asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances body belt restraints may be used in prisons; and on whose authority.

The circumstances in which body belts and other restraints may be used, and the ways in which their use must be authorised, are set out in rule 46 of the Prison Rules 1964, as amended.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the prisons in which body belt restraints were used in 1983.

Central records indicate that the following establishments used body belts in 1983:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to complete his review of paragraphs 87 of the Immigration Rules.

The relevant instructions to immigration officers are being amended to ensure that they are consistent with paragraph 87 of the Immigration Rules.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the cost of the initial training of a police officer.

Information on the total costs of initial training, which will vary from force to force, is not collected centrally. The cost of the 14 weeks initial course at a district police training centre, which a recruit to a provincial force in England and Wales attends as part of the two-year training programme for probationer constables, is estimated to average £2,500 per trainee in this financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied that the present strength of the police forces in England and Wales is sufficient to deal with extra demands upon their services of a substantial and sustained character without prejudice to the fulfilment of their normal duties.

Chief officers are expected to deploy manpower flexibly to meet changing priorities in day-to-day policing. Substantial additional demands are met by overtime and rest-day working and greater use of the Special Constabulary and sometimes by help fro other forces. Although some forces are better placed than others to meet major increases in their work load, we are satisfied with the overall strength of the police service in England and Wales, which was 121,122 on 30 April 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what occasions in the last five years an accused person has in a criminal case been allowed to leave the jurisdiction of British courts before trial; and if he will make a statement.

The information requested is not available. The Bail Act 1976 envisages that a defendant may wish to leave the United Kingdom during the period before his trial; in such a case section 3(5) empowers the court to require him to give security for his return to stand trial.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the criteria for the granting of political refugee status; and if he will make a statement.

The criteria are those set out in the 1951 convention relating to the status of refugees and its protocol of 1967. They are reflected at paragraph 73 of the published Immigration Rules (HC 169).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Iranians have applied for political refugee status since 1979 to the latest date; and how many have been granted this status.

Between 1 January 1979 and 31 December 1983, 7,945 applications were received from Iranian nationals, of whom 4,164 have been recognised as refugees and 998 granted asylum without refugee status. In addition, some of those whose applications were refused have been allowed to stay on an exceptional basis; 1,152 cases were outstanding at the end of 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many mentally handicapped persons are currently detained in Her Majesty's prisons; and if he will make a statement.

The number of mentally handicapped inmates is not recorded. However, prison medical officers made six-monthly returns of inmates whom they consider to be mentally disordered within the meaning of the Mental Health Act 1983. On 29 September 1983, the most recent date for which these statistics are available, there were 316 inmates who were considered by medical officers to be mentally disordered within the terms of the Mental Health Act 1959, which was then still in force. Of these, two were assessed as severely subnormal and 21 as subnormal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current strength of the Metropolitan police and the S division, respectively; and how these figures compare with each of the last five years.

The information requested is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the serious crimes recorded in the Metropolitan police S district in 1983 compared with those committed in 1982.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the number of notifiable offences recorded by the police in S district—Barnet and Hertsmere — was 20,000 in 1983 compared with 20,900 in 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his participation in the Council of Europe 14th conference of European Ministers of Justice in Madrid and the conclusions reached by that conference.

