asked the Secretary of State for Wales what recent changes have been made to the plans for the tunnel under the river Conwy; and if he will make a statement.

Foundation and ground water problems in the Conwy estuary have necessitated, respectively, a 60 m extension of the tunnel on the east side and the adoption of a different form of construction on the western approach to the tunnel.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report the financial target for the Welsh water authority for 1985–86.

The financial target for the Welsh water authority for 1985–86 has yet to be finally agreed. Our officials are considering with the authority the proposals set out in its October submission and we expect to be able to announce the target shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the request by Scottish teachers for an independent review of their salaries.

I have today written to the secretary of the teachers' side of the Scottish Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff in School Education in the following terms:

• Robert Beattie Esq
• Joint Secretary
• Teachers' Side
• Scottish Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff in School Education
• 46 Moray Place
• EDINBURGH

EH3 6BH

11 December 1984

Dear Mr BeattieTEACHERS' SALARIESYou wrote to me on 14 August on behalf of the Teachers' Panel of the Scottish Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff in School Education (SJNC(SE)) to request that I establish an independent body to review the salaries of Scottish school teacher. Your letters referred only briefly to increased workload arising from recent educational developments and to annual erosion of the relative salary position of Scottish teachers; but at my invitation representatives of the Teachers' Side of the SJNC(SE) met me on 23 October to amplify their case, and I have seen also various documents published by individual teachers' associations. I have had the opportunity too of discussion with representatives of the Management Side of the SJNC(SE), and I have very recently seen an advance copy of a report prepared by a working party of the SJNC(SE) on the matter of teachers' workload. I have received also a number of representations in the matter from other organisations and individuals.I have taken careful note of all the points made. It appears to me that the case being advanced by the Teachers' Side depends essentially upon the claims (i) that the salaries of teachers have been eroded in recent years and (ii) that teachers have over the same period experienced considerable increases in workload. On pay, it is of course no part of the Government's policy that salary increases should be indexed either to the rate of inflation or to some measurement of pay increases in the economy generally. Such an approach would be inconsistent both with the determination of the Government to defeat inflation and with our general policy of seeking to limit local authority expenditure. However, pay awards to teachers over the last 10 years or so have in fact been very closely comparable with those made to other groups of local authority employees in Scotland.It has been put to me that teachers nevertheless constitute a special case, in that they have experienced substantial additions to their workload in recent years. It must, however, be borne in mind that teachers are by no means alone in having had to come to terms with new technologies and new methods of working. I recognise that new curricular developments have involved individual teachers in increased work; but I do not regard this as a permanent phenomenom and it certainly does not affect all teachers at one time. It should be remembered also that I have already made provision in rate support grant settlements for the employment of additional teachers in secondary schools and that I have agreed to a shortening of the school year in order to facilitate additional days of in-service training for teachers.In the circumstances, therefore, I am not persuaded that I should be justified in establishing an independent review of the sort requested. There is, however, another possible way to handle this. Under statute it is of course the responsibility of SJNC(SE) to determine the salaries and conditions of service of school teachers in Scotland. I should be prepared to consider or, their merits and in the framework of the Government's existing public expenditure plans for Scotland as a whole any proposals relating to pay and conditions of service together which might result from detailed examination undertaken by the SJNC(SE). I should make it plain however that, to be convincing, a review of conditions of service would have to deal specifically with areas where existing arrangements appear not to be in keeping with present-day requirements — including the definition and prescription of teachers' responsibilities in the planning; of personal teaching methods and programmes, together with the teaching, discipline and assessment of pupils and participation in schemes of personal professional development; participation in pastoral, tutorial and guidance arrangements; lunchtime and playground supervision of pupils and consultations with parents, including attendance at parents' meetings; and control by employers of time within conditioned hours when teachers are not in class contact.I fully appreciate the strong feelings of many teachers at the present time and I want to find a constructive way of responding to them. I hope that my reply will now enable us to move ahead with the exciting and progressive new developments in teaching on which we and the profession have embarked.I am sending a copy of this letter to the Management Side Joint Secretary of the SJNC(SE). I am also making its terms public by means of a Parliamentary statement and a press announcement.Yours sincerelyGeorge Younger

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what services for homeless young people are currently being funded by his Department under (a) section 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act, (b) section 13 of the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act and (c) the urban aid programme.

