asked the Attorney-General if he will detail the average waiting time prior to trial for each Crown court; and if he will make a statement.

The average waiting times between committal and trial for all defendants dealt with at each Crown court centre during 1984 are set out in the table. Despite the increase of about 50 per cent. in committals for trial to the Crown court between 1979 and 1984, measures including the appointment of additional judges and the provision of additional court rooms helped to reduce the national average wating time for all defendants from 17·6 weeks in 1979 to 14·2 weeks in 1983: in 1984 the figure increased marginally to 14·3 weeks. Average waiting times for defendants remanded in custody have been consistently lower.

Average waiting time (in weeks) between committal for trial and start of trial for defendants dealt with at each Crown court centre during 1984 Midland and Oxford Circuit
	Weeks
Birmingham	11·7
Coventry	7·5
Derby	8·7
Dudley*	5·2
Grimsby	10·5
Hereford	7·4
Leicester	8·4
Lincoln	12·9
Northampton	6·9
Nottingham	9·4
Oxford	11·3
Peterborough	6·4
Shrewsbury	9·2
Stafford	9·5
Stoke-on-Trent	5·3
Warwick	9·1
Worcester	8·3
*Including Walsall and Wolverhampton.

North-Eastern Circuit
	Weeks
Beverley*	11·3
Doncaster	9·9
Durham	9·4
Huddersfield	12·0
Leeds	12·9
Newcastle-upon-Tyne	10·4
Sheffield	9·5
Teesside	12·7
Wakefield	9·7
York	14·6
*Including Kingston-upon-Hull

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why he has rejected an appeal submitted to him by the adult literacy and basic skills unit to establish a legal framework for education authorities to provide basic education for adults.

I have received no such appeal from the adult literacy and basic skills unit. In response to a question put to me recently at the unit's 10th anniversary conference, I made clear my view that the case for amending the existing provisions of the Education Act 1944 had not been made out. New legislation, which would inevitably be complex, would I believe distract attention and energy from other important initiatives, such as the literacy campaign itself, in the further education field. The duties imposed by section 41 of the 1944 Act apply no less to adult education than to other areas of further education.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will invite members of the Burnham management committee to have discussions about the possibilty of amending the composition of the Burnham committee.

No. All the associations represented on the teachers' panel of the Burnham primary and secondary committee have now confirmed their ability to provide a statement of their membership in accordance with the review which I announced on 2 May at column 189.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to be able to announce his decision about secondary school reorganisation in Wandsworth.

My right hon. Friend's approval of these proposals was announced on 6 June.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy over acquisition of land in the Warcop area of Cumbria for dry training purposes.

Policy on the use of the defence estate was set out in paragraphs 620 to 622 of the 1985 Statement on Defence Estimates (Cmnd. 9430–1).Paragraph 621 noted that current land holding cannot meet all training requirements and that it is the Ministry's intention to acquire additional land whenever possible, usually by extending existing training areas. This policy naturally applies to Warcop, which is one of the six principal training areas in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any need of more land in the Warcop area of Cumbria for live firing.

We have no plans to acquire land outside the boundaries of the existing training area for live firing.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the name of the firm of local agents acting on behalf of his Department to acquire land for training purposes in the area of Cumbria.

The Property Services Agency of the DOE acts as agents for all our land acquisitions in the United Kingdom. No firm of local agents has been appointed to acquire land in Cumbria.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence with regard to his proposals to acquire land at Stainmore in Cumbria for training purposes, what stage his negotiations with local landowners have reached; and whether he is negotiating for lease or freehold.

There have been negotiations with local landowners at Stainmore for purchase of one area of land and lease of another, but no binding commitment can be entered into in advance of hearing the views of the local planning authority on the proposal to use the land for training.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what studies he has carried out into the suitability of the three plots of land at Stainmore in Cumbria which he proposes to acquire for training purposes.

The land has been inspected by the appropriate military authorities, who have confirmed that it would be suitable for training not involving live firing.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the brief he has given to land agents in Cumbria who have been instructed to acquire land for dry training purposes.