With my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General and my hon. and learned Friend the Solicitor-General for Scotland I attended this conference, which was held on 29 to 31 May.On my initiative, the conference discussed the question of a common approach to the problem of terrorist activities, including those committed by abuse of diplomatic privileges and immunities. I urged the need for member states to act in concert against this new and dangerous threat to peace and security—for example, by refusing to accept as diplomats those who have been expelled from any other member state on grounds of involvement in terrorism, and by improving the existing arrangements for exchange of information between us about threatened terrorist acts and the Governments or groups who pose such threats.The Ministers of Justice of the 21 Council of Europe nations subsequently unanimously agreed on the need for a concerted approach to action against all forms of terrorism and international organised crime, including acts of violence against diplomats and the abuse of diplomatic immunities and privileges for terrorist purposes, recognising in particular the urgent need to improve the exchange of information between member states. They recommended to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe that these questions should be studied urgently by an ad hoc body open to all Ministers exercising responsibilities relating to terrorism.I also presented on behalf of the United Kingdom a paper on maintaining the effectiveness of the administration of criminal justice at a time of increasing crime, a copy of which I am putting in the Library of the House. The conference accepted the main conclusions set out in this paper, and agreed that the European Committee on crime problems should keep these considerations in mind in the planning of conduct of its future work.The conference also agreed on the need for further study of the scope for harmonisation of bankruptcy law, and for the simplification of procedures for executing civil judgments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department with regard to his announcement concerning parole in October 1983, how many prisoners serving more than five years for offences of violence or drug trafficking have been considered exceptional and have been recommended for release on parole; and what have been considered to be exceptional circumstances.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Knowsley, North (Mr. Kilroy-Silk) on 3 May at column 209. The results of the assessment of the working of the new policy will be made available after the summer recess.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the operation of section 1(7) of the Justices of the Peace Act 1968 by magistrates' courts in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

The Law Commission is engaged in a review of the powers of magistrates' courts to bind over to keep the peace or be of good behaviour. My right hon. and learned Friend proposes to await the completion of this review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will draw up a definition, for use in prisons, of the management of prisoners who appear to be mentally disturbed; and if he will make a statement.

Inmates who suffer from some form of degree of mental disturbance do not form a single homogeneous group and I doubt that a single definition of this kind would be practicable or desirable. The medical care of inmates is the responsibility of the medical officer concerned, who is in the best position to judge how to meet their particular needs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the latest position over a fitting memorial in St. James's square to police officer Yvonne Fletcher; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that this proposal is being considered by the trustees of the Police Memorial Trust, and the trustees of the St. James's square gardens. I hope that agreement can be reached.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many plain clothes police officers are operating within National Union of Mineworkers' picket lines.

I understand from chief officers of police that police officers in plain clothes are sometimes being used in the policing of events arising from the miners' dispute to help the police to identify those who are engaged in or threatening violence. Information about the numbers of officers performing such duties is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Metropolitan police officers are employed on duties associated with the policing of the current mining dispute.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that since the dispute began the number of his officers having to be deployed on duties arising from it has varied from day to day. The maximum deployment on any one day has been some 1,000 officers, assisting other police forces.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of police officers involved in duties associated with the current mining dispute in each of the weeks since the dispute began.

The number of police officers deployed has varied from day to day, and some officers have performed relevant duties on more than one day in a week. The table gives, to the nearest 100, the maximum number of officers from other forces deployed to assist those forces most affected by the dispute during each week from 14 March to 5 June inclusive. Large numbers of local officers have also been deployed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for reports from chief constables as to how many pickets arrested, since the beginning of the miners' dispute, in Warwickshire were arrested by (a) officers from the Warwickshire police area and (b) officers from outside the Warwickshire police area; and if he will provide a breakdown of the nature of the charge in each case for (a) and (b).

The chief constable of Warwickshire tells me that of the 83 arrests made in Warwickshire between 14 March and 5 June inclusive in relation to events arising from the dispute, 24 were made by police officers from his force, and 59 by officers from other forces. The following tables provide information about the charges subsequently brought.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police were deployed on 2 June for the anti-apartheid demonstration against the visit of P. W. Botha; what was the cost involved; what was the size of the demonstration; and how many arrests were made.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that 1,536 police officers were deployed during the demonstration; that the estimated additional cost of the deployment was some £180,000; that the estimate is that some 14,000 people took part in the demonstration; and that there were 28 arrests.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, following the Countryman inquiry, a permanent anti-corruption squad has been set up.

No. Operation Countryman, which began in 1978, was a police investigation under section 49 of the Police Act 1964 to inquire into specific allegations of corruption against menbers of the City of London and Metropolitan police forces. Although many serious allegations were made against London police officers and a number of officers were prosecuted or disciplined, the inquiries did not reveal evidence of widespread or systematic corruption and there has been no evidence to suggest a need for a permanent specialist squad of anticorruption investigators.Each police force has within it a centralised complaints and discipline department to conduct inquiries into allegations of all kinds including corruption. Chief officers may request that officers from another force be provided where necessary to ensure a properly independent investigation. A major new independent element in the supervision of complaint investigations will be provided by the police complaints authority, to be set up under the Police and Criminal Evidence Bill now before Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he is satisfied with the level of protection against radiation given to workers in all sections of nuclear power stations; and if he will make a statement.

