asked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps Her Majesty's Government intend to take to increase competition in licensing air carriers from the United Kingdom to South Africa; and whether he will make a statement.

Air transport licensing is a matter for the Civil Aviation Authority. The authority is currently reviewing airline competition policy in the light of the impending privatisation of British Airways and will be considering the need for a greater degree of competition in the industry.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 June.

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I hope to have an audience of Her Majesty the Queen

asked the Prime Minister when she next expects to meet President Mitterrand.

I met M. Mitterrand last week at the London economic summit. We shall meet again at the European Council in Fontainebleau on 25 and 26 June.

asked the Prime Minister if, in reconsidering the arrangements for the Remembrance Day ceremony at the Cenotaph, she has taken account of the widespread opinion that a single wreath be laid; and what discussions she has had with other Commonwealth Heads of Government on this matter.

I have noted all the suggestions put forward, but I do not think it would be appropriate to make any change to the arrangements for wreaths to be laid by high commissioners, and by the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary on behalf of dependent territories. I have not thought it necessary, therefore, to discuss this matter with other Commonwealth Heads of Government.

asked the Prime Minister what plans she has to pay an official visit to Bradford.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list those occupations in the public sector which as part of their conditions of service receive reimbursement of charges under sections 77, 78 or 79 of the National Health Service Act 1977 relating to charges for certain drugs, medicines and appliances and for dental treatment.

This information is not held centrally.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will introduce legislation to protect the rights of British nationals to compensation based on the full value of any property or other assets acquired by the Government or any other public authority and to ensure British nationals the same rights as must be afforded under international law to foreign nationals holding British assets; and whether she will make a statement.

I do not consider that it is appropriate to introduce legislation in general terms for the protection of rights of British nationals to compensation for property and assets acquired by the Government or any other public authority. Nor do I think that any statutory formula for application in all circumstances would ensure that compensation would be adequate. If there were to be any such acquisitions in the future, requiring new statutory authority, this Government would expect to introduce proposals for fair compensation in the measure presented to Parliament.

asked the Prime Minister whether Mark Thatcher was invited to any of the official functions associated with the economic summit held in London.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Customs and Excise departmental reference and information computer became operational.

1 March 1983.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many persons' personal data are held in the Customs and Excise departmental reference and information computer.

106,713 on 16 May 1984.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether access to the Customs and Excise departmental reference and information computer is available to any person other than staff of the Customs and Excise Department.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the personal data held on each data subject in the Customs and Excise departmental reference and information computer.

The data include name, present address, any aliases, maiden name where appropriate, sex, date of birth, place of birth, nationality, available details of personal description, occupation, country of normal residence, passport details, telephone number, details of vehicles used by the subject, the role played by the subject, type of case in which the subject is involved and description of the goods or services concerned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Customs and Excise staff can, using the departmental reference and information computer, gain access to personal data relating to a person for whom (a) the name and date of birth only and (b) the name and address only are given.

Yes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many inquiries have been made of the Customs and Excise departmental reference and information computer since it became operational; and whether statistics of type of inquiry are available.

About 17,500, and statistics of the type of inquiry are not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the typical response time for an inquiry made of the Customs and Excise departmental reference and information computer from an on-line terminal.

About five seconds.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many computer terminals have on-line access to the Customs and Excise departmental reference and information computer; and how many and what ranks of Customs and Excise staff are authorised to operate these terminals.

Twenty-five and, on 16 May 1984, 396 staff were authorised to operate these terminals. Their grades vary from data processor to assistant secretary.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will identify the number of Customs and Excise offices that do not have a terminal with on-line access to the departmental reference and information computer; and how staff in these offices make inquiries of the system.

Terminals with on-line access to the departmental reference and information computer are sited at present in the three headquarter buildings of the investigation division of the Customs and Excise Department. Staff occupying all other offices, of which there are approximately 900, make inquiries of the system by telephone. Strict security precautions exist to prevent misuse of this facility.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he now expects an appointment to be made of a successor to Sir Kenneth Sharpe as head of the Government Accountancy Service; and if will make a statement on the delay in making this appointment.

