asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has yet received the report of the board of inquiry into the loss of the control room log of HMS Conqueror; and whether he will make a statement.

In my answer to the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Mr. Foulkes) on 13 November, I undertook to consider making a statement to the House when the report of the board of inquiry, convened by the Commander-in-Chief Fleet on 25 October, to inquire into the apparent disappearance of HMS Conqueror's control room logs for the period April to September 1982, was available and had been considered by the commander-in-chief and the Ministry of Defence.I have already made it clear that it is not our normal practice to publish reports of boards of inquiry which are not courts of law. Nevertheless, I believe that the House would wish to have as much information on this matter as is possible.I regret to announce that our inquiries so far have failed to locate the missing logs or to identify a proven explanation for their disappearance. It is clear that the logs were compiled and probably remained on board the submarine until October or November 1982. The submarine returned to Devonport on 5 November 1982 to prepare for a refit, which started on 17 January 1983. It has not been possible to establish with certainty that the logs were not transferred to the submarine refit complex at Devonport when the submarine started her refit. However, this is considered unlikely.There are several possible causes for the loss. Loss in transit between the submarine and the Ministry of Defence records office at Hayes, mishandling at Hayes and dispatch to an incorrect address are all considered to be unlikely. Indeed, there is no proof that the logs ever left HMS Conqueror. Before the ship's company moved out of the submarine for the refit, a considerable amount of material, which was no longer required, was placed in bags and incinerated in Devonport dockyard. The possibility that the logs were inadvertently destroyed at this time cannot be ruled out. They could also have been mishandled and put in an unmarked or incorrectly addressed envelope or left in a locker which has since been disposed of; deliberately and unlawfully destroyed, although there is no evidence to suggest this; or removed as souvenirs or for their assumed political or financial value.I have referred the matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions and I understand that he has asked the Metropolitan police to conduct an investigation.A specially constituted team will be carrying out further searches for the logs; and in the future the records office at Hayes will maintain a record of all control room logs received. It is clear from the board of inquiry's report that the proper procedures for the custody and disposal of confidential control room logs had not been followed in HMS Conqueror for many months, including the period between March and October 1982 covered by the missing logs. Although the logs for the immediately preceding and following periods have been located, this failure no doubt contributed to the loss of the documents for the intervening six months, as well as to the failure to discover the loss earlier. Disciplinary action against those responsible for breaches of the regulations will be considered when the further investigations to which I have referred have been completed. Meanwhile, action is being taken to clarify the regulations.In view of the investigations which are still proceeding I cannot give any more information at this stage. A further statement will be made to the House when the investigations have been concluded.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the occasions since April 1982 on which disciplinary action was taken against an officer or crew member of HMS Conqueror; and for what reason.

On the information readily available, since April 1982 no offences have occurred which warranted detention or other serious punishment. A number of minor offences attracted lesser disciplinary action.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why he has referred the diary of an officer of HMS Conqueror to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

A copy of a diary which apparently was kept by a member of the crew of HMS Conqueror is in the possession of my Department. The diary contains classified information and it appears that its contents have been communicated to persons not authorised to receive such information. This constitutes a prima facie breach of the Official Secrets Acts. In the circumstances of this case my Department considered that it was a matter for reference to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if a final decision has now been made to contract out to the private sector the responsibility for the procurement: of technical publications for marine engineering equipment and systems; and if he will make a statement.

Since the reply given to my hon. Friend on 1 August, at column 279, invitations to tender for this task have been issued to a wide range of firms. A detailed examination of the tenders is planned to begin in the new year. It will, therefore, be some months yet before a final decision can be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the West German Government about the lessons for the United Kingdom of the West German Tornado lost flying in the vicinity of Radio Free Europe in Bavaria.

As I told the hon. Gentleman on 1 August, at columns 282–82, and 9 November, at column 44, there is a continual exchange of flight safety information among the three nations which operate the aircraft.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether non-human primates are currently being bred at, or specifically for use at, the chemical research establishment at Porton Down, or have been so bred during the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Yes, non-human primates are bred at the Chemical Defence Establishment, Porton Down, for use in experiments at the establishment. On rare occasions primates have also been purchased from reputable suppliers. All experiments with living animals conducted at the Chemical Defence Establishment comply fully with the requirements of the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876, including the requirement to obtain the special permission of the Home Secretary for the use of primates in such experiments.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements have been agreed with local police governing their access to land owned by his Department.

The access of civil police to defence land is not governed by general administrative arrangements. Civil police officers may enter defence land if this is agreed by my Department, or otherwise under authority given by common or statute law.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether exchange visits have taken place between British officers developing the land and air concept and the officers of the American Army's training and doctrine command.

The concept of operations in question is under development by NORTHAG, which is a NATO headquarters. I cannot say what contacts its international staff have.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the development of the land and air concept will necessitate a revision of the British Army's tactical manual.

