asked the Parliamentary Under—secretary answering in respect of the Arts if he will list the main policy achievements of the Office of Arts and Libraries since May 1979.

Since 1979 the Government have sustained and strengthened the overall level of arts activity, within the constraints of available resources and ational economic circumstances. To underline their commitments to the arts, the Government have increasingly emphasised the importance of a central office concerned with this field; and in July 1983 the Office of Arts and Libraries was detached from the Department of Education and Science to become a free—standing Department, responsible to my noble Friend the Minister for the Arts.The Government's approach to a number of arts policy issues is set out in its recent observations (Cmnd. 9127) on the Eighth Report from the Education, Science and Arts Select Committee, Session 1981–82. More particlarly, the main policy achievements since May 1979 include the following:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing over the last 20 years as at 31 March annually (a) the prevailing bank rate-minimum lending rate, (b) the real interest rate, and (c) comparable figures for (a) and (b) for West Germany, the United States of America and Japan.

(a) Annual figures for central bank discount rates, the nearest equivalent to bank—minimum lending rate, are available in the IMF's "International Financial Statistics". The Bank of England ceased to announce a minimum lending rate in August 1981.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will show the annual growth indices since 1975 for each of gross national product, industrial production and public expenditure, distinguishing between public expenditure on goods and services, on transfer incomes and on investment.

:The available information is given in the following table. The index numbers relate to financial years rather than calendar years because figures for public expenditure are available only on this basis. The estimates of total public expenditure in cost terms are on the same basis as in Cmnd. 9143 and have been produced by adjusting the cash figures by the gross domestic product deflator at market prices to allow for inflation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the quantity of illegal drugs that have been seized by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise or by the police that is currently being held in warehouses; what is the cost of this warehousing; and what is his policy regarding the period of time before the destruction of such drugs.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the total reduction in the number of staff employed by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in each year since 1979.

[pursuant to his reply, 9 May 1984, c. 386]: The total number of staff employed by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise at 31 March 1979 was 28,870. The reductions in each financial year to the latest total of 25,309 at 31 March 1984 were as follows:

Year	Reduction
1979–80	1,597
1980–81	412
1981–82	605
1982–83	554
1983–84	393

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the main policy achievements of his Department since May 1979.

The suppression of terrorism and public disorder in Northern Ireland remains one of the Government's principal objectives, and we have made substantial progress in recent years in deterring violence and bringing criminals to justice. In pursuit of this policy, the Government have provided for significant increases in the strength and resources of the Royal Ulster Constabulary.The Northern Ireland Assembly established by the Northern Ireland Act 1982 and elected in October of that year has enabled the people of Northern Ireland through their elected representatives carefully to monitor the work of Northern Ireland Departments. It continues to provide a framework for the constitutional parties to devise arrangements for the return of devolved powers which would command widespread acceptance throughout the community.Although the economic climate remains difficult, welcome developments include new contracts won by Shorts and by Harland and Wolff, and the decision to establish a free port at Aldergrove airport. The Industrial Development Board promoted over 3,000 new jobs in its first year and is making a vigorous attempt to increase employment; the Local Enterprise Development Unit is consistently bettering its job targets; and work is proceeding on a natural gas pipeline between the Republic of Ireland and Belfast. Special measures have been agreed by the EC for urgan renewal in Belfast; special financial aid has been provided for agriculture, and significant improvements have been made in the housing stock.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, during his recent visit to the United States, he raised with the American authorities the implications for bilateral trade between the United Kingdom and the United States of America of the alleged gathering of commercially confidential information on British companies by American Government agencies.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what effect Budget action with regard to capital allowances will have on the review of the film industry; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to the reply, 10 May 1984, c. 454]: I intend to make a statement of the Government's intentions as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made by the British film industry in the last two years with existing help from the Government; and what alternative arrangements he contemplates to ensure the continuance of this progress in the light of fiscal changes proposed in the recent Budget.

[pursuant to the reply, 10 May 1984, c. 454]: Consideration is being given to the industry's representations following the changes in the recent budget.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the main policy achievements of his Department since May 1979.

The following are among the more important achievements within the responsibilities of my Departments.1. Industry and Economic Development: the establishment of Locate in Scotland, whose efforts to attract inward investment into Scotland have proved highly successful; promulgation of guidelines to encourage the Scottish Development Agency to seek a greater degree of private sector participation in its activities and stimulate private sector investment; legislation to create a national network of area tourist boards; legislation to extend the Scottish Tourist Board's powers to include promotional activity overseas; the very successful Better Business Services Scheme which has now received 1,200 applications; extension to the eligible areas for European Coal and Steel Community loans; establishment of a case surgery programme for businesses; construction proceeding on the South of Scotland Electricity's Board's nuclear power station at Torness; and further progress with Civil Servive job dispersal, with over 780 jobs being moved to West Central Scotland.Assistance of £7m made available through LEG-UP (Local Enterprise Grants for Urban Projects) towards 47 projects worth £39m; reconstruction of the A9 north of Perth substantially completed and Perth Western Bypass started; dualling of the Perth—aberdeen trunk road being carried forward with steady improvement of other roads; extension of M74 started; measures for modernisation of Scottish roads law presented to Parliament; financial support to shipping services increased in real terms and a major new investment programme in ships and terminals begun.2. Local Government: rationalisation of functions between regions and districts in the light of the Stodard Report; modernisation of legislation relating to Civic Government; the setting up of the Montgomery Committee to review the functions and powers of the Islands Councils; estimating and accounting disciplines imposed on direct labour organisations and a requirement that these organisations must seek a significant proportion of their work in competition; improvements in the Government's powers to protect business and domestic ratepayers from the burden of high rates.3. Law and Order: reform of criminal justice procedure; maintenance of support for the police service and provision of additional resources for more police; approval of a £8m project to computerise the Scottish Criminal Record Office; introduction of improved and extended police training; completed review of procedure for complaints against police; reforms relating to rights of occupancy of matrimonial homes, court fees and legal aid fees; preparations for the introduction of actions of divorce in the Sheriff Courts with effect from May 1984; control of alcohol at sporting events.4. Education: the introduction of a new right for parents to choose their children's school; a requirement on education authorities to make widely available information about schools under their management; publication of HMI reports and inspections of schools and colleges of further education; an assisted places scheme; an improved and individual approach to the education of handicapped and other pupils with special educational needs; new curriculum and assessment arrangements and standard grade of the Scottish Certificate of Education for 14–16 year old pupils; implementation of an action plan for reforming education for 16–18 year olds to provide modular courses and a new certificate for non—advanced vocational education linked with the Youth Training Scheme; the introduction of the Technical and Vocational Education Initiative for 14–18 year olds; establishment of the Scottish Community Education Council; introduction of all—graduate entry to the primary teaching profession; development and co-ordination of the use of computers in education.5. Social Work: a review of powers and procedures of Children's Hearings; substantial progress with the remaining sections of the Childrens Act 1975; new arrangemets to regulate the use of secure accommodation for children; guidance on the assumption of parental rights by local authorities and arrangements for access by parents to children in care.6. Health: additional resources have been provided which have enabled services to expand by some 7 per cent. overall, with more doctors and nurses employed than under any previous administration; proportion of resources devoted to administration of the service progressively reduced; reform of mental health legislation; grant support for facilities for drug misusers.7. Civil Defence: Civil Defence functions of local authorities strengthened and extended; Civil Defence grant improved.8. Electoral: new Parliamentary and European Assembly constituencies created, as recommended by the Boundary commission for Scotland.9. Housing: public sector tenants given the right to buy their homes—over 89,000 tenants have applied to purchase and some 48,000 sales have been completed—and the Tenants Charter, which extends the rights of those tenants who remain renting, introduced; special arrangements for repair grant operated over the past two years are likely to secure the repair of some 100,000 private houses, representing one in six of the eligible stock; the programme of the housing association movement in Scotland sustained at above £100 million in each of the last three years.10. Physical Planning: measures to streamline and improve the efficiency in operation of the planning system; provision of guidance on

