asked the Lord Privy Seal if, pursuant to his statement of 12 July, Official Report, column 1451, he can now give more precise figures for the cost of Select Committees.

In 1984–85 the identifiable costs of Select Committees were £600,000. This figure represents the costs of travel within the United Kingdom and abroad by Select Committees; of shorthand writers; witness expenses and salaries for specialist assistants. It does not include elements of expenditure which cannot be isolated, such as the salaries of the Clerks and the costs of using the facilities of the House; nor the compliance costs of Select Committees in Government Departments.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if, pursuant to his statement of 12 July, Official Report, column 1451, he can now give more precise figures for the cost of running Parliament between 1981–82 and 1984–85 and the rate of rise in the retail price index during the same period.

The total identified costs for the Houses of Parliament, rose from £56·2 million in 1981–82 to £77·5 million in 1984–85. This represents a rise of 38 per cent. Between 1981–82 and 1984–85 the retail price index rose by 17·7 per cent.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what plans there are for the use of the former St. Stephen's club; and whether the matter is to be considered by the catering sub-committee.

The former St. Stephen's club at No. 1 Bridge street is one of the buildings being considered by the new building sub-committee of the Select Committee on House of Commons (Services) in its inquiry into the possible use and financing of phase II of the Bridge street development. I understand that discussions are continuing between the new building sub-committee and the property services agency and others, and that the catering sub-committee is being consulted as appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make available financial assistance to rural areas of Wales outside the locations covered by Mid Wales Development on similar lines to that available within that geographical area; and if he will make a statement.

I have no plans to extend the coverage of the financial assistance currently provided by the Development Board for Rural Wales. Areas outside the responsibility of the board will continue to have support from other agencies.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will consider seeking to establish a separate new grant for rural areas in Wales on similar lines to the present urban aid scheme; and if he will make a statement.

I am always ready to consider ways of sustaining the rural economy in Wales and am keeping the position under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will seek to amend the constitution of district health authorities in Wales to ensure that each district council has a representative on the health authority which covers its area.

No. Members appointed by district councils are not intended to be representative of any particular district council as such, but should be appointed by the district councils in each district health authority area with due regard to members' expertise and experience.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has made concerning the non-availability of low-interest European Coal and Steel Community loans for industrial development in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Representations have been made to the Commission of the European Communities about the suspension of new ECSC loans business and I am awaiting the outcome of urgent discussions now in progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how much money has been paid to the Wales Agricultural Organisation Society in each of the last five years.

Grants paid to the Welsh Agricultural Organisation Society in each of the past five years are listed. Currently these funds represent about 40 per cent. of the society's total expenditure, the remainder coming from members' subscriptions, fees and miscellaneous income.

Year ended 31 March	£
1980–81	76,020
1981–82	85,776
1982–83	96,000
1983–84	85,000
1984–85	89,250

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publ ish a table showing the numbers of inpatients, day cases and outpatients attendances in Wales in 1978 and 1984, together with the percentage change.

The information is as follows:

	Numbers		Percentage change
	1978	1984	1978–1984
In-patient cases	349,628	412,866	+18
Day cases	27,030	35,934	+33
Out-patient attendances	1,761,693	2,130,709	+21

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the percentage change in the number of patients accepted for heart bypass operations in Wales between 1978 and 1984.

The number of heart bypass operations carried out in Wales increased by 154 per cent. between 1978 and 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the percentage change in the number of new patients accepted for kidney failure treatment in Wales between 1978 and 1984.

The number of new patients accepted for all types of treatment of end-stage renal failure in Wales has increased by 110 per cent. between 1978 and 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the percentage change in the number of perinatal deaths in Wales between 1978 and 1984.

The information is as follows:

Number of perinatal deaths		Percentage change
1978	1984	1978–1984
566	380	-33

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing the numbers of (a) consultants in acute and supporting specialties, (b) consultant paediatricians, (c) geriatric nurses, (d) mental illness/handicap nurses and (e) hospital midwives in Wales in 1978 and 1984, or the latest available year, together with the percentage change.

The information is as follows:

	1978	1984	Percentage change
Number of consultants in acute and supporting specialties (wte)*	502·8	555·0	+10
Number of consultant paediatricians (wte)*	26·7	29·8	+12

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the numbers of doctors, dentists, health visitors, district nurses and midwives in Wales in 1978 and 1984 and the percentage change in their numbers.

The information is as follows:

	1978	1984	Percentage change 1978–1984
General Medical practitioners (number)	1,418	1,661	+17
General dental practitioners (number)	598	714	+19
Health visitors (wte)	475	587	+24
District nurses and midwives (wte)*	1,273	1,533	+20
* Does not take into account the fact that the working week changed from 40 hours to 37½ hours in 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the numbers of home helps in Wales in 1978 and 1984, and the percentage change in their numbers.

