asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many doctors will be appointed as (a) unit representatives and (b) general managers in each of the health authorities in Wales; what will be the remuneration to individual doctors appointed; and what will be the total annual cost to each health authority.

My right hon. Friend expects each of the 40 health management units in Wales to have a unit medical representative. It is not possible to say at this stage how many clinicians in Wales will be appointed to act as general managers.Health authorities have been asked to submit by 30 November 1984 proposals for implementing the general management function at district level in accordance with

Number of blind and partially sighted children educated in maintained schools in Wales*
	(a) Blind children Type of education			(b) Partially sighted children Type of education
Local Education Authority	Special schools	Special classes in ordinary schools	Ordinary classes in ordinary schools	Special schools	Special classes in ordinary schools	Ordinary classes in ordinary schools
Clwyd	0	0	0	0	7	42
Dyfed	0	4	0	0	13	59
Gwent	1	0	0	0	10	60
Gwynedd	2	0	1	2	1	36
Mid Glamorgan†	27	0	0	40	4	80
Powys	0	0	1	3	1	12
South Glamorgan	2	0	0	0	19	0
West Glamorgan	0	0	0	0	25	31
WALES	32	4	2	45	80	320
* Full-time pupils in special schools at September 1982; full-time and part-time pupils in other primary and secondary schools at January 1983:
† Mid Glamorgan has the only special school in Wales which provides specifically for blind and partially sighted children. Such children from other LEA areas in Wales who need to attend a special school attend this school or schools in England.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by health authority all hospitals which have (a) closed and (b) opened, indicating the numbers of beds involved, for each of the past five years.

Openings
Health Authority	Year	Hospital	Bed Numbers
		Ysbyty Glan Clwyd
Clwyd	1980	Bodelwyddan	399
	1984	Mold Community Hospital	40
East Dyfed	—	—	—
Mid Glamorgan	—	—	—
South Glamorgan	—	—	—

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the numbers of (a) blind and (b) partially sighted children being educated in (i) special schools and (ii) ordinary schools in each of the local education authority areas in Wales.

Following is the information requested:

The hospitals which have opened or closed in Wales, for each district health authority, over the past five years are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what proportion of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Schools was educated at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge;(2) what proportion of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Schools was educated at private or direct grant schools, rather than in the maintained sector;(3) what proportion of Her Majesty's Inspectorate has taught in the private sector of education;(4) how many present members of Her Majesty's Inspectorate were appointed to it at a time when they were not directly employed as teachers in schools or further education colleges in the maintained sector.

	Special Schools†		Maintained Primary and Secondary Schools
Local education authority	Number of pupils who are blind	Number of pupils who have partial sight	Number of pupils who are blind*	Number of pupils who have partial sight*
Barking	1	1	—	—
Barnet	3	—	—	3
Bexley	—	1	—	—
Brent	2	2	—	4
Bromley	—	—	—	2
Croydon	—	4	—	12
Ealing	—	1	—	2
Enfield	—	4	—	—
Haringey	—	—	—	2
Harrow	—	—	—	13
Havering	—	1	—	3
Hillingdon	13	—	—	13
Hounslow	5	1	—	1
Kingston-upon-Thames	3	—	—	—
Merton	—	—	—	—
Newham	2	2	—	8
Redbridge	—	1	—	2
Richmond-upon-Thames	1	1	—	4
Sutton	—	—	—	2
Waltham Forest	9	94	—	5
Inner London	113	277	3	100
Birmingham	68	172	—	19

The Department does not maintain statistical records of the education and previous employment background of its employees. The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the numbers of (a) blind and (b) partially-sighted children being educated in (i) special schools and (ii) ordinary schools in each of the local education authority areas in England.

The information requested as at January 1983 is:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he proposes to take on the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on the Supply and Education of Teachers that there should be increases in the funding of in-service training courses for teachers; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has invited interested organisations to comment by 7 November on the advisory committee's recent report on in-service training for school teachers. He has identified a number of issues, including the funding of in-service training, to which he hopes the responses will give particular attention. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, will aim to reach decisions as soon as possible after consultations have been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he is taking to ensure that employers are better informed about the value of degrees obtained at polytechnics; and if he will make a statement.

