asked the Attorney-General what action he intends to take about possible breaches of section 22 of the Legal Aid Act 1979.

The proper interpretation of section 22 has proved to be very difficult and I have not yet reached a firm conclusion on it. Until I have satisfied myself about it, I am unable to take any decisions on particular cases. But I would repeat what I told the House on 17 May, that

"It would be difficult to prosecute if officials who had been given instructions—if the L Code does so—for committing a criminal offence when, in fact, they were obeying those instructions."

asked the Attorney-General how many school teachers have been appointed justices of the peace in each of the last five years; and what percentage of the total appointed this represents.

The figures for the whole of England and Wales for each of the last five years cannot be obtained without disproportionate effort and expense. The number of school teachers who have been appointed justices of the peace in England and Wales in the last two years is as follows:

• 1983—Total appointments 1,576. 85 (or 5·4 per cent.) were school teachers and 41 (or 2·5 per cent.) were other teachers and lecturers.
• 1982—Total appointments 1,410. 75 (or 5·3 per cent. were school teachers and 31 (or 2·2 per cent.) were other teachers and lecturers.

Duchy of Lancaster:

asked the Attorney-General if he has any plans to take legal action against student union officers suspected of making ultra vires payments to political organisations.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Wokingham, (Sir W. van Straubenzee).

asked the Attorney-General if he intends to ask those student unions covered by the Charities Act 1962 to submit their accounts to his office for inspection.

My Department does not have sufficient resources to examine the accounts of every student union. Moreover, it is doubtful whether the accounts would be sufficiently detailed to be of very much assistance in determining the legality of small payments made by individual student societies. If I consider it useful in a particular case, I will make the necessary application to the court.

asked the Attorney-General how many proposed de-registrations under the Residential Homes Act 1980 have been successfully challenged in magistrates' courts.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her question on this subject by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department on 11 June. I have no additional records available to me.

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

None.

asked the Attorney-General what representations he has received about his guidance to student' unions about the use of their funds and about the expenditure by Essex University Student' Union in financing coaches to demonstrations organised by the Troops Out Movement and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave ealier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Wokingham (Sir W. van Straubenzee).

asked the Attorney-General how many employees in his Department are in receipt of supplementary benefit; and, of these, how many work (a) less than 35 hours a week and (b) 35 hours a week or mote.

Personal information of this kind is confidential to employees and is not available to employers. People working 30 hours per week or more are not normally entitled to supplementary benefit.

asked the Attorney-General whether the Lard Chancellor issues any guidance for employers of newly appointed magistrates as to the arrangements to enable employees who are magistrates to fulfil their public duties, including the number of days allowed, whether with or without full pay; and if he will make a statement.

Guidance is not given to employers of newly appointed magistrates. Section 29 of the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978 makes provision for time off work for public duty. It is for employers to determine matters relating to pay; some make no deduction, others do. Financial loss allowance may be claimed when deduction is made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a detailed and comprehensive management guide for nuclear shelters.

Guidance on how to identify buildings and other structures which could be used as civil defence shelters for the public and on how to plan for their use will be included in the consolidated circular of guidance. We shall be consulting local authority associations shortly on a draft. Information on domestic nuclear shelters was published in 1981 in "Domestic Nuclear Shelters" and "Domestic Nuclear Shelters—Technical guidance". Copies are in the Library of the House. We hope to publish further information next year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the number of (a) civil servants and (b) secondees, who are engaged in internal audit within his Department and the grades and qualifications of each individual; and to what extent the establishment and work carried out by the unit, deviates from the nine primary standards listed in "Government Accounting 9/82."

Twenty-two civil servants are engaged on internal audit within the Home Department; there are no secondees. There is one grade 6, two principals, four senior executive officers, seven higher executive officers, and eight executive officers. The grade 6 officer is a fellow of the Association of Certified Accountants and a member of ICMA, one of the principals has membership of ICMA, and one of the SEOs is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. The other three SEOs are studying for the diploma of the Institute of Internal Auditors, as are one of the HEOs and three of the EOs. One EO is studying for the CIPFA diploma in public sector internal auditing and accounting to add to his bachelor of arts degree in accounting and finance. Three of the other HEOs are about to enter training as part of a planned programme for audit staff. Internal audit work in the Home Office is organised and conducted by reference to all the standards listed in "Government Accounting 9/82".

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deaths of prisoners have occurred in Brixton prison since 12 January 1982; how many of these have been in medical wing B; what was the cause of death in each case; and how many of the inquests were undertaken by the Southwark coroner's office.

Eight prisoners have died in Brixton prison since the death of Mr. Worrell on 12 January 1982, five of whom were in B wing. All eight prisoners died as the result of hanging themselves. All these deaths were the subject of an inquest by the Southwark coroner.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what inquiries have been undertaken into deaths at Brixton prison during the past five years; what periods these cover; and when the results are expected to be published.