No land agents other than those of the Property Services Agency have been instructed to acquire land for dry training purposes. The PSA was informed of the military requirement and asked to consult the military authorities if land which appears to be suitable becomes available.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what factors have led his Department to seek to use land in Cumbria previously considered for inclusion in an area of outstanding natural beauty for purposes of military training.

The reason for seeking to acquire extra land in the vicinity of Warcop is that the existing Warcop training area does not have the capacity to meet all current training requirements. The acquisition of an additional area of land such as the one at Stainmore for dry training —that is without live firing—and the carrying out of drills before using the ranges at Warcop would reduce the pressure on the existing training area.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why civil servants working in his Department have not yet received their pay increase for the current year.

Civil Service pay rates are negotiated centrally by Her Majesty's Treasury and any increases are paid on its authority. Departments were authorised to pay new rates for non-industrials operative from 1 April 1985 as and when the union with negotiating rights for particular grades indicated acceptance or agreement. Also payroll centres need time to reprogramme computers.Staff represented by the Civil Service Union received their increases in May. The vast majority of staff represented by other unions which accepted later will receive their new rates in June. Negotiations of new rates for industrial grades operative from 1 July are still in progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance has been given by his Department to Laird (Anglesey) Ltd. about the possible sale of Centaur military vehicles to Chile.

Laird (Anglesey) has received the normal assistance available to exporters of defence equipment from the defence sales organisation in connection with the possible sale of Centaur to Chile.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence which United Kingdom companies are receiving assistance from the Defence Sales Organisation about the possible sale of military equipment to Chile.

A range of United Kingdom defence companies make use of the services of the defence sales organisation in connection with prospective sales to Chile, as they do for other markets throughout the world. Purchases of armaments by Chile are, of course, governed by Her Majesty's Government's policy on such sales to that country and require an export licence in each case.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on her recent meeting with King Hussein of Jordan.

I shall reply to the hon. Gentleman shortly.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on her recent meeting with the Prime Minister of China.

I shall reply to the hon. Gentleman shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many representations have been received by his Department since the publication of the consultative paper on a police complaints system for Northern Ireland; and if he will place copies of such representations in the Library.

The period allowed for comments on the consultative paper ends on 14 June. Two responses have been received so far. It would not be appropriate for copies of such responses to be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of the component elements for home-made explosives recovered in Ulster can be traced back to the Irish Republic; and if he will define this in terms of weight.

[pursuant to his reply,3 June 1985, c. 85]: The nature of the components used in improvised explosives makes it impossible to distinguish accurately their source. The agricultural fertiliser on which home-made explosives are based is widely used in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many formal apologies Her Majesty's Government have received from the Irish Republic Government during the past three years concerning terrorist incursions or activity emanating from their territory.

[pursuant to his reply, 3 June 1985, c. 85]: No apologies have been requested or received. Irish Ministers have often made clear in public statements their abhorrence of terrorism, their sympathy for those killed or injured and their determination to help take action against the terrorist threat.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the official statement from Dublin that the Killeen bomb was not detonated from within the Irish Republic was made in response to any specific allegation that it had been; and whether it has been possible to establish conclusively the detonation point.

[pursuant to his reply, 3 June 1985, c. 85]: No official statement was made identifying the point of detonation. It would not be in the public interest for me to disclose details of any information which is available to the police about the point of detonation.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the review being carried out by officials of housing benefits in Northern Ireland.

[pursuant to his reply, 4 June 1985, c. 140]: The review team of officials issued a consultative document requesting written evidence in June 1984. Submissions were received from a wide range of interested local bodies and individuals and representatives of a number of organisations also gave oral evidence. The subsequent report was made available to the Great Britain housing benefit review team so that the Northern Ireland team's views could be taken into account in framing recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he is satisfied with the performance of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and its senior officers; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply,6 June 1985]: Yes. The Chief Constable and the officers of the Royal Ulster Constabulary work courageously and diligently to keep the peace, uphold the law and protect the citizens of Northern Ireland in the face of considerable difficulties. They have my full support.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether 2,4,5-T or related substances or any substance whose production or decomposition precipitates the production of dioxin is being manufactured in the United Kingdom at present.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what amounts of 2,4,5-T, during the last three years, were (a) imported into the United Kingdom, identifying the country of origin,(b) used in the United Kingdom and (c) re-exported from the United Kingdom, identifying the importing nations.

