asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates he has received or what estimates he has made concerning the current weekly or monthly market value in pounds sterling of the quantity of heroin illegally entering the United Kingdom.

Any estimates of the quantity and value of heroin entering the country can only be speculative. The range of those estimates which I have seen is wide and little, if any, reliance can be placed upon them.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans there are for the construction of a separate computer department for the efficient exploitation of information technology in the Civil Service.

Central department responsibilities in this area are discharged by the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency, part of Treasury. Responsibility for identifying, implementing and managing the application of information technology in Government Departments rests with individual Departments.I would also refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend for Croydon, South (Sir W. Clark) on 1 August, at column 395.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ensure that the new procedures for collection of value added tax on imports will not be introduced until it has been ascertained that all persons who applied before 31 July for duty deferment approval have been notified of their approval number.

All correctly completed applications that were received by Customs before 31 July have been processed and approval certificates sent to the approved persons. Customs expects that all properly completed applications received before 30 September will likewise be processed and certificates of approval issued in time for traders' use on 1 November.Customs can give no such assurance for applications which contain errors, but all those received up to 30 September have had action taken to resolve the queries. Corrective action is taken as soon as the queries are resolved so that as many applications as possible will be approved in time for the start date of 1 November.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent arrangements have been made by the Bank of England to rescue Dunlop from its £400 million losses; and if he will make a statement.

None.I understand that after recent reports concerning its role in the affairs of Dunlop the Bank of England made a statement in the following terms:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he will make a statement on the recent Johnson Matthey gold bullion dealers collapse; and what arrangements the Bank of England has made to rescue it;(2) why he authorised the rescue of Johnson Matthey.

I understand from the governor of the Bank of England that it became evident over the period immediately preceding the bank's acquisition of Johnson Matthey Bankers on 1 October 1984 that JMB was experiencing very serious problems with the commercial lending side of its business. As the failure of JMB would have caused severe problems for the other members of the London gold market, the bank organised the rescue package which was announced on 1 October.The main features of this package were that the parent company, Johnson Matthey plc, injected an additional £50 million capital into JMB; the Bank of England acquired JMB for the nominal sum of £1; a number of City institutions are providing indemnities for the event that JMB's losses may exceed the capital and reserves now available to JMB, with the Bank of England itself providing a small contribution to that indemnity; and a consortium of banks agreed to supply a loan facility of £250 million to support Johnson Matthey plc should that prove necessary.I understand that discussions involving some shareholders in Johnson Matthey plc as to the means by which further capital may be injected into that company are not yet concluded. Any proposals affecting the share capital of that company would have to be approved by shareholders before they could be implemented.The Bank of England did not require my authority in order to carry out these operations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied that all investors of Johnson Matthey were invited to the crisis meeting on 30 September at which the governor of the Bank of England was present.

On 30 September the sole shareholder in Johnson Matthey Bankers was the then parent company, Johnson Matthey plc. Johnson Matthey plc was represented at the meeting which I believe the hon. Member has in mind. It was neither necessary nor practical for all shareholders in Johnson Matthey plc to be invited to that meeting.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the meeting of the European Community Finance Council in Luxembourg on 1 October.

I represented the United Kingdom at this Council. After detailed discussion, the Council reached a wide measure of agreement on the measures necessary to guarantee the effective application of the principles of budgetary discipline agreed by the European Council at its meetings in March and June. There were, however, some outstanding reservations by the French and Danish Governments, which will require further consideration in the Council.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he proposes any measures to encourage prompter payment by employers of tax deducted by them under pay-as-you-earn.

Under the existing PAYE regulations, where an employer falls into arrear with his monthly payments the collector of taxes may visit him to inspect his records and quantify the tax due. Where the debt remains unpaid he may then enforce payment. A change in these regulations is being considered which would enable the collector to issue a notice to an employer estimating the amount of his unpaid liability. Unless the employer paid the estimated amount or the correct liability during the period allowed in the notice the estimated amount would be enforceable in the same way as a quantified liability. Similar changes would be made to the corresponding regulations relating to national insurance contributions and amounts deducted from payments to subcontractors in the construction industry. The changes would thus speed up the process of bringing in money held which is overdue for payment.The Inland Revenue will shortly be consulting organisations representing employers and contractors about these proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the contribution of the United Kingdom in the current academic period to the European University Institute in Florence; and by what means Her Majesty's Government are represented or sit on the body responsible for its finance.

In the financial year 1983–84, the United Kingdom contributed £672,000 to the European University Institute, whose main function is the promotion of postgraduate research in the field of European civilisation. Her Majesty's Government are represented by a senior official of the Department of Education and Science and a university vice-chancellor on the institute's high council, whose functions as the governing body include responsibility for the approval of the institute's budget and the oversight of its expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students from the United Kingdom are currently pursuing courses at public expense at the European University Institute in Florence; for what qualifications; and in which faculties of learning.

Twenty-one students from the United Kingdom are currently engaged on postgraduate work at the European University Institute with support from public funds. Of these, 19 have been admitted to prepare for the doctorate of the institute, divided as follows among the departments of the institute:

History and Civilisation—5; Economics—6; Law—2; Political and Social Sciences—6.