The Health and Safety Executive imposes requirements under its nuclear site licence conditions to protect workers at nuclear power stations in England and Wales and to control radiation doses to well within the limits recommended internationally. I am satisfied that these measures continue to be adequate. Nuclear power stations in Scotland are a matter for my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what criteria will determine the allocation of licences for the next round of North sea oil explorations; when he expects these new licences to be granted and in what numbers; and if he will make a statement.

The criteria for the ninth round are set out in the text of the Gazette Notice referred to in the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, Central (Mr. Grist) on 24 May. As I said in that reply, I expect to license some 80 of the 195 blocks on offer. The awards are likely to be completed in the spring of 1985.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effect he estimates the 1983 Budget will have on United Kingdom agriculture and on United Kingdom farmers.

A number of measures in the Budget will be of considerable help to United Kingdom agriculture and United Kingdom farmers — the increase in the basic thresholds, the abolition of investment income surcharge, the reduction in the top rate of capital transfer tax and the increase in the development land tax threshold. The longer-term effects will depend upon various factors, for example, the scope for making further reductions in income tax in future Budgets.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many charities received refunds of income tax during the latest financial year for which figures are available.

I regret that precise information is not avialable, since the central record of claims is not maintained in charity order. In the year ended 30 September 1983 there were about 105,000 claims of repayments made by charities, but individual charities may have made more than one claim in the year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the annual amount of revenue gained by the Exchequer by making the benefits taxable in the hands of taxpayers paying tax above the standard rate.

About £100 million in a full year at 1984–85 levels of income and tax thresholds.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of the employees in his Department are the holders of degrees or diplomas which were awarded by the Open University.

Eleven of the staff employed in the Treasury have Open University degrees.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide, further to the answer to the hon. Member for Oldham, West on 16 May, Official Report, column 183, comparative data on gross domestic product, manufacturing, wages, prices, productivity, investment and wages and prices per unit of output for each of the countries listed for the period 1980 to 1983.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take action to hold down interest rates; and if he will make a statement.

We continue to give high priority towards encouraging lower interest rates. Maintaining sound fiscal and monetary conditions is the best way to ensure a downward trend in inflation and interest rates over the medium term. But interest rates are bound to fluctuate if we are to keep control of monetary growth.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to lay the accounts of the Duchy of Cornwall before Parliament.

The revenue and capital accounts of the Duchy of Cornwall for the year ended 31 December 1983 were laid before the House on 18 May 1984 and printed as HC 426 on that date.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any intention of altering his public expenditure plans for 1984–85.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the meeting of the European Community Finance Council in Luxembourg on 4 June.

I represented the United Kingdom at this Council.Ministers exchanged views on issues to be discussed at the London economic summit, including the US budget deficit, interest rates and international debt.The Council agreed in principle to increase the ceiling on the Community loan mechanism from 6 billion to 8 billion ecu (£4·8 billion).Ministers also discussed: the options for implementing a system of stricter budgetary discipline as provisionally agreed at the March European Council; tax measures to encourage co-operation between undertakings in different member states; European innovation loans; and non-life insurance services.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the tax revenue of £280 million derived in 1983–84 from taxing the benefit of company cars available for private use was attributable to the vehicle rather than to fuel; from how many cars this revenue was raised; what revenue would have been raised, excluding that raised from fuel, if the benefit had been taxed at its full worth, assuming the same number of cars in this category; and from how many more cars revenue would have been raised if people earning less than £8,500 had not been exempt.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 June 1984, c. 185]: About two thirds (£190 million) of the estimated total yield in 1983–84 was from taxing the benefit of company cars available for private use rather than from fuel.A provisional estimate, based on the family expenditure survey, suggests that in 1983–84 there were about 1½ million company cars available for private use. It is estimated that in 1983–84 about 1 million such cars attracted a tax charge under the special rules for taxing benefits in kind in the hands of directors and those employees earning at a rate of £8,500 or more a year.I regret that information is not available on which to base a reliable estimate of the yield if the benefit from the private use of company cars were to be taxed at its "full worth".

