asked the hon. Member for Wokingham, as representing the Church Commissioners, whether any requests are currently before the commissioners to permit the sale of a redundant church to a non-Christian body for purposes of religious worship.

	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84
	(£ pa)	(£ pa)	(£ pa)	(£ pa)	(£ pa)
Archbishop of Canterbury	12,555	15,190	18,610	20,845	22,930
Archbishop of York	10,960	13,260	16,245	18,195	20,015
Bishop of London	10,190	12,330	15,105	16,920	18,610
Bishop of Durham	8,960	10,840	13,280	14,875	16,365
Bishop of Winchester	7,420	8,980	11,000	12,320	13,550
Other Diocesan Bishops	6,660	8,060	9,875	11,060	12,165
Suffragan Bishops, Deans and Provosts	5,425	6,565	8,040	9,005	9,905
Residentiary Canons	4,250	5,300	6,490	7,270	7,995
Archdeacons' Recommended Range	4,720 to 5,415	5,710 to 6,500	7,000 to 8,000	7,850 to 8,950	8,635 to 9,845

asked the hon. Member for Wokingham, as representing the Church Commissioners, what financial provision was made in each of the last four calendar years for the former wives of parochial clergy who have either been divorced or otherwise separated from their husbands; and whether he will make a statement on the general policy on this matter adopted by the commissioners.

The primary responsibility for the welfare of clergymen and their families rests with the bishop of the diocese in which they serve. It follows that nationwide statistics are not available. A working group set up by the House of Bishops is at present considering advice to the House upon the exercise of that responsibility in relation to wives of parochial clergy who have been divorced or otherwise separated from their husbands, including financial provision. At the request of the group, the commissioners are assisting its deliberations.

asked the hon. Member for Wokingham, as representing the Church Commissioners, whether he will make a statement on the operation and financial results since July 1982 of the Endowments and Glebe Measure 1976.

As my hon. Friend knows, the Endowments and Glebe Measure 1976 came into force on 1 April 1978. Its two main provisions were for the pooling of endowment income and the transfer of

There are no proposals currently before the commissioners involving the sale of a redundant church to a non-Christian body for the purposes of religious worship.

asked the hon. Member for Wokingham, as representing the Church Commissioners, whether he will set out in tabular form, for each of the years 1979 to 1983, inclusive, the recommended salaries fixed by the commissioners for archbishops, bishops diocesan and suffragan, deans, canons resident and archdeacons.

The stipends paid by the commissioners to these groups of clergy (or, in the case of archdeacons, the range of stipends recommended to dioceses) in each of the financial years from 1979–80 onwards are as follows:glebe into diocesan ownership. The measure did not of itself provide additional funds for the payment of the clergy but sought to enable the Church to deploy more effectively funds which were already available for stipend purposes.Since the measure came into effect, dioceses have been seeking both to ensure that lettings of glebe are based upon proper commercial considerations and to rationalise their holdings mainly by the sale of small isolated plots and the purchase of more attractive property investments with the proceeds. The gross income derived from glebe in the 42 mainland dioceses where the measure came in force on 1 April 1978 was £2·1 million. The figures at the end of each subsequent year are:

£ million
Year
31 December 1978	*1·3
31 December 1979	2·6
31 December 1980	3·2
31 December 1981	4·0
31 December 1982	4·6
* Nine month period.

Complete figures for 1983 are not yet available.The introduction of the measure has not required the commissioners to employ any extra staff or to incur any additional expenses. The commissioners do not have the detailed information to identify directly whether the measure has led to any increase in staffing or administrative expenses at diocesan level, but it is reasonable to assume that, if the dioceses have incurred any additional cost, this will have been more than offset both by savings in the time of and cost to incumbents in administering glebe before 1978, as well as the substantial increases in income that have been secured.

asked the hon. Member for Wokingham, as representing the Church Commissioners, whether he will set out in tabular form, for the years 1982 and 1983, the sums paid by the Commissioners by way of pensions to retired clergymen, to clergy widows and to deaconesses and licensed lay workers.

