asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether any changes to Votes and cash limits for which he is responsible are proposed as a result of the change in departmental responsibility for coast protection.

Responsibility for coast protection was transferred to my Department from 1 April. A Supplementary Estimate will be sought for Class III Vote 3 Agricultural Support, Animal Health, Land Drainage and Flood Protection (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food), which is not subject to a cash limit, to provide for grant-aid of up to £ 11 million to local authorities undertaking approved coast protection schemes. This will be accompanied by a revised Estimate and corresponding reduction in Class VIII Vote 1 Local Environmental and Planning Services, etc. England (Department of the Environment).Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimates, the cash limit for Class III Vote 4 Agricultural and Food Services and Support for the Fishing Industry (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food) will be increased by £408,000 from £144,365,000 to £144,773,000 to provide for externally commissioned research and development work on coast protection.At the same time a revised Estimate will be presented and the cash limit for Class VIII Vote 5 Central Administration and Environmental Research (Department of the Environment) reduced by £454,000 from £148,819,000 to £148,365,000. This reduction includes £33,000 in respect of the administrative expenditure associated with coast protection work, which if required will be made available subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate to MAFF later in the year, and £ 13,000 in respect of the transfer of funds, again subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, from the Department of the Environment to the Department of Education and Science to support additional expenditure on housing management studentships funded by that Department on behalf of the Department of the Environment.These changes to MAFF Votes correspond with the provisions previously made by the Department of the Environment for the same purposes. No overall change in public expenditure is involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will publish in the Official Report the number of persons who were initially detainedunder other Acts, and were charged under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts in each of the years of the operation of the Acts;(2) how many persons detained under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts were charged with

The information in regard to persons detained in Northern Ireland is as follows:

Persons detained under other Acts and charged under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974, 1976 and 1984*
	Number
1974	—
1975	—
1976	—
1977	19
1978	13
1979	10
1980	10
1981	3
1982	9
1983	3
1984	—
	—
Totals	67

Persons detained under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974, 1976 and 1984
	(a) charged under the Acts*	(b) charged under other Acts or with common law offences†
1974	—	—
1975	—	2
1976	—	130
1977	—	81
1978	1	71
1979	3	48
1980	2	101
1981	2	152
1982	5	333
1983	9	464
1984	—	258
Totals	22	1,640

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been injured by plastic bullets in each of the past six years to the latest date.

Records of injuries thought to have been caused by batton rounds were first collated in March 1981. The figures for each year since then are as follows:

	Number
1981(since 17 March)	202
1982	4
1983	7
1984	37
1985 (to 31 May)	1

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has for the future of primary school education in Ballyhalbert, Co. Down; and if he will make a statement.

On 24 May 1985 the Department of Education for Northern Ireland approved a proposal submitted by the South-Eastern Education and Library Board that Ballyeasborough primary school should close when Victoria primary school, Ballyhalbert, is rebuilt with appropriate permanent accommodation. It also approved the board's proposal to rebuild Victoria primary school for the four teacher category. Progress of the scheme to construction stage will depend on the degree of priority which the board is prepared to accord the project, as well as the overall availability of finance for school building.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to explain to the public the strip-searching procedure at Her Majesty's prison, Armagh.

I and my ministerial colleagues take every opportunity, in our statements, correspondence and media interviews, to explain the reason for and nature of strip-searching. In addition my right hon. Friend has today published a booklet setting out the facts in full. This will be distributed widely in the United Kingdom and abroad; and I have arranged for copies to be made available to the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans to relieve the overcrowding at Leeds prison.

Leeds is the most overcrowded local prison in the country. On 4 June 1985 there were 1,292 prisoners there, occupying certified normal accommodation for 624. The staff at Leeds have responded magnificently to the burdens placed upon them, but it would not be responsible to let the present situation continue.I have, therefore, decided that, in order to relieve the pressure on Leeds, Hull prison should cease to function as a dispersal prison and should assume a local prison role as soon as possible.In order for Hull to make its contribution as a local prison it will be necessary to increase outlets in the north of the country for sentenced adult male prisoners. I have concluded that this should be done by changing the role of Thorp Arch remand centre to a category C prison.A discreet post-war wing at Hull will function as a remand centre for young offenders and will take all the juveniles who currently go to Thorp Arch. The other prisoners currently assigned to Thorp Arch will be divided between the Hull remand centre and Leeds prison, where every effort will continue to be made to keep prisoners under 21 separate from the rest of the population. While I naturally regret the movement of prisoners under 21 from a wholly separate establishment to a local prison, thesechanges will produce one very important improvement. Dividing the population between Hull and Leeds will make visiting markedly easier for the very great majority of the prisoners' families and legal advisers.It will not be possible to absorb Hull's entire existing population in other suitable establishments immediately. Some 30 long-term prisoners, including category A prisoners, will therefore be retained in A wing at Hull until the new dispersal prison at Full Sutton opens in 1987. The wing will aim to operate a normal dispersal prison regime during this period and is not to be seen as one of the separate units recommended by the Control Review Committee.I believe that these changes, taken in the round, will enable us to use our resources flexibly and to the best effect. In particular, the intolerable pressure on Leeds will be relieved and the way to improve the regime there will be opened. Detailed planning and discussion will now go ahead on the ground: the target date for the changes is November this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Ealing, North on 17 May, Official Report, column 235, why it was not considered appropriate to upgrade the post of Chief Education Officer for the Prison Service to grade 5; and if he will make a statement.