All deaths in prison custody are the subject of extensive internal inquiry, both at the establishment and at prison department headquarters; and the law requires that they be the subject of a coroner's inquest with a jury. There have been no inquiries in addition to these into deaths at Brixton prison in the past five years. However, Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons has carried out a general study of suicide precautions in prison, which will be published in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes in procedure have been introduced in medical B wing at Brixton prison since the death of Paul Worrell on 12 January 1982.

No changes in procedures in B wing have been thought necessary specifically as a result of the death of Mr. Worrell, but the procedures for identifying suicide risks and preventing suicide at Brixton are kept under review by medical staff there. Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons has also carried out a study of suicide precautions in the prison service as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the facilities in the medical B wing of Brixton prison for the resuscitation of prisoners attempting suicide.

Staff are trained in the techniques of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. In addition, oxygen equipment is available in B wing and hospital staff trained in its use are on duty at all times.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether prison officers conducting a special watch on prisoners at Brixton prison regarded as potential suicide risks regularly carry keys to the cells.

Prisoners at Brixton who are being kept under a special watch as suicide risks are accommodated in B wing and the hospital. Staff have access to cells, hospital rooms and wards during the day but because of the security and control risks staff on observation duties do not carry keys at night time. However, should the need arise they have immediate access to a key held by a member of staff who is on duty on the ground floor of the Wing or hospital at all times.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the prisoners who have died in Brixton prison since 12 January 1982 were subject to special watch arrangements as potential suicide risks; and what steps have been taken to monitor the effectiveness of this system.

Four prisoners who died at Brixton prison during this period were subject to special watch arrangements at the time of their death. The effectiveness of the special watch procedure, along with other suicide precautions, is reviewed in the context of the inquiries made into every suicide in prison. The procedure will be reviewed more generally in the context of the report by Her Majesty's chief inspector on suicides in prisons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is (a) the basic salary, (b) average earnings, (c) the value of fringe benefits, and (d) average overtime for each rank in the Metropolitan police force in each year since 1979.

I will reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if there have been any occasions when pickets have been stopped by Metropolitan police road blocks and prevented from travelling to the picket line at Barking hospital; and what instructions have been given to the Metropolitan police about such road blocks.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that no such road block has been made, nor has he issued instructions to his officers on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new steps he is taking to promote the use of alternatives to living animals in scientific experiments.

Licensees are regularly reminded of the need to consider using alternatives to live animals. The reminder has recently been strengthened and expanded, and a reference to the fund for the replacement of animals in medical experiments (FRAME) has been included, with the fund's agreement, to give practical help in the choice and use of alternatives. The reminder now reads as follows:"CRUELTY TO ANIMALS ACT 1876

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many employees in his Department are in receipt of supplementary benefit; and, of these, how many work (a) less than 35 hours a week and (b) 35 hours a week or more.

Personal information of this kind is confidential to employees and is not available to employers.People employed for 30 hours or more each week are not normally entitled to supplementary benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the number of (a) civil servants and (b) secondees, who are engaged in internal audit within his Department and the grades and qualifications of each individual; and to what extent the establishment and work carried out by the unit deviates from the nine primary standards listed in "Government Accounting 9/82".

My internal audit section is headed by a secondee and is staffed by nine civil servants. Their grades and qualifications are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish figures for the 12 months of 1983 to show the top 20 world oil producers in terms of (a) thousand barrels per day and (b) million tonnes per annum.

In 1983 the top 20 world oil producing countries had output estimated as follows:

	Thousand barrels/day*	Million tones*
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics	12,520	616·3
United States of America	10,220	485·3
Saudi Arabia †	5,330	250·0
Mexico	2,950	146·6
Iran	2,530	125·7
United Kingdom	2,360	114·9
China	2,135	106·0
Venezuela	1,850	95·6
Canada	1,525	72·2

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many employees in his Department are in receipt of supplementary benefit; and, of these, how many work (a) less than 35 hours a week and (b) 35 hours a week or more.

Personal information of this kind is confidential to employees and is not available to employers. People working 30 hours a week or more are not normally entitled to supplementary benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many employees in his Department, in each year since 1979, have been allowed paternity leave under the rules set out in paragraphs 685–688 of the civil Service pay and conditions of service code; and what was the average number of days allowed.

No provision is made in the Code for paternity leave as such. Special leave for domestic distress may be granted to male staff when serious complications have occurred in connection with a wife's confinement. The records kept by my Department of special leave granted for domestic distress do not readily identify the nature of the distress and details could be extracted only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what level of research into the causes of acid rain his Department is supporting.

[pursuant to the reply, 11 June 1984, c. 624]: United Kingdom emissions of sulphur dioxide have already fallen by over 30 per cent. in the last decade. However, the Government recognise the need to continue our efforts to obtain a better understanding of the many scientific uncertainties involved in acid deposition. To that end my Department commissioned the energy technology support unit at Harwell to study the available scientific information about the origins, transport, chemical transformation and deposition of acidity in the environment. It has considered the evidence linking observed environmental damage to vegetation, aquatic life, structural materials and human health with the deposition of acidic sulphur and nitrogen species. Its report is being published today, and I have arranged for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is satisfied with opportunities given to British industry through the aid programme.

