asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is yet in possession of sufficient veterinary evidence with regard to the nature, causes, spread, control and likely pattern of future incidences of the current outbreaks of pigeon paramyxovirus in poultry to be able to decide how best to protect the health of the national poultry flock in the future from this disease.

I am in constant touch with the industry on these matters. I would expect that next month the industry would, in the light of the disease situation at the time and of the veterinary assessment then, be in a position to reach a decision about financing a fourth year of the existing arrangements.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any latitude to ease further the phasing-in of milk production quotas and the payment of the co-responsibility levy.

The Commission has agreed that the first two quarterly payments of the supplementary levy may be combined. This means that the first payment of levy will be due not later than 45 days after the end of September 1984–15 November at the latest.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to be able to announce to dairy farmers the detailed regulations concerning direct sales and the ownership and transferability of quotas.

We are urgently consulting industry representatives on the details of the implementation of the quota system. Direct sales are dealt with separately in the Community regulations and some important details have required further clarification in Brussels. We will be announcing further details on the implementation of the supplementary levy as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations he has had with the Yorkshire water authority and the Northumbrian water authority on the question of good working relations between the licensed salmon net fishermen and the rod anglers in the light of salmon poaching activities off the north-east coast and the salmon rivers in their areas; and if he will make a statement.

The matters referred to by the right hon. Member are primarily for the authorities concerned to deal with. My officials are in regular contact with these authorities and neither has indicated that there are problems of this kind that they wish to discuss with us.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many salmon drift net fishing licences have been issued under section 26 of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 in the past five years, including the last issue on 1 January 1984, to Scarborough, Filey, Whitby and Flamborough fishermen; and how many netsmen are involved in these salmon fishing operations;(2) what is the policy of his Department and the Yorkshire water authority on the issue and control of salmon netting licences;(3) if he will list the salmon catches from licensed salmon net fishermen for each of the ports of Scarborough, Filey, Whitby and Flamborough in 1950, 1960, 1965, 1970 and 1975 and each of the years between 1975 and 1983 inclusive;(4) what has been the annual catch of salmon by rod anglers on the River Esk in each of the past five years;(5) what inspections take place to ascertain if more than one net is being used or overlength nets are being used in contravention of his regulations under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.

Responsibility for the regulation and management of the salmon and freshwater fisheries in these areas rests with the Yorkshire water authority. I shall therefore write to the right hon. Member when I have obtained the information he has requested.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many salmon were taken by drift netting in the north-east coast fishery in 1983.

Responsibility for the regulation and management of the salmon and freshwater fisheries in this area rests with the Northumbrian and Yorkshire water authorities. I shall therefore write to my hon. Friend when I have obtained the information he has requested.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek to take powers to ban the netting of salmon in estuaries during a period of drought.

No. I have no evidence that such powers are essential.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will establish quotas for the taking of salmon by drift netting off the north-east coast.

No. Drift netting for salmon off the north-east coast is strictly regulated by the Northumbrian and Yorkshire water authorities.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ban the taking of grilse in nets.

No. It would not be practicable to distinguish between grilse and salmon for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the Official Report for the latest available date by milk marketing board region the total number of herds and the percentage of the total in the following categories: (a) under 30 cows, (b) under 40 cows and (c) under 50 cows.

Information on dairy herds on the lines requested by the hon. Member is given in Table 12 of the 1983 edition of "Dairy Facts and Figures" published by the Federation of United Kingdom Milk Marketing Boards and available in the Library of the House.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is ready to make a statement on the market development programme drawn up by the Sea Fish Industry Authority.