The duties of the post, which have been carefully examined by senior management and by Home Office staff inspectors, are considered to fall short of the stringent criteria for inclusion in the unified grading structure at level 5.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated total cost of building the 16 new prisons within the prison building programme.

Approximately £340 million at current prices.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what checks are normally carried out by the immigration authorities into the credentials of those seeking to act as sponsors for new arrivals to the United Kingdom; and whether such checks were carried out in all cases when examining those seeking to sponsor Tamils arriving from Sri Lanka.

Most people sponsoring passengers arriving in the United Kingdom are their relatives or friends. In some cases before leave to enter or temporary admission is given the sponsor is interviewed by the immigration officer to confirm maintenance and accommodation for the passenger. If there is any reason to doubt the immigration status of the sponsor this is also checked. Similar considerations apply to those sponsoring Tamils arriving from Sri Lanka who seek asylum.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what responsibilities are normally placed upon those who seek to sponsor new arrivals to the United Kingdom; and whether such responsibilities were placed upon those who came forward to sponsor Tamils arriving from Sri Lanka.

The responsibility for complying with the terms of temporary admission or of any period of leave to enter lies with the person to whom it is given rather than with the sponsor.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Tamils have been allowed to enter the United Kingdom since 1 January; and how many have since been deported.

The relevant statistics are not routinely maintained by ethnic origin. In the quarter ended 31 March 1985, 5,093 persons holding Sri Lankan passports were admitted to the United Kingdom. No Sri Lankan has been deported between 1 January and 31 May 1985, but 15 Tamils refused entry on arrival were removed between 20 May and 4 June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in the light of recent disclosures of the contents of the report of Sir John McKay's working party on the administration of the Firearms Act 1968, he will now place a copy of the report in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

I shall reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement concerning his Department's recent recommendations to chief officers of police with regard to the Firearms Act 1968 concerning the zeroing of rifles for general sporting purposes and vermin control.

As a result of various representations, further consideration has been given to paragraph 21 of the report of the working party on the administration of the Firearms Act 1968 concerning territorial restrictions. Following consultation with the Association of Chief Police Officers, chief officers have been advised that the zeroing provision should be extended as a matter of course to those who hold certificates for vermin control and general sporting purposes as well as for deer shooting. All chief officers have been asked to amend the advice contained in the report accordingly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement regarding his recent working party's report into the administration of the Firearms Act 1968, as to (a) when he proposes to call for submissions from responsible bodies and organisations, (b) by what date such submissions should be received for consideration, (c) which organisations he will ask for such submissions, (d) on what date the review will take place, (e) which organisations will be personally requested to appear before the review body and (f) who will represent the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Home Office, respectively, on the proposed review body.

We intend to seek the views of the police and a cross-section of shooting organisations shortlyon the operation of the working party's recommendation on the territorial condition, but I am not yet in a position to give further details.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance his Department issued to chief constables (a) before April 1984 and (b) since April 1984 regarding the circumstances in which a firearms certificate issued under the Firearms Act 1968 should have attached to it a condition stipulating that the firearms and ammunition to which the certificate relates should not be capable of firing in bursts.

Chief officers of police were advised in 1978 that consideration should be given to the imposition of the following condition in cases where it is not possible to specify precisely the weapon which a certificate holder is authorised to acquire:

"The firearms to which this certificate relates shall nol be capable of firing in bursts".

No further advice has been issued to chief officers of police since then.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the degree of access to court records given to magistrates, lawyers and law students in their own locality and for purposes of research.

