asked the Attorney-General what response he has received from students' unions and university authorities to his circular on the legality of payments from student union funds.

I have received a number of expressions of appreciation for the help given by the guidance which I put out last October. I have also had requests for advice on the legality of certain proposed payments in particular cases but I am precluded, in this as in other fields, from giving advice to private persons or bodies about their legal rights and obligations in specific circmstances. However, under section 24 of the Charities Act 1960, the Charity Commissioners may, on the written application of the trustee of a charity, give him their opinion or advice on any matter affecting the performance of his duty. In some cases I have had representations about expenditure that has been incurred, or threatened, by student unions in apparent breach of trust. I have had investigations into such cases instituted and, if it appears that a breach of trust has occurred, I shall consider whether to take legal proceedings against those responsible.

asked the Attorney-General whether the Incorporated Law Society of Northern Ireland has established a compensation fund to compensate clients with claims against solicitors in Northern Ireland in accordance with article 55, part IV, of the Solicitors (Northern Ireland) Order 1976.

[pursuant to the reply, 16 July 1984, c. 1.]: I have been asked to reply.The compensation fund was established on 1 December 1976 by the Solicitors' Compensation Fund Regulations 1976. The regulations were made by the council of the Incorporated Law Society of Northern Ireland with the concurrence of the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland.

asked the Attorney-General if the Lord Chancellor will dismiss the coroner who was responsible for taking a decision not to hold an inquest into the death of Mr. Robin Walsh because he failed to exercise his duties under section 3(1) of the Coroners Act 1887 in respect of persons who have died in prison.

I have been asked to reply.So far as can be established, none of Her Majesty's coroners was at any time aware that the body of Mr. Walsh was within his jurisdiction. No action by my right hon. and noble Friend is called for.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his Department is taking any steps to encourage farmers to make appropriate changes in farming practice to enable the increases in nitrate concentrations in water sources to be contained.

The advice given by the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service is designed to reduce as far as practicable the risk of all types of pollution.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations have been made by the European Economic Community Commission to Her Majesty's Government regarding the payment of subsidies for butter exported to the Soviet Union; and if he will make a statement.

There have been no such representations. The United Kingdom authorities are cooperating in the Commission's investigation of the possibility that butter consigned to Cuba from the United Kingdom and some other member states may have been diverted to the Soviet Union.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if European Economic Community funds or British Treasury funds will require to bear the cost of the £4,000,000 subsidy paid to Messrs. Roombotefabrick of Holland for exporting cheap butter to the Soviet Union by means of Cuban documents.

Export refunds of this amount funded by the Community were paid to British exporters on consignments of butter destined for Cuba. Should it prove that any of the butter was in fact diverted to the Soviet Union, action will be taken to recover the corresponding payments.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much subsidised butter has been sent by the European Economic Community to Cuba in each of the most recent five years for which figures are available; and how much subsidy was involved.

In the past five years exports from the European Community of butter to Cuba were as follows:

	tonnes
1979	Nil
1980	31,265
1981	15,284
1982	35,201
1983*	21,607
* January-September.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will issue a statement setting out the criteria he follows for approving short-term lettings and licences under the Agricultural Holdings Act 1948 as amended by the Agricultural Holdings Act 1984.

I have today issued such a statement, and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library documents relating to the implementation of the financial management initiative within his Department.

A progress report relating to my Department will be made in the forthcoming White Paper on the financial management initiative. Information on the objectives of my public expenditure programmes and performance in achieving them was published in this year's White Paper on public expenditure (Cmnd. 9143) and in my Department's evidence on it to the Transport Committee (first report, Session 1983–84).

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Christchurch (Mr. Adley) on 18 June, Official Report, column 18, to what extent the recent negotiations on a possible increase of flight frequencies between Kuala Lumpur and London were handled by officials of his Department, and to what extent by representatives of British Airways.

The relevant air services consultations, held in January and May 1984, were conducted by an Under-Secretary of the Department of Transport. The UK and Malaysian delegations included representatives of British Airways and Malaysian Airline Systems respectively, which, as interested airlines, attended in an advisory capacity in accordance with normal practice.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the progress on that section of the Stoke-Derby link road which falls within the Mid-Staffordshire parliamentary constituency.

As mentioned in my reply to my hon. Friend on Wednesday 13 June, at column 468, the promised meeting wth a deputation from Staffordshire county council is taking place today. I shall write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list (a) each newly constructed underground railway and (b) substantial alteration to an existing railway which has been approved by him or his predecessors since 1954.

