asked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps the Civil Aviation Authority has taken in response to the recommendations of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the authority's provision of navigation and air traffic control services to civil aircraft published on 9 November 1983; and if he will make a statement.

I am pleased to be able to report that the authority has made good progress in each of the main areas in which the Monopolies and Mergers Commission found scope for improving efficiency and reducing costs.The authority has responded very positively to the recommendation that first priority should be given to the use of manpower. A field resource planning office has been established to work out ways of improving the cost-effectiveness of field staff; proposals for a revised pay and grade structure for air traffic controllers have been put to the unions; the health factors underlying the rostering of controllers have been reviewed; consultants have reported on how their utilisation might he improved; and a programme to measure staff utilisation at maintenance units has been started. Together these steps represent a sound start to the task of improving the use of staff resources.To strengthen control of costs a director of finance for air traffic services has been appointed together with appropriate support staff, a value for money auditing team is being established and action has been taken through Eurocontrol to accelerate payments by users.To deal with weaknesses in investment approval and project management identified by the commission, new procedures have been introduced to improve the control of work and its cost and have been embodied in a new project management manual. Formal criteria for investment appraisal are to be developed in consultation with my Department.Progress has also been made on the maintenance of equipment and the use of modern labour-saving equipment. Staff savings have already been made through the introduction of remote control and monitoring systems. They have attracted a good deal of interest from other countries, and the authority plans to incorporate similar systems in other major installations when new equipment is installed. The authority has adopted performance indicators which compare the capacity in major parts of the air traffic control system, the actual numbers of aircraft movements, manpower and cost. While capacity and movements have increased substantially, manpower and unit costs have decreased and the authority expects this trend to contunue. The use of performance indicators as a measure of civil air traffic control service efficiency will be extended to cover all major services within the next 18 months.The authority has put forward detailed proposals for revising and strengthening the membership and terms of reference of the Air Traffic Control Board in response to the MMC's doubts about the effects of the division of responsibility for national air traffic services between the CAA board and the MOD. These are currently under discussion with the authority.The ultimate test of the action taken is whether or not it results in improvements in efficiency. It is too early to expect measureable improvements, but I am encouraged by the increased awareness which is evident from the response of the importance of controlling costs whilst at the same time maintaining a high standard of service and safety. The Department will be monitoring closely the progress made by the authority as part of the annual discussions of the CAA's corporate plan.The CAA has prepared a report detailing the action taken, and I have arranged for copies of this to be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether the results of the surveys of coach speeds on motorways and dual carriageways during 1984 are now available.

Yes, the full results will be published in a statistical bulletin next month, but the following table sets out the main figures for the 1984 surveys in comparison with those undertaken in 1983:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the cost to the Metropolitan police of the supply of police to mining areas and central operations run from London in relation to policing there.

The additional cost of the aid provided last year by the Metropolitan police to other forces in connection with the miners' dispute is estimated at some £14 million, to be recovered from the aided forces. The additional cost of operating the national reporting centre at New Scotland Yard during 1984 is estimated at about £130,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the development of community radio.

Although there is as yet no precise definition of community radio, it is most commonly seen as representing a third tier of radio quite distinct from those services at present provided by the BBC and the IBA, and it describes two possible concepts. One represents the most local form of broadcasting: a low-power transmitter broadcasting to the immediate neighbourhood, with the close involvement of the community. The other is of a station broadcasting across a wider area to what is called a "community of interest", such as an ethnic minority, or the enthusiasts for a particular kind of music.I have for some time been interested in the idea of community radio and I am anxious to provide the opportunity for its development. It has, however, been difficult to assess what scope there might be for community radio in frequency terms, in advance of the international conference held at the end of last year which planned the expansion of the VHF waveband. In the light of that conference, we now know what spectrum will be available to the United Kingdom, in what time scale, so that it will now be possible to establish what assignments could be devoted to community radio.None the less, there remain some decisions which need to be taken, and the new frequencies will in any event not be available for some time. There will almost certainly be more would-be broadcasters than frequencies available. We shall therefore need to decide how to choose between competing applicants, and how the new stations are to be financed. We shall also have to consider what limits, if any, should be placed on what can be broadcast, and what the relationship should be with existing local radio stations.I am firmly resolved to reach practical and positive decisions on all these matters as quickly as possible, because I believe that community radio is a constructive development which should now be given a clear impetus. Community radio will promote self-help, increase freedom of speech, and be of value to many local communities.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to announce licence awards under the ninth round of offshore licensing.