Yes. Bilateral aid is tied to the procurement of British or local goods and services. For multilateral aid, British firms are able to tender for all the contracts financed by bodies we support, and these contracts produce substantial benefits for British industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will consider providing more help for development jointly with the voluntary sector.

My right hon. Friend has recently agreed, subject to parliamentary approval, to make an additional £1 million available this year for overseas development projects jointly funded with British voluntary agencies under the joint funding scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence his Department is giving to the inquiry on the Falklands hospital.

My Department was not invited to give evidence to the commission of inquiry into the fire at the Port Stanley hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the amount of aid given to Papua New Guinea in each of the past five years.

The amount of aid given to Papua New Guinea in each of the past five years is as follows:

Year	Amount
	£
1979	153,000
1980	206,000
1981	110,000
1982	56,000
1983	52,000

All of these funds were spent in technical cooperation activities which included training and student scholarships.In addition the Commonwealth Development Corporation disbursed the following amounts:

Year	Amount
	£
1979	2,993,000
1980	3,536,000
1981	6,903,000
1982	3,778,000
1983	96,000

asked the Prime Minister what response she is making to representations made to her by the leader of the agricultural section of the Transport and General Workers Union, calling for a ban on the sale of the weedkiller 2,4,5-T.

I have received no such representations.

asked the Prime Minister if she will institute an interdepartmental review of the disparities in rateable values in Scotland and in England and Wales for comparable rateable subjects.

No. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has examined the causes of alleged disparities and where legislative action was required to remove real disparities the necessary provisions have been included in the current Rating and Valuation (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill.

asked the Prime Minister, further to the answer to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury on 30 April, Official Report, column 48 by the Minister of State, Department of Health and Social Security, for what reason information was available to the Welsh Office and the Department of Employment but unavailable to the Department of Health and Social Security as to the numbers of young people whose benefits were reduced prior to December 1983 for refusal to take up a youth training scheme place, or because they have come off a youth training scheme prematurely; and if she will make a statement.

In his reply on 30 April, my hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security made it clear that the figures given related to reductions in supplementary benefit resulting from premature terminations of youth training scheme placements or refusals to take up suitable places. The figures given from time to time by the Department of Employment and the Welsh Office are the number of decisions made by insurance officers (now adjudication officers) at the Department of Employment that a young person had without good cause prematurely left a placement or refused to take up a suitable place. Some of these decisions will have led to reductions in supplementary benefit but others will have led to other penalties such as non-award of national insurance credits, or possibly in a few cases non-payment of unemployment benefit.The Department of Employment has recorded decisions on YTS refusals or premature leaving since 1 September 1983. The DHSS has kept records of supplementary benefit reductions for this reason only since December 1983.

asked the Prime Minister what was the total cost to Her Majesty's Government of the tenth world economic summit held in London; what was the nature of the hospitality provided; and what. British politicians were involved.

I anticipate that the final cost of the London economic summit will be between £2·5 and £3 million. This compares favourably with the cost of the three most recent past summits, at Ottawa, Versailles and Williamsburg. Heads of State or Government, Foreign and Finance Ministers, together with the President and Vice-President of the European Commission, and senior representatives from each delegation, were provided with the hospitality normally arranged for such guests to this country. The Food from Britain organisation assisted with the free provision of food and drink for the lunch for Heads of State and/or Government, Foreign and Finance Ministers, as well as in providing some free food and drink for the media covering the summit. In addition to myself, the Foreign Secretary and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who were directly involved with the summit, several Ministers and other Members of both Houses attended various functions, including a reception at St. James' Palace in the presence of His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent.

asked the Prime Minster how many employees in the Cabinet Office are in receipt of supplementary benefit; and, of these, how many work (a) less than 35 hours a week and (b) 35 hours a week or more.

Personal information of this kind is confidential to employees and is not available to employers. People employed for 30 hours or more each week are not normally entitled to supplementary benefit.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland what organisations since May 1980 have had applications for use of the former Scottish Assembly building rejected by his Department.

The Lord Advocate assumed responsibility for the Crown Office buildings, from the Secretary of State for the Environment, on 1 April 1983. Since that date permission has been refused to the following organisations to hold meetings in the Crown Office buildings:

• The Campaign for a Scottish Assembly.
• B.B.C. St. Andrew's Day debate.
• Observer Newspapers debating tournament.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if he will list the names and addresses of organisations to which his Department gave permission to hold meetings within the former Scottish Assembly building since December 1980.

The Lord Advocate assumed responsibility for the Crown Office buildings, from the Secretary of State for the Environment, on 1 April 1983. Since that date permission has been granted to the following organisations to hold meetings within the Crown Office buildings:

• The Mound Competition (Town Planning). Presentation of prizes organised by the Property Services Agency, Argyle house, Edinburgh.
• The Calton conference. Edinburgh university department of extra-mural studies, Buccleuch place, Edinburgh.
• The Scottish branch of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, 7 Manor place, Edinburgh.
• The Scottish Confederation of Tourism; Scottish Tourist Board, 23 Ravelston terrace, Edinburgh.
• North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation; Commission of European Communities, 7 Alva street, Edinburgh.
• Christian Heritage Scotland; 24 Calton road, Edinburgh.

