asked the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of the administrative expenses of his Department he estimates to be directly or indirectly attributable to duties which must be carried out by his Department as a result of membership of the European Economic Community.

The proportion is not known, and cannot be determined without disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he proposes to institute additional controls on aerial crop spraying; and if he will make a statement.

Controls over aerial crop spraying are exercised by the Civil Aviation Authority under the Air Navigation Order 1980. The authority is just completing a thorough review of its requirements. Strengthened and more precise requirements will be in force before the beginning of next year's spraying season. Changes will include increasing the minimum horizontal separation which aircraft must maintain from houses to 200 ft; a requirement that aircraft must not fly below 200 ft over gardens; and a stipulation that water authorities must be consulted before spraying is carried out near water.These changes are in addition to the strengthened requirements for the prior notification of adjacent occupiers which my hon. Friend and colleague the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport announced on 31 July at columns

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many statutory instruments he estimates will have to be made to implement fully the Local Government Bill; how many will be subject to the affirmative resolution procedure; how many will be subject to the negative resolution procedure; how many will be subject to no parliamentary procedure; and how many will not have to be laid before either House.

It is not possible to estimate such numbers at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he is planning to have with dog-owning members of the public regarding the proposed change in dog licensing; and if he will make a statement.

The Government's consultation paper on dog licensing has been sent to a number of organisations representing dog owners, as well as to individuals who have written to the Department on this subject, or whose letters have been forwarded by hon. Members. Copies are available on request from the Department. We will consider the views of all interests, including those of dog owners, very carefully before reaching final decisions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to begin re-examining the list of measures required within the building regulations intended to conserve fuel and power; and whether his reexamination will include requirements for floor insulation.

Once the new building control system is in force next year, the content of the regulations, including the requirements for the conservation of fuel and power, will be reviewed. This review will include, among other measures, the case for extending the regulations to include general requirements for floor insulation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the historic buildings currently financed or administered by the metropolitan county councils or the Greater London council.

The preparation and publication of lists giving this information is the responsibility of the individual local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of the administrative expenses of his Department he estimates to be directly attributable or indirectly attributable to duties which must be carried out by his Department as a result of membership of the European Economic Community.

The proportion of the running costs of the Department directly or indirectly attributable to duties which must be carried out as a result of membership of the European Economic Community is not known and cannot be estimated without disproportionate cost.

asked the Attorney-General what proportion of the administrative expenses of his Department he estimates to be directly or indirectly attributable to duties which must be carried out by his Department as a result of membership of the European Economic Community.

The proportion of the running costs of the Law Officers' Department directly or indirectly attributable to duties which must be carried out as a result of membership of the European Economic Community is not known and cannot be estimated without disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence for how long the United Kingdom is committed to 3 per cent. annual real increases in defence expenditure.

The public expenditure provision for 1985–86 allows for annual growth of some 3 per cent. in real terms, excluding Falklands costs. The 3 per cent. growth commitment has not been extended into 1986–87.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the free air mail letter facility for service men in the Falklands is to be continued; and if he will make a statement.

We fully appreciate the value and importance of the free air mail facility for service personnel in the Falklands and their families in the United Kingdom and this facility will be continued for the time being. The similar free Familygramme facility for those serving in South Georgia will likewise be continued.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the administrative expenses of his Department he estimates to be directly or indirectly attributable to duties which must be carried out by his Department as a result of membership of the European Economic Community.

This information is not available, nor can it be reliably estimated.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the purpose of the visit of the United States Secretary of the Navy, John Lehman, to the Scottish highlands from 6 to 9 September.

I understand Mr. Lehman spent the weekend privately in the Scottish highlands following a number of official engagements in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether any specific areas of land in Scotland have been considered for use as an Army training area since 24 January.

The requirement for an Army training area in Scotland remains, but no specific areas are under active consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what investigations have been carried out by or for his Department into the potential use of land in Scotland for an extremely low frequency communications system for submarines.

There is a naval requirement for such a site in Scotland. Several mainland areas are under consideration, although no firm decision has yet been taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if, in respect of each of the following: Operation Grapple, carried out between May 1957 and September 1958 in the Gilbert and Ellis Islands, Operation Hurricane I, carried out on 3 October 1952 at Monte Bello Islands, Western Australia, Operations Totem 1 and 2, carried out on 14 and 26 October 1953 at Emu Field, South Australia, Operations Mosaic 1 and 2, carried out on 16 May and 19 June 1956 at Monte Bello Islands, Western Australia, Operations Buffalo 1, 2, 3 and 4, carried out in September and October 1956 at Maralinga, South Australia, and Operations Antler 1, 2 and 3, carried out in June and September 1957 at Maralinga, South Australia , he will state separately: (a) how many service men participated, (b) how many of those service men participating have had their cases examined by the National Radiological Protection Board in the study commissioned by his Department, and (c) if the National Radiological Protection Board has available to it, for the study commissioned by his Department the scientific advice given to Her Majesty's Government on the likely effects on participants in nuclear tests.

The number of service men who participated in each of the tests referred to is not readily available at this time. My predecessor, my hon, Friend the Member for Chertsey and Walton (Mr. Pattie) said in the House on 12 March 1984 that about 20,000 men participated in the entire programme.Almost all these individuals are known, and their details are being made available to the National Radiological Protection Board for it to consider for inclusion in the study. There will be no examination of individual cases.The scientific advice given to Her Majesty's Government has no relevance to the study. However, the NRPB is, of course, well aware of the nationally and internationally agreed radiological standards which applied during the tests.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the definitions of plutonium used by agencies sponsored by or responsible to his Department, specifying the isotopic composition of each.