I am now able to announce awards for the 13 cash tender blocks applied for in the ninth round. These awards go to the highest bidder in each case and complete the cash tender part of the round. The bids total £121·3 million; the highest was £25·5 million from BP for block 15/18b. Full details are set out in a note which has today been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.The assessment of applications for blocks in the "discretionary" part of the round is proceeding, and I hope to be able to announce awards for these in April or May.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the total number of new jobs announced by the Industrial Development Board for the year ended 31 December 1984; and how many of these jobs will be provided by Northern Ireland firms, Great Britain's firms and foreign firms, respectively;(2) how many new firms, based, respectively, in Northern Ireland, Great Britain and in foreign countries, announced their intention during the year ended 31 December 1984 to locate in Northern Ireland and provide employment.

In the year ended 31 December 1984, the Industrial Development Board for Northern Ireland promoted 5,189 new jobs. These were promoted as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total intake of young persons as trainee nurses in each of the years 1982, 1983 and 1984; and how many came from the Republic of Ireland in each of those three years.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many police officers have submitted premature retirement applications for dates before 19 March; and what was the comparable number for the period 1 January to 19 March 1984.

As the police pension scheme does not prescribe a normal retirement age for police officers—as distinct from a compulsory age — it is not always

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate the effect on an unprotected and unprepared civilian population of the accidental discharge of 10 gallons of methyl isocyanate.

Accidental discharges of materials will have different effects according to circumstances. I am advised by the Health and Safety Executive, on the basis of theoretical calculations, that a spillage of 10 gallons of liquid methyl isocyanate in typical British day-time weather might form a pool which would evaporate in about a quarter of an hour if no emergency action were taken. The vapour would be blown downwind possible to say whether any particular application to retire is premature. Officers qualify for full pension on completion of 30 years' service, but in many cases they can retire with pension before then.The information sought is therefore not readily available, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Nor is a meaningful comparison with the period 1 January to 19 March 1984 yet possible, as only one month's notice of retirement is necessary.Details of retirement in the precise period 1 January to 19 March 1984 are not available, as statistics are collected on a quarterly basis. In the quarter which ended on 31 March 1984, a total of 77 officers retired from forces in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for replacing the County hospital, Stornoway.

My Department has under consideration proposals submitted by the Western Isles health board for the replacement of facilities currently provided both by the Lewis and County hospitals, Stornoway.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide details of the number of pupils for whom education authorities in Scotland provide free school transport.

The information from the survey of school transport undertaken in September 1984 is as follows:as a narrow plume. For a spill of the size envisaged here, the area affected would be small. People who were out of doors would experience irritation of eyes and mucous membranes at distances out to about 200 metres from the spill. Close to the source, serious injuries could result, although people would probably escape by going indoors or walking out of the plume. People indoors would receive considerable protection. Less favourable weather conditions could increase the hazard range, but such conditions are less likely.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people left youth training schemes before the completion of their first year training in (a) the first six months of 1984 and (b) the second six months of 1984

[pursuant to his reply, 14 January 1985, c. 36]: Final figures for 1984 are not yet available. However, it is provisionally estimated that there were about 85,000 young people who left the youth training scheme four weeks or more before their expected completion date in the first half of 1984—not including "early leavers" from Construction Industry Training Board schemes between January and March 1984—and about 95,000 such "early leavers" between July and December 1984. These provisional estimates will be subject to upward revision once further information becomes available after the end of the financial year.A sample survey of young people who left the scheme between April and July, which included a majority of "early leavers" among those who responded, showed that almost 60 per cent. had gone into jobs.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people were in training on the youth training scheme at the end of each month from April 1983 to August 1984, by mode; and how many young people were in training (a) on current year schemes and (b) on previous year schemes at the end of each month from September 1984 to the latest available month, also by mode.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 January 1985, c. 285]: The information requested is given in the tables:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report the full amounts paid to each local authority in England for each year since inception of (a) urban development grants and (b) derelict land grants.