There were 3,463 home helps in Wales in 1984, and increase of 20 per cent. on the figure of 2,894 in 1978. The numbers are both expressed in terms of whole-time equivalents.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give figures for the overall growth in funding of district health authorities in Wales, between 1979–80 and 1985–86 in financial and in percentage terms.

Between 1979–80 and 1985–86 the growth funds available to health authorities in Wales was £87·8 million or 16·3 per cent. after taking into account changes in pay and prices in the NHS.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what control will be exercised over capital receipts from the privatisation sales of municipal airports.

Under existing legislation capital receipts cannot be used to finance current expenditure. For capital expenditure, the Secretary of State for the Environment prescribed a proportion of receipts that may be added to each authority's annual allocation. For 1985–86 the proportion is 30 per cent. for all receipts other than for housing. The remainder can be used for financing expenditure within the allocation, subject to 10 per cent. virement between years. The Government is at present considering how the current system should be improved.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce legislation to make proof of ownership of a car registration necessary before a number plate is produced.

Such legislation would be very difficult to enforce in present circumstances. However my Department is reviewing with the British Standards Institute the possible inclusion of number plates in a kite mark scheme, as a basis for tightening control of the sale of plates.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when the shipping economics advisory group study on the availability of merchant shipping for a defence role will be complete.

I have arranged for a copy to be placed in the Library today. For reasons of confidentiality, at a few points in the copy information has been consolidated.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to issue any indication of his policy regarding the size of Government subsidies to passenger transport joint boards and the account he is taking of the implications of the level of Government financial support for fare levels in the light of the enactment of the Local Government Act 1985; and if he will make a statement.

Policy on subsidies to public transport services in the metropolitan counties, including policy on fare levels, will from 1 April 1986 be the responsibility of the new passenger transport authorities established under the Local Government Act 1985. These authorities will be eligible for Government grants, including rate support grant. I have made clear on many occasions my view that present levels of revenue support to public transport services in the metropolitan areas are excessive, and in May my Department issued advice to the passenger transport executives that they should plan on the assumption that the level of revenue support for 1986–87 will be between five per cent. and 15 per cent. in cash terms below the protected expenditure level set for 1985–86. For their first three financial years the new authorities will be subject to precept control under the Rates Act 1984. Expenditure levels under the provisions of that Act will be determined as soon as the authorities are constituted.

asked the Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has as to how many new fishing vessels have been registered in (a) Grimsby, (b) Hull, (c) Fleetwood, (d) Aberdeen and (e) Peterhead since 1 January 1983.

The number of commercial fishing vessels (over 10 metres in length) either newly built or new to the United Kingdom fleet and registered since 1 January 1983 are as follows:

	Number
Grimsby	1
Hull	3
Fleetwood	1
Aberdeen	9
Peterhead	10

In addition, a number of vessels have been transferred from ports elsewhere in the United Kingdom since 1 January 1983 and reregistered at these ports. The numbers (of over 10 metre vessels) are as follows:

	Number
Grimsby	3
Hull	0
Fleetwood	*8
Aberdeen	12
Peterhead	9
* Four of the 8 Fleetwood vessels are no longer fishing or have since been sold elsewhere.

Finally, vessels may be transferred to ports and be based there but are not reregistered, e.g. there are eight such vessels at Fleetwood. No meaningful information is available for under 10 metre vessels.

asked the Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will authorise fisheries inspectors to compare the grading of fish coming to Grimsby onshore from Scotland and Ireland with that locally landed.

Responsibility for grading fresh and chilled fish to EC standards lies with the industry. As part of the advisory and supervisory role of the fisheries inspectorate, the chief inspector is currently engaged on an examination of grading performance at Grimsby and a number of other ports.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the location of the 145 intervention stores in England and Scotland which were referred to by the hon. Member for South Norfolk in his reply of 1 July, Official Report, column 30; and what uses other than animal feed is made of the wheat.

Wheat is now held in 146 intervention stores at the following locations in England and Scotland. Wheat has a number of uses. Unless covered by special arrangemens, there would be no restriction on the use of wheat sold from intervention.