No. Our tactical doctrine is continually being evolved. Naturally this is reflected in the manual which supports it.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the development of the operational concept for land and air operations in the central region is part of the follow-on force attack plan.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether the concept being developed by General Sir Nigel Bagnall, Commander Northern Army Group, under the title land and air battle is similar to the airland battle concept of the United States Army;

Airland battle is the United States Army's, not NATO's, agreed tactical doctrine designed to meet any contingency worldwide. The concept of operations which General Bagnall is developing in his NATO capacity as commander, northern army group is concerned with the defence of his command within the agreed strategy of forward defence and flexible response.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether concepts parallel to the land and air concept under development with Northern Army Group and 2nd Allied Tactical Air Force are being developed for other sections of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's command structure.

NATO commanders keep their concepts of operation, which are their plans for accomplishing their missions, under review in the light of developments in the warsaw pact threat and in NATO capabilities. These concepts vary according to the differing natures of their commands.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the month and year the development of the land and air concept of operations for Northern Army Group and 2nd Allied Tactical Air Force was authorised.

The NORTHAG concept of operations was introduced following the adoption by NATO of its strategy of forward defence and flexible response in 1967. It is the responsibility of NATO commanders to be continually developing their concept of operations to meet their operational responsibilities.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will define the relationship between the follow-on force attack concept and the land and air concept being developed by Northern Army Group and 2nd Allied Tactical Air Force;(2) whether he will make a statement on the land and air concept being developed by the British Army and the Royal Air Force.

In his NATO capacity, the commander of the Northern Army Group is developing a revised concept of operations which should ensure a more effective defence of his command within the principles of NATO's agreed strategy of forward defence and flexible response. It does not relate to follow on forces attack which is a long-term planning guideline.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what procurement decisions are associated with the development of the land and air concept under development by the Northern Army Group and 2nd Allied Tactical Air Force.

No such decisions arise at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether the land and air concept being developed by British forces includes any contingency for the use of nuclear artillery and surface to surface missiles(2) whether any nuclear option is included in the land and air concept being developed by Northern Army Group and 2nd Allied Tactical Air Force.

The revised concept of operations being developed by NATO's Northern Army Group will not alter the role of nuclear weapons within NATO's strategy of forward defence and flexible response.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish, as a matter of urgency, a White Paper detailing the changes currently under development in British defence policy.

No. My right hon. Friend will be publishing his "Statement on the Defence Estimates" next year in the normal way.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether a revision of the British Army's tactical manual is in progress.

Yes. A complete revision has been under way for over two years.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when the most recently revised version of the British Army's basic tactical manual was issued.

The latest complete revision of the British Army's basic tactical manual was issued between 1968 and 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether WINTEX '85 is a NATO exercise;(2) whether WINTEX '85 will have a nuclear phase;(3) whether WINTEX '85 will have a chemical phase;(4) what is the purpose of the WINTEX '85 exercise;(5) whether WINTEX '85 will involve the exercise of the National Command authority in the United Kingdom;(6) what will be the date and duration of the WINTEX '85 exercise;(7) whether any novel features will be included in the WINTEX '85 exercise;(8) whether WINTEX '85 will involve local authorities in civil defence planning at

Exercise WINTEX-CIMEX 85 is the eighth of a series of NATO-wide command post exercises conducted by Alliance members. It will take place from 26 February to 13 March 1985. Its objective will be to test military command and control procedures and to exercise Alliance authorities in procedures intended for use in times of international tension and war. To ensure that procedures across the whole spectrum of a crisis are practised a nuclear consultation phase is always included. In the United Kingdom, Government Departments will be participating, but not local authorities. Details of the scenario for the exercise and the play itself are classified, but are based upon NATO's deterrence strategy. As in previous exercises, the full spectrum of NATO's procedures and plans for crisis management will be tested.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how long it was before HMS Conqueror's sighting of the General Belgrano was relayed to the task force from Northwood;(2) at what time the request from Admiral Woodward that the General Belgrano be sunk was received by Northwood;(3) how long the elapse of time was between the drafting of the sighting report by HMS Conqueror on 1 May 1982 and its receipt by Northwood; and whether there were any communications difficulties between HMS Conqueror and Northwood.

I shall answer shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many boards of inquiry have been authorised by the Commander in Chief Fleet in 1982, 1983 and 1984, respectively; and if he will list them.

I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if (a) the control room log for April-May 1982 and (b) the signals log for April-May 1982 of HMS Splendid are available to him;(2) if

[pursuant to his reply, 22 November 1984, c. 335]: HMS Splendid's control room log for April- May 1982 and her commanding officer's narrative account for that period are available and have been seen by officials but not by Ministers. On the signals log, I shall write to the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what Royal Navy logs, other than signal logs, are routinely destroyed.

[pursuant to his reply, 22 November 1984, c. 335]: Such information that is readily available will be included in the letter which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State said he would send to the hon. Member in his reply on 22 November 1984, at column 227.

asked the Attorney-General what is the policy of the Director of Public Prosecutions regarding the continuation of criminal proceedings within his oversight in cases where a material prosecution witness has died.

