asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will place before the Services Committee a proposal that it should make a study of the level of facilities and staff provided for members of the United States Congress; and if he will make a statement.

No. I do not consider that such a study would be appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to give local authorities powers to enable them to dispose of their rundown estates or blocks of flats for redevelopment.

The Government wish to encourage partnership schemes of this kind and have today launched the urban housing renewal unit to assist local authorities to develop them and other initiatives to improve conditions on rundown estates. I believe that it would help authorities if powers of this kind were available to them and my right hon. Friend hopes to bring forward proposals for legislation.Under section 34 of the Housing Act 1980 a local authority may seek possession of a dwelling let under a secure tenancy on the ground that it intends to redevelop the dwelling itself (ground 8 of schedule 4 to the 1980 Act). Before the court makes an order for possession it must be satisfied that suitable alternative accommodation will be available to displaced tenants, and the authority may make home-loss payments.However, local authorities wishing to sell a tenanted dwelling to private developers so that the property could be renovated and brought back into use as housing under low-cost home ownership initiatives have experienced difficulties. In these circumstances, local authorities have no power either to obtain possession of the property, or to offer compensatory payments to tenants.We hope to legislate when a suitable opportunity arises to extend the grounds for possession in schedule 4 to the 1980 Act to allow local authorities to seek possession, in circumstances approved by the Secretary of State for the Environment, on the ground that they intend to sell the dwellings to the private sector for renovation and re-use as housing. As under the existing ground 8, tenants displaced under the proposed new ground would be entitled to be offered suitable alternative accommodation and to receive home-loss payments.We will be consulting local authority associations and others about our proposals shortly.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland what has been the change in the number of court cases relating to offences at football matches since the introduction of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980.

It is not possible to identify football match offences because information about the locus of an offence is not recorded.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland when he intends to meet the procurators fiscal to discuss the Government's proposals for legal aid.

I do not intend to meet procurators fiscal for that purpose.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland how many prosecutions have been brought over the last 12 months or are pending against landlords for (a) harassment of tenants and (b) fraud in relation to the housing benefit system.

Precise figures are not available, but inquiries with procurators fiscal indicate that there have been approximately 20 and 15 cases, respectively.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland how many prosecutions there have been for the illegal killing of red deer in the latest available year.

Separate statistics are not kept for red deer alone. In relation to offences under the Deer (Scotland) Acts, 40 persons were proceeded against. That figure is still provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he has given the latest "Quarterly Economic Commentary" of the Fraser of Allander Institute about reducing unemployment, a copy of which has been sent to him.

This is one of a number of commentaries we always read with interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the value of grants from his Department to voluntary organisations in each of the last three years at constant prices.

The Department made grants to voluntary organisations in cost terms of £109·8 million in 1981–82; £127·7 million in 1982ߝ83; and £132 million in 1983–84. Figures for 1984–85 will not be available until the appropriation accounts for that year are finalised.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated total amount of rate rebate claimable in 1985–86 in respect of properties in the Kirkcaldy district council area, under the provisions of the Rating (Revaluation Rebates) (Scotland) Bill.

The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities has advised me that Fife region as rating authority is likely to pay £969,000 in revaluation rate rebates in 1985–86, but it has made no estimate of the apportionment among properties in different districts. The hon. Gentleman may wish to seek this information from Fife regional council.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total amount to be given in rate relief under the terms of the Rating (Revaluation Rebates) (Scotland) Bill to ratepayers in Central region; and of that amount how much will be paid to ratepayers in the area of Falkirk district council.

The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities has advised me that Central region as rating authority is likely to pay £1·24 million in revaluation rate rebates in 1985–86. But it has made no estimate of the apportionment among properties in different districts. The hon. Member may wish to seek this information from Central regional council.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total amount to be given in rate relief under the terms of the Rating (Revaluation Rebates) (Scotland) Bill to ratepayers in Lothian region; and of that amount how much will be paid to ratepayers in the area of Midlothian district council.