Plutonium produced in United Kingdom civil reactors is not classified by the Department or its sponsored agencies into different grades defined by isotopic composition.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any plans to seek to encourage the establishment of miners' co-operatives for the operation of coal mines once the current dispute is ended.

I have stated that I am always willing to consider any such proposal, but the NUM has shown no enthusiasm for this approach.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many registered blind people have been employed in his Department for each of the last four years.

The number of registered blind people employed in my Department as at 1 June in each of the last four years was:

	Number
1981	4
1982	4
1983	4
1984	3

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what proportion of the administrative expenses of his Department he estimates to be directly or indirectly attributable to duties which must be carried out by his Department as a result of membership of the European Economic Community.

The proportion of the running costs of my Department directly or indirectly attributable to duties which must be carried out as a result of membership of the European Economic Community cannot be estimated without disproportionate cost, but it would not be very large.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the constabularies outside the Metropolitan police area that have direct terminal links to the Metropolitan C department computer.

There are none.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will describe the data fields of the modus operandi or method index on the Metropolitan C department computer.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the method index includes data fields relating to persons, addresses, vehicles, offences and reference numbers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Metropolitan C department computer has been or will be used in connection with the current miners dispute; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to his Question on 19 November at column 7. I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that he still has no plans to put the computer facilities dedicated to C department to any special use in connection with the miners' dispute.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give a breakdown of the offences for which fines are still owed at the south western magistrates' court, London.

Information on the particular offences in respect of which fines are outstanding at the south western magistrates' court could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he intends that civil defence volunteers shall be instructed on law and order problems in the civil defence context.

Volunteers have an important role in civil defence, but we intend that responsibility for law and order should remain with the Government and the police.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the sex of the prison officer who searched the wife of a prisoner who was visiting her husband at Her Majesty's prison, Walton, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside; and what was the extent of the search.

The incident to which the hon. Member refers occurred on 29 October. At that time there was a special security alert at Liverpool prison, as at very many public buildings, following the bomb outrage at Brighton, and the hand luggage of all visitors to the prison was being searched. A notice was displayed at the prison gate accordingly. No exception was made in this case and the hand luggage of the prisoner's wife was searched by a male prison officer. My noble Friend, the Minister of State, will be replying shortly to the hon. Member's letters.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria is used in deciding to search wives of prisoners who visit their husbands in Her Majesty's prisons; and if he will make a statement.

The decision to conduct searches of visitors on a particular occasion is taken in the light of a range of factors, including the need to maintain security and good order and discipline within the establishment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the searching of wives who visit their husbands at Her Majesty's prison, Walton; and if he will make a statement.

One other hon. Member has written about this in the current year; there have also been a few petitions and I am advised that the governor of the prison has received about six letters. So far as we can establish in the time available, all these cases were about searches by the police when information had been received about drug smuggling.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women have been searched when visiting Her Majesty's prison, Walton, in each of the past three years; and what were the findings of such searches.

Information about the number of women searched is not available, and the results of searches are not recorded by reference to the sex of the visitor concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the administrative expenses of his Department he estimates to be directly or indirectly attributable to duties which must be carried out by his Department as a result of membership of the European Economic Community.

For 1983–84 it is estimated that about 0·01 per cent. of Home Office running costs was attributable to duties which had to be carried out as a result of membership of the European Communities.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a list in the Official Report showing the percentage of the poll in each constituency at the last general election, indicating the six polling stations which had the highest and the six polling stations which had the lowest percentage polls and the constituencies in whicy they are situated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list for the last general election which six constituencies in England had the highest and which six constituencies had the lowest percentage poll; which six polling stations in England had the highest and which six polling stations had the lowest percentage poll; what those percentages were; and, in the case of the polling stations, in which constituencies they were situated;(2) if he will list for the last general election which six constituencies in Wales had the highest and which six constituencies had the lowest percentage poll; which six polling stations had the highest and which six had the lowest percentage poll; what those percentages were; and, in the case of the polling stations, in which constituencies they were situated;(3) if he will list for the last general election which six constituencies in Scotland had the highest and which six constituencies had the lowest percentage poll; which six polling stations had the highest and which six polling stations had the lowest percentage poll; what those percentages were; and, in the case of the polling stations, in which constituencies they were situated.

I have been asked to reply.Information for the 1983 parliamentary general election on the number of valid votes counted as a percentage of the number of electors in each constituency is given in table 4 of "Election Expenses" (House of Commons Paper 130). Corresponding information for polling stations is not collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many cases of rape and sexual assault have been reported to the police for each of the last five years; and of these, how many cases reported have led to prosecutions;(2) how many prosecutions for rape and sexual assault have resulted in

The available information is published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales" including the supplementary tables: for notable offences recorded by the police in table 2.9 of the volume for 1983 (Cmnd. 9349): for prosecutions, convictions and sentences in table Sr j 1–101.1(A) of vol. 1 and table 2.1(A) of vol. 2 of the supplementary tables for 1983 and in the corresponding tables in the volumes for earlier years. The figures for rape include some offences other than under section 1 of the Sexual Offences Act 1956, including offences of aiding and abetting and attempts.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many advanced level secondary school pupils applied for and obtained a place at either Oxford or Cambridge university for the 1984–85 academic year; and how these numbers compare with the four previous academic years.

