storage and dressing after the crop has left the field; and any of the crop which remains unsold due to lack of demand.
†Provisional.

United Kingdom imports of apples and pears
'000 tonnes
	Apples		Pears
	From EC countries	From other countries	From EC countries	From other countries
1954	45	100	19	34
1955	61	121	24	48
1956	58	134	16	44
1957	58	125	13	42
1958	42	153	19	44
1959	47	153	18	44
1960	37	153	21	40
1961	55	175	25	42
1962	42	197	23	51
1963	30	179	21	37
1964	39	201	24	45
1965	36	211	16	37
1966	51	223	28	53
1967	100	190	33	33
1968	113	186	23	36
1969	105	185	27	27
1970	81	177	24	28
1971	93	172	28	26
1972	103	174	25	31
1973	178	154	24	26
1974	191	121	30	18
1975	214	120	36	15
1976	257	125	28	20
1977	264	75	32	17
1978	240	104	29	16
1979	265	107	30	15
1980	262	113	44	16
1981	264	159	57	20
1982	259	141	47	17
1983	292	113	57	21

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many surveys the Yorkshire water authority has carried out, under section 24(5) of the Water Act 1973, regarding the Wakefield metropolitan district in relation to land drainage; and what reports have been presented in consequence of these surveys.

One survey covering their area has been made by Yorkshire water authority under section 24(5) of the Water Act 1973. The report was made available in 1980.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the increases in retail prices between January 1973 and May 1979 and the most recent date for which figures are available for the following commodities: sugar, butter, beef, bread, eggs, coffee, tea and potatoes.

The figures requested are as follows:

	Percentage changes in retail price indices
	January 1973 to May 1979	May 1979 to February 1984
Sugar	+232	+54
Butter	+224	+22
Beef	+ 133	+47
Bread	+176	+46
Eggs	+172	+55
Coffee	+259	+31
Tea	+ 181	+55
Potatoes*	+194	+94
* Includes potato products.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the number of beam trawlers registered in England; and by how many this number has changed since 1978.

It is estimated that about 90 beam trawlers were based in ports in England in 1983, compared with about 60 in 1978.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each year since 1954 the amount of (a) butter, (b) cheese and (c) other dairy products produced in the United Kingdom together with imports from and exports to (i) other European Economic Community countries and (ii) the rest of the world.

Information dating back to 1954 on the United Kingdom production of butter, cheese and the

United Kingdom Imports of Butter, Cheese and Other Dairy Products
'000 Tonnes
	1954	1955	1956	1957	1958	1959	1960	1961	1962	1965	1964	1965	1966	1967	1968
Butter
From EEC countries	121	102	100	117	146	112	129	143	129	132	133	152	152	176	160
Other countries	165	210	260	254	283	295	283	287	284	289	338	297	310	315	293
TOTAL	286	312	360	371	429	407	412	430	413	421	471	449	462	491	453
Cheese
From EEC countries	*20	*20	*22	*19	*22	28	23	23	25	32	34	36	45	52	62
Other countries	114	111	115	106	99	110	111	114	115	108	118	116	98	107	118
TOTAL	134	131	137	125	121	138	134	137	140	140	152	152	143	159	180
Other dairy products
From EEC countries	*6	*12	*14	*14	*19	*38	*31	*41	*45	*44	*59	*44	*33	*38	*41
Other countries	53	37	54	53	51	82	50	37	37	48	64	68	46	53	42
TOTAL	59	49	68	67	70	120	80	78	82	92	123	112	79	91	83
	1969	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983
Butter
From EEC countries	140	148	144	137	186	326	364	275	189	172	126	99	109	85	91
Other countries	285	259	246	219	152	120	124	123	129	130	120	105	100	100	93
TOTAL	425	407	390	356	338	446	488	398	318	302	246	204	209	185	184
Cheese
From EEC countries	51	55	66	66	83	101	119	114	105	97	137	103	123	114	118
Other countries	105	102	101	85	54	20	33	33	15	5	3	13	17	16	16
TOTAL	156	157	167	151	137	121	152	147	120	102	140	116	140	130	134
Other dairy products
From EEC countries	*43	34	62	50	53	45	96	57	41	43	49	32	32	37	56
Other countries	34	47	16	14	3	3	2	†	†	†	1	2	1	1	2
TOTAL	77	81	78	64	56	46	98	57	41	53	50	34	33	38	58
* Includes some imports from Commonwealth countries (not Australia or New Zealand) with which the Irish Republic was grouped in the foreign trade statistics for these years.
† Less than 500 tonnes.