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer under what circumstances it is possible for commercial bodies acting in contravention of the law to be registered for value added tax purposes; and how it is possible for so-called pirate radio stations to be so registered.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Inland Revenue recognises expenditure on so-called pirate radio stations for tax purposes.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he now has any plans to increase the number of Customs and Excise officers concerned with the illegal import of hard drugs.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received opposing the proposal to close the neurochemical pharmacology unit at Cambridge university medical school; what action he intends to take; and if he will make a statement.

No representations have been received to date about any proposal to close the Medical Research Council's neurochemical pharmacology unit at Cambridge. It is for the MRC to decide on priorities for medical research within the cash sums allocated to it annually from the science budget. I understand from the MRC that the future of the unit is under consideration but that no final decisions have yet been taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will arrange for an exhibition to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall of entries for the Barnett Janner trophy competition.

I understand that arrangements have been made with the authorities of the House for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall for one week commencing Monday 11 June.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his latest assessment of the number of young persons who have reached the age of 16 years but not yet reached the age of 21 years in Wales.

239,400.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to accelerate the availability of precise milk quota information to farms that are at present up for sale.

Details of milk quotas for all eligible holdings will be announced as quickly as possible following consultation with the interests concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the amount spent per secondary pupil in Wales in 1978–79 and in 1983–84, expressed in 1983;–84 terms.

The information is as follows:

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the reports of the pay review bodies.

The first reports of the new Review Body for Nursing Staff, Midwives, Health Visitors and Professions allied to Medicine, and the reports of the Doctors and Dentists Review Body, the Armed Forces Pay Review Body and the Top Salaries Review Body have been published today. Copies are now available in the Vote Office. The Government are grateful to the members of the review bodies for these reports and for the time and care which they have put into their preparation.The report on nursing staff, midwives and health visitors recommends new rates of pay which will add 7·5 per cent. to the estimated pay bill for 1984–85. In the report on professions allied to medicine the equivalent figure is 7·8 per cent. The Government have decided to accept the recommendations in full with effect from 1 April 1984.The reports of the Doctors and Dentists Review Body, the Armed Forces Pay Review Body and the Top Salaries Review Body on the higher Civil Service, senior armed forces officers and the judiciary recommend increases which would add 6·9 per cent., 7·6 per cent., and just under 6·5 per cent., respectively, to the estimated 1984–85 pay bills for the groups concerned. Bearing in mind the overall cost and the clear need for continued restraint in public expenditure, the Government consider that it would not be right to implement the recommendations in full from 1 April 1984. The increases payable from that date for all groups will be 3 per cent., and the recommended rates will be paid from 1 November 1984. Pensions will be based on the salaries actually in payment in accordance with the principle set out in my written answer on 13 April 1984 at column

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official duties for 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.

I have been asked to reply.This morning my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister presided at a meeting of the Cabinet. This afternoon she will be receiving Heads of Government in preparation for the economic summit meeting.

asked the Prime Minister if she will extend an invitation to the Turkish Head of Slate to visit the United Kingdom.

I have been asked to reply.There are no plans for the President of the Turkish Republic to visit this country in the immediate future.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list the number of times she has had meetings with European Heads of Government since 3 May 1979.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has had 105 such meetings.

asked the Prime Minister when she expects to visit the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and have talks with the Soviet leadership.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has no present plans to visit the Soviet Union.

asked the Prime Minister what discussions she has had with the Australian Government concerning the atomic explosiions in Western Australia, at Maralinga, in the 1950s; and if she will make a statement.

I have had recent discussions with the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs on the atomic explosions conducted in Australia in the 1950s. More detailed discussions and exchanges have taken place at both ministerial and official levels. It has been made clear that the British Government will provide to the Australian Government all available information about these atomic explosions, and much of this information is already in Australian hands; only classified material which relates directly to nuclear weapon design will be withheld.

asked the Prime Minister what progress is being made in obtaining a refund from the European Community of the United Kingdom's outstanding budgetary contributions.

