asked the Lord Privy Seal (1) what steps he is taking to ensure that the regulations governing the use by research assistants of the photocopier in the Upper Committee Corridor are observed;(2) if he is satisfied that the present provision of photocopying facilities is adequate to meet the needs of right hon. and hon. Members.

I understand that the matter is to be considered in the near future by the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee.I am sure that the Sub-Committee will take account of any representations made to it.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is the total projected Government expenditure for 1985 for research into (a) contraceptive, (b) abortion and (c) sterilisation techniques;(2) what has been the total Government expenditure on research into

The Medical Research Council, which receives its grant-in-aid through the Department, is the main Government agency for the promotion of medical research in the United Kingdom. The council's total expenditure on research projects which have areas of relevance to contraceptive, abortion and sterilisation techniques in each of the past four years is as follows:

	£
1980–81	979,320
1981–82	1,103,992
1982–83	1,279,409
1983–84	1,529,178

The figures include the total cost of each project that involves work in the areas concerned, not only that part of each project which is directly relevant to the techniques.I understand that the council does not have comparable figures for the years prior to 1980–81, neither can it produce an estimate of its expenditure in this field in 1985–86. The latter will depend on the research grant applications received by the council and on its decisions about whether to support them. The council is always ready to consider soundly based proposals for new research.Research work relevant to these techniques is also carried out in universities and medical schools, financed from the block grant to universities allocated for teaching and research on advice from the University Grants Committee and from other sources. Details are not available.

asked the Attorney-General whether, in the light of the inquest findings in the case of Mrs. Norah McCabe and the new evidence which has come to light, he will ask the Director of Public Prosecutions to reopen investigations into the case.

No. After the inquest., the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland reconsidered this case in the light of the evidence given at the inquest and the inquest findings and of all the other evidence now available, as described in the answer which my hon. and learned Friend the Solicitor-General gave to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside (Mr. Parry) on 7 December. As a result of that reconsideration, the Director reaffirmed his earlier conclusion that the evidence available did not warrant the institution of proceedings against any person in respect of Mrs. McCabe's death. He has discussed the case with me and I am satisfied that that decision is correct.

asked the Attorney-General what statutory authority he proposes to seek for the indemnity granted to Price Waterhouse in respect of costs incurred in its role as sequestrators of the assets of the National Union of Mineworkers.

The Crown has granted the indemnity under its common law power, but Parliament is being asked to make token provision in the Consolidated Fund Bill in respect of the contingent liability assumed under the indemnity. Any payments under the indemnity would require further provision in a subsequent Consolidated Fund Act.

asked the Attorney-General how many applications have been made by persons charged with offences related to picketing during the miners' dispute for legal aid; and how many have been accepted; and if he will list the figures in each area.

The statistics collected do not relate applications for legal aid to alleged offences. The information requested could not be obtained, except at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the amount of subsidy paid per annum to provide school meals in Wales; and what proportion is paid to subsidise the cost of midday meals to boarding pupils.

The net recurrent cost of the school meals service for maintained schools in Wales is provisionally estimated to have been £27·6 million in 1983–84. Information as to the cost of subsidising midday meals for boarding pupils is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received regarding the proposed reorganisation of the Forestry Commission in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has received representations on this matter from the following, as well as from my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, Central:

• My hon. Friend the Member for Vale of Glamorgan (Sir R. Gower);
• The right hon. Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth (Mr. Callaghan);
• The hon. Member for Caernarfon (Mr. Wigley);
• The trade union side of the Forestry Commission's south Wales Whitley Council;
• The Wales TUC;
• Cardiff city council.

However, the prime responsibility for the organisation and efficient management of the Forestry Commission in Wales lies with the forestry commissions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the level of support from the overseas aid programme for human settlement projects over the last five years; what projects are currently being supported; and which British companies have benefited from contracts in connection with these.

The information requested, covering housing and land settlement projects, is as follows:

Year	Housing £000	Land settlement £000
1979	2,931	1,303
1980	2,269	929
1981	49	2,130
1982	9,159	4,777
1983	5,313	2,981

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give the level of funding of the United Nations development programme by Her Majesty's Government (a) in constant prices and (b) as a percentage of total overseas aid for each of the last 10 years.

The information requested is as follows, together with the cash contributions to UNDP for each of the years quoted:

UNDP Contribution
	Cash	Constant 1983 prices	As percentage of total overseas aid
	£ million	£ million
1974	9·3	29·5	2·5
1975	14·7	36·7	3·2
1976	13·6	29·7	2·5
1977	20·0	38·3	3·3
1978	25·4	43·9	3·4
1979	28·5	43·0	3·0
1980	15·0	18·9	1·6
1981	17·5	19·7	1·5
1982	18·5	19·4	1·7
1983	18·5	18·5	1·6

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if any preparation of Government legislation has been done by other than the official parliamentary draftsmen in each of the past 10 years.