United Kingdom Exports of Butter, Cheese and Other Dairy Products
'000 tonnes
	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983
Butter
To EEC Countries	*	3	2	5	2	1	14	11	49	50	75	65	56	39
Other Countries	2	2	2	11	2	2	2	4	8	11	5	8	7	15
TOTAL	2	5	4	16	4	3	16	15	57	62	80	73	63	53
Cheese
To EEC Countries	1	1	1	3	3	4	6	7	8	8	9	10	13	14
Other Countries	3	3	3	3	9	3	4	4	8	7	8	13	21	14
TOTAL	4	4	4	6	12	7	10	11	16	15	17	23	34	28
Other Dairy Products
To EEC Countries	12	14	17	112	74	110	175	89	150	105	86	77	112	109
Other Countries	58	68	60	42	40	30	54	67	72	98	151	122	104	103
TOTAL	70	82	77	154	114	140	229	156	222	203	237	199	216	212
* less than 500 tonnes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of (a) temperate and (b) all food-stuffs consumed in the United Kingdom in 1983 were home-produced; and how these percentages compare with similar figures in 1973 and 1963, respectively.

United Kingdom self sufficiency in all foodstuffs, which takes into account food exports, has increased from 50 per cent. in 1973 to 60 per cent. in 1983. Self sufficiency in indigenous-type foods has increased from 62 per cent. to 76 per cent. over the same period.Taking the narrower definition of home production for home consumption as a percentage of total United Kingdom consumption, the following information is available:

Home production for home consumption as a percentage of total United Kingdom consumption
	1963†	1973	1983‡
(a) Indigenous-type food*	64	66	65
(b) All food	50	53	52
* Products that are grown commercially in significant quantities in the United Kingdom.
† Approximate.
‡ Provisional.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he proposes to make skim milk powder available to the intensive sector of the fanning industry, particularly to the pig and poultry sectors; and if he will make a statement.

Skim milk powder is already available for use in animal feed with the benefit of Community subsidies, including provision for use in the pig and poultry sectors.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether it is the intention of the other European Economic Community member states to abolish the variable meat premium in 1985 when the discussions take place for that year's price review; and if he will make it his policy to oppose any such proposal at the Council of Agriculture Ministers.

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

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give an estimate of the total value to the United Kingdom dairy industry of the lost production which comes as a result of the milk production quotas agreed at the Council of Agriculture Ministers in Brussels.

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

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) who will decide the new milk production quotas for individual dairy farmers; how these quotas will be calculated; and what special arrangements will be made for difficult cases;(2) how the new milk production quotas agreed at the meeting of the Council of Agriculture Ministers in Brussels on 30 and 31 March are to be implemented.

As announced on 4 April the detailed arrangements for introducing and administering the supplementary levy scheme are to be discussed in Brussels on 6 April. Until the detailed Community legislation has been completed it is not possible to decide finally the arrangements for introducing the supplementary levy in the United Kingdom or other EC Member States. Notices will be sent to individual producers as soon as possible describing how the United Kingdom reference quantity is to be allocated and setting out other information concerning the administration including the method of establishing quantities for individual producers and special arrangements for difficult cases. Depending on progress in the discussions in Brussels it is hoped that this further information will be sent to producers during next week.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what effect the new milk production quotas are likely to have on the size of the United Kingdom dairy herd.

The supplementary levy on milk agreed by the Council of Ministers on 30–31 March will be applied on production above specified reference quantities. The effect of the levy on the size of the United Kingdom dairy herd will depend on the decisions of individual producers about how they should respond to the levy. In some cases they may decide to reduce cow numbers and in others they may cut back milk deliveries by changing their management of herds or by increasing the utilisation of milk on the farm.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his assessment of the level of illegal fishing for salmon both onshore and offshore in England and Wales; and what is the impact on salmon stocks.

It is impossible to quantify either the level or impact of illegal fishing. However, I recognise that the illegal fishing for salmon is a matter of widespread concern and I would draw my hon. Friend's attention to my reply of 29 Febrary to my hon. Friend the Member for Dumfries (Sir. H. Monro) at column 196–97.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the latest proposal in the European Economic Community for farm prices and monetary compensatory amounts; what is the net effect of these proposals in terms of prices in each country; what increase or reduction in surpluses is expected to result from the change in the case of each of the main commodities; and if he will estimate the likely effect of these proposals on agricultural output in the United Kingdom in 1985–86.