The Prime Minister has approved the appointment of Mr. Anthony Wilson — at present a senior partner in Price Waterhouse — as accountancy adviser to the Treasury and head of the Government Accountancy Service. Mr. Wilson takes up his period appointment on Monday 1 October 1984.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the revenue implications and the number of persons who would be affected by restricting mortgage interest relief to the basic rate of tax.

The tax yield from restricting mortgage interest relief to the basic rate of tax would be about £160 million in a full year at 1984–85 levels of incomes and mortgage interest. About 600,000 taxpayers would pay increased amounts of tax as a result of the change.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Treasury order will be laid bringing into effect his Budget proposal to double to £100 the monthly upper limit on an individual employee's contributions under an approved save-as-you-earn-linked share option scheme.

The Treasury order will be laid soon after Royal Assent to the Finance Bill and bring into force the new £100 upper limit from t September 1984.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the statement on the international debt crisis issued on 19 May by the Presidents of Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Colombia; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 11 June 1984, c. 337]: My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and the Chancellor of the Exchequer discussed these matters with other Heads of State, Foreign and Finance Ministers at the London summit. I refer the hon. Member to the economic declaration which was issued.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many bodies are regarded as charities by the Inland Revenue in Scotland; what information he has about the value of the assets held by such bodies; and what is his estimate of the consequent annual loss of tax revenue.

[pursuant to his reply, 4 June 1984, c.84.]: In the absence of a system of registration of charities in Scotland, Scottish bodies seeking exemption from tax under section 360 of the Taxes Act 1970 apply to the Inland Revenue and have been doing so since 1885. I regret that the information on applications does not cover the number of these bodies that are still active, nor is there a basis available with which to estimate the value of the assets. In the year to 30 September 1983, about £18·25 million of tax was repaid to Scottish charities in respect of income received under deduction of tax; in addition, tax was forgone on any untaxed income of the charities but it is not possible to say how much.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are currently employed by the Inland Revenue in Scotland, wholly or partly, on the registration of bodies as charities; and what is the annual cost of this work.

[pursuant to his reply, 4 June 1984, c. 84.]: There is no formal system of registration of charities in Scotland. However, one full-time member of the Inland Revenue's staff and about half the time of two other members of staff is employed in dealing with applications for exemption from tax. The cost of this work is around £30,000 per annum. In addition, other members of staff are employed in the examination of charities' accounts and claims to repayments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information is demanded of bodies seeking recognition from the Inland Revenue in Scotland as charities; and whether an annual return of information is required.

[pursuant to his reply, 4 June 1984, c. 84]: Bodies seeking recognition as charities from the Inland Revenue in Scotland are asked for documentary evidence of their establishment; such bodies, like any other taxpayer, may be asked to supply annual returns of their income and gains.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the powers of the Inland Revenue to release information given to it in confidence by bodies regarded as charities.

[pursuant to his reply, 4 June 1984, c. 84]: Information given to the Inland Revenue by charities in connection with claims to exemption from tax under section 360 of the Taxes Act 1970 is treated in the same way as confidential information given by any other taxpayer, except that section 9 of the Charities Act 1960 allows an exchange of information with the charity commissioners for the purpose of the determination of charity status.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Scottish-based charitable education endownments, war charities and charities for the disabled are registered with the Inland Revenue; what is the administrative cost of this registration; and if the registers are open to the public.

[pursuant to his reply, 4 June 1984, c. 86]: The Inland Revenue does not maintain a register of charities in Scotland. Although a record of claims for repayment of tax by charities is kept, I regret that it would not be possible without disproportionate effort to identify those claimants in the categories described in the question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the occupations registered for those arrested for offences committed whilst picketing in the miners' dispute; and what is the proportion of those who are actually currently employed as miners.

The following table gives the information available on the occupations of people arrested in connection with the miners' dispute in the period between 14 March and 5 June inclusive. Some 96 per cent. of those arrested were miners.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) juveniles and (b) young adults received into custody between 24 May and 13 November 1983 had received youth custody sentences of four months one day.

From central records it is estimated that about 30 persons aged under 17 and about 100 persons aged 17 and under 20 were received into prison department establishments in England and Wales in the period 24 May to 13 November 1983 under sentence of youth custody for four months and one day.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information is available to his Department about either the use by the police of women police officers acting as prostitutes to arrest men or about the incidence of cases involving such actions before the courts.