I am pleased to be able to announce that the Government have agreed to make a substantial contribution to the cost of launching the Sea Fish Industry Authority's market development programme amounting to £7·9 million over the first three years.When the authority was established we asked that it pay particular attention to marketing. The action programme which it has now drawn up after discussion with Ministers on an earlier draft reflects this request and sets out to tackle a range of problems to which the industry must attend if it is to take full advantage of the opportunities open to it.These include the need to encourage the better handling of fish both on board vessels and at all stages of the distribution chain: the need to seek new marketing outlets for all fish but in particular those, like herring, which present particular problems or opportunities: the need to develop and encourage the full use of appropriate training and education facilities and the need to increase public awareness of fish and its value as a food.We believe that this programme can help the industry to meet these challenges, but the authority will need the full, effective and active support of the industry itself if it is to succeed.For their part, the Government are ready to help fund the programme by providing launching aid of up to £1·715 million in 1984–85, £2·7 million in 1985–86 and £3·5 million in 1986–87.For the current year subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate the cash limit for Class III, Vote 4, will be increased by £1,386,000 from £142,159,000 to £143,545,000. The proposed provision of £1,715,000 for the development programme is partly offset by savings of £27,000 resulting from the abolition of the national insurance surcharge and by a saving of £302,000 on the turn over of food stocks. Otherwise the addition is being met from within the existing public expenditure provision for fisheries, and will therefore not add to planned expenditure on programmes.In accordance with our obligations under Article 93(3) of the European Community treaty we have notified the Commission of our proposals. We await its confirmation that the proposed aid is acceptable within the context of the Community's rules on state aids.Copies of a document outlining the main elements of the SFIA programme will be placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has as to the terms of the scheme currently being introduced by the Federal Republic of Germany to assist dairy farmers; how many farmers are expected to benefit; what estimate he has made of the cost; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 May 1984; c. 348]: I understand that the Federal Republic of Germany intends to introduce a scheme providing for payments to be made to producers who undertake to go out of production definitively. From the information so far made available I understand that the main features of the scheme are that the premium will be 1000 DM per 1000 kg of milk (approximately £266 per tonne) but with a maximum payment per farm to be specified. It will be paid over a period of 10 years in 10 equal instalments. There will be an overall limit of 1 million tonnes of milk production eligible for the scheme. The scheme will cost 100 million DM annually for 10 years starting in 1985.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will now make a new statement about the cross-Channel fixed link.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether, in the light of the report by five British and French banks on financing a cross-Channel fixed link, he will now make a statement on the matter.

The Anglo-French banking group's report on finance for a fixed cross-Channel link has now been submitted to the French Minister of Transport and myself. Copies are being made available in English by the two British banks concerned, Midland and National Westminster. I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library of the House of Commons.The banking group formed itself in June 1982. The purpose of their report was to examine the scope for private sector finance for the Channel link.The report is a substantial and detailed document, and the Government will need time to study it and assess wider reactions to it before reaching conclusions and having substantive discussions with the French Government. In studying the report I shall of course be in close touch with the French Minister.Briefly, part I of the report concludes that of the various types of scheme proposed (bridges, tunnels and combined schemes) only a twin-bored rail tunnel with a vehicle shuttle service would be likely to attract adequate private financing. Part II analyses two possible financing methods for this option, but does not make a precise proposal on the best way to proceed. This would require consultation between potential investors and other interested parties. However both the financing methods suggested by the report would require some Government commercial guarantees.It has been and remains the Government's firm position that any project would have to be financed entirely without the assistance of public funds and without commercial guarantees by the Government. So far we have seen no proposal which demonstrates that it can meet this condition. Nevertheless the Government remain willing to consider facilitating a fixed link, in collaboration with the French Government, provided that the necessary financial, technical and other aspects are satisfactorily dealt with. As well as meeting the condition already mentioned, before there could be any question of a firm commitment by the Government to facilitate the project, any fixed link scheme would need to be supported by evidence that sufficient funds would be available to ensure completion: that proper account had been taken of maritime and structural safety requirements; and that attention had been given to the implications of the scheme for inland road and rail infrastructure capacity.We shall now allow time for prospective promoters to consider this report and assess whether they can secure the financial backing necessary for a scheme to proceed without financial support from the Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he is examining the new traffic system instituted by the Greater London council at the junction of Talgarth road and North end road in west London and its effects on vehicles travelling into central London.

My hon. Friend the Minister of State said in a written reply to the hon. Member for Cannock and Burntwood (Mr. Howarth) on 17 May that this alteration, which reduces the number of lanes available for traffic travelling towards central London from three to two, was introduced by the GLC, despite contrary advice from GLC officers and the police who warned of an increased risk of accidents.The Minister of State has written to the GLC asking them to call off this experiment before tragic consequences are added to the congestion and environmental damage that have already been caused.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether the recently increased level of night bus service in London will be reflected in the next grant allocation to London Regional Transport.

The level of grant which I will make available to London Regional Transport will reflect LRT's general duty, including the requirement to have due regard to the transport needs for the time being of Greater London.It will be for LRT to determine the details of the services to be provided in pursuance of that duty.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce measures to increase the minimum distance between exit roads from roundabouts and the siting of controlled pedestrian crossings.

The advice issued by my Department on this minimum distance is currently under review. I expect to reach a conclusion later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what studies he has made of the damage to motorways caused by (a) lorry and (b) private car traffic.

