asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average period of detention after sentence for (a) life sentence prisoners convicted of murder and (b) all life sentence prisoners, released in 1960 to 1962, 1970 to 1972 and 1980 to 1982.

I shall reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the most recently available annual figures for drug abuse in Hampshire; and what are the comparative figures for the past five years.

The information available for Hampshire is given in the following table.Information about offenders dealt with for offences involving controlled drugs and notified addicts is published annually in a Home Office Statistical Bulletin "Statistics of the Misue of Drugs in the United Kingdom", and in supplementary tables, the 1982 issue of which included a breakdown by police force area of narcotic drug addicts notified to the Home Office. The 1983 issue will be published in August.

Narcotic drug addicts notified to the Home Office, the number of addicts recorded as receiving notifiable drugs in treatment of their addiction at 31 December and the number of persons sentenced or cautioned for offences under drugs legislation and other offences where controlled drugs are involved.
Hampshire 1977–1982	Number of persons
Year	New addicts notified during year	Former addicts notified during year	Addicts recorded at 31 December	Persons sentenced or cautioned
1977	27	15	74	362
1978	23	12	71	445
1979	19	24	78	399
1980	26	21	77	347
1981	15	18	75	439
1982	32	23	94	292
1983*	53	28	125	†
* Provisional.
† Not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many "forced removals" of Immigration Act prisoners there were in 1983; and on how many occasions some form of restraint was used.

No central record is kept of the number of occasions on which it is necessary to use some degree of force in removing Immigration Act prisoners.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied that drugs training for prison officers is adequate; and if he will make a statement.

I am satisfied that drugs training for prison officers which is given in different forms, nationally, regionally and locally is adequate. The prison department is, however, keeping the matter under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officers have received training in the detection of drugs in 1983 and 1984.

All new entrant prison officers — of which 1,820 have been recruited since the beginning of 1983 — receive training in drugs misuse; in addition courses are arranged regionally, and governors, often in co-operation with neighbouring police forces, arrange training locally (though the numbers taking part in this training are not available).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average duration of drugs training for prison officers.

Drugs training for prison officers other than prison hospital officers in the context of courses and seminars, varies from half a day to two days. This is often increased by varying amounts of local training.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the extent of usage by prison authorities of mechanical restraints; and what increase there has been in such usage over the past five years.

An account of the use of these restraints is published annually in "Prison Statistics". However, as is noted on page 145 of "Prison Statistics, 1982", the figures for the previous five years are unreliable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received, and from whom, about the extent and nature of the usage of body belts as instruments of restraint in Her Majesty 's prisons; and if he will make a statement.

This year we have received letters from eight right hon. and hon. Members about the use of mechanical restraints, including body belts, in prison establishments, as well as letters from the Association of Members of Boards of Visitors and from two members of the public. We have also received a copy of a report by the Prison Reform Trust on the use of restraints in prison establishments which included comments on the use of the body belt, and which was the subject of two of the letters I have referred to. My right hon. and learned Friend is reviewing the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when (a) the detective seconded to the Dutch police and (b) the customs officer posted full-time to Pakistan, took up their posts abroad.

The police officer took up his post in the Netherlands on 1 April 1984. I understand from my hon. Friend the Minister of State at Her Majesty's Treasury that the customs officer went to Pakistan on 13 April. He was required to return to the United Kingdom on 15v May in connection with court proceedings and will resume his posting in Pakistan on 20 July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Essex police as to the total costs of the police operation mounted at Stansted airport in February 1982 concerning the hijacking of a Tanzanian jet; and if he will make a statement.

I understand from the chief constable of Essex that the additional cost of the police operation was £86,813.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will now publish a full and accurate list of all Libyans claiming connection with the People's Bureau who were required to leave the United Kingdom between the shooting and 27 April, both dates inclusive, but who had no form of diplomatic immunity; whether any such person or persons was asked to volunteer any information about the shooting incident; and with what results;(2) why the three Libyans with full diplomatic status listed in the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs' reply to the hon. Member for Rutland and Melton on 25 May,

I shall write my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if Sir John McKay's working party report in 1972 into the administration of the Firearms Act 1968 in any way recommended or considered a necessity for a reduction in the numbers of shotguns, rifles, pistols or revolvers possessed by members of the public who hold licences issued by the appropriate chief officer of police under the Act.

As explained in a previous answer to my hon. Friend, this internal report was not published, but its main criticisms and recommendations, including those relating to the hon. Gentleman's question, were published in the Green Paper "The Control of Firearms in Great Britain" (Cmnd. 5297).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set, and announce, a calendar date by which the prisons suicide study will be published.

We hope to fix a date for publication shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Policy Studies Institute's report on discrimination against coloured people.

This report is an important contribution to an understanding of the nature and extent of racial disadvantage, and it will be given very careful consideration. The report is based on a survey carried out in 1982. In pursuit of the Government's commitment to equality before the law and equality of opportunity action is already being taken on many of the matters either raised in the report or relevant to it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inmates were serving terms of detention in each borstal establishment on 1 June; how many staff were employed at each establishment at the same time; and if he will give similar information for each of the past three years.

I shall reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Mr. Dikko was admitted as a visitor to the United Kingdom; why the immigration officer did not conclude on his arrival that he would be unlikely to leave the United Kingdom at the conclusion of his visit; and what attitude will be taken to any application to extend the period of his visit.