The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities has advised me that Lothian region as rating authority is likely to pay £5·509 million in revaluation rate debates in 1985–86. But it has made no estimate of the apportionment among properties in different districts. The hon. Member may wish to seek this information from Lothian regional council.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he can give any estimate of the number of lock-up garages in Scotland which will be eligible for rating relief in terms of the Rating (Revaluation Rebates) (Scotland) Bill; and what total sum is likely to be paid out to this category of ratepayer in the year 1985–86;(2) if he can give any estimate of the number of poster sites in Scotland which will be eligible for rating relief in terms of Rating (Revaluation Rebates) (Scotland) Bill; and what total sum is likely to be paid out to this category of ratepayer in the year 1985–86.

The information requested is not held centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what the average rate increase for commercial ratepayers has been in local authority areas where expenditure in the last financial year was kept within his guidelines.

Average commercial rate bills increased by some 18 per cent. in 1985–86 over 1984–85 in the areas of local authorities in Scotland where spending planned by both the regional and the district councils or by the islands council was within guidelines.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the implications for the Scottish economy of the decision by Pratt and Whitney not to set up a service centre for aero engines at Prestwick.

Pratt and Whitney has made no decision as yet about the location of its proposed engine servicing plant. I understand that the company has decided to reconsider its whole European service centre operations and that it may be some time before any decisions are made.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when next he intends to meet representatives of the nursing profession to discuss pay and conditions.

I have had no request for such a meeting, and none is planned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received about the viability and prospects of Scottish salmon fishing.

Representations are received from time to time from a variety of organisations and individuals who are concerned about the state of salmon stocks.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the textile and hosiery industries in Scotland about the implications for the economy of the Border region in the absence of a continuing multi-fibre arrangement.

My right hon. Friend and I have received representations from a number of industry associations on the need for a continuing multi-fibre arrangement not only for the Border region but for the country as a whole. As my right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade—who has responsibility for the arrangement—told the House on 9 May, the Government are in favour of further renewal and he will be pressing this view with our partners in the European Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the economic prospects of Dundee.

Dundee, and Scotland as a whole, should share in the continued growth forecast for the United Kingdom economy although as elsewhere this will depend on controlling costs and continuing improvements in productivity and efficiency.In particular, Dundee should continue to benefit from the Dundee project, under which the Scottish Development Agency and the local authorities are acting together to develop new industrial and business opportunities in the city, and to promote its business image. The project has already helped to create over 700 jobs and attract £15 million of private sector investment with further substantial commitments. The work of the Dundee project will be assisted by Dundee's development area status, and the presence of the Tayside enterprise zone.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many schools to date have been affected by industrial action connected with the teachers' case for an independent pay review.

I understand that almost all the 2,883 local authority primary and secondary schools have been affected to some extent.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a further statement on representations he has received and initiatives taken in relation to the current disputes in Scottish schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what further progress he has made in efforts to settle the teachers strike.

Since October 1984 some 4,900 letters have been received from hon. Members, parents and teachers. By its continuing insistence on an independent review which would look at pay alone, the EIS has prevented a review of pay and conditions of service within the SJNC(SE), as suggested by the Government. On 17 June my right hon. Friend discussed with the education committee of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities a job description appropriate for a teacher in today's society. This could pave the way for the SNJC to consider the implications for pay and conditions and to draw up a package. The most realistic way forward in resolving the present damaging dispute would be for the teachers to enter forthwith into negotiations with the employers for the current year as an interim step towards a more comprehensive agreement for 1986–87 and subsequent years.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the current teachers' industrial action in Scotland.

This week, strike action is being taken by EIS members in some schools in Lothian region, and the boycott of curricular development work imposed since August 1984 continues. I understand that the Educational Institute of Scotland plans intensified industrial action next term. I deplore the damage to children's education which this entails when the way to the negotiating table remains open.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he has received on the transporting of asbestos waste through urban areas; and if he will make a statement.

