asked the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the percentage rise in the price of (a) electricity and (b) gas since 1979.

The price indices for domestic gas and electricity are both components of the general index of retail prices. Between 1979 and 1984 the index for gas rose by 112·5 and that for electricity by 76·5 per cent. However, between April 1983 and December 1984, the index for gas rose by only 4·2 per cent. and that for electricity by 2·1 per cent., in both cases a fall in real terms.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on progress of the Severn barrage project.

In answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Hannam) on 12 May 1983 at column 379 the then Secretary of State for Energy announced that the Government and the Severn Tidal Power Group would jointly fund an assessment of the technical and financial viability of a private sector Severn barrage. Work is proceeding on this assessment.The Department has also been approached by the Wimpey-Atkins Group seeking support for a similar study for a smaller barrage at the English Stones Site near the Severn bridge. I hope to make an announcement on this shortly.My Department has also recently funded some background studies on tidal energy.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what reductions in expenditure have occurred in Her Majesty's Government-funded research at Culham laboratory since the financial year 1979–80; and what further reductions are required; and if he will make a statement as to the projects affected.

Culham laboratory carries out the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority's programme of fusion research under a contract of association with Euratom, which contributes to its funding. This research constitutes the major component of the laboratory's activities.Government expenditure on fusion programme through the nuclear vote has been:

	£ million
1979–80	10·5
1980–81	11·4

	£ million
1981–82	17·3
1982–83	12·5
1983–84	14·1
1984–85	*14·3
* Estimated.

I reported the decisions which had been made on the Government's funding of this programme for the years 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88 in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Enfield, North (Mr. Eggar) on 10 January.Because, within the agreed Euratom budget ceiling for fusion research, the allocation of funds to contract of association work at Culham and elsewhere has not been determined, the UKAEA has not yet finalised the details of its fusion programme for those years. It intends, however, that work in support of the Joint European Torus (JET) project and related areas will continue to be given priority.The laboratory has also carried out a small amount of research in areas other that fusion which will continue.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many apprenticeships were available in the coal mining industry in 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83 and 1983–84.

This is a matter for the National Coal Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list his powers in relation to electricity boards' policy making with particular respect to pricing policy and private and commercial consumer tariffs.

I have no statutory powers over electricity prices. Electricity boards set their own tariffs in accordance with statutory provisions and taking into account the financial framework within which they operate.

asked the Prime Minister if she will give the latest figures available for the total annual cost and the average annual cost of full-time equivalent posts in (a) the National Health Service, (b) the Civil Service, (c) local government and (d) all remaining public sector work forces, including nationalised industries; and if she will break down the average cost for a full-time equivalent post into pay, national insurance, superannuation and other costs, respectively.

The latest available figures of wages and salaries relate to the calendar year and are published in table 1.14 and 9.4 of the annual Blue Book "United Kingdom National Accounts". The corresponding full-time equivalent employment estimates were published in the annual Economic Trends article on employment in the public and private sector (March 1984 issue). Per capita averages calculated in this way have little meaning, because of the wide variety of different types of staff employed in each sector, but, for what they are worth, they are as follows:

	1983 Total income from employment £ million	Mid-1983 Total fill-time equivalent thousands	Cost per f.t.e. £
National Health Service	*8,618	1,045	8,250
Other central Government civilians†	*7,566	769	9,840
Her Majestys Forces	4,022	322	12,490
Local government	21,199	2,278	9,310
Public corporations	17,755	1,641	10,820
* The allocation between the NHS and other central government has been revised since publication of the Blue Book.

"Other central Government" comprises the Civil Services of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and various non-departmental bodies."Income from employment" is defined as for the national accounts. It covers pay and employers contributions to national insurance and superannuation but not the national insurance surcharge. It does not include other staff related costs such as training or accommodation costs.The breakdown of the figures requested is not generally available, but some information on the central government sector is published in table 2 of the memorandum to the Supply Estimates by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury. The coverage of the information therein is slightly different to that of the figures quoted above.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government now propose to veto the proposed increase in the price of milk.

The Government are studying the Commission's agricultural price proposals for 1985–86 and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will be making the Government's view known in due course.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will publish in the Official Report a table showing the payments made from the Exchequer to farmers and their purpose.

Details of payments currently paid to farmers, and their purpose, by the Agricultural Departments and the Intervention Board for Agricultural produce are set out in the Supply Estimates for 1984–85 (class III votes 1, 3 and 4, class XV votes 1 and 2 and class XVI votes 2 and 5). A summary of public expenditure under the CAP and on national grants and subsidies over the last 5 years is given in table 28 of the Annual Review of Agriculture 1985 (Cmnd. 9423), published on 15 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list those aspects of internal security in Northern Ireland which fall outside the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland; which Minister is responsible in each case; and if she will make a statement.

Security policy in Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who will undertake any necessary consultations within government, notably with the Secretary of State for Defence in relation to the support of the Armed Forces for the civil power. The Attorney-General and the Lord Chancellor are responsible respectively for the prosecution of offences and for the court service in Northern Ireland.

asked the Prime Minister what representations she has made to the United States of America concerning the resumption of military aid to Guatemala.

The United States Government are well aware of our concern about the possible consequences of military aid to Guatemala for the British garrison in Belize. We continue to keep in close touch with them about this.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the Government's policy regarding civil aid to Guatemala.

The Government have no bilateral aid programme for Guatemala.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the Government's policy regarding military aid to Guatemala.