The Transport and Road Research Laboratory has for many years studied and reported on the effects of damage to road pavement caused by lorries and private car traffic. The most recent TRRL laboratory report is LR.979: "Relative damaging power of wheel loads in mixed traffic" (1981), a copy of which has been deposited in the House of Commons Library. Also, my Department keeps the condition of motorway's under regular surveillance; this provides data on the damaging effects of traffic generally.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport at what distance is Bristol first signposted on the westbound carriageway of the M4.

Bristol first appears on the route confirmatory sign after junction 8/9 (Holyport, west of Maidenhead) travelling westwards on the M4. The sign indicates 89 miles to Bristol.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport at what distance is Newport first signposted on the westbound carriageway of the M4.

Newport first appears on the route confirmatory sign after junction 10 (Winnersh, east of Reading) travelling westwards on the M4. The sign indicates 101 miles to Newport.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how much notice is recommended by his Department prior to the temporary closure of any motorway junction for any reason other than that of an accident.

No notice is required for emergency closures, but in other cases seven days' notice is statutorily necessary. My Department aims to give about three weeks' notice locally and also notifies the media nationally of any significant motorway closures and restrictions.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance he issues about the introduction of new bus lanes; and if he will estimate the total number of bus lanes in England.

In 1976, the then administration published detailed guidance in technical memorandum No. H6/76, and the Transport and Road Research Laboratory subsequently issued two reports (Nos. 809 and 918). Some 400 bus lanes had been introduced by local authorities in England by 1978: a current figure is not readily available, but there are known to be about 200 in Greater London.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport under what circumstances vehicles or trailers from the Soviet Union are allowed to transport nuclear radioactive material through Great Britain.

I have no reason to believe that vehicles or trailers from the Soviet Union are being used in this country to transport nuclear radioactive material. Vehicles and trailers must in any event comply with the appropriate regulations irrespective of their country of origin.

asked the the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the local authorities with which his Department is currently in contact about delays in the performance of the right-to-buy provisions of the Housing Act 1980; and if he will indicate with which local authorities he has been in constant contact about this matter for the last 12 months.

The authorities with which my Department is currently in formal contact about right-to-buy progress are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities have published leaflets on the right to buy seeking to dissuade public sector tenants from purchasing their council houses; and what guidance he is giving to local authorities about the publicity material they distribute about the right to buy.

I am aware that some local authorities have produced leaflets designed to put off tenants who are considering exercising their right to buy, but I do not know how many. When such booklets come to my notice significant inaccuracies are normally taken up with the authority concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the overall average domestic rate bill paid by householders in England and Wales in each year since 1966.

The figures are estimated as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he proposes to take in the event of the abolition of the West Midlands metropolitan county council to provide specific financial assistance to its industry and employment programme.

My right hon. Friend has nothing to add to paragraph 2.28 of his White Paper "Streamlining the Cities".

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many legal cases against the North West water authority have been brought; how much the North West water authority has paid out in claims and how much in solicitors' fees; and how many such cases have been settled with and without proceedings.

Such information is not held centrally; this is a matter for the North West water authority. The hon. Member may care to address more specific enquiries to the chairman of the authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what information on agricultural land will be contained in his Department's survey of land use which is not at present included in the census of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food;(2) what powers he has to compel owners of land to provide information for his Department's survey of land use;(3) when he intends to

My right hon. Friend has taken no decision on the establishment of a new national survey of land use. Some field trials have been undertaken and the results are now being assessed. It is too early to provide details of the possible coverage, methods, timetable and costs for any survey that might be initiated. I can however assure the hon. Member that there is no intention to compel land owners to provide information for such a survey.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will allow building societies to increase the limit of individual holdings to £40,000; and if he will make a statement.

I have no plans to do so.The limit up to which an individual may invest in a building society and receive interest after deduction of tax at the composite rate is fixed as part of the special arrangements concluded annually between the building societies and the Board of Inland Revenue by virtue of section 343 of the Taxes Act.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) limited companies and (b) single traders and partnerships he estimates are currently on the Inland Revenue's records for Wales.

Inland Revenue's records show that there were 19,000 companies in Wales in 1982–83, the latest year for which information is available. Limited companies are not separately identifiable. The number of sole traders and partnerships at that time was probably between 105,000 and 110,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why a day's leave granted to Mr. William Fairclough, employed with Her Majesty's Customs and Excise at the Royal Seaforth 5 station, on Thursday 23 February, was cancelled at 24 hours' notice.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 20 February at column 562 to the hon. Member for Battersea (Mr. Dubs).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the revised cash limits for 1984–85 which take account of the abolition of national insurance surcharge announced in the Budget.