I shall write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total sum now outstanding and owed to the Greater London council under mortgage arrangements; and how many such mortgages are at rates of interest currently above the prevailing average building society rate.

Figures taken from the draft 1985–86 GLC budget document suggest that at 31 July 1984 the council had outstanding debts totalling £306 million secured on 55,000 home loan mortgages. Of these, 29,500 were at fixed rates of interest which can be assumed to be below the rates currently being charged by building societies. 23,500 were subject to interest rates variable at the council's discretion. A further 2,000 were subject to the requirements on rates of interest in section 110 of the Housing Act 1980. Broadly, this would require the rates to be at the higher of the council's average borrowing costs plus ¼per cent. or the standard national rate of interest set by my right hon. Friend. That is currently 11⅞ per cent., in line with the average basic rate charged by building societies from 1 December 1984, but is subject to adjustment in the light of changes in building society interest rates. I regret that more recent information is not available. The GLC may be able to assist my hon. Friend if he requires more information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each year since 1981 and for each metropolitan district council in Greater Manchester (a) its maximum expenditure entitlement under section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972 and (b) the amount spent under section 137 upon (i) measures designed to alleviate unemployment, (ii) economic development initiatives and (iii) grants or other financial support to registered charities in its area to match the existing provision for voluntary bodies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what research is being conducted through the Atomic Energy Authority on the longer-term problems of the disposal of nuclear waste.

The Atomic Energy Authority is investigating the corrosion rate of waste containers and methods to contain any released radioactivity within the construction materials of a disposal facility. It also has in hand research into the possibilities for migration of radionuclides in groundwater moving through geological strata.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if the Government have submitted their report to the Paris commission outlining measures being taken to meet the commission's recommendations that the best available technology should be taken account of at nuclear reprocessing plants in order to minimise radioactive discharges to the marine environment.

A report by the United Kingdom was submitted to the Paris commission on 27 December. I have placed copies in the Library of the House.

asked the Prime Minister if any plutonium produced by British civil reactors is being used in the United Kingdom nuclear weapons programme.

Plutonium from CEGB and SSEB power stations is not used for nuclear weapons.

asked the Prime Minister what arrangements exist in the nationalised industries, consequent upon the repeal of the fair wages clause, for the trade unions to be consulted about the maintenance by contractors employed by the industries of the safety standards established by the industries themselves; and whether there is provision for requiring the observance of terms and conditions of employment recommended by the relevant trade associations.

On the basis of information provided by the local authorities concerned, the maximum expenditure entitlement under section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972 for the metropolitan district councils in Greater Manchester was as follows:

The fair wages resolution applied to Government Departments only. However, many nationalised industries included in their contracts fair wages clauses similar to those of the resolution. The resolution did not apply to safety standards. The responsibilities of employers to consult on matters of safety are laid out in the Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977 and in section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. Arrangements in the nationalised industries for negotiating terms and conditions with subcontractors, including trade union consultation, are matters for the managements of the industries themselves.

asked the Prime Minister how much has been paid by central Government in grants and subsidies for which local authorities are the ultimate recipients, showing separately (a) rate support grants, (b) rent and rate rebates and housing benefit, (c) housing subsidies and (d) any other grants or subsidies, divided by category for each year from 1978–79 to 1984–85, giving the figures both in cash terms and expressed at current prices; and if she will provide similar data in respect of each individual metropolitan county council and each of the metropolitan borough councils within their areas.

I shall reply to my hon Friend shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Government intend to hole Local Enterprise Week in 1985.