There were 159 tonnes of 2,4,5-T imported in 1982 and 300 tonnes in 1983. Since then there have been no imports of the substance. Data are compiled on a country of consignment basis so it is not possible to identify the country of origin of these imports.Information is not available about the amounts of 2,4,5-T used in the United Kingdom. However, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies) on 31 January 1985 at column

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

Yes. Arrangements have been made for such an exhibition in the Upper Waiting Hall to take place from Monday 15 July to Friday 19 July 1985.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the purpose of the draft EEC directive on liability for defective products which is being considered at the Common Market's Internal Market Council on Monday 10 June; and what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government on the introduction of such a directive.

The purpose of the draft EC directive is the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the member states concerning liability for defective products. In particular, the draft directive seeks to establish throughout the Community that producers shall be strictly liable for defects in their products, subject only to certain clearly defined defences and limitations. The draft directive is not on the agenda for the forthcoming meeting of the Internal Market Council.We agree with the aims of this draft directive. In the negotiations with other Member States we have sought to establish that the defences and limitations are such as to achieve a fair balance between the legitimate interests of consumers and manufacturers. On this basis, we are supporting current efforts to reach an early agreement on the main points of the directive.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the Confederation of British Industry and other industrial organisations about the effect on British industry and its costs of the draft directive on liability for defective products which is being considered at the Internal Market Council on 10 June.

My officials have had regular discussions with the CBI and other industrial organisations about the effect of the draft directive. The Secretary of State has also recently replied to a letter from the CBI on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to establish whether British insurance companies would be willing to provide cover to industrial firms for obligations and risks under the draft directive on liability for defective products in advance of the consideration of the directive by the Internal Market Council; and if he will make a statement.

My Department has already established, through contacts with the United Kingdom insurance industry, that the draft directive should not affect the availability of insurance cover for industrial firms, though it may have a marginal effect on the level of premiums. This confirms earlier findings of research undertaken at the European level by the EC Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government on the proposal in the EEC directive on liability for defective products that the Commission should be empowered, without reference to member states, to remove the development risk defence from the provisions of the directive after the directive has been in force for a period of seven years; and if he will make a statement.

There is no such proposal in the draft directive. We would not accept a directive which gave the Commission power to repeal the defence without reference to member states.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) on what basis the Director General of Fair Trading asked the Monopolies and Mergers Commission to investigate the trading arrangements between the Association of British Travel Agents tour operators specifically and travel agents; (2)when he expects that the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's investigation into the trading arrangements between the Association of British Travel Agents tour operators and travel agents will be finalised; (3)what is his estimate of the cost to public funds of the investigation by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission into the trading arrangements between the Association of British Travel Agents tour operators and travel agents.

:.The Director General of Fair Trading asked the Monopolies and Mergers Commission to investigate whether a complex monopoly exists in the relationship of retail travel agents with tour operators and, if so, whether the practice of some tour operators of prohibiting travel agents from selling overseas package holidays at reduced prices and/or with incentives is against the public interest. The commission's report is due by 31 July 1986.It is not practicable to allocate costs to particular inquiries, but the cost of the commission's programme, often of 10 to 12 active references at any one time, was about £2 million for 1984–85.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what proportion of the total revenue collected from charging value added tax on imports at point of entry will be repaid within three months on reclaims to registered traders;(2) what percentage of the total revenue collected by charging value added tax on imports at point of entry he estimates will be repaid within the same month through reclaims to registered traders.

There is no system of repayment specifically for VAT on imports. Registered traders who incur VAT on imports may offset it against the output tax for which they are accountable under the same conditions as for the tax they incur on their purchases within the United Kingdom. The net tax due is payable to Customs and Excise quarterly, but, if the trader is regularly entitled to credits of tax, these may be claimed monthly. While a precise breakdown is not available, it is thought that something of the order of a tenth of the VAT on imports by registered traders is paid by traders who make their returns monthly; the remainder pay quarterly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue he expects to collect in the first full year of operation of value added tax collection at point of entry imports.