The information for 1984–85 is as follows:

	£
(a) Grants are provided jointly under section 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 and section 13 of the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977 towards the administrative costs of the following organisations:
Scottish Council for Single Homeless	31,750
Scottish Women's Aid	27,280
(b) Grant is provided under section 13 of the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977 towards the following project:
Shelter (Scotland) Young People's Housing Project	12,925

	Approved capital £	Approved current £
(c) Urban programme funding is supporting the following projects for young homeless people:
Funding of Director for Edinburgh Council for Single Homeless Project	—	23,420
Independent Community Homes for Young People (Glasgow)	31,400	64,673
Short Stay Refuge for Adolescents(Monklands)	11,243	87,211
Adolescent Hostel (Inverclyde)	—	27,097
Elpis Centre (for girls) (Glasgow)	—	29,200

In addition, the following urban programme projects provide for both young and adult homeless:

	Approved capital £	Approved current £
Reception/Short Stay unit for single homeless (Aberdeen)	—	37,317
Upgrading of Peoples Palace (Edinburgh)	—	35,430
Women's Aid—second tier (Glasgow)	4,444	3,745
Redidential/Day care project for long term homeless women	975	85,788
Rehousing hostel/lodging house(Glasgow)	—	47,149
Lodging/alcoholic counselling houses(Glasgow)	—	15,311
Steps to Independence (Paisley)—	40,900
Single homeless and alcoholic unit(Glasgow)	—	44,806

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the rank order of Scottish travel-to-work areas by unemployment rate at the latest date; and what were the corresponding figures for May 1979.

The information requested is available in the House of Commons Library. However, the figures are not directly comparable due to the introduction of the claimant based count in October 1982 and the redefinition of the travel-to-work areas in September 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the value of housing support grant made available to Dundee district council in each year since 1980–81; and what are these figures expressed at constant prices.

The information is given in the following table:

		At 1983–84 average prices*
	£	£
1980–81	8,598,809	10,531,303
1981–82	5,285,879	5,886,280
1982–83	1,820,168	1,900,562
1983–84	—	—
1984–85	—	—
* Using GDP deflators.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the expenditure on services in Dundee district in each year since 1980–81 at constant prices; and what are these figures expressed per head of population.

Figures for total expenditure and expenditure per head of population by Dundee district council, excluding loan charges, on services relevant for rate support grant since 1980–81 are as follows. Figures have been expressed at November 1983 prices.

	Total Expenditure (£ million)	Expenditure per head (£)
1980–81	12,860	68·14
1981–82	12,547	67·60
1982–83	11,627	63·42
1983–84	11,552	63·91
1984–85	*12,598	69·70
* Budget Estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report figures showing the percentage of homes in Scotland that have a loft or have access to a loft, but which have no loft insulation, or which have loft insulation less than the 100 mm minimum included in all new properties; and if he will break the figures down into owner-occupied, local authority and other tenures.

Estimates are available of loft insulation in dwellings in Scotland with access to the loft and are given in the following table:

	All Homes per cent.	Council Homes per cent.
Proportion of households with access to loft:—
a. Without loft insulation or not known	25	25
b. With loft insulation less than 100 mm thick	58	62
c. With loft insulation 100 mm or thicker	17	13

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total figure of free school meal receipts for Scotland, and for Lothian as a region.

The number of pupils receiving free school meals on the day of the 1984 school meals census, held in January, is as follows:

	Number
Scotland	129,335
Lothian	12,413

asked the Prime Minister if the board of inquiry into the circumstances of the disappearance of the log book from HMS Conqueror has yet reported; and if she will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence made a statement on this matter on 30 November.

asked the Prime Minister whether she is satisfied with the co-ordination of the Scottish Office, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office over the review of regional aid.

Yes. Full account has been taken of all European Community considerations.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement about student grants and the representations she has received on student grants.

I refer the hon. Member to the statement on the 1985–86 grant proposals made on 5 December 1984 at column 360–61 by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science. I have received about 30,000 representations on the proposals.

asked the Prime Minister if she will give the last three occasions for the period ended 26 November when she travelled on official business by British Rail.

There have been no such occasions.

asked the Prime Minister whether, following the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affair's visit to Israel, invitations have now been formally extended to Mr. Shimon Peres and Mr. Yitzhak Shamir to make official visits to the United Kingdom in 1985; and whether any dates have yet been fixed.

During the visit to Israel of my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary, Mr. Shamir and Mr. Peres accepted invitations to make official visits to Britain. No dates have yet been arranged.

asked the Prime Minister what specific changes in the common agricultural policy Her Majesty's Government intend to propose during the next three years.

We shall continue to press the need for sustained price restraint as the best means of containing CAP costs and bringing about a better balance between supply and demand. We shall press for the effective application of the financial guideline for agriculture. At the same time we are determined to ensure that the measures taken should not discriminate against United Kingdom interests.

asked the Prime Minister if she has any plans to visit Pwllheli.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister what assessment Her Majesty's Government have made of the relative effects of marginal changes in (a) income tax thresholds and (b) the employers' national insurance contribution upon job creation.

Any quantitative assessment would depend upon assumptions about other developments in the economy. But to the extent that income tax thresholds could be raised or employers' national insurance contributions reduced within the context of the medium term financial strategy, both could be expected to have a beneficial effect on job creation.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 11 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 11 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 11 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 11 December.

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I hope to have an audience of Her Majesty the Queen.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make it the policy of Her Majesty's Government to increase the funds they provide for famine relief in Ethiopia by a sum equivalent to the estimated value added tax revenue received from sales of the record recently released by Band Aid in support of the famine victims; and if she will make a statement.