Apart from a certain number of Consolidation Acts drafted under contract by retired parliamentary counsel, some drafting of Consolidation Acts was done by parliamentary agents in 1974 and 1975.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he has any plans to increase the number of parliamentary draftsmen; and if he will make a statement.

There are at present 23 parliamentary counsel—of all grades—of whom four are seconded to the Law Commission. Steps are being taken to recruit five more assistant parliamentary counsel, with a view to increasing from 19 to 22 the number of counsel working in the Parliamentary Counsel Office, and from four to six the number seconded to the Law Commission.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many pages of legislation have been prepared by parliamentary draftsmen in each of the past 10 years.

In round figures, the number of pages of non-Scottish legislation prepared by parliamentary draftsmen in each of the past 10 years was:

	New Acts	Consolidation Acts	Total
1974	1,360	320	1,680
1975	1,690	640	2,330
1976	1,400	370	1,770

	New Acts	Consolidation Acts	Total
1977	790	370	1,160
1978	830	280	1,110
1979	580	660	1,240
1980	1,470	780	2,250
1981	1,330	690	2,020
1982	1,360	400	1,760
1983	660	590	1,250

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will list the total number of parliamentary draftsmen who have been working full-time on the preparation of legislation in each of the past 10 years.

The number of parliamentary draftsmen who were working full-time on the preparation of non-Scottish legislation on 1 January in each of the years in question was:

	In the Paliamentary Counsel Office	At the Law Commission	Total
1974	17	5	22
1975	19	5	24
1976	19	5	24
1977	20	5	25
1978	20	5	25
1979	20	4	24
1980	18	5	23
1981	18	4	22
1982	17	4	21
1983	19	6	25

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what progress has been made concerning the privatisation of British Gas showrooms.

During the past year the sale of the British Gas interest in Wytch farm and the flotation of Enterprise Oil have been successfully carried through. In gas, as in other industries, the possibilities for further introduction of private capital are being carefully examined.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will make a statement about the miners' strike.

This damaging dispute has been sought and provoked by the NUM leadership and imposed on its own membership without a ballot. There is no justification for this strike. The board's offer is the best in the industry's history and has been accepted by the other unions in the mining industry.No one wishes more than this Government to see an early and constructive settlement to this dispute. Any initiative is welcome if it offers the prospect of a realistic settlement that can offer the industry a good future. The NUM has yet to show that it is interested in such a settlement.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what information the Central Electricity Generating Board records as to the isotope composition of the plutonium vested in the United Kingdom civil nuclear power programme.

This is a matter of day-to-day management for the CEGB.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will publish in the Official Report a table showing the cost to Her Majesty's Government of (a) educating the children of servants of the Crown at boarding schools and (b) financing places in boarding schools for the children of other persons; and if, in each case, she will set out the parental contributions at various income levels compared with the parental contribution to be demanded of those whose children win a place in an institution of higher learning.

The total cost of the various Government boarding allowance schemes for public servants was about £83 million in 1983–84. Such allowances are paid only in appropriately limited circumstances and are not related to income. The only other Government expenditure on boarding fees arises under the aided pupils scheme for music and ballet schools and amounted to some £400,000 in 1983–84. Parental contributions may by required under that scheme, but details of the scale for 1985–86 have yet to be determined. Details of the 1985–86 parental income scale for student grants were set out in the reply of my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science to the question by my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Greenway) on 14 November 1984 at columns 238–39.

asked the Prime Minister what would be (a) the loss of revenue if tax thresholds were raised to £3,000 per year for a single person and £6,000 a year for a married couple and (b) the saving in expenditure if child benefit were abolished; and if she will estimate the financial effect on a man with a wife and two children whose income was £100 per week of (i) each of the above changes and (ii) the introduction of both changes simultaneously.

The cost of raising tax thresholds to the levels specified would be about £12 billion in a full year, at 1984–85 levels of income and allowances. The public expenditure cost of child benefit at the current rate of £6·86 per child per week is about £4,430 million in a full year, on the basis of the number of beneficiaries in 1984–85. A married couple with gross income of £100 per week, where the wife was not working, would pay £613·50 less tax than under the 1984–85 tax regime. They would lose £13·70 per week—£712·40 in a year—from the abolition of child benefit. If the two changes were introduced simultaneously, they would lose £98·90 in a full year.

asked the Prime Minister whether the latest agreement on the EEC budget meets the requirement that spending under the common agricultural policy should fall as a proportion of the total; and if she will publish in the Official Report a table showing the percentage of the total budget taken by the common agricultural policy each year since 1972, the anticipated figure in the current year, and the forecast for 1985.