About £10 billion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he intends to review the fiscal support or other subsidies currently given to both public and private upland afforestation projects; and whether the Government will now carry out a cost/benefit study of the planting programme of both the Forestry Commission and publicly supported private afforestation.

No. The existing tax arrangements for forestry are of long standing and I have at present no plans to change them. The Forestry Commission is required to meet financial targets laid down by Ministers which are regularly reviewed. A periodic review of grant levels under the commission's grant schemes is currently in progress and a major review of policy in relation to broadleaved woodlands is nearing completion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which social security payments, pensions and related payments are not subject to income tax.

The following social security benefits are taxable: retirement pension, old person's pension, widow's pension, widowed mother's allowance, widow's allowance, industrial death benefit, invalid care allowance, unemployment benefit, and supplementary benefit paid to the unemployed and to strikers.The remaining social security benefits — including any child additions to the benefits listed — are not taxable.Payments made by employers under the statutory sick pay scheme are taxable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the speech delivered by the Economic Secretary to the Building Societies Association on 6 June.

I have already done so.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has concluded his consideration of the Welsh Water Authority's report on arrangements for representing consumer interests.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales has approved the authority's report with modifications. A copy of the report, as modified, has been placed in the Library, together with a copy of the Secretary of State's letter of approval to the chairman of the Welsh Water Authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he proposes to make any changes to his Department's cash limits in connection with expenditure on rate support grants to local authorities in Wales.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary revised estimate for class XVIII, vote 2, the cash limit is being reduced by £5,600,000 from £834,200,000 to £828,600,000. There is no direct public expenditure borne on this vote. In the light of local authorities' budgeted expenditure for 1985–86, this reduction reflects the proposed abatement of block grant for 1985–86, in accordance with the proposals set out in paragraph 38 of the Welsh rate support grant report 1985–86 which was approved by the House on 16 January 1985. The adjustment of block grant will, of course, be subject to the approval of the requisite supplementary rate support grant report by the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has decided the membership of the Review Group on Community Nursing Services for Wales.

Yes. As I announced on 2 April 1985, at column 515, the review of community nursing services for Wales will be chaired by Mrs. N. L. Edwards, chairman of the Gwynedd health authority. Following consultation with a wide range of interested bodies, we decided to invite the people listed as follows to form the review group:Mrs. A. Fawcett-Henesey, Nurse Adviser, RCN, Society of Primary Health Care Nursing.Mr. M. D. Scott, Senior Nurse(Community Psychiatric), West Glamorgan.Dr. D. T. Jones, Chief Administrative Medical Officer, ClwydMrs. M. Morgan, Chief Administrative Nursing Officer, Powys.Dr. J. H. Owens, General Practitioner, Porthcawl.Mrs. B. Roberts, Midwifery Liaison Officer, WrexhamMiss J. Sinnott, Director of Nursing Services (Community), West Glamorgan.Dr. S. Smail, Senior Lecturer in General Practice, University of Wales, College of Medicine.Miss F. Welch, Senior Lecturer in Health Visiting, University of Wales, College of Medicine.There will be a further member of the team with expertise in social services.I am delighted to say that all have accepted the invitation. They will bring to the group a wide range of experience. I am certain their work will make a signal contribution to the future health care of the people of Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the date when the draft order for the Long Sutton and Sutton Bridge bypass was ready for publication.

The draft line order for the bypass was ready for publication in November 1984. My hon. Friend is aware of the problems delaying publication.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if statistical information is available on the maintenance condition of motorways in recent years, in a format such as the defects index mentioned in the national road maintenance condition survey; and if he will make a statement.

The defects index contained in reports of the national road maintenance condition survey is compiled from the results of visual surveys carried out by highway authorities. Although some visual surveying is done on motorways, the bulk of the information required to access their condition is obtained from regular deflectograph surveys. These surveys showed that in August 1984 20 per cent. of the motorway network in England had a residual life of up to five years, 18 per cent. had 6 to 10 years residual life, 20 per cent. had 11 to 15 years and 42 per cent. had over 16 years residual life. Similar information about the residual life of all-purpose roads in England and Wales in 1983 is contained in table 2 of the report of the 1984 national road maintenance condition survey.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the studies to identify any particular stretches of the M25 and M42 motorways liable to fog to be completed.