A list of revised cash limits is shown in the following table. Subject to Parliamentary approval, the changes will be taken into account in revised Estimates, or offset against increases proposed in supplementary Estimates.The total reduction in cash limits in respect of the abolition of National Insurane surcharge is £69 million. In addition there are savings in votes not subject to cash limits (aside from components of nationalised industries external financing limits) totalling about £2 million. On de minimis grounds, cash limits are not generally being reduced where the effect of the national insurance surcharge abolition is less than £75,000, unless changes to votes are being made for other reasons.Other cash limit changes included in the table are:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about revised external financing limits for the nationalised industries following the abolition of national insurance surcharge proposed in the Budget on 13 March.

Revised external financing limits for nationalised industries in 1984–85 are set out in the following table. The adjustments offset the additions to internal resources which arise from the proposed abolition of National Insurance Surcharge. No industry will be worse off than previously and their plans should be unchanged.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) pursuant to the answer on Wednesday 9 May to the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, which schemes already submitted to the Commission of the European Communities to be financed by the rebate to the United Kingdom are now delayed in their progress; what action the Government are taking in relation to these delays; and if he will estimate what consequences they will have in terms of local consent, public expenditure targets or any other aspect of the Government's financial arrangements;(2) why he will not publish the provisional list of projects submitted to the European Community to be financed by the rebate due to the United Kingdom.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 May 1984, c. 308]: Until the regulations are adopted by the Council we cannot be certain what projects, programmes or measures will be eligible for financial support under the agreement to grant the United Kingdom a refund on our contribution to the 1983 Community Budget. It would therefore be misleading to publish now a list of possible schemes.No public expenditure schemes have been delayed so far because of the blocking of our 1983 refunds.When payment of the refund is made in the current financial year total public expenditure will be reduced by some £570 million. It is not possible to quantify the implicit interest and other costs of the delayed receipt of the bulk of the refunds because the precise effects on the PSBR depend on the balance of transactions involving the Commission's account held with the Paymaster-General.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish figures relating to reported cases of drug abuse in East Newcastle since 1974; and if he is able to give the information by local government ward or other convenient sub-division.

Information about offenders dealt with for offences involving controlled drugs and notified drug addicts is published annually in a Home Office Statistical Bulletin "Statistics of the Misuse of Drugs in the United Kingdom". Corresponding information for east Newcastle could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Statistics for the Northumbria police force area are given in the table below. Figures for 1983 are not yet available.Narcotic drug addicts notified

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the special payment of 40 per cent. of gross approved additional expenditure referred to in his answer of 11 May, Official Report, column 483, will be borne on his Department Votes; and to which Estimates subheads and which public expenditure programmes it will be attributed.

Subject to parliamentary approval the special payment will be borne on one of the Department's Votes under a new subhead. The expenditure will be attributed to programme 9.3 General Protective Services.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for the reports from the chief constables of the 16 police force areas named in his reply to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East on Monday 14 May, Official Report, column 5, asking them to provide a breakdown of the offences charged against arrested pickets from 14 March to 10 May, inclusive.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to his question on 21 May 1984, at column 321.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to the cost to Bedfordshire county constabulary of police officers from Bedfordshire supporting the Nottinghamshire police in Nottinghamshire during the current dispute in the coal industry; and when he expects such costs to be reimbursed to Bedfordshire county council by his Department.

The Bedfordshire police estimate that up to 18 May additional costs of about £319,000 had been incurred for mutal aid provided to the Nottinghamshire police. It will be for the Bedfordshire police authority to seek reimbursement from the Nottinghamshire police authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of plans for any new prisons to be built, where they are to be located and when any building will commence.

The new prison building programme at present includes 14 projects. Of these, four are currently under construction, four more will pass into construction later this year and the remainder are at various stages of planning and design. Details are given in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were granted parole in the last year; and how many of them are not normally residents of the United Kingdom.

Five thousand three hundred and forty six determinate sentence prisoners were granted parole in 1983. I regret that information is not available to answer the second part of the question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are made for individuals to check the accuracy of factual information about themselves held by the immigration service, the immigration and nationality department of the Home Office and the Metropolitan police in relation to immigration matters; what guidance he has issued on this matter; whether he proposes to take any steps to allow individuals to have greater access to such information held on automated and non-automated records; and whether he will make a statement.