The number of United Kingdom candidates applying for and obtaining a place at Oxford and Cambridge universities in each of the last five years was as follows:

	Applicants	Acceptances
1984–85	14,026	5,484
1983–84	14,359	5,334
1982–83	14,244	5,357
1981–82	13,563	5,464
1980–81	13,580	5,552

The numbers include a small number of students from further education colleges as well as school pupils.The numbers of acceptances include a few conditional acceptances at Oxford, a small proportion of whom fail to meet the required conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he now has for putting into effect the partial loans scheme.

The Government have at present no intention of replacing any part of the student grant by a loan.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether it is his intention to uprate the residual income thresholds for parental contributions to student grant in line with prices, earnings or some other measure.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Greenway) on 14 November 1984 at columns 238–39.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will estimate the extra cost to local education authorities if value added tax is charged on books and periodicals.

The application of VAT to books and periodicals would not result in any increase in their expenditure since local education authorities are able to reclaim VAT paid on goods and services in respect of their non-trading activities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his response to the proposals made in the report entitled "Britain's Future: the Economy and Higher Education," published by the National Association of Teachers of Further and Higher Education, a copy of which has been sent to him; and what recommendations he will be issuing arising from that report.

My right hon. Friend welcomes the document's recognition of the importance of higher education for the development of the economy, but regrets that it does not show equal recognition of the importance for the economy of containing the growth in public spending. He is currently considering the future development of higher education generally in the light of the advice he has received from the University Grants Committee and the National Advisory Body for Local Authority Higher Education, and plans to bring forward his proposals early next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of the administrative expenses of his Department he estimates to be directly or indirectly attributable to duties which must be carried out by his Department as a result of membership of the European Economic Community.

About 0·3 per cent.

Per pupil expenditure (£' 1982–83 prices)
	Books		Equipment		Repairs and Maintenance
Financial Year	Essex	Non-Met.counties	Essex	Non-Met.counties	Essex	Non-Met.counties
	£	£	£	£	£	£
1978–79	7	8	19	19	32	35
1979–80	7	8	19	18	35	36
1980–81	7	7	16	17	39	39
1981–82	6	8	15	17	33	36
1982–83	7	8	18	19	44	41

The 1982–83 prices have been calculated using the Publishers' Association school books index for books, the

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the increases made by the Government in fees for overseas students; and what recent representations he has received on the matter.

My right hon. Friend sets maximum fees only for overseas students who began their courses before 1 September 1980, who are excluded from the effects of the Government's policy that overseas students should pay fees that cover the cost of their education. He announced new maximum fee levels for such students in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Stevenage (Mr. Wood) on 21 February this year. My right hon. Friend has received no recent representations on those fees. For other overseas students, institutions and local education authorities are free to determine the fee to be charged in accordance with the Government's policy and in the light of their own circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has yet received the advice of the Advisory Board for the Research Councils on the allocation of the science budget for 1985–86; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. I received the board's advice last Friday and am publishing it today. Copies are available in the Library. I expect to inform the board of my conclusions very soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much was spent, per child, in real terms in each of the last five years in primary and secondary schools in Essex on (a) books, (b) equipment and (c) maintenance and repair, compared with the average for the non-metropolitan counties.

[pursuant to his reply, 26 November 1984, c. 355]: The average expenditure per pupil in real terms, on books, equipment and maintenance and repairs in each of the five years to 1982–83, the latest year for which firm figures are available, are set out in the following table. The combined figures for primary and secondary schools are given.RPI, all items except food index for equipment and the local authorities' non-teaching cost index for maintenance and repairs.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the real value of the capitation allowances in the primary and secondary schools in Essex for each of the last five years, compared with the average for the non-metropolitan counties.

[pursuant to his reply, 26 November 1984, c. 355]: The information requested is not available. No central record is kept of capitation allowances.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much was spent in real terms in each of the last five years on each child attending primary and secondary schools in Essex, compared with the average for the non-metropolitan counties.

[pursuant to his reply, 26 November 1984, c. 355]: The average net institutional recurrent expenditure per pupil in real terms in each of the five years to 1982–83, the latest year for which firm figures are available, are set out in the table. The combined figures for primary and secondary schools are given.

Net Institutional Recurrent Expenditure per Pupil (1982–83 prices)
Financial Year	Essex	English Non Met. Counties
	£	£
1978–79	697	717
1979–80	718	729
1980–81	715	735
1981–82	713	743
1982–83	741	764

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what he estimates has been the cost to date to the Welsh economy of the mining dispute; and if he will make a statement.

It is not possible at this stage to make detailed estimates of the cost of the strike as suggested, but in his Autumn Statement of 12 November in columns. 415–429 my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave an indication of the effects of the public sector borrowing requirements for the country as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of the administrative expenses of his Department he estimates to be directly or indirectly attributable to duties which must be carried out by his Department as a result of membership of the European Economic Community.

For 1983–84 approximately 3 per cent. of the running costs of the Department are directly or indirectly attributable to duties which must be carried out as a result of membership of the European Economic Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish in the Official Report the conditions appertaining to the offer of sale by British Shipbuilders of Vosper Thornycroft Ship Repairers Ltd., in respect of the subsequent maintenance of the business of shiprepairing and of the various sites.