Local Enterprise Week 1985 will be held from Wednesday 15 May to Friday 24 May.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is now in a position to make a statement on the recommendation of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report, Cmnd. 8858, in relation to a limited experiment in Glasgow and Manchester for the independent cinemas in those cities to be afforded the same rights of access to films as EMI and Rank.

Yes. Following a period of consultation after the publication of the report, I announced that I had asked the Director General of Fair Trading as an initial step to arrange for an experimental regime based on the Commission's recommendation on barring and a four-week limit to delays in the release of popular films, to be applied in selected locations, and to report back to me. As I said in answer to the hon. Member on 26 November 1984, the Director General encountered difficulties in setting up the experiment and I have been considering the position. I have held a number of meetings with representatives of exhibitors and distributors, and I am pleased to say that all have agreed in principle to give undertakings to participate in the experiment. The Government remain committed to this course, and we intend to finalise details shortly to enable the Director General to proceed with the experiment as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total value of Scottish manufactured exports, at constant 1980 prices, in each year since 1978; and what were the comparable figures for the United Kingdom as a whole over the same period.

The information requested is not available. Estimates of the value of exports through Scottish ports can be found in the "Scottish Economic Bulletin." More rigorous estimates of Scottish manufactured exports, for 1979 only, are given in the "Scottish Input/Output tables for 1979", a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has now prepared and submitted Her Majesty's Government's response to the request by the European Commission for information on United States' measures to restrict technology transfers.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any information as to the additional costs incurred by the British Steel Corporation to date arising from the strike in the mining industry; and if he will make a statement.

BSC's interim results for the half year ended 29 September 1984 show the effect of the miners' strike to be about £3·6 million per week. I understand tht costs have since then been running at around the same weekly rate.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action the Government are taking on research into computer translation through the use of Esperanto following the study and reports made by the European Economic Community Commission.

[pursuant to the reply, 22 January 1985; c. 370]: We are taking no action following this study. The European Commission has itself decided not to pursue this work any further. We are, however, very aware of the importance of promoting developments in machine translation and are supporting the Commission in its work with the Systran system and research in the Eurotra project.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will explain more fully the meaning of the words professional integrity in article 23 of the EEC eighth directive of 10 April 1984 on approval of persons responsible for carrying out the statutory audits of accounting documents; and whether these words include professional competence.

[pursuant to the reply, 22 January 1985; c. 370]: This directive is Community law, and its interpretation must ultimately be a matter for the courts.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many cases of assaults on teachers by pupils in (a) secondary and (b) primary schools have been recorded during each of the past 10 years for which figures are available; and how many of these resulted in legal action.

This information is not collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what recent representations he has received about the incidence of assaults on teachers by pupils; and what reply he has given;(2) whether he plans any initiatives to reduce the incidence of assaults on teachers by pupils.

While my right hon. Friend has received many recent representations about school discipline in general and corporal punishment in particular, very few have referred specifically to assaults on teachers. The Government deplore all physical attacks on teachers, but responsibility must be with local education authorities and schools which are in a position to take firm action swiftly.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if, when he next meets the First Division Association, he will discuss the Civil Service-wide implications of the withdrawal of trade union rights from GCHQ, Cheltenham.

I have no plans to meet the First Division Association. I am always willing to consider representations made by trade unions on Civil Service-wide matters. If and when a meeting does take place which touches on this question, I shall reiterate what has repeatedly been made clear: that it is emphatically not the Government's intention to extend the measures in force at GCHQ beyond those agencies whose primary functions are concerned with security and intelligence.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any official British aid was given to organisations working on behalf of Palestinian organisations, wherever located, in the years 1979 to 1983.

Our aid is designed to benefit Palestinians who need assistance. None goes directly to Palestinianorganisations. Our chief contributions to Palestinian welfare have been indirect, through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), to which we are one of the largest contributors; through the European Community; and through British voluntary agencies working with Palestinians for their welfare and development.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what official aid has been given by the United Kingdom to (a) individual members of the Arab League, and Egypt and (b) non-Arab members of the Islamic Conference Organisation in each year from 1979 to 1983.