There are at present no formal arrangements for individuals to check the accuracy of factual information held about them by the Immigration and Nationality Department, including information held by the Immigration Service. Any request by an individual to check the accuracy of such information would be considered on its merits. It would normally be met if resources allowed and if disclosing the content of the records would not undermine the effectiveness of immigration control. The Data Protection Bill, now before Parliament, will change the situation by providing for subject access to personal data held on computer systems.The disclosure of information from Metropolitan police records is a matter for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. In so far as the records contain information relating to convictions, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to his question on 3 May, at columns 208–9, by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people (a) altogether and (b) from Hong Kong have been registered under section 4(5) and (6) of the British Nationality Act 1981 as British citizens.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current recorded total receipts of fines collected for those charged with the use of cannabis.

This information is not available. However, information about the amount of fines imposed in individual cases for a principal drugs offence of unlawful possession of cannabis in 1982, the latest year for which the information is available, is given in table 3.4 of "Statistics of the Misuse of Drugs, United Kingdom, Supplementary Tables, 1982".

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current recorded total cost of imprisonment for those people convicted of the use of cannabis.

It is not possible to provide the information in the form requested by the hon. Member, since the costs of holding individual classes of person within prison establishments are not available. During 1982–83 the average weekly cost of keeping a person in prison establishments was £218. Information on the number of persons given sentences of unsuspended imprisonment for principal drugs offences of unlawful possession of cannabis in 1982 is given in table 3.3 of "Statistics of the Misuse of Drugs, United Kingdom, Supplementary Tables 1982".

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of special constables in each of the past six years.

The figures as at 31 December each year are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the number of vacancies for special constables, by force area, at the latest date for which figures are available;(2) what is the current special constable establishment by force area.

There is no centrally approved establishment figure for special constables. Their appointment is at the discretion of individual chief officers, who are encouraged to enrol as many specials as they can usefully train and deploy. The number of special constables in each force on 31 December 1983 was:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of the total number of man-hours served per annum by the police forces in England and Wales is accounted for by the special constabulary.

The information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of man-hours served per annum by police forces in England and Wales.

The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. On 31 March 1984 the total strength of the police service in England and Wales was 121,053; and 34,624 full-time civilians and 7,591 part-time civilians were employed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what percentage of the total cost of the police training is allocated to the training of special constables;(2) what is the current cost of training a police constable;(3) if he will estimate the average current cost of training a special constable.

Information on the costs of training, which vary from force to force, is not collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current cost of providing a special constabulary by force area.

Information on expenditure on the special constabulary in the financial year 1983–84 is not yet available. The information for 1982–83 by police area is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the police forces in England and Wales which are using women police officers acting as prostitutes to apprehend kerb crawlers.

The deployment of his officers is an operational matter for each individual chief officer of police. The information requested is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with senior police officers about the use of women police officers acting as prostitutes to seek to apprehend kerb crawlers; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend has had no discussions on this topic with chief officers of police. The deployment of their officers in any particular circumstance is an operational matter for individual chief officers. They are aware of the principle that no police officer should incite the commission of a criminal offence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which local authorities have already adopted the new model byelaws to control straw and stubble burning; and how many he expects to have done so by mid-summer.

In addition to the 104 local authorities listed in table 1 to the reply I gave on 15 May to my hon. Friend's previous question, in columns 98–101, the following authorities have since notified the Home Office that they intend to adopt the new model byelaws:

• Babergh district council
• Derwentside district council
• Elmbridge borough council
• Great Yarmouth borough council
• Hartlepool borough council
• Richmondshire district council
• Sunderland borough council
• West Dorset district council

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prosecutions have resulted in Whitby magistrates' court in each of the last 10 years from illegal operations of salmon poaching by drift netting;(2) if he will list the number of salmon poaching offences that have come before the Berwick magistrates' court in each of the last 10 years.

Salmon poaching may lead to proceedings under the Theft Act 1965 or the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975. The records available to us, which separately identify only proceedings under the latter, may be incomplete and do not include the circumstances of the offence. They show the information given in the following table. Corresponding information for earlier years could be provided only at disproportionate cost; that for 1983 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for State for the Home Department what information is available on the operation of sections 26 to 28 of the Criminal Justice Act 1982 which extend the powers of the courts to order parents to pay fines, compensation or costs imposed on their children.

