asked the Lord Privy Seal on how many occasions the House of Commons sat after 10.30 pm in each of the last two Sessions of Parliament; and what proportion these figures represent of the total number of sitting days.

In 1981–82 the House sat after 10·30 pm on 115 occasions, and in 1982–83 on 71 occasions. These figures represent 66 and 62 per cent. respectively of the total number of sitting days.

asked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts whether Her Majesty's Government are satisfied that the Welsh Arts Council has sufficient funding to enable it to fulfil the Government's policy for the arts in Wales.

Yes. The Government's policy for the Arts in Wales is that the Arts Council should allocate a fair share of the available resources to the Welsh Arts Council, and that the latter should decide how best to use it. That policy is being successfully applied.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if there are to be any changes in his Department's cash limits in the current year in connection with expenditure on rate support grants to local revenue in Wales.

In the light of local authorities' budgeted expenditure for 1984–85 I am withholding block grant of £13,000,000 in respect of 1984–85 in accordance with my proposals set out in paragraph 39 of the "Welsh Rate Support Grant Report 1984–85", which was approved by the House on 8 February 1984. I am also increasing block grant holdback in respect of 1982–83 by £800,000 in the light of local authorities' outturn figures and accounts for that year. These adjustments to block grant will of course be subject to the approval of the relevant supplementary reports by the House.Accordingly, the cash limit in the current financial year on Class XVIII, Vote 2 is being reduced by £13,800,000 from £817,150,000 to £803,350,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales by what date he expects to be able to appoint consultants to carry out further studies on the need and cost-effectiveness of bypasses for the communities of (a) Pentre Berw, (b) Gaerwen, (c) Gwalchmai, (d) Bryngwran, (e) Caergeiliog and (f)Valley.

We expect to make an appointment for this work within the next few weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how he discharges his departmental responsibilities in respect of library policy in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

The Library and Information Services Council, Wales, serves to advise my right hon. Friend on all matters connected with the provision or use of library facilities in Wales. The services of a professional library adviser are available to the Welsh Office, and we are currently considering how best such professional input might be strengthened.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report details of the total spending on library services in Wales, both nationally and locally, in each year since his Department assumed responsibility for these services.

This information is contained in the annual "Public Library Statistics" published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, copies of which are in the library.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many times he has made representations to local authorities in Wales in pursuit of duties laid upon his Department by the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1968.

Reports prepared by LISC(W) on specific topics are drawn to the attention of library authorities. The Welsh Office, in consultation with individual authorities, has satisfactorily resolved the very small number of criticisms received regarding the service provided by the local authorities. None have warranted reference to LISC(W) for investigation.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many area health authorities in Wales have a domiciliary physiotherapy service.

Of the nine Welsh health authorities, three provide this service in full and five provide a limited service.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) whether he has issued any instruction, recommendations or guidance to any non-governmental organisation which comes under the aegis, sponsorship or control of his Department, and which has employees, concerning the implementation of the code of practice of the Commission for Racial Equality which carne into force on 1 April;(2) which of the quasi non-governmental organisations which have employees and for which his Department is responsible are complying, and which are not, with the recommendations of the code of the Commission for Racial Equality, and in particular with the recommendations for ethnic monitoring.

Implementation of the code is the responsibility of the bodies concerned as employers. But as sponsoring Minister I would expect them to be aware of its provisions and to take appropriate account of them in their employment policies and procedures. My officials will, however, shortly be writing to appropriate bodies to draw their attention to this.

asked the Prime Minister (1) whether she has issued any instructions, recommendations or guidance to any non-governmental organisation which comes under the aegis, sponsorship or control of the Cabinet Office, and which has employees, concerning the implementation of the code of practice of the Commission for Racial Equality which came into force on 1 April;(2) which of the quasi non-governmental organisations which have employees and for which the Cabinet Office is responsible are complying, and which are not, with the recommendations of the code of the Commission for Racial Equality, and in particular with the recommendation for ethnic monitoring.