The study is being carried out for my Department by the Meteorological Office. Its draft report is expected to be received by the end of the month. Decisions will then be taken on whether action is necessary in any fog-prone areas identified.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport which airlines will be making use of the facilities of terminal 4 at Heathrow airport.

This is a matter for the British Airports Authority to determine. It s currently having discussions with British Airways and KLM.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when terminal 4 at Heathrow airport will start to be used by airlines; what is its capacity in passengers per year; and by what date this additional capacity will be needed at Heathrow.

This is a matter for the British Airports Authority, but terminal 4 should start to be used by airlines early in 1986. It will be capable of handling 8 million passengers a year. The new terminal will be needed for the 1986 summer season.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when the construction of terminal 4 at Heathrow airport will be completed.

I understand that the main construction work will be completed by the end of July, but fitting out the terminal will not be completed until early 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many letters have been received by his Department expressing concern at the present system of domestic rating.

Since the studies into the local government finance system were announced by my right hon. Friend on 10 October last, my Department has received approximately 800 representations expressing concern at the present system of domestic rating.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in the light of the conclusions of paragraph 5.21 of his Department's report. "Local Authority Empty Dwellings", issued in January, about the need for expenditure to halt the pattern of decay, what steps he intends to take to implement this conclusion in relation to the repair and improvement of local authority dwellings.

The public expenditure plans announced in the Chancellor's Autumn Statement allow local authorities in England to spend £2·3 billion on housing capital investment, a very considerable sum by any standard. It is for local authorities to decide how best to use the resources available to them.However, capital expenditure on repair and improvement has often been wasted because it has not been accompanied by improvements in housing management. As a result of the empty dwellings report, my Department will shortly issue a circular to authorities setting out ways in which better management can help to reduce numbers of empty dwellings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people are currently being housed by local authorities in bed and breakfast establishments.

It is estimated that at the end of December 1984, the latest date for which information is available, there were some 3,300 homeless households in England being housed by local authorities in bed and breakfast accommodation. My Department does not collect information on the size of homeless households.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many dwellings throughout the United Kingdom have been designated unfit for human habitation at the latest available date.

The most recent estimate available for England appears in table A of part 1 of the "English House Condition Survey, 1981", a copy of which is in the Library.For information for other parts of the United Kingdom, I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

National Grid 10km Square	Location	County	Microgray per year
SX66	Dartmoor Forest West of Buckfastleigh	Devon	964
SW33	St. Just	Cornwall	876
SW42	South West of Penzance	Cornwall	833
SW43	North of Penzance	Cornwall	804
SX78	Dartmoor Forest North West of Newton Abbot	Devon	797
SW64	Camborne and Redruth	Cornwall	795
NU01	Branton West of Alnwick	Northumberland	763
SX67	Dartmoor Forest West of Newton Abbot	Devon	754
SW63	South of Camborne	Cornwall	691
SW32	Lands End	Cornwall	687
SX16	East of Bodmin	Cornwall	677
NT91	Cheviot Hills West of Alnwick	Northumberland	670
SW95	West of St. Austell	Cornwall	659
NT92	Cheviot Hills South West of Wooler	Northumberland	641
SW53	South of Hayle	Cornwall	638
NT80	Cheviot Hills East of Carter Bar	Northumberland	637
NT81	Cheviot Hills West of Alnwick	Northumberland	617
SX37	South of Launceston	Cornwall	615
NZ22	North of Darlington	Durham	600
SE28	West of Ripon	North Yorkshire	588

For comparison, the average value for England and Wales is about 340 micrograys per year in air. In all the cases listed, the explanation for the higher levels of

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the percentage of gross domestic product invested in housing construction/rehabilitation in the following countries in 1984 (a) West Germany,(b) France and (c) Belgium; and what was the equivalent figure for the United Kingdom.

The latest available information for all the countries mentioned is for the year 1982 and is given in the following table:

Fixed Investment in Housing as a percentage of GDP in 1982
	Percentage
Germany (Federal Republic)	6·1
France	5·3
Belgium	3·5
United Kingdom	3·4

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the 20 areas in England and Wales with the highest levels of naturally occurring radioactivity and the reasons why these levels occur in the areas concerned.