Yes, but if there is any particular problem which the hon. Member has in mind perhaps he would write to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will explain Government policy on the replacement to the A20 between Folkestone and Dover in the light of the assertion in the Department's invitation to promoters on the channel fixed link that this would be built under any circumstances and the Minister's suggestion in the Department's press release of 14 May that this would be very unlikely if the fixed link were not to go ahead.

Improvements to the A20 between Folkestone and Dover remain firmly programmed in the Government's plans. These improvements were not planned to be completed before around the early 1990s. The precise alignment, design and standards of the improvements will depend significantly on the outcome of the British and French Government's decisions on whether or not a Channel fixed link—of whatever sort—is to proceed. This decision is expected to be made about the end of this year. And this timetable should not materially affect the eventual completion date of the necessary improvements.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the cost of producing and distributing the leaflet "Motorways—A National Asset".

One and a half million copies of the leaflet "Motorways—A National Asset" were produced at a total cost of £30,275.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made by the European Economic Community in obtaining details of airline pooling arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

In March 1983 the European Commission asked all member states to provide details of inter-airline commercial agreements and the Government did so in accordance with Community obligations. The Commissioner for Transport has recently announced that the Commission is instituting proceedings under Article 169 of the Treaty of Rome against seven member states who have not so far provided the information.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the numbers of private sidings financed using section 8 grants by British Rail, in each year since such grants began, giving the total annual expenditure on section 8 grants in each of these years in both constant and cash prices.

So far 166 grants have been awarded under section 8 of the Railways Act 1974, including 31 in Scotland and 21 in Wales. Most of them included provisions related either to the installation of new private

Investment Project	Date Submitted	Action	Cost* £ million
Construction of 3 HST sets for East Coast
Main Line†	17 September 1979	Rejected	6·0
Freight Rolling Stock Rolling Programme	9 April 1980	Withdrawn	136·5
Harwich-Zeebrugge train ferry	24 April 1980	Withdrawn	39·5
Advanced Passenger Train for West Coast
Main Line (including fixed works)	17 July 1980	Withdrawn	214·5
Advanced Passenger Train for West Coast main line (advance authority for long-lead items)	19 August 1980	Withdrawn	34·5
EMU Rolling Programme	15 December 1980	Withdrawn	114·0
120 Mk III coaches‡	4 November 1982	Withdrawn	23·0
3 fast ferries for Portsmouth—Ryde service	29 March 1983	Rejected	7·5
Cambridge—Royston electrification║	11 July 1983	Rejected	2·0
* Costs are at prices prevailing at the time of submission.
† Part of a larger submission: 4 HST sets, worth £9·5 million, were approved.
‡ Part of a larger submission: 60 Mk III coaches, worth £11 million, were approved.
║ Part of a larger submission: Cambridge-Bishops Stortford electrification, worth £10 million, was approved.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to the number of passenger journeys undertaken in (a) each passenger transport executive area and (b) in each municipal bus service area in each of the last 10 years.

The number of passenger journeys by public transport in areas served by passenger transport executives is publicly available in the three-year plans prepared by each PTE in accordance with the Transport Act 1983. Similar information is not available for areas served by municipal operators. Both PTE and municipal

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list each of the investment plans for British Rail, which have had to be submitted to Her Majesty's Government for approval since May 1979, where the application was either rejected or withdrawn, distinguishing which were withdrawn and which rejected, and showing the cost in cash terms in each case.

The information is as follows:bus operators supply the number of passenger journeys made on their own services to the Department but on the understanding that only aggregate data are published. Total passenger journeys for these operators for the last eleven years are given in table 2.12 in "Transport Statistics Great Britain 1973–1983" HMSO, a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has approved London Buses Ltd's proposal for further new bus purchases in 1986 and 1987.

I have approved the purchase of 260 new buses in 1986–87 at a cost of £16 million. The new buses will be the first in London Buses' fleet to be equipped with new design features which will speed up boarding times and improve access for elderly and disabled people. This decision is another example of the Government's commitment to investment by LRT and their subsidiaries in a more modern and efficient public transport system.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to total spending on public transport by each passenger transport executive and each municipal bus service, for each of the last 10 years, showing the percentage contribution towards the total provided by central Government, in each year in each case.

The following tables show the information readily available:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what preparations he is making to set up the residuary bodies under part VII of the Local Government Bill.

Under Clause 56 of the Local Government Bill, my right hon. Friend is required to establish the residuary bodies on an appointed day or days before the abolition date and to appoint between five and 10 members, including a chairman, to each body.The residuary bodies will have a considerable job to do between Royal Assent and abolition. They will be identifying the property, rights, and liabilities which will fall to them; they will be preparing to assume their tasks at abolition; they will be identifying and approaching the staff they need; and they will be approaching the successor authorities to ensure that, in the course of the transition to

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further expenditure after 1 June he contemplates by the Property Services Agency on the Mount Pleasant airport.