Two organisations, the Inverclyde Tenants Group and the Society Against Violation of the Environment have made representations to my right hon. Friend on this subject. They have been advised that the Health and Safety Executive has confirmed that the standards of containment and cleanliness adopted by the contractor for the removal of the limited quantity of Faslane asbestos, and his contingency measures in the event of a road traffic incident, are such as to ensure that there is in common sense terms no risk to the health of any person from the transport of this low grade waste.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will next discuss local government finance with Fife regional council.

It is not my right hon. Friend's practice to discuss local government finance with individual authorities. He does, however, hold regular meetings on this subject with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he is taking to seek to ensure that forestry operations do not proceed where they do not meet the approval of the Forestry Commission; and if he will list the areas where such development has taken or is taking place.

With the exception of a number of small areas of plantings which, as I stated in my reply of 8 May, at columns 441–2, to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Shettleston (Mr. Marshall), it is not possible to list, there are only two cases of any significance. These are Crichness and Shielsknowe.As I said in another reply to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Shettleston on 8 May, at column

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the level of public spending in Scotland per head of population during the last financial year.

Figures for 1984–85 are not yet available. As indicated to my hon. Friend in the reply given to him on 22 February 1985, at columns 608–18, by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chief Secretary, the figure for identifiable public expenditure in Scotland in 1983–84 was £2,058·1.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce legislation to amend the Rent (Scotland) Act 1984 so as to enable local authorities to have a fair rent registered in any tenancy, so long as the fair rent is not any higher than the existing rent.

We are monitoring the situation to see whether there may be a need to review local authorities' powers under the Rent (Scotland) Act 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the future of tertiary education in Scotland.

My right hon. Friend will be considering the future of tertiary education in Scotland, in the light of comments on the Government's Green Paper on higher education and of recommendations by the Scottish Tertiary Education Advisory Council whose review of higher education in Scotland will be completed later this year, and will make a statement at the appropriate time.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for increasing job opportunities for men, women and young people in Scotland.

Job opportunities are created by competitive and profitable firms, and the process of job creation therefore depends critically on Scottish industry's success in exploiting the opportunities afforded by the continued economic growth expected this year. The Budget measures were designed to stimulate enterprise, restore market flexibility and provide the low inflation environment in which such firms can flourish.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the maintenance of Forestry Commission roads.

With a few exceptions, for example, forest drives, the majority of the Forestry Commission's 16,000 km of forest roads are built for use only by the commission's and contractor's vehicles, although the public are normally permitted to use them on foot. Some 9,000 km of roads are currently used by heavy vehicles, such as haulage lorries, while the remainder are used by light vehicles and harvesting equipment.The roads are maintained to a standard sufficient to ensure the safety of legitimate road users; to maintain the flow of traffic at appropriate speeds and to keep down vehicle maintenance costs. The incidence of road maintenance — which costs the commission some £4 million per annum — varies according to a number of factors such as the traffic flow, the weather and the materials employed in the formation of the road.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next intends to meet the chairman of the British Steel Corporation to discuss the steel position in Scotland.

My right hon. Friend meets the chairman of the British Steel Corporation from time to time to discuss the operations of the corporation in Scotland, but there are no arrangements for any meeting in the immediate future.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has plans to meet the Scottish Football Association in the near future to discuss rateable values.

No. I shall send the hon. Member a copy of the reply which I have sent to a recent letter from the Scottish Football Association about the rates burden on clubs.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Scottish Development Agency about setting up a rural development fund.

Assistance to rural areas was one of the matters discussed when I met the board of the agency on 7 June. These discussions will be taken into account in further consideration of the recommendations which have been made to me for the establishment of a rural development fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations had been received by 31 May in response to the Government's consultation document on legal aid in Scotland.

By 31 May, 40 responses had been received.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the amount spent in each of the last five years on research and development and advisory services in agriculture.

The funding by my Department of research and development and advisory services in agriculture at the Scottish agricultural colleges and the Scottish agricultural research institutes is estimated as follows for each of the last five years:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons were employed in research and development and advisory services of the Department of Agriculture for Scotland in 1979; and how many he estimates will be employed when the reductions in funding have been implemented.

