asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether the Government have taken a decision on future ethnic surveys in the Civil Service.

The Government have decided to follow the ethnic surveys undertaken in the north-west and county of Avon with surveys of all remaining non-industrial staff in a phased programme during 1985 to 1988. The first stage of the programme will cover all non-industrial staff in the east and west midlands later this year. All new entrants to the Civil Service will also be covered as soon as the necessary arrangements can be made. Separate arrangements are being worked out for industrial staff. Consideration will be given to further monitoring of recruitment schemes in the light of the results of the recruitment surveys undertaken last year in the north-west and county of Avon. The data from these surveys are now being analysed and we expect to publish the report in the spring.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment on which rivers and streams the dipper has been found to have declined because of the relatively high acidity level; and by how many it has declined in each case.

My Department is aware of two surveys examining the relationship between acidity levels and the dipper population, one carried out by the Welsh water authority on 17 tributaries of the Wye, the other by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in conjunction with that authority on 74 sites throughout the Principality.The findings have not yet been published, but I understand both surveys suggest that higher acidity is associated with a lower dipper population. In only one case, the River Irfon, are historic data available to compare populations over time; a 70 to 80 per cent. decrease in the dipper population has been recorded between the mid-1950s and 1982, during which time the acidity level increased considerably.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current number of registered keepers of birds of prey.

The total number of keepers registered is 3,050. The number of those registered as keepers of birds of prey, with live birds is approximately 2,400.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many registered breeders are currently breeding (a) the golden eagle, (b) the goshawk, (c) the merlin and (d) the peregrine falcon and (e) other raptors; and how many of each bird was bred in 1984.

The numbers of registered keepers who bred or attempted to breed birds of prey, and the number of such birds subsequently registered as bred in captivity in 1984 were:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to introduce legislation to give greater protection to those living in properties in multiple occupation by increasing the stringency of the fire regulations applicable to such properties.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Construction gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Westminster, North (Mr. Wheeler) on 11 December 1984 at column 443.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the implications for the quality of services provided by water authorities of the proposed increase in their rate of return on net assets.

The effect cannot be precisely assessed, but the higher rates of return will support higher investment in water services. Although priorities differ from region to region, this is expected to include higher spending on renovation and renewal of sewers and water mains, with consequent benefit to service levels, and additional outlays aimed at improving the quality of rivers, estuaries and coastal waters.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimates he has made of the effect upon the construction industry of the proposed changes in the financial framework of the water authorities.

The financial targets that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Leominster (Mr. Temple-Morris) on 12 November 1984 at columns 68–69, will allow a significant real increase in capital investment by the water authorities.The planning investment levels for the authorities in the public expenditure White Paper (Cmnd. 9428) are £852 million (1985–86), £914 million (1986–87) and £964 million (1987–88). This will enable the authorities to maintain and improve services, secure further improvement in the quality of our rivers, estuaries and beaches and make faster progress on the replacement, repair and maintenance of sewers and water mains. As most of this work will be contracted out to the private sector, it will be of direct benefit to the construction industry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to introduce a statutory rebate system for water charges to lower paid customers.

No. It has been the policy of successive Governments that, if help is needed, it is provided through the social security system. Water services charges are taken into account when supplementary benefit is calculated, and some 3 million households already receive help in this way.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the monitoring of radioactive discharges from the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority facility at Winfrith Heath, Dorset.

Yes. The Department of the Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food carry out regular monitoring and I am satisfied that discharges continue to pose no threat to the public.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the circumstances in which radioactive contamination emanating from the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority's research facility at Winfrith Heath has been discovered near Ventnor, Isle of Wight; and what steps he is taking to seek to prevent a recurrence.

I understand that the radioactivity referred to resulted from routine liquid discharges from the Atomic Energy Establishment Winfrith and were radiologically insignificant. There is no cause for concern.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what revisions he proposes to make to the Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1977 in regard to agricultural holdings in predominantly residential areas under class 5 of schedule 1 of that order.