My right hon. Friend explained the final agreement reached in the Agriculture Council on 31 March in his statement to the House on 2 April at column 661. This package of measures will be explained in detail in an explanatory memoradum on draft instrument 6059/84 which will be submitted by my Department shortly.The estimated net effect in 1984–85 of the price proposals as agreed in the Council on 30–31 March on average support prices in each member state in real terms as amended by the changes in the MCA system agreed in the package, but excluding other green rate devaluations, is as follows:

	Percentage
Germany	-3·5
France	-4·3
Italy	-6·7
Netherlands	-2·8
Belgium	-3·4
Luxembourg	-4·3
United Kingdom	-5·2
Ireland	-5·1
Denmark	-3·5
Greece	-12·8

These figures take no account of the proposed introduction of a supplementary levy for milk.The level of agricultural production and surpluses in any particular year depends on many factors and reliable estimates cannot be made. It is clear, however that the introduction of a supplementary levy for milk will have a considerable impact on the level of the milk surplus.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Cypriots who came to the United Kingdom having lost their homes as a result of the 1974 war are still required to renew their permission to stay (a)every six months, and (b) at other intervals; and how many on such renewal arrangements have been deported each year since 1974.

Since April 1982 all Cypriots who were accepted as having been displaced to this country by the events in Cyprus of 1974, and who had been given leave to remain by successive Governments on that basis, have, on application, been granted settlement.No Cypriots have been deported since 1974 if, at the time, they were considered to have a valid claim to benefit from the concessionary policy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many caveats against the issue of passports to minors were lodged with the Passport Office in each of the last five years.

On 2 April 1984 there were 1,941 such caveats lodged with the passport department. The Department has not kept statistics of the caveats lodged and removed over the past five years. The information requested could therefore only be provided at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many passport applications for minors were refused by the Passport Office as a result of caveats in each of the last five years.

An applicant for passport facilities in respect of a minor who is the subject of a caveat, is advised of the conditions on which the facilities may be granted. In most cases the required permission, in the form of either a court order or the consent of the person who lodged the caveat, is forthcoming and outright refusals of passport facilities are rare. The passport department has not maintained statistics of such cases or of the number of applications received in respect of minors who are the subjects of caveats. The information requested could therefore only be provided at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish in the Official Report the guidance issued to chief constables on local public surveys including the use of police manpower for this purpose.

I have placed in the Library of the House a copy of the guidance, which is entitled "Guidelines for the use of sample surveys to measure crime experiences and opinions on policing issues".

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons in the year 1983 were remanded in custody on charges for non-imprisonable offences; what are the reasons for such custodial remands; and how many persons there are in each category.

I shall reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications have been received since June 1983 from Sri Lankan nationals, giving figures separately for Singalese and Tamils (a) to enter the United Kingdom as a visitor, (b) to enter the United Kingdom as a student, (c) seeking exceptional leave to enter the United Kingdom and (d) for refugee status or political asylum in the United Kingdom; and, in each of these cases, how many were dealt with by entry clearance officers in the United Kingdom, how many by entry clearance officers in Sri Lanka and how many by his Department; and, in this last category, how many were subject to representations by Members of Parliament.

Information is not readily available in the form requested. Immigration statistics are kept by nationality and not according to ethnic group and information on entry clearance applications made abroad by Sri Lankan nationals is not available centrally.Between 1 July 1983 and 29 February 1984 some 10,570 Sri Lankan nationals were admitted to the United Kingdom as visitors and 780 as students. A further 8,470 were admitted for other purposes and 430 were refused leave to enter.Between 1 July 1983 and 31 March 1984 approximately 320 applications (covering some 420 people) were received from Sri Lankan nationals seeking asylum here or leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom and giving a fear of return to Sri Lanka as one of their main reasons. Approximately 110 of these applications have been the subject of representations from hon. Members.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will issue guidance to local education authorities about entitlement of children of people involved in industrial disputes to free school meals.