Statutory approval has been given to the carriage of passengers on the following newly-constructed underground railways since 1954: the Victoria Line (London underground); the Liverpool loop and link (British Railways London Midland region); the Piccadilly line Heathrow extension (London underground); the Jubilee line (London underground); and the Tyne and Wear metro (Tyne and Wear PTE).Similar approval has been give to the following substantially altered underground railways since 1954: the Glasgow underground (Greater Glasgow PTE); and the Northern and City line between Drayon Park and Moorgate (British Railways eastern region).

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the underground railways in London which (a) have and (b) have not, been subject to inspection by the Railway Inspectorate as agents of the Health and Safety Commission in each of the last 10 years.

The agency agreement between the Health and Safety Commission and the Department was not concluded until 1975. Since then the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and other relevant legislation has been enforced by the Railway Inspectorate on the following underground railways in London: the London underground (London Regional Transport); the Waterloo and City line (British Railways Southern region); the Northern and City line (British Railways Eastern region); and the Post Office railway. There are no underground railways in London which are not subject to inspection by the Railway Inspectorate as agents of the Health and Safety Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport in cash and in real terms, what were the amounts received by British Rail as the public service obligation grant in each year such grant has been in payment; and what figures he has for the breakdown of the grant for Wales.

The figures for PSO grant paid by central Government are as follows:

Outturn prices
		£ million
	1975	296
	1976	299
	1977	329
	1978	390
	1979	485
	1980	576
	1981	749
	1982	817
	1983	*819
	1984	*837

1984 prices
		£ million
	1975	781
	1976	688
	1977	663
	1978	709
	1979	770
	1980	763

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to appoint the consultants for the study of the second Severn crossing.

From the original applicants for this commission, five groups were shortlisted and asked to make written and oral presentations. In the light of these, and after consulting my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, I have decided to appoint the group comprising W. S. Atkins and Partners and G. Maunsell and Partners with Charles Haswell and Partners.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will now include a bypass of the A16 through Louth in the active trunk road programme.

I am pleased to say that, following our further study of a possible scheme with Lincolnshire county council, I have decided to put an A16 Louth bypass

10-year average
Accident rate per 100 crossings
	Manned crossings		Automatic crossings
Year	Gates	Lifting barriers including those using CCTV	Automatic half barriers (AHB)	Automatic open crossings locally monitored (AOCL)	User worked crossings with miniature warning Hglus (MWL)
1979	4·22	0·20	1·67	0·81	1·98
1980	4·06	0·23	1·55	0·87	2·30
1981	3·80	0·22	1·83	0·91	2·60
1982	3·55	0·19	1·92	1·45	2·29
1983*	3·35	0·17	1·96	1·53	2·20
* Provisional figures only.

asked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts whether the Government have now decided detailed arrangements for the central funding of Kenwood, Marble Hill and Rangers houses following the abolition of the Greater London council.

Ownership and management of these three historic house museums and the grounds attachng to each of them will pass to the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England. My right hon. and noble Friend has every confidence that this arrangement will enhance the position and importance of these properties and of their collections.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give, for each of the last five years, the comparative accident records of (a) automatic railway/ road level crossings and (b) manned railway/road level crossings.

The following table is based on the figures given in the Department of Transport's "Railway Accidents—Report on the Safety Record of the Railways in Great Britain", published annually, copies of which are in the Library. The accident rates quoted are per 100 crossings averaged over a 10-year period and are for British Rail only.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he has any plans in the near future to implement the recommendations of the committee on political activities of civil servants chaired by the late Sir Arthur Armitage.

Agreement has been reached with the Civil Service trade unions on new rules which follow the majority recommendations of the Armitage report (Cmnd. 7057). These rules will be incorporated in the "Civil Service Pay and Conditions of Service Code", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many people have been killed and how many have been injured during mountaineering expeditions in Wales during the last 10 years.

In the 10 years 1974 to 1983, 39 deaths with mountaineering mentioned on the death certificate also specified Wales as the place of accident, though this may not be a complete count.No information is available centrally on non-fatal injuries received in such accidents.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if his Department is taking any steps to encourage farmers in Wales to make appropriate changes in farming practice to enable the increases in nitrate concentrations in water sources to be contained.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given today by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in response to a similar question in respect of English farmers. The Agriculture Development and Advisory Service operates over both Wales and England.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has as to the annual average outgoings in rental and mortgage charges, respectively, for specialist dairy farmers in Wales at the latest available date.

Information is not available showing annual average outgoings on rental and mortgage charges for specialist dairy farms alone. Relevant figures for actual and imputed rentals are given in "Farm Accounts in Wales 1982–83" published by the Welsh Office, a copy of which is available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of specialist dairy farmers in Wales with holdings under freehold and rental tenure, respectively.