Mr. Dikko was admitted as a visitor on his most recent arrival because the immigration officer was satisfied that he qualified for entry under the published immigration rules. Any application for an extension of stay will be considered in the light of all the circumstances obtaining at the time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the immigration authorities knew of the accusations made against Al-haji Dikko by the Nigerian authorities when he last arrived in the United Kingdom and was given permission to stay for six months; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make resources available to the London borough of Southwark in the 1985–86 rate support grant settlement to enable the council to maintain its level of services without increasing rent or rates.

As required by statute, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will base the 1985–86 RSG settlement on principles applicable to all local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the outcome of his review of means of escape from fire in houses in multiple occupation.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Westminster, North (Mr. Wheeler) on Wednesday 11 July 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue a circular to local authorities drawing up structure plans to the effect that plans which run contrary to stated Government policy will not be accepted.

When preparing structure plans, county planning authorities are expected to have regard to stated Government policies as they affect the planning of the area, and the Secretary of State will wish to be satisfied that they have done so and that such policies have been correctly interpreted before approving submitted plans.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many starter homes have been built by the Basildon development corporation in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

The Basildon development corporation has not itself built any dwellings specifically as starter homes in the past five years. It has, however, disposed of land to the private sector for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on land acquisitions for housing development at the Basildon development corporation; what guidelines have been given to the Basildon development corporation; and if he will make a statement.

The Basildon development corporation is in the course of completing acquisition of land to permit comprehensive redevelopment of areas zoned for housing on the new town master plan.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from Essex county council and Basildon district council concerning the pace of housing development by the Basildon development corporation; what was his response; and if he will make a statement.

I have received representations from the councils about the timing of the release of new town housing land for development. I have explained that the pace and balance of development will depend on the local housing market, subject to the relevant planning machinery, which will need to take account of the needs of local industry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the proportion of starter homes built in Basildon by the Basildon development corporation; and if he will make a statement

The development corporation is not building starter homes. It aims to promote a balanced range of house types catering to various sectors of the market, in securing the development of new town land by the private sector.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the disproportionate cost involved in estimating the amount of green belt land currently designated in the Greater London area; and on what basis he has been able to provide such information in the past.

Estimates of the extent of the green belt in Greater London have in the past been derived from old development plans. More recently an estimate of the broad extent of the metropolitan green belt, which includes land in Greater London and the home counties, has been made from structure plans. In order to provide accurate figures for the green belt area in Greater London in 1979 and 1984 it would be necessary to base the calculation on the old development plan and on the detailed definition of boundaries in local plans where these have recently been adopted. It is estimated that this work would cost approximately £600.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many separate items of correspondence have been received to date from members of the Cleveland community on the NIREX proposals to dispose of radioactive waste in Billingham; and of these how many express (a) approval, (b) opposition and (c) disinterest in the proposals.

Up to 16 July my Department had received approximately 2,780 letters about the interest of the Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive in the anhydrite mine at Billingham. Many of these followed standard forms, and were sent in bulk by the group called Billingham Against Nuclear Dumping. All of them expressed varying degrees of opposition to the possible use of the mine for the disposal of radioactive waste.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Merseyside.

I visited Merseyside on 13 July 1984.In the morning I addressed the green towns and cities UK-USA congress, organised by the Dartington institute, at Liverpool university. I afterwards met the press and then went to the international garden festival site, where I opened British week and the grand summer show.In the afternoon I visited the Radio City studios to take part in its "Home from the House" programme, and later had discussions with representatives of the Merseyside enterprise forum and the Merseyside branch of NALGO.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice is available from his Department to planners and architects on the needs of disabled people when designing new swimming pools; what advice is available for the adaptation of existing swimming pools; and if he will make a statement.

The Disabled Living Foundation, in conjunction with the Sports Council, has recently published, "Sports and Recreation Provision for Disabled People", which is aimed at designers and architects involved in improving access for the disabled to sports facilities, including swimming pools. A copy has been placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to his powers under schedule 3, paragraph 3(1), to the Local Government (Finance) Act 1982, he will direct the Audit Commission to amend its code of audit practice so as to prohibit firms or individuals appointed as auditors from receiving reimbursements for work carried out in circumstances which avoid the restrictions currently in the code as to the amount of such work which any one authority may commission; and if he will make a statement.

No. The preparation and review of the code of audit practice is entirely a matter for the commission itself. The commission has made its views on conflict of interest well known. If the hon. Gentleman is aware of any alleged breaches of the present code of practice no doubt he will inform the commission.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to his powers in schedule 3, paragraph 3(2), to the Local Government (Finance) Act 1982, he will seek information from the Audit Commission as to the circumstances in which Price Waterhouse Co. carried out special work on behalf of an authority whose accounts it did not audit, the cost of which was shared by authorities whose accounts it did audit, and as to what action the commission has taken regarding this practice; and if he will make a statement on the substance of the information.

No. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's power, under schedule 3 paragraph 3(2) to the Local Government Finance Act 1982, to require information, relates to the functions of the Audit Commission and not to the circumstances in which a firm of consultants undertakes work on behalf of a local authority or group of authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the report of the Policy Studies Institute concerning the housing situation amongst coloured people.

The report notes that the housing conditions of coloured people have improved overall in recent years. The specific housing issues to which the report draws attention are primarily a matter for local authorities. For the Government's part, our aim remains to ensure that coloured people have the same access to decent housing as the rest of the population. Recent steps we have taken in furtherance of this include financial support for the Local Authorities Race Relations Information Exchange and assistance totalling some £2 million under the urban programme in the current year for housing projects of particular benefit to members of the ethnic minorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will increase the house price limits for the home loan scheme.