According to information supplied by the National Radiological Protection Board the 20 sites in England and Wales which show the highest gamma radiation dose rates due to naturally occurring radioactivity present in the ground are as follows:radioactivity is the present in the ground of minerals with radioactive content. Radioactivity may also manifest itself in the form of radon gas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the monitoring of the atmosphere in and around nuclear establishments operated by the Central Electricity Generating Board and the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority.

The nuclear establishments of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) are required under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 to seek authorisation from relevant Ministers for any discharge of radioactive wastes to atmosphere. As a condition of these authorisations the UKAEA and CEGB are required to monitor the discharges and their effects on the environment. These results are checked by the authorising Departments which also undertake independent monitoring. I am satisfied that the discharges continue to pose no threat to the public.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list his powers to require the costs of sound insulation, up to given standards, of domestic dwellings adjacent to the proposed STOLport in Newham, to be borne by persons or bodies other than their owners or occupiers.

My right hon. Friend knows of no such statutory powers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will arrange to provide a site in the Stonehenge area for people wishing to celebrate the summer solstice.

The Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission is responsible for managing the circle area of land occupied by the Stonehenge monument itself. My Department owns no other land in the Stonehenge area suitable for this purpose.

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 Wastes Inspectorate regarding waste disposal facilities; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 June 1985]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to my hon. Friend the Member for Skipton and Ripon (Mr. Watson) on Wednesday 5 June 1985 at columns 166-67.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the cost to Britain of contributions to NATO's civil budget in each year since 1979; and whether he will provide the figures in the 1986 defence Estimates.

The total contributions by the United Kingdom to the NATO civil budget since 1979 are as follows:

	£ million
1979–80	5·810
1980–81	6·140
1981–82	6·476
1982–83	5·975
1983–84	7·306
1984–85	7·922

The total annual United Kingdom contribution is not published in the Defence Estimates. Contributions to the NATO civil budget by individual Government Departments are published already in the relevant Departments' annual estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice Her Majesty's Government give to intending travellers to Nigeria regarding their personal safety in that country.

We are ready to give appropriate advice on personal safety to intending travellers to Nigeria depending on the nature of their visit and the areas to be visited. In general, we advise travellers to take all sensible precautions against, for example, armed robbery, muggings and petty theft, including handbag snatching; to leave valuables in a safe place; and, if they wish, to check on arrival with the British high commission in Lagos or the deputy high commission in Kaduna on any specific local problems. Our geographic department in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is, of course, ready to give advice based on background knowledge of the country and the latest advice from the British high commission, Lagos.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what instructions are given to officials in his Department concerning the nature of the information they should make available to hon. Members seeking advice on behalf of constituents about current circumstances in Nigeria.

The instructions given to officials in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are that they should give hon. Members advice on current circumstances in Nigeria based on the latest information on the subject received from the British high commission in Lagos. Though we endeavour to give hon. Members every assistance, our resources are limited and we cannot give detailed briefing at short notice covering all aspects of current circumstances in Nigeria.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what help is made available by Her Majesty's Government to British subjects on lawful business in overseas countries who encounter problems with the civil authorities in the country concerned.

The scale of assistance given can range from advice to diplomatic intervention, depending on the circumstances of each individual or joint case.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the name and rank of the official who will be accompanying the delegation to Nairobi for the end of the decade of women conference.

In addition to Dame Anne Warburton DCVO, CMG, the United Kingdom permanent representative to the office of the United Nations at Geneva, who will be deputy leader of the delegation, the four officials in the delegation will be Mr. R. C. Fursland, first secretary, and Mr. R. W. Barnett and Mr. R. J. Wildash, second secretaries in Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service, and Mr. M. J. Gillespie, principal at the Home Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any progress has yet been made on the recovery of the wall of death equipment belonging to Mr. Sergei Chityan of Ealing, currently impounded at the port of Jeddah.

I am glad to say that the Saudi port authorities have now agreed that Mr. Chityan's equipment may be released after payment of the necessary demurrage charges.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to ratify the United Nations convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women.

