asked the Attorney-General whether any infringements of the Marine Etc. Broadcasting Offences Act by the United Kingdom-based companies whose products and services have been advertised or promoted on Laser 558, have been brought to his attention; and what prosecutions he proposes to initiate.

Certain possible infringements of the nature specified have been drawn to the attention of the Director of Public Prosecutions and either have been or are being investigated by the police at his request. In a number of cases the investigation has disclosed no offence under the Act by any United Kingdom-based company. However the director is awaiting a report in relation to the current investigations.

asked the Attorney-General, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough. Official Report, 11 March, column 5, when he intends to tell the hon. Member for Peterborough whether he will prosecute the author and publishers of "Killing for Company: The Case of Dennis Nilsen."

I do not intend to institute any proceedings under the Obscene Publications Act 1959 against the author or publishers of "Killing for Company: The Case of Dennis Nilsen."

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set out the basis of the assertion by the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Kingston upon Thames (Mr. Lamont), on 1 May, Official Report, column 246,that every 1 per cent. increase in import penetration costs British industry 250,000 jobs.

The correct figure should have been 80,000 jobs.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish in the Official Report any information concerning the financial backers behind the successful bid to take over the House of Fraser which was available to him at the time of his decision not to refer the bid to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission or which has become available since then.

For reasons of commercial confidentiality the Secretary of State does not publish the information available to him in connection with his consideration of mergers.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the consultative document on the future licensing of value added and managed data services will be published; and if he will make a statement.

The consultative document has been published today. Copies may be obtained from the Library.The current 1982 VANS general licence needs to be revised in order to take account of the Telecommunications Act 1984; to give effect to the commitment given in October 1984 on the future licensing of managed data network services; and to correct the anomlies that have come to light since the grant of the general licence in October 1982. At the same time it is proposed that the opportunity should be taken to carry out a significant liberalisation of the licensing requirements governing the provision of enhanced telecommunication services.The consultative document sets out the Government's thoughts on these issues. We wish to take account of the views of all those with an interest in the provision of enhanced services concerning their future licensing and are asking for comments to be submitted by the end of July

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his estimate of the volume of world trade in manufactures in 1984 as a percentage of the 1980 figure; and how this compares with the corresponding figures for the United Kingdom.

Since 1980, the volume of world trade in manufactures, as measured by the exports of the main manufacturing countries, is estimated to have increased by around 13 per cent. The corresponding figure for the United Kingdom is about 2 per cent.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the reports of the pay review bodies.

The 1985 reports of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body, the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body and the Review Body for Nursing Staff, Midwives, Health Visitors and Professions Allied to Medicine have been published today. Copies are now available in the Vote Office. The Government are grateful to the members of the review bodies for these reports and for the time and care which they have put into their preparation. The report of the Top Salaries Review Body has not yet been submitted to the Government.The report of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body recommends increases which would add 7·3 per cent. to the armed forces' 1985–86 pay bill. These recommendations will be implemented in full from 1 April 1985. The additional costs in excess of the 3 per cent. allowance in the defence budget for increases in pay and prices will be offset by economies or reductions elsewhere in the defence programme.The report of the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body recommends increases which would in 1985–86 add 6·4 per cent. (including increases in distinction awards to consultants) to the pay bill for hospitals and community health services and 6·2 per cent. to the pay bill for the non-cash-limted family practitioner services. The recommendations will be implemented with effect from 1 June 1985. The additional costs to the pay bill of the cash-limited services in 1985–86 will be 5·4 per cent. and for the family practitioner services 5·2 per cent.The reports of the Review Body for Nursing Staff, Midwives, Health Visitors and Professions Allied to Medicine incorporate the results of the reviews of the salary scales of these professions on which this body has been working since its establishment in 1983. These reports accordingly recommend a range of salary increases for different grades which would add 9·0 per cent. to the 1985–86 pay bill for these groups. The increases in basic pay recommended for qualified nurses and midwives in the main clinical grades range from 8·4 per cent. to 14·3 per cent. and for analogous grades in the professions allied to medicine from 7·6 per cent. to 16·6. There are lower increases recommended for trainees, unqualified staff and administrative grades. The recommendations will be implemented in two stages. All members of these groups will receive an increase of 5 per cent. (or the whole amount of the award where this is less) from 1 April 1985, with the balance of the recommended increases, which embody the review body's proposals for salary restructuring, on 1 February 1986. By that date the salary scales recommended by the review body will be in full operation. The additional costs to the pay bill of the cash-limited services in 1985–86 will be 5·6 per cent.The cost of these awards in 1985–86 for the health authorities will be met within existing cash limits.Pensions will be based on the salaries actually in payment in accordance with the principle set out in my written answer on 13 April 1984 at column