I welcome the initiative shown by those involved in the production of this record. I believe, however, that the Government have already responded quickly and effectively to the famine in Ethiopia.In addition to the £15 million of aid given to Ethiopia over the past two years, £11·4 million is being given for famine relief. Moreover, the Overseas Development Administration has made it clear that it will continue to respond sympathetically to appeals for the drought-stricken countries, including Ethiopia.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the use of dogs by the Metropolitan Police on the streets of central London is increasing.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that police dogs and their handlers have been added to street patrols to provide increased public protection over the Christmas period.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement concerning the planned use of the Lion Intoximeter 3000 breathalyser machine during the Christmas holiday period.

The Lion Intoximeter and the Camic breath analyser testing machines will be in use in police stations during the Christmas holiday period on the same basis as at other times of year. The non-statutory blood/ urine option introduced on 16 April will continue to be available over the period.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for citizenship were under consideration at the end of November; and how this compares with figures in each of the past five years.

The number of applications for citizenship under consideration at the end of November 1984 and in the five preceding years was:—

	Number
1979	45,651
1980	53,579
1981	66,208
1982	65,541
1983	77,844
1984	36,707

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there has been any change in the Government's policy towards the interception of the communications of Members of Parliament.

No. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister reaffirmed in a written answer on 6 February 1980 at column 244 the policy remains as stated in 1966 by the then Prime Minister, the Lord Wilson of Rievaulx at column 634–41, and as applied by successive Governments since then. In answers to Questions on 17 November 1966, Lord Wilson said that he had given instructions that there was to be no tapping of the telephones of Members of Parliament; that remained the policy of the Government, and that, if there was a development which required a change in the general policy, he would, at such moment as seemed compatible with the security of the country, on his own initiative make a statement in the House about it. The Government regard this undertaking as applying to both postal and telephone interception.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has made the 1985–86 transport supplementary grant settlement; and if he will make a statement.

The 1985–86 transport supplementary grant settlement is set out in the "Rate Support Grant Report (England) 1985/86" which is made to the House today.This transport supplementary grant settlement is the first to be made under the new arrangements which I announced on 16 October in circular 3/84. These were approved by Parliament on 27 November. Only capital expenditure on highways and the regulations of traffic is now eligible for TSG.I have decided to accept the TSG a total of £320 million. The total amount of grant will be £160 million, to be paid at a rate of 50 per cent. on all accepted expenditure.In considering the highways capital programmes of the GLC and the county councils in the transport policies and programmes which they submitted to the Department in the summer I have taken into account the extent to which their estimated expenditure on major road schemes related to roads of more than local importance. In particular I considered the extent to which the expenditure would improve the primary route network of important through routes, would improve major urban roads which carry heavy long-distance traffic, or would relieve communities of the effects of heavy through traffic. For this settlement, however, I have also continued to accept expenditure on highways schemes which were named as future commitments in previous years and which have already started, as in paragraph 10 of circular 3/84, even where they do not meet these criteria. The amount of estimated expenditure for each council is shown in annex P to the rate support grant report. Councils are being informed individually today of their own figures.These accepted capital programmes include 289 major road schemes, 214 already in progress or due to start in 1984–85 and a further 75 due to start in 1985–86. Of these schemes 169 are bypasses or relief roads and a further 76 are other improvements to the primary route network.The amount of expenditure accepted for TSG is not intended to cover the whole of each council's capital highways programme. With the resources available to them, councils should be able to carry out additional works to improve their roads.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what were the numbers of inspections of United Kingdom registered vessels by the Department's inspectorate for each of the years since 1978; what were the numbers of prosecutions for statutory infringements of occupational health and safety regulations that followed; what was the nature of the infringements for which prosecutions were mounted; what penalties were imposed; and if he will make a statement.

The numbers of inspections of United Kingdom registered merchant vessels are as follows:

	Number
1978	729
1979	580
1980	993
1981	1,020
1982	744
1983	543
1984*	532
*To 5th December.

Five prosecutions connected directly with occupational health and safety legislation have been brought under the Means of Access Regulations 1981. Two cases are yet to be concluded; in the other three cases fines of £100 and £1,600 were imposed.In addition, many warnings have been given leading to appropriate improvements short of requiring prosecution. Statistics on these are not available other than at disproportionate costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport which section of his Department is responsible for the occupational health and safety of seafarers; what is the total staff of that section; and what were the comparable figures in each of the financial years since 1978–79.

The responsibility for enforcement lies with marine surveyors attached to the eight district marine offices, in each of which a principal marine surveyor is nominated with responsibility for occupational health and safety matters.Responsibility for the occupational health and safety of seafarers is co-ordinated within my Department by a section which was staffed by three officers between 1978 and 1982; since then their numbers have been increased by one. A number of other sections regularly provide particular expertise and professional advice.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what training is given to his Department's inspectors responsible for carrying out the Departmental duties in respect of occupational health and safety matters of seafarers; and if he will make a statement.