In the event that, during the course of proceedings conducted by the Director of Public Prosecutions, a prosecution witness dies, it is the practice of the director to review the case and assess whether the remaining evidence remains sufficient. In cases where the director considers that the evidence is now insufficient to sustain the charge, the proceedings are abandoned.

asked the Attorney-General whether he was consulted by the Director of Public Prosecutions before the Director decided to withdraw proceedings in Cardiff magistrates' court on 5 November against a man for rape following the death of the alleged victim of the attack.

No. In the case to which the hon. Member refers, the effect of the death of the complainant was to render the prosecution evidence insufficient to establish certain essential elements of the alleged offence. There was no other course open to the Director of Public Prosecutions save to withdraw the charge. There was no reason for him to consult me.

asked the Attorney-General what is the policy of the Director of Public Prosecutions regarding the continuation of proceedings within his oversight in cases of rape where the alleged victim (a) dies before the case comes to trial or (b) otherwise becomes unfit, unable or unwilling to give evidence.

The handling of a case of rape in which the complainant dies while proceedings are pending does not differ from that of any other case in which a material prosecution witness had died. I therefore refer the hon. Member to my answer to question No. 113.In cases where the complainant is temporarily unfit or unable to give evidence an adjournment will usually be sought. Where the unfitness or disability is likely to be permanent or of such duration that a postponement cannot be obtained, the director will review the evidence in the same manner as if the witness were dead.In circumstances where a complainant is simply unwilling to give evidence, her attendance may be compelled provided she is within the jurisdiction. But only in exceptional circumstances would the director seek to compel the complainant to testify against her will.

asked the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the Law Society's proposed reforms for fraud trials.

I assume that the hon. Member's question refers to the evidence given by the Law Society to the committee chaired by the Lord Roskill to consider what improvements can be made in the procedures which govern fraud trials. I myself have

Local authorities estimates for spending on improvement grants in 1984/85—April's forecast compared with October's
£(thousands)
			Difference
Local Authority	April Forecast (Budget)	October Forecast	Value	Percentage
Alyn and Deeside	1,011	943	-68	-6·7
Colwyn	900	743	-157	-17·4
Delyn	400	450	+50	+12·5
Glyndwr	1,330	1,400	+70	+5·3
Rhuddlan	136	136	0	0·0
Wrexham Maelor	860	415	-445	-51·7
Carmarthen	2,751	2,779	+28	+1·0
Ceredigion	3,000	2,800	-200	-6·7

asked the Attorney-General whether he will make legal aid available in coroners' courts to representatives of the deceased.

Subject to financial eligibility, legal advice and assistance is already available to representatives of the deceased, on any question of English law which may arise in relation to a case in a coroner's court. There are no plans to provide representation by way of legal aid.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the school leaving rate at 16 years of age among Welsh pupils and the number, expressed as a percentage, entering colleges of further and higher education, at the latest available date.

Sixty-five per cent. of the pupils in maintained and independent schools in Wales aged 15 at the beginning of the academic year 1982–83, had left by the end of that academic year. The number of 16-year-old students enrolling at maintained colleges of further and higher education in Wales at the beginning of the academic year 1983–84, expressed as a percentage of the 28,990 pupils of that age leaving Welsh schools during the previous academic year, was 50 per cent. This includes full-time, sandwich and part-time day students.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will provide the estimates for spending on home improvement grants by each district council in Wales for 1984–85 indicating, in each case, the potential under or overspend on original estimates (a) in cash terms and (b) in percentage terms.

The following table compares district council's original estimates of expenditure on improvement grants in 1984–85, as submitted in April 1984, with their most recent forecast:

			Difference
Local Authority	April Forecast (Budget)	October Forecast	Value	Percentage
Dinefwr	1,370	800	-570	-41·6
Llanelli	1,580	1,563	-17	-1·1
Preseli	2,500	2,500	0	0·0
South Pembrokeshire	2,600	3,030	+430	+ 16·5
Blaenau Gwent	2,500	3,000	+500	+ 20·0
Islwyn	2,300	2,500	+200	+ 8·7
Monmouth	1,439	1,351	-88	-6·1
Newport	4,000	3,530	-470	-11·8
Torfaen	1,500	2,081	+581	+38·7
Aberconwy	640	640	0	0·0
Arfon	2,357	2,257	-100	-4·2
Dwyfor	1,230	1,230	0	0·0
Meirionnydd	2,900	3,100	+200	+6·9
Ynys Mon	1,640	1,410	-230	-14·0
Cynon Valley	1,570	1,910	+340	+21·7
Merthyr Tydfil	1,765	1,765	0	0·0
Ogwr	3,500	3,700	+ 200	+5·7
Rhondda	7,500	7,500	0	0·0
Rhymney Valley	2,300	2,900	+600	+26·1
Taff-Ely	3,000	3,800	+800	+26'7
Brecknock	900	1,295	+ 395	+43·9
Montgomery	1,399	1,400	+ 1	+0·1
Radnor	750	750	0	0·0
Cardiff	7,000	7,000	0	0·0
Vale of Glamargon	2,000	2,500	+500	+25·0
Afan	550	550	0	0·0
Lliw Valley	1,081	1,081	0	0·0
Neath	1,600	1,750	+ 150	+9·4
Swansea	5,040	5,160	+ 120	+2·4
Total	78,899	81,719	+2,820	+3·6

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has as to how many applications for home improvement grants are currently waiting to be processed by district councils in Wales; and how many of these cases involve disabled persons.