The bodies for which the Cabinet Office is responsible do not have any directly employed staff: supporting services are provided by staff of the Cabinet Office.

asked the Prime Minister what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the capital funding priorities of the Manpower Services Commission in the light of reductions in the urban programme.

The Manpower Services Commission's current expenditure plans and priorities are set out in its recently published corporate plan 1984–88, which has been approved by the Government.

asked the minister for the Civil Service what progress has been made on revising Government forms since April 1983.

Cabinet Office (MPO) recently submitted to the Prime Minister and the Minister of State, Privy Council Office, a report summarising progress on the review of administrative forms. The report is published today and a copy has been placed in the Library.The report shows that over 34,000 forms in national use were reviewed last year. Over 9,000 were improved and over 5,000 abolished. Standards for the design and control of Government forms have now been set and are included in the report. These will provide the basis for continuing improvement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he proposes to take to resist the implementation of the European Economic Community sixth directive in respect of the imposition of value added tax on non-domestic construction.

I refer my hon. Friend to what I said in his Adjournment debate on 29 February when I outlined the Government's clear opposition to the European Commission's interpretation of the sixth directive.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he has issued any instructions, recommendations or guidance to any non-governmental organisation which comes under the aegis, sponsorship or control of his Department, and which has employees, concerning the implementation of the code of practice of the Commission for Racial Equality which came into force on 1 April;(2) which of the quasi non-governmental organisations which have employees and for which his Department is responsible are complying, and which are not, with the recommendations of the code of the Commission for Racial Equality, and in particular with the recommendation for ethnic monitoring.

Non-governmental organisations have a separate legal status as employers and are themselves responsible for the implementation of the code of practice of the Commission for Racial Equality. However, as sponsoring Minister I would expect them to be aware of the code's provisions and to take account of them in their employment policies and procedures.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to enable farmers to have the right to benefit under the business expansion scheme; and if he will make a statement.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if there have been any requests for compensation because of loss of offshore licensing revenue consequent to removal of certain oil roylaties from (a) Northern Ireland and (b) the Isle of Man.

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

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.

[pursuant to his reply, 7 June 1984, c. 218]: The available information is given in the following table:

asked the Attorney-General when the consultative document being prepared by the Lord Chancellor's Department on the amendment of the county court rules following from the Consumer Credit Act, coming into effect from May 1985, will be issued; and what period of consultation will be allowed.

At present it is intended to issue the consultative paper in January 1985 and that the consultation period should close at the end of February 1985.

asked the Attorney-General (1) what action he proposes to take on the recommendations of the Law Commission, 1981 with regard to the School Sites Act 1841 as amended;(2) if he will introduce legislation to repeal the School Sites Act 1841.

The position is being considered afresh in the light of the decision in re Rowhook Mission Hall on 1 March this year, where Nourse, J. distinguished the earlier case of re Clayton's Deed Poll, and of the responses to his consultation paper on the Law Commission report.

asked the Attorney-General what representations to repeal the School Sites Act 1841 he has received; and from whom.

None, but the Lord Chancellor has received several representations from religious and educational bodies and from the legal profession in response to his consultation paper on the Law Commission's report.

asked the Attorney-General whether he has issued any instructions, recommendations or guidance to any non-governmental organisation which comes under the aegis, sponsorship or control of his Department, and which has employees, concerning the implementation of the code of practice of the Commission for Racial Equality which came into force on 1 April.

My Department is not responsible for any non-governmental organisations.

asked the Attorney-General which of the quasi non-governmental organisations which have employees and for which his Department is responsible are complying, and which are not, with the recommendations of the code of the Commission for Racial Equality, and in particular with the recommendation for ethnic monitoring.

My Department is not responsible for any quasi non-governmental organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether a meeting has yet been arranged with representatives of Staffordshire county council to discuss the future of trunk roads in Staffordshire in general and the proposed Stoke southern bypass in particular; and if he will make a statement.