My Department's marine surveyors are responsible For dealing with the safety of seafarers and ships in general, and matters connected with the occupational health and safety of seafarers are an important aspect of their responsibilities. Most of them have served at sea and have first-hand knowledge of these matters. They join the Marine Survey Service highly qualified and the training they receive is therefore broadly based, but it does cover their duties in respect of occupational health and safety matters of seafarers.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to institute a driving test centre in Basildon.

None at present, but I shall be writing to my hon. Friend in answer to his recent letter on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the incidence of accidents caused by wheel nut loosening on trucks.

The number of reports of wheel detachment that we have received over the last few years is as follows:

	Number
1980	6
1981	11
1982	21
1983	10

The 10 detachment incidents reported in 1983 caused four accidents and one injury.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Brazilian Government for the provision of landing facilities for civil aircraft servicing the Falkland Islands.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the number of movements per annum at United Kingdom ports by merchant trading vessels over 500 gross registered tonnes in the following categories; and whether these are United Kingdom or non-United Kingdom flag: (a) ferries, (b) coastal shipping, (c) one-port traffic, namely, offshore supplies and (d) international, non-ferry.

Information on ship movements in the detail requested is not collected centrally. In 1983, arrivals in the United Kingdom of all shipping, excluding yachts, from foreign ports (outside the Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands and Isle of Man) numbered 41,000 for United Kingdom registered ships and 54,000 for non-United Kingdom registered ships.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many people were successfully prosecuted in respect of accidents classified as hit and run in 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983.

I have been asked to reply.The readily available information relates to the number of findings of guilt at magistrates' courts for the offences of failing to stop after an accident and of failing to report an accident within 24 hours and is published annually in "Offences Relating to Motor Vehicles, England and Wales, Supplementary Tables" (table 5 of the issue for 1983). A copy of this publication is in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much of the 5 per cent. increase in electricity bills referred to on page 24 of the Government's reply to the fourth report from the Environment Committee (Cmnd. 9397) he expects to be incurred in the first year and each of the subsequent years by consumers, as a percentage of their electricity bill, if the Government were to meet the European Economic Community draft directive on sulphur dioxide pollution which proposes a 60 per cent. reduction by 1995.

The detailed figures are a matter for the Central Electricty Generating Board and I am asking the chairman to write to the right hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will in future when supplying statements of service to former Army personnel refrain from entering service in Northern Ireland under service in foreign countries.

No such change of practice is needed, since service in Northern Ireland should not appear in the statements of Army service provided by my Department under the heading of service in foreign countries. My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces is writing to the right hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated cost to his Department of assistance given to the police in connection with the miners' strike.

We continue to anticipate no cost to the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will advise service men not to become involved in the miners' dispute while off duty.

I do not believe that there is any necessity for general advice to be issued at the present time.There has, to our knowledge, been only one case of a service man becoming involved in this dispute whilst off duty, which was the one referred to in the answer that my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Home Office gave to my hon. Friend on 16 November.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration is being given by Her Majesty's Government to battle plans involving dual-capable missiles and aircraft.

Dual capable weapons systems have been an integral part of both NATO and Warsaw pact forces for many years.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will meet trade union representatives to discuss redundancies at royal ordnance factories.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence and I met representatives of the industrial and non-industrial trades unions on 1 November, and we have subsequently corresponded with them on the question of the reductions in the royal ordnance factories. If the trades unions have further points to raise, I have no doubt that a further meeting could be arranged.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with trade union representatives of the royal ordnance factories concerning redundancies.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence and I met representatives of the industrial and non-industrial trades unions on 1 November.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement concerning ammunition manufacture at royal ordnance factories.

The ammunition division of the royal ordnance factories comprises the factories at Birtley, Blackburn, Chorley, Glascoed and Patricroft together with the agency factory at Featherstone; in addition small arms ammunition is manufactured at Radway Green in the small arms division. These factories produce a range of high quality munitions and the Government wish to see them successful in their new commercial environment. However, the current order position has necessitated the declaration of redundancies at certain of these factories although the extent of these has been reduced by the recent placing of further orders by the Ministry of Defence.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if the communiqué issued after each North Atlantic Treaty Organisation ministerial meeting refers only to agenda items which do not carry security classifications.

No, but it is the usual practice in NATO to provide communiqués in an unclassified form about discussions which are classified themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will, in future, make a statement to the House prior to North Atlantic Treaty Organisation ministerial meetings.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will in future make a statement to the House prior to North Atlantic Treaty Organisation ministerial meetings.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will, in future make a statement to the House prior to North Atlantic Treaty Organisation ministerial meetings.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he attended the December meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation defence ministers; and if he will make a statement outlining the main decisions reached.