The sums paid by the commissioners by way of pensions to retired clergymen and clergy widows and to deaconesses and licensed lay workers in the (calendar) years 1982 and 1983 are as follows:

£ million
	1982	1983
Clergy and their widows	21·4	23·4
Deaconesses and licensed lay workers	1·1	1·3
TOTAL	22·5	24·7

asked the hon. Member for Wokingham, as representing the Church Commissioners, whether he will set out in tabular form for the years 1982 and 1983 the sums paid by the commissioners to augment the stipends of clergymen.

The sums paid by the commissioners for stipends of clergymen in the (calendar) years 1982 and 1983 are as follows:

	1982	1983
	£ million	£ million
From the commissioners' own resources	30·1	31·9
Diocesan and other contributions via the commissioners*	31·8	36·9
Total	61·9	68·8
* Includes glebe income.

asked the hon. Member for Wokingham, as representing the Church Commissioners, whether he will make a statement on the proposals of the commissioners, as central stipends authority, to increase the level of stipend ranges and scales for beneficed clergy and assistant curates since 21 July 1982; and what is the current position regarding the payments by parishes towards the essential working expenses of parochial clergy.

The commissioners, as central stipends authority, recommended for the year from 1 April 1984 an increase in the national minimum stipend for incumbents to £6,500 with a range extending to £6,800 within which each diocese sets its own minimum stipend; in addition, the CSA recommended that the average stipend for incumbents in each diocese should not exceed £7,000.The increased national scale recommended for assistant curates, deoconesses and licensed lay workers starts at £5,600 with four annual increments of £125 up to £6,100. Dioceses are encouraged by the CSA to consider remunerating assistant staff with family commitments, greater seniority, exceptional experience or responsibility, at a higher level than that indicated by the main scale and additional points at £6,225, £6,350 and £6,500 are suggested for the purpose.The CSA will shortly be announcing stipend level recommendations for 1985–86 which, it is hoped, will safely cover the expected rate of inflation. Meanwhile it should be recalled that, in addition to their stipends, clergymen are provided with a house free from rent, rates, repairs and insurance, or an appropriate housing allowance is paid instead.With regard to working expenses, there has been a slow but continuing improvement in the average levels of reimbursement of expenses of incumbents, and those of similar status. In 1980 the rate of remimbursement was 78 per cent. and in 1982 it was 79·5 per cent.; although detailed figures for 1983 are not yet available, it is expected that these will show continuing progress. The CSA believes that its booklet called "The Parochial Expenses of the Clergy—a Guide to their Reimbursement", which was first published in April 1982 and which has recently been revised and reprinted, has helped dioceses and parishes to tackle this problem with some success.

asked the hon. Member for Wokingham, as representing the Church Commissioners, whether he will make a statement on any specific initiatives taken by the commissioners since July 1982 to use their influence as institutional shareholders to induce British companies operating in South Africa to adopt employment policies for black African workers in accordance with the European Community code of conduct; and what response has been achieved.

For some 10 years the Church Commissioners have sought to encourage British companies in which they hold shares to adopt enlightened employment policies in South Africa, using as their basic yardstick since 1977 the EEC code of conduct. In this connection they have had confidential discussions and/or correspondence wirth numerous companies. They believe that all the companies either comply with the code or are making rapid strides in that direction.

asked the hon. Member for Wokingham, as representing the Church Commissioners, what was the total sum of money provided by the laity for each of the years 1981, 1982 and 1983 towards the expenses of the Church of England, showing separately (a) stipends and (b) working expenses.

From the information available, the best estimates I can offer for the total sums of money provided by the laity for the expenses of the Church of England in each of the (calendar) years 1981, 1982 and 1983 are as follows:

Year	(a) For Stipends	(b) For Clergy Working Expenses	Total Giving including (a) and (b)
	£ million	£ million	£ million
1981	*23·2	6·9	91·1
1982	27·7	7·5	†101·7
1983	31·7	‡8·0	Not available
* Revised
† Provisional
‡ Estimate

asked the hon. Member for Wokingham, as representing the Church Commissioners, whether, following the decision of the Newcastle Diocesan Parsonages Boards to sell glebe land at Hartburn by sealed tender, the commissioners will have regard, in exercising their power to approve or disapprove the sale, to the desirability of ensuring continual public access to the woodlands and grotto.