The United Kingdom gives no military aid to Guatemala and has no intention of doing so.

asked the Prime Minister if the Government's military and financial commitment in Belize is to increase following the proposed resumption in United States military aid to Guatemala; and if she will make a statement.

We see no need to alter our present military and financial commitment to Belize.

All major Service headquarters, including Army Headquarters Wales at Brecon, will be involved in Exercise WINTEX—CIMEX '85.

asked the Prime Minister if she has transferred to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry responsibility for the operation of the Royal Ulster Constabulary Special Branch in relation to security vetting of British Telecom employees in Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement.

[pursuant to her reply, 8 February 1985, c. 702]: No. Responsibility for the operation of all branches of the Royal Ulster Constabulary rests with the Chief Constable and it is for British Telecom to ensure that all necessary security checks in relation to its employees are carried out.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the cost of administration of his Department expressed in constant prices in each of the last five years.

The total cost of administration of the Department, including Her Majesty's Inspectorate expressed in 1983–84 prices in the last five years was:

	£ million
1979–80	46.889
1980–81	49.977
1981–82	49.334
1982–83	49.651
1983–84	51.604

The figures for all years include the Office of Arts and Libraries which became an independent Department on 1 July 1983 and whose running costs are included in the DES totals in the annual scrutinies of Departmental running costs (from which the information is derived) up to and including 1983–84.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to reply to the report of the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology concerning the proposed education and training board; and if he will make a statement.

This and other recommendations in the report will require careful consideration. The Government's response will be announced as soon as this process has been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to respond to the advice on teaching shortages in schools from the University Grants Committee and the National Advisory Body for Local Authority Higher Education.

My right hon. Friend has not received any advice from the University Grants Committee or the National Advisory Body on teaching shortages in schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information is available to his Department about the number of schools which have been asked to stop teaching physics from 1985 onwards.

The Department has no information that any school has been asked to stop teaching physics from 1985 onwards. Ministers have on a number of occasions made clear their view that all pupils, including all girls, should be properly introduced to science in the primary school and should continue to study a broad programme of science education throughout the first five years of secondary schooling.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schools have been closed since 1979; and how many staff teaching posts have been affected as a result.

Information is not available centrally in the form requested. The net reduction in the number maintained primary, middle and secondary schools in England between January 1979 and January 1984 was 1,539. Information about staff teaching posts affected by closures of schools is not collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science to what degree he intends to instruct universities to reduce their recurrent costs per student during the next two years.

The Government's Expenditure Plans (Cmnd. 9428) assume that the universities will continue to improve their efficiency, but my right hon. Friend has not set specific targets for costs per student.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the recurrence grant to the universties for each year since 1978–79 in constant 1984–85 prices and in cash terms, excluding the element of the grant paid since 1982–83 to compensate for the loss of fee income from the reduction in tuition fees for home students in that year.

Recurent grant made available to universities in Great Britain on the advice of the University Grants Committee in each financial year since 1978–79, excluding elements to compensate for the loss of fee income from the reduction of the home undergraduate tuition fee in 1982–83 and its freezing in 1983–84, was as follows. (The real terms figures are the cash terms figures adjusted to a 1983–84 base, using GDP deflators which provide an estimate of the average movment of prices across the economy as a whole. A deflator for 1984–85 is not yet available.)

Financial year	Cash terms £	Real terms £
1978–79	602,005,233	1,022,323,189
1979–80	728,481,734	1,058,209,111
1980–81	942,931,714	1,154,845,945
1981–82	967,959,423	1,077,905,816
1982–83	1,006,705,242	1,051,147,770

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list local education authorities in England in order of achievement according to (a) the percentage of school leavers obtaining two or more A-level passes and separately (b) the percentage of school leavers obtaining five or more O-level passes.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list all local education authorities in England, indicating in each case whether (a) a fully comprehensive system operates, (b) a fully selective system operates or (c) whether some combination of selective and comprehensive system operates.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will estimate the cost to students, libraries and educational institutions if value added tax were to be imposed on books at the current rate and at 5 per cent.

I have been asked to reply.There is nothing I can usefully add to the replies which the hon. Member has already received on this subject from the Secretary of State for Education and Science on 25 and 31 October at columns

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received asking him to take early steps to make acquired immune deficiency syndrome a notifiable disease in Scotland.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set out in the Official Report a table showing the total amount paid to bus operators in respect of revenue support for the financial year 1974–75 and 1984–85, together with the total bus route mileage and passengers carried for each of the years in respect of each of the regional and island councils in Scotland.

Details of bus route mileage are not readily available on a regional of islands area basis. Regional and islands councils were not established until May 1975. A comparison of revenue support for buses by area is not therefore available for 1974–75. However, for Scotland as a whole such recenue expenditure in 1974–75 was £3·9 million and in 1983–84 (the latest year for which figures are available) £23·1 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has authorised the display and availability of British United Provident Association or other private health insurance material in National Health Service hospitals.

No. That is a matter for the health boards.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why he withdrew the draft Deer (Firearms Etc.) (Scotland) Order 1984; and whether any further draft order on this specific subject matter which he may lay before Parliament will be identical to the 1984 order.

The draft Deer (Firearms Etc.) (Scotland) Order 1984 attracted criticism on a number of counts and there was an apparent irregularity in the laying procedure. My right hon. Friend expects to lay a new draft order before Parliament shortly. This will not be identical and will take account of representations made and certain drafting amendments.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received about the decline in salmon and sea trout stocks in Scottish rivers; and if he will make a statement.