The numbers of holdings classified as "specialist dairy" in the agricultural census at June 1983, by tenure, are as follows:

Total area	Number of holdings
Wholly owned	3,110
Wholly rented	1,033
Mixed tenure:
50 per cent.—99·9 per cent, owned	729
50 per cent.—99·9 per cent, rented	399
Total	5,271

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the net income of specialist dairy farmers in Wales with herds of under 40 and 50 cows, respectively.

Information is not available in the precise form requested. Farm management survey data are analysed by size of business measured in European size units (ESU) and the relevant 1982–83 data for specialist dairy farms are as follows:

Size of business(ESU)	Average number of dairy cows	Average net farm income*
		£
4—7·9	22	2,106
8—15·9	38	7,705
16—23·9	65	11,504
* Net farni income is defined as total farm output less total inputs excluding farmer and spouse labour and interest on any farming loans. It there fore represents the return to the farmer and spouse for their manual and managerial labour and on tenant-type capital.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the average net income of specialist dairy farmers in Wales.

The latest figures available from the farm management survey show that in 1982–83 net income per farm averaged £9,776 on specialist dairy farms with business sizes from four to 100 European size units.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will seek to introduce yearly health checks for people working in power stations.

We have no plans to introduce such health checks generally for workers in power stations.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has to introduce the new technology job system, Supervacs, in order to improve efficiency in job finding in Wolverhampton; and how many jobs in the employment sector would result if Supervacs were introduced with jobcentres.

The computerised vacancy circulation and statistical recording system known as Supervacs will, on current plans, be introduced in Wolverhampton in summer 1987, as an enhancement to the existing computer system. The aim of Supervacs is to improve internal efficiency in jobcentres, to reduce staffing costs and to reduce wasted effort on the part of both employers and job seekers by ensuring that up-to-date information about vacancies is more speedily and readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment why Oxfordshire education authority will not be able to start projects under the technical and vocational education initiative in September.

The Manpower Services Commission was advised by its technical and vocational education initiative national steering group on which of the 79 proposals for projects under the initiative should receive support this year. The membership of the group includes educational interests and representatives from local authority associations, industry and commerce. In making its recommendations the group took into account the degree of innovation; the cohesion and focus of the projects; the extent to which they met the nationally agreed requirements for the scheme and the extent to which they could be used as a model elsewhere. Taking a broad view of all these factors, the group decided not to include Oxfordshire in the list on which negotiations should proceed. Its recommendations were accepted by the commission and Ministers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment which local education authorities will be ready to start schemes under the technical and vocational education initiative in September

The local education authorities in England and Wales and education authorities in Scotland due to start pilot projects this autumn subject to the successful conclusion of current negotiations are:

England and Wales	Richmond on Thames
Berkshire	Somerset
Bury	Suffolk
Cleveland	Tameside
Croydon	Buckinghamshire
Doncaster	Cheshire
East Sussex	Coventry
Gwent	Derbyshire
Havering	Durham
Mid Glamorgan	Gloucestershire
North Tyneside	Hampshire
Powys	Lincolnshire
Solihull	Norfolk
Stockport	Northumberland
Surrey	Shropshire
West Glamorgan	South Tyneside
Bolton	Suderland
Cambridgeshire	Warwickshire
Cornwall
Cumbria	Scotland
Dudley	Borders
Essex	Dunfries and Galloway
Gwynedd	Fife
Isle of Wight	Strathclyde (in respect of
Newcastle	Glasgow and Renfrew)
Northamptonshire

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what criteria govern the provision of travel-to-work areas in the current review.

The review has been carried out using ward-based data on travel-to-work patterns, obtained from the 1981 census of population. The main criteria for the definition of travel-to-work areas are that a high proportion of the employed population living in the area also work there and a high proportion of those working in the area also live there.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will explain the rationale for the two proposed travel-to-work areas which are nearest to Trafford park, Manchester;(2) if he will review the proposal to split Trafford park, Manchester, between two separate travel-to-work areas;(3) if he will make a statement on the proposal to divide Trafford park between two travel-to-work areas.

The draft revised travel-to-work areas map split Trafford park between two areas. The final map, prepared in the light of local comments, while maintaining the statistical basis of the review, includes the whole of Trafford park in one travel-to-work area based on Manchester.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will consult local bodies other than local authorities in the drawing up of new travel-to-work areas.

In finalising the new travel-to-work area boundaries comments submitted both by local authorities and by other bodies have, where appropriate, been taken into account. The review of travel-to-work areas was primarily a statistical exercise to revise the areas using data about travel-to-work patterns obtained from the 1981 census of population.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment to what extent the current review of travel-to-work areas will affect the drawing up of boundaries for assisted areas.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry on 22 June, at column 265.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he makes of the severity of skill shortages; which industries are most affected; and what action the Government are taking to remedy it.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 2 May 1984, at columns 167–68. Remedial action is primarily a matter for employers. The Government's strategy is directed towards encouraging industry to assume its proper responsibilities and helping to develop more effective ways of meeting the skill needs of the new technologies.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people in total have been unemployed for (a) over six months and (b) over one year.