I have asked British Shipbuilders to ascertain the intentions of the prospective purchasers and I hope that it will be possible for them to sell the company as a shiprepairer. However, British Shipbuilders is not seeking to impose a formal condition to this effect.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of the administrative expenses of his Department he estimates to be directly or indirectly attributable to duties which must be carried out by his Department as a result of membership of the European Economic Community.

I will reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the Yorkshire water authority will be published.

The report is published today. The commission was asked to report on the efficiency and costs of, and the service provided by, the Yorkshire water authority.The authority was reconstituted on 1 October 1983 as a result of the Water Act 1983 and a new chairman and board appointed. The commission note organisational and structural changes since put in hand and commends the effect which these, combined with the setting of challenging performance targets, are having in improving efficiency.The commission identifies scope for further improvement, for example in the need for the authority to develop a structured approach to the assessment of manpower needs, but recognises that the Authority is making great efforts to improve its efficiency and effectiveness by implementing a wide range of management techniques.The commission has indicated which of its suggestions for improvements should have priority.The commission notes the extent to which there is a need to improve the standards of service to acceptable levels particularly in relation to water supply and sewerage. It suggests that the time has now come for the authority to work towards a more transparent link between levels of efficiency, minimum acceptable standards of service and future performance aims.The commission was asked how changes in quality of service would affect costs and the report includes illustrative calculations. The Commission noted that the authority saw such studies as beneficial in assessing priorities and relating its decisions to customers' views on the costs of improvements in services.Finally, the commission was asked to consider whether the authority is pursuing a course of conduct which operates against the public interest. It concludes that it is not.The authority will be publishing its preliminary response to the commission's findings within three to four months, in the light of which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will detail the level of grant in aid made available to the Scottish Citizens Advice Bureaux for each of the last five financial years, as well as for the current financial year; and if he will indicate the criterion he uses to determine the level of grant in aid.

The total grant in aid paid to the Scottish Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux since 1979–80 is as follows:

	£
1979–80	228,384
1980–81	415,200
1981–82	503,733
1982–83	530,608
1983–84	629,700

In the current financial year, the cash limit is £700,400.The grant in aid is determined on the basis of an analysis of needs considered within the framework of public expenditure constraints.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what funds he is making available to citizens advice bureaux in Scotland over the next two years.

The information is not yet available. Expenditure plans for 1985–86 and 1986–87 have not yet been laid before Parliament and the exact amount of grant to individual organisations has yet to be decided.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to seek powers to tighten controls on the export of pharmaceutical products by British-based companies; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.Apart from certain biological products, there are no statutory controls over the export of pharmaceutical products by British-based companies. For those countries which require it the Government will certify the licensing status in the United Kingdom of exported medicinal products and their source of manufacture, in accordance with World Health Organisation guidelines. We have no plans to alter these arrangements, but we shall continue to offer as much information as possible about the licensing and pricing of drugs in the United Kingdom to those overseas Governments who request it.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what have been the trends in wages paid since 1979 to young men and young women, respectively; and what has been the trend in unemployment for these categories over the same period.

Figures of the average gross weekly earnings of full-time male and female employees working a full week and aged under 18 years are published regularly for each April in tables 10 and 11 of the report, "New Earnings Survey", part A. Copies of the reports from 1979 to 1984 inclusive are available in the Library.Information on unemployment analysed by age and sex is also available in the Library. However, current figures cannot be compared directly with those for 1979 mainly because of the change from the registrant-based to the claimant-based unemployment count in October 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the administrative expenses of his Department he estimates to be directly or indirectly attributable to duties which must be carried out by his Department as a result of membership of the European Economic Community.

The proportion is not known and cannot be estimated without disproportionate cost.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action is being taken to introduce performance-related pay in the Civil Service.

The programme of action I announced in July last year was directed at the improvement of the general quality of personnel management in the Civil Service as part of the Government's overall policy for improved management efficiency, and the achievement of better value for money by all civil servants. The introduction of performance-related pay was an important task under this programme.The Government believe it right to provide additional incentives to good performance. This becomes more important in a contracting organisation, where there are reduced opportunities for promotion, which hitherto has been the main means of giving recognition to good performance. Performance-related pay is widely recognised as a valuable management tool and has been recommended to the Civil Service on a number of occasions.At the same time, the successful introduction of this kind of arrangement into an organisation as large and complex as the Civil Service would be a major operation carrying with it significant changes in the functions of managers and their relationships with their staff. There are choices to be made about the form of a performance-related pay scheme, as well as about its administration and the systems and procedures needed for that purpose. Cost is also an important factor.For all these reasons, performance-related pay cannot be introduced immediately across the whole of the Civil Service. But the Government consider it important that some steps should be taken. They therefore think it right to introduce with effect from April 1985 an experimental scheme under which staff at the grading levels of Grade 3 (Under Secretary) down to Principal and equivalent grades will have the opportunity to earn a bonus for particularly good performance. The experiment will last for three years and its operation will be carefully monitored. A total of £4 million is being made available to fund this initial experimental scheme in each of the three years. This will not come from existing provision for Civil Service pay and related expenditure. It will be additional to existing departmental allocations but will be met from within planned public expenditure totals.The Government will enter into immediate consultations with the Civil Service unions. It is also prepared to enter into discussions with the unions about the possibility of conducting further experiments at other grading levels. The method, timing and finance for such further experiments would all be for decision. But any such schemes identified and approved would be introduced as soon as practicable. The steps now announced will provide a basis on which the value and operation of performance-related pay arrangements in the Civil Service can be tested, and enable decisions to be taken in the light of the experience gained as to any long-term arrangements.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what would have been the gross weekly income required on 1 April to maintain the real disposable income of a single person, taking into account payment of tax, national insurance and 5 per cent. of earnings as superannuation contributions who on 1 April 1969 earned (a) £25, (b) £30, (c) £35, (d) £40, (e) £45, (f) £50, (g) £60, (h)£70, (i)£80, (j) £90, (k) £100, (l) £125, (m) £150, (n) £175, (o) £200, (p) £225 and (q) £250 per week;(2) what would have been the gross weekly income required on 1 April to maintain the real disposable income of a married man with two children under 11 years of age, taking into account payment of tax, national insurance and 5 per cent. of earnings as superannuation contributions, and taking into account receipt of child benefit, who on 1 April 1969 earned