asked the Prime Minister whether she will make a statement on her meeting with the Foreign Minister of Israel, Mr. Yitzhak Shamir.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave him on Tuesday 4 June at columns149–150.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 6 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 6 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 6 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 6 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 6 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 6 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 6 June.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 6 June.

This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in this House I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I will be attending a dinner given by Premier Zhao Ziyang of the People's Republic of China.

asked the Prime Minister if she will raise at the next meeting of the Council of Ministers the action taken by the President of the Common Market Commission in providing aid and a special trade agreement with the Republic of Nicaragua; and if she will make a statement.

The European Community has not entered into any special trade agreement with the Republic of Nicaragua. The only aid provided to Nicaragua has been in the framework of the Community's regular food aid programme and its programme for non-associated developing states, which have to be approved by the Council of Ministers under standard procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if the Atomic Energy special constabulary ever takes part in exercises which are not strictly related to nuclear installations.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many jobs have been lost in the coal industry since January 1984 in (a) Scotland and (b) Great Britain; and how many jobs he expects to be lost in the next three years.

I understand from the National Coal Board that the number of men on colliery books on 7 Janauary 1984 was 13,436 in Scotland and 186,164 in Great Britain. On 18 May 1985 the numbers were 9,705 and 168,416 respectively. I can make no estimate of future numbers, which will depend on a number of factors.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if, when considering the privatisation of the gas industry, he will give full consideration to and opportunity for workers' participation n the industry.

As my right hon. Friend said in his statement to the House on 7 May, we propose to make generous provision to enable all who work in the industry to acquire shares and thus to take a new stake in the company's performance and success.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish figures in the Official Report to show the amounts received in the financial year 1984–85 from their share of offshore licensing revenue by (a) the Isle of Man and (b) Northern Ireland.

The amounts paid to the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland during the financial year 1984–85 were £2,763,157 and £51,174,030 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what information was provided at the European Commission's co-ordination meeting (a) on 21 February and (b) on any subsequent date, concerning the quantities of the Community share of the emergency food assistance promised under the Dublin Plan which have arrived in Ethiopia, Sudan, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Burkina Faso;(2) what information he now possesses concerning the quantities of the Community share of the emergency food assistance promised under the Dublin plan which have arrived in Ethiopia, Sudan, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Burkina Faso.

A further co-ordination meeting was held on 31 May by the European Commission and the member states of the European Community. The following information on deliveries was made available, which brings up to date and revises that provided to my hon. Friend on 14 May at columns 93–4.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are taken by his Department to ensure that Her Majesty's Government are kept informed of the extent to which European Community pledges in connection with the current food shortages in Africa have been implemented.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him on 13 May, at columns 19–20.

asked the Lord Privy Seal (1) if he will list the Bills which have been presented under the ten-minute rule for each year since 1970; what was the name of the principal sponsor; which Bills have been (a) accepted and (b) rejected by the House; and which in category (a) have subsequently entered the statute book;(2) if he will list the Bills which have been drawn in the top 20 in the ballot for each year since 1970; what was the name of the principal sponsor; and which of these Bills has subsequently been enacted;(3) if he will list the Bills, other than Government Bills, not presented under the ten-minute rule or drawn in the top 20 ballot, which have been published for each year since 1970; what was the name of the principal sponsor; and which of these Bills has subsequently reached the statute book.

The information is not held centrally in the form that is requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement as to why there are no copies of the List of Members available for the use of right hon. and hon. Members from the Vote Office in the Members' Lobby.

The List of Members, which is issued by the Vote Office for the use of Members, is published twice a year in January and June. The new list is about to be printed and will be made available as soon as possible. Stocks of the present list have run out, and it is not considered financially viable to order a reprint.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions have taken place recently between his Department and Philippine Airlines concerning his decision last year to terminate the three-year-old reciprocal agreement on landing rights; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) when next negotiations will continue between his Department and Philippine Airlines on the Government's decision concerning permit CAIR/PR/5; and if he will make a statement;(2) what reasons were given to the Philippine Government for his decision to cancel the air agreement that allowed Philippine Airlines to operate three flights per week between Manila and London.