In addition to the above, the Crown Office hosted a meeting in May 1983 of the Association of Presidents and General Procurators of the Supreme Courts of member states of the European communities.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland how many employees in his Department are in receipt of supplementary benefit; and, of these, how many work (a) less than 35 hours a week and (b) 35 hours a week or more.

Personal information of this kind is confidential to employees and is not available to employers. People working 30 hours a week or more are not normally entitled to supplementary benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has yet reached a conclusion on revision of road traffic speed limits.

I shall make an announcement about the motorway speed limit as soon as possible. Speed limits on other roads are not under immediate consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage pay increases he has agreed for nationalised industry chairmen in the transport sector for the coming year; and if he will make a statement.

I have not yet determined any salary increases for the chairmen of any of the transport nationalised industries for 1984. Details of increases when agreed will be published in the normal way. I laid a statement relating to the 1983 increase for the NBC chairman before the House on 15 June.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many units of rolling stock containing asbestos are still in service with British Rail; and for how long they are expected to remain in service.

British Rail currently has in service some 2,800 diesel and electric multiple units, and some 100 loco-hauled coaches, which contain harmful types of asbestos. The board has given an undertaking that this will be removed by the end of 1987.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he is holding with representatives of the transport industry and others concerned to expedite the manufacture of vehicles designed to operate on lead-free petrol.

We expect the European Commission to propose a type approval directive allowing member states to require new models of car from 1989 and all new cars from 1991 to be designed to run on lead-free petrol. Officals from my own and other Departments concerned have been discussing the implications of this with the vehicle manufacturers and others concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has now received from prospective promoters about the five banks' report on the Channel tunnel.

None, as yet.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what objections he has received so far to the proposed closure of Marylebone station.

We have received about 25 representations since last August, when British Rail announced that it was considering making this proposal.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he next expects to discuss industrial relations in the railway industry with the chairman of British Rail.

I refer the hon. Lady to the answer my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Carlisle (Mr. Lewis) earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if she is satisfied with the motorway network serving the ports in the United Kingdom.

Once the current motorway construction and improvement programme in England is completed, the network will be adequate for the needs of most long-distance traffic to and from the ports. The motorway network in Scotland and Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales. The need for additional routes is taken in the light of new industrial development.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what estimates have been made by his Department of the cost of vibration damage to buildings and services caused by heavy lorries.

No such estimates have been made. As the report of the independent Armitage inquiry acknowledged, the most authoritative research to date has shown that the levels of vibration generated by traffic, including heavy lorries, are too low in themselves directly to cause damage to buildings. Research also suggests that the effects of heavy lorry traffic on buried services are marginal. However, because of continuing concern about this subject, I have decided to commission new research to establish whether there is any correlation between damage to buildings and the level of traffic induced vibration. Further research into the effects of traffic on buried services is also planned.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to receive British Rail's intercity prospectus.

I expect to receive British Rail's proposals shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when the Chilworth section of the M27 will be opened to traffic.

As I explained to my hon. Friend in my letter to him of 6 June, the contract completion date for this section of the M27 is 30 August 1984. Although work is being redone on some parts of the surface, I understand that the contractor still hopes to complete the work before that date.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has now received the report of the noise survey carried out by consulting engineers at the recently opened section of the M25; and whether he will make a statement.

The consultants' report has just been received and is being studied. I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as I have been able to consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the present volume of traffic on the A420 from Shrivenham to Kingston Bagpuize; and what effect he anticipates the completion of the Shrivenham bypass will have on this.

I understand from Oxfordshire county council, which is responsible for this section of the A420 that between 7,000 and 8,000 vehicles are carried over 12 hours on a normal weekday between Shrivenham and Kingston Bagpuize. Completion of the Shrivenham bypass this autumn is not expected to increase traffic flows on this road.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he will use his reserve powers to change the current policy of the Greater London council regarding the layout of the junction of Talgarth road and North End road in West London.

Following intensive pressure from road users, the GLC has now decided to change the layout of this junction. I have written to it pointing out the need to provide a satisfactory solution that restores adequate capacity for eastbound traffic on the A4 without creating additional safety hazards. Whether I shall have to consider using my reserve powers will depend on whether the GLC now takes adequate and sufficiently speedy action to achieve this.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what account he took in formulating the public expenditure provision for local authority road maintenance for 1984–85 of the evidence of increased incidence of defects noted in the 1983 report of the national road maintenance and condition survey; and if he will make a statement.