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing how much money is spent per mile on highway maintenance in each region.

The following table gives the information in respect of (a) motorways and trunk roads (the cost of which is met from central Government funds) and (b) local roads (the cost of which is met from local authority funds). The figures relate to the financial year 1982–83, except for Western Isles which are for the year 1981–82.

	(a)	(b)
Region/Islands Area	Motorways and trunk roads	Local roads
	£	£
Borders	16,008	1,793
Central	21,372	4,231
Dumfries and Galloway	10,773	1,537
Fife	15,534	5,543
Grampian	9,306	2,909
Highland	8,589	3,659
Lothian	14,487	8,287
Strathclyde	16,364	4,997
Tayside	16,626	4,588
Orkney	—	2,988
Shetland	—	3,829
Western Isles	—	3,233

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many days have been lost through strikes in Scotland over the last five years; and how this compares with the national average.

The average number of working days lost per year through industrial stoppages in Scotland over the period 1978 to 1982 is estimated to have been 1,373,000; the corresponding figure for the United Kingdom is 12,084,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people are held on remand in prisons in Scotland as a result of prosecutions in Northern Ireland.

None.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he intends to add Fleetwood and Newport (Gwent) to the list of ports approved for the importation of milk.

Yes, and a notice to this effect will be published in the London Gazette shortly.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list the main policy achievements of her Administration since May 1979.

The Government since 1979 have:

• Cut the rate of price increases to the lowest level achieved in the last 16 years.
• Created the conditions in which trade and industry can prosper, and swept away controls on wages, prices, dividends, foreign exchange, hire purchase and office and factory building.
• Returned many state firms to free enterprise to provide a better service to the customer, strengthen competition, save taxpayers' money and involve employees in runnnng and owning those businesses.

asked the Prime Minister (1) what is the longest time it has taken to fill a vacant episcopal see and the shortest since l May 1979;(2) how many vacant episcopal sees have been refused by at least one of those offered the appointment by her as a result of the recommendation of the Crown Appointments Commission;(3) how many persons recommended to her for appointment as diocesan bishops by the Crown Appointments Commission have subsequently refused appointment;(4) whether she will publish in the

I shall write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will take steps to set up a Royal Commission to inquire into corruption in local government with specific reference to the influence of membership of masonic lodges.

No. Investigation into allegations of corruption is a matter for the police.

asked the Prime Minister if she intends to introduce legislation banning the naming of employees of the intelligence services.

The practice of publishing the names of employees, or supposed employees, of the intelligence services is to be deplored, as it endangers national security and can expose the people named to personal risk. However, the Government have yet to decide whether legislation would be an appropriate response to this problem.

asked the Prime Minister, pursuant to her answer of 3 May, Official Report, column 536, whether the starting point for calculating the rise in domestic rates over the quoted period 1979 to 1983 was the financial year 1978–79; and whether her calculation therefore takes as a base the rate levels in April 1978.

The percentage increase in average domestic rates in England quoted in the answer referred to, as well as the percentage increase quoted for both average earnings and the RPI, relates to the period April 1979 to April 1983. (The base for the calculation was thus the level in April 1979.)

asked the Prime Minister to what extent the figures for the percentage rise in domestic rates between 1979 and 1983 given in her answer of 3 May, Official Report, column 536, are accounted for by (a) the progressive reduction by Government of the grant percentage from 61 per cent. in 1978–79 to 53·8 per cent. in 1983–84 and (b) the non-indexation of domestic rate relief at 18·5 pence over the period in question.

It is not possible to isolate the effect that the reduction in grant percentage, of which domestic rate relief is a component, had had on domestic rates. This would depend, inter alia, on the level of local authority spending that would have occurred in the absence of the downward pressure imposed upon it by the reduction in grant percentage. What can be said is that if local authorities in England had spent in line with the Government's targets, rate increases in each of the last four years would have been lower than the general rate, of inflation.

asked the Prime Minister if she will estimate the number of British jobs dependent upon trade with the Republic of South Africa; what proposals she hopes to put to the South African Prime Minister during her meeting with him on 2 June with regard to improving Anglo-South African trade; and if she will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to his question on 15 July 1983 at column 451 about the numbers of British jobs involved in trade with South Africa. We value our trade with South Africa as with all countries. I normally take the opportunity to raise trade matters in my meetings with foreign leaders and expect to do so on this occasion.

asked the Prime Minister if she will estimate the level of British investment in the South African economy in each of the last five years.

Information on the levels of United Kingdom direct investment in South Africa is derived from a triennial inquiry. According to the results of the latest inquiry the book value of United Kingdom direct investment in South Africa, including oil, banking and insurance, was £2,826 million at the end of 1981. The corresponding figure for the end of 1978 which did not include insurance, was £1,770 million. Information on portfolio investment, by country, is not available.

asked the Prime Minister (1) if she will discuss the issue of international terrorism with the South African Prime Minister during her meeting with him on 2 June; and if she will make a statement;(2) what matters she hopes to discuss with the Prime Minister of the Republic of South Africa during his official visit to the United Kingdom on 2 June; and if she will make a statement;(3) what developments she hopes to achieve in the areas of

I expect my discussions with Mr. Botha to cover a number of subjects including our bilateral relations and regional issues including Namibia, South Africa's relations with its neighbours, and the need for peaceful change in South Africa itself. I naturally hope that my discussions will contribute to progress on these issues.

asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied with the preparations made for the next meeting of EEC Prime Ministers in June; and if she will make a statement.