The Government urge the closest possible contact between polytechnics and employers in part to ensure that the courses offered are relevant to employers' needs. Employers should be aware that polytechnic students' degrees are awarded by the Council for National Academic Awards whose charter requires their degrees to be comparable with those of universities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will undertake to maintain the Open University at its present level of courses; and if he will make a statement.

It is for the Open University to decide on the number of courses it maintains in the light of the resources available to it and taking into account Government policies in respect of higher education.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has received any representations supporting the proposals of the National Advisory Board for Maidstone college of art and Canterbury college of art.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will reject the recommendation of the National Advisory Board for Higher Education that the degree courses of Maidstone college of art and Canterbury college of art should be merged and that one of the colleges should be closed.

The proposal made by the board of the national advisory body concerning degree courses at Maidstone college of art and Canterbury college of art will be considered by the committee of the national advisory body on 29 October 1984. The committee will, in due course, advise my right hon. Friend with whom the final decision rests.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has had any representations that the consultation process adopted by the National Advisory Board in relation to proposals for the Maidstone college of art and Canterbury college of art have been inadequate.

Yes

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has had from the Kent county council, lecturers and students from Maidstone college of art and Canterbury college of art concerning proposals from the National Advisory Board for these colleges.

My right hon. Friend, has received some 300 representations.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what conclusions he has drawn from the representations he has received concerning the proposals of the National Advisory Board for Maidstone college of art and Canterbury college of art; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has noted the representations and will take them into full account when making his decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has had from hon. Members about proposals by the National Advisory Board for Maidstone college of art and Canterbury college of art.

My right hon. Friend has received representations from five hon. Members.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will ask the National Advisory Body for Higher Education to review its planning and consultation procedures.

It is for the National Advisory Body for Local Authority Higher Education to determine its own procedures, consistent with the terms of reference established by my right hon. Friend. The welcome openness of the NAB's procedures also exposes them to considerable outside scrutiny and debate.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assessment he makes of the relative standards of education and training of young people and adults in Great Britain and in the United Kingdom's major trading competitors, respectively; and if he will make a statement.

Reliable international comparisons of the standards associated with qualifications of different types and of different levels require an agreed frame of reference (including common criteria for assessing performance) which does not exist at present. However, a recent survey commissioned by the Manpower Services Commission and the National Economic Development Office indicates that the industrial and commercial success of three major trading competitors is associated with higher levels of investment by employers in vocational education and training. The report suggests gaps and weaknesses in United Kingdom provision, for which employers and the education and training for them share responsibility. The Government seek to remedy these deficiences in England and Wales through the policy set out in the White Paper, "Training for Jobs".

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact of lean burn engines on atmospheric pollution.

The information available to me suggests that the application of the lean burn principle to petrol engines has the potential for reducing carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide emissions from cars by about 50 per cent. The effect on atmostpheric pollution will depend on the location at which measurements are made, and the significance of other sources.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he now expects the public inquiry into the east London river crossing to open.

Next summer.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many objections to the proposed east London river crossing have now been received from (a) local authorities, (b) local organisations, (c) businesses and (d) individuals.

We have received 1,630 representations; of these 11 were from local authorities, 36 from local organisations, 17 from businesses and 1,537 from individuals, including 158 who signed petitions. A further 29 representations have been received from groups and organisations outside the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has about the number of applications to fly in competition with existing operators which have been received by the Civil Aviation Authority following the publication of its report on competition; if he will list the routes, indicating whether they are British, European or other international; if he will list the objections to the applications to compete with existing operators on these routes; and if he will name the objectors; and if he will make a statement.

Air transport licences are a matter for the Civil Aviation Authority and I am asking the chairman of the authority to write to the hon. Member. I shall place a copy of the chairman's letter in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to how many airlines use and how many aircraft are fitted with safety factors category 3B allowing them to fly in all weather conditions; if he will estimate the cost of fitting this type of equipment for all British passenger airlines; if he will consider giving financial support to sponsor such a programme; and if he will make a statement.