The Council's agreement on budgetary discipline provides that expenditure relating to agricultural markets, as defined for the purposes of the agreement, will increase by less than the rate of growth of the Community's own resources base.Expenditure on the common agricultural policy as a percentage of the total Community budget between 1972 and 1984 is as follows. The 1985 budget has not yet been adopted.

Year	Percentage
1972	89·0
1973	82·4
1974	75·4
1975	78·1
1976	76·6
1977	74·3
1978	79·2
1979	75·7
1980	73·3
1981	65·4
1982	64·0
1983	68·6
1984	70·3

Sources: 1973–77 EC Court of Auditors Reports. 1978–83 EC Commission Financial Reports and Court of Auditors Reports. 1984 supplementary budget.

asked the Prime Minister whether the decision to set aside more money for spending on the common agriculural policy in 1985 implies an increase in agricultural surpluses; and for what surpluses provision has been made in the 1985 budget compared with 1983.

No Community budget has yet been adopted for 1985. Provision is not made in Community budgets for any specific level of surpluses, but some of the expenditure provided for relates to the disposal of surpluses. However, the quantities actually disposed of in any given year will depend upon many factors, including the detailed management of agricultural markets during the year.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is the Government's policy that students in higher education should pursue their studies at an institution within travelling distance from their parents' home regardless of the circumstances.

This Government, like their predecessors, believe that there is merit in students studying from the parental home where that is practicable.

asked the Prime Minister what proportion of the population aged 18 to 21 years receives higher education in the United Kingdom compared with Germany, Japan, France and the United States of America.

Information in the form requested is not readily available. Comparisons of participation rates in higher education between countries are influenced by the structure of higher education in each country, in particular by the age of entry and the length of course. In some countries students enter higher education later than in the United Kingdom and take longer to qualify.A meaningful comparison can be obtained by showing all new entrants to higher education as a percentage of the age group within the typical age range for the country in question. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has published statistics on this basis. In the table column 1 shows the age range encompassing at least 70 per cent. of all entrants to full-time higher education in each country, the yearly average size of which forms the basis for the calculation of participation. For example for the United Kingdom the size of the typical year group is the total number of 18 and 19-year-olds divided by two. Column 2 shows new entrants to higher education in 1982 as a percentage of the age group in the typical age range.

Participation in Higher Education 1982
	1	2
	Age range covering 70 per cent, of entry to higher education	Numbers entering Higher Education for the first time in 1982 as a percentage of the size of the average year group in Column 1
France*	18–20	29·0
Germany (Federal Republic)	19–21	21·2
Japan†	18	34·2
United Kingdom‡║	18–19	30·0
United States of America†‡¶	18	61·7
* Excluding new entrants to "Grandes Ecoles" and some non-university colleges.
† Includes new entrants to private colleges.
‡ Full-time and part time.
║ Excludes post graduates and others known to have a higher education qualification, excludes overseas students.
¶ 1981.

asked the Prime Minister what statistical information she has concerning the level of Government contribution to the cost of higher education in the United Kingdom and in other countries so far as the student's contribution is concerned; and if she will publish in the Official Report a table showing for the United Kingdom's principal overseas competitors how central and local government finance the places of students at universities, distinguishing tuition fees from maintenance.

In 1982–83 students' families were asked to contribute a sum equivalent to about 5·6 per cent. of the Government's total expenditure on higher education in the United Kingdom. Information on other countries is not available for the purpose of comparisons with the United Kingdom. The latest available information on the financing of higher education overseas is contained within statistical bulletin 9/84 of the Department of Education and Science, a copy of which is in the Library.

asked the Prime Minister what information she has about the extent to which university students in Germany, France and Italy are required to pay the whole of their tuition fees; and if she will publish in the Official Report a table showing the extent of any derogations from this rule.

I understand that university students are not required to pay tuition fees in the Federal Republic of Germany or in France, but that they are required to do so in Italy. I have no information about any derogations from those practices.

asked the Prime Minister if she will set out systematically the financial aids available from Government to industry, British and foreign; and if she will indicate how Her Majesty's Government intend to exercise their discretionary powers of aid in those areas where these exist.

The broad programmes of assistance offered by a number of Departments are set out in the annual public expenditure White Papers. Details are contained in the annual Estimates. Assistance is available to industry in the United Kingdom irrespective of the nationality of ownership or of controlling interests. A major criterion for aid will continue to be value for money. My hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry announced on 28 November the conclusions of the review on regional policy to increase cost effectiveness. My hon. Friend the Minister for Information Technology announced on 12 November a review of support for innovation to the same end.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list the functions which will be transferred from the Secretary of State for Social Services to the Lord Chancellor in relation to social security commissioners and their office in January 1985.