The French presidency is making arrangements for the European Council to be held in Fontainebleau on 25–26 June, and in preparation for that meeting President Mitterrand has had a number of bilateral contacts, including my meeting with him on 4 May. A number of other bilateral meetings have also taken place including my meeting with Chancellor Kohl on 2 May. Of major importance at this European Council will be questions relating to the financing of the Community. I look forward to a settlement of those problems.

asked the Prime Minister what developments have taken place in fulfilling the mandate on Common Market reforms agreed at the Stuttgart summit since the last meeting of Common Market premiers which she attended in March.

The Agriculture Council on 30–31 March agreed on quotas to deal with the Community's milk surplus, on a series of price cuts and on guarantee thresholds for surplus or high-cost products. Detailed work on budget discipline has been remitted to the Economic and Finance Council. Discussion of the issue of budget imbalances has continued in the Foreign Affairs Council and bilaterally.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has formed of the likely cost of 15 per cent. value added tax on the cost of building extensions and refurbishments of buildings owned by his Department in each of the next five years.

[pursuant to his reply, 4 May 1984, c. 243ߝ44]: National Health Service property in Wales is vested in the Secretary of State. It is estimated that the effect of the imposition of 15 per cent. VAT on the cost of National Health Service building alterations in Wales could be between £3·5 million and £4 million in 1984–85 equivalent in a full year to between £4·2 and £4·8 million. It is not possible to provide estimates for future years. Other buildings owned by the Department will be affected to an insignificant extend by the imposition of VAT on extension and refurbishment works.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the main policy achievements of his Department since May 1979.

The Government have taken important steps to increase competition in the transport field in this country thereby promoting greater efficiency and better services to customers.The 1980 Transport Act deregulated the long distance express coach market, leading to a substantial number of new coach services and reductions in fares. It also made it easier to introduce new local bus services by placing the onus on those opposing a new service to prove that it would be against the public interest. The 1980 Civil Aviation Act required the Civil Aviation Authority to give greater emphasis to competition between British airlines and to give users' interest equal ranking with those of airlines. We have directed the licensing of several new air services which will offer travellers a wider choice of airline.We have substantially extended opportunities for the private sector within the transport field. The National Freight Corporation was sold in 1982 to a consortium of its own managers and employees and is now operating more profitably. Associated British Ports has also made a good start in the private sector and we have recently raised £50 million from the sale of the Government's residual holdings. From 9 May major port developments will no longer be subject to Government control. We have sold 36 out of 38 English motorway service area leases, earning £48 million and leading to better, more competitive services to motorists. British Rail Hotels have been privatised; BR's hovercraft business was merged in 1981 with Hoverlloyd to form a new private sector company. BR is aiming to complete the sale of Sealink in the course of this summer; and more than £200 million of BR nonoperational property has been sold off. We have taken powers to privatise British Airways and are preparing for this to happen early in 1985. In 1981 the design and supervision work on motorway and trunk road schemes worth over £2,000 million was transferred to private firms of consulting engineers. Work on another £710 million of road schemes has since been placed with private firms.The Government have encouraged a more competitive approach and greater efficiency within the public transport industries. The 1983 Transport Act required PTEs and LT to invite tenders for operation of any service or ancillary function where suitable. The London Regional Transport Bill, introduced in 1983 provides more scope for private sector involvement in London's public transport. Monopolies and Mergers Commission investigations have been (or will be) held into BR's London and south—east services, the British Rail Property Board, four public transport operators, London Transport bus maintenance and the Civil Aviation Authority's air traffic control activities. Under the provision of the Transport Act 1983 we have issued statutory guidance to the GLC and Metropolitan County Councils on the level of public transport revenue support in 1984–85 so helping to protect ratepayers from unreasonably high public transport subsidies. In October 1983, we gave the chairman of the Railways Board clear and realistic objectives for his business including achieving a substantial reduction in the requirement for PSO grant by 1986 while providing attractive and reliable services to the railways' customers and without embarking on a programme of major route closures.We have approved investment to improve services to the travelling public. An extension of London Transport's Picadilly line to Heathrow terminal 4 costing £20 million has been approved, as well as the Docklands light railway costing up to £77 million which will help revitalise a rundown area. We have authorised electrification of British Rail services to Ipswich, Norwich, Cambridge and Hastings. We have encouraged the development of innovative local services to meet changing patterns of demand for local public transport. The London Regional Transport Bill is the first step in establishing a better organisation for public transport in London to provide better services at lower costs. Better coordination with British Rail services will also be achieved.We have taken action to help elderly and disabled people and to draw attention to their transport needs. In May 1983 my Department organised the mobility road show, a motor show for disabled people, which gave them an opportunity to test drive a wide range of cars. A second mobility road show is planned for June 1985.We have also made good progress in road construction, safety and environmental protection. Progress with the motorway and trunk road construction programme has been very good. We have completed more than 400 miles of new national roads, including some 175 miles of motorway, and renewed to modern standards the equivalent of 300 miles of older motorway. The spending cuts in the trunk road programme made by the last Labour administration have been reversed and in 1984–85 we have further increased the funds available for national road construction and maintenance by 12½ per cent. Schemes to bypass about 110 towns and villages have been completed and a further 160 bypass schemes are now either under construction or in earlier stages of preparation.We have approved the construction and financing of new passenger terminals and other improvements at Heathrow and Gatwick airports.We have also given generous support to local authority capital spending. We have maintained a high level cif provision for capital investment at regional airports. Our transport supplementary grant settlements for 1983–84 and 1984–85 covered £1,266 million of capital expenditure, mainly on road improvements, including a substantial number of local bypasses, and public transport facilities, and £1,721 million of road maintenance expenditure.We have introduced a package of measures to civilise the heavy lorry and improve its efficiency, minimising the number of lorry journeys and the damage to our roads, improving braking standards, adding sideguards and rearguards and shortly spray suppression equipment, and saving industry more than £150 million a year. To encourage the transfer of freight off the roads where this would bring environmental benefit, we have extended the range of transhipment facilities eligible for grant to waterways as well as railways, enabled British Rail's subsidiaries Freightliner and Sealink to apply for grant and raised the grant ceiling from 50 to 60 per cent. of total costs more resources are being devoted to enforcement of vehicle regulations.We have improved motor cycle training and testing, brought in a new penalty points system for motoring offences, and improved the safety of children in cars. Following a vote in this House we have introduced compulsory front seat belt wearing. We have improved the enforcement of parking regulations and introduced streamlined and more effective procedures to deal with drinking and driving offences.In international discussions on aviation we have carried forward our commitment to the liberalisation of air services particularly within Europe. We have secured routes from London to several major European destinations for a second United Kingdom carrier and have opened up the London—hong Kong route to British Caledonian and Cathay Pacific in addition to the existing British Airways service. We believe that the travelling public have benefited from the greater choice of services available to them. We welcomed the adoption by the Council of Ministers of the directive on scheduled interregional air services although we regretted its limited scope.In international discussions on road haulage we have been pursuing vigorously our commitment to liberalise road freight within Europe with the objective of doing away with the system of quotas.We have continued work on administration, regulation and international negotiations in the marine field. We have played a leading role in the work of the International Maritime Organisation. The Merchant Shipping (Liner Conferences) Act 1982 enables the United Kingdom to implement the United Nations convention on a code of conduct for liner conferences which came into force in October 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance he issues to local authorities about their powers to establish separate standards for the construction and use of vehicles within their own boundaries.