Staffordshire county council asked me to receive a deputation to discuss the Stoke southern bypass proposals. Finding a mutually convenient date proved difficult, but a meeting is planned for early July.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he considers his Department's vehicle test in its present form to be a satisfactory assessment of vehicle safety; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The statutory roadworthiness tests which apply to passenger vehicles, goods vehicles and motor cycles each cover the important vehicle safety features. Although changes in detail are made from time to time, I do not think a more comprehensive test would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ask the Civil Aviation Authority to extend the period in which microlight aircraft can be granted certificates of airworthiness beyond 1 July; and if he will make a statement.

Under regulations published in March 1983 a microlight aircraft must have a permit to fly if it is to be operated after 1 July of this year.The Civil Aviation Authority's intention is that the sport should as far as possible be self-regulating. It has therefore arranged to issue permits to fly to those microlights recommended by the technical officer of the British Microlight Aircraft Association as conforming to the authority's published airworthiness code. I hope shortly to meet the association.Problems encountered by the BMAA in introducing this procedure have been greater than were anticipated and consequently the CAA has agreed with the association measures which enable microlight owners to continue flying after 1 July under temporary exemptions from the regulations, subject to certain conditions. These concessions are targeted to expire on 1 January 1985.I agree with the authority's view that in the interests of safety the permit-to-fly requirement should become effective as soon as practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what progress he is making towards the introduction of amendments to the Road Traffic Acts to ensure that third parties are adequately indemnified against property damages.

My Department is formulating, with insurers' informal assistance on the practicalities, proposals for extending the compulsory motor insurance provisions of the Road Traffic Act 1972 to cover liability for damage to property, to give effect to the main requirement of the second EC insurance directive.I shall be consulting representative bodies, including road user groups, as soon as I am satisfied with these and other proposals required to implement the directive.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he will introduce regulations to require the use of vehicle-actuated portable traffic signals to control traffic during roadworks.

The traffic signs regulations already require, through the relevant equipment specification, that portable traffic signals shall have the capability of operating in the vehicle actuated mode with facilities for switching to fixed-time or manual control. I have no proposals to change this specification.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the measures taken since the publication of the Armitage report, and currently planned, to lessen the damaging effects of heavy lorries on people and the environment.

The latest progress in implementing the package of measures endorsed by the House in November 1982 was reported in a reply to the hon. Member for Woolwich (Mr. Cartwright) on 3 April 1984, at column 442.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether he has issued any instructions, recommendations or guidance to any non-governmental organisation which comes under the aegis, sponsorship or control of his Department, and which has employees, concerning the implementation of the code of practice of the Commission for Racial Equality which came into force on 1 April;(2) which of the quasi non-governmental organisations which have employees and for which his Department is responsible are complying, and which are not, with the recommendations of the code of the Commission for Racial Equality, and in particular with the recommendation for ethnic monitoring.

Implementation of the code is the responsibility of the bodies concerned as employers. As sponsoring Minister I would expect them to be aware of its provisions and to take appropriate account of them in their employment policies and procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans for a service area along the 55-mile stretch of the M4 between Heston and Membury.

I am considering the provision of a service area in the vicinity of Reading and will make an announcement soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) whether he will now provide the figures for the level of coal stocks at (a) pitheads and (b) power stations at the latest available date;(2) whether he will now provide the figures for the level of coal stocks at

The latest figures published in "Energy Trends" show that coal stocks at pitheads and at power stations at the end of December 1983 and the end of March 1984 were:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) whether he has issued any instructions, recommendations or guidance to any non-governmental organisation which comes under the aegis, sponsorship or control of his Department, and which has employees, concerning the implementation of the code of practice of the Commission for Racial Equality which came into force on 1 April;(2) which of the quasi non-governmental organisations which have employees and for which his Department is responsible are complying, and which are not, with the recommendations of the code of the Commission for Racial Equality, and in particular with the recommendation for ethnic monitoring.