At 30 September 1984, there were about 69,000 renovation grants awaiting processing. Local authorities do not separately identify grant applications for the disabled on the returns they make to the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what amount, in cash and percentage terms, of capital spending by local authorities in Wales, is put aside annually for spending in respect of housing and alterations and adaptations for the disabled; what is the estimate for 1984–85; and what is the average amount set aside for this purpose by local authorities in Wales.

The information requested is not collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average amount, in cash and percentage terms, by which district councils in Wales will under or overspend their capital spending estimates for 1984–85 at present rates of spending.

District council's most recent forecast of gross capital expenditure counting against the national cash limit is £16·3 million (6·0 per cent.) below the budget figures submitted in April 1984. This represents an average of £440,000 per district. It is likely that the final expenditure figure for 1984–85 will be lower because of the slippage normally associated with capital programmes.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the estimated capital spending budget for Rhymney Valley district council for 1984–85; by what amounts in cash and percentage terms, respectively, the budget is under or over spending limits; and how Rhymney Valley's under or over-spend compares with equivalent figures for the national cash limits for capital spending in Wales for 1984–85.

Rhymney Valley's budgeted prescribed capital expenditure for 1984–85, as reported in April 1984, was £5·5 million. The authority's legal spending limit is broadly equal to the sum of its capital allocation and the prescribed proportion of capital receipts accruing in 1984–85 or available receipts accumulated in earlier years. This is estimated to be £8·2 million. The budget was, therefore, £2·7 million, or 33 per cent., below the spending limit.The comparison of expenditure with the national cash limit for Wales is not the same as that for individual authorities. The national cash limit is based on gross expenditure for the year less receipts accruing in the year and takes no account of receipts accumulated in earlier years. In 1984–85 the local authority cash limit for Wales is £237 million. Local authorities budgeted net capital expenditure was £325 million, which is £88 million, or 37 per cent. above the national cash limit.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total estimated spending on housing improvement grants by district councils in Wales for 1984–85; and how this compares with the total for 1983–84 in real and cost terms.

The latest local authority forecast of expenditure on housing improvement grants in Wales in 1984–85 is £81·7 million. This compares with £109·3 million in 1983–84 (£114·5 million in 1984–85 prices).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will support Leeward Islands Air Transport in its desire to order British Aerospace Super 748 aircraft instead of the French aircraft insisted upon by the European Economic Community.

I have made it clear to the development comissioner, Mr. Pisani, that the Government of the Caribbean, who own Leeward Islands Air Transport, would prefer the Super 748 and that the United Kingdom expects the procurement rules of the Lomé convention to be fully and fairly applied in this case. I understand that the Caribbean authorities have not yet formally responded to the European Commission's latest communication on the choice of aircraft. There can be no question of United Kingdom aid while negotiations with the European Community are continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all grants made by his Department to voluntary organisations, giving both the recipient and the amount, together with the date a grant was first made.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the face of the Main and Revised Estimates for Overseas Aid 1984–85, Class II, 8, copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the work of the Royal Air Force Hercules on famine relief in Ethiopia; and how long he now expects that work to continue.

These aircraft and their crews are doing a magnificent job and I expect them to continue at least until the end of January.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he has not yet replied to the letters of 24 August and 15 October from the city of Wakefield metropolitan district council concerning the report by his Department on the general question of flooding in the city of Wakefield.

A reply was sent on 14 November.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is now taking to consult those involved in the criminal justice system on the proposal to provide a power to suspend a sentence of youth custody.

In September the Department wrote to a number of interested bodies seeking their views on the suggestion that the sentence of youth custody should be capable of being suspended in whole or in part. My right hon. and learned Friend is currently considering the comments that have been received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many written responses he has received to the Green Paper on intermittent custody; and when he expects to be able to publish an evaluation of such responses.

We have received or noted over 40 written responses to the Green Paper, including a number of letters to the press and articles commenting publicly upon it. We have no plans to publish an evaluation of the responses as such, but are giving them careful consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has anything to add to the answer of 22 November to the hon. Member for Caithness and Sutherland, Official Report, column 392, about proposals made by the Equal Opportunities Commission for legislative changes.

I understand that proposals for amending the law on sex equality, originally submitted in 1981 and revised in 1982, no longer represent the commission's current thinking and that they will be replaced by new proposals, which we expect to receive next year.

asked the parliamentary Under- Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts what level of funding has been allocated to repertory theatres of similar size to the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester during the last three years.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a note explaining how the rebate of value added tax to West German farmers is expected to operate; and whether, and to what extent, the rebate discriminates against imports.