I met other NATO Defence Ministers in Brussels between 3 and 5 December. We had valuable discussions on a wide range of subjects. Details are set out in the communiqués of the Eurogroup and of the defence planning committee. I have arranged for copies to be placed in the House of Commons Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the detention centres used by the British Army; and what is the present number of service men being held at such centres.

Sentences of military detention are served either at the military corrective training centre, Colchester or in Army unit guardrooms, depending on the length of the sentence. The position on 30 November was that 109 Army personnel were in detention in the military corrective training centre and 131 in unit guardrooms.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of service men at present being held in custody at Tidworth Army depot, and the period of time men have been held there without being charged with an offence.

The position on 30 November 1984 was that two soldiers were being held at Tidworth garrison, both of whom were charged within 48 hours of being placed in arrest.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the number of (a) service men and (b) service women at present being held in custody by the British Army in the United Kingdom.

The position on 30 November 1984 was that 46 service men and no service women were being held in custody (as distinct from detention) in Army unit guardrooms in the United Kingdom while under investigation or awaiting trial or confirmation of sentence.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the period of time a member of the British Army can be held in custody by the Army before being charged with an offence.

Army personnel would normally be informed by their commanding officer of the charge on which they are being held by no later than 48 hours from the time of being taken into custody. If in exceptional circumstances they cannot be informed within 48 hours, a report has to be submitted to the superior military authority explaining the delay.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the rights of service men to consult solicitors if they are being held in detention by the British Army.

A service man being held in custody by the Army has the following rights of consultation with a solicitor.

(a) he may name a solicitor as the person he wishes to be informed by the Army of his arrest and the place where he is being held.

(b) provided that the investigation or prevention of crime, the apprehension of offenders or military operations, safety and security would not be unreasonably hindered, he may Telephone a solicitor at his own expense or receive telephone calls from him at reasonable times.

(c) with the commanding officer's permission he may be visited by a solicitor.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish a breakdown of the cost to his Department in the last financial year of the provision of presentations comprising information films, lectures and exhibitions to selected groups and to the public in general.

Ministers, service officers and officials regularly give public presentations and lectures on a wide range of defence issues. It is not possible to assess the cost of such presentations without disproportionate effort. In 1983–84 the cost of service recruiting and public relations films and exhibitions amounted to about £2·5 million. The cost of the RN and RAF presentation teams amounted to about £0·5 million, including manpower costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the annual cost of his Department's information service.

The cost of defence public relations worldwide amounted to some £6·2 million in 1983–84. This figure includes expenditure on public relations activities together with staff and related costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the military equipment of the Ulster Defence Regiment, and its Reserve, listing separately firearms and the type of firearms, motor vehicles, armoured vehicles and type and number of radio, radar and electronics surveillance equipment with which the regiment is equipped today and in each year since its inception.

The information is not maintained in the foam requested. However, the current establishment of weapons and vehicles for the Ulster Defence Regiment is as follows:

	Number
·22 Rifles	222
9mm Pistol	642
9mm SMG	110
7·62mm SLR	8,409

	Number
GPMG/LMG	184
Landrovers	249
Recruiting Trailer	1
Trailers	61
4 Ton Trucks	10
Other vehicles	228

Other equipment can be issued when commitments or circumstances dictate. The radio allocation varies from week to week, dependent upon the tasks and commitments of each battalion.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the percentages of Catholics and Protestants who have served in the Ulster Defence Regiment for each year since the regiment's inception.

I refer the hon. Member to my answer to his question of 13 March this year, at column 129. The position has not changed since then. Information for earlier years is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many regular officers are currently attached to the Ulster Defence Regiment.

The figure is 34.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many regular soldiers are currently attached to the Ulster Defence Regiment.

The figure is 67.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement concerning the current morale of the Ulster Defence Regiment.

The morale of the Ulster Defence Regiment is high.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any plans to change the role of the Ulster Defence Regiment.

No. The Ulster Defence Regiment will continue to play a full part in the Army's overall effort in support of the RUC in Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Ulster Defence

Financial year	Wages/salaries £ million	Construction/buildings £ million	Equipment £ million	Support costs £million	Total £ million
1971–72	0·9	—	—	0·1	1·0
1972–73	2·3	2·5	—	0·3	5·1
1973–74	6·0	1·4	0·2	0·4	8·0
1974–75	6·4	1·4	0·6	0·3	8·7
1975–76	6·88	—	0·43	0·42	7·73
1976–77	10·63	0·21	0·31	0·58	11·73
1977–78	13·01	0·42	0·92	0·78	15·13
1978–79	15·07	0·31	0·88	0·85	17·11
1979–80	20·04	0·05	1·03	1·12	22·24
1980–81	24·77	—	1·10	1·26	27·13
1981–82	33·2	—	0·9	1·2	35·3
1982–83	33·1	—	1·10	1·7	35·9
1983–84	36·1	—	1·2	1·8	39·1

Up to 30 November, 10 soldiers have been killed, of whom two were on duty and eight were off duty, and one was full-time and nine part-time. Nine soldiers have been injured, of whom four were on duty and five were off duty, and three were full-time and six were part-time.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Ulster Defence Regiment, and its Reserve, since its inception have been found to be members of illegal paramilitary organisations or, separately, legal paramilitary organisations such as the Ulster Defence Association or the Third Force.