The Government's proposals to amend the General Development Order were set out in a paper issued for public consultation on 23 January 1984. Copies were placed in the Library. The paper includes proposals for tighter controls over the development of livestock buildings in the vicinity of residential property. These, and the many other proposals for changes in the GDO, prompted a wide response from many quarters, and we are currently considering these responses and their simplications in detail.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what has been his response to the representation made to his Department by the British Helicopter Advisory Board in reply to its letter of 14 August 1984 about planning permission for the proposed stolport at the Royal docks in Newham;(2) what his response has been to the views put forward by Short Brothers of Belfast about the proposed runway length for the stolport at the Royal docks in Newham.

My right hon. Friend has not responded. The representations are being considered together with others made as part of the consultation process.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what opportunities will be provided for experts from interested parties, including the London borough of Greenwich, to comment on the additional evidence put forward by the Department of Transport in its letter of 31 July 1984 on the control of noise from the proposed Stolport at the Royal docks in Newham.

All the parties have been given the opportunity to comment on the additional evidence and, in a second round of consultation, on each other's comments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how the additional evidence put forward by the Department of Transport in its letter of 31 July 1984 on the control of noise from the proposed Stolport at the Royal docks in Newham is likely to affect the section 52 agreement between the Port of London Authority, John Mowlem and Co., the London Docklands Development Corporation and Newham council.

As was stated in the Department's letters of 14 August 1984, the additional evidence related to the drafting of a condition recommended by the inspector following the public local inquiry. It would not be appropriate for my right hon. Friend to comment on the section 52 agreement as such, which is a matter for the parties to the agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the noise impact on Thamesmead residents, both now and as Thamesmead is developed, of the De Havilland STOL aircraft Dash 8 using the proposed Stolport.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is now in a position to make a statement concerning the proposed designation of the North Pennines area as an area of outstanding beauty.

My right hon. Friend is still considering this matter. A further announcement will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the latest expected date of completion of the Falkland Islands airport including the ancillary Army provision; and how this compares with the original date;(2) what is the latest estimate of the cost of the Falkland Islands airport and ancillary provision; and how this compares with the original estimate.

I shall answer these questions shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for South Hams on 21 January, Official Report, columns 266–67, concerning the sale of public land on the vacant and derelict land register, what steps have been taken by each local authority to dispose of the land; whether tenders have been dispatched in each case; what are the dates of return; and how he proposes to monitor progress in each case.

With the exception of Nottingham city council, which sought and received extension of time, the authorities have advertised the sites as being for sale in the Estates Gazette and elsewhere. The sales are all by tender, and tender documents are available for prospective purchasers.The directions issued by my right hon. Friend specified that the closing date for the receipt of tenders would be no earlier than six weeks and no later than eight weeks after the date on which the advertisements appeared. The dates between which the closing dates should accordingly fall are:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment on what day his report and account was required, under paragraph 37 of schedule 3 to the Water Act 1973, to be sent to the Comptroller and Auditor General for the year 1983–84.

The report and account for 1983–84 was required to be sent by 30 November 1984 and was delivered on 27 November 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, on what dates he has given directions to water authorities under his powers in paragraph 35 of schedule 3 to the Water Act 1973 since 1979; and to which authorities.

No such directions have been given.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he proposes to publish advice on the planning issues raised by non-retail uses in shopping areas.

I have today published a development control policy note on service uses in shopping areas which replaces and considerably enlarges upon advice dating from 1969. The note is available from HMSO and is applicable to both England and Wales. I hope that the note will provide a sound basis on which both

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the circumstances under which a notebook, the property of the Brent Labour group, reached the office of the Minister for Local Government.

This would not be appropriate at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of (a) the number and (b) the total sales value of children's books published in the Welsh language during the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available.

This information is not held centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to ensure that where, under the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, areas are designated as areas of special scientific interest then there should be provided an opportunity for the owner or occupier of that land, or other interested party, to appeal against that designation should they so desire.

The matter was considered during the passage of the Act, and we concluded that the right balance was struck by requiring the Nature Conservancy Council to take account of any representations of objections made by owners and occupiers of proposed sites of special scientific interest before notifying such sites.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish details of the total income of housing revenue accounts of Welsh housing authorities that have come from (a) rents, excluding rebates, (b) rent rebates, (c) interest from capital receipts from the sale of council dwellings, (d) Government subsidy, (e) non-statutory contributions from the rate fund and (f) other sources for 1984–85, and for each of the preceding five years.