Two students have been admitted to the Law Department to prepare for the degree of Master in Comparative and European Legal Studies. A further two students have been granted leave of absence for study elsewhere during the present academic year and will take up their grants again in 1985–86.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what effect the proposed abolition of the Greater London council will have upon joint education projects administered by one London borough on behalf of others; and if he will make a statement.

Each outer London borough is a local education authority, and will not be affected in this regard by the abolition of the GLC. In the area of the inner London boroughs and the City of London, education will continue to be provided by a single directly-elected education authority, which will take over the area and responsibilities of the ILEA when the GLC is abolished.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many British scientists engaged on research work have left their posts to take up similar appointments abroad since 1979; which countries they have gone to; and if he will make a statement.

The information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in the Official Report those organisations and individuals who responded to the report of the advisory committee on the supply and education of teachers, teacher training and special educational needs; and how many of these opposed the proposal to end the mandatory requirement for teachers of (a) the deaf, (b) partially-hearing and (c) the blind to hold a specialist qualification.

I shall reply to the hon. Member's question as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in the Official Report those organisations and individuals who responded to the Green Paper, "Parental Influence at School" (Cmnd. 9242); how many of these submissions supported the proposal that parents should elect, from amongst themselves, the majority of the members of school governing bodies; and if he will make a statement.

I shall reply to the hon. Member's question as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the motorway construction which has taken place in Hampshire since 1979; and what work currently in hand is expected to be open for public use in the next five years.

The information requested is as follows:

• M27 Stoneham-Hedge End—opened December 1983
• M27 Chilworth-Stoneham—opened July 1984
• M3 Popham-Bar End—under construction, due to open in two stages in summer and autumn 1985

The M27 from Cadnam to Portsbridge is now fully open. Subject to the timely completion of the necessary statutory procedures and availability of resources for the schemes not yet under construction, the final sections of the M3 motorway between Bar End and Bassett should be open to traffic within the next five years.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what changes have occurred in the conditions of travel for elderly handicapped or blind persons on London Regional Transport since it was established; and if he has approved any such change.

The experiment, funded by the Greater London council, under which the starting time for free travel for handicapped people was advanced from 9.30 am to 9 am on weekdays, ended on 3 September. It is for the local authorities concerned to decide the extent to which they are prepared to fund concessionary travel, and the Secretary of State's approval was not required for this change.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what transport projects are to receive the funds allocated to transport from the refunds paid to the United Kingdom in respect of the 1983 European Community budget.

I am pleased to report that the Commission of the European Communities has announced that 33 transport projects in the United Kingdom will receive a total of £273 million from the refund agreed in respect of the United Kingdom's 1983 EC budget contribution. The details of the projects and amounts involved are as follows:

	£ million
English Roads
1. A12 Copdock and Washbrook By-pass	4·2
2. M25 Dartford Tunnel Approach	1·1
3. M25 A10/M11 Section	19·9
4. M25 Heathrow/M4 Spur	21·7
5. M25 Swanley Links Section	4·3
6. M25 Chertsey/Wisley Section	9·3
7. M25 Leatherhead Interchange	8·8
8. M25 Wisley/Leatherhead Section	8·8

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on imports of Belgian ceramic sanitaryware in general; and what response he is making to the points raised by Mr. Geoffrey Webb-Bowen, Director of the British Ceramic Sanitaryware Manufacturers, in his letter to him of 24 July.

Her Majesty's Government remain concerned about the continuing and adverse effects on the United Kingdom ceramic sanitaryware industry of imports of Belgian products, which have risen significantly since 1979. This concern and the urgent need to resolve the problem of continued assistance to the Belgian industry has been made clear to the EC Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on current trade between the United Kingdom and Libya.

During the first eight months of 1984 — the latest statistics available — United Kingdom exports to Libya totalled £154 million and imports from Libya £97 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions are held between Her Majesty's Government and the Hong Kong Government concerning the import of possible dangerous toys.

My officials discuss with the Hong Kong Government's London office any questions about the safety of particular toys made in Hong Kong as the need arises.Additionally, officials from my Department and the Hong Kong Government are exploring ways of ensuring that Hong Kong producers of consumer goods, including toys, for the United Kingdom market increase their understanding of the safety requirements of relevant British standards.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from the Merseyside county council concerning the import of toy guns from Hong Kong; wht reply he has sent; and if he will make a statement.

Merseyside county council trading standards department submitted a report dated 10 September 1984 about the safety of a particular toy gun made in Hong Kong.The plastic toy gun—known as a "Detective Special" —conforms with the requirements of British standard BS 5665—safety of toys. I am informed that it has been withdrawn from sale and that no similarly powered projectile firing toys are now on the market.Nevertheless, I was concerned about the potential dangers of this type of toy and my officials quickly arranged a meeting with the toy trade. The participants, including a representative of Merseyside county council, concluded that few, if any projectile firing toys now on the British market gave cause for concern. It was agreed that BS 5665 was the best available reference point for the safety of toy guns and similar products. The requirements of the standard, taken together with the normal precautions and checks which all responsible manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers make, are normally more than adequate from a safety point of view. However, my Department's technical advisers are considering whether there is scope for improving this standard.With toy guns that actually fire things rather than simply make a bang, it is generally accepted that there is a parental duty to prevent the gun being fired at people, particularly at very close range.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what effect the small workshops scheme has had on the supply of small industrial premises.