Under article 13 of the United Kingdom-Philippines air services agreement of 13 January 1955, there is no requirement to give reasons with a notice of termination. The notice of termination was the result of a disagreement about the number of frequencies required to meet demand consistently with fair competition on the route between the United Kingdom and the Philippines.Representatives of the British and Philippines aeronautical authorities met in May to discuss future arrangements for scheduled services between their two countries. They asked their respective airlines to discuss future needs on the London-Manila and Hong Kong-Manila routes and to report their conclusions before Government consultations resume in July.I hope that the consultations will lead to a resolution of the existing dispute and that new arrangements will be made for the continuation of air services between the two countries on a mutually acceptable basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what existing landing agreements in the far east and Asia which could involve British companies are coming up for renegotiation in 1985.

We believe that air services agreements should provide the basis for fair competition between the airlines of each country.The only air services agreement affecting the far east and Asia which is subject to formal renegotiation this year is that with the Philippines.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many times in the last five years his Department has been taken to court by foreign airlines about landing agreements; and what was the judgment in each case.

Over the last five years there have been two court cases involving permits for foreign airlines. Last year a provisional variation of Philippine Airlines' permits was upheld by the High Court in June but quashed by the Court of Appeal when made final in July. There has not yet been a full hearing on the current case involving Iberia Airlines.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the share in percentage terms of the London-Australian transit market for the most recent year available and the last five years of (a) the Malaysian Airline system, (b) Singapore Airlines, (c) Philippine Airlines, (d) Indonesia Airlines, (e) Thai Airways, (f) Cathay Pacific and (g) British Airways.

It is not the Department's practice to disclose commercial information about the activities of individual airlines.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on the design and statutory procedures for the northern route of the Okehampton bypass; and when he expects construction work on the bypass to start.

As with any new road scheme, the detailed design and statutory procedures for such a project would take several years.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the future of the Thames piers presently owned and operated by the Greater London council.

In a consultation document issued last July, it was proposed that the piers be transferred to the boroughs in which they are situated. Representations have since been received from a number of interested parties stressing the importance of the piers to passenger and pleasure boat operators on the Thames and hence to the amenity and leisure uses of the river. The function of promoting such uses of the Thames rests with the Thames water authority. We have therefore reached the view that the most appropriate successor authority for the piers would be the Thames water authority, which is willing to take them on and operate them.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to seek professional financial advice in connection with the proposed privatisation of the British Airports Authority.

The Department of Transport will be appointing financial advisers in connection with the proposed privatisation of the British Airports Authority. Merchant banks interested in being considered for this work are being invited to make written submissions to the Department by 14 June.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will state his policy towards the sale of British Rail's surplus land in the light of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's report on British Rail's property activities, Cmnd. 9532.

The Government's general policy towards British Rail—as towards all other public authorities — is that all land surplus to requirements should be offered for sale as soon as practicable.The MMC makes no criticism of the board's decision to sell its surplus property, but it says that the implementation of this decision was deficient in some respects and I have asked the board to produce a detailed response to these points, when it replies to the report later in the year.I welcome the considerable contribution that BR has made to its finances from the sales programme so far. The MMC has made a number of constructive proposals for improving BR's handling of its property, and I shall be looking to British Rail to come forward with continuing programmes for the disposal of further surplus land. It is not the function of public authorities to speculate in the property market, and it is in the interests of the country and the railway that surplus land should be put to productive use in the private sector without delay.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what plans are envisaged for the location of possible future nuclear waste depositories in Wales; and what geological work has been carried out to date.

It is the task of the Nuclear Industry Radioactive Executive to identify and develop disposal facilities for low and intermediate level radioactive wastes in the United Kingdom.NIREX is currently giving priority to seeking at least two possible sites, in addition to Elstow in Bedfordshire, for a near-surface facility for shorter-lived wastes and is expecting to report later in the year. Any detailed geological investigations to confirm the suitability of the chosen sites will follow the procedure announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment on 24 January 1985 at column 1146.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether Mid-Glamorgan area health authority has been approached by any private medical company with a view to private sector management of National Health Service hospitals within the county or has been or is involved in any negotiations on this basis.