The information is not maintained in the form requested, but during the last five years — the only period for which information is available—there are no records of serving members of the UDR being convicted of membership of any organisation proscribed under the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current policy concerning the possession of firearms at their domiciles by members of the Ulster Defence Regiment and its Reserve.

UDR personnel who are under threat can be issued with a personal protection weapon on the authority of the commander UDR. All applications for PPWs are subject to rigorous scrutiny. If the UDR member issued with a PPW leaves Northern Ireland or is absent from home for over 24 hours the weapon has to be returned. In addition, UDR personnel may apply to the RUC for a private firearms certificate in the same way as any other resident of Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the costs of the Ulster Defence Regiment, and its Reserve, divided between wages and salaries, other personnel costs, costs of construction and buildings, investment in military equipment and other costs for each year since the regiment's inception.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement concerning current policy and practice of deployment of the Ulster Defence Regiment, and its Reserve, with particular reference to the areas and circumstances in which it is, and is not, deployed.

The UDR, both permanent cadre and part time, are deployed in support of the RUC across almost all areas of Northern Ireland, although they are not used on crowd control or riot duties in cities.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many persons have been killed by the Ulster Defence Regiment operatives on duty in Northern Ireland to date; how many of those fatalities were of civilians unconnected with terrorist organisations; and how many victims there were for whom no mandate of arrest existed.

Since the formation of the regiment, six civilians have died as a result of action by members of the UDR in the course of their duty. It is not possible to say for certain how many of these were or were not connected with terrorist organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the manpower strength

(Figures as at 31 December)
	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983
Lieutenant Colonel	3	2	1	1	3	3	4	3	2	4
Major	78	82	83	83	85	89	87	88	86	77
Captain	123	144	148	153	142	130	126	125	112	114
Lieutenant	72	101	107	89	89	97	123	113	100	96
2nd Lieutenant	124	70	59	64	86	74	44	43	32	37
Warrant Officer 1	1	2	2	1	1	2	—	—	—	—
Warrant Officer 2	113	112	114	114	132	133	134	138	139	138
Staff Sergeant	155	178	185	193	187	168	182	172	162	170
Sergeant	251	273	251	260	321	349	358	345	336	336
Corporal	753	761	733	698	787	766	744	707	692	655
Lance Corporal	867	879	870	887	924	939	916	868	829	795
Private	4,652	4,586	4,441	4,585	4,274	3,980	4,001	4,072	3,851	3,795
Female other ranks	204	603	622	684	730	695	712	676	685	712
Total	7,396	7,793	7,616	7,812	7,761	7,425	7,431	7,350	7,026	6,929

The figures for other ranks do not include females, which are shown separately.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Ulster Defence Regiment, and its Reserve, were former members of the B Specials at the time of the regiment's inception; and what is the number today.

The information is not available in the form requested, though on grounds of age alone some two thirds of those now serving in the regiment would have been too young to serve in the B Specials.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the number of operatives by rank, separately, of those who have joined the Ulster Defence Regiment and its Reserve, and of those who have resigned from the Ulster Defence Regiment, and its Reserve, in each year since its inception.

These details are given in the following table:

(figures as at 31 March).
	Part time time		Full time
	Male	Female	Male	Female	Total
1970	2,243	—	49	—	2,292
1971	3,880	—	234	—	4,114
1972	8,117	—	645	—	8,762
1973	7,444	—	833	—	8,277
1974	6,484	450	851	8	7,793
1975	5,635	592	1,414	13	7,654
1976	5,618	596	1,505	19	7,738
1977	5,332	619	1,662	31	7,644
1978	5,039	631	2,113	79	7,862
1979	4,556	598	2,346	123	7,623
1980	4,627	552	2,416	138	7,373
1981	4,159	582	2,580	158	7,479
1982	3,893	498	2,561	178	7,130
1983	3,798	544	2,601	192	7,135
1984	3,563	531	2,483	200	6,777

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the strength of the Ulster Defence Regiment, and its Reserve, by rank of serving operative for each year since the regiment's inception.

These details are given in the following table:

The information is not available in the form requested. However, figures for those who have joined the UDR and who have left the UDR, for reasons other than medical or disciplinary or on death, are as follows:

	Intake		Outflow
	Officers	Other ranks	Officers	Other ranks
1975–76	59	1,634	38	1,214
1976–77	37	1,691	36	1,191
1977–78	55	1,931	54	1,301
1978–79	64	1,731	43	1,515
1979–80	34	1,331	40	1,236
1980–81	39	1,509	38	1,105
1981–82	26	1,211	51	1,207
1982–83	26	1,488	47	1,114
1983–84	36	966	30	1,076

Figures prior to 1975 are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the average time served in the Ulster Defence Regiment, and its Reserve, by current operatives for each year since the regiment's inception for each group of (a) non-commissioned officers, (b) commissioned officers and (c) other ranks.