From 1 January 1985, the Lord Chancellor will have administrative responsibility for the work of the Social Security Commissioners in addition to his current responsibility for their appointment. This change involves a transfer of three sets of functions from the Secretary of State for Social Services to the Lord Chancellor:

(a) the remuneration, expenses and pensions of the Commissioners;

(b) the administration of their offices in England and Wales (the Secretary of State for Scotland will exercise these responsibilities for the office in Scotland), and

(c) the making of regulations with respect to proceedings before them.

asked the Prime Minister what steps she intends to take to press for the release of grain stores from the European Community to ease the degree of famine in Ethiopia.

The European Council in Dublin agreed on 4 December that the Community and the member states should provide 1·2 million tonnes of grain before the next harvest for countries in Africa affected by drought, including Ethiopia.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the amount of the direct subvention by the British Exchequer to Northern Ireland in each financial year since 1968; and what are the amounts budgeted for in future financial years.

The information is as follows:

	£ million
1968–69	74
1969–70	74
1970–71	88
1971–72	126
1972–73	181
1973–74	312
1974–75	389
1975–76	565
1976–77	620
1977–78	*688
1978–79	848
1979–80	944
1980–81	1,090
1981–82	1,064
1982–83	1,149
1983–84	1,305
1984–85†	1,397
* Excludes a once for all payment of £250 million to cover redemption of the Northern Ireland Electricity Service borrowing.
† Provisional.

Figures are not available for future years.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve are currently estimated to be Catholics; and what proportion this represents of the manpower of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve separately.

Although details are not kept of the religious denomination of members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and its Reserve, I understand that about one tenth of the regular force comes from the Catholic community.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of the number of private firearms certificates currently issued in Northern Ireland, together with details of the division of such certificates between the Protestant and Catholic communities; and how many certificates are held by members of the Ulster Defence Regiment and its Reserve and the Royal Ulster Constabulary and its Reserve.

At 30 November 1984, 85,880 firearms certificates were on issue to persons in Northern Ireland. Of these, 866 were held by members of the Ulster Defence Regiment and 212 by members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and its Reserve. Information is not kept on the religious denomination of firearm certificate holders.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of the M1 motorway are lit; in which county areas the lit sections are; and what further plans he has to light sections of (a) the M1 motorway and (b) other motorways.

Sixty-eight miles of the M1 motorway are lit.The other information that my hon. Friend seeks is not readily available, so I shall write to him shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how much of the M25 is presently unlit; if he will list the sections presently unlit; and if he will estimate the cost of lighting the stretches so far unlit.

The following sections of the M25, totalling approximately 29 miles, are open to traffic and unlit: junctions 2 to 3, junctions 5 to 6, junctions 6 to 7, junctions 7 to 8, junctions 10 to 11, junctions 11 to 12, junctions 12 to 13—partially lit—junctions 17 to 18 and junctions 18 to 19.The estimated cost, at 1982–83 prices, of lighting these sections of motorway is very approximately £2·7 million, but the final cost could be more depending on the lighting system used.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if in the light of the accident on 11 December on the M25, he will make it his policy to light all stretches of that motorway so far unlit; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Mr. Howard) on 12 December 1984, at column 528. It would be premature to reach any conclusions until the examination of all the data is completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether any arrangements have been made for the policing of the docklands light railway.

Arrangements for the policing of this railway, which is due to come into operation in mid-1987, are still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ensure that travel concessions affected by any legislation concerning buses will be available for all buses, all taxis and all minibuses.

We are still considering, in the light of the responses to our consultation paper, the availability of concessionary fares on taxi and minibus services. An announcement will be made before the Bill is introduced.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to introduce a countrywide scheme of travel concessions or public transport.

It is for local authorities to decide what arrangements to make for concessionary travel in their areas, and how to help elderly people most effectively within the resources available to them.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ensure that the Bill concerning buses will guarantee the value of travel concessions; and if he will make a statement.

under our proposals local authorities will retain the power to decide what level of travel concessions to provide.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many people during the past year have had to re-take the driving test because they have acquired a physical disability.

In the 12 months from 1 December 1983 to 30 November 1984, 236 such people were required to take a driving test.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is satisfied with the preparations and the arrangements for the public flotation of British Airways; and if he will make a statement.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will withdraw his Department's "Keep Low" campaign regarding drinking and driving.