Information is given in the following table:

Gross weekly earnings 1969–70	Gross weekly earnings needed in1984–85 to maintain the level of real disposable income of 1969–70
£	Single man	Married man with 2 children under11 years of age
25	134	127
30	162	155
35	190	183
40	219	212
45	248	241
50	273	267
60	322	316
70	375	366
80	435	422
90	495	480
100	558	540
125	699	685
150	835	824
175	971	962
200	1,091	1,088
225	1,176	1,173
250	1,249	1,251

Average male gross earnings (all occupations) in April 1984 were about 6·5 times higher than in April 1969.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions during each of the last five years Her Majesty's Customs and Excise has collaborated with the police so as to enable a drugs courier to pass through control and proceed to a liaison with other persons; and under those circumstances how many persons have been arrested.

I regret that the information is not readily available. On numerous occasions Her Majesty's Customs and Excise have successfully collaborated with police forces both in the United Kingdom and elsewhere to follow through an attempt to smuggle drugs, so that the principals involved were arrested.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for the most convenient recent 12-month period, if he will show in table form the number of seizures by Customs and Excise officers of dangerous drugs, where possible distinguished by category and quantity, firearms, explosives and indecent and obscene articles.

Apart from small quantities of items such as fireworks, of which no central records are kept, there were no seizures of explosives for the year ended 31 March 1984. The number of seizures of controlled drugs and the quantity of firearms and indecent or obscene articles seized in that year are as follows:

Item	Number of seizures	Number of items seized
Controlled drugs	3,841
Firearms		1,140
Indecent or obscene articles		170,921

The statistics given in this answer should not be taken as an indication of customs resources devoted to controlling the various classes of goods, the large number of indecent items seized suggesting an inordinate amount of effort spent pursuing them. Each detection of indecent material generally yields several items, sometimes running into hundreds or even thousands. This is not the case with firearms, where one detection normally produces only one or two.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultations he is planning to have regarding mortgage tax relief; and if he will make a statement.

None.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement about the European Economic Community Budget Council on 29 November.

I represented the United Kingdom at this Council in Brussels.The Council met a delegation from the European Parliament led by the President of the Parliament, M. Pflimlin, to exchange views on the Parliament's proposed amendments and modifications to the draft budget for 1985. Following this, the Council considered and voted on the Parliament's proposals.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the administrative expenses of his Department he estimates to be directly or indirectly attributable to duties which must be carried out by his Department as a result of membership of the European Economic Community.

Within the Treasury the European Community group of divisions deal exclusively with Community matters. The administrative expenses of this group represented about 0·6 per cent. of the 1983–84 total. An allowance should also be made for the work of other groups concerned to a lesser extent with Community matters. This figure could not be calculated without disproportionate cost.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the companies which currently have an approved fund established under the business expansion scheme.

[Pursuant to his reply, 3 December 1984, c. 17]: The organisations which manage investment funds approved by the Inland Revenue for the purposes of the business expansion scheme are as follows:

• Aberdeen Fund Managers Ltd.
• Baronsmead Associates Ltd.
• BEF Management Ltd.
• Britannia Development Capital Ltd.
• British Linen Fund Managers Ltd.
• Buckmaster & Moore.
• Burrage & Co. Ltd.
• Capital for Companies Ltd.
• Capital Ventures Ltd.
• Castleforth Fund Managers Ltd.
• Causeway Capital Ltd.
• Charterhouse Business Expansion Fund Management Ltd.
• County Bank Ltd.
• Creative Capital Nominees Ltd.
• Criterion Fund Management Ltd.
• Electra Risk Capital PLC.
• Granville Business Expansion Finance Ltd.
• Gresham Trust PLC.
• Guiness Mahon & Co. Ltd.
• Hoare Octagon Ltd.
• Hodgson Martin Ventures Ltd.
• Industrial Technology Securities Ltd.
• Lazard Development Capital Ltd.
• Mathercourt Fund Management Ltd.
• Minster Trust Ltd.
• Northern Ireland Venture Capital Management Ltd.
• Oak Venture Management Ltd.
• Parsons Fund Management Ltd.
• Quester Capital Management Ltd.
• Ravendale Business Expansion Management Ltd.
• Sabrelance Ltd.
• Singer & Friedlander Ltd.
• Solent Business Fund Management Ltd.
• South Cumbria & North Lancashire Fund Management Ltd.
• Stewart Business Management Ltd.
• S. G. Warburg & Co. Ltd.
• Wellington Fund Managers Ltd.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to direct more of Britain's African aid programme towards increasing domestic food production.