Currently, 55 aircraft of British Airways are equipped, certificated, and approved for category 3B operations. A further seven, belonging to three other airlines, have similar airborne equipment and they are seeking certification for category 3B.Not all aerodromes are suitable for the instrument landing system ground installation. The cost of equipment and certification varies from one aeroplane type to another and it is not possible to assess the cost of fitting all British airliners.It is for airline operators to judge whether the benefits they and their passengers gain from avoiding diversions in bad weather justify the expense of equipping their aircraft and training crews to the hight standards required for such operation.It is not Government policy to fund such investment. The Government have in the past contributed considerable resources to the development of auto-land systems.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received against the proposals of the Greater London council to ban night time and weekend lorry traffic passing through and delivering goods within the Greater London area; what action he proposes to take on this matter; and if he will make a statement.

As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Eastleigh (Sir D. Price) on 22 October, at columns 420–21, hundreds of firms and trade associations have written protesting to the GLC about its proposals and demanding a public inquiry. I would hope that, in the wider interests of London, the GLC is now giving proper and serious consideration to these representations.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of youth training scheme places in London were filled in 1984.

At the end of September, the latest date for which figures are available, 64 per cent. of the total places approved in Greater London for 1984–85 were occupied, although at that time not all the approved places were available for immediate occupation.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of people benefiting from special employment and training measures at the latest available date (a) in the constituency of Hampstead and Highgate and (b) in the London borough of Camden.

Some 3,500 people were benefiting from the employment and training measures in the London borough of Camden. Because of the various bases on which local information is collated, an unknown proportion of these will be outside my hon. Friend's constituency.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Mid-Staffordshire on 21 June, Official Report, column 211, what information he has as to how many of the 54,000 juveniles under the age of 16 years found guilty of indictable offences in the year 1982–83 were recorded as having played truant from school at the time of the offence.

Information on truancy from school is not available in respect of those under the age of 16 found guilty of indictable offences, there were 54,000 such convictions in 1982 and 48,000 in 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to require free newspapers to include in each copy a coupon that would enable householders to ensure that the delivery to their home ceases if they so wish.

No. We have no reason to believe that such legislation would be appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers have received injuries which have required outpatient and inpatient treatment at National Health Service hospitals since the commencement of the miners' strike; and what has been the cost to public funds.

In the period 13 March to 22 October inclusive, 951 police officers received injuries in connection with the miners' strike. Information about the treatment they required is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate expense.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been arrested in Wales, since the miners' strike began, as a result of activities connected with the strike; and if he will provide a breakdown of the figures to indicate with what offence the persons arrested have been charged.

Between 13 March and 16 October inclusive 459 arrests were made in Wales in connection with events arising from the miners' dispute. Four hundred and fifty-two of those arrested were subsequently charged with offences as set out in the table below:

Offence	Number of charges
Section 5 of the Public Order Act (conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace)	150
Obstruction of a police constable	130
Obstruction of the highway	117
Criminal damage	130
Assault on a police constable	13
Assault occasioning actual bodily harm	5
Railway offences	7
Attempted criminal damage	1
Offensive weapon	1
Other offences	10
Total	564

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people, other than those engaged in picketing, have been arrested since the start of the miners' strike in relation to events arising out of the strike; and with what offences they have been charged.

The information available centrally does not distinguish between those arrested while picketing and those arrested elsewhere in connection with the dispute. In total, for the period 13 March to 22 October inclusinve 7,401 people had been arrested in connection with events arising from the miners' dispute.The latest information available centrally about the charges brought relates to the period 13 March to 16 October inclusive and is as follows:

Offence	Number of charges
Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1936 (conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace)	3,162
Obstruction of a police constable	1,507
Obstruction of the highway	579
Criminal damage	672
Criminal damage with intent to endanger life	4
Arson	9
Assaulting a police constable	258
Assault occasioning actual bodily harm	277
Grievious bodily harm	29
Theft	119
Resisting arrest	17
Offensive weapon	34
Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act 1875	217
Burglary	8
Handling stolen property	1
Drug offence	1
Breach of the peace	112
Breach of bail conditions	28
Attempt (various offences)	17
Drunkenness	56
Unlawful assembly	492

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what special instructions have been issued to chief constables concerning the implementation of criminal sanctions against striking miners, working miners and lorry drivers in relation to events connected with the miners' strike.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what authority he asked the president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, at a meeting on 27 March, to advise chief constables that financial considerations should not influence the operational discharge of their duties in connection with the miners' strike.