My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales and the Secretary of State for the Environment have reviewed the limits in order to ensure that at least two-thirds of first-time buyers in each region will continue to qualify for the benefits of the scheme, provided they fulfil the savings conditions. The new limits reflect recent movements in house prices in each region. An order is being laid today to bring these new limits into effect on 15 August 1984.The new limits, compared with the present limits, are as follows:

Area in which the property is situated	Home loan benefits available for homes costing up to
	Present limits £	New limits £
England
Northern region: counties of Cleveland, Cumbria, Durham, Northumberland, and Tyne and Wear	19,100	20,100
Yorkshire and Humberside region: counties of Humberside, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, and West Yorkshire	18,200	19,200
East Midlands region: counties of Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, and Nottinghamshire	20,100	20,400
East Anglia region: counties of Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk	22,900	23,700
South East region:
London: county of Greater London	30,700	33,100
rest of South East: counties of Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Essex, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey, and West Sussex	27,100	29,400
South West region: counties of Avon, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Wiltshire; and the Isles of Scilly	24,000	25,700
West Midlands region: counties of Hereford and Worcester, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and West Midlands	20,000	20,700
North West region: counties of Cheshuire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, and Merseyside	20,200	20,200
Wales	20,700	21,300
Scotland	23,400	23,700

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Green Paper on the further development of representative government in Hong Kong to be published by the Hong Kong Government on 18 July.

The Hong Kong Government are today publishing a Green Paper on the further development of representative government in the territory. Copies of this paper have been placed in Library of the House. the main aims of the proposals are: to develop progressively a system of government, the authority for which is clearly rooted in Hong Kong, which is able to represent authoritatively the views of the people of Hong Kong and which is more directly accountable to the people of Hong Kong; to build this system on the existing institutions which have served Hong Kong well, and as far as possible to preserve their best features; and to allow for further development if that should be the wish of the Hong Kong community. This gradual approach builds on existing and well tried systems, rather than attempting a more radical approach with its attendant risks during a sensitive period of transition in the life of the territory.The Green Paper proposes that arrangements should be introduced to provide for a substantial number of Unofficial Members of the Legislative Council to be elected indirectly by an electoral college composed of all members of the Urban Council, the new Regional Council, and the district Boards, and by specified functional constituencies. To start with, these arrangements should be introduced in two stages — in 1985 and 1988 — following the District Board elections in those years. In 1989, after the 1988 elections to the Council have taken place, there should be a review of the position with a view to deciding what further developments should be pursued.The paper also proposes that the majority of the appointed Unofficial Members of the Executive Council should be replaced progressively by members elected by the Unofficial Members of Legislative Council from among their number, but a small number of members should continue to be appointed by the governor and the four ex-officio members should remain as members of the Council. These arrangements should be introduced in two stages—in 1988 and 1991—following the elections to the Legislative Council in those years. Finally, the paper proposes that, in due course, the Governor should be replaced in his capacity as president of the Legislative Council by a presiding officer elected by the Unofficial Members of the Legislative Council from among their own number. This paper does not, however, make proposals relating to the other functions of the Governor.In the view of Her Majesty's Government, those proposals are well designed to enhance the representative status of Hong Kong's central government institutions and to give the Hong Kong people a stronger voice in the administration of the territory in years to come. The people of Hong Kong will now be putting forward their views, which will be taken into account in a subsequent White Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements are proposed to assess the acceptability to the people of Hong Kong of any agreement on the future of the territory; and if he will make a statement.

As we have often made clear, we attach great importance to assessing the views of the people of Hong Kong on any agreement we may reach with the Chinese Government on the future of the territory. I have today placed in the Library of the House details of the methods we propose to use to do this. Briefly we envisage that the agreement will be published in both Hong Kong and the United Kingdom and that the people of Hong Kong will be invited to comment on it. A special office will be set up under the authority of the Governor of Hong Kong which will collate and assess all views which it receives on the agreement and produce a final report which will be published. It is also proposed that a small independent team should be appointed to monitor the work of the assessment office. The team will confirm in its report, which will also be published, whether it is satisfied with the way the assessment office has discharged its duties.There has been discussion recently about the possibility of using a referendum to assess the acceptability of an agreement to the people of Hong Kong. In the view of the Government this would have very real drawbacks. In the special political circumstances of Hong Kong, it is important to avoid the risk of provoking factional divisions or disturbances which could themselves leave the result of a referendum open to real doubt. Moreover, there are practical objections related to the low rates of registration in Hong Kong since the introduction of universal franchise in 1982. The Government firmly believe that a process of consultation through the well-developed channels familiar to the Hong Kong people would be the best way to provide the full assessment of the range and quality of opinion on this complex issue which I believe Parliament would expect as a basis for its own deliberations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about progress towards official talks with Argentina on the normalisation of relations between the two countries.

The following announcement has been made simultaneously in Berne and Buenos Aires, and by my Department, at 4 pm London time this afternoon:

"At the invitation of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, representatives of Argentina and the United Kingdom are meeting in Berne today. The conversations will be under the chairmanship of the State Secretary of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, with a representative of the Government of Brazil also present."

I set out the British Government's position in regard to these talks in the Foreign Affairs debate on 22 March, at column 1189. Our purpose in the talks will be to explore prospects for progressive normalisation of relations with Argentina. Their content will be confidential, but a further statement will be made when they are over.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he proposes to publish the report of the inquiry into human fertilisation and embryology.

The report of the inquiry into human fertilisation and embryology is being published today. The inquiry was set up in July 1982 under the chairmanship of Dame Mary Warnock. Its terms of reference were:

"To consider recent and potential developments in medicine and science related to human fertilisation and embryology; to consider what policies and safeguards should be applied, including consideration of the social, ethical and legal implications of these developments; and to make recommendations."