I can assure the hon. Member that the commissioners will have regard to all relevant factors.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 21 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 21 June.

This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today.

asked the Prime Minister if she will pay an official visit to Bearsden.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement outlining her negotiation aims for the next meeting of the Council of Common Market Prime Ministers.

Our main aim is to try to reach agreement on the problem of budget imbalances and on the other issues, particularly control of Community expenditure, on which outline agreement was reached in March.

asked the Prime Minister what attention is being given to marriage guidance and reconciliation in the Government's consideration of divorce law reform.

Marriage guidance or counselling prior to the celebration of marriage or during marriage or divorce is not a matter which arises in connection with divorce law reform, but encouragement is given to the various counselling and guidance facilities available. After the commencement of divorce proceedings the duties of the court and legal advisers to the parties are laid down by section 6 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973. Conciliation services whether in court or out of court are always encouraged to consider the possibilities of reconciliation. Research is currently being commissioned as to the relative value of the various models of these services available to the parties to a marriage threatened by divorce proceedings.

asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied with the co-ordination of Government policy.

There is always room for improvement.

asked the Prime Minister how much was paid in each type of grant given by Government

TABLE I
Central Government grants to the city of Manchester
Cash
£ million
	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85
1. Grants taken to rate fund revenue account
(i) RSG
Needs and resources*/block grant†	95·5	107·0	126·3	‡109·6	║99·8	║96·2	¶89·9
Domestic rate relief	5·2	5·3	5·3	5·4	5·5	5·5	5·6
(ii) Specific grants● in respect of
Education	4·9	6·2	7·8	8·3	8·7	33·6	33·8
Libraries, museums and art galleries	0·0	0·1	0·2	0·1	0·2
Personal social services	0·4	0·8	1·4	1·6	1·8
Administration of justice	1·2	1·3	1·7	2·0	2·0
Recreation	0·0	0·1	0·3	0·6	0·6
Town and country planning	0·1	0·2	0·2	0·4	0·8
Housing	5·7	6·0	9·4	6·9	11·1
Other rate fund services	0·2	0·3	0·5	0·7	0·7
(iii) Rate rebates grant	2·0	2·0	3·3	5·2	17·3	8·3	7·6
2. Housing subsidies■
(i) Housing subsidy	18·7	23·2	26·7	15·9	7·6	2·1	2·4
(ii) Modified rent rebates	5·0	5·3	6·6	4·4	5·5	7·5	7·2
3. Capital grants⋆	1·5	1·4	2·9	4·6	7·6	N/A	N/A

TABLE II
Central Government grants to the city of Manchester
Cost (1982–83 prices)
£ million
	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85
1. Grants taken to rate fund revenue account
(i) RSG
Needs and resources*/block grant†	155·2	148·8	147·9	‡116·8	║99·8	║91·2	¶81·4
Domestic rate relief	8·5	7·3	6·2	5·7	5·5	5·3	5·0
(ii) Specific grants● in respect of
Education	7·9	8·6	9·1	8·9	8·7	31·8	30·5
Libraries, museums and art galleries	0·0	0·1	0·3	0·1	0·2
Personal social services	0·7	1·0	1·6	1·7	1·8
Administration of justice	2·0	1·8	2·0	2·1	2·0
Recreation	0·1	0·2	0·3	0·6	0·6
Town and country planning	0·1	0·2	0·2	0·4	0·8
Housing	9·3	8·4	11·0	7·3	11·1
Other rate fund services	0·2	0·4	0·6	0·7	0·7
(iii) Rate rebates grant	3·2	2·8	3·9	5·6	17·3	7·9	6·8
2. Housing subsidies■
(i) Housing subsidy	30·4	32·2	31·3	17·0	7·6	2·0	2·2
(ii) Modified rent rebates	8·1	7·4	7·7	4·7	5·5	7·1	6·5
3. Capital grants⋆	2·4	1·9	3·4	4·9	7·6	N/A	N/A
Notes to tables I and II
*Covering the years 1978–79 to 1980–81 and based on final entitlements.
† Covering the years 1981–82 to 1984–85. In 1981–82, grant was paid direct to metropolitan counties for the first time, and district entitlements were reduced.
‡Based on outturn, after holdback.
║ Based on budget, after holdback.
¶ Based on budget, before holdback.
●Based on outturn for 1978–79 to 1982–83 and on budgets for 1983–84 and 1984–85. Budget figures are not broken down by service.
■Figures for 1978–79 to 1981–82 are based on final audited claims. Figures for 1982–83, 1983–84 and 1984–85 are from the pre-audit claim, the second advance claim and the first advance claim respectively.
*Including some housing association grants. Figures are not available for 1983–84 and 1984–85.