Local authorities have no specific powers to establish separate standards for the construction and use of vehicles within their own boundaries. Such standards are laid down in regulations made by the Secretary of State and applicable to the whole of Great Britain. National regulations allow manufacturers to produce vehicles at reasonable cost which can be sold and used without restrictions throughout the country.This is consistent with local authorities using their powers of traffic regulation to limit the use of unsuitable local roads by vehicles of more than a specified weight or size. Goods vehicles of a wide range of weights and sizes are readily available. Other construction features, however, such as brakes, noise and smoke do not lend themselves to that approach. Differences between individual heavy vehicles are small and cannot be readily identified. And the cost to operators and manufacturers in developing and producing different vehicles for different local authority areas would be impossible to justify.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will now consult, and make use of technical and other information possessed by the Volvo Owners Action Group in view of the apparent contradiction between that information and the findings of his own Department and the Motor Industry Research Association, so far as certain Volvo automatic models are concerned.

My Department received information from the Volvo Owners Action Group which has been of assistance with the investigation of incidents affecting Volvo 340 series cars. Any new information that the group can provide will be carefully considered

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish in the Official Report the number of reported accidents and incidents involving the Volvo 300 series automatic car and its predecessor the GL66 of which his Department has knowledge; what further inspections of the cars concerned have been carried out; and what comparisons have been made with other models of similar automatic type.

My Department is aware of the 374 incidents affecting Volvo 340 series cars and its forerunners—the Volvo GL66 and Daf 66. A number of cars have been inspected following incidents and although some defects were found, they could not be attributed to design or manufacture with one exception for which recall action has been taken. The Department has little evidence of similar incidents on other automatic cars. The continuously variable transmission system fitted by Volvo is at present unique in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make a statement about the chosen route for the extension of the M65 to the M6 in Lancashire.

Within the next few months.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give the anticipated timetable for the opening of new service stations on the M25 and M11.

I hope to be able to announce my proposals soon on the new motorway services for the M25 and M11. I cannot make firm predictions about dates because of the possible need for planning inquiries for some of the sites. But I hope to invite tenders for two of the M25 sites and the Mll site by the autumn, and to have them open in 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider abandoning plans for an M25 motorway service station at Poyle near Heathrow airport because of the high noise levels at the site.

In considering sites for a motorway service area on the west side of M25 I shall take full account of all relevant factors including the noise levels at Poyle.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions since January 1983 military aircraft have penetrated the controlled airspace around Aberdeen airport without prior communication with civil air traffic control

Since January 1983 there have been 37 unauthorised penetrations of the Aberdeen regulated airspace by military aircraft.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria he intends to use for assessing the county council's bids for transport supplementary grant for 1985–86.

In deciding how much of a county council's estimated expenditure to accept for grant my right hon. Friend will have regard, as the legislation requires, to the progress made in formulating and implementing suitable policies to meet the transport needs of the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what action he is taking, in view of the impending deadline for the relevant applications, to ensure that British airlines fly to Riyadh; and if he will make a statement.

The Civil Aviation Authority has granted British Caledonian a licence to operate scheduled services between London and Riyadh. It has rejected a similar application by British Airways which has appealed to my right hon. Friend against the authority's decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what action his Department is taking to secure new aircraft for the Highlands and Islands operation of British Airways; what consideration is being given to the purchase of British Aerospace 748s; and if he will make a statement.

British Airways has with my approval just signed a letter of intent for the purchase of three BAe 748 aircraft for service on their Highlands and Islands routes in place of three hitherto held on an operating lease. The parties expect to conclude contracts very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the terms of reference for the study of a second Severn crossing and state when he expects to appoint the consultants.

Copies of the terms of reference for the study have been placed in the Library.I now invite suitably qualified consultants to submit applications. From these a short list of firms will be selected and asked to furnish statements describing how they would approach the study and approximately what it would cost. They will also be interviewed. I hope to make an appointment early in July.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what estimates he has made of the net import requirement of natural gas to the United Kingdom for the period 1985 to 1995 approximately.

The United Kingdom has no requirement that its natural gas supplies should be met from a particular source, imported or otherwise. Contracted imports, which currently account for some 25 per cent. of United Kingdom supplies, are expected to remain at approximately their present level until the beginning of the 1990's.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the level of capital investment in the coal industry in 1983–84; and what is the estimated amount for 1984–85.

The NCB's provisional figure for capital investment in 1983–84 is £720 million. The board's capital investment allocation for 1984–85 is £800 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what surveys have been carried out for evidence of oil and gas deposits being available on Merseyside; what have been the locations of these surveys; and if he will make a statement.

Five surveys, specifically for oil and gas, have been carried out in the Merseyside area during the past four years. All these surveys have been completed under exploration licences. The surveys total some 800km of seismic traverse over the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what plans he has to license exploration for oil and gas in the Liverpool bay: and if he will make a statement.

An application for a production licence in Liverpool bay is under consideration. Consultation with non-oil interests is currently taking place and I am not yet in a position to say when they will be completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what changes in the pricing policy of the British Gas Corporation are currently being considered in discussions between his Department and the corporation; and if he will make a statement.

Gas pricing policy is set out in the answer of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to my right hon. Friend the Member for Guildford (Mr. Howell) on 9 December 1983 at column 275. No changes are expected in these principles.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about the sale of the British Gas Corporation's interest in the Wytch Farm oilfield.

The British Gas Corporation has made an agreement with the Dorset Bidding Group for the disposal of its interest in Production Licence PL089, which includes the Wytch Farm oilfield. The Dorset Bidding Group will make an initial payment of £85 million. It will make an additional payment of £130 million when production from the licence area reaches 20,000 barrels a day and BGC will retain a net production interest of 40 per cent., after deduction of tax and expenses, which becomes effective once total production has reached 25 million barrels.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the main policy achievements of his Department since May 1979.