Membership of the inquiry covered a wide range of professions and interests including doctors, lawyers, scientists, social workers and a theologian. I am grateful to them, and Dame Mary, for producing an important report. We welcome their report particularly because it deals with recent developments in this rapidly expanding field, some of which cause increasing public and parliamentary concern.The inquiry has made many recommendations covering the different matters that were within its remit. Its main recommendations are:—certain specialist forms of infertility treatment—in vitro fertilisation, egg and embryo donation and artificial insemination — and the use of human embryos in research are ethically acceptable, subject to stringent controls;— research on human embryos should only be permitted under licence, up to the 14th day after fertilisation;—a new, independent statutory body should be established, which the inquiry envisages as having substantial lay representation, to control specialist infertility services and to license and monitor research. This body would licence and monitor research involving the use of human embryos. It could licence and inspect all centres, whether NHS or private, where specialist forms of infertility treatment are carried out. The inquiry sees the body as a mechanism for ensuring that satisfactory standards are maintained in the provision of these services;—there should be legislation to make provision of surrogacy services by agencies or individual health professionals a criminal offence. Private individuals who enter into surrogacy arrangements should not be liable to criminal prosecution.We set up this inquiry two years ago because some developments in human fertility treatment and research were causing public concern. Experience since then has shown how timely it has been. Not only has the inquiry produced an important and thorough report, it has also been able to take into account recent developments in a rapidly changing field.The issues raised by the report arouse strong and widely differing opinions. In some areas there will be a large measure of agreement with the report, but not in others. The vital task which the inquiry has performed is to set out the issues clearly; to produce reasoned judgments; and, where it believes limits have to be set, to define them.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in implementing the 73 recommendations made in Sir James Hennessy's report on the escape from Her Majesty's prison, Maze Cellular, on 25 September 1983.

Since publication of the report 43 of the recommendations have been fully implemented and eight of the individual reviews recommended by Sir James Hennessy have been completed. Action to implement the remaining recommedations, including the completion of the remaining reviews, is continuing. Most of these will be complete by the end of 1984 though some, such as the new main gate complex which requires substantial construction work, will take longer.I have decided on an alternative approach to that in the recommendation concerning dogs. Instead of establishing a separate dogs section at Her Majesty's prison, Maze Cellular, the number of dogs and handlers available from the joint section based at Maze compound has been increased and the arrangements for allocating dogs to each prison improved. The creation of separate sections would pose practical difficulties, and I am confident that the needs of both prisons can be adequately provided by those revised arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been paid out by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in (a) improvement grants and (b) repair grants to Mr. H. J. McDonald or his agent for work carried out to privately rented properties since 1980.

This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but I understand from the chairman that the amounts paid out to Mr. McDonald or his agent are:

	£
Improvement grants	836,605
Repair grants	Nil

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many improvement grant applications to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive for properties in Belfast have been made by Mr. H. J. McDonald and his agent since 1980.

This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but I understand from the chairman that 232 applications for improvement grant in respect of properties in Belfast have been made by Mr. H. J. McDonald or his agent since 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what matters were discussed at his last meeting with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.

When my right hon. Friend last met a deputation of the Northern Ireland committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions they discussed a wide range of economic matters including the general economic situation, public sector employment and privatisation, industrial development and energy policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give the number of complaints and adverse representations he has received about the supply in Northern Ireland of oxygen from hospitals, domiciliary patients, general practitioners, dispensing chemists, professional organisations and others over the past three years; and if he will make a statement.

No complaints or adverse representations have been received about the current arrangements for the supply of oxygen. However, since the announcement earlier this year by the Department of Health and Social Security of its intention to secure a cost-effective oxygen service for the future, five representations have been received from hon. Members on behalf of their pharmacist constituents in Northern Ireland, supporting the continued involvement of pharmacists in the service.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many unfit dwellings he estimates are in each council area in Northern Ireland; of these, how many are rural dwellings in each case; and what is the percentage of (a) urban and (b) rural unfit dwellings in each council area.

[pursuant to his reply, 3 July 1984, c. 145]: Information in the precise form requested is not readily available. However tables 9.1 to 9.26 in the "Northern Ireland House Condition Survey 1979 (Preliminary Report)" published by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive show the total number of unfit dwellings in each of the district council areas in Northern Ireland. Copies of the survey report are available in the Library. A new house condition survey is now under way and it is expected that as a result of the priority accorded to housing in Northern Ireland over recent years the new figures will show a general improvement over those published in the 1979 survey report.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether each of the area health and social services boards in Northern Ireland place homeless families and homeless single people in emergency accommodation; and whether each board uses private flats and private landlords to meet their emergency accommodation needs.

[pursuant to his reply, 17 July 1984, c. 99]: In accordance with the statutory obligation to assist persons in need, the health and social services boards in Northern Ireland provide temporary accommodation for homeless people. Such accommodation may be provided in hostels which are run by the boards or by a voluntary organisation; in private guest houses or small hotels; or in other board facilities such as a children's home or an old people's home. Normally private flats or private landlords are not used by boards but the Northern and Eastern boards sometimes use available accommodation in caravan parks.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether each health and social services board has a list of bed and breakfast accommodation which will provide accommodation for homeless people; whether such accommodation is inspected; what are the names of the hostels which the four boards use to provide emergency accommodation for homeless people; and whether this accommodation is inspected.