In the context of the common agricultural policy, Agriculture Ministers agreed in March to the dismantling of monetary compensatory amounts and the payment of special aid, in compensation, to farmers in the Federal Republic of Germany, through the harmonised VAT system. To give it effect the Commission has made a proposal for a 20th VAT directive enabling the Federal Republic to pay this special aid in derogation from the provisions of the sixth VAT directive. The special aid is not a VAT rebate and the draft directive would require farmers to show it separately from any VAT, both on their invoices and in their accounts. The special aid would be charged by farmers to their taxable customers who may treat it as deductible input tax. The payment of this special aid should not therefore be reflected in prices to final consumers and thus should not discriminate against imports.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has had as to the rates of value added tax on (a) newspapers, (b) periodicals and (c) books in each European Community state.

Following is the latest available information:

	Newspapers per cent.	Periodicals per cent.	Books per cent.
Belgium	0,6*	0,6	6
Denmark	0†	0, 22	22
France	2·1‡	2·1, 4, 7║	7
West Germany	7	7	7
Greece	VAT not yet introduced
Ireland	23¶	23	0
Italy	0	0, 2, 18•	2
Luxembourg	6	6	6
Netherlands	5	5	5
United Kingdom	0	0	0
* 0 per cent, for newspapers and magazines appearing at least 50 times a year.
† 0 per cent, for newspapers and similar publications published at least once a month.
‡ Daily newspapers and similar publications.
║ 2·1 per cent, for national political weeklies. 7 per cent, for trade and technical magazines. 4 per cent, for most non-technical and non-trade magazines of general interest to the public — a concession that is due to expire on 31 December 1984, after which the rate will be 7 per cent.
¶ The rate for daily and weekly newspapers will be 18 per cent, from 1 March 1985.
• 0 per cent, for periodicals and other publications registered as such if the price does not exceed 8,000 lire—about £3·50; 2 per cent, for periodicals with a primarily political, trade union, cultural, religious or sporting nature; 18 per cent, for others.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of gross domestic product is spent on the National Health Service; and how this compares with 1979.

1984–85 Multiples of Average Earnings
	2/3		75 per cent.		100 per cent.		200 per cent.		500 per cent.
	£ per week at 1978–79 prices	percentage of gross earnings	£ per week at 1978–79 prices	percentage of gross earnings	£ per week at 1978–79 prices	percentage of gross earnings	£ per week at 1978–75 prices	percentage of gross earnings	£ per week at 1978–79 prices	percentage of gross earnings
Single Person
Gross earnings	69·39		78·07		104·09		208·17		520·43
Income tax	14·26	20·6	16·87	21·6	24·67	23·7	57·76	27·7	222·49	42·8

The United Kingdom spent 5·6 per cent. of the gross domestic product on the National Health Service in 1983. The corresponding figure for 1979 was 4·8 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated loss to the economy of the death of a married woman with two children, her age at death being in the ranges 20 to 30 years, 31 to 40 years, 41 to 50 years and 51 to 60 years, respectively.

The losses to the economy arising from the death of a married woman with children depend upon what her future net earnings would have been, and upon the costs of replacing the services which she would have provided to her family. These would both depend upon the circumstances of the particular family.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to seek powers to tax lump sum superannuation benefits; what representations he has received on the subject; how many have been favourable and how many unfavourable; and if he will make a statement.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table in the Official Report giving his latest estimates for 1984–85 of the following information for a single man, a married man and a married man with two children in each case, a man on two-thirds average earnings, 75 per cent. average earnings, 100 per cent. average earnings, 200 per cent. average earnings and 500 per cent. average earnings (a) gross earnings, (b) income tax payable, (c) (b) as a percentage of (a), (d) national insurance contributions, (e) (d) as a percentage of (a), (f) child benefit, (g) (f) as a percentage of (a), (b) net earnings, (i) (h) as a percentage of (a), (j) indirect taxes, and (k) (j) as a percentage of (a) at 1978–79 prices.

[pursuant to his reply, 29 November 1984, c. 579]: The information is in the table. Indirect tax payments cannot be reliably estimated below 75 per cent. or above 150, per cent. of average earnings and are not shown for households outside this range. The average gross earnings figure is for all full time males on adult rates with pay unaffected by absence and assumes an increase over 1983–84 of 7½ per cent. in line with the underlying rate of increase assumed by the Government Actuary in his recent report.

asked the Prime Minister what remuneration has been paid to Mr. Ian MacGregor at both British Steel and the National Coal Board; and what productivity-linked bonuses have been paid to Lazard Fréres.

The British Steel Corporation's annual report and accounts for 1980–81 to 1983–84 record the following total emoluments of Mr. MacGregor as chairman of the BSC:

	£
1980–81 (nine months)	37,864
1981–82	51,750
1982–83	51,960
1983–84 (five months)	22,187

Mr. MacGregor currently recives £5,500 per annum as a part-time member of the BSC Board and £59,325 per annum as the remununeration due to him as chairman of the National Coal Board.A fixed sum of £675,000 was paid to Lazard Fréres of New York in 1980 for the release of Mr. MacGregor to serve as chairman of BSC. Two performance related payments are due to be made next year, after BSC's results to end March 1985 are known. A payment of £1,500,000 was also made to Lazard Fréres in 1983 at the time of Mr. MacGregor's appointment to the NCB but this agreement does not include any productivity-related bonuses.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will arrange for an exhibition relating to bus services from the Bus and Coach Council to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

I understand that arrangements have been made with the authorities of the House for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 3 to 7 December.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the ticking train alert at Stratford, East London, on 15 November concerning nuclear fuel flask transportation.