Official aid was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what amount of official British aid was channelled through United Nations organisations to projects in the West Bank or Gaza strip, or in Palestinian refugee camps in other areas in each year from 1979 to 1983.

The United Kingdom makes voluntary contributions towards the general costs of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the near East. For the years in question these were:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the cost to date of official visits to provide guidance to the Falkland Islands Government as to how they might develop educational and medical centres.

The estimated cost since late 1982 to date is about £24,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what is the latest figure for the cost of his proposal to expand the grassland trial unit, now known as the Falkland Islands agricultural research and development centre;(2) how much Her Majesty's Government spend and intend to spend on identifying research, and developing and refining methods for the greater production of wool by developing new sheep farming systems in the Falklands;(3) what decision has been made on the proposal to expand the Falkland Islands agricultural research and development centre.

As explained in my reply to the hon. Member on 23 July last, at column 477, £2·5 million has been allocated for the expansion and operation of the agricultural research centre, formerly known as the Falkland Islands agricultural research and development centre, over the next five years. The primary objective of the ARC is to identify and develop methods aimed at an increased production of wool through improved nutrition, animal health, husbandry and management.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what loans have now been proposed to encourage small-scale development projects for agricultural improvements in the Falklands.

The Falkland Islands Development Corporation has approved loans for equipment for the bakery in Stanley, the establishment of a dairy, a snack bar, and an electrical contracting business. Proposals for the establishment of a dry-cleaning business, market gardening, tannery and skin processing and the development of tourism are under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what amount of loan he has now been paid for the wool mill at Fox Bay East in the Falklands.

The full amount of £130,000 has now been made available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what assessment is made of the visit to the Falklands by a forestry consultant; and what study is being made of his report;(2) what consideration Her Majesty's Government have given to the report of the forestry consultant who visited the Falkland Islands in September 1983.

The report has been considered carefully by the Falkland Islands Government, who have decided that implementation of the proposals should be deferred for the time being on the grounds of cost and the uncertain benefits compared with other priorities for spending in the agricultural sector. The recommendations will be kept under review by the agricultural research centre and the Falkland Islands Development Corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the estimated cost to date for 1984–85 of the expatriate officers in the Falklands.

The estimated cost to end December 1984 is £720,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his latest estimate of the cost of plans to improve telecommunications in the Falklands; and if he will make a statement on the consultant's report on this matter.

The estimated capital cost of implementing the recommendations made by the consultants is £785,000. This includes the provision of a new automatic telephone exchange and distribution network in Stanley and improved communication links with outlying settlements.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what action is being taken to improve water and power supplies in the Falklands; and at what cost;(2) what consideration he is giving to the reports of feasibility studies on future long-term power and water requirements in the Falklands.

Consultants have reported on the long-term power and water requirements in Stanley. A project to improve power supplies, including additional generating capacity and an improved distribution system, is being undertaken at an estimated cost of £2·9 million. A project to improve the water supply is in preparation. The cost is likely to be about £3 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the amount spent so far of the £31 million made available over six years for longer-term economic development of the Falklands.

Cumulative expenditure at the end of December was £3·8 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what is the cost to Her Majesty's Government of timber prefabricated houses from Sweden erected in the Falkland Islands;(2) what is now the completion cost of Brewster houses in Port Stanley; and how much in excess of the tender this is;(3) what is the latest cost estimate of the 54 Brewster homes on the Falklands.

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member on 14 January at column 19.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs at what total cost to date Her Majesty's Government have provided fuel, plant, tools, building materials and equipment to the Falkland Islands Government Public Works Department.

The cost of providing these items was £2·146 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the cost of the feasibility study on an improved harbour complex in the Falklands, including a new deep water jetty.

The final cost is not yet known as the study is still in progress. Expenditure to date is £53,942.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many kilometres of road have now been completed in Port Stanley town and at what cost, broken down into plant, materials, contractors' camp, freight, insurance, management, local costs, and other items;(2) what has been the cost so far of the repair of roads in Port Stanley and the road to the Port Stanley airport.