[pursuant to his reply, 17 July 1984, c. 99]: The information, as far as it is available, is as follows. All four boards have a list of bed and breakfast accommodation which will provide accommodation for homeless people. The following hostels are used by the four boards to provide emergency accommodation for homeless people:

asked the Prime Minister if she will discuss the matter of increasing flight frequencies between Kuala Lumpur and London by Malaysian Air Services and British Airways during her visit to Malaysia in September.

Air services consultations have already taken place. I should, of course, be ready for further discussions at Head of Government level if a suitable opportunity arises.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give a report as to the continued viability of hydro-electric power, listing all sites where it is in operation; and if he will make a statement.

I am advised by the Central Electricity Generating Board that it operates the following hydro-electric power stations in England and Wales:

	Kw capacity
Chagfoid	30
Cwm Dyli	5,000
Dolgarrog	26,500
Maentwrog	24,000
Maiy Tavy	2,610
Morvellham	640
Rheidol	53,000

and in addition has pumped storage schemes at Dinorwig and Ffestiniog. Continued operation at all these sites is economically justified. The potential for further hydro-electric installations remains under investigation, although the number of suitable sites in England and Wales is very limited. Hydro-electricity in Scotland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will set out in the Official Report the total amount of support from public funds over the last three years to each public sector industry for which his Department has been responsible.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Billericay (Mr. Proctor) on 6 July, at column 328. In addition, the cost of payments made from public funds to redundant miners under the redundant miners payments scheme amounted to £15·7 million in 1980–81, £48·8 million in 1981–82 and £81·2 million in 1982–83.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will set out in the Official Report the tax paid by each public sector industry for which his Department has been responsible and any additional loans made to the national loans fund or levies paid to the Secretary of State in each of the last 10 years to the latest date available.

I refer the hon. Member to the reports and accounts of the British Gas Corporation and the British National Oil Corporation for the relevant years for the figures he is seeking.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many water supply schemes are being deferred by the Welsh water authority until 1985–86.

Deferrment of individual water supply schemes is a matter for the Welsh water authority and the hon. Gentleman may therefore wish to seek information from the chairman, Mr. J. Elfed Jones.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report the dates of liaison meetings held since the summer of 1982 between the Welsh water authority, the chief environmental health officers of local authorities and medical officers for environmental health designated by health authorities to establish efficient channels of communication on matters concerning water quality.

The information requested is not held centrally. The question is one for the chairman of the Welsh water authority and I have asked him to write to the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the level of spending by the Welsh water authority in 1981–82, 1982–83 and 1983–84; and what is the projected level of spending for 1984–85.

The Welsh water authority's level of spending for the years in question is as follows:

	Capital Expenditure	Revenue Expenditure
	£ million	£ million
1981–82	41	150
1982–83	50	163
1983–84	50	169
1984–85	48	177

The information for 1981–82 and 1982–83 is available in the annual reports of the Welsh water authority, copies being in the Library; the figures for 1983–84 are the expected outturn and for 1984–85 are those projected by the Welsh water authority in its corporate plan 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is aware of any studies on the role and fate of human pathogens, especially viruses in the marine environment, around the Welsh coast; and if he will make a statement.

There have been many studies of the distribution and survival of micro-organisms in Welsh coastal waters.In 1979 the report of a symposium on Swansea bay included a small study of the occurrence and survival of viruses made earlier by Dr. J. M. Tyler. A more detailed study of viruses in Welsh coastal waters was made by Dr. Tyler in 1980 to 1982 as part of a larger study of the survival of viruses in the water cycle. This study was funded jointly by the Welsh Office and the Welsh water authority and a report on it was published in 1982. The report confirmed the widespread occurrence of enteroviruses that knowledge of the water cycle predicted, and went some way to quantifying it.In addition, the Welsh water authority, in collaboration with the local authorities and the Public Health Laboratory service, regularly monitors the occurrence of salmonella bacteria in Swansea bay.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the number of complaints and adverse representations he has received about the supply in Wales of oxygen from hospitals, domiciliary patients, general practitioners, dispensing chemists, professional organisations and others over the past three years; and if he will make a statement.

From July 1981 to date I have received three complaints about the supply of oxygen in Wales from domiciliary patients. I have received no complaints from other sources.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Gower on 22 May, Official Report, columns 542–43, if he will publish the information on the number of patients on waiting lists in the Official Report as soon as it becomes available.

[pursuant to his reply, 11 June, 1984, c. 328]: The figures requested are now available and are as follows:

Health Authority	In-patient	Out-patient
Clwyd	4,911	7,014
East Dyfed	2,239	5,242
Gwent	7,818	10,161
Gwynedd	1,447	3,184
Mid Glamorgan	10,246	16,393
Pembrokeshire	1,654	2,542
Powys	85	107
South Glamorgan	7,655	14,189
West Glamorgan	4,098	13,311

Information of this kind is now produced in the Department's "Welsh Hospital Waiting List Bulletin". This is published twice a year. A copy of the first volume is in the Library of the House. It provides all-Wales and major hospital data for the five main hospital specialties and summary data for all specialties. The second volume is in the course of preparation.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland how many people have been released as a result of errors in the Crown Office in 1983–84.

I understand that the hon. Gentleman's question relates to accused persons who have been released from further criminal proceedings as a result of Crown Office errors. I am aware of two High Court cases where this has happened in the period 1983–84.In one case a mistake in the preparation of the indictment resulted in the accused's service copy being served at the wrong address. In the other case, following on the non-appearance for trial of two co-accused, the trial of a third accused who did not appear was put off and re-started within the statutory 12 months time period.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if he will make a statement on the High Court trials recently abandoned or postponed as a result of Crown Office maladminstration.