Implementation of the code is the responsibility of the bodies concerned as employers. As sponsoring Minister for the electricity supply industry, BGC, NCB, BNOC, UKAEA, and BNF, plc., I am satisfied that they are aware of its provisions and of the need to take account of them in their employment policies and procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he is able to make any further announcements concerning the privatisation of Enterprise Oil.

I have today placed copies of the proposed draft articles of association of Enterprise Oil plc. in the Libraries of both Houses. The articles contain provisions for a special share to be retained by the Government. Following the forthcoming offer for sale, the Government will have no continuing involvement in Enterprise Oil, except as the holder of this special share. The provisions of the special share are designed to enable the Government to ensure the continued independence of Enterprise Oil for a limited period. In all other respects Enterprise Oil will be treated by the Government on the same basis as any other private sector oil company.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Government will publish their response to the report by the information technology advisory panel.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will make a statement on the report by the information technology advisory panel, "Making a Business of Information".

Ministers have already welcomed the publication of the ITAP report as an important step forward in focusing on the new and potentially significant area of business activity based on the trading of information. A detailed response to the ITAP report, which will present the Government's own thinking in this area, is in the final stages of preparation and I hope it will be ready for publication in the next few weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to publish his White Paper on copyright.

Consideration of the complex and wide-ranging issues involved in copyright and related topics is proceeding, and proposals for legislative reform will be announced as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, for the purposes of the Trade Descriptions Acts, he considers "Made in Britain" to mean made in the United Kingdom.

The courts alone could decide whether any particular use of the expression "Made in Britain" was compatible with the requirements of the Trade Descriptions Acts 1968–72. But our non-statutory guidance for traders on the Origin Marking Order 1981, which was made under sections 8 and 9 of the 1968 Act suggests that the expression may be applied to goods made either in Great Britain or in Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from Gwent county council and other local authorities in the county concerning Cmnd. 9111 "Regional Industrial Development" what reply he has sent; and if he will make a statement.

I have received a joint response to the White Paper "Regional Industrial Development", from Gwent county council and the borough and district councils in Gwent. The boroughs of Blaenau Gwent and Islwyn have also made separate submissions on points of particular concern to them. These responses have all been acknowledged.I shall make a statement when we are ready to introduce the revised scheme and assisted area map in the autumn,

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many female employees in his Department have been granted maternity leave in each year since 1974; and what was the total duration of such leave in each of those years.

During 1983, 128 female employees of this Department were granted maternity leave, the total duration of which was 4,575 weeks. Similar information in respect of earlier years is not readily available, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the total value of clothing (a) exports from and (b) imports into the United Kingdom in each of the last five years for which figures are available with (i) other EEC countries, (b)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 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.

During the financial year 1983–84, 491,313 hours of overtime were worked by employees of the Department of Trade and Industry, at a cost of

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the total value of exports from the United Kingdom to Namibia in each of the last five years for which figures are available in each

The information is as follows:£1,915,573. Similar information in respect of earlier years is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the total value of imports into the United Kingdom from Namibia in each of the last five years for which figures are available in each of the following categories (a) coal, (b) metal ores and (c) other non-processed raw materials.

The information is as follows:of the following categories:

The information which can be provided within acceptable limits of cost is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether he has issued any instructions, recommendations or guidance to any non-governmental organisation which comes under the aegis, sponsorship or control of his Department, and which has employees, concerning the implementation of the code of practice of the Commission for Racial Equality which came into force on 1 April;(2) which of the quasi non-governmental organisations which have employees and for which his Department is responsible are complying, and which are not, with the recommendations of the code of the Commission for Racial Equality, and in particular with the recommendation for ethnic monitoring.

Implementation of the code is the responsibility of the bodies themselves as employers; but the Secretary of State expects them to be aware of the code's provisions and to take appropriate account of them in their employment policies and procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on his visit to the annual dinner of the British-Israeli Chamber of Commerce on 4 June; what is the current position regarding bilateral trade between the United Kingdom and Iseael; and whether Her Majesty's Government are seeking to expand it.