As I told the hon. Member for Walthamstow (Mr. Deakins) on 10 May, at column 513, we are still considering this convention in the light of our existing legislation and hope to be in a position to make an announcement about ratification soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those countries that are known by his Department to have made representations to the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics about the case of Mr. Raoul Wallenberg; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Wallenberg was a Swedish diplomat, and it is therefore the Swedish Government who have taken the lead in seeking clarification of the Soviet authorities as to the precise fate of their former representative in Hungary. We do not have a comprehensive list of other counries which have made representations about Mr. Wallenberg.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what scientific studies have been completed or are in hand to assess the alleged damage done to salmon, trout and migratory trout stocks by (a) cormorants, (b) red breasted mergansers and (c) goosanders in Scottish lochs and rivers; and if he will publish any investigations into this subject that have been carried out by his officials.

The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland published papers in 1962 and 1965 in the freshwater and salmon fisheries research series entitled respectively "The Goosander and Red-Breasted Merganser as Predators of Salmon in Scottish Waters" and "The Distribution and Food of the Cormorant in Scottish Waters." These publications assessed the effects of those species on Atlantic salmon and trout in Scotland. Scientific studies of the damage done to salmon, trout and migratory trout stocks by cormorants, red-breasted mergansers and goosanders in Scotland would be lengthy and expensive and no such research is in progress or planned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the 20 areas in Scotland with the highest levels of naturally occurring radioactivity and the reasons why these levels occur in the areas concerned.

The National Radiological Protection Board has measured in Scotland gamma radiation arising from rocks and soils in about 80 per cent. of the 10 kilometre grid squares of the national grid. Those showing the greatest values are listed as follows. The average value for Scotland is about 320 micrograys per year in air. Naturally occurring radioactivity in rocks arises because of the incorporation in them of radioactive elements when the rocks were formed.The National Radiological Protection Board is measuring also the concentration in buildings of the

Forest District	Forest	Block	Approval sought (hectares)	Approval granted (hectares)
Frestry commission
Easter Ross	Torrachilty	Strathrannoch	238	238
		Garbat	707	707
Dornoch	Shin	North Dalchork	2,080	2,080
		Inveroykel	481	481
	Naver	Truderscaig	*821	784
		Rossal	375	375
		Badenloch II	25	25
		BadenlochIII	41	41
		Cnoc dubh	*12	—
	Rumster	Watten	31	31
			4,811	4,762
*One of the conditions of clearance is that a barrier zone of 250 metres is left betwen infested areas and nearby sites of special scientific interest (SSSI). This accounts for the difference betwen the areas for which approval was sought and the areas for which approval was granted.

Forest District	Estate	Block	Approval sought (hectares)	Approval granted (hectares)
Private woodlands
Dornoch	Gordonbush	Pollie Hill	250	250

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those areas within Scotland, England and Wales, respectively, for which the Forestry Commission has sought approval from the Department for the use of fenitrothion for the purposes of blanket aerial spraying during 1985; if he will detail the proposed time scale of the respective sprayings; and if he will make a statement.

The areas for which the commission sought approval and those for which limited clearance was granted under the pesticides safety precautions scheme are all in Scotland and are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he is satisfied that Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate has completed the assessment of the 20 year long-term safety reviews of Bradwell, Berkeley and Hunterston A power stations; and if he will make a statement.

I am advised by the Health and Safety Commission that consideration by Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate of the licensees' 20-year safety reviews of Bradwell, Berkeley and Hunterston A is in progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many offshore supply ships are working in the United Kingdom sector of the North sea; and how many of these are Norwegian.

At 15 May 1985, 162 supply ships were working in the United Kingdom sector, of which 30 were Norwegian flag.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many United Kingdom offshore supply ships are working in the Norwegian sector of the North sea; and what information he has as to the total number of supply ships in that area.

There were 60 supply ships working in the Norwegian sector at 15 May 1985. Two were British flagged.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will state the amount of electricity generated in Wales by (a) coal-fired, (b) oil-fired, (c) nuclear, (d) hydro and (e) pumped storage power stations for each of the years 1979 to the last available figures, stating whether such figures relate to full calendar or financial years.