We shall continue to help agriculture and food production, and are well aware of its importance, particularly in Africa. Much of our programme aid and technical co-operation, as well as our project aid, is already directed to this end. But it is important that these should reinforce sensible agricultural policies on the part of the recipient Governments.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will make it its policy to support the use of the $200 million pledged to the International Development Association supplementary fund to support the World Bank's programme for action on Africa and the international fund for agricultural development.

There are many competing claims on the aid programme. We are discussing with the World Bank the best way to take forward its proposals on sub-Saharan Africa. If agreement is reached on a replenishment for the international fund for agricultural development, the Government would contribute on a basis to be decided following the usual consultation among donors.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek reforms of the European Economic Community food aid procedures.

We have been urging reform for some time and much progress has been made. The European Council approved a food aid management regulation in December 1982 which we have used to press for earlier decisions in the Council on total quantities to be made available. We hope agreement will be reached this month on the 1985 programme, whereas the 1984 programme was only settled in May this year. The normal procedures for purchase and shipment of food aid after allocations have been agreed are complex, but there are more rapid emergency procedures, the use of which we have strongly supported in appropriate cases.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of the administrative expenses of his Department he estimates to be directly or indirectly attributable to duties which must be carried out by his Department as a result of membership of the European Economic Community.

The work undertaken by my departments which is directly or indirectly attributable to duties which must be carried out as a result of membership of the EC cannot easily be distinguished from other work. Many programmes contain both EC and non-EC elements; not all activities carried out in connection with membership of the EC are obligatory; and some programmes now forming part of our Community obligations were previously operated under national arrangements. Although, therefore, it is not possible to give the precise cost of administering duties arising from membership of the EC, it is estimated that between one quarter and one third of the running costs of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in 1983–84 was attributable to EC membership. The running costs of the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce are wholly attributable to EC work.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average percentage trend in wholesale milk deliveries between 1981 and 1983 in the United Kingdom; and what was the percentage trend in wholesale deliveries between 1981 and 1983 in each of the nine regions of the United Kingdom.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 November 1984, c. 136]: The following additional information requested on the percentage trend in wholesale deliveries between 1981 and 1983 is now available:

	Percentage increases
1. The area to which the Scottish Milk Marketing Scheme 1933 applies, other than Region 2 below	5·2
2. The islands of Arran, Bute, Coll, Gigha, Great Cumbrae, and Kintyre South of Tarbert	14·4
3. The area to which the Aberdeen and District Milk Marketing Scheme 1933 applies	11·7
4. The area to which the North of Scotland Milk Marketing Scheme 1933 applies, other than the Islands of Orkney	8·31
5. The Islands of Orkney*	19·4
6. The Islands of Shetland*	26·8
* The islands of Shetland and Orkney take up only 0·15 per cent. and 1·14 per cent. respectively of total Scottish quota.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he intends to decontrol milk prices; and if he will make a statement.

I have held discussions with the Milk Marketing Board for England and Wales, the Dairy Trade Federation and the National Farmers Union with a view to improving the competitive position within the milk industry. In the light of those discussions, and of separate discussions which have taken place in Northern Ireland my right hon. Friends and I have decided that statutory price control of milk in England, Wales and Northern Ireland should end on 31 December 1984, a year earlier than the target date which I announced in my reply of 3 February to my hon. Friend the Member for Amber Valley. In addition my right hon. Friend and I propose to appoint management consultants to advise us on an examination of the commercial activities of the Board having regard to paragraph 53(4) of the Milk Marketing Scheme. The Dairy Trade Federation and the Milk Marketing Board for England and Wales have indicated that they are content with these moves. They have reached an understanding on improved procedures for the period after decontrol which will help the industry to resolve disputes without having to invoke statutory procedures. In addition the Milk Marketing Board for England and Wales has agreed with the National Farmers Union and the Farmers Union of Wales arrangements for consultation on matters affecting producer interests.I believe that the measures represent a major improvement in our milk marketing arrangements. I am placing in the Library of the House terms of reference of the proposed study, the text of the understanding reached with the Board and the Federation and the text of a letter from the Chairman of the Board to the President of the National Farmers Union.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the instructions given to the United Kingdom delegation to the first committee of the United Nations General Assembly with regard to the three resolutions calling for a comprehensive test ban treaty.

We remain ready to support at the United Nations resolutions which recognise that international agreement on nuclear testing constraints can only emerge from the resolution of outstanding problems of verification. We will not support resolutions which ignore this important factor. Our voting record at the first committee this year reflects the above position, including our support for further work at the Geneva conference on disarmament.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations between the United Kingdom Government and the Governments of countries in the Saharan region.