We have pursued a coherent and balanced strategy for dealing with the problem of crime, enhancing the effectiveness of the criminal justice system and strengthening public confidence in it.We have greatly strengthened the police service. Since May 1979 the total strength in England and Wales has increased by 9,560 to 121,053 at the end of March 1984. During the same period the Metropolitan police have increased by 4,481 to 26,706.In November 1983 I invited chief officers of police and police authorities to review their objectives and priorities and to ensure that resources are allocated, and police and civilian manpower are deployed, in ways which will most effectively and efficiently secure those objectives and priorities. I have asked Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary to monitor how the guidance in the circular is being implemented, and also to ensure that examples of good practice are widely disseminated.Because public support for the police is essential, my predecessor issued guidance in June 1982 on consultation arrangements between the community and the police designed to encourage full discussion of issues of local concern and to strengthen community action in support of the police, especially in tackling crime. We have strengthened preventive action against crime in a number of ways. In 1982 the Department convened an interdepartmental group to consider the reduction of crime. Subsequently provision was made within the urban programme for funding preventive initiatives; a major seminar was held to encourage local preventive action and, in January of this year, a joint departmental circular issued with police and local authority support. We have strengthened the standing committee on crime prevention, established a crime prevention unit and are reviewing training for crime prevention.In the light of the report by Sir Lawrence Byford, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary, into the Yorkshire Ripper case, my Department has assisted the police in determining new procedures and improved training for the investigations of a series of major crimes.We have continued to assist the police service in tackling serious disorder and in avoiding injuries to police officers by making available new protective equipment and supporting a thorough re—examination of training and tactics; and by the implementaion of a comprehensive public order training programme.In the light of Lord Scarman's report, my department has taken forward, in conjunction with the police and local authorities, a thorough review of police training, including new programmes, to equip officers to deal with all sections of the public in a sensitive and effective way; to prepare new entrants better for their responsibilities as police officers; and to enhance the training given to other ranks of the service. Two specific achievements in the area are the new and extended programme of police probationer training, which was brought into operation in January 1984 and, in the fields of community and race relations training for the police, the establishment of an indepenent training support centre at Brunel university.The Police and Criminal Evidence Bill, now before the House, modernises and clarifies the powers available to the police for the investigation of crime, and, at the same time, provides new safeguards for the citizen. It rationalises and modernises the law on evidence in criminal proceedings. It brings forward new arrangements for dealing with complaints against the police, strengthening the independent element in the investigation of serious complaints and enabling the informal resolution of minor cases. It also provides a legal framework for police/community consultation.In the Criminal Justice Act 1982 we strengthened the powers of the courts to deal with offenders, particularly those under the age of 21. To maintain public confidence in the measures taken to deal with crimes of violence, we made it known in October 1983 that people sentenced to life imprisonment for certain particularly heinous kinds of murder will normally be detained for at least 20 years; and we have severely restricted the grant of parole to prisoners sentenced to more than five years' imprisonment for offences of violence or drug trafficking. At the same time we have put in train measures to divert from custody those guilty of less serious offences, and are reducing from twelve to six months, with effect from 1 July next, the minimum qualifying period for parole.We have given priority to the provision of adequate resources for the courts and other services dealing with offenders, while taking steps to increase the efficiency and cost—effectiveness of these services.The number of probation officers in field posts has increased from 4,673 on 30 June 1979 to 5,329 on 31 December 1983; over the same period the number of probation ancillaries increased from 788 to 1,216. We have issued a statement of national objectives and priorities for the probation service, as a basis on which local services can construct their own plans and ensure that their own resources are deployed to the best effect.We have opened 46 new attendance centres, including 15 senior centres.We have announced our proposals for legislation to create a prosecution service independent of the police.We have announced our intention of ratifying the United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances 1971 and of bringing barbituates within the scope of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. We have also made clear our determination to find more effective ways of depriving drug traffickers of the proceeds of their crimes and have announced our intention to introduce legislation in this Parliament to provide for the confiscation of the proceeds of crime.We have enabled local authorities to control the spread of sex shops and sex cinemas. We have given assistance with measures designed to restrict indecent displays, extend licensing controls to commercial cinema clubs, and to fulfil the manifesto pledge to establish a system of classification for video recordings which will deal with the problem of "video nastier".We have strenghthened and clarified the powers of the courts to make compensation orders. We have revised the criminal injuries compensation scheme and have given financial support to the National Association of Victim Support Schemes.We have improved management and operational efficiency in the prison department by, for example, introducing new systems of operational assessments and financial costing.We have increased the number of serving prison officers from about 15,700 in 1979 to about 18,000. We have also made plans to increase the number further to 23,100 by March 1988.We have begun and accelerated a major programme of prison building and refurbishment. Fourteen new establishments are currently under construction or in design. With an increased programme of maintenance and refurbishment, and better use of accommodation, we have provided more than 2,000 additional places over the last three years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the countries of origin of the guns and ammunition found at the Libyan People's Bureau on 1 May; whether there is any evidence that they had been obtained legitimately in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

The guns and ammunition found at the Libyan People's Bureau which have so far been examined by the police were of United States, Italian and Spanish origin. Preliminary examination has revealed no evidence that any of them were obtained legitimately in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek to require all accredited diplomatic representatives of a foreign power to obtain licences or register firearms in their possession.

By virtue of article 41 of the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations 1961, accredited diplomats are already expected to comply with the law and accordingly to hold a firearm or shotgun certificate as appropriate in respect of any firearm in their possession. Diplomatic missions are regularly reminded of this requirement.As previously announced, the review instituted by my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary will consider the convention's operation and enforceability.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether facilities offered by the police national computer or the Metropolitan 'C' department computer are extended to the police force of the Atomic Energy Authority.

No. Information held on the Police National Computer and other police record systems May, however, be disclosed to the Atomic Energy Authority Constabulary in accordance with guidelines set out in Appendix 48B to the Home Office consolidated circular to the police on crime and kindred matters, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what are(a) the current peak inquiries per hour to the police national computer indexes and (b) the theoretical numbers of inquiries that the police national computer can handle within the response time found in the detailed operational requirement; and whether he will place a copy of the detailed operational requirement in the Library;(2) what is

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a question from him on 9 April at column 47, and to the reply I gave to a question from the hon. Member for Wrexham (Dr. Marek) on 30 March at column 307.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will revise his instructions to immigration officers to preclude them from reading private letters in the possession of applicants for entry, making inquiries about applicants' sex lives, or making decisions on whether to grant entry dependent in any way on the personal relations between the applicant and his or her near relations.

The Immigration Act 1971 empowers Immigration Officers to require the production of documents, including letters, carried by those seeking leave to enter. Instructions make it clear that personal letters are only to be read when this is necessary for the consideration of the case, and should not be examined without the consent of the passenger save after reference to a supervising officer. Immigration Officers are required to be tactful when questioning passengers but the grant of leave to enter will often depend on an assessment of the purpose of the proposed stay here and in some cases will inevitably involve questions being asked about personal relationships. I am not persuaded that the relevant instructions require revision.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department after what period of residence in the United Kingdom refugees may be granted indefinite leave to remain; and what powers he has to exercise discretion in this matter.

Normally four years after recognition as a refugee but there is no right to settlement under either the 1951 convention relating to the status of refugees or the immigration rules. Applications are considered in the light of all the relevant circumstances including the considerations set out in paragraph 97 of the immigration rules.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to how much is being paid for overtime work each week associated with policing the current dispute in the mining industry (a) in total to date and (b) on average amongst the officers involved.