I am informed that the authority has not been approached and is not involved in any such negotiations.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the area of land newly afforested in the year to 31 March distinguishing between (a) coniferous plantations and other forestry schemes and (b) those proportions planted by the Forestry Commission and private landowners, respectively.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many Forestry Commission felling licences have been granted to private individuals or organisations in Wales in the year to 31 March; and what was the total area of hard and softwood timber so felled.

The total number of felling licences granted by the Forestry Commission for the thinning and clear felling of woodland in Wales in the year to 31 March 1985 was 139. The total area of timber felled under licence in the year is not known as the Forestry Commission does not normally monitor the situation on the ground after granting a licence, unless replanting conditions are involved and these conditions are due to be fulfilled.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons under the age of 21 years were unemployed in Rochdale in the years 1982, 1983 and 1984.

The following information is available in the Library. The numbers of persons under the age of 20 years, who were unemployed in the former Rochdale travel-to-work area in October of 1982, 1983 and 1984 were 1,542, 1,534 and 1,563, respectively. Figures are not available for those aged under 21.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people under the age of 25 years have been unemployed for (a) between six months and one year, (b) between one year and two years and (c) more than two years in the London borough of Newham.

The following information is in the Library. On 11 April 1985, the latest date for which an analysis of unemployment by age and duration is available, in the East Ham, Plaistow and Stratford jobcentre areas, which correspond closely to the London borough of Newham, 1,946 had been unemployed for between six months and one year, 1,286 for between one year and two years and 954 for over two years.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many pople under the age of 21 years in (a) the London borough of Newham, (b) the London borough of Croydon, (c) the city of Westminster and (d) the London borough of Southwark have never had a job since leaving school.

The following information is in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a further statement on the future of the Southampton skillcentre and annexe.

I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Dudley, West (Dr. Blackburn) on 4 June 1985 at column 125. The chairman of the Manpower Services Commission has decided to retain the provision at Southampton. He took this decision in the light of a reappraisal of the financial viability of the annexe, following commitment of local support for further business for it, with which my hon. Friend was associated.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he is yet in a position to report on the renewal by Leicester city council of its various community programme projects; and if he will list the organisations involved and the numbers of people liable to be on the various programmes;(2) how many places have been allocated under various community programme projects within Leicester city council for the period 1985–86; how this compares with the previous 12 months; and if he will make a statement;(3) how many places have been allocated under community programme projects within the city of Leicester; and how this compares with the previous 12 months.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if there will be any danger to the adjacent work force at Faslane through windborne asbestos during removal.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many Health and Safety Executive staff will be allocated to supervise the removal of asbestos from Faslane.

None. Responsibility for ensuring the safe removal of asbestos lies with those undertaking the work. Such work is subject to the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and associated legislation. The Health and Safety Executive is the enforcing authority at these sites.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what legislative and non-legislative changes have been made to the provision for health and safety at work since 1979.

Since 1979 20 sets of health and safety regulations imposing new controls have been made and a substantial volume of outdated legislation has been repealed, revoked or amended. Eight approved codes of practice and a considerable amount of guidance literature have been published by the Health and Safety Commission and Executive.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the numbers killed or injured in each standard category of employment at their place of work in each year since 1979.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any proposals for improving health and safety at work; and if he will make a statement.

The Health and Safety Commission programmes of work, which my right hon. Friend has approved, are set out in its "Plan of Work 1985–86 and Onwards."

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he intends to support the proposed European Economic Community directive on parental leave when he meets with the European Economic Community Council of Ministers; and if he will make a statement.

We are analysing the responses of interested parties in the United Kingdom to our recent consultation exercise on this draft directive, and my right hon. Friend will bear these views in mind when the Council of Ministers discusses the subject. The Government's view is that the matters covered by the draft directive are best dealt with between employers and employees according to their own priorities, needs and circumstances rather than by Government or Community intervention. The Government are also concerned at the potential costs and administrative burden such a measure would impose on employers, and we strongly believe that here and in Europe we should be focusing our energies and efforts on the main problem that faces us all — unemployment—rather than on improving the position of people who already have jobs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if Her Majesty's Government intend to permit future imports of products from the Cayman turtle farm.