CEGB experts attended Temple Mills goods yard on 15 November after ticking was reported coming from a nuclear flask wagon. The noise was found to be due to a monitoring instrument which had been inadvertently left under the wagon cover and was responding normally to background radiation. After removal of the instrument the flask, which was being returned empty from Sellafield, continued on its journey. There was no danger at any time to workers or members of the public.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport by what method and how long it took, for the Central Electricity Generating Board physicist to arrive at the scene of the ticking train alert at Stratford, East London, on 15 November.

Questions about the detailed operation of the emergency procedures should be addressed to the CEGB. However I understand that in this case it was swiftly recognised that the circumstances did not constitute an emergency and it was then about an hour before the experts arrived on the scene.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when a decision is to be announced on the proposed M11 link road.

I hope it will be possible to announce a decision in the spring.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the recommendations of the inspector on the inquiry into the proposed M11 link road.

The inspector's report will be made available in accordance with the Highways (Inquiries Procedure) Rules 1976 at the time the decision is announced.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about progress in planning Stepping Hill link, Stockport; and what is the planned date for the commencement of construction.

A single carriageway all-purpose link to the A6 at Stepping Hill will form part of our proposals for the A6(M) Stockport north-south bypass. Plans of these new roads, and of related measures to restrain traffic on the present A6 through the centre of Hazel Grove, will be displayed locally on 12, 13 and 15 December. I am writing to my hon. Friend about the details.It seems unlikely that construction could start before the end of 1987.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, whether any compensation is available from his Department, in addition to that provided by the highway authority, for all environmental damage caused by road construction for all roads where any part of the funding emanates from his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Compensation entitlements under the Land Compensation Act 1973 arising from road construction works are met directly and in full by the highway authority who carried out the works. Where such compensation is payable by a local highway authority in respect of works funded in whole or in part by my Department, the authority receive appropriate reimbursement.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, how he proposes to restructure the National Bus Company before privatisation; and if he will make a statement.

I have asked the Board of NBC to consider how the local operating companies should be restructured to compete fairly on deregulation and to report to me on that and on options for privatisation. In asking the board to do this, I have made it clear that, subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary legislation, it is the Government's prime objective to achieve deregulation on terms of fair competition.The next step for NBC is therefore to restructure the local companies so that they can compete fairly on deregulation, without assuming that they will be privatised before that time; though the Government would be glad to see proposals for privatisation under the existing legislation. On deregulation the companies must be able not only to compete fairly and effectively with other operators, but also to do so without cross-subsidy within NBC. I have asked the board to consider whether the policy they have successfully applied to Western National and Midland Red of breaking existing subsidiaries down into smaller units should be extended to other large operating subsidiaries.The steps to secure fair competition will not, however, dictate the pattern of sale; that will be for the market to decide.The objectives which the Government wish NBC to pursue under the new regime are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list in the Official Report the number of disconnections of (a) gas and (b) electricity supplies in England and Wales in each of the last five years to the latest available date.

This is a matter for the industries themselves. I have asked the chairmen of the British Gas Corporation and the Electricity Council to provide the information direct to the Hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what information his Department possesses on life expectancy by social class.

Information on standardised mortality ratios by social class, age and sex is published in the booklet "Occupational Mortality 1969–73", a copy of which is in the Library. Similar information for 1979–83 will be published in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will announce the 1985–86 level of awards for students pursuing courses of further education.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen, South (Mr. Malone) and the hon. Member for Falkirk, West (Mr. Canavan), yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the amount of subsidy paid per annum to provide school meals in Northern Ireland;(2) how many boarding pupils there are in schools in Northern Ireland;(3) what is the estimated cost per annum of subsidising the cost of midday meals to boarding pupils in Northern Ireland.

Estimated net recurrent expenditure on the provision of school meals in the financial year 1984–85 is £22·5 million. There, were 2,366 boarding pupils in the 1982–83 school year; it is estimated that it would cost approximately £120,000 per year to subsidise their midday meals.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what financial and other support his Department has given to the Northern Ireland International Youth Year secretariat.

Financial assistance to the Northern Ireland co-ordinating committee for International Youth Year amounts to £145,000, of which £57,000 has already been paid.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what measure the generalised needs index provides (a) of the total extent of housing requirements and (b) the relative extent of need (i) between regions and (ii) between individual local authorities.

Full details of the generalised needs index data used for the 1984–85 housing investment programme allocations, at both regional and individual local authority level, are available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the house condition survey in 1986 will be carried out by the public or the private sector.

It is premature at this stage to decide detailed arrangements for the next "English House Condition Survey".