I do not have this information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give financial assistance to those police authorities which are incurring additional expenditure as a result of the miners' dispute; and if he will make a statement.

The central Government already pays police grant of 50 per cent. on all approved police expenditure, but some police authorities have incurred substantial additional expenditure as a result of the miners' dispute, and I recognise that some additional help to them from central Government is necessary. It would not be right in principle for the central Government to bear all the additional cost, but I am prepared to make a special payment of 40 per cent. in addition to the normal police grant, of gross approved additional expenditure above the product of a penny rate. My Department will shortly discuss the matter in greater detail with the Association of Metropolitan Authorities and the Association of County Councils.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met the chief constable of Essex; and what was the substance of his discussion on that occasion.

My right hon. and learned Friend has not yet met the chief constable of Essex.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are held on remand in prisons in England and Wales as a result of prosecutions in Northern Ireland.

The information requested is not recorded centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list his powers to restrict the political activities of aliens temporarily resident in the United Kingdom.

My right hon. and learned Friend has no such specific powers and in exercising his powers under the immigration Act 1971 he is not generally concerned with a person's political activities, but he may have regard, under paragraph 97 of the immigration rules, to a person's character, conduct or associations in considering whether to permit him to remain in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received advocating the control of chemicals which can readily be converted into amphetamines; what action he proposes to take; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend has received no such representations. Amphetamines are already controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, which makes unlawful their manufacture, supply and possession except in accordance with a licence or other authority issued by the Department. But my right hon. and learned Friend is aware of the concern which has been expressed with regard to this matter and will keep the situation under close review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to introduce legislation relating to the misuse of drugs; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. He will, however, shortly be introducing subordinate legislation to bring barbiturates and certain other drugs within the scope of that Act. He has also announced that the Government intend to ratify the United Nations convention on psychotropic substances 1971; that will require further subordinate legislation in the course of the next year or so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) were Saleh Ibrahim Mabruk and Abdul Ghadir Baghdadi given the opportunity to make representations to the panel of advisers referred to in paragraph 150 of the statement of changes in the "Immigration Rules", HC 169, prior to their deportation;(2) what are the names of any Libyan nationals who have been deported on the ground that it is conducive to the public good as being in the interests of national security or of the relations between the United Kingdom and any other country or for other reasons of a political nature since 17 April; what was their immigration status; and were they given the opportunity to make representations to the panel of advisers;(3) what was the immigration status of Saleh Ibrahim Mabruk and Abdul Ghadir Baghdadi before they were deported on Monday 23 April and Tuesday 24 April respectively.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 May 1984, c. 281.):

• Saleh Ibraham Mabruk
• Abdul Ghadir Baghdadi
• Matuq Mohd Matuq
• Sand Saleh Lataief
• Abdul Al Razzaq

Lataief had indefinite leave to remain in this country. The other four had leave to enter or remain for the purposes of study. They were all given the opportunity to make representations to the advisers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the average cost per week in terms of (a) wages and (b) associated employment costs for young persons aged between 16 years and 21 years who are employed by the various temporary job schemes set up by the Manpower Services Commission.

Of the various employment and training schemes administered by the Manpower Services Commission only community industry provides employment exclusively within the 16 to 21 age group. Details for this scheme are as follows:

	£
Average weekly wages for young people	34
Associated weekly employment costs	31

The Manpower Services Commission also administers the youth training scheme which provides training opportunities for 16—year—old school leavers and for unemployed 17—year—old school leavers and also for certain disabled young people up to the age of 21. The average weekly grant to a sponsor towards costs, including the £25 allowance payable to the young person, will vary between about £40 and £70 per week depending on the mode. Detailed information is not kept about the age of people supported by the enterprise allowance scheme, but all receive a grant of £40 per week.Young people between the ages of 18 and 21 are eligible to join the community programme and young people between the ages of 16 and 21 are covered by training in industry. However, other age groups are also covered by these programmes and as details on the age of people supported is not kept, the information sought is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give a breakdown by employment region of the increase in the number of people at work between September and December 1983 referred to in his statement on the Department of Employment press notice of 18 April.

Estimates of the seasonally adjusted change in the size of the unemployed labour force are not available for regions. The following table gives the changes in the estimated number of employees in employment; the figures on which these changes are based are not seasonally adjusted.

Region	Change September-December 1983
South East	+39,000
East Anglia	-8,000
South West	-15,000
West Midlands	+10,000
East Midlands	-2,000
Yorkshire and Humberside	+8,000
North West	+7,000
North	+2,000
Wales	-4,000
Scotland	-5,000

asked the Secretary of State for Employment which projects providing mode B youth training scheme places will be affected by the reduction of places in Wolverhampton from 3,177 for 1983–84 to 2,190 for 1984–85.

The planned reduction from 3, 177 to 2,190 mode B places relates to the Manpower Services Commission's Wolverhampton training division area, which includes Walsall. In Wolverhampton itself the latest plans are that mode B places should be reduced from 1,512 in 1983–84 to 987 in 1984–85. Of the 20 mode B schemes approved in Wolverhampton in 1983–84, it is proposed that three should close and 15 be reduced in size. Those closing would be the Muslim trust, Unity scheme and Zip theatre. Those being reduced would be Beckminster training workshop, Bilston and district employment project, Church of the Good Shepherd, Crypt, Greencroft training workshop, MIND, NACRO, Normid housing, National Elfrida Rathbone society, Spring vale training, Task Force, Wolverhampton and district trades council, Wolverhampton council for community relations, Wolverhampton integrated project and the YWCA.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of vacancies that have been registered and the number of vacancies that have been filled in each of the jobcentres in the Wolverhampton travel—to—work area in 1982, 1983 and in 1984 to date.

The information requested is as follows:

	Year ending 3 December 1982	Year ending 2 December 1983	5 December 1983 to 30 March 1984
Vacancies Notified
Wolverhampton	4,659	6,045	1,643
Bilston	1,196	1,694	497
Wednesfield	507	574	186
Wolverhampton TTWA	6,362	8,313	2,326
Vacancies Filled
Wolverhampton	3,530	4,912	1,283
Bilston	1,002	1,517	424
Wednesfield	444	467	177
Wolverhampton TTWA	4,976	6,896	1,884

There is likely to have been a substantial number of vacancies other than those notified to jobcentres. Nationally it is estimated that about one third of all vacancies are notified to jobcentres.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many and which regions have been designated as youth unemployment priority areas.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 May 1984, c. 240]: Under the current guidelines of the revised European Social Fund which came into operation on 1 January, there are no longer specific youth unemployment priority areas. However, 75 per cent. of the fund is reserved for schemes for people under 25 years of age. For a wide range of such schemes (together with other activites supported by the fund) the European Commission has designated the following areas in the United Kingdom as having priority in 1984: Scotland, Wales, the northern and north—west regions, Yorkshire and Humberside and west midlands, together with the assisted areas in south—west and east midlands regions. In addition, Northern Ireland continues to rank as a region of special priority under the new fund rules.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many British service men are currently accommodated in tents on the Falkland Islands; and from which ranks they are drawn.