Under the Police Act 1964 and by virtue of my right hon. and learned Friend's general responsibility for the maintenance of law and order.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he intends to take regarding the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights on 3 August concerning the practice of telephone tapping in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

The European Court delivered its judgment on 2 August in the case referred to it by the European Commission of Human Rights concerning the interception of telephone conversations on behalf of the police—the Malone case.The Court acknowledged that detailed procedures existed to govern the interception of communications on behalf of the police in England and Wales, as set out in the White Paper "The Interception of Communications in Great Britain", (Cmnd. 7873); that interception carried out under those procedures was lawful under the law of England and Wales; and that the published statistics showed the effectiveness of those procedures in keeping the number of warrants relatively low, especially when compared with the rising number of indictable crimes committed and telephones installed. The Court found, however, that the law of England and Wales did not indicate with sufficient clarity and precision the scope and manner in which the power to authorise interception was to be exercised, and that it therefore did not satisfy article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights.The Government had already given an undertaking that legislation on the interception of communications would be introduced in the forthcoming Session of Parliament. In giving that undertaking in another place on 19 March 1984, at column 1034 my noble Friend the Viscount Whitelaw made it clear that the European Court's findings would be taken into account in determining the scope and content of the legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which women's prisons education has been partially or wholly withdrawn since 1 January; and if he will state the respective periods and reasons.

Between 1 January and 30 September 1984 education programmes for women and girls took place as planned at Drake Hall, Durham, East Sutton Park, Low Newton, Pucklechurch and Styal, and there were only minimal interruptions to the programmes at Askham Grange and Risley. Interruptions to the programmes at other establishments were caused primarily by shortages of prison officers for supervisory duties, and were as follows:

	Teaching Hours
	Planned		Withdrawn
	Day-time	Evening	Day-time	Evening
HM Youth Custody Centre, Bullwood Hall	2,915	714	110	113
HM Prison Cookham Wood	2,934	137	296	36
HM Prison, Holloway	7,464	1,368	3,436	683

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines exist for the police in relation to the fingerprinting, handcuffing and photographing of arrested persons.

Paragraphs 4.16–4.21 of the "Consolidated Circular to the Police on Crime and Kindred Matters" (a copy of which is in the Library of the House) gives guidance to the police on fingerprints; and paragraph 4.65 of the consolidated circular gives guidance on handcuffing. The Police and Criminal Evidence Bill makes provision in relation to fingerprinting; and the draft code of practice on identification which has been published in association with the Bill makes provision in relation to photographing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what studies his Department is conducting on manpower requirements within the West Midlands county council fire service as a prelude to the proposed abolition of the county council; and if he will make a statement on the preliminary results and their implications for staffing levels in (a) the Coventry area and (b) the county as a whole.

Under the Government's proposals determining fire service manpower requirements will, in the first instance, be a matter for the joint board.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Hampshire on the incidents concerning supporters of Chelsea football club following the club's defeat by Southampton football club on Saturday 20 October, and on similar incidents concerning Chelsea supporters when they visited Portsmouth football club earlier in 1984.