The latest figures are for April 1984 and these were published in table 2.5 of the labour market data section of the May and June 1984 issues of Employment Gazette, copies of which are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many citizens band radio users have been prosecuted for breaching regulations for the most recent convenient period.

During the first half of this year 688 people were prosecuted under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 for the unlicensed use of citizens band radio equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what evidence he has of the extent to which American-made microprocessors and similar items are being denied to British companies as a result of actions of the United States Government; and if he will make a statement.

My Department is approached from time to time about difficulties encountered by individual British companies in obtaining various items from the United States which are subject to US export controls. It is not possible to judge from the cases which are drawn to my Department's attention whether there is any widespread problem of denial of supply.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received from manufacturers in Trafford park regarding problems within his responsibilities occasioned by industrial decline in the area; what response he has made; and if he will make a statement.

Responses to the Government's White Paper, "Regional Industrial Development" (Cmnd. 9111) have been received from Trafford Park Industrial Council, Trafford Park Major Manufacturers Ltd, and several of the major manufacturers in the area. These have been acknowledged. In addition, I have met representatives of the local authorities. All of the points made will be carefully considered before we make our final decisions on those aspects of the White Paper on which views were invited.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking through their regional industrial policy to seek to complement beyond enterprise zones benefits attracting to the zones themselves.

Regional industrial policy and enterprise zones are distinct policies aimed at different problems but which nevertheless overlap in some areas. Where this is the case, regional industrial policy is able to complement the benefits offered by the zones by using appropriate policy instruments to provide support for the regeneration and modernisation of the industrial economy of the wider areas, which includes the enterprise zones.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why manufacturers of weighing machines seeking pattern approval from his Department are experiencing delays of up to eight months; what steps he is taking to alleviate these delays; and if for purposes of comparison he will seek to discover how long it takes for such pattern approvals to be obtained by weighing machine manufacturers in Germany, France and Japan.

Delays in the examination of patterns are occurring because of continuing difficulty in recruiting and retaining specialist staff. Overtime is currently being worked and some redeployment of staff within the National Weights and Measures Laboratory is taking place in order to mitigate the problem. Information on time taken in Germany, France and Japan is not available, but I am having inquiries made.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps are being taken to monitor compliance by South African subsidiaries of British companies with the European Community code of conduct on employment conditions; and how the record of British companies compares with those of other European Community companies.

Reports from companies are examined carefully and where appropriate discussed with companies in both the United Kingdom and South Africa. An analysis of companies' reports is submitted to the House each year, the most recent on 10 April, 1984 at column 146. The record of British companies in submitted reports and complying with the code's requirements compares favourably with those of other European Community companies (see European Parliament report PE 85.247 of 3 June 1983 for the most recent assessment, a copy of which is in the Library of the House).

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to allow the Monopolies and Mergers Commission to operate unfettered in the field of the airline charter market; and if he will make a statement.

The Monopolies and Mergers Commission considers only matters which are referred to it. I am satisfied that the powers provided in the Fair Trading Act 1973 and the Competition Act 1980 to refer airlines to the commission are adequate.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is satisfied with the current regulations regarding origin marking; and if he will make a statement.

I am satisfied with our existing requirements under the Trade Descriptions Act 1972 and the Trade Descriptions (Origin Marking) (Miscellaneous Goods) Order 1981, pending the European Court's ruling on the latter in the case now before it.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from the employees of British Aerospace about the future of the company in the event of merger with GEC.

My Department has received a number of representations from union representatives of BA employees or from hon. Members on their behalf. Replies to these representations have drawn attention to the Government's position as set out by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry in his statement of 16 May, at column 361, and his written answer to the hon. Member for Kingswood (Mr. Hayward) of 7 June, at column 234.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what registration and classification schemes operate in respect of hotels in each European Community state and their separate conditions; what representations he has received for a statutory scheme in Great Britain since 1980; and if he will make a statement.

My Department has no comprehensive information about hotel registration and classification schemes operating in other EC countries. However, research carried out last year by the English Tourist Board indicated that all other EC countries operated some form of compulsory hotel registration and licensing which in some cases also involved hotel classification.I receive frequent representations both for and against statutory hotel registration and the question was last considered in the course of the Government's recent tourism review. Our conclusion was that registration could involve undesirable bureaucracy and expense. However, we have asked the ETB in consultation with the other tourist boards and interested bodies, to examine ways of strengthening its voluntary registration scheme to make it a more effective weapon against inadequate standards. The board's report is expected later in the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many grants under the oil to coal conversion scheme for the glasshouse industry have been made up to the present date; what was the total sum of money paid in grant; how many applications are in process; how many applications have been withdrawn since October 1983 and since February 1984; and how much money is still available under the scheme.

