asked the Attorney-General how many people were evicted for non-payment of rent in 1982, 1983, 1984, and 1985, respectively.

Statistics are not collected of the number of people evicted specifically for non-payment of rent. It is, however, estimated that in England and Wales the following number of warrants were executed for possession of residential property (for whatever reason) on behalf of private landlords and social landlords (mainly local authorities).

	1982	1983	1984
Private landlords	3,120	3,220	3,480
Social landlords	11,960	10,150	10,110

These estimates are based on a sample of three separate months data (February, June and October) collected during each of the years shown. No figures are yet available for 1985.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current average cost of constructing one mile of (a) dual two-lane motorway, (b) dual three-lane motorway, (c) dual two-lane urban motorway, (d) dual three-lane urban motorway, (e) all purpose dual two lane carriageway, (f) all purpose dual three-lane carriageway and (g) single carriageway.

The information requested is as follows:

(a) £3 million.

(b) £5 million.

(c) £7 million.

(d) £10 million.

(e) £3 million.

(f) No figures available.

(g) £1 million.

All figures are at current prices and cover works only. Costs of land, rehousing, preparation and supervision and so on add between 20 and 25 per cent. to total costs. The figures given are averages. Construction costs of motorways and trunk roads vary widely depending in particular on the nature of the terrain through which the road passes.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the 20 contractors who have received the largest share of motorway and trunk road construction contracts in each of the last three years, giving for each contractor the value of the contracts received.

During each of the three yars 1982, 1983 and 1984 motorway and trunk road construction contracts over £100,000 in value were awarded as follows:

1982	£ million
1. A. Monk & Co. Plc	33·4
2. Sir Alfred McAlpine & Son Limited*	29·9
3. Tarmac Construction Limited	21·1
4. John Laing Construction Limited	20·1
5. John Mowlem & Co. Limited	18·5
6. Fairclough Civil Engineering Limited*	15·5
7. Balfour Beatty Ltd.	14·1
8. Cementation Construction Ltd.	9·5
9. Norwest Hoist Civil Engineering Ltd.	7·8
10. M. J. Gleeson Group plc	5·9
11. May Gurney & Co. Ltd.	4·6
12. Roadworks (1952) Ltd.	3·9
13. R. M. Douglas Construction Ltd.	3·26
14. Dowsett Engineering Construction Ltd.	3·25
15. Peter Birse Ltd.	3·0
16. Galliford & Sons Ltd.	2·6
17. Marples Ridgeway Ltd.	2·2
18. Costain Civil Engineering Ltd.	2·1
19. Eden Construction Ltd.	1·8
20. Droitwich Construction Co. Ltd.	0·9
* In addition, Fairclough Civil Engineering Ltd. and Sir Alfred McAlpine & Son Ltd. in consortium were awarded one other contract valued at £19·4 million.

1983	£ million
1. John Laing Construction Ltd.	38·6
2. Balfour Beatty Ltd.	31·3
3. Dowsett Engineering Construction Ltd.	28·4
4. Wimpey Construction UK Ltd.	25·3
5. Sir Alfred McAlpine & Son Ltd.	16·7
6. John Mowlem & Co. Ltd	16·5
7. May Gurney & Co. Ltd.	14·7
8. Edmund Nuttall Ltd.	13·7
9. A. F. Budge Ltd.	10·9
10. Tarmac Construction Ltd.	8·4
11. RDL Contracting Ltd.	7·4
12. Wrekin Construction Ltd.	5·2
13. Amey Roadstone Construction Ltd.	3·4
14. Brims & Co. Ltd.	2·3
15. D & H Contractors (Cambridge) Ltd.	2·0
16. Associated Asphalt Co. Ltd.	1·9
17. C. J. Pearce & Co. Ltd.	1·6
18. Christiani & Nielsen Ltd.	1·6
19. Johnston Construction Ltd. Durham County Council Direct Labour	1·4
20. Organisation	1·0

Cementation Construction Ltd. and Costain Civil Engineering, Ltd. in consortium were awarded one contract valued at £44·5 million.Bovis Civil Engineering Ltd. and Peter Birse Ltd. in consortium were awarded one contract valued at £14·7 million.