No. The duties of education authorities in relation to free school meals, as set out in section 53 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, include the duty to consider in what circumstances free school meals should be provided for pupils other than those whose parents are in receipt of supplementary benefit or family income supplement. It would not be appropriate for my right hon. Friend to intervene in the exercise of that duty.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to make an announcement about Manpower Services Commission (Scotland) grants to community projects for 1984–85.

The elements which comprise the funding arrangements for community projects under mode B1 of the youth training scheme are kept under review. No decisions have yet been taken on any adjustments to their present levels.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of psychiatrists attached to the Scottish prison service, indicating the prisons to which they are attached and whether they are full-time employees of the Scottish prison service or visiting psychiatrists on a part-time basis.

There are no full-time psychiatrists employed by the Scottish prison service. Psychiatric services are normally provided for all establishments, on a sessional basis, by practising consultant psychiatrists, under agreement with the appropriate health boards. The number of sessions agreed depends on the nature of the establishment concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if prisoners in Scottish prisons are permitted to choose their own doctor or to have access to medical treatment of their own choice; and if he will make a statement.

In terms of the Prison (Scotland) Rules 1952, untried prisoners may, in certain circumstances, have access to the doctor of their choice. For convicted prisoners there is no such provision. Their medical care and treatment are the responsibility of the prison medical service, staffed principally by NHS doctors in general practice, which has access whenever required to the full range of NHS specialist services.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the medical and psychiatric care available to Scottish prisoners; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The prison medical service is appropriately staffed, mainly on a part-time basis, by NHS doctors in general practice. There are, however, three full-time doctors in the hospital at Barlinnie prison. All prison doctors have full access, as necessary, to all specialist NHS services. Psychiatric care is provided on a regular sessional basis at establishments by NHS consultants. Nursing services are provided by prison staff trained to state enrolled nurse standard. Whenever necessary, transfers to hospitals for treatment are arranged on medical advice.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of full-time and part-time medical practitioners employed by the Scottish prison service, indicating the prisons to which they are attached.

The information is as follows:

	Number
Aberdeen	1 part-time
Barlinnie	3 full-time and 4 part-time
Castle Huntly	1 part-time
Cornton Vale	2 part-time
Dumfries	1 part-time
Dungavel	1 part-time
Edinburgh	1 part-time
Friarton	1 part-time
Glenochil	1 part-time
Inverness	1 part-time
Longriggend	1 part-time
Noranside	1 part-time
Penninghame	1 part-time
Perth	1 part-time
Peterhead	1 part-time
Polmont	1 part-time
Shotts	1 part-time

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the average inmate population in Scottish prisons in each of the past five years.

The daily average inmate population in Scottish penal establishments (including adult prisons, young offenders' institutions and the detention centre) in each of the past five years was as follows:

	Daily average
1979	4,585
1980	4,860
1981	4,518
1982	4,891
1983	5,048

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the number of suicides among Scottish prisoners in each of the past 10 years.

The following table gives the information requested. The figures cover inmates of all ages.

	Number
1974	2
1975	1
1976	4
1977	3
1978	4
1979	3

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of category A prisoners in each Scottish prison at the latest available date.

On 2 April 1984 a total of five category A prisoners were detained in Scottish prisons, three in Her Majesty's prison, Peterhead and two in Her Majesty's prison, Perth.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the names of the members appointed to visiting committees for closed training prisons in Scotland.

I shall write to the hon. Member giving the information he requests.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of prisoners in Scottish prisons without work on a sample day at the latest available date and the numbers without work on the corresponding day in each of the past five years.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the ratio of prison officers to prisoners in each Scottish prison and the optimum ratio recommended by his Department for each prison.

The information is set out in the following table. My Department does not recommend optimum ratios for establishments; staffing levels depend on such factors as to the type of inmate and regime and the nature of the accommodation and vary accordingly.

Establishment	Ratio of prison officers: inmates
Aberdeen	1:2·18
Barlinnie	1:3·70
Barlinnie Special Unit	1:0·47
Castle Huntly	1:2·28
Cornton Vale	1:0·83
Dumfries	1:1·34
Dungavel	1:2·22
Edinburgh	1:2·51
Friarton	1:1·50
Glenochil	1:1·50
Inverness	1:1·46
Longriggend	1:2·52
Low Moss	1:4·15
Noranside	1:1·90

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the Scottish prisons which provide lavatories in cells or access to toilets at night for prisoners.