The position at 30 June 1984 regarding grants to the horticulture industry under the coal firing scheme was as follows:

	Number	£ million
Grants accepted	36	0·9
Payments to date		0·4
Applications under consideration by Coal Firing Unit	14
Grants offers under consideration by applicant	13	0·9
Applications withdrawn since 31 October 1983	12
Applications withdrawn since 29 February 1984	6

The Government have allocated a total of £75 million to the coal firing scheme, which is due to close on 31 December 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will place in the Library documents relating to the implementation of the financial management initiative within his Department.

I understand that my right hon. and learned Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury will be publishing the latest White Paper on "Financial Mangement in Government Departments" very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he plans to publish the study undertaken for the Building Research Establishment energy conservation support unit on the effectiveness of conventional draught-proofing materials.

The Building Research Establishment has recently prepared for the energy efficiency office a study on the draught-stripping of existing windows. That study was the first stage of a programme of work on energy efficiency in buildings. It would be inappropriate to publish it now without the results of further studies to which it will be contributing.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he plans to devolve the administration of seed corn grants for voluntary insulation projects to the neighbourhood energy action team of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations.

Subject to satisfactory arrangements being concluded, the energy efficiency office is aiming to transfer the administration of seed corn grants to neighbourhood energy action in the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he plans to announce detailed revisions to his Department's seed corn and project grant systems under the neighbourhood energy action programme.

The energy efficiency office is currently engaged in consultation with neighbourhood energy action and others on the proposed revisions to the seed corn and project grants schemes. It is hoped that the revised schemes will be implemented in the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the types of asbestos in Battersea power station; what action and by whom is to be taken for its removal; and what public consultation will take place before the asbestos is removed.

I have been asked to reply.All types of asbestos are thought to be present An Battersea power station, but the CEGB's policy at this site will be to treat all asbestos as crocidolite. This will ensure that the highest standards of protection are applied throughout.Stripping of the asbestos will begin this September, but the contract has not yet been let. The CEGB intends to manage the asbestos removal.The Health and Safety Executive will be informing the local authority that asbestos is to be removed from Battersea, as it does whenever this operation is caned out at a power station.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many squatters there are in properties within the boundaries of each of the 43 district office areas of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in Northern Ireland; how this compares with each of the last five years; and how many new cases there have been over the past 12 months.

Number of squatters as at:
District	March 1980	March 1981	March 1982	March 1983	March 1984
Belfast 1	532	559	457	245	101
Belfast 2	99	90	54	18	15
Belfast 3	1,071	846	764	618	432
Belfast 4	182	186	97	80	50
Belfast 5	312	231	127	134	38
Belfast 6	183	192	108	85	45
Belfast 7	155	140	96	60	33
Bangor	—	1	—	—	—
Newtownards 1	3	5	1	—	—
Newtownards 2	—	1	—	—	—
Dundonald	9	4	4	1	1
Newtownbreda	8	4	—	2	1
Lisbum	16	20	11	4	3
Dunmurry	12	5	1	—	—
Poleglass	382	195	172	75	38
Downpatrick	20	9	4	3	4
Banbridge	—	—	—	—	—
Newry 1	19	8	7	2	3
Newry 2	1	3	5	2	1
Kilkeel	—	—	—	—	—
Armagh	34	23	6	10	1
Craigavon	18	8	—	1	3
Lurgan	52	31	18	13	10
Portadown	14	5	4	3	—
Ballymena	—	2	3	2	—
Antrim	1	3	5	—	—
Newtownabbey 1	40	31	22	6	2
Newtownabbey 2	55	39	27	14	5
Carrickfergus	23	18	14	10	1
Lame	—	—	—	—	—
Ballycastle	1	1	1	1	2
Ballymoney	2	1	2	—	—
Londonderry 1	353	340	242	265	293
Londonderry 2	110	83	43	13	12
Londonderry 3	102	83	66	53	40
Limavady	8	6	4	3	3
Coleraine	—	—	—	—	—
Magherafelt	1	—	2	—	—
Strabane	81	74	70	74	68
Omagh	2	3	—	2	1
Cookstown	6	7	6	4	3
Dungannon	38	28	15	14	10
Enniskillen	1	—	—	—	—
Totals	3,946	3,285	2,458	1,817	1,219

The most up-to-date information available on new cases of squatting relates to the period 1 April 1983 to 31 March 1984. Over this period there were 765 such cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the estimated total cost of the new bridge over the river Foyle at Londonderry; and how many jobs, calculated in man-years, have been generated by the project in (a) Londonderry and (b) the rest of Northern Ireland.