List of Wheat Stores in the United Kingdom
Abingdon (2)	Locharbriggs
Ancaster	London
Avonmouth	Luton
Aylesbury	Lutterworth
Banbury	Lympne
Barrow-on-Humber	Maldon (2)
Bicester	Manby
Birkenhead	Market Harborough
Boroughbridge	Melmerby
Boston	Membury
Braintree (2)	Methwold
Bressingham	Misson
Bury St. Edmunds (2)	Mistley
Christchurch	Navenby
Clopton	Newcastle
Colsterworth	Newmarket
Coventry	Normanton
Dagenham	Ormiston
Diss	Pebmarsh
Doncaster (2)	Pocklington
Downham Market	Prees Heath
Driffield (2)	Raydon
Droitwich	Ringwood
Dudley	Roydon
Duns	Royston (2)
Essingwold	Salisbury (2)
Elsworth	Sawston
Ely (2)	Scunthorpe
Felixstowe (2)	Skegness
Finmore	Sleaford
Ford	Snetterton
Foulsham	Soham
Fulbourn	South Wigston
Gainsborough (2)	St. Ives
Gateshead	Stoke Ferry
Glenrothes	Stowmarket (2)
Gloucester	Streatham
Grantham (2)	Sudbury (2)
Grateley	Swaffham
Grimsby	Swinderby
Hadleigh	Swindon
Hadstock	Tadcaster
Halesworth	Tangmere
Halstead	Thorne
Haresfield	Tuxford
Hartlebury (2)	Ulceby
Hatfield	Uttoxeter
Hayes	Walsingham
Heighington	Wellingborough
Hemswell	Wells
Heybridge	Westbury
Horncastle	West Hallam
Hull (3)	West Wratting
Huntington	Whittlesford
Immingham	Wimblington (2)
Ingham	Wingham
Kings Lynn (2)	Wisbech
Kirkcaldy	Witham
Kirton Lindsey	Wroughton
Lincoln (2)	York (2)
Linton

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now make a further statement on the efficiency study of the Veterinary Investigation Service.

In my statement of 15 April on this study I announced a period of consultation with outside interests. That period is now at an end and I am studying the points made to me. I will also shortly be receiving the cost appraisals I referred to. I will make a comprehensive statement as soon as possible after the summer recess. In the meantime, however, I confirm the planned closure of Liverpool VI centre and the transfer of the work from there to the new centre at Barton Hall, Preston, once this is completed and becomes operational, which is expected to be about the end of September.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is now able to make the further statement on the recommendations contained in Professor Bell's report of a study of the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service promised in the answer to the hon. Member for Sherwood on 24 May, Official Report, column 582.

When I announced on 13 November column 164 the report by the new Director General of the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service, I said that I endorsed the conclusion that in principle it was entirely appropriate that farmers and others in the industry who avail themselves of the services of ADAS should contribute to their costs. I have also made it clear that the Government plan to reduce the net cost of ADAS advisory and statutory services by about £16·5 million in the financial year 1987–88. In my original statement on Professor Bell's report, I said that I was proceeding to a detailed examination of what would be involved in the implementation of his recommendations. One of those recommendations was that consideration should be given to the possibilities of charging users for part or all of any service (including work under statutory schemes) where there is an identifiable benefit to the customer. Following detailed consideration of that recommendation I am now ready to initiate discussions with the industry about the overall scope for raising revenue for advisory and statutory work and the areas in which it might be raised.So far as advisory work is concerned I envisage a mixture of types of charge and types of advisory provision. These would include fees or subscriptions for specified ranges of advice, and specific charges for other services both to individuals and organisations and to groups of farmers acting in association. Statutory work makes up over one third of the work of ADAS. In this context I wish to explore charging possibilities in areas within which ADAS undertakes work in pursuit of animal, plant and public health and standards objectives.In addition to revenue from charging, savings in ADAS manpower will also contribute to the reduction in the net cost of ADAS to which I refer above. But the extent of these savings and hence the resulting range of services which ADAS will be able to provide must depend on the response of the industry both to charging for advice and the proposed extension of charging for statutory work. Moreover, it is clear that services to be charged for should be carried out as efficiently and economically as possible. Taking into account the useful results of various studies of areas of ADAS activity I have commissioned in recent years, I intend to see what additional savings and improvements in efficiency can be made.Consultations with industry are already in progress on the funding of research and development work undertaken within ADAS and by other research organisations. ADAS research and development resources will also be available for contract work. The quality of the work of ADAS research and development establishments will in future be subject to review by independent visiting groups.To help ADAS meet the new challenges that face it, I intend to constitute a management board, which, under the chairmanship of the Director General, will consist of the four heads of services, the newly created director of ADAS administration, a representative from Wales and three outside members who, I hope, will between them have experience in the areas of marketing, information technology, the farming industry and industrial research and development. In addition, a marketing officer for ADAS will be appointed at a senior level who will have access to outside expertise.

asked the Attorney-General what were the costs of the prosecution for the Doncaster coal house riot trial held at the Sheffield crown court; and if he will make a statement.