I am carrying out a review of the effect of the small workshops scheme on the supply of small industrial premises of 2,500 sq. ft. and below and will publish the results on the completion of the review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the veterinary investigation centres in England indicating the location of each one and the number of staff employed.

The information requested is as follows:

Veterinary Investigation Centre	Full and part-time staff employed on 15 October 1984
Eastern Region
Cambridge	18
Lincoln	15
Northampton	13
Norwich	22
Midlands and Western Region
Chester	7
Liverpool	14
Shrewsbury	25
Sutton Bonnington	24
Worcester	19
Northern Region
Leeds	19
Newcastle	18
Penrith	21
Thirsk	21
South Eastern Region
Reading	19
Winchester	15
Wye	12
South Western Region
Bristol	22
Gloucester	16
Starcross, Exeter	16
Truro	13

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many tuberculosis outbreaks there have been in cattle in Cornwall in each of the last 10 years.

The table gives the total number of cattle herds in Cornwall in which tuberculin reactors have been found in each of the last 10 years.

Bovine tuberculosis in cattle—total herds with reactors in Cornwall
	Number
1974	254
1975	252
1976	139
1977	91
1978	94
1979	76
1980	133
1981	107
1982	82
1983	83

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was, in the last 10 years, the annual gross expenditure on the control of bovine tuberculosis in Cornwall.

The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will, through the Health and Safety Executive, ensure the introduction of a voluntary code of practice setting out a basis for extending the provision of occupational health and hygiene services as recommended by the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology, "Occupational Health and Hygiene Services"; and if he will set up a departmental inquiry into the cost and feasibility of such an extended service.

The Select Committee recognised in its report that there would be wide variation in the needs of different industries and organisations for occupational health and hygiene services and that the specific needs of a range of industries would need to be studied before a code of practice could be drawn up. The Health and Safety Commission has asked its advisory committees to carry out the necessary studies as recommended by the Select Committee. The commission has published a detailed response, which the Government have accepted, to the Select Committee's report.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the results of the visit to Leicester on 20 June 1984 by the hon. Member for Suffolk, Coastal (Mr. Gummer) the then Minister of State.

My hon. Friend the Member for Suffolk, Coastal (Mr. Gummer), my predecessor as Minister with immediate responsibility for matters of health and safety at work, visited Leicester on 20 June at the invitation of the hon. and learned Member to discuss allegations about illegal working conditions in small firms in the textile and clothing industries. He visited a number of firms and held discussions with the editor of the Leicester Mercury and a number of local groups. He visited Leicester again on 10 September to announce a campaign that is being undertaken by the Health and Safety Executive and the Wages Inspectorate, involving as appropriate the fire authorities, to investigate alleged illegal working conditions in three areas—Leicester, the west midlands and London's east end. I expect to receive reports from the Health and Safety Executive and from the Wages Inspectorate on the outcome of the campaign and will inform the House of further developments in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to encourage the increase in the role of employees in the companies by which they are employed through the ownership of shares.

The Government are firmly committed to encouraging employee share ownership as a part of their wider policy of encouraging employee involvement on a voluntary basis. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and his right hon. and learned predecessor have already taken major steps to improve the tax incentives for employee share schemes. Between them they have introduced new reliefs for two different types of share option schemes — in 1980 and this year— and made significant improvements to the profit sharing reliefs. The success of these initiatives is evident from the continuing increase in the number of approved employee share schemes, which has grown from 30 in 1979 to 775 by the end of September, this year. In addition a major benefit of our privatisation arrangements is that large numbers of employees are given a chance to own a stake in the company for which they work.

asked the Prime Minister when she last met the Taoiseach of the Irish Republic.

I last met the Taoiseach on 3 September 1984.

asked the Prime Minister what progress has been made during the summer adjournment on resolving the issues raised at the Fontainebleau summit.

Considerable progress has hem made towards resolving the outstanding budget issues. At the Foreign Affairs Council on 2–3 October member states reaffirmed their commitment to paying the United Kingdom's abatement for 1984 on the revenue side of the budget in 1985 as agreed at Fontainebleau. The Council also concluded an inter-governmental agreement covering the Community's inescapable financial obligations for 1984. The United Kingdom made it clear that its contribution to this arrangement depended upon release of our 1983 refunds and agreement on a budget discipline text which implements the conclusions of the European Council. Work to complete this text, and the text of the new own resources decision, is continuing. The European Parliament voted on 10 October to release the United Kingdom's refunds for 1983.

asked the Prime Minister when she plans to pay an official visit to Ogmore.

I have at present no plans to do so

asked the Prime Minister if, following the withdrawal of full evening meals from the patients at St. Cadoc's hospital, Caerleon, Newport, Gwent, she is satisfied with the handling of nutritional standards at this hospital and that sufficient resources have been made available by the Government in this regard.

Maintenance of nutritional standards at St. Cadoc's hospital is the direct responsibility of the Gwent health authority. I am satisfied the authority is exercising this responsibility with the interest of patients fully in mind and that it has all the resources necessary.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 23 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 23 October.