1984	£ million
1. Tarmac Construction Ltd.	64·8
2. Balfour Beatty Ltd.	45·9
3. Edmund Nuttall Ltd.	28·7
4. Cementation Construction Ltd.*	26·5
5. Fairclough Civil Engineering Ltd.†	22·8
6. A. F. Budge (Contractors) Ltd.	16·7
7. R. M. Douglas Construction Ltd.	15·3
8. M. J. Gleeson Group plc	8·2
9. John Laing Construction Ltd.	7·8
10. Rush & Tompkins Ltd.	6·3
11. French Kier Construction Ltd.	6·1
12. A. E. Farr Ltd.	5·8
13. Roadworks (1952) Ltd.	5·7
14. Amey Roadstone Construction Ltd.	3·2
15. Henry Boot Civil Engineering Ltd.	2·4
16. Kottler & Heron Construction Ltd.	1·8

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give an estimated breakdown of the trunk road budget into the following components: land acquisition, design, road safety, administration, labour, purchase of materials and other.

The Supply Estimates in Class VI, 1, Roads etc, England, published 19 March make provision for expenditure of £824 million. A breakdown by components for new construction is as follows:

	£ million
Land acquisition	49
Design and Supervision	90
Labour	120
Purchase of materials	251
Plant	109

The component for maintenance and miscellaneous items is £231 million; road safety £5 million. Estimated receipts are some £30 million. There is provision for £25 million administration costs in Class VI, 2.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many tonnes of bitumen coated materials are used each year in his Department's road programme.

My Department does not compile central records of the amount of bitumen coated materials used each year in the national road programme on construction or maintenance works.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of new road schemes he expects will be let in rigid construction in 1985–86; and how this compares with 1984–85 and 1983–84.

The proportion of new road schemes to be let in rigid construction in 1985–86 cannot be estimated

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list in the Official Report figures for miles and costs in 1983–84, 1984–85 and 1985–86 for trunk road new construction, structural maintenance and routine maintenance.

For England, the information requested is as follows:since it is dependent on the value of alternative tenders which have yet to be submitted by contractors. Some 23 per cent. of schemes were let in rigid construction in the first three quarters of 1984–85 and 46 per cent. in 1983–84.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of passenger trains arrive on time.

I understand from British Rail that during 1984, 77 per cent. of its passenger trains arrived on time and 90·5 per cent. within five minutes of scheduled time.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer given in the Official Report on 11 March, column 51, if he will amend the criteria for eligibility for transport supplementary grant so as to include small low-cost engineering schemes on roads other than those of more than local importance in order to give incentives to highway authorities to carry out cost-effective improvement schemes for accident reduction.

Local authorities should not need special financial incentives to carry out cost-effective improvement schemes on roads of only local importance. They receive general support through block grant, and it is for them to determine their expenditure priorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what conclusions his Department's inquiry reached in relation to the disappearance of the South Stack in the North sea; and if he will place a copy of the report in the Library.

It has not been possible to establish with certainty the reason for the loss of this vessel but the most probable explanation is that she capsized. It is not the practice to publish inquiry reports of this kind, but the facts are always made available to interested parties. This is to be done shortly in the case of the South Stack.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to amend the spray suppression regulations for heavy goods vehicles.

The Department has been consulting on an amendment to exempt certain special trailers, built to carry abnormal indivisible loads, on which it is not practicable to fit the prescribed spray suppression equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he will publish a report on the effects of compulsory seat belt wearing.

The TRRL will shortly be issuing a preliminary report on the effects of compulsion based on evidence from the first 12 months. A copy will be placed in the Libraries.My Department will be publishing, during the summer, a full report on the results of its seat belt monitoring exercise. This will take account of the data analysis undertaken in the Department itself and at the TRRL and will also draw on accident and injury studies carried out in a number of hospitals and at universities. In addition, I have invited Professor James Durbin and Professor Andrew Harvey of the London School of Economics to contribute an independent assessment of all the available statistical evidence on the effects of compulsory seat belt wearing in this country. Professors Durbin and Harvey will want to take account of the views of outside organisations and individuals in preparing their assessment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he intends to take to prevent activities of the Greater London council which are designed to frustrate the Government's abolition proposals.

On 24 July last my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced his intention to seek powers in the Local Government Bill requiring his consent to be obtained to the provision of financial assistance by the GLC-MCCs to other local authorities. That provision is now in clause 89 of the Bill, and it supplements the controls in the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984 over section 137 expenditure, major contracts and property disposals. At the same time, my right hon. Friend said that he would not hesitate to take further steps, where necessary, to prevent continuing activity designed to frustrate the Government's abolition proposals.The Bill provides that rights and liabilities of the GLC-MCCs existing at abolition will pass to successor authorities. It has been brought to my notice that some of the abolition authorities will seek to exploit this provision with the intention of perpetuating their policies long after they are abolished and thereby putting at risk the savings that will result from abolition. They would achieve this by creating continuing liabilities for successor authorities. The most notable example of such arrangements concerns legally enforceable undertakings to provide, or to guarantee, financial assistance to third parties.My right hon. Friend has therefore tabled an amendment to the Local Government Bill which will have the effect of requiring the Secretary of State's consent to any enforceable agreement or arrangement proposed to be made by the GLC or an MCC under which a liability would pass, on abolition, to successor authorities.The control over contracts in section 9 of the Interim Provisions Act contains a disaggregation provision designed to prevent large contracts from being broken up into separate units, each below the relevant value thresholds. I am aware that this provision is being interpreted narrowly by some of the authorities. I therefore propose to amend the Act to reduce the minimum value above which consent is required to £15,000.I have given careful consideration to the sanctions that should be applied for a failure to obtain consent in the case of both the existing controls over land disposals and contracts, and those now proposed over other enforceable agreements and arrangements. I am proposing that the existing sanction of a liability to disqualification by the High Court from local government office should also apply to a failure to comply with the new provisions. The right to apply to the court will, in addition, extend to a successor authority.I am concerned, however, that in the face of the continuing threats of grossly irresponsible activity by some of the abolition authorities, this sanction will not by itself prove to be a sufficient deterrent. I am proposing that the court should also be empowered in each case to order the member responsible to be the subject of a financial penalty, in the terms defined in the relevant clauses. And in order to protect successor authorities absolutely from damaging actions, I am proposing that where the Secretary of State's consent under the provisions is not obtained, any disposal of any interest in land would be totally void, and that any contract, or any other enforceable agreement or arrangement, capable of surviving beyond abolition, would be unenforceable against a successor authority.I am aware that an abolition authority's failure to obtain consent under the provisions would affect the interests of third parties. I am therefore taking steps to give publicity to the proposals in order to ensure that their potential effect is widely understood.In the light of past experience of the authorities' willingness to evade the consequences of new legislation before it takes effect, and continuing threats of irresponsible activity, the amendments which my right hon. Friend has tabled to the Local Government Bill will, with Parliament's consent, take effect from midnight tonight.In principle, I would propose that the general consents issued under sections 7, 8 and 9 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984 should be extended to activities covered by the proposed new controls over enforceable arrangements. I shall also be considering the issue of further general consents for activities which leave no scope for obstructive action. These might include, for example, commitments by ILEA to voluntary schools and grants to individual students, together with grants by the GLC under the homes insulation scheme, and certain grants for home improvement. Letters have today been sent to the GLC and metropolitan county councils notifying them of these proposals and inviting suggestions for general consents.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has now reached a conclusion on the future of the three north-east new towns.

In May 1984 we sought the views of the local authorities concerned in the development of the three new towns of Aycliffe, Peterlee, and Washington on the future of these towns. We also asked other interested bodies and individuals to let us have their views. We asked for comment particularly on whether the purposes for which the development corporations were established had been substantially achieved, and on the target date of 31 December 1985 which had been set for winding up the three development corporations. The response to these consultations showed clearly the high opinion held locally of the value of the work done by these corporations, and that there was scope for this to continue. The Government have accordingly concluded that it would be appropriate to defer the winding-up date to 31 March 1988.Between now and then we shall expect the corporations to pursue their work in developing industry and commerce in their towns, and with that the generation of jobs, relying to the maximum on private investment. We shall also expect them, in consultation with the Commission for the New Towns, the English Industrial Estates Corporation (for the industrial estates), and local organisations, to prepare satisfactory arrangements for the period after 31 March 1988.Since 1963 Aycliffe and Peterlee development corporations have had the same membership. In order to simplify the management and administration of their work, we shall consult them about using the powers under section 6 of the New Towns Act 1981 to bring them into a single corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if Reema Waffle houses are included in the designated list of houses attracting buy-back or repair grants under the provisions of the Housing Defects Act 1984.

No. The only type of Reema house designated under the Act is the Reema hollow panel type.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish (a) gross and (b) net capital expenditure by each local authority on housing and (c) current expenditure on repairs and maintenance to existing housing stock in each year from 1981–82 to 1984–85, estimate.

English local authorities' gross capital expenditure on housing and prescribed proportion of housing capital receipts appear for 1981–82 and 1982–83 in tables attached to my Department's press notices No. 273 (27 July 1982) and No. 290 (18 July 1983), respectively, and for 1983–84 in the table referred to in the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Construction to my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Staffordshire (Mr. Heddle) on 20 July 1984, at column 360. The 1981–82 and 1982–83 editions of "Housing Revenue Account Statistics Actuals", published by CIPFA, show the authorities' expenditure on repair and maintenance. All these sources are available in the Library.I have today placed in the Library a table showing authorities' capital expenditure and receipts in the first nine months of 1984–85 and another showing their reported expenditure on repair and maintenance in 1983–84 and estimates for 1984–85.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish (a) gross and (b) net capital expenditure by each local authority in England in each year from 1981–82 to 1984–85 (estimates), showing the total for each class of authority.

Figures for capital payments and receipts by local authorities in England in 1981–82 to 1983–84 are published in the CIPFA publications "Capital Expenditure and Debt Financing Statistics" for those years. Copies of these are held in the Library. Estimates of 1984–85 expenditure by individual authorities or by class of authority are not available. The latest forecast for total net local authority capital expenditure in England against the DOE-LA1 cash limit in the current year is £3·2 billion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authority dwellings were let to new tenants in the year 1983–84, by region (a) through the waiting list normal allocation and (b) other.

The information provided by local authorities in their annual housing investment programme returns is as follows:

Local authority dwellings let to new tenants 1983–84
thousands
Standard regions	Secure tenancies:		*Not secure tenancies
	Normal all ocation from waiting lists	Other
Northern	17·4	6·2	0·6
Yorkshire and Humberside	24·4	7·4	1·1
East Midlands	17·3	4·0	0·8
East Anglia	5·8	2·2	0·5
Greater London	13·6	22·0	1·6
Rest of South East	21·8	9·4	2·5
South West	10·1	4·5	0·8
West Midlands	20·6	8·9	0·7
North West	30·1	10·5	1·3
England	161·0	75·0	9·9
* Defined in schedule 3 to the Housing Act 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance he gives to the Nature Conservancy Council concerning the extent to which, as part of its overall function, it has a duty to represent the views of voluntary nature conservation organisations in meetings with any other statutory authorities.

The Nature Conservancy Council has no statutory duty to represent the views of voluntary nature conservation organisations in meetings with other statutory authorities. The council is willing to receive representations from voluntary bodies: but it is for it to decide how best to draw on them in its discussions with other statutory authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will up-date the figures given in reply to the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Irving) Official Report, 25 April 1984, column 526, regarding the total additional cost to his Department of the House sitting from (a) 10.30 pm to midnight and (b) from midnight to 2 am; and if he will give similar estimates for such periods after 2 am as figures are conveniently available.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the home purchase scheme for primarily first time buyers was first set up; what were the financial limits then; and if he has any proposed plans to upgrade the amounts.

The home purchase assistances scheme was set up in 1978. It offers first-time purchasers a loan of £600, free of interest and repayment of principal for up to five years, and a cash bonus of up to £110. These benefits are available to first-time buyers who have saved under the scheme for two years and who buy a property below the house price limit for their area. Separate house price limits are set for each of the English regions, Scotland and Wales. They are regularly reviewed and increased so that two thirds of first-time purchasers qualify. We have no plans at present to alter the benefits available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Property Services Agency is involved in any work for United States forces in the north of Scotland.

Yes; the Property Services Agency undertakes major and minor works services and maintenance for the US forces throughout the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) which time-expired projects relating to provision for the under-fives submitted under the inner cities programme for refunding in 1985–86 have been refused or part approved; and in the case of part approvals, what are the figures for grants in 1984–85 and 1985–86;(2) if he will list the under-fives projects submitted for funding under the traditional urban programme 1985–86;(3) which local authorities which have received traditional urban programme funding for under-fives projects in the past will not receive it in 1985–86;(4) how many traditional urban programme time expired projects for the under-fives have been submitted for refunding; how many of these will not be refunded; and if he will list them by authority.

Detailed information about urban programme projects specifically for the under-fives is not collected, as many projects cater for a wide range of ages and activities. Figures for part approvals for such schemes in 1984–85 are therefore not available. For 1985–86, decisions have yet to be taken on applicatons under the traditional urban programme, except for holiday play-schemes, and on inner area programmes submitted by partnership and programme authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will identify the London local authorities which have received less under the traditional urban programme for play schemes in 1985–86 compared with 1984–85; and what is the size of the reduction in cash and percentage terms for each authority.

Eleven London local authorities received reduced support for holiday play schemes under the traditional urban programme in 1985–86 compared with 1984–85. The size of the reduction in cash and percentage terms is as follows:

Local authority	Reduction in cash £	Percentage reduction
Camden	10,658	48
Ealing	5,450	25
Greenwich	12,706	48
Haringey	13,000	48
Kensington and Chelsea	4,400	25
Lewisham	13,000	52
Newham	6,063	28
Southwark	14,000	54
Waltham Forest	9,490	43
Westminster	11,215	51
ILEA	17,040	60

In addition, the following authorities which had received support in 1984–85 received no support in 1985–86:

Local authority	Amount approved in 1984–85 £
Barking and Dagenham	2,235
Croydon	7,500
Enfield	5,650
Hounslow	12,053
Merton	8,300
Redbridge	2,000

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to cut support to holiday play schemes through the traditional urban programme in 1985–86, in authorities other than the London boroughs; and by how much to each authority.

Total support for holiday play schemes under the traditional urban programme will be £400,000 in 1985–86. This is about half the 1984–85 figure and the proportional reduction for local authorities outside London taken together is about the same. In 1985–86, support has been concentrated in the most deprived area, so reductions vary between authorities. Lists are available in the Library giving full details both of 1985–86 approvals and of those for earlier years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to review the financial guidelines for management agreements drawn up in accordance with section 50 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

I have appointed Lawrence Gould Consultants Ltd. to undertake a detailed review of the operations of the guidelines, which have been criticised by the Environment Committee for their complexity. The review, which will consider options for simplifying the guidelines, will pay particular attention to the Environment Committee's comments and recommendations. It is expected to take about four months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many arrests under the Military Lands Act byelaws there have been in each of the last five years.

The information collected centrally, which may be incomplete, relates to persons proceeded against or cautioned by the police for offences under the Military Lands Acts 1892 to 1903 and bylaws made thereunder and is given in the table. Information on persons arrested and subsequently released without further such action could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost. Corresponding information for 1984 is not yet available.

Persons proceeded against at magistrates' courts or cautioned by the police for offences against the Military Lands Acts
England and Wales		Number of persons
Year	Proceeded against	Cautioned
1979	30	8
1980	10	6
1981	14	1
1982	12	—
1983	17	3

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the fire drill procedure that takes place in prisons in England and Wales; how often it takes place; and if he will make a statement.

The fire drill procedure for Prison Department establishments in England and Wales is set out in the Prison Department's "Fire Precautions Manual", a copy of which has been place in the Library of the House. Subject to any overriding security or control considerations, a full fire practice should be held at least once in six months. Where practicable, the exercises include the evacuation of selected buildings and calling the local fire brigade.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the type of bedding supplied in prisons in England and Wales; and if it is fire resistant.

Bedding supplied in Prison Department establishments includes cotton sheets, polyurethane mattresses and pillows, and either woollen or cotton blankets and rugs. All sheets are flame retardant. New style mattresses recently introduced into closed cellular accommodation are flame retardant; the old style mattresses (which are being replaced by the new mattresses during this year) are not themselves flame retardant but have a flame retardant cover. The pillows, woollen blankets and rugs are not flame retardant, but work is in hand to develop and introduce flame retardant versions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of the percentage of fiancés and husbands refused entry clearance; and what percentage was wholly on grounds of primary purposes and what percentage partly on those grounds.

Nearly one half of all applications for entry clearance to the United Kingdom from husbands and fiancés in the Indian subcontinent were refused in 1984. About one third of all applications were refused solely on primary purpose grounds, and about 1 in 25 were refused partly on these grounds. Corresponding information for countries outside the Indian subcontinent is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how his Department intends to increase police efficiency and effectiveness.

Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary will continue to encourage forces to manage resources efficiently and effectively and to ensure that examples of good practice are widely disseminated. Improved police efficiency and effectiveness is a major objective of many aspects of the Department's work, including crime prevention, police training, new technology and research.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the targets of nuclear attack in Britain during the Intex 85 exercise;(2) what was the total number of deaths envisaged throughout the European North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries during the Intex 85 exercise;(3) what was the total explosive yield of the nuclear attack on European North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries during the Intex 85 exercise;

Intex 85 is one in a series of annual international exercises prepared and co-ordinated by the United Kingdom warning and monitoring organisation for national civil warning and monitoring organisations in European NATO countries. The exercise scenario is designed to test all parts of the warning and monitoring system and is not an indication of any specific Government planning assumption.On this occasion a total of 164 bombs with a range of theoretical explosive yields between 100 Kt and 2 Mt were deemed to have been detonated over the United Kingdom and a further 180 bombs in the range 5 Kt to 2 Mt were plotted over the continental NATO countries. The total explosive yield is not readily available. The locations of the nuclear bursts were distributed over the widest geographical area in order to ensure that all parts of the organisations and their monitoring procedures were fully practiced in pre-selected weather conditions. Casualty estimates were not made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of all recorded suicide verdicts by coroner's courts in Yorkshire involving deaths of girls aged under 16 years between 20 December 1984 and 11 January 1985; and if he will make a statement.