The available information, in cash terms, is given in table I below. In table II, the figures have been converted into constant, 1982–83, prices by using the GDP deflator. Owing to changes in the grant system, the RSG figures are not comparable for all the years.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence he has received concerning fallout of airborne straw and ash over urban areas occasioned by the burning of surplus straw in rural areas; and what steps he has taken to prevent any repetition in the summer of 1984.

Having reviewed the problems which arose during last year's unusual weather conditions, we were convinced that stronger measures needed to be introduced to control the practice of straw and stubble burning. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department announced on 20 March the issue of revised model byelaws which greatly strengthen the controls on this practice. In particular, these new byelaws, by restricting the area which may be burnt at one time, will limit the creation of thermal air currents which carry straw ash and smuts. There is also a requirement in the byelaws for ash to be incorporated into the soil within 36 hours of burning. I understand from the Home Office that the uptake of these model byelaws by the local authorities in England and Wales has been encouraging. The National Farmers Union has revised its code of practice on straw and stubble burning to comply with these new byelaws and this is being distributed to all cereal growers. The Agricultural Training Board has also recently announced a training course, based on a new video, to help farmers and their employees to carry out straw burning safely. These organisations and this Ministry will be taking every opportunity, both before and during the coming harvest, to bring the details of the byelaws and the NFU code to the attention of the farming community.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if he will make a statement on the implications of Lord Macdonald's judgment of Wednesday 20 June on the status of citations which have not been served within the 29-day period.

The judgment has been appealed against by the Crown and it is anticipated that the hearing of the appeal will take place in early July.The immediate implication of the judgment is that a number of trials in indictment cases which were set down for current and future sittings of the High Court and sheriff and jury courts will not now be called. Fresh indictments have been or will be served for trial diets to be held as early as possible. To this end special sittings of the High Court have already been arranged. It is anticipated that the majority of them will proceed in the next eight weeks. The operation of the 110-day rule will result in the accused, in a few cases, being released pending trial.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if he will give details of vacant posts in procurators fiscal offices in Scotland; and how many of the posts have remained vacant for three months, six months and over 12 months, respectively.

As at 1 June 1984 there were 26 vacant posts in the procurator fiscal offices in Scotland (22 full-time and four part-time). These comprised of nine legal posts, six administrative posts, nine typists and two others.The administrative posts have been vacant for relatively short periods (none for as much as three months) but three of the legal posts have been vacant for more than six months. Because of recruiting difficulties two legal posts are likely to remain unfilled for more than 12 months.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what action he is taking in relation to the suggestion of the Select Committee on Transport about bus substitution for rail services in its second report for Session 1982–83, HC Paper 240; and if he will make a statement.

It is not our intention that British Rail should embark on a programme of major route closures. Within the context of that firm policy, however, I share the Select Committee's view that

"there is a strong case for bus substitution in situations where existing rail services are making significant operating losses and where buses can provide travellers with a reasonable alternative service at substantially lower costs of operation."