I understand from the chief constable of Hampshire that on the afternoon of 20 October 1984 his officers made 26 arrests and ejected a further 26 spectators from the football ground. five spectators and four police officers were injured and considerable damage was caused to nearby property. It is alleged that Chelsea supporters were involved in further incidents that evening at Basingstoke, Hayling Island and Winchester. A number of arrests were made as a result. As criminal proceedings are in train it would not be appropriate to comment further.The match between Portsmouth and Chelsea football clubs on 24 April 1984 passed without incident; at its end Chelsea supporters waiting for police to escort them from the ground caused extensive damage to seating which they threw at the police. Nine police officers were injured, none seriously. Outside the ground two cars were damaged. The police arrested eight people, of whom six subsequently received fines, one was sentenced to a term of imprisonment and one case was dismissed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what agreement has been reached between Her Majesty's Government and retailers on the sale of glue; and if he will make a statement.

We have consulted representatives of retailers' associations about proposals to make it an offence to supply a substance to a person under 16 knowing or having reasonable grounds for believing that it was likely to be inhaled to achieve intoxication. There has been widespread support for such a measure, and the Government will be prepared to support the introduction of a suitable Bill in the next parliamentary Session.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services has had discussions with retailers on guidelines for voluntary restraint on retail sales. The agreed guidelines were first made available at the beginning of this year and have been distributed widely.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reports will be forthcoming from the interdepartmental group on drug abuse; when they will be published; and if he will make a statement.

The interdepartmental ministerial group is currently reviewing and developing the Government's policies on the prevention of drug misuse and has no present plans for the publication of formal reports. The results of its work are reflected in statements of the Government's policy, such as that by my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister for Health on 10 October.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the figures for the first six months of 1984 for (a) the number of persons with applications for refugee status or political asylum in the United Kingdom outstanding at the start of the year, (b) the number of such applicants submitting applications during the six-month period and (c) the number of such applications under (a) and (b) granted during the period with reference to (i) all applicants and (ii) those with Sri Lankan nationality.

On 1 January 1984 there were nearly 3,000 applications for refugee status and asylum recorded as outstanding. Some 1,400 further applications were received during the first six months of 1984. In the first six months of the year 321 applications were granted refugee status or asylum (including one Sri Lankan national); in addition, 427 applicants refused asylum were granted exceptional leave to enter or remain (including 11 Sri Lankan nationals). The recording of applications has recently been transferred from a manual to a computerised system, and the transfer has brought to light errors over the last five years in the manual recording particularly in regard to the number of cases shown as outstanding which have up to now been understated.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if Her Majesty's Government will introduce legislation to codify in statute law the rights of Members of Parliament of freedom from arrest in performing their parliamentary duties; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if Her Majesty's Government will introduce legislation to extend the rights of Members of Parliament of freedom from arrest in connection with their parliamentary duties to correspond with those enjoyed by Members of the European Parliament in connection with their parliamentary duties where the latter immunities are more extensive; and if he will make a statement.

The scope of the ancient privilege of the House of Commons of Members' freedom from arrest rests on the law and custom of this Parliament. I see no reason to change this.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his most recent estimate of the revenue to be raised from the proposed sale of shares in British Telecom.

The price at which shares in British Telecom will be offered for sale will be determined immediately before the flotation in the light of circumstances at the time. It would not be approrpriate for me to speculate now as to what the exact proceeds will be.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received about proposals to equalise car prices within the European Economic Community; what his response has been; and if he will make a statement.

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish a table showing the total exports too and imports from the Common Market for all visible trade and manufacturing goods trade, respectively, and the consequent surplus or deficit in respect of each year from 1973 to 1983, respectively, and for 1984 to date; and if he will publish separate tables showing the same information in respect of the original six members of the European Economic Community.

The information is in the tables.For the original six members, trade figures are available only on the "Overseas Trade Statistics" basis. Corresponding estimates of the balances are included for the current membership as well as the balance of payments estimates which are preferred because they measure both exports and imports free of freight and insurance costs.