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. I was present at Victoria to meet President Mitterrand on his arrival for a state visit. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I hope to attend a state banquet in honour of President Mitterrand at Buckingham palace.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on her recent visit to Liverpool.

I visited Merseyside on 2 October 1984 along with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. During the morning I saw some of the problems and potential which exist in housing areas in the inner city. I saw at first hand some of the poor housing conditions and some of the positive responses to these conditions involving cooperation between the public and the private sectors. I subsequently opened a "meet the buyers" Technomart exhibition at Wavertree technology park. In the afternoon I met members of the Merseyside county council and Liverpool city council before leaving to view the International Garden Festival and the Albert dock developments.

asked the Prime Minister if she will state the date at which she became publicly committed to the policy of abolition of the Greater London council.

On 18 May 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average waiting time between a patient being referred by his general practitioner and getting an appointment with a hospital consultant or a junior doctor in the department in each of the district general hospitals in Wales; and how do such time intervals compare with time waited by patients one and five years ago, respectively.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many consultants in occupational medicine are employed by each of the health authorities in Wales.

At 30 September 1984 there was one part-time consultant employed by Clwyd health authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will detail the manner in which each of the health authorities in Wales has made savings necessary to meet the 20 per cent. of the annual bill for 1984–85 of the nurses' pay increase, to be provided by individual authorities.

This is a matter for the health authorities themselves, who are developing substantial programmes to improve their efficiency.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women were in each penal establishment at the latest available date.

The information is given in the following table:

Female population by prison department establishment in England and Wales on 31 August 1984
Establishment	Aged under 21	Adults
Askham Grange	5	73
Bullwood Hall Prison	—	40
Bullwood Hall Youth Custody Centre	77	—
Cookham Wood	—	116
Drake Hall Prison	—	134
Drake Hall Youth Custody Centre	47	—
Durham	2	35
East Sutton Park Prison	—	47
East Sutton Park Youth Custody Centre	17	—
Holloway	64	247
Low Newton	7	32
Pucklechurch	7	48
Risley	36	93
Styal Prison	5	210
Styal Youth Custody Centre	34	—
Total	301	1,075

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many females currently in prison are (a) drug dependents, (b) alcoholic and (c) mentally ill.

During 1983, 303 females were recorded as dependent on drugs on reception into prison custody. The number held in custody at any one time is not recorded centrally.The number of alcoholics in prison custody is not recorded, mainly because of problems of definition.On 30 June 1984, there were 36 females in prison custody assessed as mentally disordered for the purposes of part II of the Mental Health Act 1983. Of these, 24 were diagnosed as mentally ill.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many complaints of unfair treatment or unwarranted infringement of privacy have been received by the Broadcasting Complaints Commission since it was set up in 1980; how many were considered to be within the commission's terms of reference; how many were upheld, partly upheld or rejected; and if he will publish the details in tabular form in the Official Report;(2) how many cases were considered to be within the terms of reference of the Broadcasting Complaints Commission in each year since its creation under the

Broadcasting Complaints Commission
		Complaints considered to be within the Commission's jurisdiction
Year		Unjust or unfair treatment	Unwarranted infringement of privacy	Complaints not adjudicated on by virtue of section 55 of the Broadcasting Act 1981	Complaints adjudicated on	Complaints upheld	Complaints partly upheld	Complaints rejected	Complaints outstanding at the end of the year
1 June 1981 to 31 March
1982	114	*23	—	13	4	3	—	1	6
1 April 1982 to 31 March
1983	234	45	1	21	9	2	1	6	22
1 April 1983 to 31 March
1984	228	47	—	31	13	6	3	4	25
1 April 1984 to date 128		*19	—	16	6	1	3	2	†22
*Including one complaint of unjust or unfair treatment and of unwarranted infringement of privacy.
† To date.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of the agreement under which the Isle of Man receives a proportion of the United Kingdom's oil revenues;(2) what formula is used to determine the payments to the Isle of Man; how much has been paid in each year since the agreement was signed; and whether the Government are satisfied with the terms of the agreement;(3) what representations have been received since 1979 concerning the agreement authorising payments to the Isle of Man

The texts of the letters exchanged between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of the Isle of Man, which together represent the Continental Shelf Agreement 1966, have been placed in the Library. These letters recognise the island's contribution, by virtue of its geographical position, to the extent of the United Kingdom's continental shelf.Under this agreement, the Isle of Man Government receive a proportion of the licence proceeds—whether by way of application fees, periodic payments or royalties —made to the Secretary of State for Energy in respect of licences issued under the Petroleum (Production) Act 1934, as extended offshore by the Continental Shelf Act 1964, less administrative expenses. The proportion in question is based on the resident population of the Isle of Man expressed as a percentage of that of the United Kingdom—0·11578 per cent.The sums received by the Isle of Man Government under this agreement are as follows: Broadcasting Act 1980; of those how many have been adjudicated upon; and if he is satisfied that all cases being referred to the commission are being dealt with promptly.

The information on the work of the Broadcasting Complaints Commission since its establish-ment on 1 June 1981 is as follows. I have no reason to believe that the commission does not deal with all cases as expeditiously as circumstances permit.