The number of staff employed at the eight Scottish agricultural research institutes at 1 October 1979 was 1,376. Because of the multi-disciplinary nature of the work at the three Scottish agricultural colleges, it is not possible to provide a breakdown of the number of staff employed on research and development and advisory work alone, but the total number of staff employed at 1 October 1979 was 1,267.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications for grants and loans for the building of crofter houses were approved in 1983 and 1984.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of Scottish school leavers continued their education at universities and colleges in each of the years 1980–81 to 1984–85.

Information is available from biennial school leavers' surveys. The following table

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is (a) the total allowance of capital expenditure and (b) the allowance of capital expenditure

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total capital expenditure by each of the new town development corporations in Scotland in each year from 1978–79 to 1984–85, inclusive; and what was the capital expenditure on housing by each of the development corporations in each year, within these totals.

The information is set out in the following table:for housing, within the total expenditure of each of the new town development corporations in Scotland for 1985–86; and how this is expected to be funded in each case.

The information is set out in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the sources of funding of the capital expenditure of each of the new town development corporations in Scotland for each of the years 1978–79 to 1984–85 inclusive.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the figures for numbers of employees of each of the new town development corporations in

The information is set out in the following table:Scotland in

The information is set out in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the average numbers of persons on the waiting lists for houses to let maintained by the new town development corporations in Scotland in each of the years 1978–79 to 1984–85 inclusive; and what are the present numbers.

The information available about average numbers on housing waiting lists maintained by new town development corporations is not on a uniform basis and does not enable me to give a meaningful reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the average rentals charged for development corporation houses in each of the new towns in Scotland in each of the years 1978–79 to 1984–85

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated level of Scottish self-sufficiency in 1984 for the following food commodities: (a) beef and veal, (b) mutton and lamb, (c) pigmeat, (d) poultrymeat, (e) liquid milk, (f) cheese, (g) butter, (h) eggs, (i) barley, (j) oats, (k) wheat and (l) potatoes.

No reliable data for individual years are available. Information for the three-year period centred on 1983 will be ready shortly, and I will write to the right hon. Member then.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the amounts of housing grant paid to each of the new town development corporations in Scotland in each of the years 1978–79 to 1984–85 inclusive.

The amounts of housing grant paid to each of the new town development corporations in Scotland in each of the years 1978–79 to 1984–85 are set out in the following table:inclusive; and what were the comparable figures for rents of district council houses in each of the districts containing the new towns concerned.

The figures requested are shown in the table and refer to the position at 30 September of each year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has made any changes in the composition of the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

The members of the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland are as follows:R. A. Bennett, QC, chairman — reappointed on 1 November 1982 until 31 October 1986Mr. G. Carlton, OBE, vice chairman—reappointed as a member on 1 November 1982 and appointed as vice chairman on 17 May 1985 until 31 October 1986Mr. S. McDowall, CBE, member — appointed on 1 November 1982 until 31 October 1986

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has received the report of the Museums Advisory Board, which he set up to examine the future operation under one board of trustees of Scotland's national museums.

I have now received the advisory board's report. It is a cogent document, and I have written to the Marquess of Bute to express my thanks to him and to the members of the board for the time and effort they have devoted to its preparation.The report sets out a number of detailed recommendations for the future organisation of Scotland's two national museums—the Royal Scottish Museum and the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland — after they are brought together administratively on 1 October this year under a single board of trustees, as foreshadowed in the National Heritage (Scotland) Act 1985. I am now, at the advisory board's request, making the report generally available. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses, and are being issued to a range of bodies and individuals whom the advisory board consulted or who submitted evidence to it. Further copies will be available on application to the Scottish Office Library, New St. Andrew's House, Edinburgh, price £2 each and are also for sale at the two museums.The report's main recommendation is that the two museums should be integrated as fully as possible and that development of the Williams committee's concept of a Museum of Scotland should be achieved within the framework thus created. I accept the arguments set out in the report in favour of this approach, which I fully endorse for the future organisation of the museums. Confirmation of this point should enable the trustees, when appointed, to make early progress along the lines set out in the report.The report makes a number of other detailed recommendations on the staffing and accommodation of the museums. In relation to staffing, the additional resources which I made available for the national museums in 1985–86 will, as the report acknowledges, enable a number of the posts, which the advisory board identifies as those most urgently needed, to be filled. I will give consideration over the coming months to the additional staffing requirements identified in the report and to the case which it makes for substantial additional accommodation for the national museums, most notably on the empty site next to the present Royal Scottish Museum building in Chambers street. I have, of course, already indicated that priority will be given to the national museums in the allocation of resources from the capital programme for the Scottish national institutions. Detailed decisions on the nature and timing of additional accommodation must await the outcome of the 1985 public expenditure survey.Many of the recommendations in the report will require the consideration of the new trustees. I am pleased to announce that Lord Bute has agreed to undertake the chairmanship of the National Museums Board for an initial period of one year, to 30 September 1986, with the possibility of extension thereafter by mutual agreement. I intend to announce the appointment of other trustees before the end of this month.