United Kingdom Trade with European Community Original Six Members
£ million
	Overseas Trade Statistics Basis
	Exports	Imports	Crude balance
Total visible trade
1973	2,886	4,210	-1,324
1974	4,122	6,348	-2,226

United Kingdom Trade with European Community Current Membership
£ million
	Balance of payments basis			Overseas Trade Statistics Basis Crude balance
	Exports	Imports	Balance
Total visible trade
1973	3,851	5,178	-1,327	-1,335
1974	5,546	7,680	-2,134	-2,332
1975	6,227	8,734	-2,507	-2,481
1976	8,936	11,194	-2,258	-2,402
1977	11,674	13,606	-1,932	-2,313
1978	13,348	15,863	-2,515	-2,926
1979	17,310	19,935	-2,625	-3,408
1980	20,427	19,578	+849	-32
1981	20,861	20,751	+110	-599
1982	22,997	24,262	-1,265	-2,145
1983	26,460	28,841	-2,380	-3,595
1984 (January-June)	15,094	16,317	-1,223	-1,910
1984 (January-August)	N.A.	N.A.	N.A.	-2,712
Manufactures*
1973	3,015	3,481	-466	-416
1974	4,330	4,965	-635	-750
1975	4,699	5,408	-709	-639
1976	6,773	7,441	-668	-666
1977	8,672	9,424	-752	-909
1978	9,704	11,510	-1,806	-2,028
1979	12,031	14,585	-2,554	-3,081
1980	13,285	14,446	-1,161	-1,744
1981	12,518	15,086	-2,568	-2,993
1982	13,720	18,064	-4,344	-4,983
1983	15,044	22,136	-7,092	-7,914
1984 (January-June)	8,599	12,507	-3,908	-4,408
1984 (January-August)	N.A.	N.A.	N.A.	-5,959
N.A. Not available.
* Standard International Trade Classification Sections 5 to 8.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any plans to charge insurers for the cost of supervising their activities.

It is the Government's intention as soon as Parliamentary time is available to introduce legislation containing provisions for fees to be charged to cover costs incurred in connection with the supervision of insurers.

asked the Prime Minister why hon. Members representing Liverpool constituencies were not notified of her intention to visit Liverpool on Tuesday 2 October; and if she will make a statement on her visit.

I regret that the hon. Members concerned were not given the usual advance notice of my visit but this was necessary in the interests of security and of avoiding unnecessary burdens on the local police.As to a statement on my visit, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave on Tuesday 23 October to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside (Mr. Parry).

asked the Prime Minister whether the original report that two torpedoes had hit the General Belgrano, also contained information about the position and course of the General Belgrano when attacked.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many pits and pit faces have suffered significant physical damage due to the cessation of mining activities.

I understand from the National Coal Board that to date 19 working faces at 15 collieries have been lost as well as 5 salvage faces at 5 collieries where equipment was awaiting recovery. In addition 16 faces at 14 collieries are causing serious concern.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he will reply to the report of the Energy Committee about energy research development and demonstration.

The Government have now replied to the Select Committee's report and copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

asked the Attorney-General if, in view of the recent call by the Master of the Rolls for reform of the legal aid system, the Lord Chancellor has any plans to introduce such reforms; and if he will make a statement.

The Lord Chancellor has noted with interest the recent remarks of the Master of the Rolls, which clearly call for careful consideration. The question of the principles underlying eligibility has been referred to the Advisory Committee on Legal Aid for consideration in its current programme of work. When the Lord Chancellor has received its report, he will consider all matters involved, including the availability of and implications for resources.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many prosecutions relating to the unauthorised disclosure of classified information from his Department have been brought in each year of the last 10 years.

From 1974 to 1981 there were no prosecutions relating to the unauthorised disclosure of classified information from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. In 1982 there was one prosecution, in 1983 there were none and in 1984 there has been one.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is satisfied with the arrangements within his Department for protecting the confidentiality of classified information.

The protection of classified information is a matter allowing no room for complacency, but arrangements within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are under regular review and we are generally satisfied with them.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if there are any provisions of the United Nations law of the sea treaty governing the dumping of nuclear waste in the sea to which the United Kingdom objects.

As we have made clear on an earlier occasion we regard those parts of the convention relating to pollution as helpful.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the outcome of his meeting with the Chief Minister of Gibraltar on 3 October; and if he will make a statement.