My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the procedure for vetting existing and new applicants for membership of the Ulster Defence Regiment, and its Reserve, to ensure that the membership of the regiment is consistent with standards of maximising its acceptability to both communities in Northern Ireland.

It is not our practice to disclose details of our procedures for vetting applicants to join the armed forces; however, I am satisfied that they provide thorough safeguards.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the number of persons who have been asked to resign from the Ulster Defence Regiment, and its Reserve, in each year since its inception, indicating those who have been charged with crimes, giving separately details of persons who resigned as a result of being charged with scheduled offences.

The information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to ensure that the number of seconded regular officers and men in the Ulster Defence Regiment is sufficient to prevent sectarian activity by members of that regiment; and if he will indicate how he measures the efficacy of such steps.

I am satisfied that the current balance between personnel from the regular Army and locally recruited personnel is the best one to ensure the effective operation of the regiment. There are no plans to change that balance, which has worked very well.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role of the Ulster Defence Regiment within Her Majesty's Government's overall policy of promoting a peaceful settlement to the troubles in Ulster.

The UDR makes an important contribution to the overall security forces effort. In many cases it has helped the RUC to bring terrorist criminals to justice, and this in turn has contributed to the Government's overall aim of promoting peace and political stability in Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the steps he is taking to ensure that the Ulster Defence Regiment enjoys the support of the majority of each sector of political opinion in Northern Ireland; and if he will indicate how he measures the efficacy of such steps in each sector.

The Government are always sensitive to the need to ensure that all elements of the security forces enjoy the support of all sections of the community. In training soldiers for the UDR the Army makes every effort to instil the highest possible standards of impartiality and politeness of their dealings with members of the public, irrespective of political or religious affiliation.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the number of members of the Ulster Defence Regiment, and its reserve, for each year since the regiment's inception, who have been charged with offences in criminal courts and who have been convicted of offences, giving details of custodial sentences imposed, and separately for charges and convictions concerning murder, attempted murder, membership of illegal organisations, conspiracy to cause explosions, withholding information concerning terrorist activity, possession of explosives, possession of explosives with intent to cause bodily harm, possession of firearms, possession of firearms with intent to cause bodily harm and other offences classified as schedule offences; and if he will specify whether those convicted have served their sentence either in any of the six counties of Northern Ireland or on mainland Britain.

The information is not available in the form requested. However, since the formation of the UDR the following numbers of serving soldiers have been convicted of offences:

• — eight with murder.
• — six with manslaughter.
• — eighty with assault.

The great majority of these offences were of a domestic nature. In addition, it is known that the following numbers of soldiers have been charged with serious offences since May 1983:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the RAF to start taking delivery of the JP 233 airfield attack weapon system; what is the total value of the contract; and when it is expected to be completed.

Deliveries of JP 233 to the RAF are planned to begin early next year and be complete by the end of 1988. The contract value cannot be stated for reasons of commercial confidentiality: contractual negotiations for fixed prices are still in progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to encourage the United States Government to purchase the JP 233 airfield attack weapon system or to arrange for its production under licence in the United States of America.

Since the United States withdrew from a joint United Kingdom-United States development programme for JP 233 in 1981, Hunting Engineering Ltd. the prime contractor, has been fully supported by the Ministry of Defence in the marketing of the JP 233 weapon system in America.It remains uncertain whether the United States air force will procure the complete JP 233 system. However, there is serious interest at the sub-system level.The MOD will continue to assist Hunting Engineering and the other United Kingdom contractors involved in the programme in the promotion of the JP 233.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps are being taken to exploit the export potential of the JP 233 airfield attack weapon system.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I have given to his earlier question as regards exploitation of the weapon in the United States. My Ministry has also given the manufacturer approval and encouragement to promote sales to a number of other countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many jobs in the United Kingdom are estimated to be involved in the production of the JP 233 airfield attack weapon system.

At peak production levels the project is expected to provide direct employment for about 4,000 people in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the planned location and function of the Northern Europe tracking station which the United States air force plans to establish in the United Kingdom.

The proposed Northern Europe tracking station would be part of a modernisation of the United States worldwide satellite tracking network. As the House was informed on 28 June, we have already approved one joint Anglo-American project to establish a communications antenna at RAE Oakhangar, to enhance the existing co-operation between ourselves and the United States in the field of satellite communications, in particular in support of the Skynet 4 satellite project and the space shuttle. The possibility of a second Anglo-American project to establish a further tracking dish at Oakhangar is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those areas in the United Kingdom which are designated specially for nap-of-the-earth flying by Army or Marines' helicopters; and whether any consultations took place with local authorities over the designation of these areas.