asked the Prime Minister which Government Departments are currently using recycled paper.

Her Majesty's Stationery Office encourages its suppliers to produce recycled paper and paper products and makes these available for use by all Government Departments. However, central records are not kept of actual usage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy concerning the holding of young persons on remand within adult prisons.

Within the constraints imposed by the size of the prison population and the availability of accommodation it is our policy that remand prisoners should be held in locations which are easily reached by their families and legal advisers, and that young people (that is those aged under 21) on remand should be held in a separate establishment or part of an establishment. Where complete separation of that kind is not possible, every effort is made to keep young people apart from adults within an establishment. Very great care is always taken to keep juveniles (that is those aged under 17) apart from adults.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what facilities for recreation are available at the Thorp Arch remand centre.

Thorp Arch has a sports field with two soccer pitches, a sports hall, including a side-area with weight-training equipment, a television and video room, a room equipped for indoor association and games, and a library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whom he consulted before making his decision to convert the Thorp Arch remand centre into a category C prison.

The change of role at Thorp Arch is part of a package designed to adjust the use of prison department accommodation so as to reduce extreme overcrowding at Leeds prison. My right hon. and learned Friend did not consult outside the Home Office on the specific adjustment that he has announced.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the maximum number of young persons who can be held at Thorp Arch remand centre at present; and what is the maximum number of adult category C prisoners who could be held in the present accommodation.

Thorp Arch has a certified normal accommodation of 164, including 17 places in the hospital. As a training prison, its certified normal accommodation will fall to 147 because hospital places are not included in the certified normal accommodation of training prisons. No more than 234 prisoners have in practice been held there although the establishment's theoretical operating capacity is higher than that. The precise number of adult prisoners to be held in the establishment has yet to be settled.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many net places in the prison system will be lost as a consequence of his announced coversion of Thorp Arch remand centre into a category C prison.

The change of use of Thorp Arch is part of a package designed to ease the pressure on Leeds prison and which includes the conversion of Hull into a local prison. The net effect of these changes will be an increase of over 150 in the operating capacity of the prison system.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes to the present staffing levels at the Thorp Arch remand centre will follow its conversion to a category C prison.

Thorp Arch will require fewer staff than at present because it will no longer be necessary to convey untried prisoners from Thorp Arch to the courts. Future staffing levels are still being assessed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy not to approve any proposal for the closure of a remand centre for young persons until he has satisfied himself of the availability of adequate suitable facilities in other similar establishments.

The availability and suitability of alternative facilities is one of the major factors taken into account before any decision about a change of role is taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what constraints there are in classifying an adult category C prisoner in terms of (a) nature of offence and (b) length of sentence.

A category C prisoner is defined as one who cannot be trusted in open conditions but who does not have the ability or resources to make a determined escape attempt.The security categorisation of prisoners is decided on the basis of individual assessments that take a number of factors into account. In the case of long-term prisoners these assessments are periodically reviewed. Prisoners are not excluded by their offences or sentence lengths from being placed in category C in due course, but the assessment process is intended to exclude those who are dangerous or serious escape risks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what differing requirements there are in respect of (a) internal security,(b) perimeter security, (c) recreational facilities and (d) staffing levels, between a remand centre for young offenders and a category C adult prison.