I also agree with the Select Committee that it is essential to give travellers confidence in the continuity of substitute services. I fully support the Committee's view that British Rail should be responsible for the provision of the services. In short, I believe that any bus substitute service must be of good quality, attractive, guaranteed and—where necessary—subsidised.It was against this background that I wrote to the chairman of British Rail last October inviting his views on the practicability of introducing some guaranteed and subsidised substitute bus services where they would be appropriate on local transport and value for money grounds.The chairman has welcomed the idea and has stressed that any substitute bus services should be designed as an integral part of the rail network and should be protected by a closure procedure comparable to that for rail services.The existing law is inadequate for this purpose. The replacement services provided under it during the 1960s were unacceptable. I have decided, therefore, to introduce legislation at the earliest opportunity reflecting the comments of the Select Committee and the chairman of British Rail.The essential features of my proposals are as follows. First, no bus substitute service would be introduced before the existing statutory procedure governing the closure of the rail service concerned has been completed. Secondly, where British Rail considered that a substitute bus service would offer a practical alternative to the existing rail service and provide better value for money, it would make clear in its closure proposal the intention to seek provision of the bus service. I would take account of the bus service proposals in reaching decisions. If I were convinced that the rail service was no longer justified and the proposals for substitute bus services were justified, I would make them a condition of my consent to the closure. Thirdly, the substitute bus service would be protected by a closure procedure similar to that for railway passenger services so as to provide the safeguard for continuity that is essential. Fourthly, if the bus service could not be self-financing, it would be subsidised by the Government through the grant to British Rail for the public service obligation. Fifthly, British Rail would be required to use contractors to provide the bus service and to seek competitive tenders for this purpose.I am grateful to the Select Committee for the help I gained from its views in framing these proposals.

	1974–75	1975–76	1976–77	1977–78	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83
Northern	40·9	59·3	48·0	26·2	23·2	38·5	58·7	60·0	56·7
Yorkshire and Humberside	60·4	66·3	69·2	84·1	63·9	54·4	52·2	96·1	79·4
North West	66·6	69·0	76·1	50·9	59·0	76·7	101·4	105·1	111·3
West Midlands	52·4	67·0	67·9	46·7	38·4	53·3	43·0	71·2	88·4
East Midlands	22·2	28·0	34·7	19·9	18·2	27·3	40·9	56·1	48·1
East Anglia	24·4	25·5	30·1	39·1	30·2	37·2	28·3	51·5	66·5
South West	65·3	87·2	71·0	41·9	31·5	34·7	50·2	56·4	69·6
South East (inc. London and M25)	69·4	195·7	183·0	139·8	168·9	237·4	309·4	350·8	382·1
Miscellaneous (all Regions)	42·8	43·9	43·3	37·0	37·9	37·4	24·4	84·8	32·9
Total	544·4	641·9	623·3	485·6	471·2	596·9	708·5	932·0	935·0

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all the regional offices of his Department, stating the exact function of each.

My Department has eight main regional offices. These deal with highways and local transportation matters and are in Manchester (North West Region); Newcastle (Northern); Leeds and Harrogate^* (Yorkshire and Humberside); Nottingham (East Midlands); Bedford (Eastern); Dorking and Guildford (South East); Bristol, Exeter and Taunton^* (South West); and Birmingham and Leamington Spa^* (West Midlands). The offices marked with an asterisk are former headquarters of the Department's road construction units and will be closed between 1984 and 1986. The Guildford office will close this summer.Each regional office has the following main functions within its region:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how much money has been spent on new roads in each region of England since 1973.