No service men are accommodated in tents in the Falkland Islands except for short term operational or training reasons.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will state the comparative weights and costs of the new and old reserve parachutes for use by airborne forces personnel.

The new PR 7 Mk 1 reserve parachute weighs 17½ pounds compared with 14 pounds for the reserve type X mk 2 parachute but is more advanced in that it has a deployment assisting spring, an inflated apex ring and other improvements. It is not the practice to give costs for individual items supplied under contract, but my hon. Friend may be assured that the new parachute represents excellent value for money.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether book publishers are represented on the D Notice committee.

I will answer shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the loan approvals made by the Housing Corporation for housing association grant for (i) rehabilitation schemes and (ii) new build schemes within (a) the London borough of Lambeth and (b) the constituency of Vauxhall for the years 1981–82, 1982–83 and 1983–84.

Loan approvals for housing association projects in Lambeth and the parliamentary Constituency of Vauxhall for 1981–82 to 1983–84 are:

Housing Association		Number of approvals in Lambeth	(Number in Vauxhall)	Total cost in Lambeth £	(Total cost in Vauxhall) £
1.	1981–82 Rehabilitation Schemes
	Brixton Housing Co-operative	5 General Family	(—)	315,023	(—)
	Crystal Palace HA	1 Improvement for Sale	(—)	67,142	(—)
	Church Army HA	1 General Family	(1)	265,340	(265,340)
	Lambeth Self-Help Co-operative	2 General Family	(2)	130,760	(130,760)
	London and Quadrant Housing Trust	2 Hostels	(1)	163,809	(107,167)
		12 General Family	(2)	780,922	(136,367)
	Metropolitan Housing Trust	23 General Family	(17)	1,400,563	(1,024,215)
	Solon HA	2 Hostels	(—)	218,079	(—)
		11 General Family	(7)	920,844	(532,767)
	SELCHA	4 Hostels	(3)	297,333	(225,336)
	SLFHA	1 Hostel	(—)	85,185	(—)
		11 General Family	(—)	730,641	(—)
	Stonham HA	1 Hostel	(—)	221,303	(—)
	Trinity Homes	1 General Family	(—)	341,630	(—)
2.	1981–82 New Build Schemes
	Crystal Palace HA	2 Shared Ownership	(—)	874,300	(—)
	Metropolitan Home Ownership	1 Shared Ownership	(—)	522,000	(—)
	Shaftesbury Society HA	3 Elderly Persons'	(—)	3,146,958	(—)
3.	1982–83 Rehabilitation Schemes
	Solon HA	7 General Family	(4)	663,791	(289,760)
	Metropolitan Housing Trust	1 Hostel	(—)	129,889	(—)
		15 General Family	(9)	1,058,455	(592,680)
	London and Quadrant Housing Trust	4 Hostels	(1)	519,736	(69,525)
		21 General Family	(1)	1,483,386	(73,078)
	Bonham and Strathleven Co-operative	2 General Family	(—)	118,451	(—)
	Brixton Housing Co-operative	5 General Family	(—)	542,316	(—)
	Ujima HA	1 General Family	(—)	310,653	(—)
	Hourglass Co-operative	1 Hostel	(—)	227,690	(—)
	Lambeth Self-Help Co-operative	3 General Family	(3)	167,647	(167,647)
	SELCHA	4 General Family	(1)	400,722	(102,271)
	Stonham HA	2 Hostels	(1)	656,725	(271,815)
4.	1982–83 New Build Schemes
	Peabody Trust	1 General Family	(—)	182,770	(—)
	Metropolitan Housing Trust	1 General Family	(—)	1,124,099	(—)
	Hummingbird HA	4 General Family	(4)	882,789	(882,789)
5	1983–84 Rehabilitation Schemes
	Bonham and Strathleven Tenants' Co-operative	3 General Family	(—)	167,986	(—)
	Brixton Housing Co-operative	1 General Family	(—)	90,564	(—)
	Ekarro Co-operative	1 General Family	(1)	102,275	(102,275)
	London and Quadrant Housing Trust	3 Hostels	(—)	292,592	(—)
		17 General Family	(—)	1,234,381	(—)
	Lambeth Self-Help Co-operative	3 General Family	(3)	217,398	(217,398)
	Leegate Housing Society	1 DIY Shared Ownership	(—)	36,013	(—)
	Metropolitan Home Ownership	8 DIY Shared Ownership	(—)	253,450	(—)
		1 Shared Ownership	(—)	483,086	(—)
	Metropolitan Housing Trust	1 Hostel	(1)	187,291	(187,291)
		18 General Family	(12)	1,601,566	(1,052,587)
	Presentation HA	3 General Family	(—)	205,991	(—)
	SLFHA	7 Hostels	(—)	666,846	(—)
		11 General Family	(—)	924,431	(—)
	SELCHA	2 Hostels	(—)	238,580	(—)
		2 General Family	(—)	221,098	(—)
	Solon HA	2 Hostels	(1)	319,643	(188,798)
		11 General Family	(5)	1,145,423	(477 ,968)
	Ujima HA	4 General Family	(1)	436,118	(215,132)
6.	1983–84 New Build Schemes
	Anchor HA	1 Elderly Persons'	(—)	1,154,850	(—)
	B'Nai B'Rith Housing Society	1 Elderly Persons'	(—)	969,000	(—)
	Church Army HA	1 Hostel	(—)	710,734	(—)
	Metropolitan Housing Trust	1 General Family	(—)	1,901,609	(—)
	SELCHA	1 General Family	(1)	103,018	(103,018)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy regarding re—establishing the procedure for the regular revaluation of (a) domestic hereditaments and (b) non—domestic hereditaments; and if he will list the organisations and institutions which have made representations to him (i) in favour of regular revaluations and (ii) against regular revaluations.

We introduced provisions in the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 to allow revaluations of domestic and non—domestic property to be held when they were needed rather than necessarily at regular intervals. In considering urgently the case for a domestic revaluation we will be taking into account comments received on the question of regualr domestic or non—domestic revaluations. These include 16 representations in reponse to our White Paper "Rates" (Cmnd. 9008).Fourteen of these representations favoured regular revaluations. Two were against any domestic revaluation; both of these considered that domestic rates should be abolished. The representations came from:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the operation of section 21 of the Local Government Act 1974; and whether he has any plans to seek to amend that section.