No. I believe that the campaign has an important part to play in making young people more aware of the dangers of drinking and driving and in encouraging responsible attitudes.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will amend his Department's current advertising campaign concerning drinking and driving so that it does not encourage anyone to partake of alcoholic drinks and then to drive.

The aim of the campaign is to make young people more aware of the dangers of drinking and driving in a way to which they will respond. The campaign does not offer any encouragement for the view that it is safe to drink before driving, and I believe that the audience at whom it is aimed will understand its message quite clearly.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will provide extra revenue support for London Regional Transport to compensate it for any losses caused by the Oxford Circus station fire.

I have no plans to do so. London Regional Transport is currently discussing with the assessors the basis of an insurance claim following the station fire at Oxford Circus.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has asked the Railways Inspectorate for a report on the Oxford Circus station fire on 23 November.

The Railway Inspectorate is receiving detailed reports on the fire from London Regional Transport and the London fire brigade. It will study these in the light of its investigation of previous fires at Finsbury Park (1976) and Goodge Street (1981) and will then report on any measures that should be taken to prevent a recurrence, or to improve the handling of emergencies of that kind.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the expected cost of reopening Oxford Circus Victoria line platforms to the public.

London Regional Transport is not yet able to make a firm estimate, but preliminary indications are that the cost of reopening the Victoria and Bakerloo line platforms at Oxford Circus could be in the region of £1 million to £2 million. Further expenditure will be needed to refubish the station to current standards.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether, in addition to the studies described in his Department's press notices of 20 November, any further contracts are going to be commissioned to study urban movement and assess problems in London or in other metropolitan counties.

I have no present plans for similar studies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present rate of value added tax on children's footwear in each of the 10 member nations of the European Economic Community.

Young children's footwear is zero rated in the United Kingdom. On the latest available information, the position in other EC countries is understood to be as follows:

	Percentage
Belgium	17
Denmark	22
France	18·6
Germany	14
Ireland	0
Italy	18
Luxembourg	12
Netherlands	19

VAT has not yet been introduced in Greece.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to exclude the Post Office's datapost courier service and Argonaut freight forwarding service from the exemption to the Value Added Tax (General) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 1984.

Amending legislation to exclude the Post Office's datapost service from the exemption will be brought before Parliament early in the new year. The Argonaut freight forwarding service, as it is understood to be currently operating, does not benefit from the exemption.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the bodies entitled to take advantage of the provisions of regulation 33 of the Value Added Tax (General) Regulations 1980, as substituted by article 6 of the Value Added Tax (General) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 1984.

The provisions of regulation 6 of the Value-Added Tax (General) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 1984 are available to any importer who is registered for VAT.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the amount of tax raised by increasing value added tax to 20 per cent. for (a) all items which currently have 15 per cent. value added tax imposed and (b) all items which currently have 15 per cent. value added tax imposed on them, except those associated with the building trade.

[pursuant to his reply, 13 December 1984, c. 569]: The estimates of net additional revenue in a full-year are (a) about £4 billion and (b) about £3·8 billion. Estimate (b) assumes that professional building work or repair, maintenance or alteration continues to be taxed at 15 per cent., but that the purchase of DIY materials is taxed at 20 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the expected amount of value added tax raised in a full year on those areas of the building trade liable to value added tax at 15 per cent.

[pursuant to his reply, 13 December 1984, c. 569]: A little over £600 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the price elasticity for tobacco products; and if he will make a statement.

The price elasticity of demand used for tobacco products is minus 0·5.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the Official Report in bound form is now one year behind in publication; and if he will indicate what steps he proposes to take in order to rectify this situation.

The delay in publication of bound volumes of the Official Report is attributable to delay in the supply of indexes. HMSO is in close touch with the Editor and Librarian with the aim of overcoming its present difficulties.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any plans to seek repeal of section 10 of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947.

I cannot yet add to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) on 31 October, at column 1121.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he contemplates the release of any land associated with HMS Vernon within the next 18 months.

HMS Vernon is to be home to both Army and Royal Navy diving training establishments from 1985. A general study, including HMS Vernon into naval requirements in the Portsmouth area is under way. No disposal of land relating to HMS Vernon is envisaged in the next 18 months.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what intention his Department has for the future use of HMS Vernon.