Integral sanitation has so far been provided at Edinburgh prison on an experimental basis in 12 cells and in the 10-cell unit recently built at Peterhead prison. Night access by inmates to toilet facilities is available at the following penal establishments:

• Castle Huntly Young Offenders' Institution
• Cornton Vale Female Institution (except in 1 wing)
• Dungavel Prison
• Edinburgh Prison (dormitories only)
• Glenochil Young Offenders' Institution
• Low Moss Prison
• Penninghame Prison
• Shotts Prison

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list (a) the local prisons, closed training prisons and open training prisons run by his Department, (b) the total cell accommodation in each prison, (c) the numbers of prisoners in each prison at the latest available date, (d) the optimum number of prisoners recommended by his Department for each prison and (e) the year in which each prison first came into service.

The information requested is as follows:

(a)	(b) Total cell accommodation*	(c) Number of prisoners on 27 March 1984	(e) Year of opening
Local prisons
Aberdeen	170	181	1,891
Barlinnie	943	1,255	1,886
Dumfries†	25	30	1,883
Inverness	88	95	1,903
Closed training persons
Cornton Vale (female)	123	87	1,975
Edinburgh‡	529	670	1,925
Perth‡	532	495	1,859
Open prison
Penninghame║	74	72	1,954

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he anticipates being able to release figures on the number of guardianship orders made under section 7 of the Mental Health Act 1983.

Data relating to the period September 1983 to March 1984 should be available by 31 January 1985.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the additional cost of reducing the percentage disablement required for those aged over 20 years to qualify for severe disablement allowance to 60 per cent.

Of the order of £20 million initially, rising to £40 million, above the estimated cost of the introduction of severe disablement allowance with an 80 per cent. disablement test.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will collect information centrally on all claims for and awards of severe disablement allowance by age, sex and marital status.

We are still considering what statistics about severe disablement allowance are needed and the method of collecting them, but I have taken note of the right hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe, on 14 March, Official Report, column 194, what is his estimate of the cost of raising the age limit for the 80 per cent. test for severe disablement allowance to 25 years; what additional information has become available in the meantime; and if he will make a statement.

Sufficient information is not available to provide a reliable estimate. The cost of £10 million which I quoted in Standing Committee A on the Health and Social Security Bill on 28 February at column 389 is based on the proportion of married women contributors aged 20–25 who receive invalidity pension and is therefore only a rough indication.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the reason for the difference between the rules (a) that attendance allowance may be backdated to the date of the original claim for supplementary benefit and (b) that the supplementary benefit payment to meet higher rate additional requirements, which are dependent on receipt of attendance allowance, may only be backdated for a maximum of 52 weeks.

The two rules apply to different circumstances. In the case of attendance allowance it is a question of backdating claims. Generally attendance allowance cannot be backdated to allow payment before the date of claim. When, however, a claim for supplementary benefit clearly indicates a need for attendance, that claim may also be treated as a claim for attendance allowance.In the case of supplementary benefit, the provision referred to is related not to the date of claim but to the review of a claim. When a claimant receiving supplementary benefit is awarded attendance allowance the need for additional heating is reviewed and the amount allowed for additional heating may be increased. In common with the provisions for most benefits, an increase in supplementary benefit may be backdated for up to a maximum of only 52 weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress is being made in his Department's review of the time limits for claiming benefits; and if he will make a statement.

The review of time limits for claiming benefits is being undertaken by the Social Security Advisory Committee. The Committee has not yet reported on the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what further progress is being made with his Department's feasibility study of a new prevalence survey of disability in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

As my right hon. Friend told the House in his statement about social security reviews on 2 April, we have decided to proceed from the feasibility work already under way to a full scale survey of the extent of disablement in the population. The feasibility work, being carried out by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys in conjunction with the Department, is currently directed towards devising and testing a questionnaire which will enable the OPCS to identify a sample of disabled people from the general population. It is expected that the detailed interviewing of the disabled people identified will start in the summer of 1985.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in each of the last three years for which figures are available, how many abortions of suspected seriously handicapped foetuses occured in (a) the 23rd and 24th weeks of gestation and (b) the 25th, 26th, 27th and 28th weeks of gestation.