Sections 26 to 28 of the Criminal Justice Act 1982 came into effect on 31 January 1983 and extended the powers of the courts to order parents to pay fines, compensation or costs imposed upon their children found guilty of offences, and raised from £200 to £500 the maximum recognisance which a parent or guardian can be ordered to enter into to exercise proper care and control over his or her child. Preliminary information on court proceedings for indictable and summary offences other than motoring offences in 1983 suggests that parents were ordered to pay fines in respect of about 4,000 juvenile offenders as compared with about 500 in 1981 and 700 in 1982. It is estimated that parents were ordered to pay compensation in respect of about 4,500 such offences in 1983 as compared with about 850 in 1982 and about 900 in 1981. Very few orders to pay costs or to enter into recognisances appear to have been made in 1983, as in 1982 when fewer than 50 orders of each type were recorded.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has received any submissions proposing that Gainsborough be made a special development area.

No such proposals have been made in any submissions responding to the White Paper on regional industrial development.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many merchant shipbuilding orders British Shipbuilders has obtained since 1 September 1983, excluding those that were in the pipeline prior to that date.

Since 1 September 1983 British Shipbuilders has signed contracts for the construction of 11 new vessels over 100 gross tons, and in addition holds letters of intent for five vessels.Negotiations leading to the signing of shipbuilding contracts normally extend over a considerable period of time.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many sequestrations there have been in Dundee since 1980.

The figures are:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what decisions he has reached about his Department's support for innovation programme.

The rate of grant of support for innovation was raised from 25 per cent. to 33⅓ per cent. two years ago, initially for 12 months only, as part of the Government's determination to encourage all aspects of industrial research and development. The higher rate was subsequently extended for a further year to 31 May 1984. This policy has proved outstandingly successful with the rate of applications under the scheme doubling during this period. In consequence, and in view of the improvement in the financial position of companies and the improved economic climate generally, no need is seen for a further extension of the 33⅓ per cent. rate. The maximum rate of grant will therefore return to 25 per cent. for applications received after 31 May 1984. The Department's allocation for expenditure on industrial research and development on 1984–85 is £237 million, an increase of 20 per cent. in 1983–84, and an increase of 97 per cent. on 1982–83. The reduction in the rate of grant will enable support to be given to a wider range of projects, though the high rate of applications will require greater selectivity in the choice of projects supported whilst achieving a high level of research and development in industry. In addition, the innovation linked investment scheme will be closed for new applications received after today, though applications already received will be considered under the announced criteria. The maximum rate of grant for investment projects under the microelectronics industry support scheme, stage II will also be set at 20 per cent. for applications received after today in order to allow a wider range of projects to be supported within the £120 million allocated to the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legislation to repeal section 152(4) of the Social Security Act 1975 relating to the personal liability of directors for unpaid national insurance contributions.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend has asked officials to review the operation of section 152(4) of the Social Security Act in the light of the proposals made in the recent Government White Paper on Insolvency Law Reform (Cmnd. 9175) taking account also of arguments for repeal put forward by the Institute of Directors. My right hon. Friend will consider any further action necessary once this review has been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will seek to amend the Rights of Entry Act 1954 to include the right to a hearing by a consumer in a magistrates court prior to a fuel disconnection; and if he will make a statement.

No. A justice of the peace hearing an application by a electricity board or gas region for a warrant of entry has discretion to grant or refuse the application. Any relevant questions may be asked by the justice of the peace before a decision is made on whether or not to issue a warrant. Under the terms of the code of practice operated by the fuel industries, consumers should be given ample opportunity to reach a satisfactory arrangement with the board or region for payment of the amount outstanding before steps are taken to disconnect supply.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many tonnes of coal were imported into the United Kingdom from Poland in the first quarter of 1984; and what was the comparable figure in 1983.

During the first quarter of this year 207,000 tonnes of coal were imported into the United Kingdom from Poland. During 1983 imports from Poland totalled 509,000 tonnes, of which 37,000 tonnes were in the first quarter.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what consideration he is giving to revision of the seedcorn and project grants administered by his Department as part of the neighbourhood energy action programme; and when he intends to announce such revision.

The energy efficiency office is at present reviewing the seedcorn and project grants scheme with a view to improving their flexibility in use. An announcement will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he hopes to place a copy of the Rayner report on energy conservation in the Library.

A copy of the Rayner scrutiny report "How the Government handles Energy Conservation" was placed in the Library in November 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what effect abolition of oil royalties will have on the share of offshore licensing revenue payable to (a) the Isle of Man and (b) Northern Ireland.

The general effect can be expected to be to reduce the amount of licence proceeds available to be shared. But it is not possible to make any assessment of the reduction because we will not know which, if any, relevant new fields would have been developed had they not been relieved of royalty.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 May.