Applications to import products of captive-bred turtles from the Cayman turtle farm will continue to be considered on their merits by my Department, in the light of scientific advice from the Nature Conservancy Council. Article VII of the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora specifically allows imports of captive-bred specimens of species such as sea turtles, which are listed on appendix I of the convention.The Cayman turtle farm has already had considerable success in breeding turtles in captivity, both for commercial purposes and to assist in the conservation of endangered wild turtles. The farm has not taken any turtles or eggs from the wild since 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what quantity of turtle products have been imported into the United Kingdom from the Cayman turtle farm since 1 January 1984.

The Department's records show that the following turtle products have been imported into the United Kingdom from the Cayman turtle farm since 1 January 1984:

• 14 pieces of shell
• 8 shells
• 20 skins
• 36 scutes

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if Her Majesty's Government intend to permit imports of products from any turtles coming from the wild or from ranches.

In accordance with the European Council CITES regualation (No. 3626/82) the Department does not normally permit the import of wild sea turtle products. Imports of ranched sea turtle products may be permitted in some circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to conduct a public inquiry into options for radioactive waste storage and disposal.

The options for radioactive waste management are currently being examined by the Environment Select Committee, which is receiving evidence from a number of organisations and individuals. We shall take its report fully into account in subsequent decisions, along with the views of the radioactive waste management advisory committee, the conclusions of the study of best practicable environmental options being undertaken following the Holliday report, and other studies carried out by my Department. The reports containing this material will be published, and will be the product of an extensive process of consultation and inquiry which I am confident will ensure that the best options have been identified for the future.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why the Control of Pollution (Territorial Sea) Regulations 1984 have been revoked.

The Control of Pollution (Territorial Sea) Regulations 1984 were made under section 56 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 and were designed to bring certain small areas of esturial water within the control of part II of that Act. Section 56 permits only the prescription of areas of "territorial sea"; it has now been concluded that all esturial waters cannot be properly covered by the term "territorial sea". The 1984 regulations were therefore largely ineffective in controlling that small part of the esturial waters which they were designed to cover.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish the results of his Department's pilot survey of houses in multiple occupation, forming the first part of its research on houses in multiple occupation.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend, the Member for Staffordshire, Moorlands (Mr. Knox) on 3 June at columns 33 and 34.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy towards applications to import dolphins or killer whales into the United Kingdom.

My Department has not granted any permits to import dolphins or killer whales since 1983. I am aware of public concern, and it is clear that there are widely differing opinions about the value of dolphinaria. I have therefore decided to appoint an independent adviser to consider whether the educational, research and breeding benefits of dolphinaria and similar establishments in the United Kingdom are of sufficient value to justify the import and display of live cetaceans. Advice will also be sought on the standards that should be applied to dolphinaria if they can be justified on educational, research or breeding grounds. The review will also take account of recent EC CITES regulations which increased the conservation status of small cetaceans. The views of operators and conservation bodies will also be sought. I am currently arranging for a suitable adviser to be appointed, and I hope to make a further announcement shortly. Any applications to import further dolphins or killer whales from the wild to the United Kingdom will be determined in the light of this review, which I expect to complete within six months from the date of the appointment of my adviser.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much asbestos to be removed from Faslane is in the loch itself; and whether any is situated in the area where it is intended to pile drive for the new jetty.

A recent survey has found traces of asbestos on the bed of the loch where some of the new jetties are to be built and consideration is now being given to the further corrective action, if any, required to deal with such waste. The present contract to decontaminate part of the site does not extend to the loch.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice his Department has issued since 1979 to local authorities on planning, engineering and building in the context of accident prevention.

A circular was issued in March 1984 on planning controls and hazardous developments. The Department has written on six occasions to local authorities advising them of circumstances in which certain types of dwellings may present safety risks as a result of possible structural instability. This advice concerned Airey houses, Orlit dwellings, Bison wall-frame dwellings, Taylor Woodrow-Anglian buildings and other dwellings constructed of large load-bearing panels. The Building Research Establishment has published advice from time to time to local authorities and others on building safety.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what new indications of social needs have been developed by his Department since 1979.