Representations are received from time to time from organisations and individuals who are concerned about the state of salmon stocks. Data on catches for 1984 are not available. The Scottish catch of salmon in 1983, by all methods, was higher than in any of the four previous years though well below the levels attained in the 1960s and early 1970s.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications by regional councils for the installations of safety barriers on trunk roads have been refused in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

The information is as follows:

Year	Number of requests from regional councils refused
1980	0
1981	0
1982	0
1983	1
1984	0

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what criteria must be satisfied before safety barriers are installed on trunk roads in Scotland.

Safety fences are normally recommended only on major roads where speed restrictions permit 80 km/h (50 mph) or above and for which the circumstances below apply; there will also be a need for safety fences on less important roads where there may be exceptional hazards either affecting the layout or the roadside.A. VERGES

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what lengths of safety barriers have been replaced on motorways and on other trunk roads in Scotland each year for the last five years for which figures are available.

Replacement of safety barriers is one of several categories of trunk road maintenance work which comprise a single item in the annual expenditure accounts submitted to the Scottish Development Department by regional councils, as agent authorities. It cannot therefore be identified separately.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what response he has had from Scottish local education authorities in reply to the request he submitted to them to abolish corporal punishment in schools.

I understand that of the 12 education authorities in Scotland six have completed the process of abolition and a seventh expects to do so by the end of this school session. Of the remainder, three authorities have abolished corporal punishment in all but secondary schools, one authority has decided to retain corporal punishment in all its schools and one authority has yet to reach a decision on this matter.

asked the Attorney-General if he will list the cases, both civil and criminal, in the last 12 months in which he has applied for all or part of the hearing to be held in camera, giving the nature of each such case and the grounds for each application.

Since 1 February 1984 such applications have been made by the Director of Public Prosecutions in two cases, both of which involved offences under the Official Secrets Act 1911. No statistics are available for the number of cases in which the court has exercised its power under section 37 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 to exclude members of the public whilst taking evidence from a child or young person. No applications of the nature specified in the question have been made in civil proceedings.

asked the Attorney-General if he will bring proceedings to secure the observance by the Greater London council of its legal obligations in respect of the prevention of nuisance arising from gipsy encampments on Hampstead heath.

If the hon. Member will write to me with the details of the case I shall consider them.

asked the Attorney-General if it is Her Majesty's Government's intention in the near future to raise the financial limit for small claims procedure in the county courts.

Not at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department where the 16 new prisons which the Government plans to build will be located.

The locations of the new establishments in the current programme are as follows:

• Wayland—In the village of Griston, north of Thetford, Norfolk. Thorn Cross—In the village of Appleton Thorn, Cheshire. Stocken—Near Oakham, Leicestershire.
• Full Sutton—Adjacent to the village of Full Sutton, near Stamford Bridge, Humberside.
• Mount—On the former airfield at Bovingdon, Hertfordshire.
• Garth — Adjacent to Wymott prison, Ulnes Walton, near Leyland, Lancashire.
• Gaynes Hall—On the site of the former youth custody centre, adjacent to the village of Perry, near Great Staughton, Cambridgeshire.
• Swaleside — Adjacent to Standford Hill prison, at Eastchurch on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent.
• Featherstone// — Adjacent to the existing Featherstone prison north of Wolverhampton, Staffordshire.
• Milton Keynes—Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. Bicester—Near the village of Arncott, Oxfordshire.
• March—In March, Cambridgeshire.
• Lancaster Farms—In Lancaster, Lancashire.
• Woolwich—On the royal arsenal site at Woolwich, Greater London.
• Ashford—On the site of the existing remand centre at Ashford, Middlesex.
• North of England—On a site yet to be determined.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any evidence that would suggest why a majority of those who committed suicide in penal establishments in 1984 were unsentenced prisoners.

No. The Chief Inspector of Prisons' recent report on suicides in prison recommended that research should be mounted into the circumstances and characteristics of prisoners who kill themselves, and this is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in 1984 the royal prerogative of mercy was used to effect the early release of prisoners; and, in each case, what was the age, sex, offence, sentence, length of sentence uncompleted and the nature of the illness.

In 1984 the royal prerogative of mercy was used to effect the release of three men because of illness. One 26-year-old man, serving a total sentence of 18 months' imprisonment for assault occasioning actual bodily harm, breach of an order of conditional discharge and breach of suspended sentences, was released with three months of his sentence to serve because he was suffering from cancer. (I regret that, in the reply given to a question from the hon. Member on 9 July 1984 at column 359, the length of sentence uncompleted in this case was wrongly stated as two months.A 67-year-old man serving a sentence of seven years' imprisonment for illegal importation of drugs was released with 16 months of his sentence to serve because he was suffering from cancer. A 20-year-old man who was serving a total sentence of nine months' youth custody for burglary, behaviour likely to cause a breach of the peace and assault occasioning actual bodily harm was released with three months of his sentence to serve because he was suffering from acute myeloid leukaemia.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the policy of his Department in regard to the provision of a probation service in north Wales which reflects the linguistic character of the area.

When it falls to my right hon. and learned Friend to make any decision affecting the North Wales probation service, the factor which the hon. Member mentions is one of several that he takes into account in so far as they may be relevant. The primary consideration must be the overall effect of the decision on the service's ability to discharge its duties satisfactorily.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has made for new extradition arrangements between the United Kingdom and Spain.