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning the need to safeguard the environment of rural areas especially sensitive to development from disturbances caused as a result of the exploration for hydrocarbons.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight (Mr. Ross) on 28 November at column 925–26.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is now in a position to make a further statement about the estimated savings which will result from the proposed abolition of the Greater London council and the metropolitan county councils.

Savings will result from abolition in two ways—

—elimination of a whole layer of local government in the metropolitan areas, thus ending unnecessary duplication

—the more efficient and economical provision of those services transferred to successor authorities.

Abolition will provide arrangements which are easier for the public to understand, and remove sources of administrative conflict and tension. The resultant savings, after allowing for some transitional costs, will flow naturally from abolition. But savings are not the Government's primary objective in introducing this reform. The case for abolition rests on the provision of a more local, more accountable system of local government in the metropolitan areas.The ultimate extent of the savings to be achieved will result from decisions yet to be taken by the successor authorities in the light of their eventual analysis of the current policies and management practices of the GLC and the MCCs.The following estimates, like any assessment made at this stage of the likely savings to result from abolition, necessarily rest upon the information currently available to the Department and upon assumptions about the eventual decisions of the successor authorities affecting both administrative arrangements and spending policies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies he is making of the effect on drinking water of acidic deposition; and if he will make a statement.

Many water sources are naturally acidic and therefore water undertakers monitor and correct excess acidity as a matter of routine. So the Department has not commissioned any study relating specifically to the effect on drinking water of acidic deposition. But we have commissioned research (to a value of about £1·3 million in 1984–85) into the effects of acid deposition on lakes and streams, and on the natural life there.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to apply section 41 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act to the Broads.

Letters are being sent out today inviting comments from representatives of farming, landowning and conservation interests as well as the local authorities concerned with the Broads. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in the event of the abolition of the Greater London council, what he intends to do with the councils shire horses.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 29 November at c. 59.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many Conservative members of the Merseyside county council have made representations to him opposing his plans to abolish that council; and if he will make a statement.

The Conservative group as a whole and individual Conservative members of the council have made a variety of representations on different aspects of our proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review the flood danger early warning system in south-west England; and if he will make a statement on the lack of advance warning of the floods experienced along the north Devon coastline on the afternoon and evening of Friday 23 November.

I have been asked to reply.We are always willing to look at proposals for improving flood warning systems. We understand that on 23 November the warning of flooding was given to residents as early as possible. It is the responsibility of the South-West water authority to provide early warning of flooding along the north Devon coastline.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish the consultative document on dog licensing.

[pursuant to his reply, 28 November 1984, c. 516]: I have today placed copies of the consultation document on dog licensing in the Vote Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects British citizens band owners to be able to use a common European frequency.

The Government have stated then-intention of adopting in due course the recommendation of the Conference of European Posts and Telecommunications which provides for common European frequencies for FM CB. There is a need to clear the recommended band of its existing users and the Department is consulting manufacturing, trading and user interests. These consultations are likely to take some time but when they are completed I shall be in a position to announce when the CEPT frequencies will become available for CB in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the number of citizens band licences that have now been issued.

About 570,000 new CB licences have been issued since the launch of the service in November 1981, and of these some 200,000 were valid at the end of October 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to provide matching funds for co-operative development agencies to enable them also to obtain grants from the European Economic Community social fund.

While the Government fully support the development of the co-operative sector and have recently extended the funding of the national Co-operative Development Agency for a further six years, we have no plans to fund local co-operative development agencies. Many of these organisations, which have no formal links with the national agency, are funded by local authorities. Where such public funding exists it is possible that it could be quoted as matching public authority support for applications to the European Social Fund in respect of particular training courses that agencies may run, provided all the fund's criteria for eligibility are met.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the criteria governing the eligibility of private firms for grants from the European Regional development fund.

Private firms can qualify for aid under different sections of the European regional development fund.Under the steel, shipbuilding and textile programmes drawn up under the specific Community measures section, aid is available to firms located in the eligible areas which employ less than 200 people and are engaged in manufacturing or certain services sectors. Firms in the steel, shipbuilding and textile and clothing industries are excluded unless they are diversifying into new activities.Under Articles 17 to 23 of the new ERDF regulation, aid may be awarded in respect of private sector industrial investment projects in 'aided areas' which satisfy the criteria and receive regional aid from the Government. In this case the ERDF receipts are not passed on to the company in addition to the United Kingdom regional aid (which is already the minimum required to enable the project to proceed) but retained by the Government as a partial repayment of its own aid, which is thus at a higher overall level than would otherwise be possible.In very limited circumstances a private firm may qualify for aid from the project financing section of the fund in respect of infrastructure projects but only if it is responsible for such infrastructure in the same way as a public authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on his recent decision to require certain parents of students in higher education to contribute towards tuition fees.

Parents were last required to contribute towards tuition fees in the academic year 1976–77. The decision to revert to the previous arrangements and to require some parents to contribute towards the designated tuition fee forms part of the Government's policy to introduce a more progressive parental contribution scale and to bring about savings in awards expenditure in order to release resources for other priorities in higher education. All home students, irrespective of their parents' income, will continue to benefit from a significant subsidy (over £2,500 to more than £7,000, depending upon the course) from public funds in respect of the full cost of tuition fees.

asked the Secretary of State, for Education and Science what representations he has received from the National Union of Students about the number of students who do not receive their full parental contribution; and if he will make a statement.