Heads of Government in the European Council entered into a clear commitment to pay refunds to the United Kingdom for 1983. We expect the agreement to be honoured and the refunds paid during the current year. We shall not agree to any increase in own resources which does not have as its counterpart a satisfactory budget settlement, including the 1983 refunds.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government will set up a scheme to compensate employees in the dairy industry for the loss of their jobs as a result of the reduction in output consequent upon decisions in the European Economic Community.

Whether there will be any job losses in the dairy industry following the introduction of the supplementary levy arrangements will depend on how the industry decides to adjust to the new supply situation. But provision for the compensation of employees who lose their jobs already exists in the form of the statutory scheme for redundancy payments provided for under the terms of the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a copy of the plans about road widening at Greenham common air base available in the Library.

I am sending a copy of the traffic regulation order and related plan to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is prepared to implement the provisions of section 64(2) of the Civil Aviation Act 1982 to enable a British airline to continue to fly scheduled services between London and Riyadh; and if he will make a statement.

Since the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 11 May, at column 476, consultations between the aeronautical authorities of the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia have been held, on 26 and 27 May, to consider arrangements for services by British Caledonian Airways between London and Riyadh. Arrangements have been made for a further round of consultations to take place in July. It remains my hope that these consultations will succeed. Use of the provisions of section 64(2) of the Civil Aviation Act enabling the Civil Aviation Authority to grant an exemption from the requirement to hold an air transport licence would be inappropriate in these circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how Londoners will be informed of the decisions of London Regional Transport; whether its meetings will be open to the public; and whether London's elected local representatives will have access to that body.

Board meetings of nationalised industries, of which London Regional Transport will be one, are not normally open to the public.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how he will ensure that London Regional Transport has regard to borough council planning policies.

Clause 7 of the London Regional Transport Bill requires LRT to consult London boroughs in the preparation of its strategy statements and to have regard to the development plan for any district which appears to LRT to be affected by any policies, proposals or plans which it proposes to set out in the statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he envisages any redundancies in public transport in London as a result of the establishment of London Regional Transport.

Redundancies will be a matter for management decision by the board of London Regional Transport. I note, however, that the options presented by London Transport in the three-year plan for 1985–86 to 1987–88, which it has now submitted to the GLC, all envisage reductions in staff numbers over the period of the plan.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of the extent of the British Rail London network that he proposes to transfer to London Regional Transport under clauses 36 and 37 of the London Regional Transport Bill.

I refer the hon. Member to the statement in paragraph 32 of the White Paper "Public Transport in London" (Cmnd. 9004). We have no plans at present to use the powers in clauses 36 and 37 of the Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of London Regional Transport costs he intends to set as a target to be covered by fare revenue; and how this compares with the present position in London Transport.

It is not my right hon. Friend's intention to set a target in the form envisaged by the hon. Member. The proportion of London Regional Transport's costs to be met from fare revenue will depend on its success in cutting those costs. The greater its success in this, the easier it will be to hold fare levels down and to make available additional resources for capital investment.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport on what date London Regional Transport will take control of the British Rail network in London in accordance with clauses 36 and 37 of the London Regional Transport Bill if it becoms law.

We have made it clear that the powers in clauses 36 and 37 of the London Regional Transport Bill are reserve powers and that we hope not to have to use them. We have no plans to do so at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how he will use his reserve and default powers in the event of the London boroughs refusing to establish a voluntary joint committee to deal with traffic management initiatives if the Greater London council is abolished;(2) if he has given any further consideration to his proposals for changes to the trunk road network in Greater London;(3) whether, in the event of the abolition of the Greater London council, he proposes to continue to consult the borough councils, and keep them informed, about the studies on priority schemes for London's roads mentioned in the consultation paper;(4) what authorities would be responsible for strategic traffic policy in London if the Greater London council were abolished;(5) if he will list his reserve and default powers in the event of the London boroughs refusing to establish a voluntary joint committee to deal with traffic management initiatives if the Greater London council is abolished;(6) if he will elaborate on his proposals in the consultation paper for a voluntary joint committee of the borough councils to manage London-wide traffic issues; and if he will make a statement;(7) what arrangements he proposes for the provision of the Greater London transport survey data if the Greater London council is abolished;(8) what provision there will be for the collection and distribution of on and off-street parking data for use in transport planning and for parking policy purposes if the Greater London council is abolished;(9) if he is now able to make a statement on the precise arrangements he proposes for major highway improvements including the Hayes bypass and north-south route in Enfield and Haringey, if the Greater London council is abolished.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to him on 24 May 1984 at column 454.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide appropriate extra finance for British Rail to continue to modernise some of its most dilapidated stations in London, along the lines of the present Greater London council/British Railways programme of modernisation.