In general, a category C adult training prison requires a somewhat lower level of security, more recreational facilities and fewer staff than does a young offender remand centre.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement of Government policy on the breeding of dogs.

The Breeding of Dogs Act 1973 regulates the breeding of dogs for sale by means of a local authority licensing system. The Government have no plans for any further measures to control dog breeding.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for reports from chief constables about whether officers in their forces have made use of the police national computer or other computer data bases to which they have access in order to contact potential winners in a commercial competition based on vehicle registration numbers; and if he will make a statement.

The Police Complaints Authority has approved the appointment of an assistant chief constable to conduct an inquiry, under the authority's supervision, into this alleged misuse of the police national computer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government on the proposals in the European Economic Community Green Paper entitled "Television Without Frontiers"; what representations he has made to the Commission on this matter; and if he will make a statement.

The Government have not reached a firm view on whether the Community has competence to legislate on broadcasting matters. We support the general objective of the Green Paper, which is to facilitate television broadcasting across frontiers and thereby assist the process of European integration, but we do not consider that the case for Community legislation to achieve this objective has yet been made out. In the Government's view, the Green Paper lays too much emphasis upon the economic aspects of broadcasting and fails to give due weight both to the wider cultural considerations and to the role of the Council of Europe in facilitating trans-frontier broadcasting among a wider grouping of European nations. These and other more detailed points have been made to the Commission in the official discussions in Brussels.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to complete his review of whether to make generally available instructions to immigration officers dealing with the interpretation of the immigration rules; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton (Mr. Kaufman) on 29 April, at column 24.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce amending legislation relating to the provisions of section 3 of the Theft Act 1978 as it affects hotels, restaurants and taxis in view of the ruling of the House of Lords on Thursday 13 June about a client's intention to pay; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend will, of course, study the House of Lords ruling in the particular case with interest. We have no evidence to suggest that, in general, those offering services requiring payment on the spot are not properly protected from dishonest actions by the Theft Acts.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many new coaches were registered in the United Kingdom in 1974 and 1984; and what percentage of coaches newly registered were (a) manufactured and (b) produced in the United Kingdom.

According to figures supplied by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, in 1974 5,341 buses and coaches were newly registered in this country. 98 per cent. of these were largely of British manufacture. Comparable figures for 1984 are 3,379 and 77 per cent. Separate figures for coaches are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to the percentage of British Rail passenger carriages which are currently equipped to accommodate wheelchairs; and what plans there are for future provision of such carriages.

I understand from British Rail that the proportion of rolling stock on inter-city services with accommodation for wheelchair-bound persons is currently about 60 per cent., but is expected to rise to 90 per cent. by the end of 1987. British Rail estimates that about 19 per cent. of provincial sector rolling stock and 15 per cent. of London and south-east sector stock is equipped to carry wheelchair-bound passengers; these figures will rise as new sliding-door rolling stock is introduced, or existing stock refurbished.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the implementation of the objectives agreed at Nicosia in July 1984 by the Commonwealth Education Ministers.

The Commonwealth Secretariat is pursuing the studies and activities agreed in Nicosia on resources for education, youth unemployment and student mobility. The Commonwealth Standing Committee on Student Mobility is expected to issue a further report before Commonwealth Education Ministers meet again in October this year. In this connection, the new scholarship scheme announced on 3 June at columns 9–10 by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development will foster student mobility within the Commonwealth, as advocated by Ministers in Nicosia.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish the latest pupil-teacher ratio for England, excluding head teachers.

The overall pupil-teacher ratio in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in January 1984 was 17·9. If head teachers are excluded, exceptionally, from the calculation it is estimated that a ratio of 19·1 is produced for January 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is satisfied with the level of resources available to local education authorities to maintain and repair school buildings.