The table gives the information requested for both national and local authority roads, for the years 1974–75 to 1982–83 inclusive. Before 1974–75 central records of spending on roads do not distinguish between economic planning regions. The figures given for 1982–83 are provisional to the extent that information on local authority roads spending is still incomplete, while for 1983–84 there is as yet no central information on local authority roads spending.local vehicle licensing offices; the marine survey service, which includes eight district offices; and six Coastguard regional offices.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many times since holding his present office he has attended functions or meetings with the chairman of the British Airports Authority when Mr. Payne has made statements relevant to the determination of airports policy in the south-east.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was, for each appointment made since 1979, the date of appointment and determination of salary of each member of the British Railways Board and the National Bus Company, the date on which the salary determination in each case was laid before Parliament under paragraph 8(2) of schedule 1 to the Transport Act 1962, the date of each redetermination of salary and the date on which each such redetermination was laid before Parliament; and if he will make a statement as to the maximum period he normally expects to elapse before such notifications are laid before Parliament.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to appoint to the London Regional Passengers' Committee representatives of London's women, ethnic minorities, disabled and elderly, if the London Regional Transport Bill becomes law.

Appointments to the London Regional Passengers' Committee are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. We have made it clear that the committee should be representative of the wide range of interests found among the travelling public.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he has any proposals to continue the Greater London council's anti-skid monitoring and treatment programme for London's main roads, in the event of its abolition;(2) if he has proposal for continuing the work of the Greater London transport survey if the Greater London council is abolished;(3) what proposals he has to preserve a strategic traffic policy in London in the event of abolition of the Greater London council.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has concerning the night lorry ban on Archway road and Graham road introduced by the Greater London council when the north-east sector of the M25 was opened in January; and if he will make a statement.

As this is a GLC ban, it is for that council to evaluate its effects. I understand it has studies in hand.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) by what date he intends that the allocation of air routes between British airline operators will have been sufficiently firmly settled so as to allow British Airways to give clear commitments to potential investors prior to privatisation;(2) when he proposes to bring forward legislation, arising from the current review of airline routes by the Civil Aviation Authority, to enable the privatisation of British Airways to take place.

I will await the outcome of the Civil Aviation Authority's review of air transport licensing policy before deciding what, if any, action I need take. It is important for me not to prejudge the results of this independent review.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has reached a decision on the appeal by Associated Minibus Operators Ltd., AMOS, against the refusal of London Transport to grant a London bus agreement to them.

I have decided to dismiss the appeal by AMOS and have today sent the company a letter conveying my decision. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.The AMOS proposal contains many innovative and ingenious ideas for the provision of new kinds of public transport services in London. However, the proposal is based on the use of leasing associates who would operate the minibuses on routes allocated to them by AMOS. In order for the proposed services to be operated within the terms of the law, the individual leasing associates would each require London bus agreements. Any agreement granted to AMOS would not of itself empower the provision of the proposed services. I have therefore concluded that I cannot properly require London Transport to enter into an agreement with AMOS.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to announce the name of the new principal for the Civil Defence college at Easingwold.

As soon as possible after the completion of the open competition now being conducted by the Civil Service Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will instruct the civil defence college, Easingwold to provide a regular information service for the benefit of county chief emergency planning officers, local authorities and industry.

The college already does much in this direction. We are considering whether and, if so how, this might be expanded.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that all future Home Office publications giving general information and advice on civil defence to the public include detailed and comprehensive information on the properties and effects of chemical and biological weapons, their detection, warning systems and the protective measures to be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what means the public will be warned of the presence of lethal chemical substances in the event of chemical weapons being used against United Kingdom targets; and what signals will be used.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what means the presence of local concentrations of lethal chemical substances will be detected in the event of chemical weapons being used against the United Kingdom.

The Government are a party to the 1972 convention banning biological weapons. We are playing a leading part at the conference on disarmament at Geneva to achieve a comprehensive verifiable ban on the production, stockpiling and use- of chemical weapons. In the absence of a chemical weapons ban, we are actively considering how the present warning arrangements could be used for the detection and warning of the danger presented by chemical weapons and what protective measures may be taken.We shall keep the House informed of progress.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that no local authority will suffer Government financial penalty as a result of expenditure in fulfilment of its civil defence responsibilities.

Increased expenditure on civil defence in 1983–84 and 1984–85 will be disregarded when the liability of local authorities (in England and Wales) to grant holdback is calculated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in the light of the additional civil defence responsibilities given to local authorities, he will revise the guidance given in circular ES1/1972 on the establishment of emergency planning officers.