There have been no suicide verdicts recorded by Yorkshire coroners between the dates specified involving the deaths of girls under 16 years of age.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to amend the arrangements regarding disclosures of information by the police to social services departments about previous convictions of any employee or potential employees in residential care in the (a) private sector, (b) voluntary sector, (c) local authority sector of homes for (i) the elderly, (ii) the mentally handicapped, (iii) the physically handicapped and (iv) the chronically ill; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend has announced his intention to review the arrangements under which information about the criminal background of those who seek to work in positions of responsibility for children is made available to those who need to know it. The terms of reference for this review, which he will announce very shortly, will not extend to the groups mentioned in the hon. Member's question. But he is willing to consider evidence of the need for a change of practice in respect of these groups, and has not ruled out the possible need to extend the review at a later stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the restriction on imports of high density polythene sheeting from the United States of America into the European Economic Community.

High density polyethylene film is one of those products of which imports from the USA have been restricted by the Community since March 1984 in retaliation against American import restrictions on certain special steels. This action was taken to impress on the Americans the need to uphold their international obligations to maintain open and fair trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many P58 claim forms were received by the Post Office during 1984 in respect of items sent by post from the United Kingdom to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; and what were the corresponding figures for each of the previous five years;(2) how many registered postal letters and packets sent from the United Kingdom to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in 1984 were reported as missing by the Post Office; and what were the corresponding figures for the previous five years;(3) how many registered postal communicaions were despatched through the Post Office in 1984 and were sent to addresses in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, but were subsequently returned to senders in the United Kingdom under article 122 of the universal postal union convention; and what were the corresponding figures for the previous five years;(4) on how many occasions in 1984 the Post Office reported that registered letters and packets sent from the United Kingdom to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics had been confiscated by the Soviet postal authorities; and what were the corresponding figures for the previous five years.

The information requested is a matter for the Post Office, which has told me, however, that such information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the visit to Basildon on 13 March by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State with responsibility for small businesses, the hon. Member for Rossendale and Darwen (Mr. Trippier).

I was most grateful to my hon. Friend for affording me the opportunity to visit his constituency on 13 March. During the course of the day I visited a number of small firms and was most impressed with the enterprise and initiative which I saw in a number of sectors, ranging from advanced robotics to shopfitting. I believe that these small entrepreneurs will play a vital role in supporting Basildon's future economic prosperity and will continue to make a major contribution to the creation of new jobs.I was also particularly pleased to meet some of the directors of Basildon Enterprise Agency and to learn that the agency is performing well in encouraging the establishment and growth of small firms in the area. I know that my hon. Friend is a great supporter of the agency.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the information technology education centres in the United Kingdom; and if he will give for each one (a) the number of staff, full-time equivalents, (b) the number of available places in the current year, (c) the number of unfilled places in the current year and (d) the cost in the current year.

I have been asked to reply.There are currently 163 information technology centres (ITeCs) in operation and these are as follows. The Manpower Services Commission does not keep centrally detailed information about individual ITeCs and this could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, national figures for the ITeC programme are available and at the end of February there were 1,111 adult staff, 5,994 available places and 5,248 trainees in training, comprising young people on both 1983–84 and 1984–85 schemes. The cost of the programme to the commission in the current financial year is estimated to be about 24 million.London Region (15)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will arrange for an exhibition relating to the North-West tourist board 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 March to Friday 29 March 1985.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will introduce regulations to require the provision of suitable lighting for workers who use visual display units.

There is no evidence to suggest that specific regulations covering the provision of suitable lighting for workers who use visual display units are needed. The Factories Act 1961 and the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963 both require the provision and maintenance of sufficient and suitable lighting in workrooms. In addition, the general provisions of section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 require employers to provide and maintain suitable lighting.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he plans to hold consultations with representatives of Youthaid about the relationship between the level of wages earned by youngsters and the level of awards by wages councils;(2) if he plans to hold consultations with Youthaid about the possibility of referring to alternative programmes those youth training scheme trainees whose traineeships are interrupted because their sponsoring firms go into receivership.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the outturn figure for payments under the maternity pay fund in 1983–84.

During the year ended 31 March my Department paid employers rebates amounting to £57·5 million out of the maternity pay fund. This covered payments made to 131,401 employees.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what research his Department is currently supporting into the effects on health of those operating visual display units; and if he has considered asking the Health and Safety Commission to review matters in order to establish the facts.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number of people employed in the service sector in England in each of the last 10 years, giving the change in each year as a percentage of the total employed in that sector.