The Property Services Agency estimates that £89 million will be spent on the construction of Mount Pleasant airport after 1 June 1985. This does not include expenditure under the separate project providing Army accommodation and a port.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement concerning the concept of country new towns in the green belt.

Proposals for such developments would require planning consent in the usual way. Circular 14/85 sets out my right hon. Friend's policy on development in green belt, and Circular 15/84 on land and housing development.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, over the past five years, how much Government support has been provided and on what basis for (a) horse racing and (b) association football.

The Government have provided no financial support for horse racing over the past 5 years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish the first report of the hazardous waste inspectorate; and if he will make a statement.

I am glad to welcome the first report of the Hazardous Waste Inspectorate published today. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The report amply justifies the Government's decision to set up this small team of experts to advise on the problems of disposing of hazardous chemical waste. Their initial assessment provides us with a valuable picture of the general standards of hazardous waste management in the United Kingdom.The report is based on 700 visits, mainly to local authorities and waste disposal facilities, and also to waste producers and regulatory bodies. It shows a disturbing situation. It describes a level of performance in both public and private sectors which too frequently falls below acceptable standards. It offers no evidence of harm to public health. But the report points to failures on the part of operators in their disposal practices, and on the part of authorities in monitoring compliance with licensing requirements and good practice, as reflected in guidance issued by my Department.The situation calls for prompt action on the part of all concerned. Higher standards of waste management can and should be achieved across the country. Wide variations in standards of site licensing, inspection and enforcement and in levels of charging cause serious distortions in the market. This makes it difficult for responsible operators to invest in a range of high standard disposal facilities.The Government will therefore meet both the local authority associations and the industry within the next few weeks to discuss what measures they propose to take within available resources, to secure improvements and to carry out their duties more effectively. Action will be needed in close co-operation with the Health and Safety Executive and its inspectorates concerned.We will also be considering whether changes should be made to strengthen the law in this field, particularly in relation to tightening up the provisions for enforcement of licensing control. Furthermore, following the recently completed review of the regulations on special waste we are considering a range of proposals concerning waste disposal issues including the possibility of enhancing the responsibilities of waste producers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how the decision not to remove specialist qualifications for teachers of the deaf was announced; and what subsequent publicity has been given to the decision.

The decision was announced in paragraph 146 of the White Paper "Better Schools" (Cmnd. 9469). Around 2,000 copies of the White Paper have been distributed, some to organisations which had expressed an interest in the question of specialist qualifications for teachers of the deaf.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will list those institutions providing teacher training which offer non-standard entry opportunities.

It is open to any institution providing initial teacher training to admit as special entrants mature applicants who lack the conventional entry qualifications for first degree studies, provided that the institution and its validating body are satisfied that such students have suitable personal qualities, appropriate experience of adult and working life, the intellectual capacity to complete a degree course successfully and competence in the use and understanding of mathematics and English language. A number of teacher training institutions have arrangements whereby they admit students who have successfully completed special access courses, which have been developed to prepare candidates for entry to higher education without the normal entry qualifications. Under the criteria for the approval of initial teacher training courses issued in April 1984, however, at least 75 per cent. of the students entering any one course should possess the normal qualifications for entry to a first degree course, in other words the special entrants should not form more than 25 per cent. of the intake.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received concerning the possible closure of the teacher training course at the Polytechnic of North London.

As at 3 June my right hon. Friend had received four representations concerning the proposal made by the Secretariat of the National Advisory Body for Public Sector Higher Education regarding the future of initial teacher training at the Polytechnic of North London.The representations drew attention to the particular contribution made by the polytechnic to the training of teachers of ethnic minority origin.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the proposed closure of the teacher training course at the Polytechnic of North London.

Following my right hon. Friend's announcement of target intakes to initial teacher training for the period 1986–89, the National Advisory Body for Public Sector Higher Education and the Welsh Advisory Body were asked to advise on the distribution of intakes between public sector institutions. As a first stage in that process the Secretariat of the National Advisory Body issued proposals to institutions as a basis for consultation. I cannot anticipate what advice the National Advisory Body will submit in respect of individual institutions or what decisions my right hon. Friend will take in the light of that advice.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will list the establishments offering teacher training which have special provision for (a) candidates from ethnic minorities and (b) offering experience of teaching ethnically mixed classes.