The list of indicators used for assessing social need in relation to the designation of local authorities under the Inner Urban Areas Act 1978 was originally set out in a written parliamentary reply on 13 June 1978, at columns 468–78. Additional information derived from the national dwelling and housing survey (1977–79) was reflected in revisions to the list of indicators, shown in a parliamentary reply on 14 May 1981, at columns 324–30. Since then the list has remained unchanged, although new information about deprivation derived from the 1981 census and other sources has subsequently been taken into account. A note by my Department (Information Note No. 2), listing the indicators and explaining how they are applied, was placed in the Library of the House on 15 February 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the total expenditure by local authorities on improvements to their own housing stock in each year since 1978–79 at constant prices.

Total expenditure by local authorities in England on improvements to their own housing stock, including conversion, capitalised repairs, energy conservation and environmental works, in 1984–85 prices is as follows:

	£ million
1978–79	852
1979–80	1,101
1980–81	860
1981–82	723
1982–83	1,040
1983–84	1,185
1984–85	*1,095
*Forecast.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of unfit dwellings cleared by local authorities in each year since 1978–79.

Estimated numbers of dwellings demolished or closed under slum clearance action in each year from 1978–79 to 1983–84 appeared in table 3 of the Department's press notice number 6 published on 9 January; a copy is available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the total amount of public funds made available by the Housing Corporation during each of the past five years for the provision of homes for the elderly;(2) what is the amount of public funds made available by the Housing Corporation during each of the past five years for the provision of homes for the elderly by the Abbeyfield Society.

Since 1981–82, the Housing Corporation has financed the development costs of housing association projects within an approved development programme agreed by my right hon. Friend. The Housing Corporation's estimate of expenditure on schemes for the elderly, including leasehold schemes for the elderly, since 1981–82 is as follows:

	£ million
1981–82	129
1982–83	165
1983–84	182
1984–85	*195
1985–86	†226
*provisional estimate of out-turn expenditure
†allocation

Detailed expenditure on provision by the Abbeyfield Society is not readily available. In these years, this has represented between 2 and 4 per cent. of the corporation's expenditure on schemes for the elderly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library a copy of the report of Her Majesty's Hazardous Waste Inspectorate regarding waste disposal facilities; and if he will make a statement.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to prevent airline staff entering immigration control offices at airports to seek payment for return tickets from persons whose eligibility to enter the United Kingdom is in the process of being examined.

My right hon. and learned Friend has done so. Airline and other carrying companies have been informed that they will not be given access, for the purpose of ticketing, to a passenger held in detention without that person's consent. This will apply before and after any decision to refuse entry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has studied the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders report "The Highest Ever Prison Population", a copy of which has been sent to him; and whether he will make a statement.

Yes. My right hon. and learned Friend has already announced the action he is taking immediately to provide more prison places. Our longer-term strategy remains on course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about his meeting with the Police Federation on 16 May.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what matters were discussed when he last met the Police Federation; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on his recent official visit to the annual conference of the Police Federation.

I addressed the annual conference of the Police Federation on 15 May and responded to a speech by its chairman. I took note of what he said, particularly about resources, manpower and some aspects of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, although I did not accept that all the anxieties expressed were well-founded.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received about the implementation by entry clearance officers of the primary purpose rules.

Representations about the applica-tion of the primary purpose rule have been received from several sources, including right hon. and hon. Members.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied with the operation of the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received representations in response to the Government statement "Compensation and Support for Victims of Crime".

Letters have been received from the National Association of Victims Support Schemes and, through hon. Members, from two local schemes asking for central Government funding for victims support schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied with the distinction between the establishment of a civil defence capacity to deal with civil disasters as opposed to wartime emergencies.

Without derogating from the priority that must be given to implementing the 1983 Civil Defence Regulations, we believe that our commitment of extending the Civil Defence Act 1948 to allow civil defence resources to be used for peacetime emergencies is both appropriate and further indication of the humanitarian nature of civil defence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average length of time between a person being charged and brought to justice; and if he will make a statement.

The average waiting time from committal to trial in the Crown court in England and Wales in 1984 was 143 weeks overall, and 10·1 weeks for those defendants who spent some or all of this period in custody. We have in hand a programme of measures to curb delays, including the commencement this year of field trials of time limits on the bringing of criminal proceedings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to amend the Data Protection Act to cover manually held police records.