The following table gives the estimated number of employees in employment in England in the service sector — divisions 6 to 9 of the 1980 standard industrial classification—at June in each of the last 10 years. It also gives the percentage change between each figure and the figure in the preceding year.

Service Industries—England
June each year	Employees in employment (thousands)	Percentage change from previous year
1975	10,838	+2·4
1976	10,883	+0·4
1977	10,956	+0·7
1978	11,131	+1·6
1979	11,443	+2·8
1980	11,555	+1·0
1981	11,338	-1·9
1982	11,296	-0·4
1983	11,310	+0·1
1984	11,541	+2·0

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many individual journeys have been made at public expense by Manpower Services Commission officials above the rank of principal for each of the years 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84 and 1984–85; and what has been the total cost of these journeys to the taxpayer.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the computer capacity available at Manpower Services Commission regional and area offices in the large companies unit; and how many trainee records can be maintained on computer at each of these offices.

The large companies unit of the MSC's training division does not have a computer to maintain records of trainees. Information about schemes administered by the large companies unit is included amongst the data held by computer systems operating within the network of regional and area offices in the training division.One system deals with payment of allowances to TOPS and YTS trainees. The second processes data about YTS and provides information on the various local and national schemes and numbers of participants, as well as producing necessary management statistics. The latter system holds, on average, records of 28,000 participants at each area office.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what investment has been made by the Manpower Services Commission in new technology to improve the administrative efficiency of the commission for each of the years 1981–82 to 1984–85, broken down by Selkirk house, Moorfoot, Sheffield, Manpower Services Commission regional offices, Manpower Services Commission area offices, the Manpower Services Commission large companies unit and each operating division of the commission; and if he will make a statement on the future investment plans for the commission in new technology.

Capital investment in new technology in the MSC for the financial years 1981–82 to 1984–85 is as follows.For each of the financial years concerned 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84 and finally 1984–85 the figures are as follows:

	£
Employment Division
1981–82	1,337,839
1982–83	1,533,112
1983–84	2,106,500
1984–85	1,794,000
Training Division
1981–82	432,273
1982–83	3,999,949
1983–84	770,579
1984–85	528,000
Skillcentre Training Agency
1981–82	—
1982–83	—

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the individual and total estimated cost of the following road schemes: A55 Bodelwyddan bypass, A55 Dwygyfylchi-Penmaenbach, A55 Llanfairfechan bypass, A55 Penmaenmawr bypass, A55 Glan Conwy-Conwy Morfa, A40 Pengawse Hill diversion, A40 Whitland bypass, A40 Treffgarne Rocks improvement, A48 Cross Hands Llanddarog bypass, A48 Chepstow inner relief road and bridge, A483 Ruabon bypass and Wynnstany link, A483 Newbridge bypass and Whitehurst link, A483 Gresford-Pulford bypass and A483 Chirk bypass; and when construction is due to begin in each case.Mr Wyn Roberts: The information is given in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the rules imposed on

Budgeted Expenditure Increase, Current Expenditure by Local Authority 1981–82 to 1984–85
(£000)
Authority	1981–82	Difference 1982–82 to 1982–83	1982–83	Difference 1982–83 to 1983–84	1983–84	Difference 1983–1983–84 to 1984–85	1984–85	*Total Increase 1981–82 to 1984–85
Alyn and Deeside	3,513	-73	3,440	436	3,876	-94	3,782	328
Colwyn	3,076	144	3,220	37	3,257	-90	3,167	142
Delyn	3,744	162	3,906	724	4,630	111	4,741	1,060
Glyndwr	2,215	196	2,411	56	2,467	121	2,588	410
Rhuddlan	3,972	56	4,028	52	4,080	-486	3,594	-311
Wrexham Maelor	6,298	173	6,471	217	6,688	457	7,145	952
Carmarthen	2,631	77	2,708	50	2,758	277	3,035	448
Ceredigion	2,654	124	2,778	431	3,209	234	3,443	833
Dinefwr	1,685	-9	1,676	-9	1,667	174	1,841	184
Llanelli	4,522	187	4,709	91	4,800	283	5,083	637
Preseli	3,096	241	3,337	157	3,494	147	3,641	597
South Pembroke	1,951	59	2,010	187	2,197	54	2,251	333
Blaenau Gwent	4,770	477	5,247	159	5,406	683	6,089	1,399
Islwyn	3,457	287	3,744	226	3,970	232	4,202	803
Monmouth	3,606	107	3,713	285	3,998	67	4,065	519
Newport	7,835	748	8,583	144	8,727	-38	8,689	985
Torfaen	6,423	-85	6,338	-130	6,208	-109	6,099	-216
Aberconwy	3,482	245	3,727	19	3,746	126	3,872	448
Arfon	2,847	550	3,397	373	3,770	141	3,911	1,112
Dwyfor	1,475	214	1,689	125	1,814	24	1,838	388
Merionnydd	1,918	226	2,144	192	2,336	24	2,360	474
Ynys Mon	3,369	736	4,105	-13	4,092	391	4,483	1,170
Cynon Valley	4,077	263	4,340	342	4,682	267	4,949	940
Merthyr Tydfil	5,021	361	5,382	234	5,616	-439	5,177	240
Ogwr	6,544	834	7,378	230	7,608	255	7,863	1,428
Rhondda	6,066	230	6,296	448	6,744	156	6,900	935
Rhymney Valley	5,886	1,658	7,544	46	7,590	193	7,783	1,995
Taff Ely	5,408	503	5,911	-62	5,849	396	6,245	927
Brecknock	1,962	-180	1,782	353	2,135	109	2,244	315
Montgomery	2,142	83	2,225	251	2,476	150	2,626	520
Radnor	949	74	1,023	189	1,212	11	1,223	290