My right hon. Friend was the joint guest of honour at the British-Israel Chamber of Commerce annual dinner with Mr. Gideon Patt, the Minister of Industry and Trade of the Government of Israel. My right hon. Friend gave an address highlighting the strong and growing bilateral trade betwenn Israel and the United Kingdom.United Kingdom exports to Israel for the 12 months ending 31 December 1983 were £354·9 million and imports from Israel during the same period were £314·1 million.Her Majesty's Government encourage trade with overseas countries, including Israel, consistent with our international obligations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish a table showing the surplus or deficit in manufacturing trade which the United Kingdom had with the European Economic Community and with the rest of the world, respectively, in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and if he will publish the comparable figures for each of the previous 15 years.

Comparable figures from 1970 are available only on the Overseas Trade Statistics basis—exports valued "free on board" (fob) or at cost leaving the country, and imports valued at cost plus insurance and freight charges (cif). Prior to 1970 the data, while available, would be too expensive to assemble for non-calendar annual periods. The crude balances on this basis for the April-March periods are:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of the European Community Countries' imports of manufactured goods came from the United Kingdom in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and what was the comparable percentage in the same period for 1971–72.

This information is published in table E3 of the "Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics, Annual Supplement No. 5 1984", a copy of which is in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of the output of the United Kingdom's manufacturing industry was exported to the European Economic Community in the most recent annual period for which figures are available.

In the 12 months to September 1983, 10·5 per cent. of United Kingdom manufacturers' sales went to the other nine countries of the European Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether there has been any subsequent change in the revised cash limit of £50,550,000 announced on 22 May for Class IV, Vote IV—export promotion, trade co-operation, corporate and consumer affairs.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary revised estimate, the cash limit for Class IV, Vote IV, has been reduced by £1,260,000 from £50,550,000 to £49,290,000, reflecting the net effect of the announcements made on 29 March, at column 261, about additional funding for the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, and on 6 April, at column 667, about additional staff for the companies registration offices which will result in increased revenue accruing to these offices.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Council of Ministers' meeting on consumer affairs which took place on 5 June.

My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State with responsibility for corporate and consumer affairs attended the Council on 5 June, which was the third to be devoted to consumer affairs.Some progress towards agreement was made on the proposal for a directive on misleading advertising. Several outstanding points were resolved and on the remaining points of difference new options were identified which it was agreed should be actively followed up with a view to further discussions soon.Consideration of the proposal for a directive on product liability again centred mainly on the question of whether there should be a financial limit to a producer's liability. There was a wide range of views on this and compromise proposals for further study by the Committee of Permanent Representatives were identified.The proposal for a directive on doorstep selling was briefly discussed. There is now general agreement on the text but adoption is not yet possible because one member state continues to retain its general reserve on this directive.The Council also took note of the interim reports from the Committee of Permanent Representatives on proposals for Directives on price indication of foodstuffs and nonfood products and agreed that further work should be undertaken in conjunction with consideration of standar-disation of package sizes.The Commission drew attention to its statement at the last Council on its work programme for consumer policies. During discussion on the approach to be followed, it was emphasised that we consider the interests of the consumer are best served by ensuring an efficient market place with free and open competition and that we would continue to support Community action to achieve this objective, that regulation should be kept to a minimum and that any legislative proposals should be examined to ensure that they will be of real benefit to consumers throughout the Community.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what were the results of the 30 prosecutions connected with racial attacks brought by police in the London borough of Newham during the 12 months to 14 November 1983;(2) how many prosecutions connected with racial attacks there have been in the London borough of Newham during the last two years; and what were the results.

I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to use private security firms in prison department establishments.