On 3 October my right hon. and learned Friend briefed Sir J. Hassan on his meeting with the Spanish Foreign Minister in New York on 25 September, and they reviewed together contacts with Spain on matters affecting Gibraltar. They also discussed progress being made on commercialisation of the naval dockyard, Gibraltar's economy, labour matters and air communications.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further progress has been made with the Spanish Government in relation to the implementation of the Lisbon agreement regarding free vehicular and pedestrian movement on both sides of the border between Gibraltar and Spain.

Since the reply given by my hon. Friend the Member for Wycombe (Mr. Whitney) to my hon. Friend on 12 July at column. 672 my right hon. and learned Friend has had a further meeting with the Spanish Foreign Minister in New York on 25 September at which they reviewed the discussions which had taken place at the diplomatic and technical level. These contacts are continuing with a view to achieving the earliest possible normalisation of relations between Spain and Gibraltar. My right hon. and learned Friend expects to meet the Spanish Foreign Minister again before long.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the measures which have been taken to protect the pensions of past and current expatriate civil servants in Hong Kong after 1997.

Paragraph iv of annex I to the joint declaration on Hong Kong initialled by the British and Chinese Governments on 26 September states that

"the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government shall pay to such persons who retire or complete their contracts, as well as to those who have retired before 1 July 1997, or to their dependants, all pensions, gratuities, allowances and benefits due to them on terms no less favourable than before, and irrespective of their nationality or place of residence."

We are confident that this arrangement provides full security for the payment of pensions to both serving and retired civil servants and their dependants.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) where the Hong Kong accumulated Government reserves are held; (2) what is the size of the accumulated Hong Kong Government reserves at the latest date for which figures are available.

The accumulated fiscal reserves of the Hong Kong Government as at 31 July were Hong Kong $13·43 billion. It is not the policy of the Hong Kong Government to reveal the size or location of the assets of the exchange fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any agreement on the ownership of the Hong Kong Government assets after 1997 was reached at the talks between Her Majesty's Government and China.

The draft Sino-British agreement on Hong Kong's future provides for the Government of the Hong Kong special administrative region to deal on its own with financial matters, including disposing of its financial resources and to manage and control the exchange fund. Matters relating to the smooth transfer of government in 1997 will be discussed in the Sino-British joint liaison group to be set up under the agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the latest position regarding those who have taken refuge in the British consulate in Durban; what representations he has received on behalf of those remaining in the consulate; what is the content of the letters received from the lawyers acting on behalf of the South Africans in the consulate and if he will place a copy in the Library.

I refer the hon. Member to the statement I made on 23 October at column 559–60. There have been many representations to the Government on behalf of the three. We naturally have considered these carefully. I am arranging for a copy of the statement issued by the three on 18 October to be placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) why the Common Market has declined to authorise the purchase by the Leeward Islands Air Transport Company of British aircraft; and why it has urged the company to purchase planes produced in France;(2) if he will make a statement outlining the powers which the Common Market has exercised to urge the Leeward Islands Air Transport Company to buy French planes instead of the British planes which it wishes to purchase.

The 11 Caribbean Governments who own Leeward Islands Air Transport have requested assistance from the European Development Fund and the European Investment Bank to purchase four aircraft. Under the terms of the Lomé Convention the European Commission is responsible for managing the EDF, and must ensure, when contracts are financed from it, that the economically most advantageous offer is accepted. I understand that, having examined several bids submitted after an invitation to tender, the Commission has informed LIAT that it considers a French offer to be economically the most advantageous. This view is contested by LIAT and the latest information I have is that discussions are continuing between LIAT and the Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress there has been on the family reunification and personal cases which he raised with the Soviet Foreign Minister during his visit to Moscow in July.

I am pleased to say that the Soviet authorities have issued exit visas to three persons whose cases I raised with Mr. Gromyko. They are Aleksey Terletskiy, who wished to visit his son, my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, West; Miss Flora Leipman-Kaplan, a British subject who wished to return to the country of her birth; and Miss Lyudmila Kuzmina who wished to visit her fiancé who is a British subject. All three are now in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to give the right to buy to tenants of local authority-owned shops.