No. As I made clear during the passage of this legislation, it is the use of computers to process personal information which increases the potential threat to the individual and which justifies special measures. The Act is specifically aimed at automatically processed data and it would not be appropriate to extend its provisions to manual records, whether held by the police or by any other body.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to introduce legislation to implement the recommendations of the Auld report.

The Government will seek an early opportunity to introduce legislation to deregulate shop opening hours.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding the proposals contained in the White Paper on experiments on animals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about his proposals to amend the Cruelty to Animals Act.

The response so far to the White Paper published on 15 May has been generally welcoming.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about conditions in Holloway prison C.I. unit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about conditions in Holloway prison C.I unit.

My right hon. and learned Friend is well. aware of the concern which has been expressed about conditions in Holloway's C.I. unit. The future role of Holloway is under consideration by the project committee which will be reporting in July to advise on how the prison can best be developed. We expect that report to deal with C.I. unit among other matters and we now await the advice of the project committee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make an official visit to Holloway prison.

My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to do so at present. My noble Friend, who has responsibility for prisons, visited Holloway on 29 April.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to ensure that immigration officers conform to paragraph 2 of the immigration rules.

Every effort is made to ensure that the staff of the immigration and nationality department are aware of their responsibilities and are professional and impartial in their approach. If any member of staff is found to have acted contrary to paragraph 2 of the immigration rules, or to the preamble to part 2 of those rules, disciplinary action will be taken against him.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what level of resources he proposes to make available in the next year to the voluntary services unit.

Provision has been sought in Supply Estimates for 1985–86 (Class IX Vote 7) for expenditure of £9·4 million in grants administered by the voluntary services unit, excluding grants for the support of work with refugees.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to increase the numbers of police officers assigned to combat drug abuse; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend is expecting to receive shortly a report from the Association of Chief Police Officers containing its recommendations for increased police action to combat the problem of drug misuse. He will give that report urgent and serious consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to announce his decision on the application of Alhaji Umaru Dikko for political asylum.

Mr. Dikko's solicitors have today been informed that my right hon. and learned Friend has refused his application for asylum. My right hon. and learned Friend is still considering the application made by the Nigerian authorities for Mr. Dikko's extradition. This involves consideration of matters additional to those relating to the asylum application.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the annual spending on civil defence research and the development over the past two years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for future expenditure on civil defence research.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for future expenditure on civil defence research and development.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the annual civil defence research and development spending over the past two years.

Expenditure on civil defence research and development, including scientific staff costs, for 1983–84 and 1984–85 was £732,000 and £616,000 respectively. The estimate for 1985–86 is £978,000 and includes £185,000 for extra-mural work undertaken in 1984–85. It is intended that the present level of expenditure should be maintained over the next three years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking in the light of the increasing level of vacancies in police forces in England and Wales.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given earlier today to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Mr. Hunter).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on complaints by prisoners against the prison medical service.

A prisoner who wishes to complain about an aspect of medical services in prison may use the normal range of internal complaints machinery. Subject to the provisions of Standing Order 5 (which is published and a copy of which is in the Library), a prisoner may also pursue a complaint through his Member of Parliament and the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration. A prisoner also has the right to petition the Queen, Parliament and the European Commission of Human Rights. If the hon. Member has a particular point in mind I will do my best to answer it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in the Metropolitan police area were convicted of organising illegal animal fights involving dogs and cats in 1984; and if he will make a statement.

Information collected centrally does not distinguish offences of organising fights with dogs or cats from other offences under the Protection of Animals Act 1911.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in conjunction with the Independent Broadcasting Authority, he will review the operation of section 4(1)(f) of the Broadcasting Act 1981 relating to impartiality.

My right hon. and learned Friend is not persuaded of the need for a review of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to meet the Governors of the British Broadcasting Corporation and chairmen of independent television authorities to discuss the subtitling of television programmes.

I refer the right hon. Member to the reply which I gave to questions from him on 21 May at columns 381–83.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis; and what subjects were discussed.