Financial year	£
1968–69	309
1969–70	1,211
1970–71	1,425
1971–72	4,654
1972–73	45,419
1973–74	15,184
1974–75	14,590
1975–76	18,349·94
1976–77	23,385·33
1977–78	75,717·17
1978–79	236,298·92
1979–80	328,233·97
1980–81	493,001·86
1981–82	2,993,373·93
1982–83	1,683,991·00
1983–84	2,484,904·00

The Isle of Man Government have made a number of representations which have largely been directed towards including in the terms of the agreement a sharing of other revenues from aspects of mineral exploitation on the United Kingdom continental shelf. Her Majesty's Government have been unable to agree that such changes would be justified, though they have accepted in principle that the effects of the Petroleum Royalties (Relief) Act 1983 are likely in the longer term to merit some adjustment to the agreement to maintain the spirit of what was originally agreed. This matter is currently under consideration by both Governments.I am not aware that any other representations have been made about the agreement from within the United Kingdom or from any other area or Government. Her Majesty's Government remain satisfied with the terms of the agreement, subject to a satisfactory outcome being reached on the question of the effects of the Petroleum Royalties (Relief) Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) adults and (b) children visit prisoners in Wormwood Scrubs on an average week day, Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

The following information has been taken from inmates' visiting orders at Her Majesty's prison Wormwood Scrubs:

(a) Visits to convicted prisoners:

• Weekday average:73
• Saturday average: 101
• [Period covered: 16 September 1984–17 October 1984]

(b) Visits to remand prisoners:

• Weekday average: 364
• Saturday average: 482
• [Period covered: 6 October 1984–13 October 1984]

Normally no visits take place at the prison on a Sunday. Children under 16 must accompany an adult and visits by them are not recorded separately.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a list of the number of police officers injured on duty in each of the past five years.

This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans to change the date of the ordinary local elections in 1986.

Ordinary local elections are held on the first Thursday in May: in 1986 this is Thursday 1 May. The Board of Deputies of British Jews has made representations that the elections should be postponed a week because 1 May 1986 falls during Passover. Following consultations with the local authority associations, we have decided to include in the forthcoming Representation of the People Bill a provision moving the ordinary day of election from 1 to 8 May 1986. The local authorities affected are London borough councils, district councils in England and Wales which are elected by thirds, some parish and community councils in those districts and regional and islands area councils in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of applications for legal aid at Airdrie sheriff court is refused and how this compares with the average figures for Scotland.

In 1983–84 34 per cent. of applications were refused; the average figure for sheriff courts in Scotland was 11 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in how many cases, as envisaged by part II of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, investigating authorities were consulted in Scotland in connection with applications for scheduled monument consents, since that Act became operational.

Part II of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 has not to date been brought into force in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many sites in Scotland have been scheduled as ancient monuments since the implementation of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 and how many such sites have been descheduled.

One and none, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many ancient monuments in Scotland, for which consent to develop or destroy has been issued, have been archaeologically excavated; and in how many cases total excavation took place.

Since the relevant provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 came into force in Scotland on 30 September 1981, there have been three such cases, in all of which partial excavation was sufficient.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what specific sums of money and what proportion of the total finance in connection with archaeological excavations of ancient monuments in Scotland was provided by his Department, local authorities and the Manpower Services Commission, respectively, over the most recent convenient period.

In the financial year 1983–84 expenditure incurred in Scotland by my Department on archaeological investigation of threatened sites and at ancient monuments in the care of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State amounted to £694,000. The Manpower Services Commission has funded a number of archaeological investigations in Scotland under the community programme. Expenditure on such projects in 1983–84 amounted to £313,000. Details of local authority expenditure on archaeology in Scotland are not held centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) in how many cases, by region in Scotland, publicity was given, and in what form, relating to applications received for scheduled monument consents, since the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 became operational;(2) in how many cases, by region in Scotland, there was a public local inquiry or a specific hearing before a person appointed by his Department in order to determine applications relating to scheduled monument consents;(3) how many scheduled monument consents have been issued since the implementation of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 in the appropriate regions of Scotland;(4) how many applications, by region of Scotland, there have been from developers and archaeologists, respectively, in relation to scheduled monument consents, since the implementation of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act of 1979;(5) how many scheduled monument consents, by region of Scotland, given since the coming into operation of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 were unconditional and how many made prior archaeological excavation a condition of consent.

	Cases in which Scheduled Monument Consent applications were subjected to		Number of Scheduled Monument Consent Applications received*		Number of Scheduled Monument Consents granted†
	Publicity	Public Local Inquiry or Hearing	From Developers	From Archaeologists	Unconditional	Conditional on prior archaeological investigation	Total
Borders	—	—	2	1	4	—	5
Central	—	—	—	—	—	—	3
Dumfries & Golloway	—	—	1	—	1	—	4
Fife	—	—	—	—	2	—	3
Grampian	—	—	1	2	1	1	4
Highland	—	—	1	—	—	1	2
Lothian	—	—	—	—	—	—	1
Strathclyde	—	—	4	3	4	1	19
Tayside	—	—	—	—	—	—	1
Orkney Islands Area	—	—	—	1	—	—	1
Shetland Islands Area	—	—	1	—	—	—	1
Western Isles Islands Area	—	—	1	—	1	—	1
Totals	—	—	11	7	13	3	45

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the number of convictions under section 2(1) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1951 in (a) Lerwick and (b) Kirkwall sheriff courts in each of the following years: 1957, 1960, 1963, 1966, 1969 and 1972 to 1983.