My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to use private security firms in prison department custodial establishments, but night security services at some staff establishments are contracted out.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his latest estimate of the costs of policing the miners' dispute.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to a question from the hon. Member for Newham, North-West, (Mr. Banks), on 21 May, at column 321.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he has issued any instructions, recommendations or guidance to any non-governmental organisation which comes under the aegis, sponsorship or control of his Department, and which has employees, concerning the implementation of the code of practice of the Commission for Racial Equality which came into force on 1 April;(2) which of the quasi non-governmental organisations which have employees and for which his Department is responsible are complying, and which are not, with the recommendations of the code of the Commission for Racial Equality, and in particular with the recommendation for ethnic monitoring.

The selection and personnel practices of non-departmental public bodies for which my Department is responsible are the formal responsibility of those bodies as employers but, as the sponsoring Minister, I would expect them to be aware of the provisions of the code and to take appropriate action.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland whether he has issued any instructions, recommendations or guidance to any non-governmental organisation which comes under the aegis, sponsorship or control of his Department, and which has employees, concerning the implementation of the code of practice of the Commission for Racial Equality which came into force on 1 April.

There are no such non-governmental organisations which come under the aegis, sponsorship or control of my Department.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland which of the quasi non-governmental organisations which have employees and for which his Department is responsible are complying, and which are not, with the recommendations of the code of the Commission for Racial Equality, and in particular with the recommendation for ethnic monitoring.

There are no such quasi non-governmental organisations for which my Department is responsible.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, pursuant to his answer of 10 April, Official Report, column 164, he will specify the measures now in hand to promote efficiency and effectiveness in further education; and if he will make a statement.

The Government are seeking to promote efficiency and effectiveness in further education by a variety of means.Within non-advanced further education the Department is supporting college-employer links projects in eight local education authorities to test the adequacy of existing links between colleges and the world of industry, commerce and public employment to identify possible problems and to disseminate good practice. The proposals in the White Paper "Training for Jobs" (Cmnd. 9135) are also intended to strengthen the responsiveness of colleges to industry, commerce and public employment in the provision of work-related further education, through the intervention of the Manpower Services Commission in the funding of courses in national priority areas.The Department is supporting the development, through the further education staff college, of a management information system for colleges of further education. The Audit Commission has recently produced a report on efficiency in colleges of further education, and is actively promoting work in this area. The Department is also seeking to promote improvement in further education curricula and examinations which will lead to more efficient and effective provision. The proposed certificate of pre-vocational education, on which a consultative document was published in May, will lead to a rationalisation of the many provided courses in both schools and colleges for young people at 16-plus without a clear academic or vocational commitment, for whom a one-year pre-vocational course is appropriate.The main examining and validating bodies are revising the structure of courses at craft and technician level, and it is likely that more efficient and effective provision will result from these reviews. The Department is giving increased financial support to the further education unit (FEU) which promotes curriculum development and review and is increasingly concerned with the need for rationalisation and improvement in both pre-vocational and vocational courses; one current example is work in hand with the examining and validating bodies and industrial training interests to develop a common, competency-based core for the initial level of craft and technician courses in engineering. The FEU is also playing a key role in the Department's PICKUP initiative, which is intended to develop greater mutual awareness and responsiveness between employers, employees and the education system in the provision of post-experience vocational education and updating.Within local authority higher education (LAHE) I announced in April the establishment, under the chairmanship of Sir Norman Lindop, of a committee of inquiry into the effective and efficient maintenance of academic standards at degree level. The Government have since 1980–81 promoted increased cost-effectiveness most notably through progressively refined methods for distributing the capped advanced further education pool. It is envisaged that for the future the main means of securing further improvements in efficiency and effectiveness in LAHE will be through the national advisory body (NAB), established by the Government in partnership with the local authority associations. The first main fruits of the NAB's deliberations were embodied in its advice to me—which I accepted in its entirety last December—on the academic disposition and funding of LAHE in 1984–85.Finally the Government are substantially strengthening the section of Her Majesty's Inspectorate dealing with further and higher education.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table showing the annual expenditure in Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, respectively, of the Medical Research Council for each of the past five years.

I understand from the Medical Research Council (MRC) that the information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if his Department has studied the report on unmet needs of handicapped young adults by the European collaborative committee for child health of the Children's Research Fund; if there is any action he will be taking arising from the report; and if he will make a statement.