The Army and Royal Navy diving training establishments are to be collocated at HMS Vernon from 1985. HMS Vernon is included in a current study of the navy's requirements for shore establishments in the Portsmouth area. It is unlikely that this will result in any change of function in the immediate future.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the total space available in each type and class of Her Majesty's warships has been taken by accommodation and recreational space over the past 30 years; and how current Royal Navy warships compare in this way with those of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

The figures requested are not readily available for all classes. However, data for major classes of surface warships currently in service, together with the NATO average and Soviet Krivak class for comparison purposes are as follows:

Class	Percentage of ship by volume for recreation and accommodation	Allocation of space per man (Sq. M)
Sheffield Class	26·7	3·43
Broadsword Class	23·8	4·25
Leander*	32·0	3·59
NATO Average	25·0	4·32
Krivak†	27·0	4·26
Notes:
* The Leander, being a steam ship, carries a larger crew for her size than other classes. Hence the higher proportion of the ship dedicated to accommodation, but lower allocation per man.
† What we know of other modem Soviet warship classes confirms these figures.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Defence Ministers at their recent meeting discussed a move by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation towards the acquisition of improved capability for deep conventional counter-attack.

I cannot add to the reply my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence gave to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang) on 11 December, at column 411.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the turnover log of the radio operator on HMS Conqueror is now in the possession of his Department; and if he will make a statement.

HMS Conqueror's radio operator's turnover notes are in the possession of my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he is satisfied that all signals recorded as having been transmitted (a) from HMS Conqueror to Flag Officer Submarines and (b) from Flag Officer Submarines to HMS Conqueror were properly authorised during the period 1 to 4 May 1982;(2) if, from the records now available to him, there is any evidence of unauthorised signals being sent

[pursuant to his reply, 4 December 1984, c. 100]: No signal may be sent without the signature of a releasing officer. We are not aware of any signal sent without this authorisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether a permanent record of the movements of HMS Conqueror is made by the ship's internal navigation system.

[pursuant to his reply, 27 November 1984, c. 410]: A record of HMS Conqueror's position would have been maintained by taking readings from the ship's inertial navigation system. The record is not normally retained permanently but a portion of HMS Conqueror's record has been kept for analysis.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current posting in the Navy of Mr. Brian Moss, formerly coxswain of HMS Conqueror.

Chief Petty Officer Moss is a coxswain in the submarine service.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether Lieutenant Sethia's diary was entered in HMS Conqueror's register of classified books.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department became aware of Lieutenant Sethia's diary.

Extracts, apparently from a diary of a member of HMS Conqueror's crew, were published on a number of occasions from 16 April 1984 onwards. The Ministry of Defence conducted an internal inquiry at the time to try to identify the diarist but failed to do so. It was only on 7 November 1984 that a copy of a diary came into the possession of the Department. I understand that inquiries into the matter are still continuing, and it would not be right for me to say any more about it at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list in the Official Report the number, average gross registered tonnage, type and countries of origin of fishing vessels operating in 1984 on fishing grounds within 150 miles of the Falkland Islands.

During 1984 the daily average number of fishing vessels detected within the Falkland Islands protection zone has usually varied between 40 and 60. Vessels entering the zone have been registered in the Soviet Union, Poland, Japan, Taiwan, German Democratic Republic, Federal Republic of Germany, Spain, Italy, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Liberia, Norway, Philippines and Panama. We do not record the precise type or gross tonnage of such fishing vessels generally.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if there has been an increase in the number of fishing vessels operating within 150 miles of the Falkland Islands since July 1982.

Information is available only from December 1982. The number of vessels fishing within the 150-mile Falkland Islands protection zone has remained of the same order of magnitude over the past two years.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the procedure for making a change in the rules of engagement during the Falklands campaign.

The higher management of the Falklands crisis was conducted by a small group of Ministers chaired by the Prime Minister. Changes in the rules of engagement were normally made by this body, in the light of military and other advice.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions during the Falklands campaign the rules of engagement were altered.

Often. I am preparing advice for the Foreign Affairs Committee on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if the right hon. Sir John Nott, since 1 July 1983, has had access to documents relating to changes in the rules of engagement for the Falklands campaign to which he would have had ready access when he was a member of the War Cabinet.

I understand that Sir John Nott explained the extent of his knowledge of events when he gave evidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee on 5 December. I have nothing to add to what he said then.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the implications for British force levels in the south Atlantic of the acquisition by Argentina of Skyhawk naval aircraft.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer of my hon. Friend the then Minister for Defence Procurement on 23 July 1984 at column 535.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) Royal Navy ships and (b) British military aircraft have made use of Chilean facilities at (i) Punta Arenas and (ii) Teniente Marsh on King George Island in the last 12 months.

No Royal Navy ships or British military aircraft have visited Punta Arenas during the last 12 months. An RAF Hercules used the Chilean antarctic base at Tiniente Ridolfo March Martin on 23 February 1984 to evacuate a casualty from HMS Endurance, and HMS Endurance herself paid a routine call at the base on 29 February.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence at what time Admiral Woodward learned of the visual contact which HMS Conqueror had established with the General Belgrano.