As explained in my reply to the hon. Member on 23 July 1984, at column 475,11·1 km of roads have been repaired or reconstructed—4·8 km Stanley town roads and 6·3 km airport road. A total of £6·8 million was allocated, including provision for a stone crusher which was not, in the event, used on this project but transferred elsewhere. Estimated expenditure is £6·3 million made up as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what has been the availability of the hostel for school children in Port Stanley;(2) what is the cost in 1984–85 of providing permanent boarding school facilities for secondary school children in Port Stanley.

At present 18 girls are accommodated in Stanley House and 24 boys in mobile homes in its grounds at an estimated cost to the Falkland Islands Government of £94,280 in 1984–85. Two dormitory blocks are now being erected in the grounds of Stanley House which when completed, will accommodate a total of 84, meeting all the expected demand for boarding facilities. The present estimated cost of the new dormitories is £925,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what grants have now been paid for a small scale industrial estate in Port Stanley.

Expenditure to date is £26,222.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the cost so far of the repair and replacement of damaged housing in Port Stanley.

As explained in my reply to the hon. Member on 23 July 1984, at column 476, it is not possible to give a precise figure because the information available cannot be broken down in sufficient detail. Excluding the cost of the prefabricated housing project, part of which was to replace housing destroyed during the conflict in 1982, £360,000 has been spent on repairs to housing.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the payment to James Brewster Associates in relation to their claims for extra costs for Brewster houses in Port Stanley caused by delays in shipping and port handling.

Delay claims settled to date total £370,194.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what is the current rate of occupation for Brewster houses in Port Stanley;(2) how many Brewster houses on the Falklands are currently unoccupied;(3) when he hopes to complete sewerage, water and electrical services to make all the Brewster houses in Port Stanley habitable.

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave the hon. Member on 14 January at column 19.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what safety inspection has been undertaken of Stanley House schoolboys' hostel and its electric wiring.

As explained in my reply to the hon. Member on 23 July last, at column 476, Stanley House was rewired in 1981 and, in accordance with the standard procedure of the Institute of Elctrical Engineers, it would not be due for a complete inspection for five years. However, the kitchem was rewired in March 1983 when new equipment was installed and regular examination of wiring is carried out.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether there are now fire hydrants at Stanley House schoolboys' hostel.

There is little to add to my reply to the hon. Member on 23 July last, at column 476. There are no fire hydrants in or immediately adjacent to the building, but there are hydrants in streets bordering the plot. There are five extinguishers in Stanley House itself and in every mobile home in the grounds, as well as automatic smoke detectors. There are fire alarm hand bells in Stanley House and in the area adjacent to the mobile homes and fire drills are practised regularly.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of Port Stanley's central roads still need repair.

As explained in my reply to the hon. Member on 23 July last at column 43, it is estimated that within Stanley town boundaries 3·25 km of surfaced roads require reconstruction or less major patch and fill repairs; and that a further 3·85 km of unsurfaced roads require surfacing.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is satisfied with concrete surfaces on Port Stanley roads.

As explained in my reply to the hon. Member on 2 July last, at column 43, 2·285 km of roads in Stanley have been reconstructed in concrete. The surfaces are, I believe, considered satisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his latest estimate to the respective contributions of the United Kingdom and of the European Economic Community towards the relief of famine in Ethiopia and in the Sudan; and how they compare with the contributions of the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, respectively.

The United Kingdom's bilateral aid and aid made available by member states through the European Community towards the relief of famine in Ethiopia and Sudan have been as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will seek a report from the Welsh water authority on the measures the authority is taking to maintain, improve and develop fisheries pursuant to its statutory obligations under section 28 of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975; and if he will make a statement on the substance of the report;(2) how much of the net total expenditure of the Welsh water authority was spent on maintaining, improving and developing fisheries in pursuance of its statutory obligations under section 28 of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

The Welsh water authority reports annually to Ministers on the discharge of its

the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has as to the trend in the level of poaching on the River Usk and estuary; from what organisation she has received information; whether the Welsh water

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what steps is he taking in association with the Welsh water authority to combat poaching on the River Usk and in the estuary; and if he will make a statement.