In making almost 8 per cent. greater public expenditure provision for road maintenance in 1984–85 than in 1983–84, on top of the 22 per cent. increase made over the two previous years, my right hon. Friend took into account the 1983 report of the national road maintenance and condition survey together, with other relevant considerations such as the overall need to restrain public expenditure. The 1984 report of the national road maintenance survey showed that there was no significant change in the condition of local roads and that standards overall were, if anything, slightly better than in 1977 when the survey began.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the planned local authority road construction budget for 1981–82, 1982–83 and 1983–84; what was the outturn in each year; what was the percentage underspending in each year; what action he has taken to reduce the scope for underspending in 1984–85; and if he will make a statement.

The following table gives the provision for local authority road construction; outturn; and percentage underspend for the years requested:

			£ million cash
	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84
Provision	349	417	478
Outturn	318	*397	†
Percentage underspend	9	5	—
* Provisional outturn.
† The latest available (third quarter) capital payments returns do not provide an adequate basis for forecasting outturn for road construction.

In accepting expenditure for transport supplementary grant in 1984–85, we have taken account of authorities' past spending record. We are now reviewing the TSG system with a view to providing greater encouragement for authorities to carry out desirable road improvements.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make an annoucement about the reinstatement of the green B route from Whitebirk to link up with the M6–M61 motorway.

In the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when the construction of the proposed grade separated crossing of the A2 at the Barham-Wingham crossroads will be started.

I hope to publish draft orders shortly. If no public inquiry is needed, construction could start in the summer of 1985.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the latest count of vehicles travelling on the M25 in the area of Waltham Abbey; and how it compares with the estimated volume of traffic.

Counts taken in April showed two-way flows in the order of 47,000 vehicles per day (16-hour average weekday). This compares with a 1983 estimate of 45,000 to 50,000 vpd in 1987, the expected first full year of operation of the complete motorway.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether he will list in the Official Report all contracts awarded in connection wih the design, construction repair and renovation of junction 6 of the M6 midland link motorway and its approach and feeder roads to W. S. Atkins and Partners, Maunsell and Partners, Owen Williams and Partners and Monk & Company, detailing the purpose of each contract, contract price and period, actual time taken to fulfil each contract with reasons for any delay and actual cost of each completed contract;(2) whether he will list in the

I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations he has had with the Kent county council concerning the proposed grade separated junction at Barham crossroads on the A2; and if he will satisfy himself that the delay in starting this work is not due to any negligence in his Department.

Kent county council has been consulted about the draft proposals for this scheme. The delay in publishing draft orders is due to the need to ensure that the proposals are still value for money. It would have been negligent not to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many employees in his Department in each year since 1979 have been allowed paternity leave under the rules set out in paragraphs 685–688 of the Civil Service pay and conditions of service code; and what was the average number of days allowed.

The code paragraphs quoted deal with the granting of special leave for domestic distress. There is no provision in the code for paternity leave as such. In certain circumstances, special leave for domestic distress may be granted to male staff under code paragraph 686(a) or (c) when serious complications have occurred in connection with a wife's confinement. Records kept of special leave for domestic distress do not readily identify the nature of the distress and details of any such cases could be extracted only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of (a) civil servants and (b) secondees, who are engaged in internal audit within his Department and the grades and qualifications of each individual; and to what extent the establishment and work carried out by the unit deviates from the nine primary standards listed in "Government Accounting 9/82."

The internal audit branch of the Department of Transport has 26 staff employed on internal audit comprising, one principal, two senior executive officers, nine higher executive officers and 14 executive officers. None has a professional qualification in accountancy or audit but four are studying for the diploma of the Institute of Internal Auditors, five have qualifications in business or public administration and two in systems analysis. There are no secondees. A firm of accountants has recently completed a year's assignment to develop internal audit at the driver and vehicle licensing centre to standards of best practice. This has involved intensive on-the-job training for the 11 members of the branch employed there and the head of internal audit, although it has not led directly to formal qualifications. A further consultancy is to be commissioned to consolidate and develop further expertise in computer audit.The Department accepts the standards listed in Government "Accounting 9/82" and they provide the framework for the continuing development of the branch under the guidance of the Department's audit committee. The establishment has been increased and now provides for an additional seven posts, which will be filled as soon as possible. The consultancy exercises form a key element of this development and formal training is being actively fostered. The head of internal audit is currently reviewing the audit needs and plans of the Department in relation to the standards with a view to possible regrading and restructuring.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what are the projected start and finish dates for the proposed improvements to the A3/M3 at Bar End-Compton;(2) what are the proposed start and finish dates for the proposed Whitway diversion of the A34;(3) what are the projected start and finish dates for the proposed widening of the A3/M3 at Compton Bassett;(4) what are the projected start and finish dates of the proposed East Ilsley-Chilton improvement of the A34.

		Planned start	Planned completion
M3	Bar End-Compton	1986	1988
M3	Compton-Bassett	1986	1988
A34	Whitway Diversion	End 1985	End 1987
A34	East Ilsley-Chilton	1986	1987

These dates are subject to the completion of the statutory procedures.My hon. Friend will note that the Bar End-Bassett schemes are planned as part of the M3 motorway.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total projected cost of the improvements currently under way on the M3/A3 at Popham Bar End.