It is for local authorities to decide, within the overall resources available to them, their own levels of expenditure on the maintenance and repair of school buildings.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the figure of school children in receipt of free school meals for the latest month for which figures are available and give the comparative figure for the same month in 1979.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson) on Tuesday 11 June, at column 426. The figures requested are collected annually in October in the school meals census.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what sums were paid out in additional travel grants to students in higher education for each of the past five years for which they were available.

The information relates to local authority expenditure on excess travel allowance in England and Wales. It covers full-value mandatory and discretionary awards up to, and including, 1982–83, but information for 1983–84 relates to mandatory awards only.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made by the steering committee on research into sandwich education; and if he will make a statement.

The report of the steering committee on the programme of research into sandwich education was published today. Copies of the report have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. As was announced in the Green Paper "The Development of Higher Education in the 1990s" (Cmnd. 9524), the Government propose to consult the relevant advisory bodies about the report's conclusions and will look to them in particular to offer guidance on means of ensuring that sandwich courses justify their extra cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in how many cases banning orders have been made against estate agents under the Estate Agents Act 1979 following the bankruptcy or the misconduct of an estate agent.

This is a matter for the Director General of Fair Trading. I have been in touch with him and he will write to the hon. Member shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of the executive officials currently in the industrial development unit of his Department are seconded from the private sector of industry.

Sixty per cent. of the current members of the Department's industrial development unit with executive responsibilities are seconded from the private sector. The 12 secondees provide the bulk of the team that appraises usually the larger applications for selective financial assistance, and gives other financial advice to the Department. The rest of the unit is staffed with permanent officials, responsible for such matters as the avoidance of conflicts of interest among the secondees and members of the Industrial Development Advisory Board, the proper conduct of the unit's business, and policy matters. Seconded members of the unit provide the Department with commercial experience and professional skills of a high order not usually to be found among permanent officials. Offers of financial assistance are the responsibility of Ministers, and letters offering assistance are invariably signed by permanent officials with proper delegated authority who are fully accountable for their content.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of the executive officials currently in the industrial development unit of his Department have been seconded from firms or organisations which have, in the last six years received section 7 and 8 grants for industry.

Of the 21 current members of the Department's industrial development unit with executive responsibilities, three individuals have been seconded from two private sector organisations which have received offers of selective financial assistance totalling £1·3 million in the past six financial years under sections 7 and 8 of the Industrial Development Act 1982 and its predecessor legislation. £1,423 million of such assistance has been offered in total over the same period.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what protection exists at present against imports of knitwear into the United Kingdom.

The European Community has negotiated textile agreements within the framework of the multi-fibre arrangement with 27 low-cost suppliers. These include numerous quotas on imports of knitwear (as well as textiles and woven clothing) into individual member states and also provide for the introduction of new quotas when appropriate. A similar arrangement is applied to Taiwan, and other autonomous arrangements are applied to certain state trading countries. The Community has also negotiated voluntary restraint arrangements with several of its preferential trading partners; five of these cover imports of knitwear.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what position has been reached in negotiations over the formulation of a European Economic Community directive on product liability; what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards this matter; and if he will make a statement.

Discussions are currently taking place between experts to resolve certain remaining points of detail on the draft directive; we hope that these points will be resolved quickly and that we will be in a position to adopt the directive soon. We are in favour of this directive and, in the interests of making progress on a subject which has been under discussion in Brussels for nearly 10 years, we are negotiating constructively on the proposed compromise solution.This compromise solution is for a directive which introduces the concept of strict liability for defective products throughout the Community, with a development risks defence but no financial limit. Individual member states would be permitted to derogate on both these last points (subject to certain limitations), and there would be a review after a transitional period to assess the effects of these derogations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether he will now agree to offer financial inducements to locate the headquarter's organisation of the newly created tropical timber agreement in London, comparable to those made by the Governments of Belgium, France, Greece, ldonesia, Japan and the Netherlands; and if he will make a statement;(2) whether he will consider making a voluntary contribution to the organisation of the tropical timber agreement headquarters if it agrees to situate itself in London; and if he will make a statement.