This is a matter for the Central Electricity Generating Board. I shall ask the chairman to write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many trainees are on the youth training scheme; and what percentage this represents of the relevant age group.

At the end of April 1985 there were 259,500 young people on the youth training scheme, most of whom were aged 16 or 17. It is estimated that about 30 per cent. of all 16-year-olds and about 5 per cent. of all 17-year-olds in Great Britain were on the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what findings have been produced by Health and Safety Executive inspectors revealing contraventions of guidelines to employers who use mercury, in particular regarding the frequency of urine samples taken from workers.

Information is not available in the form requested.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has as to the numbers employed in the nuclear regulatory work force per reactor in terms of persons per unit in the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, France, Japan, Sweden and the Federal Republic of Germany for the latest year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

There are 41 operational reactors in the United Kingdom on sites licensed by the nuclear installations inspectorate. There are at present some 150 staff in the inspectorate; other staff of the Health and Safety Executive also have responsibility for certain matters at nuclear sites. Comparable information on other countries is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied that the current level of staff of Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate is adequate to enable the inspectorate to discharge its functions properly; and if he will make a statement.

The nuclear installations inspectorate is adequately staffed.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to recruit further inspectors to Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate; how many posts are currently vacant; how many applications for those posts have been received; how many offers of employment have been made; and if he will make a statement.

Three posts out of the planned level of 102 for 1985–86 are currently vacant in the inspectorate. A recruitment campaign which it is hoped will at least fill these posts and replace likely retirements over the next 12 months is now in progress: 152 applications have been considered and 55 candidates interviewed. Offers of employment have not yet been made.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the estimated manpower plan for Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate as at 1 July; how many staff he expects to have in post at that date; whether this includes staff transferred from other parts of the Health and Safety Executive into the new policy unit; and if he will make a statement.

There should be some 160 staff in post in the nucler installation inspectorate on 1 July. This includes staff transferred from other parts of the inspectorate and elsewhere in the Health and Safety Executive to form the London-based policy branch. There are three vacant inspector posts which should be filled later in the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many jobs will be created in Bootle for local employeres as a result of the dispersal of Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate; and what is the estimated demand for labour from amongst the relatives of Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate inspectors on their dispersal.

It is expected that there will be some 15 clerical and typing vacancies to be filled by local recruitment on Merseyside when the nuclear installations inspectorate disperses to Merseyside. It is not possible to assess the other effects on the local labour market, such as demand for jobs from relatives of inspectors.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his reply of 8 May, Official

TABLE 1
Fatal Injuries Arising at Work to Employers Reported to Enforcing Authorities
Order Group Number	standard Industrial Classification (68)	*1979	*1980	†1981	†1982	†1983
I.	Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing	34	24	31	27	29
II.	Mining and Quarrying	60	63	61	70	46
III.	Food, Drink and Tobacco	16	14	8	10	23
IV.	Coal and Petroleum Products	6	6	3	3	1
V.	Chemical and Allied Industries	13	6	7	6	10
VI.	Metal Manufacture	34	21	19	27	13
VII.	Mechanical Engineering	16	19	10	18	16
VIII.	Instrument Engineering	—	1	—	—	—
IX.	Electrical Engineering	3	2	1	8	3
X.	Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering	10	8	13	8	4
XI.	Vehicles	4	11	5	5	8
XII.	Metal Goods not elsewhere specified	7	12	11	10	3
XIII.	Textiles	4	2	6	6	5

The Health and Safety Commission is determined to ensure that there will be no fall in standards resulting from Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate's move to Bootle.The Health and Safety Executive is taking steps to minimise disruption when the nuclear installations inspectorate is dispersed. Action already taken or in progress includes:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment pursuant to his answer of 8 May, Official Report, column 433, why it is not possible to estimate the total costs of dispersal of the Health and Safety Executive staff to Merseyside, nor to estimate separately that of Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate; and if he will make a statement.

Figures for many dispersal-related costs—for example, accommodation, travel and subsistence, recruitment, staff training, post and telecommunications — would involve making assumptions, for which there could be no proper basis, about what these costs would have been if all Health and Safety Executive headquarters staff had stayed in London.

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.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 June 1985]: The available information is given in the following three tables.