Based on returns made by local authorities to the Welsh Office, the information is estimated to be as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report a table giving, by quarter since their inception, for Wales (a) the number of dwellings insulated under the local authorities energy conservation programme and a breakdown of the body which completed the work, (b) the cost of the programme and (c) the number of dwellings insulated under the home insulation scheme and a breakdown of tenancies to whom

The available information is given in the following tables. Details of the type of body carrying out the work and of the type of tenancy are not collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the latest figure reported to his Department of the number of (a) full-time and (b) part-time employees at the Welsh water authority; and what information he has as to how many full posts have been subject to voluntary redundancy agreements over the past five years.

At the end of December 1984 the Welsh water authority employed 4,698 full-time and 100 part-time staff. The number of full-time employees who have been granted voluntary redundancy over the last five years is 940.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give details of the settlement reached on 10 February 1984 between the Welsh Health Technical Services Organisation and S. W. Milburn and Partners and W. S. Atkins and Partners pertaining to structural and material defects in the Heath hospital, Cardiff.

The settlement was reached between the Welsh Health Technical Services Organisation, acting on the advice of counsel, and the other parties. It was a term of the settlement that the agreement should be confidential to the parties, subject only to the right of confidential disclosure to the Welsh Office and the Public Accounts Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will now place in the Library a copy of the report commissioned by the Welsh Health Authority Technical Services Organisation from Ove Arup and Partners on the structure and soundness of the Heath hospital, Cardiff.

I have placed a copy of the reply and appendices in the House of Commons Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many rear seat passengers were killed in road traffic accidents in Wales during 1984;(2) what was the total number of road deaths in Wales during 1984; and if he will give a breakdown of this figure;(3) how many motorists who died during 1984 in road traffic accidents in Wales and who were either drivers or front seat passengers would appear not to have been wearing seat belts at the time of the accident.

The information requested is not yet to hand, but it is anticipated that provisional figures will be available in May.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will consider the introduction of a confidential waste disposal system similar to that operating in the Civil Service for hon. Members who have to dispose of confidential papers they may receive as members of Select Committees.

The Clerk of the Select Committee concerned will always arrange for the shredding of any confidential Committee papers which a Member may wish to dispose of.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the full cost to public funds of the letter dated 30 November sent out by his Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State to selected Members of Parliament.

About £350.

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

I understand that British Rail expects to have lost some £215 million of freight receipts by the end of January 1985 as a result of the strike in the mining industry and refusal by a small number of its employees to handle coal offered for movement by rail.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if there is a current licence for a scheduled air service to operate between Leeds/Bradford airport and Gatwick.

Yes. It is held by Metropolitan Airways.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what analysis his Department has made of the Marconi MET-3 electronic fog detection system which has been in use on the M4 for the past nine months.

The initial trial of the Marconi MET 3 fog detection system on the M4 commenced in November 1983. Following modifications by the company in November 1984 to overcome technical problems, the trial and evaluation has been extended.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what material was available to the airport inquiries in 1981–83 in relation to the effects of expenditure on airport development on (a) public expenditure patterns, (b) the ancillary effects on jobs of large-scale public investments in airport development in various regions and (c) the relationship between airports policy and regional investments and development.

The material available to the airports inquiries in 1981–83 is referred to in the inspector's report which was published on 10 December. The appendices in part IX provide an index of inquiry documents.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport to what extent developments at United Kingdom regional airports have been approved in the last 10 years; what was the total cost in each case and the cost to central Government; and which proposed developments have not been approved.

I shall write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State's recent visit to the north-west region.

I visited the north-west region on 23 January, when I had a useful meeting with representatives of a number of local authorities in the area. We discussed issues relating to the Government's proposals for the bus industry. I also met a number of representatives of the local media.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what information he had about the development of the electric vehicle now known as the Sinclair C5 prior to bringing forward the legislation providing for electrically-assisted pedal cycles to be treated as pedal cycles and not as motor vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

Section 24 of the Transport Act 1981 provided for an electrically assisted pedal cycle, of a class to be prescribed in regulations, not to be treated as a motor vehicle. In 1982 the Department consulted on draft regulations which, amended in the light of consultation, were laid before Parliament on 8 July 1983 as the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles Regulations 1983.During that period a number of individuals and firms, including Sinclair Research Ltd., expressed interest in the potential both for bicycles and tricycles. Some, but not Sinclair Research Ltd., provided information on their ideas for development and the regulations were drafted to allow manufacturers freedom of design within strict limits on speed, weight and power. The Sinclair C5 meets these limits as well as other safety requirements principally for brakes and lights. We do not expect it to have an accident record dissimilar from that which applies to pedal cycles generally.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list those organisations which have recently approached him seeking the expansion of Manchester airport;(2) how many applications have been made for new scheduled services from Manchester airport by

I shall answer these questions shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the original date for publication of the orders for the Denton to Middleton section of the Manchester outer ring road; what is the current date for publication of the orders; when the public inquiry was originally due to be held; and when he now expects the public inquiry to open.