Section 21 provides that between revaluations no proposal can be made to increase the assessment of domestic or mixed hereditaments because of the installation of central heating or minor improvements which would add £30 or less to gross value. The provision was intended to provide temporary rate relief for people carrying out home improvements, removing a disincentive to undertake such works, and to simplify the work of the valuation office. Section 21 provides that the relief will continue until the next revaluation. Relief has therefore now been given over a much longer period than was originally intended.We have no plans at present to amend this section. However, we are urgently considering the case for a domestic revaluation, and in that context we will certainly be considering the questions raised by the operation of this relief.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state for the years 1983–84, 1982–83 and 1981–82 (a) the total number of staff in his Department involved in the calculation, distribution, and administration of the block grant system, including the determination of grant related expenditure and consultations with the local authority associations, >(b) the total in (a) expressed in terms of full—time equivalent employees, (c) the total cost of salaries, wages and other direct employee costs in respect of (b) above, (d) the total computing costs incurred in administering the block grant system, including determination of grant related expenditure, analysis of distribution, development and maintenance of the systems and (e) the total cost of administering the entire block grant system, including salaries, wages, and computing, and all other administrative costs and overheads.

The information requested by my hon. Friend is not available in the form requested. However, information about the number and cost of staff in the Department's local government finance policy directorate in 1981–82 and 1982–83 is contained in volume 7 of the MINIS 3 and 4 returns, copies of which are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to seek powers to control the manpower and expenditure levels of individual metropolitan district councils on specific services transferred from metropolitan county councils in the event of the implementation of Cmnd. 9063.

No. I stand by the proposals spelt out in paragraphs 6.3 to 6.5 of Cmnd. 9063.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many dioceses have obtained grants for the preservation of historic churches; and what has been the number of grants given and the total amount for each of the last five years.

Separate records are not kept of individual dioceses. However the figures for grants offered to individual churches during the last five years are:

Financial	Number of Grants	Total Value, £ million
1979–80	519	3·492
1980–81	361	3·669
1981–82	365	2·976
1982–83	324	3·725
1983–84	553	6·826

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much (a) capital and (b) annual revenue has been provided for "Brixton Cares for Kids"; and what conditions were attached to the payment of the funds under the inner city partnership.

The capital funding authorised for "Brixton Cares for Kids" under the Lambeth inner city partnership was £45,780.The revenue funding authorised was £45,000 in 1981–82 and £40,200 in 1982–83 and 1983–84. The project time—expired in March 1984 and revenue funding for a further three years was agreed at a level of £44,670.The conditions attached by my Department are those common to all urban programme grant payments for individual ICP projects.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many prefabricated reinforced concrete houses built before 1960 which originated in the private sector there are in England and Wales;(2) how many Unity houses which originated in the private sector there are in England and Wales.

No reliable estimates can be made on the information available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why he has not called in for public inquiry the West Sussex county council application to develop the Hazelwick school site in Crawley.

As I informed my hon. Friend in my letter of 3 May, my normal policy is not to intervene in planning decisions unless issues of national or regional significance are involved. The proposal by the county council for a superstore, although giving rise to local concern, does not in my opinion raise such issues. I therefore decided that it was not appropriate for my right hon. Friend to intervene by requiring the county council to make application to him.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received in favour of the exclusion of temporary markets from the provisions of the general development order; and if he will modify his proposals in the light of these representations.

The consultation paper on proposed changes to the General Development Order, published on 23 January, contained no proposals in respect of temporary markets. But representations seeking their exclusion from the provisions of the order have been received since then from six organisations; I am considering them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any proposals for simplifying the planning system.

Yes, I have placed in the Library of the House a consultation paper describing proposals for a system of simplified planning zones. I am consulting widely on these proposals and comments are invited by 31 August.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take further action to protect local authorities from grant penalties for expenditure incurred for policing during the miners' strike.

I now propose to exempt from grant holdback the additional part of a local authority's expenditure in 1984–85 which arises from the policing of the miners' industrial action. This follows the similar disregard already announced for 1983–84.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will appoint to the high commissioner's staff in Barbados an officer in charge of aid matters; and if he will make a statement.

Since my hon. Friend's previous question on this subject on 13 March at column 112 we have been considering the staffing implications of transferring full responsibility for aid administration from the development division to the high commissioner in Barbados. The Diplomatic Service inspectors wi11 be in Barbados in June and July and will make recommenda—tions on this question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Government of Iran concerning their treatment of members of the Baha'i faith; and if he will make a statement.

We have on many occasions made clear our deep concern at the treatment of the Baha'is in Iran. We co—sponsored the resolution adopted on 14 March by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights which specifically mentioned the Baha'is in Iran. We shall continue our efforts, together with our partners in the Ten, to convince the Iranian Government of the need to observe internationally accepted standards.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospitals for women have been closed throughout the United Kingdom since May 1979.

Hospitals for women are not separately identified in statistics collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has to how many women workers have been made redundant due to the privatisation of National Health Service laundries at the latest available date.

This information is not held centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many hospital catering contracts have been awarded to outside catering firms; and if he has any reason to believe that the tenders submitted by hospital caterers are not properly costed;

I am not aware that any recent hospital catering contracts have been awarded to outside catering firms. We have given clear guidance to health authorities that they should ensure that in—house tenders have been properly costed. I have received informal generalised representations suggesting that this is not always being followed but I have no evidence that would cast doubt on the tender in any particular case. We would take action in any case brought to our attention and we would expect authorities to go out to tender again if the costs of an in—house service turned out to exceed significantly the tender submitted.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has any plans to increase provision for health visitors within the National Health Service.

It is for the individual district health authorities to determine the staffing levels of health visitors in the light of local needs and circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many health visitors are employed by the National Health Service in each regional health authority.

The requested information is as follows:

Health Visitors* employed by the NHS at 30 September 1982
Regional Health Authority	Whole—time Equivalent
1. Northern	621
2. Yorkshire	681
3. Trent	909
4. East Anglian	344
5. North West Thames	778
6. North East Thames	655
7. South East Thames	758
8. South West Thames	645
9. Wessex	566
10. Oxford	448
11. South Western	607
12. West Midlands	1.046
13. Mersey	496
14. North Western	919
Total England†	9,499
*The totals include Field work teachers, tuberculosis visitors with HV certificates, multiple duty and bank staff and health visitors employed in the school health service.
†Includes 26 Health Visitors employed by London postgraduate teaching hospitals.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what qualifications for health visitors are required by the National Health Service.

A health visitor is a registered general nurse with approved midwifery or obstetric experience who has undertaken a further course for 12 months in health visiting and has obtained the health visitors certificate. This certificate is a pre—requisite for appointment as a health visitor in the NHS.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many health visitors have been employed by the National Health Service in each of the years since 1974.

The number of health visitors employed by the National Health Service at 30 September in each year since 1975 is as follows; figures for 1974 are not available centrally.

Year	Health Visitors-England (whole—time equivalent)
1975	693
1976	8,059
1977	8,478
1978	8,674
1979	9,010
1980*	8,888
1981†	9,244
1982	9,499

The totals include field work teachers, tuberculosis visitors with HV certificate, multiple duty and bank staff and health visitors employed in the school health service: trainees are excluded.