We enjoy diplomatic relations with all the countries of the Saharan region, with the sole exception of the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. In some cases, diplomatic representation is on a non-residential basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether he will make a statement on the efforts of the multi-party conference of the internal political parties in Namibia to organise a peace conference and in particular the multiparty conference statement of 30 October which calls for such a conference and for the South West Africa Peoples' Organisation's response to be awaited until December;(2) whether the Government support the efforts of the multi-party conference of Namibia's internal political parties in their moves to negotiate for peaceful independence of Namibia at the earliest possible date; and if he will make a statement;(3) what steps Her Majesty's Government have taken in response to the call by the multi-party conference of internal parties in Namibia to the South West Africa Peoples' Organisation to end all hostilities before 31 December 1984 in order to establish the conditions essential for a peace conference; and will he make a statement;(4) what steps the Government are taking to support the efforts of the multi-party conference in Namibia to bring greater representation to the people of Namibia with or without the South West Africa Peoples' Organisation.

We support all moves which bring an internationally recognised independence for Namibia closer. We remain committed to the early implementation of the United Nations plan for Namibia, which is the internationally agreed basis for such a settlement. We believe that current negotiations led by the United States offer the best hope of achieving this.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what specific representations the Government have made to the South West Africa Peoples' Organisation in the last six months to end its campaign of political violence in northern Namibia;(2) what representations the contact groups have made to the South West Africa Peoples' Organisation about its campaign of violence being an obstacle to Namibian independence.

We have consistently condemned violence in Namibia whether by the South African armed forces or by SWAPO. Violence can do nothing to assist the process of achieving a Namibia settlement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what verification measures the British delegation to the United Nations conference of the Committee on Disarmament in Geneva plans to propose to seek to facilitate a limited chemical weapons ban treaty.

Following our earlier verification proposals, the United Kingdom is considering tabling a further working paper next year on how to verify that certain civil chemicals are not diverted into illicit military stockpiles. As I made clear in my reply to the hon. Member on 29 October at column 815, we seek a comprehensive chemical weapons ban. A limited or regional ban would not be an adequate substitution.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of the administrative expenses of his Department he estimates to be directly or indirectly attributable to duties which must be carried out by his Department as a result of membership of the European Economic Community.

In 1983–84, 1·06 per cent. (£3,947,703) of the running costs of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, including the Overseas Development Administration, was attributable to duties which must be carried out as a result of membership of the European Economic Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications for commercial relationships between the United Kingdom and other countries of the increases made by the Government in fees for overseas students; and if he will make a statement.

When the Government made the decision in 1979 to charge full cost fees for overseas students, we took into account all the relevant political and commercial factors against the background of using the limited resources for overseas students to maximum effect in the national interest. We later came to the conclusion that we should limit the damage to our commercial interests by replacing the indiscriminate subsidy with targeted support to overseas students. This included, besides specific country schemes, the creation of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's scholarships and awards scheme, the criteria of which include business-and-trade-related objectives, in addition to giving awards to particularly able students from countries with whom the United Kingdom's economic relations are expected to develop. Within the resources available, we believe our policy best serves our political and commercial interests.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and commonwealth Affairs how many of the 6,000 British Dependent Territories citizens whom he believes the Chinese Government may not consider to be Chinese compatriots under the draft agreement with the Chinese Government acquired their present citizenship by birth in (a) Hong Kong and (b) elsewhere in the Dependent Territories; and how many acquired citizenship by descent and by naturalisation, respectively.

The Hong Kong Government estimate that approximately 4,000 of the British Dependent Territories citizens to whom my hon. Friend refers acquired their present citizenship by birth in Hong Kong, none by birth in other dependent territories and approximately 180 by naturalisation. The figure for those who have obtained their citizenship by descent is unobtainable.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his estimate of the total numbers of British Dependent Territories citizens presently resident in Hong Kong; how many of these possess no other citizenship or nationality; and how many are entitled to the right of abode in Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong Government estimate that there are about 3 million BDTCs resident in Hong Kong. The Chinese Government probably regard all but about 6,000 of these to be Chinese nationals as defined in the Chinese memorandum. In the time available, it is not possible to estimate how many of this latter figure have no other citizenship or nationality. All 3 million BDTCs have the right of abode in Hong Kong.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if he will meet the Scottish Law Commission.

I have no meetings with the Scottish Law Commission arranged at present but both formal and informal meetings are held from time to time. My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate recently met the commission and discussed various matters of law reform including the implementation of commission reports. I am glad to say that in three Bills during the present Session we hope to implement a total of six reports.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if he will consult the procurator fiscal at Peterhead sheriff court with a view to reducing the period taken to bring prisoners from Peterhead prison for trial for assaults upon prison officers.

I intend to consult the procurator fiscal at Peterhead and I will be writing to my hon. Friend.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland what discussions he has had with sheriffs' courts on cases involving miners.

I have not had any such discussions.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland how many prosecutions in Fife and Scotland have been or are being pursued relating to violence and other offences and crimes, arising out of the current industrial dispute in the coal industry; and if he will make a statement.

As at 28 November 1984, 200 persons have been prosecuted in Fife for offences arising out of the mining dispute. The comparable figure for Scotland as a whole is approximately 800. The majority of accused have been charges with breach of the peace or obstruction of the police in the execution of their duty. However, there is also a small but nevertheless disturbing number of persons who have been charged with assault. There is an underlying element of violence and intimidation in many of those cases where the charge is that of breach of the peace or obstruction.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if he will make a statement on the recent advice he has given in relation to the operation of legal aid to the court systems in Scotland.

I have not given any recent advice in relation to the operation of legal aid to the court systems in Scotland. This is not a matter on which my noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate and I give advice to the courts.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland when he next intends to meet the president of the Law Society of Scotland.