Non-payment of parental contributions is referred to in the NUS submission on student grants for 1985–86. Evidence from the NUS Survey of undergraduate income and expenditure suggests that non-payment is less widespread than a decade ago.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether his Department issues any guidelines on the use of animal experiments and dissection as part of the school curriculum; and if he will make a statement.

The Department has issued advice on the care and maintenance of living animals in schools; the use of such animals is normally restricted to observation of behaviour and growth and to husbandry. There are educational grounds for the inclusion of a limited amount of dissection, frequently using abattoir material, in biology courses in secondary schools, but the Department has published no guidance on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many surveys have been undertaken by the Soil Survey of England and Wales teams in each year since 1979.

The information is as follows:

	Number of surveys undertaken and published as maps
1979	9
1980	20
1981	17
1982	7
1983	14
1984	10

In addition, the Soil Survey has conducted a number of exercises which have not resulted in the publication of maps, including the national soil inventory, the national lowland peat inventory, a saline soil survey in north Kent and many farm and other detailed surveys.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many people have been working full or part-time for the Soil Survey of England and Wales each year since 1979.

The information requested is as follows:

At 1 October	Number of staff (full-time equivalents)
1979	74½
1980	75
1981	72
1982	67½
1983	72½
1984	68½

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many parents are estimated to have to pay tuition fees for courses of higher education, in the light of his announcement of 12 November.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many parents will be affected by the recent proposal to charge them tuition fees for higher education for the academic year 1985–86.

We estimate that the parents of about 70,000 students will be assessed to contribute towards part or all of the designated tuition fee.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will issue guidance to local education authorities about including on their primary schools' curricula education about dangers involved in alcohol, solvents, tobacco and drugs.

It is for individual schools and local education authorities to determine the content of health education elements of the curriculum in the light of their own circumstances. The Department has given advice on alcohol, smoking and drugs, including discussion of approaches which may appropriately be adopted with young children, in its publication "Health Education in Schools" and on solvent misuse in its "Safety in Education" bulletin issued in June. The Department: is urgently considering what further assistance may be given to local education authorities in the context of the Government's overall policy for tackling drug misuse among young people.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list all grants made by his Department to voluntary organisations giving both the recipient and the amount, together with the date a grant was first made.

Details of grants made by the Department in 1983–84 to bodies other than local education authorities for educational services under the Education (Grant) Regulations 1983 are listed in table 21 of the Department's annual report 1983 a copy of which is in the Library. Details of grants towards the headquarters expenditure of national voluntary youth organisations under Section 20(1)(b) of the regulations in 1983–84 were included in my reply to the question from the hon. Member for Liverpool, Mossley Hill (Mr. Alton) on 13 November 1984 at columns 195–98. In addition, grants were given to the following national associations under regulation 19 of the regulations:

Organisation	Financial Year 1983–84 £
National Union of Townswomen's Guilds	12,000
National Federation of Women's Institutes	15,600
Workers' Educational Association HQ	45,200
National Council of YMCAs	10,200
British Theatre Association	13,500
Educational Centres Association	17,600
National Housewives Register	5,000
National Association of Women's Clubs	26,500

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if staffing levels in schools reflect the need for teachers to have skills in such subjects as computer and micro-technology.

Teachers acquire skills in these subjects through in-service training, as well as by their own efforts. School staffing levels reflect the need for teachers to have time for such training. Under the micro-electronics in education programme 55,000 teachers have so far received various forms of training in the new technology.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science to what extent the work of the soil survey of England and Wales is duplicated; and by which organisations.

I have been asked to reply.The Soil Survey of England and Wales is responsible for national soils inventory work, and has recently completed mapping the soils of the country at a scale of 1:250,000. About one-quarter of the country has been surveyed at larger scales, up to 1:25,000.More detailed information on the soils within specific areas is needed by a number of other organisations for a variety of purposes. Surveys to provide such information are undertaken by the Soil Survey, the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service, institutes of the Natural Environment Research Council, and private organisations.The Soil Survey also undertakes detailed research on soil, which supplements studies made by other research organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the salary paid to the chairman of the Manpower Services Commission for the financial year 1983–84; what is the salary to be paid to the current chairman for the financial year 1984–85; and if he will express this as a percentage increase on the salary paid in 1983–84.

The salary of the chairman of the Manpower Services Commission for the financial year 1983–84 was £40,145·82. On the basis of the salaries authorised following the Top Salary Review Body's latest recommendation, the corresponding figure for the 1984–85 financial year would have been £44,644·17. This represents an increase of 11·2 per cent, over the 1983–84 total. The current chairman, Mr. Bryan Nicholson, was appointed on 22 October 1984 on secondment from Rank Xerox Limited for a three year term. It has been agreed that Rank Xerox will be reimbursed for his services on the basis of the authorised salary rates for the appointment.