When I wrote to the hon. Gentleman last July, I indicated that draft orders might be published at around the end of 1984 and that the public inquiry might get under way in the autumn of this year. We now plan to publish the orders in a few weeks time and to start the public inquiry next winter.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the results of his Department's investigation into the possibility of routeing the Manchester outer ring road over the redundant Chadderton power station site.

Our investigations into the suggested alternative route through the disused Chadderton power station have shown that it would cost about £2 million more than the original route and involve a loss of up to £4 million worth of economic benefits. I have therefore decided that the original route should form the basis of our statutory orders.I have written to the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the order of priority and timetable of his Department for the installation of crash barriers on the next 20 dual carriageways in England and Wales.

I will answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to install continuous crash barriers on the A38 between Exeter and Plymouth; and if he will make a statement.

I have no plans for the installation of further lengths of safety fencing here. However, my Department is currently undertaking a review of the criteria relating to the provision of safety fencing and should this indicate that further lengths can be justified, I shall not hesitate to authorise their provision.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many fatal and non-fatal road accidents occurred in the county of Suffolk from July to September 1984 compared with the same period in 1983; if he will give national figures for the same period; and if he will make a statement.

The number of injury accidents are shown in the table below. All 1984 data are provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many rear seat passengers were killed in road traffic accidents in England during 1984;(2) what was the total number of road deaths in England during 1984; and if he will give a breakdown of this figure;(3) how many motorists who died during 1984 in road traffic accidents in England and who were either drivers or front seat passengers would appear not to have been wearing seat belts at the time of the accident.

Provisional estimates of road casualties in 1984 will be published in April, and detailed breakdowns of the final figures will be given in "Road Accidents Great Britain" later in the year. Figures for 1983 can be found in tables 37, 38, and 47 of the 1983 edition, a copy of which is in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the areas of (a) agricultural land and (b) woodland sprayed in each year since 1977 by (i) fixed wing aircraft and (ii) helicopters; if he will give for each year the total number of aircraft involved; and if he will estimate for each year the proportion accounted for by pesticide application.

[pursuant to the reply, 22 January 1985, c. 400]: Details are available for pesticide use only, and for the total number of aircraft, as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the annual report of the Chief Inspecting Officer of Railways for 1984 to be published formally; and what is the earliest date on which a copy could be made available to the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth of 24 January, Official Report, column 483, if he will explain the circumstances in which a British Rail engineer's train was propelled past a signal at danger on to the main line; at what estimated closing speed the two trains collided; what damage was caused to the two trains involved, to the track, to signalling equipment and to overhead lines and how long they were each out of service as a result; what was the nature of the minor injuries sustained and if those affected are eligible for compensation; what is the nature of the action taken by British Rail to prevent a recurrence; whether the driver of the passenger train involved has been commended for his action; what is the nature of the disciplinary action taken against those members of British Rail staff held responsible for the accident and what were their functions at the time of the accident; and if he will make a statement.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the loans over £10,000 made at a rate of interest lower than normal commercal rates by the Scottish Tourist Board to aid tourist development projects in each of the last five years, specifying also, where appropriate, the ultimate holding company of the recipient of the loan.

There were none.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the total number and value of loans made by the Scottish Tourist Board to aid tourist development projects in each of the last five years where the loan carried a rate of interest lower than normal commercial rates.

There were none.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the grants over £10,000 given by the Scottish Tourist Board to aid tourist development projects in each of the last five years, specifying also, where appropriate, the ultimate holding company of the recipient of grant.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the total number and value of grants given by the Scottish Tourist Board to aid tourist development projects in each of the last five years.

The information is set out in the table:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the number of dialysis kidney machines in operation on an area basis in Scotland; and how many will be in operation in 1986 and 1987.