I have no such meetings arranged at present. However, my noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate and I meet the president of the Law Society of Scotland from time to time to discuss matters of mutual interest.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland how many cases involving drugs have been and are under investigation in the current year in Lothian region and in Scotland; which age groups are involved; how many prosecutions have been brought; how many convictions there have been; whether this represents an increase on the figures for 1982–83 and for 1983–84; what steps he is taking to deal with this problem; and if he will make a statement.

The detailed information sought by my hon. Friend is not readily available. I shall write to him with any such information as can be obtained. Crown Office figures set out in the table below for drugs cases in the High Court of Justiciary in the current year and 1983 indicate a substantial increase in the number of serious cases involving drugs in the current year, both in Lothian and in Scotland generally.My Department's responsibility lies in the prosecution of drugs cases, not their investigation. To ensure the most effective prosecution of serious drugs cases I held a meeting on 8 October 1984 with Crown counsel and senior officers responsible for drugs cases from the Crown Office, procurator fiscal service, all the Scottish police forces, Customs and Excise and forensic Science laboratories, at which practical aspects of the preparation and prosecution of these cases were discussed. The meeting was very useful and I am confident that the already high conviction rate in such cases shown in the table will be maintained.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland what advice his Department gives to procurators fiscal with regard to deciding between prosecutions or warnings in matters involving members of councils and members of crime prevention panels.

No advice is given on these specific points.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many trained nurses from the Republic of Ireland are presently employed in Northern Ireland hospitals.

The information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many student nurses have just completed their training at the Royal Victoria hospital; and how many will be offered positions as nurses in that hospital.

41 student nurses will complete their training on 21 December 1984 and none has been offered a post at the hospital to date.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many student nurses have recently completed their training at Ards hospital; and how many nursing posts at this hospital will be available to them.

13 nurses recently completed their training, four have taken up permanent nurse posts and three have obtained temporary nurse posts in the hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many student nurses from the Republic of Ireland are presently being trained within Northern Ireland.

Sixty-three.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the revised closing date for the collection of the first super levy instalments for milk production in Northern Ireland.

The date set by the Commission for all members states is 14 December 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what date he will announce the ward groupings for the proposed local government elections next year.

I have today laid before Parliament the report of the District Electoral Areas Commissioner, Sir Frank Harrison, MBE, QC, DL, which contains his recommendations for the grouping of wards into district electoral areas for the purposes of local government elections in Northern Ireland. I shall shortly be bringing forward for approval a draft Order-in-Council under section 38(1)(a) of the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 giving effect, with or without modifications, to the Commissioner's recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what:is the estimated cost of the Blackwater drainage scheme; how this cost is to be divided between Her Majesty's Government, the Government of the Republic of Ireland and the European Community; how many jobs the scheme will provide; when it is to be completed; and what inquiry has been held into the opinions of local farmers and others concerned.

The total estimated cost of the Blackwater drainage scheme is £29 million, of which Her Majesty's Government will meet £16 million and the Republic of Ireland £13 million. The European Community is contributing approximately £5 million in grant-aid which is to be shared between both Governments. It is not possible to assess with precision the effect on employment since the majority of the work will be carried out by contractors. However it is considered that up to 250 jobs could be provided during the five-year construction period which will end in 1989–90.In accordance with statutory requirements the scheme was published in regional and local newspapers and exhibited at local council offices. There was also consultation with local farmers, district councils and with angling and conservation interests.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many registered blind people have been employed in his Department for each of the last four years.

The number of registered blind people employed over the last four years in the Departments for which the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is responsible.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of the administrative expenses of his Department he estimates to be directly or indirectly attributable to duties which must be carried out by his Department as a result of membership of the European Economic Community.

The proportion of the running costs of the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments directly or indirectly attributable to duties which must be carried out as a result of membership of the European Economic Community is not known and cannot be estimated without disproportionate cost.

asked the Prime Minister whether Her Majesty's Government have any plans for the official celebration on 22 June 1985 of the European Day of Music.

The arrangements for European Music Year are in the hands of the United Kingdom organising committee, chaired by His Royal Highness Duke of Kent. The date of 22 June is intended particularly as a day to celebrate amateur music-making, and musicians and schools are being encouraged to take part accordingly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has plans to introduce legislation to give parents in Scotland the right to withdraw their children from corporal punishment in schools; and if he will make a statement.

As announced in the Gracious Speech, a Bill will be brought forward later in this Session to enable parents of children educated at public expense to exempt their children from corporal punishment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce measures to restore the duty on the local authorities to provide nursery education as previously stated in the Education (Scotland) Act 1962.

No, Sir. The duty prescribed in the 1962 Act was defined in only the broadest terms. It left education authorities very wide discretion in practice; and I see nothing to be gained by reverting to it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to change the method by which appointments are made to crime prevention panels.

No. I think that these appointments are best left to local decision by chief constables.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what response he has had to his recent circular on National Health Service privatisation.

The majority of health boards are complying directly with the request to test the cost-effectiveness of their catering, laundry and domestic services. Others are taking steps to improve the efficiency of such services. However, competitive tendering is the ultimate test of efficiency and I expect all boards to apply it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will next meet the chairmen of the health boards in Scotland to discuss his privatisation proposals.

I discussed competitive tendering with them at our regular meeting on 13 November. I expect to meet them again on 12 March 1985.