The information requested can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, how many abortions were performed on residents and non-residents at 20 to 23 weeks gestation and 24 weeks and over for the years 1970, 1971, 1972, 1980, 1981 and 1982; on what grounds these were performed; what ages the women were; how many were performed in the National Health Service; and how many were performed in other approved places, respectively.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 March 1984, c. 66–67]: For the years 1980, 1981 and 1982 I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Barking (Ms. Richardson) on 8 February at column 668–670. The available information for 1970, 1971 and

Numbers of and percentages of legal abortions at durations and gestations and totals by category of premises and age of women, residents and non-residents, England and Wales 1970 and 1971 and 1972
	Residents						Non-Residents
	20–23 weeks		24 weeks and over		All gestations		20–23 weeks		24 weeks and over		All gestations
	Number	Per cent.	Number	Per cent.	Number	Per cent.	Number	Per cent.	Number	Per cent.	Number	Per cent.
1970
Total	796	105	157	0·21	75,962	100	126	119	14	0·13	10,603	100
Category of premises
NHS premises	686	1·45	137	0·29	47,370	100	14	4·55	3	0·97	308	100
Approved premises	110	0·38	20	0·07	28,592	100	112	1·09	1	0·11	10,295	100
Age of women
Under 16	43	2·48	4	0·23	1,732	100	3	3·33	1	1·11	90	100
16–19	174	1·29	24	0·18	13,518	100	35	2·07	3	0·18	1,690	100
20–24	205	1·03	31	0·16	19,838	100	41	1·22	5	0·15	3,356	100
25–29	131	0·95	33	0·24	13,751	100	22	1·04	1	0·05	2,120	100
30–34	96	0·81	27	0·23	11,901	100	9	0·56	1	0·06	1,619	100
35–39	69	0·75	19	0·21	9,141	100	9	0·84	3	0·28	1,066	100
40–44	58	1·41	15	0·37	4,107	100	4	0·92	0	—	437	100
45 and over	7	1·78	1	0·25	394	100	0	—	0	—	46	100
Not stated age	13	0·82	3	0·19	1,580	100	3	1·68	0	—	179	100
1971
Total	733	0·78	114	0·12	94,570	100	288	0·89	25	0·08	32,207	100
Category of premises
NHS premises	581	1·09	92	0·17	53,445	100	19	7·57	2	0·80	251	100
Approved premises	152	0·37	22	0·05	41,115	100	269	0·84	23	0·07	31,956	100
Age of women
Under 16	39	1·70	2	0·09	2,296	100	14	4·35	0	—	322	100
16–19	168	0·92	20	0·11	18,176	100	77	1·64	5	011	4,696	100
20–24	191	0·78	31	0·13	24,465	100	84	0·86	7	0·07	9,782	100
25–29	125	0·72	18	0·10	17,292	100	41	0·64	4	0·06	6,361	100
30–34	81	0·57	21	0·15	14,203	100	27	0·50	3	0·06	5,378	100
35–39	63	0·57	10	0·09	11,023	100	25	0·69	3	0·08	3,616	100
40–44	43	0·88	9	0·18	4,869	100	13	0·91	0	—	1,430	100
45 and over	8	1·77	1	0·22	451	100	3	2·14	1	0·71	140	100
Not stated age	15	0·84	2	0·11	1,795	100	4	0·83	2	0·41	482	100
1972
Total	709	0·65	137	0·13	108,565	100	327	0·64	33	0·06	51,319	100
Category of premises
NHS premises	484	0·85	97	0·17	56,861	100	—	—	—	—	225	100
Approved premises	225	0·44	40	0·08	51,704	100	327	0·64	33	0·06	51,094	100
Age of women
Under 16	43	1·53	9	0·32	2,804	100	10	1·94	3	0·58	516	100
16–19	206	0·95	26	0·12	21,786	100	85	1·17	9	0·12	7,264	100
20–24	171	0·64	35	0·13	26,908	100	111	0·71	7	0·04	15,604	100
25–29	120	0·58	25	0·12	20,796	100	52	0·50	4	0·04	10,367	100
30–34	72	0·45	19	0·12	16,076	100	32	0·38	4	0·05	8,402	100
35–39	48	0·39	13	0·11	12,242	100	16	0·27	4	0·07	5,917	100
40–44	32	0·57	6	0·11	5,590	100	14	0·58	1	0·04	2,426	100
45 and over	4	0·84	—	—	474	100	3	1·36	—	—	221	100
Not stated age	13	0·69	4	0·21	1,889	100	4	0·66	1	0·17	602	100