Discussions with the Spanish authorities are still continuing and useful progress has been made. At this stage, however, we feel it would be premature to go into the detail of particular proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now reply to the letter sent to him on 14 January by the hon. Member for Gower regarding his constituents, Mr. and Mrs. Mahmoud, of 5 Hall Lane, Penssard, Swansea.

I have written to the hon. Member today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has yet received reports on the M25 accident from the chief constables of Kent and Surrey; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend has received reports from the Chief Constables of Surrey and Kent on the accident which took place on the M25 motorway on 11 December 1984. These confirm that the accident resulted from a combination of excess speed by some drivers and freak weather conditions. My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Transport and I recently discussed this accident and the arrangements for policing the M25 motorway with the chief constables concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many other persons carrying Syrian passports accompanied the four men travelling on Syrian passports who were deported on or around 29 January; whether they were all given leave to enter the United Kingdom; for how long in each case; and if he will make a statement.

I am not aware of any other persons carrying Syrian passports who accompanied the four men from Damascus. The men who were in possession of valid visas, were each given leave to enter the United Kingdom for six months, having satisfied the immigration officer at the time of examination that they met the requirements of the immigration rules.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in the interests of security and avoidance of terrorist incidences, he will require the closure of the premises in London purporting to represent the Palestine Liberation Organisation; and whether he will make a statement.

No. Any organisation may maintain an office in this country provided that the activities of that office, and its occupants, remain within the law. If there were any suggestion that the law had been broken or that there was a threat to security the police would, of course, take appropriate action.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he proposes to modify the Fire Service (Appointments and Promotions) Regulations 1978 to reflect continuing changes in fire-fighting techniques and the increasing recruitment of women firefighters.

My right hon. and learned Friend is required by section 18 of the Fire Service Act 1947 (as amended) to consult the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council before making any changes in these regulations. The council agreed at its last meeting to a proposal by the Home Departments to establish a working party jointly with the Scottish Council to review, inter alia, those aspects of the regulations which govern the physical requirements for appointment as a whole time firefighter, both men and women.The working party will consist of representatives of fire authorities, fire service representative bodies and officials of the Home Departments together with medical advisers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to be able to report the results of his review of the voluntary after-care scheme which provides accommodation for ex-prisoners, referred to in his answer of 5 February, Official Report, column 55.

We expect the present fact-finding stage of the review to be completed this spring, and my right hon. and learned Friend hopes to be able to report his conclusions to the House as soon as practicable thereafter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of the fire service in England and Wales are funded under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966.

Six fire service posts are funded under section 11, five in the west midlands and one in Kent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of the police service in England and Wales are funded under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966.

Police officers are not local authority employees. It follows that posts in the police service are not eligible for funding under section 11.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Northumbria and Durham police forces will be involved in the Wintex-Cimex '85 exercises; and if he will make a statement.

Police participation is a matter for each chief constable but I understand from the Chief Constable that Northumbria police will be involved; but the Chief Constable of Durham constabulary has yet to reach a decision.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases criminal proceedings have arisen in 1984 resulting from assaults on staff in hospital premises.

Except for assaults on police officers the information collected centrally on court proceedings does not include details of the circumstances of the assault.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will investigate the cause of the delays by the Criminal Injuries Compensation board in finalising the claim for criminal injuries by ex-Pc I. M. McQuarrie, whose claim has been with the board since March 1982.

Yes. I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to ensure that all immigrants and visitors arriving at United Kingdom airports and other points of entry are always treated with courtesy at all times.

This is already the policy. Immigration officers are required to maintain a correct and courteous relationship with the public and to ensure that their behaviour gives no cause for complaint.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to organise a civilian equivalent of the military exercise Brave Defender.

Not at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inmates of Lowdham Grange youth custody centre were given leave to attend funerals of friends or relatives in January.

Two.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, his hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Mr. Mellor) of 31 January, Official Report, column 255, whether the register of applications to the board of visitors at Winson Green prison was checked for any reference to his noble Friend, Lord Elton; and if he will make a statement.

I will reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Greiss test is still in use by his Department's laboratories for the detection of nitroglycerine.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether four men travelling on Syrian passports who were arrested and questioned by the Metropolitan police under the Prevention of Terrorism Act were suspected of conspiring to cause an explosion or of any other terrorist act;(2) for how long the four men travelling on Syrian passports arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and deported around 29 January were held by the Metropolitan police; and on what date they were arrested;(3) why four men travelling on Syrian passports who were arrested and questioned by the Metropolitan police on or about 20 January were not charged with any offence.

There is nothing I can add to the reply I gave to a question from the right hon. Member on 7 February at column 656.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give the names, ages and purported occupations of the four Syrian nationals who were arrested on 20 January, detained until 27 January and deported on 29 January; and which of the four men was in possession of a Syrian diplomatic passport.

The names and ages recored in the men's passports were: Mohammed Ali Abdullah, 34, Ahmed Hussein Al-Bitam, 31; Marwan Lostan, 49; and Morris Youssef Saba, 40. Only Mr. Lostan's passport recorded his occupation—that of engineer—and it was he who was carrying a diplomatic passport.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the United Kingdom share of imports of manufactures by the EEC Six, the present European Free Trade Association countries plus Denmark, and the Irish Republic for each year from 1962 together with his estimate for 1984.

The information is in the table. Estimates for 1984 could only be produced at disproportionate cost.