To produce the information for the years 1966 and earlier: would incur disproportionate cost. Thereafter the type of court and the area in which the offence took place are identified, but not necessarily the individual sheriff court. Nor does the classification used by my Department for the years after 1979 separately identify the statute referred to. No convictions under section 2 of the 1951 Act were recorded in 1969 and 1972 to 1979. For the later years there was one case of a salmon and freshwater fisheries offence in Shetland in 1983, but whether or not under section 2 of the 1951 Act is not recorded.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is the expected completion date of the construction of the nuclear bunker near Coupar Angus;(2) what are the amounts to be spent annually on the construction of the nuclear bunker at Coupar Angus; and what are the estimated annual running costs of the bunker after completion;(3) why the Scottish Home and Health Department has advised Tayside regional council on the need for economies in spending on the £360,000 nuclear bunker near Coupar Angus;(4) if he will publish in the

The information, which is for the period from 30 November 1981 to 30 September 1984, is given in the following table:

Tayside regional council does not propose to provide a "nuclear bunker". It proposes to establish an emergency centre to control and co-ordinate the maintenance of essential services during wartime. This meets an obligation placed on it by regulations approved by Parliament in November 1983. I understand that the regional council hopes to complete construction of the centre in 1987–88, that the estimated construction costs included in its financial plan 1984–90 are as shown in the table, and that the annual running costs, including loan charges, are estimated at about £13,000. In discussions at official level, my Department has emphasised the need to reduce costs to the essential minimum, consistent with providing an effective emergency centre, but no letter of the kind mentioned has been sent. Formal approval of the scheme and the estimated costs have not yet been given.

-	£ thousand
Prior to 1984–85	8
1984–85	19
1985–86	47
1986–87	272
1987–88	14
Total	360

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the number and percentage of places awarded under the assisted places scheme to pupils already attending grant-aided or independent schools in the latest school session in Scotland; and what are the corresponding figures for each participating school.

Statistics for the assisted places scheme in the current school session are not yet available. but I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as they are to hand.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now collect and publish the annual rates relief awarded to fee-paying schools in Scotland claiming charitable status.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the British citizens now detained in Libya.

The continued detention of four British citizens in Libya is a matter of deep concern. We have made and continue to make use of every opportunity to persue the release of the hostages.The four British citizens detained in Libya since mid-May are held together in a villa. The premises are clean; their food is prepared by a local hotel; and according to our latest information they remain in good health. The wives of three of the detainees have visited their husbands in the past three months and the sister of the fourth plans to visit her brother towards the end of this month.Although formal consular access has not been granted since 19 July our consular official in Libya has seen the men individually when next of kin have visited them.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many firms have been prosecuted for employing child labour in Hong Kong over the five years to the latest available date.

From 1 January 1979 to 30 September 1984, 1,339 cases of child labour, each involving one child, were prosecuted. Statistics on the number of individual firms involved are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Minister of State's recent visit to Africa.

I visited Zambia, Mozambique and Malawi from 17 to 25 September at the invitation of their Governments, as part of the normal exchanges of visits with friendly states. I called on the President of each of those countries, and discussed with Ministers and senior officials a wide range of bilateral and regional issues. As well as discussing opportunities for British trade and investment, I was able to indicate new bilateral aid.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on current relations between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Libya.

Our chief concern is the continuing and totally unjustified detention in Libya of four British citizens. We are continuing to make vigorous representations through the Italian protecting power and through other channels. Until all the detainees are released unconditionally we cannot begin to consider ways of dealing with other matters between the two Governments.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has regarding the use of the Cayman Islands for purposes of tax avoidance and evasion.

None. The Cayman Islands Confidential Relationships (Preservation) Law 1976 provides for banking secrecy, save in respect of matters which are criminal under the provisions of Cayman law.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received in the last five years from (a) individuals and (b) Governments concerning (i) the status and (ii) the use of purposes of tax evasion and avoidance of the Cayman Islands.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all official treaties, documents or agreements entered into between the United Kingdom and the Cayman Islands in the last 10 years.

There have been no official treaties or agreements entered into between the United Kingdom and the Cayman Islands in the last 10 years as they are not required in view of the special relationship which exists between the United Kingdom and its dependent territories.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has regarding the use of the Cayman Islands for purposes of drug trafficking; and what representations he has received in this respect.

The Cayman Islands, in common with other territories in the Caribbean, are used irregularly by drug traffickers as transhipment points between the producing countries of Central and South America and the USA. We and the Cayman Islands Government, in cooperation with law enforcement agencies in the region, are determined to prevent these abuses. No representations have been received on this matter. But in July 1984 we signed an agreement with the United States to enable the United States authorities to obtain documentary evidence in Cayman relating to offences connected with the traffic in drugs.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many claims there have been for diplomatic or sovereign immunity in each of the past 10 years.