The degree of access to new and accumulated capital receipts in the local authority sector has been adjusted over the period since 1981–82 principally in order to secure a better match between the level of actual capital spending and the provision for such spending in the Government's plans. The precise rules applicable in each period are set out in the Local Government (Prescribed Expenditure) Regulations and Amendment Regulations laid and approved by the House each year.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the budgeted expenditure increase, current expenditure, in each Welsh local authority in each year from 1981–82 to 1984–85, showing the total increase between 1981–82 and 1984–85.

The following table gives details of budgeted current expenditure of Welsh local authorities in each year 1981–82 to 1984–85. Comparisons between years are affected by changes in the national insurance surcharge contribution which was 3·5 per cent. in 1981–82 and 1982–83, 2·5 per cent, in 1983–84 and 1 per cent, in 1984–85. The budgeted figures for the individual years have not been adjusted to allow for these changes but the final column compares the adjusted 1981–82 figures with those for 1984–85.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish (a) gross expenditure, (b) net capital expenditure by each Welsh local authority on housing and (c) current expenditure on repairs and maintenance to existing housing stock in Wales in each year from 1981–82 to 1984–85, estimate.

The information requested is given in the following tables.

Table A.
Gross Capital Expenditure by the Welsh District Authorities on Housing 1981–82 to 1984–85—£000
District	Outturn			Districts Forecast
	1981–82	1982–83	*1983–84	1984–85
Alyn and Deeside	2,025	3,683	3,492	4,718
Colwyn	1,379	1,764	2,360	1,673
Delyn	1,242	1,284	2,123	1,423
Glyndwr	1,571	1,790	2,564	2,497
Rhuddlan	750	1,044	1,121	956
Wrexham Maelor	2,604	3,580	4,544	4,038
Carmarthen	2,666	3,879	8,866	4,749
Ceredigion	2,200	3,057	6,941	4,488
Dinefwr	801	1,419	2,576	1,628
Llanelli	1,938	2,518	4,537	3,571
Preseli	2,248	2,944	4,084	4,328
South Pembroke	1,197	1,868	3,642	3,585
Blaenau Gwent	5,012	9,800	10,785	8,746
Islwyn	2,339	4,753	7,466	7,616
Monmouth	1,966	3,298	5,990	4,472
Newport	6,996	9,336	11,654	9,624
Torfaen	3,442	6,310	7,342	6,022
Aberconwy	793	1,332	2,334	2,355
Arfon	2,541	2,609	4,214	3,446
Dwyfor	589	1,047	2,957	1,573
Meirionnydd	804	1,239	3,669	3,523
Ynys Mon	1,497	2,569	6,679	2,138
Cynon Valley	2,308	2,738	4,513	2,986
Merthr Tydfil	2,505	2,871	4,540	3,474
Ogwr	4,572	5,387	8,614	9,034
Rhondda	5,014	6,765	12,972	10,782
Rhymney Valley	3,439	5,281	7,381	6,537
Taff Ely	4,618	6,221	9,628	5,909
Brecknock	966	984	2,461	1,964
Montgomery	670	1,279	926	2,291
Radnor	544	1,463	1,793	1,137
Cardiff	11,132	13,368	23,038	18,724
Vale of Glamorgan	1,705	4,023	4,873	4,132
Afan	940	1,987	2,272	2,273