United Kingdom share of imports of manufactures*
percentages
	EC†	EFTA‡ plus Denmark	Irish Republic
1962	9·5	13·2	63·1
1963	9·7	13·5	63·9
1964	9·0	13·6	61·8
1965	8·4	13·4	63·4
1966	7·9	13·8	64·0
1967	7·4	13·8	62·6
1968	7·1	12·9	62·5
1969	6·7	13·5	60·8
1970	6·3	13·2	61·8
1971	6·3	12·9	58·2
1972	6·1	11·7	58·3
1973	6·0	10·3	56·4
1974	6·1	9·8	53·2
1975	6·5	9·9	54·7
1976	6·8	9·5	52·6
1977	7·3	10·0	52·5
1978	7·3	9·7	51·9
1979	7·4	9·5	51·4
1980	7·5	9·5	51·6
1981	7·4	8·0	45·0
1982	7·1	7·4	41·9
1983	7·0	7·0	39·4

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will arrange for an exhibition relating to the British Standards Institution to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

Yes. Arrangements have been made for such an exhibition in the Upper Waiting Hall to take place from Monday 25 February to Friday 1 March 1985.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how he intends to replace the current variety of certification marks with one national promotable mark.

The Government have no current plans to introduce a single national mark to replace the marks of individual certification bodies.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consideration he is giving to the creation of an additional mark for accredited certification bodies.

The Government intend to introduce a distinctive mark which accredited certification bodies will be permitted to use to denote their status.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to which objectives in his White Paper (Cmnd. 8621), "Standards, Quality and Inter-nation Competitiveness", he will be giving priority to in the current year.

The Goverment intend to press ahead with implementing all aspects of the White Paper proposals. Major targets will include; broadening the scope and appeal of the national quality campaign; expanding the coverage of certification schemes and activating voluntary arrangements for accrediting certification bodies; and work with the British Standards Institution to improve the responsiveness and effectiveness of standards-writing.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list his responsibilities regarding the British Safety Council.

The British Safety Council is a self-constituted body. It has no statutory authority or functions. But I consult it along with other organisations about proposed consumer safety legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legislation to permit the broadcasting of church services, including the singing of hymns, on citizens' band radio.

CB is intended for short duration two way communication and it is a condition of the licence that the transmission of music in any form is not permitted. The conditions are necessary because the frequencies available are limited and are for the use of all people, for business and pleasure. CB is not intended for broadcast purposes and I do not consider it would be in the interests of CB users as a whole for the licence conditions to be altered in the way the hon. Member suggests, particularly as church services are broadcast on radio and television.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will ban the import from Korea and other countries of riding hats which do not conform to British Standards Institution approved safety standards; and if he will make a statement.

Hats manufactured to the new British standard on riding hats (BS 6473) have been available for the last few months. The equestrian societies are recommending to their members that they buy hats to the new standard. I think in this case that the involvement of interested bodies is the best way of promoting improved safety. The Department will be taking steps to reinforce this publicity. In the circumstances, I see no need for legislation at present.Under the general safety duty proposed in last July's White Paper on the Safety of Goods (Cmnd. 9302), the supply of riding hats that do not conform to BS 6473 may well become illegal, since the Secretary of State could approve that standard as satisfying the general duty. The clear implication of such an approval would be that riding hats offering less protection were unsafe in relation to sound modern standards of safety.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what information he has regarding the number of inspectors to approve applicants, and how many applicants are waiting certification for approved maintainers for British Telecom approved telephone systems following the changes of 1 January;(2) what provision has been made for the certification of approved maintainers for British Telecom approved telephone systems following the changes of 1 January.

In accordance with condition 8 of the class licence for the running branch telecommunication systems, (granted under section 7 of the Telecommunications Act 1984) maintenance contractors require approval under section 20 of that Act only for the purpose of maintaining telephone call routing apparatus connected to public switched telephone networks. There is no such requirement for maintainers of any other type of telecommunication apparatus.Such approval will normally only be given when the applicant has obtained registration under the relevant scheme run by the British Standards Institution (BSI). BSI, which has supplied the following information, currently employs two assessors for dealing with applications for registration, and two inspectors for the periodic surveillance of companies once registration has been given. BSI is currently seeking to recruit a third assessor. As at 7 February 1985, 57 applications for registration were pending. In 53 of these cases BSI is awaiting action by the applicants concerned. 26 companies have been registered by BSI.In exceptional cases, and particularly where the marketing of newly approved apparatus or of apparatus that has newly qualified for competitive maintenance is otherwise likely to be seriously delayed, approval may be granted provisionally in advance of BSI registration.On 31 December 1984 newly-installed analogue call-routing apparatus, in the form of private branch exchanges with not more than 120 extensions and certain single exchange line systems, became eligible for competitive maintenance. On 27 September 1984, BSI had extended its registration scheme to cover maintenance of these classes of apparatus; my Department's announcement on 21 September 1984 of this extension included an invitation to apply for registration and approval.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to liaise with the Ministries of Trade and Industry in France and the Federal Republic of Germany on advances made in those countries in their use of micro-electronics; and what investment he intends to make to enable British firms employing more than 20 people to use micro-electronics.

Officials of the Department are in contact with their counterparts in France and the Federal Republic of Germany. This liaison includes the developing use of micro-electronics in all three countries.The use of micro-electronics by British firms is promoted through the Micro-electronics Application Project (MAP) operated by the Department. Support is provided by the provision of seminars, industrial training, together with advice and consultancy for potential users. In addition, financial assistance has been provided for firms developing the use of micro-electronics in both products or processes. Currently this latter, in common with other R&D support activities of the Department, is under review. A statement on the future of selective financial assistance for industrial R&D, including MAP, will be made shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what restrictions are placed on insurance companies based in other member states of the Common Market in the provision of car insurance for residents of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement;(2) if there are any licensing or authorisation procedures required by his Department before Common Market-based insurance companies can underwrite car insurance for United Kingdom residents; and if he will make a statement.