No. The guidance is interpreted flexibly, and we think it still holds good.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he expects compliance by local authorities with the new Civil Defence Regulations 1983 to result in an increase in the total civil defence grant-aid payable to local authorities.

Yes. We expect the grant to local authorities to increase from £9·4 million in 1983–84 to £11·1 million in 1984–85.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will create a civil defence inspectorate to ensure that a minimum acceptable standard is achieved by all local authorities.

We do not intend at present to do so. The Department has issued a civil defence questionnaire on compliance to county councils and the Greater London council and is appointing a professional civil defence adviser to help us to assess responses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will explain the reason for a fall of approximately £1 million in the civil defence grant paid to local authorities between 1983–84 and the estimated figure for 1984–85.

No fall in the payment of civil defence grant is expected. Grant paid to local authorities is budgeted to increase from £9·4 million in 1983–84 to an estimated £11·1 million in 1984–85.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will increase the number of visits by staff of F6 department of his Department to local authorities and to attend local authority civil defence training sessions and exercises.

Officials will continue to make these visits, and the appointment of the new civil defence adviser will help us to build up further our contacts with local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice he has given to local authorities on the light rescue role of civil defence volunteers; and what training and equipment he has indicated they should receive.

Home Office circular No. ES 1/1983 to local authorities on 30 November 1983 about the implementation of the new civil defence regulations drew attention to the function of planning for a wartime rescue service. It explained that such plans should involve the resources of, inter alia, civil defence volunteers. We shall continue to develop more detailed guidance for issue in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider extending the number of civil defence functions which are 100 per cent. funded from central funds.

The Civil Defence (Grant) (Amendment) Regulations 1983 extended complete reimbursement to communications, staff training and the expenses of volunteers. At present we have no further extensions in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to publish the findings of the Easingwold committee for co-ordination of training of civil defence volunteers.

The findings of the working party on the training of civil defence volunteers will be circulated to local authorities later this year; and placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the minimum percentage requirement is for a static shelter policy for the general public in the event of a civil defence emergency.

Local authorities were asked in Home Office circular No. ES 1/1976 to earmark suitable premises to provide shelter for some 2 per cent of the resident population, solely in order to provide for people caught in transit at the time of an attack. Copies of the circular are in the Library of the House. Under the Civil Defence (General Local Authority Functions) Regulations 1983, local authorities are required to make plans for utilising such buildings, structures, excavations and other features of land in their area which might be suitable for use for the purpose of providing civil defence for the public. These shelters would be for people caught away from their homes or living in accommodation offering low protection against radiation. The number of places with these shelters could provide is not linked to any particular percentage of the population resident in a local authority area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will identify the two counties in which civil defence volunteers are organised.

Civil defence volunteers, including scientific advisers, are recruited and trained throughout the country. How exactly they are organised is a matter for individual local authorities. So far only Devon and Surrey have formal, county-wide organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to be able to announce the name of the civil defence adviser at the Home Office.

As soon as possible on the completion of the Home Office open competition, probably before the end of July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what films and audio-visual programmes are available from Government sources for training community civil defence volunteers.

The available films need updating. This need is to be examined by the Home Office working party on volunteer training as part of its work on training material.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is monitoring the effectiveness of grant-aided expenditure on civil defence by local authorities which have declared their areas to be nuclear-free zones.

A questonnaire has already been issued to all county councils and the Greater London council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what have been the annual increases in police pay since 1979; and what were the reasons for those increases.

Since May 1979, when the pay increases recommended by the Edmund-Davies committee were implemented in full, the basic pay of police officers below the rank of assistant chief constable has been updated with effect from 1 September each year in line with the increase in the average earnings index during the previous 12 months, as recommended by that committee. This produced increases of 13·5 per cent. in 1979, 21·3 per cent. in 1980, 13·2 per cent. in 1981, 10·4 per cent. in 1982 and 8·3 per cent.in 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many juveniles under the age of 16 years were convicted of crimes for the year 1982–83.