Apart from social occasions, I last met the Commissioner on 25 March when I put to him the points raised at the meetings I held in February and March with right hon. and hon. Members for constituencies within the Metropolitan police district to discuss his strategy report. The subjects discussed included drugs, racial attacks, crime prevention, victim support schemes, schools liaison, the force reorganisation and the Commissioner's policy for posting of senior officers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the effect of the electoral system on the results of the recent county council elections.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has completed arrangements to ensure that no person with a criminal record of sexual offences towards children will henceforward be employed at public expense in any job where he or she is placed in charge of young children; and if he will make a statement.

As indicated in the pursuant reply given to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Surrey, South-West (Mrs. Bottomley) on 27 March at column 247, the report of the review of these issues is expected by the end of June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next expects to pay an official visit to Jersey.

My right hon. and learned Friend has no present plans to make such a visit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what civil defence research and development subjects have been considered by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation civil defence committee.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford, South (Mr. Thorne), on 13 November 1984 at column 201. The committee does not initiate or sponsor research and development which is a matter for member nations, but in its work takes into account as appropriate the latest information available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the licensing of community radio.

Since the reply given to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Kingswood (Mr. Hayward) on 23 January at columns 417–8, we have received about 400 letters on community radio, together with a broadly similar number of telephone inquiries. Most of the approaches have been from persons wishing to set up community radio stations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received about the television concessionary licensing system in the last 12 months.

About 275 hon. Members and 450 members of the public have written in the last 12 months about the concessionary licence scheme for retired and disabled people in residential care.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has recently discussed the results of his short, sharp shock policy for young prisoners with prison governors and young offenders.

My right hon. and learned Friend visited Medomsley senior detention centre on 26 April to see for himself the operation of the new consistent detention centre regime. During the visit he naturally discussed it with the governor, and met staff and spoke to a number of inmates. He formed a very favourable view of the way the regime is developing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will initiate a study into the role of the police national reporting centre.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will bring forward proposals for an ombudsman for the security service.

In her statement on the Security Commission's report on the Bettaney case on 9 May 1985 at columns 897–8, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister indicated that the new Director-General of the Security Service had been asked to consider what developments he would propose by way of internal outlets for the expression of grievances or anxieties of individual members of the Service. When we have received the Director-General's report on this aspect of the management of the service, my right hon. Friend and I will, in considering his proposals, take into account the views that have been expressed in the House about the merits of an external outlet for such grievances or anxieties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied with policing arrangements at football stadia in the Metropolitan police district.

The arrangements for policing football matches in the Metropolitan police district generally work well, but they are kept under constant review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a further statement on the future of the licensing laws.

The preliminary results from the Office of Population, Censuses and Survey's study of drinking in Scotland, published on 21 May, show that there has been some increase in consumption of alcohol in Scotland since the licensing law was changed in 1976, but that it is unlikely that the increase is a direct consequence of the change in the law. My right hon. and learned Friend will want to consider carefully all the relevant considerations including both the preliminary findings and the full report on the survey, to be published later in the year, before deciding whether relaxations in the permitted opening hours of licensed premises in England and Wales should be introduced.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the operation to date of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.

The major part of the Act has yet to be brought into force, but we intend that it will be implemented on 1 January 1986.Part IX, which establishes the Police Complaints Authority and makes other changes to the police complaints and disciplinary system, came into effect on 29 April. It is too early at this stage to comment on how it is working.Section 106, which provides for arrangements to be made in each police area for consultation between the community and the police came into force on 1 January this year. My right hon. and learned Friend issued guidance on these arrangements on 25 January. Arrangements under this section now exist in most parts of England and Wales.Sections 66 and 67, which prescribes the mechanism for consulting about the draft codes of practice to be made under the Act, and for bringing them before Parliament, also came into effect on 1 January. Drafts of the codes of practice were published for consultation on 10 January and my right hon. and learned Friend hopes shortly to lay before Parliament an amended draft, revised to take account of the comments received. The codes themselves will not however become effective until the implementation of the provisions of the Act to which they relate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons between the ages of 17 and 21 years are currently held in (a) detention centres and (b) youth custody centres.

Central records, which are approximate, show for 31 March 1985, the latest date for which information is readily available, about 6,040 persons aged 17 and under 21 in youth custody centres in England and Wales and about 1,150 persons aged 17 and under 21 in detention centres.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many passengers granted temporary admission to the United Kingdom absconded in 1984; and what percentage this is of those so admitted.

I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given earlier today to a Question from the hon. Member for Cynon Valley (Mrs. Clwyd).