The estimated works' cost, at current prices, of the extension of the M3 from Popham to Bar End, is approximately £33 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what are the planned start and completion date of the following improvements to the A3 (a) the Compton-Shackleford improvement, (b) the Milford bypass, (c) the Hindhead improvement and (d) the Liphook-Petersfield improvement;(2) what are the proposed start and finish dates for the proposed Tot Hill-Donnington improvement of the A34.

The Compton-Shackleford improvement is planned to start in 1986. The remaining schemes are in our main programme for April 1987 onwards. Construction is expected to take two years. Timing of the start of works will depend on the completion of the statutory procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is the projected cost of each of the following planned improvement programmes to the A3: (a) the Compton-Shackleford improvement, (b) the Milford bypass, (c) the Hindhead improvement and (d) the Liphook-Petersfield improvement;(2) what is the total projected cost for the proposed Whitway diversion of the A34;(3) what is the total projected cost of the proposed widening of the A3/M3 at Compton Bassett;(4) what is the total projected cost of the proposed improvements to the A3/M3 at Bar End-Compton;(5) what is the total projected cost of the East Ilsley-Chilton improvement of the A34;(6) what is the total projected cost of the proposed Tot Hill-Donnington improvement of the A34.

The estimated works costs, at November 1982 prices, are:

£ million
A3	Compton-Shackleford	6·2
A3	Milford Bypass	*4·5
A3	Hindhead	*6·0
A3	Liphook-Petersfield	24·1
M3	Compton-Bassett	16·7
M3	Bar End-Compton	26·0
A34	East Ilsley-Chilton	3·4
A34	Tot Hill-Donnington	*19·0 to 28·0
A34	Whitway Diversion	6·5
* Subject to decisions on preferred routes.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is the total projected expenditure on improvements to the A6 in each of the next 10 years;(2) what is the total planned expenditure on improvements to the A34 in each of the next 10 years;(3) what is the total planned expenditure on improvements to the A3 in each of the next 10 years.

The annual expenditure on individual road schemes will depend on the availability of funds, the progress of statutory and other procedures and the progressive up-dating of cost estimates as the schemes in question are worked up in detail. But a list of the schemes in preparation, including those on the A3, A6 and A34, is given in the White Paper, "Policy for Roads in England: 1983" (Cmnd. 9059), together with their currently projected costs.The total value for schemes costing over £1 million in the trunk road programme on each road is as follows:

Road	£ million*
A3	35·8
A6	79·4
A34	31·2
* 1982 prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many flights are currently authorised by his Department for, respectively, Malaysian Air Services and British Airways each week between the United Kingdom and Malaysia; and why he has declined to agree to more flights.

Four round-trip services by MAS and four round-trip services by BA are currently authorised. Additional services are not justified under the arrangements between the two aeronautical authorities for the determination of capacity on the Kuala Lumpur-London route. There are not sufficient passengers wanting to travel between these two countries to warrant additional flights.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he next expects officials of his Department to hold talks with the representatives of Malaysian Air Services regarding increasing the number of flights between the United Kingdom and Malaysia.

No further talks are planned at present, nor have any been requested by the Malaysian authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the latest negotiations between officials of his Department and representatives of Malaysian Air Services regarding increased flight frequencies between the United Kingdom and Malaysia.

Consultations were held between the aeronautical authorities of Malaysia and the United Kingdom on 29 and 30 May. The consultations examined the case for additional services on the route between Kuala Lumpur and London in the light of the latest data concerning the development of traffic on the route and against the background of arrangements agreed between the aeronautical authorities for the determination of capacity. Additional capacity could not for the present be justified under these arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the steps he requires Malaysian Air Services to take prior to him agreeing to increase the number of flights between Malaysia and the United Kingdom authorised by his Department.

I am ready to authorise additional capacity if it is justified under the arrangements agreed between the aeronautical authorities by reference to the relevant traffic flows.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what response he has made to the letter dated 30 May 1984 from Bolton metropolitan borough about British Rail Engineering Ltd. Railway Workshops, Horwich; if he is prepared to meet a delegation from the Bolton metropolitan borough; and if he will make a statement.

The Government wish to see the fullest co-operation between the council and BREL and other agencies involved in encouraging new jobs in the area. I am pleased to learn that a meeting between the parties has now been arranged. I have therefore written to the council suggesting that a delegation would serve no useful purpose at the moment.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many employees in his Department are in receipt of supplementary benefit; and, of these, how many work (a) less than 35 hours a week and (b) 35 hours a week or more.

Personal information of this kind is confidential to employees and is not available to employers. People working 30 hours a week or more are not normally entitled to supplementary benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the non-departmental bodies whose activities relate to cinematograph films to which he makes appointments.