Information about the use of women police officers in this way is not collected centrally, and I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to his question on 22 May, at columns 396–97. Information about such proceedings as are taken under various statutes against men engaged in kerb-crawling is collected in a form which does not distinguish between those associated with kerb-crawling and other proceedings under the same statute.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he issues any guidance to chief constables on the type of standard documents used by arresting police officers; and if he will make a statement.

No such guidance has been issued. The Association of Chief Police Officers, in consultation with the Home Office and with its support, is preparing a national custody record which will provide a uniform method of recording all the information about the detention and treatment in custody of arrested persons which is required by the Police and Criminal Evidence Bill and its associated draft codes of practice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will examine new ways in which the British Broadcasting Corporation can raise finance for its own purposes other than by the current system of licence fee revenue; and if he will make a statement.

We have no plans to change the licence fee system, which we continue to regard as the best available means of funding the BBC's home services.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the revised arrangements for providing travel assistance for those who wish to return permanently overseas have been brought into effect.

Yes; the revised arrangements came into effect on 1 May. A circular describing these arrangements has been issued to local authorities and other appropriate recipients. Copies of the circular have been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) in the event of a possible radiation leak similar to that which was feared could have happened at Temple Mills, Leyton, railway yard on 12 April, what are the responsibilities of the Central Electricity Generating Board scientists; and what they did during the 12 April incident;(2) if he will make a statement as to why it took officials from Bradwell power station two hours to get to Leyton on 12 April when a radiation leak was feared; and if he is satisfied with this response time to potentially dangerous situations.

As outlined in the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport on 24 May, in the event of a suspected radiological incident during the rail transport of flasks containing irradiated fuel from CEGB nuclear power stations, it is the responsibility of the British Railways Board to set in motion the agreed emergency procedure. This includes informing the police, the fire brigade and, if necessary, the ambulance service, and requesting the assistance of CEGB specialists. In such a situation, the role of the CEGB specialists is to provide expertise in nuclear health and safety matters, including radiation monitoring, and to advise as necessary the officer in charge of the incident.With regard to the incident at Temple Mills marshalling yard, Leyton, on 12 April, I understand that a CEGB team arrived at the site at 17.20 hours, an hour and 40 minutes after the first alert message. CEGB health physicists were quickly able to confirm that there was no radiological hazard, and at 18.15 hours the incident was declared closed. The response time is consistent with the CEGB's plans for incidents of this kind and reflects the behaviour of the flask and its contents.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will publish the information available to his Department as to estimates of deep mine and open cast coal capacity for each of the European Economic Community countries for the years 1973, 1975, 1979 and each year since; and what information he has as to forecasts of such capacity for 1985 and 1990.

Estimates of coal production capacity published by the statistical office of the European Communities have been as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many young people in Wales left school in Easter 1983 and started on a youth training scheme; and what proportion of them have now completed the scheme and (a) are now in paid employment, (b) have moved on to further training and (c) are unemployed.

This information is not available. Manpower Services Commission records do not separate Easter school leavers from others joining the youth training scheme since 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many youth training scheme places there are in each information techology centre in Wales; and how many of the trainees were offered and accepted paid employment after the expiry of the youth training scheme.

In 1984–85 the following number of places have been approved for the eight operational ITeCs in Wales:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report for each county in Wales the total acreage and the proportion of all land designated as derelict for each year since 1979 to the latest date available.

I have asked the Welsh Development Agency, which, as part of its land reclamation responsibilities, maintains records on the extent of dereliction in Wales, to provide the information requested to the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will consider under the compensation scheme for farmers going out of dairy production a binding requirement that they will never go back into dairy production if they accept the compensation payment; and if he will make a statement.

Applicants under the outgoers scheme will be required to undertake not to produce milk, for at least the period that the Community quota arrangements — or any scheme extending the quota arrangement or substituted for it—continues in force. Whether a term of years should also be specified is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to be able to announce the detailed arrangements for compensation to be paid to farmers in Wales who decide to go out of dairy production.

As soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what research has been sponsored by his Department into the effects of acid rain on fish in the rivers and lakes of Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Two modest research projects have been sponsored directly by the Welsh Office, one of which relates to measuring the episodic nature of acid rainfall in areas in Wales. The other concentrates mainly on the effects of acid rain on vegetation and includes a survey to identify areas in Wales most sensitive to increased leaching of aluminium by acidic deposition. The major part of the Government's sponsored research into the effects of acid rain is, of course, centalised within the Department of the Environment's acid rain research programme for the United Kingdom as a whole. We expect to be able to announce a major new initiative in this field shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether, under the European Economic Community dairy quota scheme, an aggregate under production of milk in Wales over a full year will result in the Welsh national quota being reduced; and if he will make a statement.

The United Kingdom dairy quota under the European Community quota arrangements has been fixed for five years from 1 April 1984. The guaranteed quantity for the period 2 April 1984 to 31 March 1985 is 15,487,000 tonnes and for the following four years 15,327,000 tonnes. At the end of the third year the Commission will report on the operation of the levy-quota system. There is no separate Welsh quota.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will give a breakdown by region of the numbers of social workers currently working in Wales who have received specialist training in psychiatric work;(2) how many social workers who have received specialist training in psychiatric work have been employed in Wales in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

The information, as requested, is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give a breakdown by region of the numbers of community psychiatric nurses currently working in Wales.

The information is given in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether any arrangements were made to consult local public opinion in Anglesey before a decision was made by the Anglesey health authority to advise the continuation of water fluoridation in that region.

I understand that the Gwynedd health authority is providing my hon. Friend with a full account of the measures, including public consultation, taken by the then responsible authorities to implement and continue the fluoridation of public water supplies on Anglesey.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what has been the total value of armament exports from the United Kingdom in each of the last five years for which figures are available to other countries which are members of the Northern Atlantic Treaty Organisation;(2) what has been the total value of armament exports from the United Kingdom in each of the last five years for which figures are available to Commonwealth countries;(3) what has been the total value of armament exports from the United Kingdom in each of the last five years for which figures are available to countries which are members of the EEC;(4) what has been the total value of armament exports from the United Kingdom in each of the last five years for which figures are available to countries which have applied for but not yet been granted full membership of the EEC.

It has been the consistent policy of successive Governments not to publish detailed figures of defence sales to overseas customers beyond those given in volume II of the Statement on the Defence Estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many hours of overtime have been worked by employees in his Department in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and what was the total cost of this overtime work in each of those years.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list in the Official Report the five development divisions operating in different regions of the world; how many staff are employed in each centre; and what are the costs of operating each of the five divisions.

The information requested is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list in the Official Report the detailed evaluations of a selected sample of typical completed development projects carried out since May 1979; and what conclusions were reached in each case.

The latest available list (November 1983) of the evaluation reports which have been carried out under the aegis of the Overseas Development Administration's evaluation department, is in the Library of the House. An up-dated version will be available soon. The conclusions of particular evaluation studies are set out in a series of short summaries which I am having placed in the Library. There is also in the Library a booklet "The Lessons of Experience" covering some key findings, and a newly published book "The Evaluation of Aid Projects and Programmes" which describes the findings of recent evaluations in key sectors in which ODA provides aid.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has yet received reports on the development of a replacement hospital in the Falklands; when he expects to be in a position to announce plans for the new building; what interim arrangements are being made; and if he will make a statement.

I expect to receive a report later this month about future medical facilities from the DHSS hospital architect who recently visited the Falkland Islands. His recommendations will be considered by Her Majesty's Government and the Falkland Islands Government before any plans are announced.Meantime, an accommodation block provided for contractors' staff in Stanley has been converted into a temporary civilian hospital and a temporary military hospital has been established. We have also provided four temporary nursing staff in response to a request from the Civil Commissioner.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what provision will be made for sheltered accommodation or other specialist facilities for the elderly in the new Falkland Islands hospital.

These will be matters for consideration by Her Majesty's Government and the Falkland Islands Government in the light of recommendations by the DHSS architect on future medical facilities in the Falkland Islands.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what checks are made to ensure that payments to the International Planned Parenthood Federation are used for the purpose for which they are intended.

Her Majesty's Government's payments to the International Planned Parenthood Federation take the form of an annual contribution to help the Federation implement its current three-year plan. The federation's policies, programme and performance are examined at an annual meeting of donors held in November. ODA officials participate fully in these discussions and also maintain close professional links with the federation's staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the contracts, with the subject of assignment, awarded to management consultancy and accounting firms by his Department in 1983.