The estimated cost is £23·9 million. Direct employment is estimated to be the equivalent of 950 man years; some 50 per cent. of the jobs have been generated in Londonderry, the remainder mainly in Belfast.

This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but I understand from the chairman that the number of squatters is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide the tables for 1981, 1982 and 1983, showing the number of schoolchildren enrolled for courses which had external validation, especially GCE and CSE, but who leave at Easter rather than complete the course.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much Northern Ireland received in 1983–84 from the European regional development fund.

£13·5 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to be able to make a decision on the Kinsale gas project.

I expect the Government's decision to be made in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, of people who are in prison because of supergrass evidence, how many have been remanded in prison for (a) three months, (b) six months, (c) nine months, (d) 12 months, (e) 15 months, (f) 18 months,(g) 21 months, (h) 24 months, (i) 27 months and (j) 30 months; of these people, how many have been convicted, acquitted or have actually gone to trial; and what was their period of detention or remand.

The information is not available in the form requested. However, as at 10 June 1984, the periods spent on remand by persons awaiting trial on charges in which the evidence of an accomplice featured wholly or in part, were as follows:

No. of months on remand	No. of persons
0–3 months	—
Over 3 up to 6 months	3
Over 6 up to 9 months	11
Over 9 up to 12 months	20
Over 12 up to 15 months	6
Over 15 up to 18 months	7
Over 18 up to 21 months	14
Over 21 up to 24 months	—
Over 24 months	4

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he plans any further reviews of the forensic science service.

We have no plans at present for further reviews of the forensic science service but will continue to keep the efficiency and scientific standards of the service under scrutiny.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give, for the last 12 months, the percentage change in the level of violent crime from the previous 12 months.

In the 12 months to the end of March this year, the police in England and Wales recorded 4 per cent. more offences of violence against the person and robbery than in the previous 12 months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the role of the national reporting centre; and if he will make a statement.

A number of points about the work of the national reporting centre have been raised by right hon. and hon. Members in this House, by local authority associations and by members of the general public. The national reporting centre is working smoothly, arid I believe that its role is now better understood.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements exist for liaison between his Department and the police national reporting centre.

During the miners' dispute, the centre is providing the Department with daily and other reports from chief officers of police in England and Wales about their operations in relation to events arising from the dispute.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the territorial extent of the powers of the national reporting centre during the present miners' dispute.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the operation of the national reporting centre during the current coal dispute.

The centre is helping to co-ordinate requests from chief officers of police for assistance from other forces under section 14(1) of the Police Act 1964, which applies to England and Wales. My right hon. and learned Friend receives reports, via the centre, from chief officers about current operations to help him discharge his responsibilities for law and order, including reporting to the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he proposes any changes to the current immigration laws.

We are satisfied with the framework of control provided by the Immigration Act 1971 and have no proposals to change it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to reach conclusions on statutory limits on the time which may be spent on remand in custody before trial.

In the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to publish the code of professional conduct for the Metropolitan police, and which manuals or guidelines he intends to either update or replace as a result.

The commissioner tells me that he intends to publish the code or handbook of professional conduct as soon as possible. It will be an addition to, and is not intended to replace, guidance already issued. The commissioner will consider the extent to which existing guidance will need updating in the light of the handbook and on how best the message it contains might be reinforced in training.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to hold an early meeting with the police committee of the Association of Metropolitan Authorities.

I met representatives of the association, including members of the police committee, on 18 June to discuss the policing of the miners' dispute but have no plans at present for a further meeting.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have obtained Open University places in each of the last four years; and if he will make a statement.

In each of the four years from 1981 to 1984 the numbers of prisoners obtaining Open University places have been 172, 147, 141 and 161. Open University places are currently available in 27 prison service establishments. Negotiations are in progress to increase this number by a further six establishments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is planning to propose further steps to combat rising crime.

The criminal justice working paper published in May sets out our continuing strategy to combat crime, including measures to improve police effectiveness and proposals to strengthen the powers of the courts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he intends to encourage local initiatives to prevent crime.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking to improve crime prevention.

I refer my hon. Friend and my hon. and learned Friend to the reply given earlier today to questions from my hon. Friends the Members for Erith and Crayford (Mr. Evennett) and for Nottingham, North (Mr. Ottaway).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to make a statement on the Government's response to the report of the review body on the laws governing trading by shops on Sundays.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is yet in a position to make a statement about the report on Sunday trading.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he now expects to receive the report of the Auld committee on Sunday trading.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to publish the Report of the committee of inquiry chaired by Mr. Robin Auld, QC, into proposals to amend the Shops Act.