As indicated in a reply which I have given to another question from the hon. Member today, a number of teacher training institutions have arrangements whereby they admit candidates without the conventional entry qualifications for first degree studies who have successfully completed special access courses for entry to higher education. Such students may include candidates of ethnic minority origin, but information about the number of teacher training students from ethnic minorities is not currently collected. Criteria for the approval of initial teacher training courses issued in April 1984 require that all students should be prepared to teach the full range of pupils whom they are likely to encounter in an ordinary school, with their diversity of ethnic and cultural origins. My right hon. Friend considers that efforts should be made by all teacher training institutions to give all their students some experience of ethnically mixed schools. Many institutions, including those in areas without substantial ethnic minority populations, already take steps to ensure that their students are provided with such experience.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to increase the numbers of trainee-teachers from ethnic minorities in the light of the Swann report.

As indicated in my right hon. Friend's statement to the House on 14 March at column 452 and my answer to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Short) on 19 April, at column 291 my right hon. Friend intends to consult the education service and representatives of the ethnic minorities on ways to increase the proportion of the teacher force recruited from ethnic minority groups. He hopes to be able to make a further statement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Cambridgeshire, North-East of 24 April, Official Report, column 471, whether he will describe the mechanism used by his Department to take fluctuations in exchange rates into account in considering the payment of allowances to teachers on exchange in the United States of America.

To ensure full and effectively planned use of the cash-limited Government resources available generally for teacher exchange programmes in any one year, which are designed to cover both the teacher's return air fare and a settlement allowance, a rate of assistance is set for the forthcoming academic year, in consultation with those concerned in the joint advisory committee in respect of each exchange country. In the case of the United States of America, this takes account of long-term forecasts of fluctuations expected in the dollar-pound exchange rate over the year in question and of anticipated movements in air travel rates compared to those affecting exchanges to other countries in the schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Cambridgeshire, North-East of 14 May, Official Report, column 106, whether he will appoint an independent body to carry out the review of membership numbers of the teachers' unions or to audit the numbers submitted to him.

No. I shall exercise the powers given to the holder of my office under section 1 of the Remuneration of Teachers Act 1965 directly, as my predecessors have always done.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage change there has been in the student to staff ratios in colleges other than polytechnics over the period 1975 to 1984.

Based on a sample of colleges, the percentage change in student: staff ratios for advanced level work between 1974–75 and 1983–84 was as follows:

1974–75	1983–84	Percentage change
SSR	SSR
7·7	9·0	16·9

The ratios are calculated as full-time equivalent student load divided by the full-time equivalent number of lecturers who are involved in teaching.Similar information in respect of non-advanced level work was not collected prior to 1979–80, and it is therefore not possible to calculate an overall percentage change in student: staff ratios for the period in question.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will estimate the additional cost of awarding all students in higher education a full maintenance grant in each of the categories (a) 18 years plus, (b) 19 years plus, (c) 20 years plus and (d) 21 years plus.

[pursuant to the reply, 20 May 1985, c. 309]: The following are the estimated costs for England and Wales. They are necessarily based on a number of assumptions and thus provide an order of magnitude of the potential costs involved, rather than any precise estimation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether forestry ploughing operations have been carried out by Tilhill Forestry Limited on land at Shielsknowe, Leithope Forest near Cartertar, Border Region, after refusal of grant aid by the Forestry Commission, and without the approval of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland.

Yes. Almost the whole of the area for which grant aid was refused has now been ploughed and planting is expected to be completed soon.As I said in my reply to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Shettleston (Mr. Marshall) on 8 May at column

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many forestry grant scheme applications for planting of broadleaved woodlands (a) consisting solely of broadleaves and (b) in mixture with conifers were approved for grant in each year since 1981–82.

This information is not available in the form requested.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the objectives of the Forestry Commission's policy of diversification by broadleaves of predominantly coniferous upland forests; and how its management practices in re-stocking of forests aim to achieve those objectives.

The Forestry Commission uses broadleaved trees in predominantly coniferous upland forests in order to enhance the forest landscape, to increase the diversity of wildlife habitat and to extend the recreational interest.Management practices in restocking aim to make the most of any naturally occurring broadleaved woodland supplemented by planting where practical, particularly in conjunction with watercourses and the fringes of wetlands and open areas where it will increase the interest and enjoyment of visitors.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will place in the Library the statement given by Mr. Bernard Ingham about her meeting with 26 leading industrialists on Tuesday 21 May.

I have placed in the Library the press notice issued by my office on my meeting on May 21, 1985 with leading industrialists to discuss their part in the national effort to increase the number of students studying engineering and technology in higher education.

asked the Prime Minister (1) what representations she made at her meeting with 26 leading industrialists on Tuesday 21 May about supporting engineering courses; and what was their reply;(2) what response she had from 26 leading industrialists at her meeting with them on Tuesday 21 May about committing their firms to giving substantial and continuing practical help to polytechnics and universities.