Following is the list for the 1983 calendar year:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the principal remaining barriers to trade within the European Economic Community and give an estimate of their cost.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Elmet (Mr. Batiste) on 11 April at column 229.As to the cost of non-tariff barriers to trade as a whole within the European Community, there are a number of published estimates, though these have concentrated mainly on the costs incurred at border crossings. In particular, I refer my hon. Friend to the following publications which are available from the Library:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much whale oil the United Kingdom imports from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for the purposes of margarine manufacture.

In the period from January 1982 to April 1984 no imports of whale oil have been recorded from the Soviet Union.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, following the proposed guidelines outlined in the Office of Fair Trading discussion paper, "Selling by Telephone", published in March 1983, he has any plans to institute a code of practice for selling by telephone; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that, in the light of the response to the discussion paper, the Director General of Fair Trading intends to publish a final report and recommendations on selling by telephone later this year. In the meantime the Director General is encouraging the adoption of suitable provisions in codes of practice in this area.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the locations in (a) England and Wales and (b) Scotland of all European Economic Community research projects being undertaken at present; and if he will specify the work being done and the numbers employed.

This information is not available in precisely the detailed form requested. A document has, however, been issued by the European Parliament providing a breakdown by United Kingdom region of current research projects partly funded by the Commission of the European Communities, under the treaties of the European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community. I am arranging for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the estimated cost of providing a nursery, or nursery class place for all three or four-year-olds.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 4 June 1984, at column 66.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will arrange to meet representatives of the Open University to discuss the financing of the university and its students.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so. The university is discussing with the visiting committee its plans for adjusting to its announced grants, and the committee will report to my right hon. Friend in the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table showing, in real terms, the value of Government assistance per annum per student to the Open University over the past five years and the projection for this figure for the next two years.

A number of Government Departments in addition to DES make grants to the Open University, which also receives assistance from publicly funded bodies. Details of these arrangements are not held centrally and are not readily obtainable.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what reduction in (a) the number of students using the Open University and (b) the number of full-time staff employed in the Open University will arise from the Government's reduction in funding the Open University.

The university is reviewing its current activities and is considering a number of options, including student and staff numbers. Until the review is concluded it will not be possible to offer any figures.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received advocating the introduction of automatic inter-local education authority recoupment throughout the further education sector; and if he will make a statement.

A number of such representations were received in response to a consultative document on the legal basis of further education issued in 1981. The issue was also considered jointly by a group from the Department and the local authority associations. The report of this group is still under consideration and no decisions have yet been taken on the possibilities for changes in the present arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how he assesses educational efficiency and value for money in respect of courses followed by pupils who do not obtain formal academic qualifications.

My right hon. Friend's main source of information and advice on the quality of all educational provision is Her Majesty's Inspectorate. My right hon. Friend's concern for the group of pupils referred to is well known, and a number of initiatives are under way to improve the standards and appropriteness of education they receive.The lower attaining pupils programme, which began last September, exemplifies the Government's concern with those pupils for whom the existing 16-plus examinations are not designed. Early reports from the LEAs concerned are encouraging: there is evidence of higher motivation among pupils and enthusiasm among teachers. In mathematics, the Department has commissioned three research projects at a total cost of over £500,000 on the needs of lower attaining pupils in secondary schools; two of these are concerned with to use of graduated tests as a means of assessment.My right hon. Friend announced at Sheffield earlier this year the Government's aim of bringing 80 to 90 per cent. of pupils to the level currently achieved by average pupils across a number of subjects. This will have major implications for the teaching of less able pupils, and syllabuses and examinations will need to provide opportunities for these pupils to demonstrate what they are capable of achieving. The development of records o achievement for school leavers will do much to ensure that no pupil leaves school with nothing to show for the years spent in full-time education.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children from Bolton have received places under the assisted places scheme in each of the years since the scheme was introduced.

Information is not available on the home residence of assisted pupils. One school in Bolton participates in the scheme — Bolton school—and the numbers of assisted pupils in its boys' and girls' divisions have been as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will give a breakdown by age of pupil of the numbers of children benefiting from the assisted places scheme in each of the years since its introduction;(2) how many of the children benefiting under the assisted places scheme in each of the years since its introduction were in

The information for England is as follows: