asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish in the Official Report, for the years 1982–83 and 1983–84, and with estimates for 1984–85, the figures for (a) non-structural maintenance expenditure, (b)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the value of highway work of local authorities undertaken by private contractors and by direct labour organisations in 1982–83 and 1983–84.

A survey carried out by my Department during 1983 suggested that in a sample of 69 highway authorities in England and Wales, out of a total of 86 authorities consulted, the value of highway work undertaken by private contractors and direct labour organisations respectively in 1982–83 was as follows: structural maintenance classified as capital expenditure and (c) other capital expenditure, fir (i) motorways and (ii) trunk roads other than motorways.

The information requested is as follows, in so far as it is available:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the study financed by the Transport and Road Research Laboratory and undertaken by University College, London, into the analysis of accidents at urban junctions.

The final report from University College was received at TRRL in January 1984. It is intended to publish the work in an edited form as a TRRL report in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport to which officers of the Belfast to Heysham freight vessle, the Stena Sailer, registered in Georgetown, Cayman Islands, pilotage certificates hve been issued in accordance with the Pilotage Act 1983.

This is a matter for the Belfast Pilotage Authority, but I understand that it has granted pilotage certificates in respect of this vessel to Capt. D. J. McHarg, Capt. D. P. Wilkinson and Chief Officer B. F. Fountain.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many reported breaches there have been by signatory nations in each of the years since its introduction of the international convention on standards of training, certification and watchkeeping for seafarers of 1978.

None. This convention came into force on 28 April 1984, and no reports have been circulated.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many reported breaches there have been by signatory nations in each of the years since is introduction of the Torremolinos international convention for the safety of fishing vessels of 1977.

None. The convention has not yet entered into force.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many reported breaches there have been by signatory nations in each of the years since its introduction of the Athens convention relating to the carrying of passengers and their luggage by sea of 1974.

The Athens convention provides a legal liability regime but does not provide any procedure for reporting breaches. It has not yet entered into force internationally.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport why the United Kingdom has not signed the convention relating to civil liability in the field of maritime carriage of nuclear material of 1971.

The United Kingdom already gives effect to the main provisions of the convention. To sign and ratify the convention would require complex amendments to existing legislation to no very obvious benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many reported breaches there have been by signatory nations in each of the years since its introduction of the protocol on space requirements for special trade passenger ships of 1973;(2) how many reported breaches there have been by signatory nations in each of the years since its introduction of the special trade passenger ships agreement of 1971;

None. There is no provision in these instruments for breaches to be reported.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many reported breaches there have been by signatory nations in each of the years since its introduction of the international convention on civil liability for oil pollution damage of 1969.

None. The civil liability convention 1969 provides a legal liability regime, and does not provide any procedure for reporting breaches.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many reported breaches there have been by signatory nations in each of the years since its introduction of the protocol relating to intervention on the high seas in cases of pollution by substances other than oil of 1973;(2) how many reported breaches there have been by signatory nations in each of the years since its introduction of the international convention relating to intervention on the high seas in cases of oil pollution casualties of 1969.

I am not aware of any cases of improper use of the powers available to states under the 1969 convention or 1973 protocol on intervention on the high seas in cases of pollution casualties.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many reported breaches there have been by signatory nations in each of the years since its introduction of the convention on facilitation of international maritime traffic of 1965.

The facilitation convention 1965 provides for contracting states to report to the International Maritime Organisation any inability on their part to comply fully with standards of the convention and for the organisation to inform contracting Governments accordingly. The organisation has circulated information concerning notifications by 26 contracting states.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many reported breaches there have been by signatory nations in each of the years since its introduction of the international convention for the prevention of pollution from ships 1973.

The international convention for the prevention of pollution from ships 1973 came into force on 3 October 1983. The International Maritime Organisation has not circulated any reports from signatory nations listing breaches of the convention.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many reported breaches there have been by signatory nations in each of the years since its introduction of the international convention for the prevention of pollution of the sea by oil of 1954, as amended.

Signatory nations are required to report violations or alleged violations of this convention, and the only figures available are for the five-year period 1977 to 1981. The figures for each year are 290 (1977), 343 (1978), 670 (1979), 664 (1980) and 484 (1981).

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many reported breaches there have been by signatory nations in each of the years since its introduction of the international convention for the safety of life at sea of 1974.

Regulation 19, chapter I, of this convention requires signatory nations to report ships which are in breach of its provisions. Although it is not possible to say how many ships have been reported each year since the convention came into force in May 1980, figures circulated by the International Maritime Organisation show that a total of 912 ships had been reported up to October 1983.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will revise the draft Dairy Produce Quota Regulations 1984, laid before Parliament on 27 June.

My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and I have, following the debate of 3 July in the House of Commons, withdrawn the draft which was laid on 27 June and have today laid a revised draft which takes account of comments made by hon. Members and by interested organisations. The main changes are as follows.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many reported breaches there have been by signatory nations in each of the years since its introduction of the convention on the prevention of marine pollution by dumping of wastes and other matter of 1972, as amended.

I understand from the International Maritime Organisation, which provides the secretariat to this convention, that such information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the criteria for a successful application to the Metropolitan police for permission to hold a street collection; and why applications to hold collections on behalf of coal miners and their families have been refused.

Street collections in the Metropolitan police district are controlled by the Street Collections (Metropolitan Police District) Regulations 1979 made under section 5 of the Police, Factories etc. (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1916. These regulations provide that before any collection can be made, a permit must be obtained from the Commissioner of Police. All applications for permits are referred to an independent advisory committee appointed to advise the Commissioner on these matters. I understand that five applications to hold collections on behalf of coal miners and their families have been refused on one or more of the following grounds:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how much money has been confiscated by the Metropolitan police following collections in aid of the miners' solidarity fund; and what is to happen to this money;(2) why Metropolitan police officers are confiscating moneys collected in London for the miners' solidarity fund.

It is an offence to carry out street or house to house collections without authorisation under the Police, Factories etc. (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1916 or the House to House Collections Act 1939. The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that, according to the information available to him, £47·21½ has been taken into the possession of the police in the circumstances described. It was thought that the money might be required for evidential purposes in the event of a prosecution; but it is now being returned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Horne Department what has been the cost of policing the weekly anti-apartheid demonstration in Trafalgar square since the decision to confine the demonstrators to the north side of Duncannon street; and how this cost compares with the costs incurred under the previous arrangements.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that no additional costs have been incurred in policing the demonstration, either before 26 May, when the new arrangements for policing the demonstration were introduced, or in the period since then up to 6 July inclusive.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of policing the antiapartheid demonstrations outside the South African embassy (a) on Friday 29 June, (b) in 1982, (c)in 1983 and (d) so far in 1984 in total.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that no additional costs were incurred in policing the demonstration on 29 June. The other information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures exist for non-British citizens resident in the United Kingdom who have been certified under the Mental Health Acts to consult independent representatives before arrangements are made by the relevant health authorities prior to their removal from the United Kingdom.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to section 86 of the Mental Health Act 1983, under which a patient who is detained in hospital under certain provisions of that Act or of the Mental Health Act (Northern Ireland) 1961 for treatment for mental illness, and who is neither a British citizen nor a Commonwealth citizen with the right of abode in the United Kingdom, may be removed from the United Kingdom. Before exercising this power my right hon. and learned Friend must be satisfied that such removal is in the interests of the patient and obtain the approval of a mental health review tribunal. The patient will be given the opportunity to make his views known to the tribunal, and may have access to legal representation in doing so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many injuries have been sustained by West Yorkshire police as a result of operations connected with the mining dispute since 14 March.

The chief constable of West Yorkshire tells me that in the period between 14 March and 8 July inclusive, 75 of his officers were injured while assisting in other force areas in the policing of events related to the dispute.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report the number of prisoners remanded in custody in Wales for periods exceeding one year for each of the past five years.

The regional totals are not separately available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Her Majesty's chief inspector's report on suicides in penal establishments is likely to be published.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what date he expects the publication of the prisons suicide study.

The report by the Chief Inspector of Prisons on suicides in prison will be published shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people who applied to naturalise as British citizens were refused British nationality in 1982 and in 1983; and how many (a) women, and (b) minors who applied for discretionary registration as British citizens were refused British nationality in 1982 and in 1983.

The information available relates to all applications for naturalisation or registration which did not result in the grant of citizenship (including, for example, applications that were withdrawn).One thousand, eight hundred and sixteen applications for naturalisation were unsuccessful in 1982 and 1,268 in 1983.The equivalent number of unsuccessful applications for the registration of minors under section 7 of the British Nationality Act 1948 and section 3(1) of the British Nationality Act 1981 were:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications were made to enter the United Kingdom or to remain in the country as a refugee in 1983; and how many applicants were (a) recognised as refugees, (b) granted asylum without refugee status and (c) refused.

Three thousand, five hundred and sixty-eight, 1,018; 389; and 1,939 respectively.The figures for cases decided do not relate directly to that for applications, as an application is not necessarily decided in the year it is made. Some of those whose applications were refused will have qualified to remain in this country on other grounds.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for entry to the United Kingdom from (a) husbands and (b) fiancés in the Indian sub-continent were (i) decided and (ii) refused in each quarter of 1983; and how many refusals were (1) wholly and (2) partly because the primary purpose of the marriage was held to be immigration into the United Kingdom.

Information on applications decided is given in the following table. For the information requested on applications refused, I refer the hon. Member to the replies given to questions from the hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood (Mrs. Short) on 16 December 1983 at columns 621–24, and from the hon. Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Madden) on 22 March 1984, at column 565.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what publications are produced by or for his Department; what is the annual cost of each; and who is responsible for the editorial policy.

To answer the question fully would involve disproportionate cost. Information about the Department's publications is given in the Her Majesty's Stationery Office catalogues, the "Catalogue of British Official Publications Not Published by HMSO" and in the annual "Home Office List of Publications". All of these are publicly available and copies are in the Library of the House. Responsibility for editorial policy varies according to the nature of the publication.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been detained in Northern Ireland under the Immigration Act powers in each of the last five years; and what was the country of origin of those detained.

I regret that the information about persons detained pending deportation cannot be obtained without disproportionate cost. Other persons who may be detained under the Provisons of the Immigration Act 1971 are illegal entrants awaiting removal, and seamen, aircrew and passengers awaiting examination or removal. For these categories the information requested is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the dates since 1954 when capital write-offs have been made in the National Coal Board's accounts; and what were the relevant amounts.

There have been two capital write-offs, the first in 1965 and the second in 1972–73, involving £415 million and £449·6 million, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes announcing authorities to be designated under the Rates Act.

Before the summer recess.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next proposes meeting the local authority associations to discuss the implementation of the Rates Act 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next intends meeting the Association of District Councils to discuss designation of authorities under the Rates Act 1984.

I shall be meeting all the local authority associations in the consultative council on local government finance on 19 July. No request has so far been made for this matter to be on the agenda.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the conclusions in the report of the Environment Committee on green belt and land for housing (H.C. 275, Session 1983–84) about the green belt.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Sir H. Rossi) on Wednesday 4 July at columns 160·62.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent the Government's initiative on the cleaning up of the Mersey will affect the upper reaches of the Manchester ship canal.

The initiative covers all the watercourses of the Mersey system, including the Manchester ship canal. The clean-up campaign will combine long-term water quality improvements with a wide range of new uses on, and alongside, the watercourses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the future of Peterlee development corporation.

My right hon. Friend will visit Aycliffe, Peterlee and Washington on 18 July for discussions with the development corporations, local authorities and others. He will announce his conclusions as soon as possible thereafter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take further steps to enable tenants to buy their rented flats and maisonettes.

I share my hon. Friend's wish to see more council tenants buy their flats and maisonettes. The Housing and Building Control Act — which received Royal Assent on 26 June — includes a number of measures to extend the opportunity for public sector tenants to buy their homes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any intention of introducing a moratorium on local authority capital expenditure on housing investment.

Not at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will have discussions with Laing-Mowlem Amey-Roadstone about the quality of tillite, quartzite and other indigenous materials in the Falklands being used for the construction of the new airport runways.

No. The quality of these materials is clearly stated in the contract specifications and the Laing-Mowlem-Amey Roadstone joint venture is in no doubt about its responsibility in this respect. PSA site control staff check that the materials incorporated in the work meet these specifications.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what medical facilities are available to the contract workers at the CMA camps in the Falklands; if the staff are fully qualified; and what checks are made to ascertain that proper hygienic standards are maintained.

The Laing-Mowlem-Amey Roadstone Construction joint venture provides medical facilities of a general practice nature. These are currently staffed by a doctor and three nurses, all of whom are fully qualified. A 10-bed convalescent hospital is due to be completed at the end of August. The doctor carries out inspections every two days to ensure that proper hygienic standards are maintained throughout the camp. An inspection with satisfactory results has also been completed by the Falkland Islands Government medical staff.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many men are employed at the CMA camps in the Falklands; if they receive a water supply every day in their cabins; what restrictions are placed on them visiting Port Stanley; why the management live on a ship with individual rooms and videos; what similar recreational facilities are available to the men; what requests from these men have been received to allow them to form a trade union or workforce committee; and whether the management can send any workers home as "unsuitable" if they engage in trade union activities.

Some 1,100 people were employed in the Falklands by the Laing-Mowlem-Amey Roadstone Construction joint venture at the end of June. The conditions under which they were employed are the responsibility of the contractor, but the answers to the specific questions are as follows. A potable water supply is available throughout the contractor's domestic accommodation. Visits to Port Stanley in small numbers are encouraged by the contractor who subsidies the cost of the air fare. Access overland is difficult and can be hazardous and is not generally allowed for that reason. The majority of the contractor's management team live in the same camp as the work force; conditions for those living on the Merchant Providence are broadly similar. Video and other recreational facilities are available for all and will soon be augmented by a purpose-built recreation hall which is nearing completion.Recreational arrangements are discussed fortnightly by a joint management/work force entertainments committee. A more general work force committee was established in December 1983 to enable discussion of any problems about working or living conditions on the site. The contractor assures me that there is no discrimination in respect of trade union activities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will ensure that adequate funds will be made available to continue the job creation work of the West Midlands county council if the county council is abolished.

It will be for the metropolitan district councils, which already have concurrent powers, to decide what funds they will make available to continue this work.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many further submissions relating to the proposed abolition of the Greater London council and metropolitan county councils he has received since 13 June.

I continue to receive a number of submissions daily.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if the arrangements to take account of the needs for improvement expenditure on housing in the arrangements to maintain, after the abolition of the Greater London council the broad financial effects of the Greater London council's obligatory revenue contributions will include expenditure on capitalised repairs and rehabilitation work.

We intend that these arrangements should include capitalised repairs and rehabilitation work in so far as they are covered by the financial obligations imposed on the GLC by the housing transfer orders.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any proposals further to the proposals in clause 2(1) of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Bill to prevent by-elections taking place for vacancies arising on the Greater London council metropolitan county councils.

We propose to exclude by-elections from the scope of the Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when next he proposes meeting the Association of Metropolitan Authorities to discuss the implementation and operation of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Bill.

I regret that the association has so far refused to enter into any discussions on the detail of our proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, what meetings the Minister with responsibilities for sport has had with the secretary of the Football Association and the chairman of the Football League concerning activities by far-Right groups at football league grounds and at England soccer matches; and what action he proposes to take.

I met the chairman and general secretary of the Football Association on 4 July to hear at first hand details of the reported racial abuse of some England players during the recent tour of South America. This despicable behaviour was caused by 12 Britons. Local authorities together with the football clubs and the police are primarily responsible for crowd control at Football League grounds.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is able to make a statement about likely local authority capital expenditure in 1984–85.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury Mr. Smith on 13 June at columns 912–14.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the building and construction industry concerning the possibility of a moratorium on local authority capital expenditure.

Quite a number.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what reply he has sent to the chairman of the Association of Metropolitan Authorities in response to his recent letter about a moratorium on local government capital expenditure.

I have sent a copy of my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next expects to meet representatives on the Association of Metropolitan Authorities to discuss housing matters.

I have regular discussions on housing matters with the Association of Metropolitan Authorities and the other local authority associations in the housing consultative council. The most recent meeting was on 18 June. The next meeting is likely to be in the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when next he proposes meeting the Broads Authority to discuss the operation of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

I met the Broads Authority on 14 March. There have since been three meetings of official level to discuss means of safeguarding the conservation interest. We are in constant touch with the Broads Authority: and I will be meeting it again on 18 July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received as to the need to revise the guidelines for financial compensation under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review the financial guidelines for management agreements under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received as to the need to revise the guidelines for financial compensation under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

I refer my hon. Friends to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Mr. Hunter) on 2 May, at column 149. Since then, as a contribution to our continuing review of the workings of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, the Nature Conservancy Council has, at my request, submitted observations on the operation of management agreements to date. We are considering these with care.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he proposes bringing forward legislation in the next Session to amend the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Wentworth (Mr. Hardy) on Monday 9 July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has yet reached a conclusion on the representations he has received as to the need for "stop order" powers and a revision of the financial guidelines under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

I am still considering representations made to me on the need for new powers to make "stop orders" under section 29 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. With regard to the financial guidelines, I refer my hon. Friend to my reply earlier today to my hon. Friends the Members for Bury, North (Mr. Burt), for Lincoln (Mr. Carlisle) and for Basingstoke (Mr. Hunter).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received since 13 June concerning the operation and effectiveness of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Since 13 June I have received many representations in support of the Bill introduced by the hon. Member for Wentworth (Mr. Hardy), including those from the Country Landowners' Association and the, Timber Growers' Organisation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the British Government will be represented at the forthcoming Olympic games; and if he will make a statement.

I shall represent Her Majesty's Government at the Olympic games.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to amend the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 and its application to the development of the roof space of pre-1948 blocks of flats.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to amend the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 to deal with the 10 per cent. rule which encourages applications to develop the roof space of pre-1948 blocks of flats.

I am currently considering whether any amendment of the Act would be desirable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement with regard to the treatment of housing account surpluses in the grant-related expenditure allocation for 1985–86.

There are no plans to change the treatment of potential housing revenue account surpluses in GREs for 1985–86.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the report of the House of Lords Select Committee on the European Communities, "Agriculture and the Environment."

The report was published on 9 July. We are considering it with care.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in how many cases he has exercised his powers to expedite the sale of council houses to their tenants.

My right hon. Friend has used his powers under section 23 of the Housing Act 1980 on two occasions in order to expedite the sale of council dwellings under the right-to-buy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current estimated level of capital receipts from sales of council houses; and whether it is likely to vary from levels estimated when housing investment programmes for 1984–85 were announced.

The resources made available for local authorities' housing investment programmes for 1984–85 took account of forecast housing capital receipts of £1,465 million, including initial receipts of £825 million from the sale of council houses. No figures are available yet of the actual level of receipts in 1984–85.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from English local authorities concerning the 1984–85 rate support grant settlement.

I have received a large number of such representations, which I am considering carefully.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from non-metropolitan county councils or the Association of County Councils concerning the 1985–86 rate support grant settlement.

I have received several such representations, which I am considering carefully.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence he has that certain city authorities are sterilising the use of building land within their city limits by refusing to sell to would-be developers to build homes to buy thereon.

I am aware that some authorities are for various reasons reluctant to release land for house building. If my hon. Friend will let me know the particular instances he has in mind I shall be glad to pursue the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the amount of green belt land currently designated in the Greater London area and compare this with the figure for 1979; and if he will make a statement.

Such an estimate could be made only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what his most recent estimate is of the number of homes lacking basic amenities or deemed unfit.

The most recent estimates available appear in table 16 of the "English House Condition Survey 1981", part 1, a copy of which is in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he expects the housing investment programme for 1985–86 to increase in real terms.

No decisions have yet been taken on the public expenditure provision for local authorities housing investment programmes in 1985–86.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has for applying planning consents to farm buildings.

Farm buildings are already subject to planning control, although many benefit from the general permission granted by class VI of the General Development Order. My Department's consultation paper on proposed amendments to that order, issued in January, included proposals for clarifying the present test which governs whether such rights apply, and for requiring specific planning permission for all livestock buildings and associated structures to be erected within 100m of residential or similar property. We are currently considering the many responses received to consultation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the future of home improvements grants.

My right hon. Friend is reviewing private sector housing improvement policy, including the operation of the home improvement grant system. We intend to simplify the system while ensuring that it is proof against abuse and that grant expenditure provides good value for money. The Government's proposals will be published as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about the comparative effects upon the environment of hypermarkets and community shops.

Although I receive from time to time representations about particular proposals for retail developments, I am not aware of any about this general issue.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with Hammersmith and Fulham council about the problems arising from applications to develop the roof space of pre-1948 blocks of flats in the borough.

None, but my Department has had discussions with representatives of the local authority associations, including the London Boroughs Association.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his discussions at the Council of Environment Ministers on 23 June on the subject of lead in petrol.

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Carmarthen (Dr. Thomas) of 5 July, at columns 265–66. [Vol. 63, c. 265–266].

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ascertain how many local authorities have awarded themselves development consent for land presently used as school playing fields.

No. This information could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to pronounce upon the report of the inspector in relation to the public inquiry on the British Broadcasting Corporation's proposal to site a radio transmitter at Bearley, near Stratford on Avon.

My right hon. Friend has not yet received the inspector's report. In the circumstances, I am at present unable to say when his decision will be announced.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities, spending more than £10 million, have a 1984–85 budget more than 20 per cent. above grant related expenditure and more than 4 per cent. above the expenditure target.

On the information currently available for England, there are 18.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received a copy of the report of the rural advice and information committee of the Development Commission, published on 11 July.

Yes. The report was produced by the Rural Advice and Information Committee, an independent body. It will now be studied by the Development Commission and no doubt by the many other agencies involved. I understand it is a very useful compendium of ideas although the extent to which each can be carried forward will depend on the availability of resources.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence he has that local authorities are giving preference to direct labour organisation tenders; and if he will introduce further measures to secure equal treatment for private contractors.

We are aware that a number of authorities have passed over lowest tenders in favour of their own direct labour organisations. My right hon. Friend will consider using his powers under section 17 of the Local Government, Planning and. Land Act 1980 against authorities which persist in this practice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what publications are produced by or for his Department; what is the annual cost of each; and who is responsible for the editorial policy.

The cost of providing a detailed answer would be disproportionate. Listings of publications produced by and for my Department are given in HMSO catalogues, the "Catalogue of British Official Publications Not Published by HMSO", issued by Chadwyck-Healey Ltd. In addition, my Department, jointly with the Department of Transport, produces an "Annual List of Publications", which is available to the public. I have arranged for a copy to be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in the event of the abolition of the Greater London council, it is intended that the proposed London Planning Commission should advise him on the strategic future planning of "Areas of Opportunity" and "Areas of Metropolitan Importance", set out in the current London development plan.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 5 July, at columns 264–65.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the locations of all the prefabricated reinforced concrete houses which are subject to designation under the Housing Defects Bill in those parts of (a) the Lichfield district council, (b) the Cannock Chase district council, and (c) the Stafford borough council, which are within the area of the Mid-Staffordshire parliamentary constituency.

I regret that this information is not available. In making the returns on which the table placed in the Library on 10 November 1983 was based, local authorities did not give details of the location of prefabricated reinforced concrete dwellings within their areas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, further to the reply to the hon. Member for Westminster, North on 2 May, Official Report, column 148, if he will now make a further statement on means of escape from fire in houses in multiple occupation.

The implications of any extension in the scope of the existing order are receiving careful study. My right hon. Friend will make a statement as soon as this is completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many of the employees of his Department are registered as disabled.

Currently the Department employs 457 registered disabled people. 298 are non-industrial staff and the other 159 are industrial.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many new staff have been employed by his Department in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications he has received from water authorities seeking derogations under the EEC drinking water directive; and if there will be any opportunity for the general public to make objections or representations on such applications.