The evidence given by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in June to the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs (HC 499—i) gave details of criminal offences since 1 January 1974 allegedly committed by persons enjoying diplomatic immunity. We have no central record of alleged criminal offences committed by persons entitled to sovereign immunity, but the number of such offences is very small.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list, in respect of pensions granted to widows whose husbands served below the rank of warrant officer I and who retired before 1 September 1950, that is pre-1950 widows (a) the number of widows currently in receipt of a pre-1950 widows' pension, (b) the total number of widows who have been granted such a pension since such pensions were granted in 1979, (c) the current level of pension and (d) the current annual cost.

The answers to (a) to (d) as at 30 September 1984 are:

(a)17,228.

(b)21,773.

(c) The level of pension depends on the husband's rank on discharge. The current annual rates are:

	£
Warrant Officer I	675·72
Warrant Officer II	620·41
Staff Sergeant	573·97
Sergeant	498·83
Corporal and below	377·25

These will be increased by 5·1 per cent. from 26 November 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he can give an indication as to when the VC10 tanker contract is to be awarded; if he is now prepared to award the preflight work to British Aerospace; and if he will make a statement.

The requirement for future VC10 tanker conversions is still under consideration. British Aerospace plc, if awarded the prime contract, would be required to seek competitive tenders for as much subcontract work as possible, including the preflight work to prepare the aircraft to fly to the conversion site. British Aerospace plc itself would be free to tender for this subcontract work.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will reconsider his Department's policy regarding competitive tendering in view of the problems this is creating for the military aircraft division of British Aerospace; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if, in view of the problems being caused for the Woodford factory of British Aerospace, he will now give an indication when the contract for major servicing will be finalised, and when the Nimrod RTW contract will be awarded; and if he will make a statement.

We expect to make a decision about Nimrod major servicing early in 1985 following competitive tender. We have no plans at present for a Nimrod return to works programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the reasons why Strathclyde fire brigade was required at the Faslane submarine base on 18 August; at what distance was the Nathanael Greene from the fire; and whether any explosion occurred on that day.

The Strathclyde fire brigade responded to a routine call following a fire alarm at the Clyde submarine base. The fire took place in an enclosed steel machinery space on the Admiralty floating dock in which the USS Nathanael Greene was at the time. The fire was approximately 10 m from the USS Nathanael Greene, but it was of a minor nature, there was no explosion, and the submarine was not endangered at any time.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether an inquiry has been ordered into events at Faslane on 18 August.

The normal local investigation following an incident of this kind has taken place.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will in future inform local authorities of accidents at military bases which may affect the health and safety of local inhabitants.

It is our normal practice to inform local authorities should there be a potential risk to the health and safety of local people as a result of an accident. The minor incident at the Clyde submarine base on 18 August constituted no such risk.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will in future inform local authorities of the reasons for which local authority emergency services are used at military bases.

Local authorities will continue to be informed about the use of local emergency services when there is an incident that may have potential health and safety implications for the local population.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress is being made towards the five-nation European aircraft programme; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, North (Mr. McNamara) on 10 July, at columns 448–490. The technical and industrial feasibility study of a European fighter aircraft is well under way and a full European staff target was signed on 11 October by the chiefs of the air staffs of the five nations. The momentum of the work is therefore being maintained.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if, following experience gained in Exercise Bold Gannet, he will speed up the design and construction of specialised landing assault ships for the Royal Marines.

The assault ships HMS Fearless and HMS Intrepid are planned to remain in service until the mid-1990s. However, as I said in the answer I gave to my hon. Friend yesterday, we are studying the requirement for amphibious shipping in the longer term and account will, of course, be taken of the recent exercise Bold Gannet.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether there has been any change in the number of United States bases and facilities in the United Kingdom.

Yes. We have agreed to make available to the United States air force some surplus hangars at RAF Hullavington and at Oakington barracks for storage purposes. Including minor facilities such as these, the number of bases and facilities which have been made available to the United States Forces is now 66.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to issue his directive defining local authorities' duties to take account of projected housing demands; and if he will make a statement.

On 4 July the Secretary of State issued circular 15/84, "Land for Housing", which asked local authorities to ensure an adequate and continuing supply of land for housing. The circular stressed the need for the planning system to cater effectively for the demand for private sector housing, and that there should be an adequate supply of land to meet that demand and other housing requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what assistance his Department has given to the National Federation of Housing Associations' inquiry into housing.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Norwood (Mr. Fraser) on 31 July, at column 252.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to encourage a significant revival of the private rented accommodation sector.

The Government introduced various initiatives to encourage the private rented sector in the Housing Act 1980. It is now considering whether further steps should be taken to encourage landlords to meet the demand for homes to rent.

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

I visited Merseyside on 19 October 1984.In the morning, I visited housing sites in Liverpool, I met the vice-chairman of Merseyside Improved Houses and I opened one of its new developments. I presented keys to some of the new tenants and planted a tree to commemorate the occasion.Then I visited the Shell oil refinery at Stanlow where I opened the new platformer III plant. This is a £50 million development designed to reduce the lead level in petrol to comply with the new standard announced by the Government to take effect from 1 January 1986.In the afternoon, I had a discussion with the officials of Merseyside task force before going to meet the vice-chancellor of the University of Liverpool, and other members of the senior acedemic and administrative staff.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what representations he has received for funding to keep St. George's hall, Liverpool, in use; and if he will make a statement;(2) what organisations have made representations to his Department concerning the future of St. George's hall, Liverpool; what replies he has sent; and if he will make a statement.