[pursuant to his reply, 11 December 1984, c. 433]: HMS Conqueror's signal reporting the sighting of the General Belgrano was relayed to Admiral Woodward on the afternoon of 1 May 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied with the airworthiness of the Wessex helicopter.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what aircraft will replace the Wessex helicopter; and when it will commence active service.

No decisions have yet been taken about the aircraft type or in-service date of a replacement for the Wessex helicopter.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make the placing of specific orders with United Kingdom firms by those countries which may supply the new Royal Air Force trainer his only criterion for judging potential offsets, to the exclusion of potential orders from the countries concerned.

The decision on a new RAF trainer will take account not only of performance and costs but also of the industrial proposals submitted by the contending firms. In this regard it is important to note that the tenders for the three foreign-designed aircraft all propose that substantial amounts of work would be undertaken in the United Kingdom. However, the wider aspects of potential benefit to British industry will also be taken into consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if the relative balance of conventional forces in central Europe has changed in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's favour since 1980.

In numercial terms, the relative balance of conventional forces on the central front has remained broadly unchanged since 1980. Over that period the Warsaw pact has maintained its substantial numerical superiority in tanks, artillery pieces and fixed-wing tactical aircraft.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the current infant mortality rates for each social class in Scotland.

The information for 1983 is contained in table D1·6 of the annual report of the Registrar General for Scotland for that year, a copy of which is in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the current standardised mortality rates for each social class in Scotland.

Occupational mortality studies are restricted to years close to census years because of the use which is made of census information. As I said in answer to a previous question from the hon. Member on 30 November, at column 610, information for 1979–83 will be published in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on the number of deaths and serious accidents sustained on youth training scheme propects in Dundee and Tayside to date.

For the period 1 April 1983 to 30 September 1984 there were no deaths and one major injury, which was sustained in Dundee.

Note: MSC accident figures for YTS are compiled on a similar basis to those prepared by the Health and Safety Executive on employed persons. Major injuries are classified according to the severity criteria laid down in the Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will shortly be making a statement on the request by Scottish teachers' unions for an independent pay review body.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend on 11 December 1984, at columns 399–400, to my hon. Friend, the Member for Stirling (Mr. Forsyth).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the guidelines for the police on the investigation of sexual assaults are to be issued to the police authorities.

The Scottish Home and Health Department will shortly seek the views of women's organisations on a draft of revised guidance to the police on the investigation of complaints of sexual assault. The final version of the guidance, a copy of which will be placed in the Library of the House, will be issued to the police when the consultation process has been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy, when announcing the sales of Forestry Commission land in the OfficialReport, to indicate the location of such sales more precisely and to include the species composition of each wood.

Lists of properties sold by the Forestry Commission have been published in the Official Report from time to time. The latest list, showing the position to 21 October 1984, was contained in my reply to a question from the hon. Member for Falkirk, West (Mr. Canavan) on 4 December 1984, at columns 140–50. In order to meet the hon. Member's request, any lists published in the Official Report of properties sold since that date will include in the case of a woodland an Ordnance Survey grid reference and an indication of whether it consists mainly of broadleaves or of conifers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what steps the Forestry Commission takes to seek to ensure that broadleaved woodlands under its care are not converted to conifer plantations after sales into private hands;(2) what steps the Forestry Commission takes to ensure that broadleaved woodlands under its care are not sold to agricultural interests for clear-felling.

The Forestry Commission does not place constraints of this nature on the sale of broadleaved woodlands. However, apart from a number of statutory exceptions, the clear-felling of trees of more than 8 centimetres (3 in) in diameter requires a licence from the commission, whose policy rests on a general presumption in favour of broadleaved woodland normally being replanted with broadleaved trees after felling.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the Forestry Commission's policy regarding public access to woods which are consequently sold into private ownership.

When a wood is sold by the Forestry Commission the question of public access is one for the new owner. Public rights of way are not affected by changes in ownership.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Lothian and Borders police on the number of police officers and vehicles which were deployed at Blindwells, East Lothian, on the morning of 10 December; what was the cost of this police operation; and what was the purpose of the blocking of traffic on the Tranent-Meadowmill road on that occasion.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to complete the details of the scheme for the allocation of funds for transitional difficulties in rural areas arising from the White Paper, "Buses".

In due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the range of fines imposed upon persons convicted of offences related to activities during the miners' dispute for (a) breach of the peace where it is a first offence, (b) vandalism and (c) reckless conduct.