I refer to the answers given by me today to the questions from the hon. members for Glasgow, Springburn (Mr. Martin) and Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell).

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland how many people have been charged as a result of incidents arising from the miners' strike; and with what they have been charged.

According to the latest information available based on figures supplied by chief constables, as of 13 July 1984, 890 persons have been arrested and charged with offences arising out of the miners' strike. The majority have been charged with breach of the peace or obstruction of the police in the execution of their duty.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if he will estimate the cost to public funds resulting from the discharge of High Court trials in Scotland in June 1984.

It is not possible to provide an estimate of cost as requested. Additional costs to public funds will have been caused by the attendance of defence solicitors and counsel (in legal aid cases) and Crown witnesses in some cases set down for Glasgow and Airdrie in June which did not proceed at that time. There will be additional prosecution and police costs in relation to re-citing accused persons and witnesses. The citation of jurors for additional sittings of the High Court which have been arranged to deal with the postponed cases will also involve additional cost.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if he is satisfied with the method of delivering summons in Scotland.

"Summons", is not a term used in the criminal law of Scotland. If "Indictment" is substituted for it my answer is yes.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if he will make a statement about the system whereby indictments are served by the public prosecuting services in High Court cases, in view of the recent instances in which an indictment involving charges of embezzlement was held to be incompetently served and the prosecution had to be abandoned.

The indictment in the case to which my hon. Friend refers would have been competently served if the address at which it was in fact served had been the address given by the accused in the bail bond subscribed by him. It was not: the address at which it was served was the address contained in the petition on which the accused appeared before the sheriff for committal for trial.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if he has instituted an inquiry into the way in which the Crown Office, procurator fiscal service and the police co-operate over the serving of High Court indictments.

As I said in my answer to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Maxton), the indictment in the case referred to would have been competently served if the address at which it was served had been the address given by the accused in the bail bond subscribed by him. It was not: the address at which it was served was the address contained in the petition on which the accused appeared before the sheriff for committal for trial.The procurator fiscal service and Crown Office staff are to be reminded of the importance of ensuring that the domicile at which an indictment is to be served is that shown on the bail bond subscribed by the accused.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if he will make a statement on the operation of the 29-day rule and the 110-day rule.

An accused person awaiting trial, whether in custody or on bail, must have the indictment served on him 29 clear days before the date of his trial, that is, excluding the date of service of the indictment and the date of trial itself. Further, if the last day of the 29 falls on a Saturday, Sunday or court holiday it does not count, and the period is extended to include the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday or court holiday.The 110-day rule is designed to prevent delay in bringing accused persons who have been detained in custody to trial. Such a trial must commence within 110 days of the accused's committal for trial by the sheriff. Failure to commence the trial within 110 days, unless the period has previously been extended by the court, results in the accused being liberated and freed from further prosecution on that charge.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland how many prosecutions have taken place during the latest available year for placing cyanide or other poisons in rivers to kill fish.

Figures in relation to the matter to which the hon. Member refers are not available.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if he is now prepared to reconsider his policy of non-harassment of travelling people; and if he will make a statement.

The application of the policy to exceptionally large groups of traveling people involved in non-traditional patterns of movement is being reviewed. Otherwise the policy of non-harassment of travelling people in relation to prosecution continues. Each case is considered by my noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate personally and a decision on whether to prosecute is taken on the basis of all the circumstances including the availability of alternative sites.It is emphasised that the policy relates only to circumstances of unlawful encampment and not to other criminal offences.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if he will make a statement about the policy of charging police officers with alleged offences arising from the exercise of their duties.

The considerations taken into account by the Crown are the same as apply in any other criminal case and no prosecution is commenced unless there is sufficient evidence in law available to support it.In cases in which a member of the public complains that a police officer has committed a criminal offence in the exercise of his duties the policy is that no prosecution is undertaken without the evidence being considered by the regional procurator fiscal, crown counsel and a law officer.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce legislation requiring municipally-owned airports to become public limited companies; and if he will make a statement.

This is one of a number of options. We have no immediate legislative proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is now in a position to announce the name of the successful bidder for Sealink UK Ltd.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will make a statement about the sale of Sealink.

I refer my hon. Friends to the statement I made earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how much money has been spent on the repair and maintenance of railway stock in each year since 1977, at constant prices.

British Rail's expenditure on rolling stock servicing, repairs and overhauls is recorded in its annual reports and accounts. The information for years between 1977 and 1983 converted, to 1984 prices, is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of traffic handled over the last five years in each of the Civil Aviation Authority airports in the Highlands and Islands.

Aircraft movements at CAA aerodromes in Scotland
	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83
Benbecula	3,500	3,660	3,470	3,070	3,182
Inverness	28,439	24,190	21,461	21,377	20,070
Islay	2,299	2,865	2,501	2,200	1,930
Kirkwall	15,770	14,856	12,731	12,992	15,402
Stornoway	5,288	6,661	6,377	5,347	5,803
Sumburgh	50,801	47,301	39,145	31,894	20,740
Tiree	936	902	1,129	956	1,372
Wick	6,556	7,345	6,245	6,804	6,714
Total	113,609	107,780	93,059	84,640	75,213

Figures for the year ended 31 March 1984 will be published shortly in the authority's report and accounts for that year, which I shall lay before the House when I receive it.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of the financial performance of the eight airports operated by the Civil Aviation Authority in the Highlands and Islands over the last five years.