I have received correspondence from the Merseyside Civic Society; the North West Civic Trust; the Liverpool Architectural Society; the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire; the British Institute of Organ Studies; the hon. Members for Liverpool, Walton (Mr. Heffer) and for Liverpool, Mossley Hill (Mr. Alton), and from my hon. Friends the Members for Wallasey (Mrs. Chalker) for Wirral, West (Mr. Hunt) and for Wirral, South (Mr. Porter), and two interested individuals. A number of organisations have suggested that the Government should give financial assistance.The building is in the ownership of Liverpool city council and I have asked it to put forward proposals for its future use. I have received no proposals as yet, but I hope to hear from the city council shortly. I have told it that, if constructive proposals are submitted, I am prepared to consider some help under the urban programme.I am writing to correspondents this week confirming the position and responding to any more detailed points they have made.I will keep all hon. Members who have expressed an interest informed of developments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he had received concerning the use of the site of the International Garden Festival; and if he will make a statement.

I have received a number of representations on the future of the site from local authorities, MPs, and members of the public. Many of these have requested that the festival be retained in its entirety as a permanent event. However, as I explained in my statement of 6 September, there are compelling reasons why this cannot be done. I did say that the Merseyside Development Corporation was looking into ways of making more of the site open to the public next year in addition to those substantial parts which have always been intended to be retained as a permanent facility. The MDC has since confirmed that many of these superb facilities will be open to the public next year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many letters he has received from people residing in the Barnsley, Central constituency complaining about the levels of South Yorkshire county council rates.

None since the White Paper on rates was published in August 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why he overturned the unanimous decision of the borough of Brent to refuse planning permission for proposed amusement centres and a gaming licence for premises in Wembley high road.

This planning appeal was determined not by my right hon. Friend, but by an inspector appointed by him. In allowing the appeal the inspector granted conditional planning permission only. Full reasons for his decision are set out in his letter dated 29 June 1984. I am arranging for a copy of this letter to be sent to the hon. Member.Application for a gaming licence is subject to the Gaming Act 1968 and would be a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he has taken in respect of the representations he has received concerning changes to the draft of the Departmental inquiry report on the collapse of Ronan Point; and if he will make a statement.

The following is the text of a letter which I sent yesterday to the hon. Member:RONAN POINT—Inquiry ReportYou have put down a Parliamentary Question for answer on Tuesday 23 October to ask what action the Secretary of State "has taken in respect of the representations he has received concerning changes to the draft of the Departmental Inquiry Report on the collapse of Ronan Point".On 12 October you wrote to the Secretary of State to ask him to look into reports in

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what reports he has received from the London borough of Newham concerning the condition of Ronan Point and similar tower blocks built with the Taylor-Woodrow-Anglian system; and what action he is taking in respect of such blocks built in Newham and elsewhere.

1. In order to understand the implications of the reports received by the London borough of Newham for Ronan Point and other large-panel blocks of flats it is necessary to take account of the events of 1968 and subsequent action by the Government and local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress his inquiry into the management of blocks of flats is making: and if it has considered the Freshwater Company property in Brent.

The committee is completing the collection of evidence, and is checking that it is representative. It will then discuss its conclusions and recommendations. I expect it to report next year. The committee's task is to consider the scale and nature of management problems. It is not investigating the activities of particular landlords.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated total cost of his Department's advertising campaign in support of the Rates Act.

The estimated cost of the Rates Act advertising and leaflet is approximately £420,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide a breakdown of the nature and cost of the advertising campaign in support of the Rates Act including (a) the names of newspapers in which advertisements have been or are to be placed, with dates of insertion and size of advertisements, and their cost (b) the number of leaflets, and area of distribution, and their cost, (c) the use of other media, such as poster sites, cinema, and television and radio, and cost, (d) the name of the advertising agency and its total fee, and (e) cost of distribution.

(a) The advertisement "Protecting the Ratepayer" was placed in the following national papers in the week beginning 1 October 1984:

Newspaper	Date	Space
National Dailies
The Times	5 October	38cm × 6 cols
Daily Telegraph	5 October	38cm × 6 cols
National Dailies (Southern Edition only)
Daily Express	4 October	Page
Daily Mail	4 October	Page
Daily Mirror	4 October	Page
Daily Star	4 October	Page
The Sun	4 October	Page
The Guardian	5 October	38cm × 6 cols
National Sundays (Southern Edition only)
The Mail on Sunday	7 October	Page
News of the World	7 October	Page
Sunday Express	7 October	38cm × 6 cols
Sunday Mirror	7 October	Page
Sunday People	7 October	Page
The Observer	7 October	38cm × 6 cols
The Sunday Times	7 October	38cm × 6 cols

During the same week the advertisement also appeared in local papers in all the areas covered by the authorities selected for rate limitation. I have placed a list of those newspapers in the Library. In addition, it has appeared in the

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received concerning cuts in National Health Service expenditure in (a) Liverpool and (b) Merseyside at the most recent date.

There have been no specific representations on Merseyside generally in the last three months.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with the level and quality of health service provision in Greater Manchester.