I am grateful to the right hon. Member for drawing my attention to this report. It is a worthy document which is in line with our current thinking on education for the handicapped. But it adds nothing to the sum of our knowledge in the education field, and I shall not be taking action as a result of it. I believe that developments now taking place in education provision both for young people in general and for this group in particular will contribute significantly towards achieving the improvements urged in the report.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many Church of England schools now disused are affected by the operation of the School Sites Act 1841; and what is his estimate of their total capital value;(2) how many disused schools are unable to be used or developed for other purposes because of the operation of the School Sites Act 1841;(3) how many disused schools have reverted to the original owners of the land in each of the last 10 years under the provisions of the School Sites Act 1841;(4) what is his estimate of the total capital value of schools affected by the operation of the School Sites Act 1841.

The requested information is not collected.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish figures to show the per capita expenditure in England by education authorities on school pupils for the most recent year that figures are available; if he will detail the figures for each education authority; if he will break down the spending into (a) books, (b) stationery, (c) physical education equipment and (d) other; and if he will give the figures separately for primary and secondary schools.

The information is not available in the form requested. However, the average expenditure per pupil on text and library books, on educational equipment, stationery and materials and on all recurrent items in 1982–83, the latest year for which actual figures are available, were as follows. Separate figures are given for the primary and secondary schools in each education authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) whether he has issued any instructions, recommendations or guidance to any non-governmental organisation which comes under the aegis, sponsorship or control of his Department, and which has employees, concerning the implementation of the code of practice of the Commission for Racial Equality which came into force on 1 April;(2) which of the quasi non-governmental organisations which have employees and for which his Department is responsible are complying, and which are not, with the recommendations of the code of the Commission for Racial Equality, and in particular with the recommendation for ethnic monitoring.

Implementation of the code is the responsibility of the bodies concerned as employers. As sponsoring Minister, however, I would expect them to be aware of its provisions and to take account of them in then-employment policies and procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the number of university students who are studying (a) from home and (b) away from home, respectively.

In 1982–83, 39,667 full-time students at universities in Great Britain studied at home and 255,727 students away from home.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the results of his Department's follow-up survey of the shared and extended use of schools are now available; and if he will make a statement.

The first results of the 1983 follow-up to the 1978–79 survey of shared and extended use in England have now become available and suggest that levels of use have been maintained or improved. They show that 79 per cent. of all schools were regularly used outside school hours in term-time and 23 per cent. during the summer holidays in 1983, as compared with 71 and 21 per cent., respectively, in 1978–79. There has been a marked increase in the regular use of primary schools during term-time from 65 per cent. in 1978–79 to 75 per cent. in 1983. Sports users continue to be the group most likely to make regular use of both primary and secondary school premises. The full results of the survey will be published in the form of a statistical bulletin later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is yet able to announce the outcome of his consultation on the future of the overseas research students award scheme.

My right hon. Friend has completed a review of the future of the overseas research students award scheme (ORSAS). The review has involved consultations with the University Grants Committee (UGC), the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals (CVCP), the Council of Local Education Authorities, the National Advisory Body for Local Authority Higher Education and the Committee of Directors of Polytechnics.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will indicate the total aid or grants available to the Open University by the state and the percentage of the total generated by the university for services performed over the most recent period of five years.

[pursuant to his reply, 4 June 1984, c. 7]: The information requested is set out in the following table.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current annual budget for the arms control and disarmament unit at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; and what is the number of staff engaged in that unit.

The estimated cost of the arms control and disarmament department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1983–84 was £348,000. There are 14 staff in the department; in addition there is a part-time adviser.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what conclusions he has reached following his study of the transcripts of the inquest on Dennis Skinner about possible future action.

We have requested the transcripts. They have not yet been received.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many female employees in his Department have been granted maternity leave in each year since 1974; and what was the total duration of such leave in each of those years.