I assume that by "nap-of-the-earth" flying the right hon. Member is referring to low flying. All of the United Kingdom may be used by Army and Royal Marines helicopters for low flying subject to the usual restrictions. Consultations with local authorities are, therefore, not appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the coastguard is informed of the timing and location of British and American submarine exercises in British coastal waters.

No. For reasons of operational security, it has long been Ministry of Defence policy not to disclose Royal Navy submarine movements nor to comment on foreign submarine activity. However, areas around the United Kingdom where submarines of the Royal Navy or of NATO nations exercise regularly are marked on Admiralty charts.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those companies which have been awarded contracts by his Department for work related to the British underwater test and evaluation centre.

The following companies are currently providing services for the operation and maintenance of the BUTEC facility at Kyle of Lochalsh:

• RCA Limited, Sunbury on Thames, Middlesex,
• Thorn EMI Electronics Limited, Woking, Surrey,
• Bond Helos, Aberdeen.

In addition, the following companies have current contracts for support, repair and design-development services and the supply of equipment to be used at the facility:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when the minimum operating height for military aircraft in the Highlands restricted area was lowered from 360 ft to 200 ft; and what consultations took place with local authorities when this occurred.

The Highlands restricted area was established in October 1981 to allow practice in the use of terrain—following radar. All the local authorities concerned were informed. To date, flying in the HRA has generally been above the 250 ft minimum that normally applies to military low flying in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made with tests on Gruinard Island to investigate the feasibility of decontaminating the island.

Possible methods of decontaminating affected areas of Gruinard Island, including the question of potential effectiveness and cost, remain under careful review. A further visit was made to the island in July 1984 and initial analysis of the date obtained supports previous encouraging results. However, further work is required before a decision on decontamination can be considered and it is not yet possible to say when that will be.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy that his choice of the replacement for the Jet Provost is the one which in the opinion of the Royal Air Force is the best choice on technical and operational merit.

In reaching a decision on a new trainer aircraft, major considerations will be value for money as well as the ability of the aircraft to meet the technical and operational requirements of the Royal Air Force. Other issues which will be taken into account will include job opportunities in the United Kingdom, overseas sales prospects and international relations.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received about the choice of a replacement basic trainer aircraft for the Royal Air Force.

In October and November my right hon. Friend and I received 24 letters from hon. Members, many of which forwarded correspondence from constituents and interested parties, and six letters from industrialists and trades unionists. In that period, hon. Members also asked seven questions on this subject, and two questions have been answered in another place.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what sum of money he envisages Her Majesty's Government will have to pay to the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany in compensation for the imbalance which has occurred in the work-sharing on the Tornado project; if this sum will be paid in cash or in some other form; and if he will make a statement.

The most recently published estimate of United Kingdom under-payments against her cost liability is approximately £250 million. If this imbalance continues to the end of the programme, it may be necessary for a cash payment to be made. However, means of reducing the imbalance such as the possibility of work transfers to the United Kingdom are kept under regular review and will be implemented wherever practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement concerning export prospects for the Tornado aeroplane.

British Aerospace is currently pursuing several export prospects for the Tornado, with strong Government support, which we hope will prove successful.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the problems encountered with the Marconi radar intended for the Nimrod ink. III aircraft; and when he expects them to be overcome.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby (Mr. Wareing) on 29 October, at column 854.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the current effectiveness of the United Kingdom air defence network.

I refer the hon. Member to paragraphs 409–412 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1984".

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement concerning the offset agreements with the United States of America on the Trident programme.

There is no offset agreement. Given the strategic nature of the project, there was no question of guaranteeing United Kingdom industry a specific proportion of the work. The industrial participation arrangements negotiated when the UK decided to purchase the Trident II missile do, however, permit United Kingdom industry to compete for Trident II subcontracts, in support of both United States and United Kingdom requirements, on equal terms with their United States counterparts.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many British firms have made bids for component work on the Trident programme.

Up to the end of June 1984, the last period for which we have data, 107 United Kingdom firms had been invited to bid for contracts on the United States Trident II programme. Of these, only 37 made bids.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many contracts have been won by United Kingdom companies and which contracts for component work on the Trident programme; and what is the estimated value of these contracts collectively and individually.

Twenty six contracts on the United States Trident II programme have been placed with 21 United Kingdom firms for a wide variety of products ranging from those requiring basic engineering skills to those incorporating high technology. The estimated total value of these contracts is just over $14 million. Many of the contracts are for initial quantities with potential follow-on orders. It is not the practice to give details of individual contracts.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the number and value of orders secured by United Kingdom contractors for the Trident II missile system and the percentage of total orders coming to the United Kingdom to date.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given earlier today to the hon. Member for Kingston Upon Hull, North (Mr. McNamara). Information on the percentage of total orders coming to the United Kingdom is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the estimated annual running costs, as opposed to the procurement costs, of the Trident system.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the estimated annual running costs, as opposed to the procurement costs, of the Trident system.