My colleagues and I had a very useful discussion with the industrialists about the part they can play in the national effort to increase the number of students studying engineering and technology in higher education, in the light of the Government's recently announced £43 million programme to expand relevant first degree and postgraduate output.The industrialists said that they welcome, and fully supported, the Government's initiative to increase the output of engineering and technology graduates and postgraduates. They committed their firms to giving substantial and continuing practical help to the universities and polytechnics benefiting from the Government's programme. They offered more up-to-date equipment, more help with teaching staff and with the design of relevant courses, and they undertook to provide more sandwich course places and to sponsor more students.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of patients on orthopaedic waiting lists have to wait for over 12 months for the appropriate inpatient surgical treatment in each of the health authorities in Wales.

The available information is given in the following table and refers to the numbers of non-urgent cases waiting for traumatic and orthopaedic surgery at 30 September 1984.

Health Authority	Percentage of cases on waiting list for 12 months or more
Clwyd	9·9
East Dyfed	4·4
Gwent	26·9
Gwynedd	17·5
Mid Glamorgan	53·6
Pembrokeshire	42·3
Powys	—
South Glamorgan	37·1
West Glamorgan	9·0

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list by name and location the aural consultants who have a special interest in the investigation and treatment of tinnitus including the prescribing of masking devices;(2) how many patients suffering from severe intractable tinnitus have been supplied with masking devices in each of the health authorities in Wales; what percentage this is of patients attending ear, nose and throat clinics annually because of this condition; and what has been the cost of providing such apparatus for the last 12 months for which figures are available;(3) if he will estimate the percentage of cases referred to aural consultants in each of the health authorities in Wales because of tinnitus who are suffering from the condition because of their present or past occupations.

This information is not held centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales by what mechanisms the Forestry Commission reached agreement with the Welsh water authority and Fountain Forestry Ltd. over site preparations of the land at Blaen-y-Cwm, Llanbrynmair Moors, Powys.

Following consultations between Forestry Commission, the local authorities, the Nature Conservancy Council and the Severn-Trent water authority on a forestry grant scheme application for land at Blaen-y-Cwm, Llanbrynmair Moors, Powys, the owners, for whom Fountain Forestry acted as agents, agreed to enter into a deed of covenant with the water authority governing the manner in which the site preparations would be carried out. The Forestry Commission's approval to the grant application was conditional upon this convenant being executed.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make an announcement about the 12th and 13th Hunt class mine counter-measures vessels.

I am pleased to announce that following competitive tendering the order for the 12th and 13th Hunt class MCMV's was placed with Vosper Thornycroft (UK) Ltd yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will outline the kind of threat which necessitates the use by United Kingdom forces of 15 Mk. 19 automatic grenade launchers.

[pursuant to his reply,3 June 1985, c. 63]: The Mk. 19 automatic grenade launcher is a standard infantry weapon for defence against armed attack.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement concerning the installation of the Mk. 19 automatic grenade launcher at Greenham common; (2) whether other American airbases in the United Kingdom will be equipped with the Mk. 19 automatic grenade launcher.

[pursuant to his replies, 3 June 1985, c. 63–64]: I understand that this standard infantry weapon is being issued to a number of USAF bases in Europe, including the United Kingdom.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many persons have resigned from the programming and experts computer sections of the computer services division of Customs and Excise headquarters in Southend in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement;(2) what estimate he has made of the gap between the salary levels of computer programmers in the computer services division of the Customs and Excise headquarters in Southend and comparable positions in private industry in the south-east of England; and what steps he will take to narrow the differential;(3) why the headquarters of Customs and Excise in Southend have initiated a new programme to engage a private firm to undertake a major computer-based project for the computer services division; and if he will make a statement;(4) if he will introduce a regional variation in additional payments to ensure that the Customs and Excise computer services division is in a position to offer comparable salaries to those in private industry; and if he will make a statement.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts what has been the total of Government support for the arts over the past five years; and on what basis it has been provided.

This information is given in the 1985 "Public Expenditure" White Paper (Cmnd. 9428, Volume II, chapter 3.5 on the arts and libraries programme), a copy of which is in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give the addresses of any office accommodation in the London borough of Ealing which the European Economic Community is expected to take over; what is the cost of such accommodation; and if he will make a statement.