Combating illegal fishing on the River Usk and in its estuary is the responsibility of the Welsh water authority. The river and estuary are patrolled by six of the authority's bailiffs, suitably equipped for the task. There are also eight honorary bailiffs recruited from fishery interests in the area, to assist with routine enforcement duties.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied that financial restrictions on Welsh water authority expenditure are not impeding the discharge of its statutory duties to protect fishing waters against salmon poachers and that the authority has sufficient finance to carry out its statutory obligations under section 28 of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975; and if he will make a statement.

I am satisfied that the Welsh water authority has access to sufficient financial resources to undertake its fisheries functions and carry out its statutory obligations.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of convictions for offences relating to salmon and trout poaching on the River Usk and estuary in each of the last five years; and what penalties were imposed.

The information requested is as follows:authority has increased protection of its fisheries in recent times under section 28 of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act; and if he will make a statement.

Although there is no objective measure of the trend in poaching levels, I am advised that illegal fishing activity may have passed its peak in recent years. Information has been provided by the Welsh water authority. The Merthyr Tydfil angling association and some individuals have also submitted their views on fish stocks in the River Usk. Some increase in the protection of fisheries has been achieved through the introduction by the Welsh water authority of new techniques to combat poaching.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received advocating a limb appliance centre at Bangor.

Various individuals and organisations have from time to time argued the case for an artificial limb and appliance centre to be located somewhere in north Wales. This case will be considered fully as part of our Department's general review of regional health services in north Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing for the most recently available date the notified vacancies for each employment exchange area in Wales.

Numbers of notified vacancies at jobcentres, careers offices and professional executive recruitment in Wales are published monthly. The latest available figures published on 3 January are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is able to announce his decisions on local authority higher education provision in 1985–86; and if he will make a statement.

Having consulted the Welsh Joint Education Committee and the Welsh Counties Committee I have decided that the advanced further education quantum for 1985–86 should be set at £28·5 million. This represents a 6·75 per cent. increase between 1984–85 and 1985–86 when allowance is made for the abolition of the national insurance surcharge.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has had any recent discussions with the Turkish Foreign Secretary about human rights in Turkey.

We remain in close touch with the Turkish authorities about a range of issues, including human rights. They can be in no doubt as to our opinions. My right hon. and learned Friend last spoke to the Turkish Foreign Minister on this subject last May and will visit Turkey from 11 to 13 of February.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to meet Mr. Yasser Arafat.

My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current state of Anglo-Polish relations.

My visit to Poland last November marked the resumption of our bilateral relations at ministerial level. My right hon. and learned Friend will continue this process by visiting Poland from 11 to 13 April.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the Government have to develop and improve Anglo-Soviet relations.

We are continuing to develop contacts at all levels with the Soviet Union, and to work generally for better relations between East and West. Mr. Gromyko has accepted my invitation to visit London this year, and my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind) will expect to visit Moscow in return for the visit of Mr. Kornienko to London in 1984. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will be visiting Moscow in February to open the British Agro-Industrial Exhibition. We shall continue our programme of official level talks on international issues, and there will be exchanges on bilateral trade, cultural and other matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any plans to meet the Foreign Minister of the Soviet Union.

I have invited Mr. Gromyko to visit the United Kingdom this year. He has accepted, and dates are now under discussion.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether a date has yet been fixed for the planned visit by the Soviet Foreign Minister to the United Kingdom.

No. Dates are under discussion on diplomatic channels.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he received any assurance from Mr. Gorbachev last month regarding future compliance by the Soviet Union with its international obligations on human rights.

No. During my talks with Mr. Gorbachev last month, I urged that the Soviet Union carry out its human rights commitments under the Helsinki Final Act. Regrettably, Mr. Gorbachev's response gave no cause to expect any early change in Soviet attitudes on this question.