Not specifically; but expenditure budgeted by British Rail will be eligible for support, within the annual cash limit, through the Government's public service obligation grant. It will also be open to the London boroughs to provide finance for station improvements in their areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if it is his intention that the recent move towards an integrated fare system and the introduction of the Travelcard should be reversed if the London Regional Transport Bill becomes law.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will allow the Greater London council's proposed extension of the Travelcard to British Rail services in London if the London Regional Transport Bill becomes law.

When the provisions of the London Regional Transport Bill are brought into force, the Greater London council will lose its power to subsidise schemes such as the one it has proposed.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how individual boroughs will be able to influence public transport policy in their own areas and how they will be able to raise finance for individual schemes if the London Regional Transport Bill becomes law.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave him to the same question of 24 May at column 453.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many vessels registered in the United Kingdom have entered the Persian Gulf since air attacks on shipping began; how many have been subjected to such attacks; what steps he is taking to protect British seamen; and if he will make a statement.

My Department does not keep records of movements of United Kingdom shipping, but, on the data available, we believe that United Kingdom-registered merchant vessels have made about 70 visits to the Gulf since the beginning of February. None of these vessels has been subject to air attack while in the Gulf. The Charming, a Channel Isles registered ship flying the British flag, was attacked on 1 March.The Government have, since the beginning of

hostilities between Iraq and Iran, watched the situation closely. I have no powers to protect British ships or seamen, but I have issued advice through the General Council of British Shipping to British shipowners. Most recently I informed the House on 24 May, at column 459, that my latest advice was:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when she now expects the Reigate to Leatherhead section of the M25 to be completed; and if he will make a statement.

The contract completion date is 1 July 1985. The actual completion date will depend on the contractor's progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has yet settled the amount of the public service obligation grant to be paid to the British Railways Board in 1984; and if he will make a statement.

I am glad to announce that I have accepted the board's claim for central Government PSO grant for 1984 at £837·3 million, subject to adjustment for certain factors to be settled with the board.The claim is £25 million less than the cash limit for 1984 which I set last December, and £18 million less than the board's final claim for 1983. It includes £55 million of transtional expenditure on reducing the underlying cost of running the railway. I welcome the evidence this gives of the progress the board is making to improve the cost effectiveness of the railway and the value for money it represents to customers and the taxpayer.Of the total grant settlement, about £162 million is in respect of the board's inter-city business, £272 million for the London and south-east sector and £403 million for provincial services, excluding those financed separately by the passenger transport executives.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of the employees in his Department are the holders of degrees or diplomas which were awarded by the Open University.

Of the Home Civil Servants within the Northern Ireland Office, two officers have degrees which were awarded by the Open University.In respect of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, the information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many registered milk producers in Northern Ireland currently have development plans to extend their enterprise.

Statistical records of approved developmet plans do not readily provide an analysis of the various enterprises on which the plans are based. However, there are currently some 3,500 extant plans of which it is estimated that approximately 60 per cent. include dairy related investments. The promoters of such plans are likely to be registered milk producers although they are not required to identify themselves as such in their application for admission to the development scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many registered milk producers in Nothern Ireland have completed their five-year development plans to improve their farms.

Since the inception of the farm and horticulture development scheme in 1974, which was replaced by the agriculture and horticulture development scheme in 1980, 1,422 plans which can operate for a period of one to six years have been completed. Registered milk producers are not separately identified on entry to the scheme and statistical records do not provide an analysis of the enterprise on which plans are based. However, it is estimated that approximately 60 per cent—about 850—of the all approved plans are likely to include dairy related investments.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many registered milk producers applied for grant aid in the past 12 months to expand their herd size under the five-year development programme.