We are pressing the case for London to be the site of the proposed EC Trademark office. But it has not yet been decided in which EC member state the office will be established, let alone its precise location.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Gibraltarians will be issued with the new European Community passport; and if he will make a statement.

I can confirm that Gibraltarians will be issued with common format passports.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether any representative of the British Government has visited any refugee camp in Angola;(2) whether any representative of the British Government has visited any camp in Angola administered by the South West Africa People's Organisation; and if he will make a statement.

No representative of Her Majesty's Government has visited either a refugee camp in Angola, or a camp administered by the South West Africa People's Organisation in Angola during the last four years, the period of which records are readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Epping Forest (Sir J. Biggs-Davison) on 17 May, Official Report, column 254, it is British Government policy to rely solely on the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to monitor and act on human rights violations in the South West Africa People's Organisation camps.

We are naturally concerned about all violations of human rights wherever they occur. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, as the international body charged with ensuring the welfare of refugees, is in the best position to decide whether any violations of human rights have indeed occurred in SWAPO refugee camps.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he is satisfied with progress made with energy conservation in industry.

Though much remains to be done, there is now a great deal of activity. Over 16,000 senior executives have attended the 40 breakfast-time briefings we have held throughout the country over the last 18 months, and three-quarters have gone on to take action to cut their energy costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the unemployment rates in percentage and absolute terms in each of the European Economic Community countries.

Following is the information, available in the Library, relating to April 1985, using national unadjusted series compiled by the Statistical Office of the European Communities (SOEC) and also including standardised unemployment rates compiled by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The latter are only available in the form of rates. The national unadjusted figures are not comparable because of differences in definitions and

EC Unemployment
SOEC Unadjusted, national definitions			OECD Standardised rates
	Thousands	Percentage rate	Latest month	Percentage rate
Belgium	546·.2	13·2	March	14·1
Denmark	263·0	9·7	*	*
France	2,338·3	10·3	March	10·1
Germany	2,304·6	8·6	March	8·8
Greece	79·5	2·1	*	*
Ireland	228·0	17·6	*	*
Italy	2,928·1	12·8	October 1984	10·0
Luxembourg	2·7	1·7	*	*
Netherlands	748·1	13·1	March	13·3
United Kingdom	3,272·6	12·4	March	13·5
* not available

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the management study referred to in the annual district report for 1983 carried out in district L of the Industrial Air Pollution Inspectorate of the effectiveness of means used to obtain compliance with the legal requirements of air pollution control legislation.

The Health and Safety Executive propose to publish shortly a paper on measuring the effectiveness of the Executive's field activities.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many, and what, aids and adaptations the Manpower Services Commission has financed to help disabled people in each of the last five years; and how many people have been abble to take up employment as a result.

The number of new aids financed by the Manpower Services Commission in each of the last five years was as follows:

	Number
1980–81	775
1981–82	765
1982–83	1,067
1983–84	1,268
1984–85	1,640

The number of adaptations financed was:

	Number
1980–81	83
1981–82	94
1982–83	117
1983–84	170
1984–85	145

Aids issued included electronic braille storage and retrieval devices, electric wheelchairs, telephone amplifiers and micro computers. Adaptations financed included ramps for wheelchair users, stairlifts and toilet alterations.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many factories in the west midlands were visited by factory inspectors for each of the last five years for which records are available; what percentage this figure represents of the total number of factories in the area; and whether he is satisfied with the present number of factory inspectors in post in the west midlands.

[pursuant to his reply, 27 March 1985, c. 226-7]: I wish to correct the statistics given in my reply, which should have read as follows:

	Number of premises visited	Percentage of premises visited in relation to the total number of premises in the area per cent.
1985 to date	1,252	6
1984	3,289	17
1983	4,792	24
1982	4,891	31
1981	5,065	18
1980	figures not available

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what effects upon the performance of British industry have resulted from the privatisation programme of his Department.

In general, companies returned to the private sector have recorded both increases in efficiency and improved performance. This has benefited not just the companies concerned, but their customers and the economy as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the progress of Government action to disperse research and development activities of private firms and public bodies to the regions.

No. It is not Government policy to influence the location of private sector research and development activities. There are currently no plans to relocate DTI laboratories to other regions.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what factors he took into account when reaching his conclusions on recommendations arising from the review "Burdens on Business".

We have not yet announced conclusions on most of the recommendations. They are being urgently followed up in our drive to reduce the burden of regulation on business as a whole, which is being co-ordinated by my right hon. and noble Friend, the Minister without Portfolio.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his Department is doing to encourage the spread of mini-enterprises in secondary schools.