About 54,000 juveniles under the age of 16 were found guilty of indictable offences in 1982. Corresponding information for 1983 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers have been seriously injured while carrying out duties in connection with miners' picket lines.

Of 412 police officers injured between 14 March and 19 June in policing events related to the miners' dispute, 29 of the injuries are recorded as being serious.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received respecting the cost of policing the industrial dispute in the coal mining industry; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend announced in reply to a question from my hon. Friend for Sherwood (Mr. Stewart) on 11 May, at columns 483–84, the details of a special payment to police authorities in respect of additional costs arising from the policing of the miners' dispute. He has since received representations that further help is necessary. He is considering these representations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from police authorities about the effect on normal policing in their areas of the deployment of police away from their normal geographical locations during the coal mining dispute.

We have received a number of such representations, with particular reference to the effect on police force budgets of the additional overtime being worked to make up for the absence of police officers from their normal place of duty.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on police action to prevent violence and intimidation during the present coal mining dispute.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a further statement about the policing of events connected with the current coal mining dispute.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on police handling of criminal disorder on picket lines.

I refer my hon. Friends to the replies I gave earlier today to questions from my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Burton (Mr. Lawrence) and my hon. Friend the Member for Wokingham (Sir W. van Straubenzee).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Nottinghamshire on the level of offences involving intimidation of working miners.

The chief constable tells me that numerous acts of intimidation of working miners and their families in his force area have been reported to the police. The acts have included anonymous telephone calls threatening either a miner, a member of his family or property, and damage to miners' homes or vehicles. All acts of intimidation are being investigated thoroughly by the police. In local publicity, people are being encouraged to report such acts to the police, and assured that they will receive urgent and thorough attention, with a view to prosecution wherever possible. A special team of CID officers has been established to pursue allegations of intimidation, and additional uniformed officers are deployed in villages which have been subject to intimidation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of those charged with offences of violence during the mining dispute have been tried; and what proportion so tried have been sentenced to terms of imprisonment.

The information available centrally about court proceedings on charges brought in relation to the policing of the miners' dispute does not identify the nature of the offences dealt with: but between 14 March and 19 June the courts dealt with 508 cases. None of those convicted was sentenced to imprisonment; 33 people were acquited.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of pickets who have been injured during the miners' dispute at the latest date.

The information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Official Report the cost of policing the miners' dispute to each of the metropolitan counties to the latest available date.

I understand that the Greater Manchester police authority estimates that up to 26 May additional costs of about £750,000 had been incurred on policing the miners' dispute and providing officers on mutual aid to other forces; the Merseyside police authority estimates that up to 17 June total additional costs of about £4·27 million had been incurred; the Northumbria police authority—whose area includes the metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear—estimates that up to 15 June total additional costs of about £450,000 had been incurred; the south Yorkshire police authority estimates that up to 14 June mutual aid costing about £1,151,000 had been received; the West Midlands police authority estimates that up to 1 June additional costs of just over £1 million had been incurred on providing mutual aid to other forces and on overtime to maintain police cover in the county; and the West Yorkshire police authority estimates that up to 10 June the additional costs of providing mutual aid amounted to some £589,000. Figures given are for gross costs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each police force whose officers have been involved in the coal mining dispute the number of complaints made (a) to him by hon. Members and (b) under police complaints procedures.

I shall reply to the hon. Member when such of the information as is available has been analysed in the form requested.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the reply of 7 June, Official Report, column 215, if he will list the number of police officers from other forces deployed to assist those forces most affected by the miners' dispute since 6 June, and publish in a similar form details of the number of police offices involved from forces most affected.

The table gives, to the nearest 100, the maximum number of officers from other forces deployed to assist those forces most affected by the dispute during each week or prt of a week, between 6 June and 19 June inclusive. Information as to the number of officers deployed locally is not available.

Maximum number of officers from other forces deployed on any one day
Week	Number
6 June to 10 June	5,800
11 June to 17 June	5,500
18 June to 19 June	8,100

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

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