I understand that in the period to 16 November 1984 fines have been imposed for charges of breach of the peace related to the miners' dispute ranging from £1 to £750 — no information is available on whether these charges were first offences — and that fines for charges of vandalism related to the miners' dispute have ranged from £20 — for vandalism and breach of the peace—to £100. I also understand that no fines were imposed for reckless conduct related to the miners' dispute in this period.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications for legal aid have been made by persons charged with offences related to picketing during the miners' dispute; how many have been accepted; and if he will list the figures for each area.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many complaints have been made against the police in relation to activities during the course of the miners' dispute; and how many complaints have been upheld.

I understand that 23 such complaints have been received by the police. Of these, 10 are currently being investigated by the procurator fiscal or the police force concerned. No criminal or disciplinary charges have been brought following investigation of the others.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many miners charged with offences related to picketing during the miners' dispute have (a) been refused bail and (b) had bail conditions imposed upon them which prevent them from visiting any premises or place for the purpose of picketing or demonstrating in connection with the current trade dispute other than peacefully to picket or demonstrate at their usual place of employment.

For the first part of his question, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 5 December, at columns 346–47, by my hon. and learned Friend the Solicitor-General for Scotland to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang). For the second part, information on the imposition of any special conditions of bail is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his latest estimate of the cost of policing during the miners' dispute; and what is his estimate of the cost for each police authority area.

The information is set out in the following table:

Police authority area	Estimated cost to mid-November 1984 (£'000)
Central	144
Dumfries and Galloway	Nil
Fife	350
Grampian	Nil
Lothian and Borders	1,350
Northern	Nil
Strathclyde	1,910

Police authority area	Estimated cost to mid-November 1984 (£'000)
Tayside	65
Total	3,819

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps have been taken by chief constables to enable pickets to communicate information to drivers of vehicles.

I understand that, although practice varies in the light of particular circumstances, the police normally seek to allow a limited number of pickets the opportunity to indicate to drivers their wish to communicate information to them. This accords with the code of practice on picketing. There is no obligation on drivers to receive such information if they do not wish to do so, and pickets have no right under the law to stop drivers, or have them stopped, for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the cumulative numbers of police officers who have been involved in activities associated with the current miners' strike; and if he will list the figure as a proportion of the total police force.

The information needed for any meaningful estimate of the kind requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, what is his estimate of the number of police officers who have undergone riot training.

I estimate, on the basis of information provided by chief constables, that about 6,000 police officers in Scotland have undergone basic or further training in the use of protective equipment or other aspects of handling public disorder.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list his current powers to control aerial crop spraying.

We have no powers currently to control aerial spraying, but under the Pesticides Safety Precautions Scheme (PSPS), which is jointly administered by my Department, the Department of Health and Social Security, the Department of the Environment, the Health and Safety Executive and responsible Departments for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, Ministers consider the suitability of chemicals for aerial application. Only certain less toxic pesticides are cleared for application from the air. However, controls over aerial crop spraying are exercised by the Civil Aviation Authority under article 40 of the Air Navigation Order 1980. In addition, the Government are seeking powers in the Food and Environment Protection Bill lo control the supply and use of pesticides. These powers would be sufficiently broad to allow the imposition of environmental safety conditions on aerial application. They would thus complement current controls.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the area of land newly afforested since 1980 to the latest available date in England, making a distinction between coniferous plantations and other forestry schemes.

Planting statistics are published by the Forestry Commission in its annual reports. During the period 1 April 1980 to 31 March 1984, a total of 6,548 hectares of new planting—4,927 hectares of conifers and 1,621 hectares of broadleaves—was carried out in England by the Forestry Commission and by the private sector with the aid of grants from the commission.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the area of land newly afforested since January 1980 to the latest available date in England; and if he will indicate the proportions planted by the Forestry Commission and private landowners, respectively.

Planting figures are compiled centrally on the basis of financial years beginning 1 April. During the period 1 April 1980 to 31 March 1984, a total of 6,548 hectares of new planting was undertaken in England, of which 1,854 hectares were planted by the Forestry Commission and 4,694 hectares by the private sector with the aid of grants from the commission.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why it is the policy of the Forestry Commission not to inform county councils of sales of woodlands in their own counties.

This information is already available to county councils and other bodies through the regular notices of possible woodland sales that the Forestry Commission places in the Estates Gazette. These notices, which are given in advance of general advertising, cover woodlands of five hectares and over and those smaller woodlands in respect of which there is a known conservation or amenity interest.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average on-farm selling price of wheat in the United Kingdom for each of the years 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1984 to date.

The information requested is as follows:

Weighted average ex-farm price of wheat in the United Kingdom
£/tonne)
	Year
1979	95·92
1980	99·30
1981	108·92
1982	113·74
1983	124·81

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Walsall, North of 7 December, Official Report, column 295, where the other intervention stores for surplus EEC agriculture produce are sited; and what is the amount of food stored, broken down into each class of produce.