We have set ourselves a target to encourage each secondary school to carry out some form of enterprise activity during 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in privatizing the warship building yards.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 25 March that he had given his consent to the sale of Yarrow Shipbuilders to GEC. Brooke Marine has been sold to a management consortium. I expect the sales of all the warship yards to be completed by 31 March 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the funding of BL development plans for its new lean-burn engine.

BL's engine plans are covered in the company's corporate plan. This does not request further Government funding for BL.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he proposes to approve the establishment of an absolute monopoly in special steel production in the United Kingdom.

We are still considering the phoenix II joint venture proposals from BSC and GKN fortheir engineering and special steels businesses. The competition effects of the phoenix II proposals will be among the factors taken into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the overseas trading potential of the highlands and islands of Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

I am satisfied that the Highlands and Islands of Scotland have a great deal to offer markets overseas. The region makes a significant contribution to the United Kingdom's export performance, through its exports of the wide range of goods produced in the area, including Scotch whisky, Harris tweed, high quality textiles and knitwear, craft goods, electronics and engineering and food products.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department proposes to take to reverse the decline of the manufacturing industries in the north-west.

The Government are continuing their policies of revitalising both the national and regional economies, providing a healthy economic framework in which manufacturing industry can continue to invest, expand and become increasingly more competitive in both home and overseas markets. In addition to the various forms of Government financial assistance available, we are successfully building on the natural resilience and ability to generate self-help at the industrial level that is inherent in many parts of the north-west. This is shown by the continuing rapid growth of new firms in the north-west; between the end of 1979 and the end of 1983 it has been estimated that the stock of business actually increased by 7 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what account Her Majesty's Government take of human rights considerations when formulating their policy towards Government trading with another country.

The Government believe that civil trade with other countries should be governed by commercial considerations. However, human rights are one of the many factors taken into account when examining licences to export defence or paramilitary equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the progress of the innovation programme on the east midlands.

The Department's support for innovation is a national facility and is not targeted specifically on any one area. However, since the start of SFI in May 1982, some 8 per cent. of all applications received were from firms based in the east midlands and to date £30·1 million of assistance has been offered to east midlands firms out of a total of £451·5 million committed nationally.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on progress to date made by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary with co-ordinating responsibility for waste recycling.

I have received a considerable amount of correspondence and advice about my new role. I will be consulting other Ministers shortly about matters which span Departmental responsibilities. I am also planning a number of visits to selected recycling plants and research organisations in order to promote the cause of economic recycling and to identify priorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether licences are required for the export of chemical weapons or of weapons-grade chemicals; and if he will make a statement.

Chemical weapons are under export licensing control, as are the most common chemical intermediates which could be used to make chemical weapons. The position is kept constantly under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he proposes to introduce a data base on small businesses for the following separate categories: one to 20 employees, 21 to 50 employees, 51 to 100 employees and 101 to 200 employees.

I am aware of the value of information on businesses by sizebands of employees but, having considered the matter with other departments concerned, I have at present no proposals to impose what could be regarded as an additional form-filling burden on small businesses.

asked the Secretary of State forTrade and Industry what reactions he has received aboutthe arrangements for Local Enterprise Week.

During Local Enterprise Week 1985 some 700 events were organised throughout the country and I visited close on 60 small firms organisations in 40 towns. I believe the week was very successful in attracting publicity for the impressive range of locally based organisations providing support, at community level, to help small businesses set up and grow.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on the outcome of his Department's Local Enterprise Week.

During Local Enterprise Week 1985 just over 700 events were organised throughout the country and I visited close on 60 small firms organisations in 40 towns. I believe the week was very successful in attracting publicity for the impressive range of locally based organisations providing support, at community level, to help small businesses set up and grow.

asked the Secretary of State forTrade and Industry if he will make a statement on the current availability of funding for small businesses.

Most funding for small businesses comes from the banks and other financial institutions, which have taken a number of initiatives in recent years to improve the range and availability of funds. Government incentives, notably the loan guarantee scheme and the business expansion scheme, have also assisted in extending the finance available to small firms from both institutions and individuals.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has recently held discussions with the chairman of the British Steel Corporation regarding the projected closure of the British Steel Corporation Tinsley Park works in Sheffield; and if he will make a statement.

I have not discussed this closure with the chairman. It is a matter for the commercial judgment of the Corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of the United Kingdom's manufacturing output was exported during the last 12 months.

The lastest available figures are for the 12 months ended June 1984. During that period the ratio of exports to United Kingdom manufacturers' sales was approximately 27 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is satisfied with the operation of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission; and if he will make a statement.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when and how the management and accounting procedures of Airbus Industrie are to be changed.