The information requested is as follows:

Operating *profitlloss before interest and excluding Scottish office grant (£'000)
	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83
Benbecula	183	267	144	284	321
Inverness	326	474	230	702	484
Islay	163	347	160	226	205
Kirkwall	194	390	138	325	359
Storno-way	202	246	417	491	438
Sumburgh	622	398	702	*2,056	*66
Tiree	162	187	43	156	107
Wick	170	173	150	280	256
* profit

Figures for the year ended 31 March 1984 will be published shortly in the Authority's Report and Accounts for that year which I shall lay before the House when I receive it.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the number of fatal and serious road accidents, respectively, in each of the past 10 years.

The information is as follows:

Figures for 1972–1982 are in table 4 of "Road Accidents Great Britain 1982", a copy of which is in the Library. Provisional figures for 1983 are 4,990 fatal and 59,600 serious accidents.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from the Scottish Accident Prevention Council in respect of the increase of 15 per cent. in the part I motor cycle test fee; and if he has considered whether there would be any double disincentive to motor cyclists to take training and testing as a result of this increase in the test fee.

I am aware of the representations made by the Council about the possible effect on learner riders of the decision by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer that VAT should be charged on part I motor cycle test fees. The increase in fee should not add substantially to the overall cost of a training course and the two-part test. I hope it will not affect the rate at which learner riders come forward for training.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will review the regulations concerning flying over urban areas by small aircraft and, in particular, microlight aircraft.

All aircraft, irrespective of size are subject to rules of the air and air traffic control. Rule 5 requires that an aeroplane shall not fly over any congested area of a city, town or settlement:

(a) below such height as would enable it to alight clear of the area and without danger to persons or property on the surface in the event of failure of a power unit; or

(b) a height of 1,500 feet above the highest object within 2,000 feet of the aeroplane;

whichever is the higher. This rule has proved adequate for the safety of people and property on the ground, and I see no reason to review it.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what progress he has made towards the introduction of quieter heavy vehicles, in the light of his discussions with the United Kingdom's European Community partners.

Quieter lorries are already coming onto our roads as a result of agreement with our European partners to reduce the noise which lorries make. This is part of the Government's comprehensive policy to minimise the impact of lorries on people and the environment.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how much money has been spent on the repair and maintenance of railway track in each year since 1977, at constant prices.

£ million
	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983
Earthworks, bridges, tunnels & other works	72·1	87·0	92·2	78·9	73·2	75·7	95·2
Permanent Way	382·6	405·5	377·9	389·0	374·6	359·0	381·0
Electric Track Equipment	33·3	36·0	36·2	37·3	35·7	34·0	32·9
Miscellaneous	3·8	5·8	7·2	5·5	5·6	6·0	7·7
Total	491·8	534·3	513·5	510·7	489·1	474·7	516·8

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will place in the Library a copy of the recommendations of the Review Body on Top Salaries with respect to the automatic uprating of hon. Members' secretarial, research and office expenses allowance.

Yes. These recommendations were made in a letter of 16 May 1984 from Lord Plowden to myself, a copy of which I have today placed in the Library.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what instructions the Inland Revenue issues to its staff as to a wife's right to privacy and confidentiality of her personal tax matters.

In practice, tax offices will normally deal direct with a married women in matters concerning her own tax affairs though in law the husband is responsible for the couple's tax affairs and he must complete the return of their joint income when required. It is, however, open to either husband or wife to apply for separate assessment of income tax or capital gains tax. This does not affect the couple's total tax bill, but it makes both husband and wife responsible for handling their individual tax affairs and for the payment of their own share of the tax due. It also enables them to complete separate tax returns if they wish. Further information about current law and practice is given in chapter 2 of the Green Paper "The Taxation of Husband and Wife" (Cmnd. 8093).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the revenue raised in 1983–84 from the top 8 per cent. slice between rates of 52 and 60 per cent. of development land tax on betterment in cases where corporation tax would otherwise be payable and the top 30 per cent. slice between rates of 30 and 60 per cent. of development land tax on capital gains in cases where capital gains tax would otherwise be payable.

British Rail's expenditure on track maintenance is recorded in its annual reports and Railways (Repair and Maintenance) accounts. The information for years between 1977 and 1983, converted to 1984 prices, is as follows:

I regret that information on which to base a reliable statement is not available

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether payment made to farmers under the outgoers' scheme will be subject to taxation.

Under the Milk Supplementary Levy (Outgoers) Scheme 1984, details of which were announced on 16 July by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, any farmer claiming payment under that scheme may apply either for compensation for loss of profits in the five years immediately after ceasing to produce milk, or for compensation for the surrender of his milk quota. Payments in respect of loss of profits will be treated as receipts of the farming business and therefore liable to tax as income. Payments in respect of surrender of quota will be treated as capital and liable to capital gains tax accordingly.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the courses currently on offer from the Open University and the number of students studying each one.

The information provided by the Open University is too long for insertion in the Official Report. I shall write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the grant-in-aid paid by his Department to the Open University in each year since its inception.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 4 June, at columns 67–68, to my hon. Friend the Member for Macclesfield (Mr. Winterton).

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether his Department has yet received a substantive answer from the Open University to the criticisms expressed on course D102.

The vice-chancellor of the Open University replied substantively on 2 July 1984, and a copy of his reply has been placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which university in the United Kingdom makes the highest charge to overseas students; and how this compares with the average charge made by United Kingdom universities.