My right hon. Friend is responsible for appointments to the British Film Fund Agency, the Cinematograph Films Council, the National Film Finance Corporation, and the interim action committee on the film industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what facilities are made available by his Department to organisations who seek to trade in the occupied area of northern Cyprus;(2) what advice is given by his Department to those organisations who are seeking to invest in the occupied area of northern Cyprus;(3) what is the number of business men from the occupied area of northern Cyprus who have met officials of his Department during the last three years; and if he will list the aspects of trade that were discussed.

Potential traders and investors enjoy the same access to advice from the Department of Trade and Industry in respect of northern Cyprus as for other overseas markets. Advice given reflects the complicated political circumstances existing in Cyprus. No details of business men from northern Cyprus meeting officials of the Department are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many patent applications were made at the British Patent Office during each of the last five years; and what was the total number of staff employed at the Patent Office during these years;(2) if, in view of the decrease in the amount of work done by the Patent Office, he will now reduce the number of civil servants employed there.

The number of patent applications filed and the number of staff employed in the Patent Office in each of the last five years as shown in the Comptroller-General's annual reports are:

	Applications	Total staff
1979	44,666	1,385
1980	41,640	1,375
1981	39,147	1,349½
1982	37,093	1,347
1983	34,691	1,278

The patent application figures, however, are not an index of the amount of work done by the Patent Office. During the period 1979 to 1983 the staff have made substantial inroads into the patent arrears which, despite productivity increases of approximately 17 per cent., still stand at over 17,000 unexamined applications. Moreover, around one fifth of the staff are concerned with trade marks where the annual number of applications has increased from 19,328 to 22,100 over the same period.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many employees in his Department in each year since 1979 have been allowed paternity leave under the rules set out in paragraphs 685–688 of the Civil Service pay and conditions of service code; and what was the average number of days allowed.

The code paragraphs quoted deal with the granting of special leave for domestic distress. There is no provision on the code for paternity leave as such. In certain circumstances, special leave for domestic distress may be granted to male staff under code paragraph 686 (a) or (c) when serious complications have occurred in connection with a wife's confinement.Records kept of special leave for domestic distress do not readily identify the nature of the distress and details of any such cases could be exracted only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the number of (a) civil servants and (b) secondees, who are engaged in internal audit within his Department and the grades and qualifications of each individual; and to what extent the establishment and work carried out by the unit deviates from the nine primary standards listed in "Government Accounting 9/82".

The number, grades and qualifications of civil servants engaged on internal audit in the Department of Trade and Industry are shown in the attached table. The Department also employs six

Civil Servants Engaged on Internal Audit in the DTI
Grade	Number	Qualifications	Training being undertaken
Assistant Secretary	1	CIPFA
Principal	1	LLB, ACA
	1	BSc, ACA, HNC in computer data processing	Studying for MBA
	1	BSc, PH.d
	1	ACCA intermediate level, Institute of Bookkeepers exam
SEO	1	BSc, ACA
	1	BSc
	1	HNC Business Studies	Studying for Professional Qualification in Internal Audit (PQIA)
	1	Computer programmer
	1		Studying for PQIA
	1
HEO	1	BA, HNC Business Studies
	1	BA	Training for ACCA
	1	HNC Business Studies	Studying for CIPFA Cert in Public Sector Internal Audit and Accounting
	5		Studying for PQIA
	4
TO	1	BA	Training for ACCA
	1	"A" level Accountancy
	1		Studying for PQIA
	1		Studying for CIPFA Cert
	2

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many machine tools were imported from Japan in 1983; and of these how many were imported through Belgium.

The provisional figure for numbers of metal-working machine tools consigned from Japan and imported into the United Kingdom in 1983 is 3,222.Information on the number imported from Japan as country of origin could be provided only at disproportionate cost, and information on those imported via Belgium is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if there was an agreement between his Department, the Machine Tool Trades Association and the Japanese on the number of machine tools that should be imported from Japan in 1983.

There was no agreement between my Department and the Japanese on the number of machine tools imported in 1983. However, in the light of the increase in import penetration of the European Community market by Japanese numerically controlled lathes and machining centres, the Commission took this matter up with the Japanes Government early last year and sought some reduction in Japanese exports to the Community. The United Kingdom industry also discusses the state of

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate how many British firms are manufacturing Japanese machine tools under licence.

Such agreements are not notified but the Department is aware of five agreements between United Kingdom and Japanese machine tools companies which provide for Japanese machine tools to be manufactured in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of Stale for Trade and Industry what percentage of national output of machine tools was exported by (a) Japan and (b) the United Kingdom.

In 1981 the proportion for Japan was 35 per cent. and for the United Kingdom 58 per cent. Provisional figures suggest that in 1982 the Japanese percentage was a little lower and the United Kingdom percentage a little higher.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications he has received for export licences for riot control vehicles; how many of these have been (a) granted, (b) refused and (c) not yet decided; and if he will indicate the countries involved.

It has been the standard practice of successive Governments not to make public information of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his policy on the export to Chile of products intended to suppress civil disobedience; and if he will make a statement.