Any insurance company carrying on insurance business in the United Kingdom must be authorised by the Secretary of State under the Insurance Companies Act 1982. However, offshore insurance companies which are not authorised here are permitted to solicit for business, and United Kingdom residents are free to place insurance business with such companies by remitting premiums either directly or through intermediaries. All insurance companies providing compulsory motor insurance in respect of vehicles registered in the United Kingdom must comply with the requirements of the road traffic legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if any restrictions are placed on the movement of funds between the various members of the Common Market and the United Kingdom which would affect the payment of insurance claims taken up by United Kingdom residents with Common Market insurance companies; and if he will make a statement.

I am unaware of any restrictions imposed by other member states on the movement of funds that would prevent a United Kingdom resident successfully pursuing a claim against an insurance company established in another member state.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the measures to consolidate the Companies Acts will take effect; and, in the light of the consolidation, which statutory instruments he proposes to remake.

The consolidation of the Companies Acts is due to come into effect on 1 April as proposed in the Bills currently before the House of Lords. However, the Government consider that users should be given a longer period to familiarise themselves with the new legislation before it comes into operation. The Government therefore propose to introduce amendments to all four Bills so that each would take effect on 1 July.As regards subordinate legislation, the substance of some regulations has been incorporated in the consolidation, some will remain in force unchanged, some will be re-made to reflect the provisions of the legislation in its new form and some will be re-made for the convenience of users. The list of regulations we intend to remake has yet to be finalised but it will include the Forms Regulations, the Companies (Disclosure of Directors Interests) (Exemptions) Regulations, the Stock Exchange (Designation of Nominees) Order, the Unregistered Companies Regulations and the Companies (Disqualification Orders) Order.The regulations will be re-made to coincide with the entry into force of the new legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the total cost of administration of his Department, expressed in constant prices, in each of the last five years.

The total cost of administration of the Department of Transport expressed in 1983–84 prices in each of the last five years was:

	£ million
1979–80	258·9
1980–81	259·1
1981–82	244·7
1982–83	220·7
1983–84	256·2

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to encourage or require local authorities to plant trees and shrubs along bypasses they construct with the aid of central Government funds.

My Department lays down no requirements of this sort; it must be for local highway authorities to decide on such matters on their roads. But I commend the planting of trees and shrubs and we set a good example on our own roads. My right hon. Friend takes the environmental aspects of schemes into account when considering them for support with transport supplementary grant, and expenditure on planting attracts grant to the extent that it is included in the local authority's estimates accepted by him.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the amount of money spent on road maintenance in the last financial year for which statistics are available.

In 1982–83, the latest year for which out-turn information is available, £1,330·9 million was spent on road maintenance by central and local government throughout the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what are the numbers of fatalities or serious injuries sustained by train passengers known to his Department in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) other countries, where goods trains carrying hazardous materials were involved in accidents in railway tunnels for each year since 1960.

There have been no fatalities or serious injuries to train passengers from this cause in the United Kingdom since 1960. The Department's main source of information on railway accidents in other countries is the annual report published by the International Union Railways (UIC). These reports do not give the kind of detailed information requested.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out in the Official Report a table showing the total amounts paid to bus operators in respect of revenue support for the financial years 1974–75 and 1984–85, together with the total bus route mileage and passengers carried for each of the years in respect of each of the shire and metropolitan county councils in England.

Bus route mileage figures are not readily available. Figures on vehicle kilometres by stage services and passenger journeys on stage services are available on a national basis for calendar years and are given as follows for 1974 and 1983. Figures on revenue support by county councils for public passenger transport services are available for financial years and are given below for 1974–75 and 1983–84, but these include revenue support for rail and ferry services. In the metropolitan areas expenditure on rail and ferry services accounts for some 20 per cent. of the total support; in the shire counties such expenditure is very small.

(millions)
	1974	1983
Vehicle kilometres by stage services in GB	2,360	*2,125
Passenger journeys on stage services in GB	7,682	5,550
* The definition of stage carriage services was changed in 1980. As a result a number of services previously classified as express come within the stage definition.

Revenue Support for Public Passenger Transport Services (£ million)
County	1974–75	1983–84
GMC	13·473	49·119
Merseyside	10·827	54·908
South Yorkshire	4·828	60·074
Tyne & Wear	2·382	19·699
West Midlands	10·873	30·226
West Yorkshire	4·679	44·000
Total Mets	47·063	258·027
Avon	0·066	4·553
Bedford	0·034	0·753
Berkshire	0·038	1·287
Buckinghamshire	0·043	1·145
Cambridgeshire	0·010	0·816
Cheshire	0·103	5·044
Cleveland	0·038	6·097
Cornwall	0·026	1·376
Cumbria	0·056	2·110
Derbyshire	0·035	2·775
Devon	0·056	1·316
Dorset	0·007	1·012
Durham	0·233	1·755
East Sussex	0·025	1·720
Essex	0·072	3·137
Gloucestershire	0·042	0·464
Hampshire	0·377	3·331
Hereford and Worcester	0·016	1·076
Hertfordshire	0·154	4·740
Humberside	0·031	0·970
Isle of Wight	0·040	0·267
Kent	0·093	2·724
Lancashire	0·055	7·251
Leicestershire	0·005	1·839
Lincolnshire	0·030	0·411
Norfolk	0·024	0·803
Northamptonshire	0·079	0·400
Northumberland	0·041	0·506
North Yorkshire	0·060	1·476
Nottinghamshire	0·943	1·832
Oxfordshire	0·118	0·239
Shropshire	0·011	0·756
Somerset	0·021	0·495
Staffordshire	0·013	4·147
Suffolk	0·041	0·292
Surrey	0·073	4·118
Warwickshire	0·001	0·411
West Sussex	0·100	1·780
Wiltshire	0·029	0·563
Total Shires	3·240	75·787
Total	50·303	333·814

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has received a reply in response to his White Paper, "Buses," Cmnd. 9300, from the London Regional Passenger Transport Committee.

Yes

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many replies he has received in response to his White Paper, "Buses," Cmnd. 9300, in favour of and how many were against (a) eliminating cross subsidy, (b) reducing subsidy, (c) reorganising the National Bus Company into smaller units, (d) introducing shared taxis without controls, (e) replacing conventional full size bus services with mini bus services, (f) introducing the requirement that authorities seek competitive tenders for contracts to run bus services and (g) abandoning the controls the number of taxis in metropolitan areas.

The White Paper did not propose nor does the Transport Bill provide powers for the elimination of cross-subsidy, the reduction of subsidy, the introduction of shared taxis without controls nor the replacement of conventional full size bus services with minibus services. There was a wide range of responses on the NBC, tendering and taxis proposals but the complex and thoughtful nature of many of the responses makes it impossible to place them in to the simple categories of for and against.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many replies he has received in response to his White Paper, "Buses," Cmnd. 9300, from area transport users consultative committees in areas outside London that might be affected; and how many of these were in favour of reducing the subsidy to bus services and how many were opposed;(2) how many replies he has received in response to his White Paper, "Buses," Cmnd. 9300, from area transport users consultative committees in areas outside London that might be affected; and how many of these were in favour of deregulating the bus industry and how many were opposed.

I have received one response from an area transport users consultative committee broadly in favour of the White Paper proposals. Several area transport users consultative committees have endorsed the response by the joint public transport users group in the six metropolitan counties which was broadly opposed to the policy. The proposals set out in the White Paper are about improving local bus services and getting better value for money, not about changing the level of subsidy available to support the industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many replies received in response to his White Paper, "Buses," Cmnd. 9300, indicated that the proposals would have an adverse effect by causing (a) reduced services in rural areas, (b) loss of a co-ordinated network, (c) higher fares and cuts in services on less well used or costly routes and at less popular times of the day or week and (d) increased congestion and reduced safety.

We have received over 8,000 responses many of which contained a mixture of these particular points. The Department has now published a response to the consultation, which addresses these arguments, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish in the Official Report complete details of all speed limits currently in force on United Kingdom roads for each class of private and commercial vehicle.

Motor cycles and cars (passenger vehicles with up to 8 passenger seats) and car derived vans, not towing a trailer are subject to the national road speed limits, which are 70 mph on motorways and dual carriageways and 60 mph on other roads. Such vehicles when towing trailers and all other motor vehicles are subject to the limits detailed in Schedule 6 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, chapter 27, unless a lower road speed limit applies.These limits relate to the main classes of vehicle as follows:

	Motor-ways	Dual Carriage-ways	Miles per hour Other Roads
Buses and Coaches	70	60	50
Goods Vehicles:
(i) under 7·5 tonnes m.1.w.*	70	60	50
(ii) over 7·5 tonnes m.1.w.	60	50	40
Private cars, car derived vans and motorcycles towing one trailer	50	50	50
* m.1.w.: maximum laden weight.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will state the volume of motor vehicle traffic, in billion vehicle kilometres, for the years 1963 to 1983.

The information is as follows:

Motor traffic (Great Britain): billion vehicle kilometers
Year
1963	121·2
1964	135·3
1965	144·8
1966	153·4
1967	160·7
1968	168·6
1969	172·6
1970	182·1
1971	194·0
1972	204·0
1973	212·3
1974	208·1
1975	209·8
1976	220·4
1977	225·2
1978	234·3
1979	236·5
1980	252·9
1981	255·2
1982	266·6
1983	271·2

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will state, for each of the following industrial categories, the tonnage of goods lifted and the proportion accounted for by road transport in 1983: (a) building materials, timber and aggregates, (b) food, drink and tobacco, (c) petroleum products, (d) coal and coke, (e) iron and steel, (f) chemicals and fertilizers, (g) other goods and (h) all goods.

The information is as follows:

Domestic freight lifted in Great Britain 1983 (million tonnes)
Commodity	Total tonnes lifted*	Per cent. by road
Building materials, timber and aggregates	501	96
Food, drink and tobacco	307	99
Petroleum products	215	31
Coal and coke	167	43
Iron and steel	66	76
Chemicals and fertilizers	59	95
Other goods	384	97
All goods lifted	1,698	83
* By road, rail, inland waterways, coastal shipping and pipeline

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what lessons have now been learned from the major accident on the M25 on 11 December; what action is being taken; and if he will make a statement.

The accident on the M25 on 11 December last year was distinguished from other multiple crashes on motorways by the subsequent intense fire and the high death toll, but in its general nature and causes it was not uncommon.Investigation by the police of the circumstances surrounding the accident lead to the conclusion that the accident was caused by some drivers travelling at excessive speeds at a time when dense but isolated banks of fog were likely to be encountered. The danger inherent in such behaviour should be well known to all drivers, but my Department intends to step up its publicity concerning the need for extra care while driving in foggy conditions. We are also instituting new studies to identify any stretches of the M25 and M42 particularly liable to fog and shall be installing experimental fog detectors on a section of the M25.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that the findings of any inquiry or investigation into railway accidents resulting in personal injury are made available to the public within 14 days of those findings being concluded.

Under existing legislation I am required to make public, in such manner as I think expedient, the reports made by inspectors appointed under the legislation to investigate particular railway accidents. When an investigation is made other than by a specially appointed inspector there is no requirement for the findings to be made public. I can give no guarantee that formal reports by Inspectors will always be published within 14 days of the conclusion of their inquiries, although we endeavour to publish these reports as quickly as circumstances allow.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish in the Official Report a copy of his letter to the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth dated 4 February, together with the annexed statement by his Department's railway inspectorate, concerning the circumstances surrounding the railway accident at Rugby on 9 December 1984.

I share to the full my hon. Friend's concern that there should be made available a simple statement of the facts about such a railway accident as occurred at Rugby on 9 December 1984. I am placing in the Library of the House a copy of the letter my right hon. Friend wrote to my hon. Friend together with a statement of the facts about the accident at Rugby, and we propose to discuss with the chairman of the British Railways Board whether some simpler way can be found of conveying the facts that are ascertained by the board's own inquiries in those cases where a formal inquiry by one of our railway inspectors has not been ordered.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many applications by local authorities for the installation of safety barriers on trunk roads have been refused in each of the last five years for which figures are available;(2) what criteria must be satisfied before safety barriers are installed on trunk roads in England;(3) what are the current specifications for safety barriers on motorways and on trunk roads;(4) what data are available to his Department on the performance of road safety barriers;(5) what is his estimate of the natural life of safety barriers on motorways.

Current specifications for the five types of safety fences and barrier used on trunk roads are contained in the Specification for Road and Bridgeworks published by HMSO, supplemented by transport and road research laboratory drawings, the supplement No. 1 to the Specification and by the Department's technical memorandum H973. The estimated life of steel safety fences is in excess of 20 years and of concrete barriers in excess of 40 years when they remain undamaged by the impact of vehicles.Criteria for their provision on central reserves are that the appropriate type shall be installed on all new motorways and on new all purpose dual carriageway trunk roads estimated to carry 30,000 vehicles per day in the year of opening where the central reserve is less than 6 metres wide. On lengths of existing trunk roads not less than 5 km and normally over 10 km long and on existing motorways they are provided where the fatal accident rate over 3 years is more than 0–2 per km per year of which half involve crossing the central reserve.No records are kept of the number of applications made by local authorities and others for the provision of safety fences and barriers on trunk roads and motorways where they are not already installed. Of the order of 6 cases have been refused in the last 5 years, but some of these have been and are being re-considered.Accident data are available to the Department which suggest that safety fences and barriers perform satifactorily in preventing serious accidents in the great majority of cases in which they are involved. Only 2 or 3 cases per year are reported where they have been penetrated by vehicles, causing casualties. Extensive testing by vehicular impact is carried out on the various types of safety fence before they are approved for installation.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what lengths of safety barriers have been replaced on motorways and on trunk roads in England each year for the last five years for which figures are available.

The information sought is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to provide assistance to Trinity House to enable it to place its order for one or two buoyage and lighthouse tenders in the United Kingdom rather than overseas.

Trinity House has sought my right hon. Friend's statutory consent for the expenditure that would fall on the general lighthouse fund if an order for tenders were placed. Financial assistance from public funds would not be available to Trinity House for that purpose, but if an order were placed in the United Kingdom the shipbuilder might seek assistance from the Intervention Fund: that is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list quarter by quarter the tonnages of coal imports at individual coastal towns during 1984.

I understand that monthly information of broadly this kind is available from the Bill of Entry section of HM Customs and Excise.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what evidence he has that the employment prospects of groups with above average earnings are linked with changes in their real or relative earnings; and if he will make a statement.

There is evidence of a general link between pay and jobs, and I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him of 6 February 1985 at column 586. There is no specific evidence on the employment effects of changes in real or relative earnings of groups with above average earnings.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many qualified medical doctors are currently receiving unemployment benefit.

The information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what further steps he will take to reduce unemployment in Bideford;

The Government are committed to maintaining its economic policies which are directed at holding down inflation and public borrowing while encouraging enterprise, flexibility and competitiveness in industry and the labour market. That is the only way to generate lasting jobs in Bideford, the south west and elsewhere. In the meantime we are spending over £2 billion this year on a range of employment and training measures to help the unemployed, which are currently benefiting nearly 50,000 people in the south west region.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the current provision of jobcentre facilities in Bideford; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The Manpower Services Commission has agreed proposals for the development of the employment service, which my right hon. Friend has recently endorsed. These provide for Bideford jobcentre to retain a full level of service.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment which of Her Majesty's Government's initiatives have been most successful in generating new employment in the south-west of England.

The Government are committed to maintaining their economic policies which are directed at holding down inflation and public borrowing, while encouraging greater enterprise, flexibility and competitiveness in industry and the labour market. This is the only way to generate lasting jobs in the south west and elsewhere. In addition, we are encouraging the growth of employment in the south west through initiatives such as the enterprise allowance scheme, which is currently helping some 3,300 people in the region to set up their own businesses, and the young workers scheme which is currently benefiting over 7000 youngsters. Moreover many parts of the south west continue to enjoy assisted area status.