We hope to receive the report of this committee in the early autumn and to be in a position to publish it very soon thereafter. My right hon. and learned Friend would obviously want an opportunity of considering the report's findings before making any statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will clarify exactly what proportion of the extra cost of policing directly attributable to the miners' dispute he expects to be borne by the police authorities.

It is a basic principle of policing in this country that costs are shared between local and central Government. The Government have, exceptionally, made extra assistance available to help meet the costs of policing the dispute as described in my replies to questions from my hon. Friend the Member for Sherwood (Mr. Stewart) on 11 May, at columns483–84 and 28 June, at column 510. As a result of this assistance, police authorities will bear their normal 50 per cent. share of the costs only for expenditure up to the level of the product of a penny rate. Above that level they will bear only 10 per cent. of the costs. Moreover, the Government will not allow the total of any police authorities share of expenditure up to 30 June to exceed the product of a penny rate. The additional costs of aid supplied to other forces should be repaid by the authority of the force which received the aid.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a further statement on the policing of picket lines during the coal mining dispute.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the policing of the current miners' dispute.

As I said in reply on 17 July, at column 86, to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside (Mr. Parry), major policing operations have continued to be necessary to ensure that people who wish to go to work may do so, and to prevent or deal with acts of intimidation in some areas. Between 14 March and 17 July, 512 police officers had been injured in performing duties related to the dispute, and 4,513 people had been arrested.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received from police authorities about the level of recompense they are to receive for the extra expense incurred in relation to the miners' dispute.

Representatives of the Derbyshire police authority and county council who met my right hon. and learned Friend on 4 July made representations that the entire costs of the dispute should be met from central funds. A resolution to the same effect was forwarded by the Lancashire Police authority on 10 July. Up to 18 July we have received no other representations since he announced additional help for the police authorities with the highest costs in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Sherwood (Mr. Stewart) on 28 June, at column 510.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with chief police officers about the policing of picket lines and mining communities during the coal mining dispute.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will convene a meeting of chief constables to discuss the policing of the miners' dispute.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what communications he has had with chief officers of the police on their handling of disorder on and around picket lines.

On behalf of his colleagues in England and Wales, the president of the Association of Chief Police Officers has reported personally to my right hon. and learned Friend on the whole range of policing operations related to the dispute on a number of occasions, most recently on 26 June. He sees no current reason to convene a meeting of chief officers to discuss the operations. He receives daily reports on them from chief officers, and, as necessary, additional reports on particular problems, such as intimidation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the payments to the police in mining areas where local authorities have refused to pay for policing the picket lines in the present strike; and if he will make a statement.

I know that some police authorities whose forces have provided mutual aid during the miners' dispute are concerned that the police authority for the aided force may refuse to meet the costs of that aid, but I am not aware that any application for repayment has been refused.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to increase the resources available to the police to secure the safety of miners who wish to work and that of their families.

I share my hon. Friend's concern about intimidation. But I am glad to say the special measures taken by the police are having considerable success. The need is not for more resources, which are adequate, but for the victims of such crimes to report them without delay. This is an insidious crime which the police can deal with effectively only if it comes immediately to their notice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for reports from chief constables as to instances in their areas of alleged intimidation of miners' families; and if he will make a statement.

We have received a series of reports from chief officers of police in England and Wales about acts of intimidation related to the miners' dispute, including offences against miners' families. We have recent reports from the chief constables of Derbyshire, Durham, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Nottinghamshire, Northumbria, South Wales, Staffordshire and Warwickshire. There have been acts of intimidation in each force area, notably in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Warwickshire. The offences reported include criminal damage to miners' homes and vehicles, threatening telephone calls and visits to homes, and threats to children in the street. Miners have been pursued or assaulted on their way to work. In addition, there has been criminal damage to National Coal Board property, and to the property of companies not part of the coal industry.Chief officers are maintaining and developing their arrangements to prevent offences of intimidation and to apprehend offenders, including the deployment of more uniformed officers, and teams of CID officers. The police are investigating all acts of intimidation reported to them. In local publicity, and with the assistance of councillors and others, people are being encouraged to report such acts, and assured that those will receive urgent and thorough attention. The police have our full encouragement in taking all practicable steps to present and detect offences of intimidation and to bring offenders before the courts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) for each Metropolitan police district, how many police officers have been taken off their normal duties because of the miners' strike;(2) how many Metropolitan police officers have been sent outside the Metropolitan police district in connection with the miners' strike; and what has been the cost to the ratepayers of London.