As my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs explained to the House on 7 December 1983, it is the Government's policy not to grant licences for the export to Chile of weapons and related equipment that are likely, in our judgment, to be used for internal repression.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps are being taken in the European Community to agree measures on misleading advertising, doorstep sales and responsibility for faulty products.

I refer to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade to my hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Mr. Hayes) on 13 June at column 477.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the effect of Council regulation No. 2236/82 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on upright pianos originating in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; how many pianos originating in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics have been imported into the United Kingdom since 11 August 1982; and if he will make a statement.

The effect of the anti-dumping duty has been to counter unfair price competition from upright pianos from the USSR. From March 1982 until the end of 1983 the import of pianos from the USSR was also subject to quantilative restrictions. In consequence of these measures only 10 pianos were imported from the USSR between 11 August 1982 and the end of April 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many employees in his Department are in receipt of supplementary benefit; and, of these, how many work (a) less than 35 hours a week and (b) 35 hours a week or more.

Personal information of this kind is confidential to employees and is not available to employers. People working 30 hours a week or more are not normally entitled to supplementary benefits.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will list the number of (a) civil servants and (b) secondees, who are engaged in internal audit within his Department and the grades and qualifications of each individual; and to what extent the establishment and work carried out by the unit deviates from the nine primary standards listed in "Government Accounting 9/82".

An internal audit unit, covering the Cabinet Office, including the management and personnel office, and the Privy Council Office, was set up in February 1984. A head of internal audit (civil servant; principal; CIPFA) has been appointed. He is currently preparing a programme of action and determining the unit's staffing requirements. The intention is that the unit should achieve the nine primary standards listed in "Government Accounting 9/82" once it becomes fully operational.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the basis of selection of the 155 claimants of unemployment benefit in St. Helens whose claims to benefit were investigated by his Department's regional benefit investigation team.

Selection was made from amongst all categories of claimants where it was suspected that claims to benefit may have been fraudulent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what were the (a) age groups, (b) marital status and (c) sex of the 155 claimants of unemployment benefit, in St. Helens, whose claims to benefit were investigated by his Department's regional benefit investigation team;(2) what were the

Information about the age groups, marital status and sex of the 155 claimants investigated, the 20 who withdrew their claims and of their dependants, is not readily available and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the criteria used by his Department in deciding that none of the 20 claimants to unemployment benefit who withdrew their claims after being interviewed by his Department's regional benefit investigation team should be prosecuted for submitting a fraudulent claim.

The criteria used were consistent with the guidance on prosecution policy drawn up by my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General and placed in the Library on Monday 14 February 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how long his Department's regional benefit investigation team spent in St. Helens; how many people were in the team; what were their salary grades; and what was paid to each member of the team in overtime payments, subsistence allowances, travelling expenses and any other payments other than normal salary.

A team of nine executive grade officers spent five weeks in St. Helens. Non-salary payments were made under normal Civil Service rules but information about individual payments is not appropriate for publication.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the total estimated savings accruing from withdrawn claims to unemployment benefit resulting from the activities of his Department's regional benefit investigation team for the last 12 months.

The total net savings are estimated at £8 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) in which travel-to-work areas his Department's regional benefit investigation team is currently operating; and in which travel-to-work areas they have operated in the past 12 months;(2) how many claimants of unemployment benefit have been interviewed in each travel-to-work area in the last 12 months by his Department's regional benefit investigation team; and how many claimants in each travel-to-work area subsequently withdrew their claim to unemployment benefit.

Regional benefit investigation teams are currently operating in:

Middlesbrough	Truro
Carlisle	Paignton
Gosport	Newquay
Woolston	Barry
Farnham	Pontypridd
Southend	Madley
Torquay	Wellington
Eccles	Dumfries
Loughborough	Chester
Cumnock	Hull

Information about the number of claimants of unemployment benefit who have been interviewed in each travel-to-work area in the last 12 months and of those who subsequently withdrew their claims to benefit is not readily available and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many claimants of unemployment benefit have been prosecuted for fraudulent claims following interview by his Department's regional benefit investigation team; and how many of the prosecutions were successful, listed by travel-to-work area.

Prosecution of claimants following an interview with a regional benefit investigation team are not separately recorded. Information is not kept on a travel-to-work basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many disabled persons are registered as unemployed at the latest available date; and what percentage have been unemployed for more than one year.

Information on the number of disabled people who are unemployed is only available for those who choose to register for employment at jobcentres and careers offices.On 2 March 1984, there were 100,792 disabled people who were unemployed and so registered for employment. Information about the length of time they had been unemployed is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the level of youth unemployment at the latest available date in Denmark, West Germany, Ireland, Holland and the United Kingdom.

The latest available information is contained in my reply to the hon. Member for Huddersfield (Mr. Sheerman) on 20 February at column 387–8.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of persons who have been made redundant in the first quarter of 1984 in the United Kingdom.

52,759^* redundancies were confirmed as due to occur in Great Britain† during the first quarter of 1984. Comparable figures for Northern Ireland are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the percentage change in wages of (a) males and (b) females under the age of 18 years compared to adult wages since 1979.