Information is not' available about the average fees charged by universities for overseas students, but the highest charges for undergraduates starting their courses in the present academic year are understood to be made by Liverpool as follows:

	£
Arts courses	4,200
Science courses	6,050
Clinical courses	7,900

It is for each institution to decide what level of fee would be appropriate to its own academic interests and financial circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the net wastage rate for teachers under 60 years in the last year for which figures are available; and how this compares with the figures for the previous five years.

The wastage rate from maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in England and Wales in the year ending 31 March 1983 for full-time teachers under 60 years of age is 6·6 per cent. Corresponding percentages for the previous five years are as follows:

	Wastage per cent.
Year ending 31 March:
1978	6·0
1979	6·8
1980	7·2
1981	6·9
1982	6·5

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will consider giving guidance to local education authorities on the distribution of political propaganda leaflets in schools, whether by teachers or other bodies.

I have repeatedly made it clear that what is provided in schools should always be education and never indoctrination. I have no immediate plans to add to the propositions which I put forward in a speech to a conference on peace studies on 3 March. I said then that teachers dealing with any topic involving facts, their interpretation and value judgments should ensure that what is offered to pupils as a fact is indeed true; that the selection of facts gives a picture which is neither unbalanced nor superficial; that facts and opinions are clearly separated; and that the pupils are encouraged to weigh evidence and argument so as to arrive at rational judgments. I also said that teachers could not afford, when dealing with pupils, to allow their own political views to influence their presentation of other people's ideas, and that they had to be more careful in their choice of words and in their whole presentation than they would be in dealing with their fellow adults; and that there was a special obligation on the local education authority to help teachers discharge their complex and delicate task with proper professionalism. All of these propositions apply to the use made in schools of materials concerned with political issues, whatever their source.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the number of new companies started in the Staffordshire, Moorlands constituency in each year since April 1979.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list separately for each of the last 10 years (a) the total number of business enterprises in Great Britain, (b) the number of business start-ups, (c) the number of insolvencies, and (d) the proportion which (b) and (c) each bear to (a).

Complete estimates of the number of business enterprises and business start-ups are not available. However, statistics are available from the records of United Kingdom businesses registered for value added tax. An article published in British Business on 18 May described the VAT registration data and the points to note when using it. The most important qualification is that not all businesses are registered for VAT with the main exclusions being (a) small busnesses with taxable turnover less than a certain limit—£5,000 per annum when VAT was introduced in 1973 but since increased from time to time to a current level of £18,700 per annum—do not have to register; (b) businesses which make only exempt supplies cannot be registered for VAT—exempt supplies include, for example, insurance, undertaking and property. The number of businesses registering for VAT is, in particular, significantly affected by the periodic increases in the registration threshold.Figures for insolvencies are given for both the United Kingdom and Great Britain but only from 1977 because earlier figures are not comparable due to substantial increases in the monetary limits in bankruptcy proceedings and deposits on petitions made in December 1976. The figures include both company liquidations and business bankruptcies. Company liquidations include both compulsory and creditors' voluntary liquidations. The business bankruptcy figures, which are partly estimated for Scotland and Northern Ireland, are based on receiving orders made during the year, less those consolidated or rescinded before the end of the year together with administration orders and deeds of arrangement on the same basis. It would not be appropriate to express the number of insolvencies as a proportion of the number of businesses registered for VAT because of the different coverages of the series.

	Thousands of UK businesses registered for VAT at end of year	Thousands of UK businesses registering for VAT during year	Col. 2 as percentage of col. 1	Number of insolvencies affecting businesses
				UK	GB
	(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)
1974	1,158	148	12·8	—	—
1975	1,203	161	13·4	—	—
1976	1,225	169	13·8	—	—
1977	1,248	157	12·6	9,345	9,284
1978	1,247	149	11·9	8,315	8,242
1979	1,241	171	13·8	7,375	7,322
1980	1,304	158	12·1	10,183	10,097
1981	1,336	151	11·3	12,876	12,749
1982	1,359	163	12·0	16,935	16,786
1983	1,406	168	11·9	19,324	19,163

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he makes appointments to transport users consultative committees, what account is taken of the frequency of rail travel by candidates.

Use of rail services by candidate members is one of the factors taken into account in decisions on appointments to these committees.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give an analysis of the members of the East Midlands transport users consultative committee showing (a) the number representing rail user groups and (b) the number known to be regualr rail users.

I understand that all members of the committee are rail users, and that one is connected with a local rail user group.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he monitors the value of shares in denationalised companies after denationalisation, and their relationship to movement in the value of shares in other companies.

My Department is interested in the general level of share prices, but has no special arrangements to monitor those of companies which were previously in the public sector.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the estimated direct employment effect within the United Kingdom from exports of goods and services.

United Kingdom employment levels are affected by many factors, of which the level of exports is only one. It would be very difficult to identify the relationship between the level of exports and employment in isolation from all the other influences on employment levels.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is satisfied with the regulations governing the use and operation of citizens band radio.

The licence conditions governing the use and operation of CB radio were revised with effect from 5 March 1984 and we keep the position under review. However, if my hon. Friend has a particular point in mind, perhaps he will write to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many citizens band radio licences were issued in 1983 and 1984 to date; and if he will make a statement.

Some 135,000 new licences were issued in 1983 and 38,000 in the first five months of 1984. At the end of May 1984 there were approximately 216,000 licences on issue.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further steps he now proposes to take against Sunshine Radio for broadcasting illegally; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to the reply, 16 July 1984, c. 25]: I do not think it would be in the public interest to disclose details of action planned against particular unlicensed broadcasters.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further assistance the United Kingdom intends to, provide to the Southern Africa Development Co-ordination Conference.