No. The Government are not prepared to offer the International Tropical Timber Organisation better arrangements than those which have been made for the international commodity organisations whose head-quarters are already in London.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to respond substantively to the Director General of Fair Trading's report on the re-selling of gas and electricity by landlords before the end of this Session.

The Government are currently considering the Director General's report "Resale of Electricity by Landlords" and will respond as soon as practical.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what were the purposes of the recent visit paid by the Minister for Information Technology to Japan; what progress was achieved; and if he will make a statement.

I visited Japan to attend the British National Day at the Tsukuba science and technology exhibition and to give the keynote speech at a "Britain Means Business" seminar to promote inward investment. In addition, I had meetings with several Japanese Ministers and emphasised our concern that the market should be more accessible to imports.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry further to the answer of 13 June, Official Report, column 499–500, what steps he has taken to satisfy himself that no city firm made allocations of British Telecom shares to individual employees in amounts greater than the limit of 800 shares applied to ordinary investors.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many children under the age of five years in Wales receive nursery education; what were the corresponding figures for the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

The information on pupils aged under five years in maintained nursery schools, for the years 1974 to 1984, is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the civil nuclear power installations that have been (a) decommissioned and (b) completely dismantled; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer which my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, Central (Mr. Moore) gave to the hon. Member for Kilmarnock and Loudoun (Mr. McKelvey) on 31 March 1983 at column 262. There have been no recent developments.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether assurances about Government financial support for the National Coal Board, as set out in his answer of 11 July 1983, Official Report, column 225, to the hon. Member for Tatton, will apply in similar terms to 1985–86.

One fundamental objective of the National Coal Board must be to earn a satisfactory return on its assets in real terms after the payment of social grants. To this end the board is planning to attain break-even on revenue account by 1987–88. In the short term, however, I can confirm that subject to Parliament's approving the necessary provisions, the Government will continue to make available funds to enable the NCB to meet its obligations as they fall due during the board's current financial year to 29 March 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many engineers, technical staff, and so on, were employed in the maintenance of buildings in the year ended March 1975 at the Royal Victoria hospital, Belfast; and how many are currently so employed.

The figures are not available in the form requested. At 31 December 1974, 92 engineers and technical staff were employed in the former north and west Belfast district which included other hospital facilities in addition to the Royal Victoria hospital. The current figure for the Royal Group of Hospitals, which includes the Royal Victoria hospital, is 123.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the extent of additional buildings provided at the Royal Victoria hospital, Belfast, between April 1975 and April 1985, expressed as a percentage of total accommodation.

Seven per cent. However, some 13,000 sq m of additional accommodation have been provided to serve the Royal Victoria hospital, the Royal Belfast hospital for sick children and the Royal maternity hospital which are all located on the Grosvenor road site.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on current provision for children suffering from heart disorders under the National Health Service in Northern Ireland.

Paediatric cardiology is a regional specialty based at the Royal Belfast hospital for sick children. A consultant paediatric cardiologist supported by a registrar in paediatrics provides specialist care for children with heart disorders. Two cardiac surgeons at the Royal Victoria hospital provide cardiac surgery services for children who require heart operations.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will make a statement detailing the resources committed to paediatric cardiology in Northern Ireland;(2) if he will give consideration to proposals to appoint a second paediatric cardiologist to serve the needs of children in Northern Ireland who have heart abnormalities.

The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. My Department, in consultation with the four health and social servies boards, is giving consideration to the proposal that a second paediatric cardiologist should be appointed.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement detailing how many patients are currently being treated or examined by the paediatric cardiologist in Northern Ireland; and how many patients are awaiting such attention.

In 1984, 350 patients received treatment in hospital and 1,442, of whom 242 were new, were examined at outpatients clinics; 162 patients are awaiting such attention.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement detailing the equipment available for use in Northern Ireland by a paediatric cardiologist; and what staff complement would be required to ensure optimum use of this equipment.

A full range of diagnostic equipment is available for paediatric cardiology and is fully utilised.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will place in the Library a copy of the full accounts of the health and social services boards in Northern Ireland for 1983–84, together with copies of the auditors' reports.