Information about the number of machines is not collected centrally, since the differing patterns of use of such machines means that there is no direct relationship with the number of treatments given.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) when he intends to announce his decision on the proposed closures of Bruntsfield and Deaconess hospitals in Edinburgh;(2) whether he has had any communication from the Lothian health board about proposed hospital closures; and if he will make a statement.

Lothian health board decided on 10 January to seek the approval of my right hon. Friend for closure of the Bruntsfield and Deaconess hospitals. I understand a formal submission by the board is in course of preparation which I expect to receive shortly.My right hon. Friend and I shall give careful consideration to the proposals from the health board and the comments and representation made on the suggested closures. It is not possible at present to say when a decision is likely to be announced.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money was spent in each of the last three years on the community nursing services in Scotland.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how much money was spent in each of the last three years on (a) full-time day centres and (b) part-time day centres for people suffering from mental illness;

This information is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons have been (a) killed and (b) injured in Scotland in each year for the longest available period of time as a result of terrorist activities; and if he will break down the figures specifying whether the terrorists were (i) from western Europe, (ii) from Northern Ireland, (iii) from the Republic of Ireland, (iv) from other parts of the world and (v) of unknown origin.

I have nothing to add to the information contained in my reply to the right hon. Member for Barnsley, Central (Mr. Mason) on 2 February 1984, at column 301–2.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement regarding the action of the Scottish Development Agency property division taking over the West of Scotland science park, Maryhill; and what consultation with Glasgow and Strathclyde universities took place beforehand.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of the votes cast by post in June 1983 in each of the constituencies of Scotland were on the grounds of (a) removal, (b) physical disability and (c) all other grounds.

This information is not held centrally, and there is no obligation on the returning officer to record it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many rear seat passengers were killed in road traffic accidents in Scotland during 1984;(2) what was the total number of road deaths in Scotland during 1984; and if he will give a breakdown of the figure;(3) how many motorists who died during 1984 in road traffic accidents in Scotland and who were either drivers or front seat passengers would appear not to have been wearing seat belts at the time of the accident.

This information is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of Manpower Service Commission mode A trainees in inner Merseyside during 1984 were from ethnic minorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of mode A places in youth training scheme schemes and what proportion of mode B places available in September 1984 have now been taken up.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what evidence he has that a reduction in the wages of low-paid workers relative to median earnings will increase the employment prospects in the relevant sectors of the economy;(2) what evidence he has that a reduction in the real earnings of low-paid workers will increase the employment prospects in the relevant sectors of the economy.

There is general evidence that suggests that a reduction in the cost of labour improves employment prospects. I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Newham North East (Mr. Leighton) on 22 October 1984 at column 481. There is also evidence that suggests that the employment prospects of certain groups which tend to have below average earnings, notably women and young people, would benefit from a reduction in real and/or relative earnings. I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 17 December 1984 at column 37 and my hon. Friend's reply to him on 14 January 1985 at column 32.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has made of the effect of the abolition of wages councils on wage levels in the industries concerned.

We are considering all available evidence and opinion on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what number and what proportion of men of working age are full-time employees, part-time employees, self-employed and not employed, respectively; and what are the comparable figures for women.

Preliminary estimates from the 1983 labour force survey in Great Britain are given in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of employers and managers, professional and scientific workers, supervisory staff and skilled manual workers, respectively, were women in the latest year for which figures are available; and what have been the trends in these figures in the past decade.

The available information for Great Britain is set out in the table:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to make a statement about the Auld report on shop hours.

My right hon. and learned Friend hopes to announce the Government's intentions in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what basis the decision was taken to launch police targeting and surveillance operations in Lambeth recently; and whether this involved his Department or the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.

The decision to launch police targeting and surveillance operations in Lambeth was taken by the Commissioner personally in the light of a marked increase in the number of offences of street robbery in the borough. The operation was fully discussed by the community/police consultative group for Lambeth.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he plans to refer the drug khat to the Advisory Committee on Misuse of Drugs with a view to controlling its importation and use.

My right hon. and learned Friend has no such plans at present, but he is keeping the position under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why rent allowances are paid to police officers; whether similar payments are made to police officers buying or owning their own homes; and what is the total annual cost of such allowances.