Information specifically about plans by registered milk producers is not readily available. However, in the 12 months ended 31 May 1984, 215 plans, which included dairy related investment, were approved.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will put a limit on the number of sea-based cruise missiles that can be in British territorial water at any time.

No. Under international law, all ships enjoy the right of innocent passage in territorial waters.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many serving military personnel are working with the police in connection with the current dispute within the mining industry.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Barnsley, East (Mr. Patchett) on 21 May 1984, at column 372.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what orders are given to patrolling sentries with regard to talking to the Greenham common women.

Service men at RAF Greenham common are briefed to confine exchanges to those necessary in the course of their duties.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the meeting of the Inter-Governmental Group on Indonesia held at The Hague on 4 and 5 June.

The delegations reviewed the performance of the Indonesian economy in the difficult circumstances of 1983 and agreed in congratulating the Government on the results of its adjustment measures. The Indonesian delegation introduced the new five-year development plan for 1984–89; and its broad objectives of equity, economic growth and stability were endorsed by the group. It was recognised that Indonesia's development efforts would continue to require considerable external assistance. The British delegation promised continuing technical co-operation to the value of £12·5 million over the next three years, in addition to various other forms of aid. The total of the pledges of official assistance by the members of the group exceeded the World Bank's recommendation of US$2·4 billion.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what attempts were made by his Department to obtain a clear statement from the Libyan authorities, or from the persons purporting to represent the people's bureau of the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, as to the exact status or functions of the occupants, following the publicly announced take-over of the bureau in St. James's square earlier in the current year; and with what results.

On 20 February 1984 the Libyan Foreign Liaison Bureau told our embassy in Tripoli that a new committee had temporarily assumed charge of the people's bureau in London. We immediately made clear our dissatisfaction at this development. Since it was unacceptable for a diplomatic mission to be run by a committee, we asked the Libyans to nominate an individual in charge. We also said that until this had taken place we would not be able to accept any new notifications of appointment. Those members of the new committee who had not been previously notified to us did not therefore have any diplomatic status.We repeatedly reminded the Libyans of the need to clarify the position and to nominate an individual in charge. In the end, a senior official of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office met two members of the bureau on 11 March. He made it clear that we expected the issue to be resolved without further delay. I reiterated this to Mr. Fitouri on 12 March.After further prompting, Her Majesty's ambassador in Tripoli was informed orally on 8 April that Mr. Muftah Fitouri had been appointed acting secretary. No written confirmation of this had, however, reached the Foreign and Commonwealth Office by 17 April.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response was made by the Libyan authorities to Her Majesty's Government's request for clarification of the Libyan statement that Mr. Adem Kuwiri had ceased to hold the position of chargé d'affaires on 20 February 1984; and, in the absence of any satisfactory explanation, what further diplomatic moves were made to try to resolve the position.

Numerous requests for the notification of the name of the replacement of Mr. Adem Saleh Kuwiri were made in Tripoli and in London. On 23 February the foreign liaison bureau in Tripoli promised to give the British embassy the names of the new committee members later that day. No names were put forward and, in spite of continuing pressure, it was only on 8 April that the foreign liaison bureau in Tripoli informed Her Majesty's ambassador orally that Mr. Muftah M. Fitouri had been temporarily appointed acting secretary of the Libyan people's bureau.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the dossier on human right violations committed by the Government of Indonesia sent to him by the parliamentary human rights group.

I understand the strength of the concern of the parliamentary human rights concern group on the issues raised in the dossier. However, we do not believe that the Inter-Governmental Group on Indonesia is an appropriate forum to raise the subject, as it suggests.The Indonesian Government are well aware of our general attitude towards human rights violations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government raised the question of East Timor with the Australian Government at the recent inter-governmental conference on Indonesia held at The Hague.

As far as the inter-governmental conference is concerned, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to his earlier question. I have, however, had recent bilateral discussions with the Australian Foreign Minister about matters of mutual interest to the region, including Indonesia.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has for the Government's shareholding in Kearney and Trecker Marwin Ltd.