The amount of aid provided has varied widely from week to week, but between 14 March and 13 July the number of officers deployed on mutual aid on any one day has averaged 645. A breakdown by police district is as follows. The additional cost of sending these officers on mutual aid it met by the aided force. Information about the number of officers who have had to be redeployed from their normal duties to cover for colleagues temporarily engaged on mutual aid duties is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Average number Metropolitan police officers deployed per day on mutual aid duties in connection with the miners' dispute; by police district
	District	Number of officers
	A	19
	B	19
	C	22
	D	24
	E	29
	F	19
	G	23
	H	23
	J	29
	K	39
	L	26
	M	31
	N	24
	P	34
	Q	25
	R	29
	S	26
	T	33
	V	22
	W	29
	X	26
	y	35
	z	35
	Airport	24
	Total	645

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will summarise separately the numbers charged in connection with the coal mining dispute with (a) assault on a police officer, (b) assault occasioning actual bodily harm, (c) causing grievous bodily harm, (d) offensive weapon, (e) section 7 conspiracy, (f) affray and (g) riot, setting out in each case how many cases have been brought to court and the sentences that have been awarded sudividing fines as in the answer of 16 July, Official Report.

The information available centrally on court cases completed and sentences imposed does not identify the charges involved. But I can now provide more up-to-date information on charges and court cases. The following charges were brought in connection with the miners' dispute between 14 March and 17 July inclusive:

Offences	Number of charges
Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1936 (conduct conducive to a breach of the peace)	2,046
Obstruction of a police officer	1,089
Obstruction of the highway	539
Criminal damage	285
Arson	3
Assault on a police officer	280
Assault occasioning actual bodily harm	231
Causing grievous bodily harm	13
Theft	86
Assault with intent to resist arrest	9
Offensive weapon	13
Section 7 of the Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act 1875 (Intimidation)	92
Burglary	6
Handling stolen property	1
Drug offence	1
Attempt (various offences)	9
Drunkenness	57
Unlawful Assembly	135
Affray	19
Riot	84
Other offences	95
Total	5,093

In the same period the courts had dealt with 750 cases. Sixty-five of the defendants were acquitted. In one case the court imposed a suspended sentence of six months imprisonment. Nine of those convicted were sentenced to be detained for one day. In 39 cases the courts imposed a conditional discharge; in 277 cases the defendants were bound over to keep the peace. In 447 cases fines were imposed, the courts making more than one order in some cases. The information available centrally on the level of fine imposed is as follows:

Level of Fine	Number
Under £10	6
£10–£24	38
£25–£49	22
£50–£74	91
£75–£99	151
£100–£149	85
£150–£199	26
£200 and above	28
Total	447

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for reports from each chief constable concerned to provide details of the number of police injured since 19 June dealing, and involved, with the current miners' dispute.

The following numbers of officers have been injured, in the period from 20 June to 17 July inclusive, in dealing with events arising from the miners' dispute.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for reports from each chief constable concerned to provide details, for each police force area, of the number of pickets arrested and their known occupation from 19 June to date.

The following numbers of arrests have been made, in the period from 20 June to 17 July inclusive, in connection with events arising from the miners' dispute.

Police force area	Number of arrests
Cleveland	17
Derbyshire	273
Durham	17
Greater Manchester	77
Gwent	85
Hampshire	1
Humberside	29
Merseyside	17
Metropolitan	10
Northumbria	19
North Yorkshire	41
Nottinghamshire	338
South Wales	43
South Yorkshire	25
Staffordshire	25
Warwickshire	44
West Yorkshire	8
Total	1,069

The information available centrally on the occupation of the persons arrested relates to the period from 20 June to 10 July inclusive when a total of 734 people were arrested, and the occupations given were as follows:

Occupation	Number of persons
Miners	626
Member of Parliament	1
Manual workers	11
Housewives	7
Unemployed	11
Not known/not given	78
Total	734

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the operation of regulations governing the sale of air weapons.

We have no plans at present to change the law, but we shall continue to keep the matter under close review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constables concerned on the use of road blocks on the Al road in the vicinity of Nottingham; and if he will make a statement.

The chief constable of Nottinghamshire tells me that during the miners' dispute officers in his area have frequently had to require people not to continue their journey, because the police had reason to believe that those concerned were travelling to a place where there was, or was likely to be, a breach of the peace. In particular, this action is often necessary in relation to people travelling from South Yorkshire seeking to join the A1(M) near to Blythe Top in Nottinghamshire.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the number of Metropolitan police officers seconded to the Falkland Islands.

A Metropolitan police chief superintendant is on secondment as chief of police of the Falkland Islands. No other Metropolitan police officers are at present seconded there.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the rules concerning the filming by journalists of persons accused of criminal offences.

It is for chief officers of police to decide whether to grant journalists such facilities. I am satisfied that chief officers are aware of the need to have regard to the privacy of persons suspected of crime, the consent of the persons concerned to be filmed and to the interests of justice, before granting any such facility.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will indicate the number of offences committed by under 16-year-olds for the last 12 months.