Under the Police Regulations 1979, every police officer must either be provided with free accommodation by the police authority or be paid a rent allowance in lieu. Rent allowance is paid to owner-occupiers, as well as to officers, living in rented accommodation. The purpose of the allowance, which was first introduced in 1920, is to ensure that police officers who provide their own accommodation are in a broadly similar financial position to those who are provided with free accommodation by the police authority. The cost of rent allowances in England and Wales in 1983–84 was about £148 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now reply to the letters sent to one of his Ministers of State on 1 October 1984 and 3 December 1984 by the hon. Member for Gower, regarding Ms. D. S. Gelleburn, of 42 Faraday Road, Clydach, Swansea.

I wrote to the hon. Member on 21 January 1985.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to remove the restrictions in section 7 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 on patients of a mental hospital using the hospital address for electoral registration; and if he will make a statement.

No. The provisions which enfranchised voluntary patients resident in mental hospitals have been in force less than two years and it is too soon to consider changing them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on the progress of police investigations into the circumstances under which the Labour group office at Brent town hall was burgled on 16 November; and if he will make a statement on the substance of the report.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the theft of a handbag and its contents from Brent town hall was reported to Wembley police on 16 November 1984. The handbag and its contents remain missing. On 22 January Wembley police received a letter from Mr. Martin Coleman, leader of the Labour group on Brent borough council, reporting the theft of an exercise book from Brent town hall and suggesting that it might have been stolen at the same time as the handbag. The exercise book was handed on to the police that same evening. Police investigations into both thefts are continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he banned members of the National Union of Mineworkers from attending a meeting of the Society of Civil and Public Servants at his Department on 22 January.

Taking into account my Department's direct responsibility in relation to the law and order aspects of the miners' dispute, I did not consider it right to allow speakers from outside to address a meeting on this subject on Home Office premises. It is open to the union concerned to arrange wider meetings elsewhere.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Wiltshire as to the circumstances in which the windows of a parked van were broken by police officers and one of the women passengers was injured on the B3098 road at Foxley corner between Urchfont and Wedhampton on the night of 21 to 22 January; and if he will make a statement on the substance of the report.

The chief constable tells me that police inquiries into the incident are continuing and that some of the people involved have recorded complaints under the Police Acts of 1964 and 1976 against the officers concerned. The chief constable is appointing an officer from an outside force to investigate these complaints. Five women were arrested as a result of the incident and have been bailed pending further inquiries. It would be inappropirate for me to comment further at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the code of practice for fire regulations in multi-occupied residential premises; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to issue the code of practice on fire safety in houses in multiple occupation; and if he will make a statement.

Preparation of the code has taken much longer than expected, but it is hoped that a draft which will form the basis for consultation with interested organisations will be available in the next few months. When the final version of the code is published a copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to issue to the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis guidance under section 106 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 on arrangements for obtaining the views of local people on police matters.

Copies of the guidance that I have issued to the Commissioner have been placed in the Library of the House and sent to every right hon. and hon. Member for a constituency in the Metropolitan police district. I have also issued a circular giving non-statutory guidance to police authorities outside London about their duties under section 106 of the Act. Copies of this document have also been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the votes cast by post in June 1983 in each of the constituencies in England and Wales were on the grounds of (a) removal, (b) physical disability and (c) all other grounds.

I regret that this information is not available. It is not held centrally and there is no obligation for the registration officer to record it.

asked the Prime Minister if she is now in a position to announce the date of her visit to Malaysia.

No. But I hope soon to be in a position to announce the reinstatement of the visit which had to be postponed last year.

asked the Prime Minister if the limited list proposals apply identically to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Yes, though the details of implementation may vary slightly because of differing primary legislation.

asked the Prime Minister when she expects to fill the post of chairman of the Museums and Galleries Commission.

Following the death of Lord Howard in November, consultations concerning the appointment of his successor as chairman of the Museums and Galleries Commission have taken place and the post will be filled as soon as possible.

asked the Prime Minister what are the current criteria by which appointments of permanent secretaries are determined.

Permanent Secretary appoint-ments are made by the Minister in charge of the Department concerned, with the approval of the Prime Minister on advice by the head of the Home Civil Service. The criteria for particular appointments will differ according to the nature of the appointments, but will be related to the relevant qualifications and experience of the person concerned.