Forty-eight applications have so far been received from water authorities and water companies in England, but a considerable number more are expected in the next few months. A copy of each application is sent to the relevant local authority, which may make representations to the Department if it wishes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he received from Councillor Mrs. Neil with regard to his Department's decision to reconsider the application of the Parents Association for Educational Advance as part of Brent borough council's urban aid programme.

Councillor Mrs. Neil wrote to me on 12 June following my decision to give further consideration to this particular application.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many planning applications, by borough, have been determined by the London Docklands Development Corporation in advance of receipt of the appropriate borough council's views on the application.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 June 1984, c. 314–15]: The information is as follows:

• Newham—41 out of 252 (16·3 per cent.)
• Southwark—120 out of 233 (51·5 per cent.)
• Tower Hamlets—125 out of 359 (34·8 per cent.)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in the case of how many planning applications, by borough, determined by the London Docklands Development Corporation, its decision was contrary to the views put forward by the appropriate borough council, where these had been received before the decision was made.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 June 1984, c. 314–15]: The information is as follows:

• Newham—29 out of 252 (11·5 per cent.)
• Southwark—41 out of 233 (17·6 per cent.)
• Tower Hamlets—18 out of 359 (5 per cent.)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many planning applications, by borough, the London Docklands Development Corporation has offered a member level meeting to the appropriate borough council before making a decision which is contrary to that council's views.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 June 1984, c. 314–15]: I understand that borough councils sought meetings on three occasions, and these were held in each case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many planning applications which include office use have been granted by the London Docklands Development Corporation; and what is the total area, in square feet, of office use granted permission by the London Docklands Development Corporation.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 June 1984, c. 314–15]: Forty two planning applications which included office use have been granted by the LDDC. These total 2,876, 337 sq ft, of which 2,188,898 sq ft are in the Hay's wharf scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment on what area of land, in acres or square feet, which was previously zoned for industrial use in the London Docklands strategic plan or the appropriate local plan, planning permission has been granted by the London Docklands Development Corporation for (a) offices, (b) housing, (c) warehousing and (d) other.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 June 1984, c. 314–15]: The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment on what area of land, in acres or square feet, which was previously zoned for housing use in the London Docklands strategic plan or the appropriate local plan, planning permission has been granted by the London Docklands Development Corporation for (a) offices, (b) industry, (c) warehousing and (d) other.

[pursuant to his rely, 8 June 1984, c. 314–15]: The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many planning applications, by borough, have been determined by the London Docklands Development Corporation since it came into existence; and, of these, how many were classified as major applications on which more than 14 days were allowed for consultation;(2) how the London Docklands Development Corporation defines major planning applications and minor planning applications for the purposes of consultation.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 June 1984, col. 314–15]: I now understand that a total of 1,020 planning applications have been determined by the LDDC, as follows: Newham 317; Southwark 281; Tower Hamlets 422. Two hundred and six of these were classified as "major" as defined by the Department of the Environment criteria for quarterly statistical returns — residential development of 10 or more dwellings and non-residential development of 1,000 or more square metres of floor space. The LDDC's code of consultation gives the broad guidelines used by the corporation for deciding on consultation periods with local authorities. Whether more than 14 days is allowed for consultation depends upon the characteristics of a particular proposal. Cases where periods of more than 14 days are allowed would include applications by the LDDC for deemed planning permission; applications for listed building consent; applications involving a fundamental departure from the statutorily approved development plan; and special development order submissions.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total amount of support from public funds provided over the last three years to each of the following industries (a) steel, (b) shipbuilding and (c) electronics.

The available information in respect of support for which the Department of Trade and Industry is responsible is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of the employees of his Department are registered as disabled.

152 employees of the Department of Trade and Industry are registered as disabled.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new staff have been employed by his Department in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

The following new staff were employed by my Department between 1979 and 1983:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish in the Official Report the names of those member Governments of the European Community which do not allow British insurance companies the right of primary trading; what representations he has made to such Governments; what replies he has received; and when he expects them to honour their legal obligations.