The costs of the prosecution in this case are to be paid from central funds and are subject to taxation by the appropriate officer of the court. The costs awarded will be such sums as appear to the officer reasonably sufficient to compensate the prosecutor for the expenses properly incurred by him in carrying on the proceedings. This process of taxation has not yet begun.

asked the Attorney-General what were the costs of the prosecution for the Orgreave riot trial held at the Sheffield crown court; and if he will make a statement.

The costs of the prosecution in R v. Greenaway and others are to be paid from central funds and are subject to taxation by the appropriate officer of the court. The costs awarded will be such sums as appear to the officer reasonably sufficient to compensate the prosecutor for the expenses properly incurred by him in carrying on the proceedings. The process of taxation has not yet begun.

asked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts whether the Minister for the Arts will request the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art so to arrange its timetable that its report covering the year ended 30 June is made available to the public not later than nine months after the conclusion of the 12-month period reported upon.

The aim each year is to publish the report of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art as soon as possible after the end of the period covered. Exceptionally heavy case loads in two consecutive years resulted in delay in the publication of the 1983–84 report. It is hoped to achieve publication of the 1984–85 report within the period stated by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how staff of private security companies are vetted when working for Government Departments.

It is the responsibility of individual Government Departments to ensure the suitability of any private company and its employees for work on their behalf. It would not be appropriate to give details of the steps taken to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to increase competition in the professions; and if he will make a statement.

Competition in the professions, as elsewhere, can be a powerful force for protecting the interests of consumers by encouraging greater efficiency and the provision of better service, lower prices and wider choice. The Government have already done much to relax restrictions in the professions. For example, we have ended the optician's monopoly on the dispensing of spectacles; legislation has been brought forward this Session to allow licensed conveyancers to compete with solicitors for conveyancing work; and restrictions on fee scales and advertising imposed by a number of professional bodies on their members, including architects and surveyors, solicitors, accountants, stockbrokers, opticians and vets, have been relaxed.These measures have been taken after careful assessment of the nature and effect of the restrictions involved, in most cases by the Director General of Fair Trading or the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. I propose to continue this process of scrutiny of restrictions in the professions with a view to establishing whether further relaxations would now be justified.There remain a number of professional bodies which continue to impose restrictions on advertising by their members. Although mandatory fee scales appear no longer to be in use, some professional bodies recommend what level of fees their members should charge. This practice, taken together with other restrictions such as on advertising, may have much the same effect as a mandatory scale. There are also some restrictions on the legal form of business through which a member of a profession may practise; and the practice of some professions is restricted by statute to registered practitioners. The origin of these restrictions was no doubt a concern to safeguard the interests of the public. But any restrictions on competition need to be reviewed from time to time to see whether they remain appropriate to changing circumstances.I have therefore consulted the Director General of Fair Trading about a programme of work which his office might conduct over the next 12 months. We have agreed that this programme should include:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, further to his answer of 5 July, if he will list the factors which have caused the relative profitability of exports to increase since 1978 despite a 25 per cent. increase in relative unit labour costs; and if he will make a statement regarding the criteria which determined his use of relative profitability as a measure of competitiveness.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade gave on 16 July regarding the relationship between relative unit labour costs and the relative profitability of exports. While the latter is not a direct measure of international competitiveness in the same way as the former, it is a useful indicator of the economic background to our export performance.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, further to his written reply dated 5 July concerning trade of the United Kingdom in Germany, to what factors he attributes the fact that (a) the EC share of United Kingdom exports has not increased over the six-year period and (b) the EC share of imports has increased.

There were no large changes in the EC share of United Kingdom exports and imports of manufactures between the first quarters of 1979 and 1985. The figures, consistent with the previous answer, are in the table.

European Community share of United Kingdom exports and imports of manufactures*
Percentage
	Exports	Imports
Q1/1979	40	52
Q1/1985	39	51
* Standard International Trade Classification, sections 5 to 8.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing, at an annual rate, the value of imports and exports of consumer goods since September 1981 together with the unit values and volume indices with the unit values from 1970 to 1980.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the value of British exports to Argentina in 1980–81 and 1981–82 measured in fixed prices; and what was the equivalent value of Argentine imports for each of the same years.

The value of United Kingdom exports and imports measured in fixed prices is not available. In the period April 1980 to March 1981, United Kingdom exports in current prices were valued at £155 million and United Kingdom imports at £145 million.Figures for the corresponding period in 1981–1982 were £105 million and £175 million, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the total volume of steel imported from the European Economic Community and from the rest of the world, respectively, in the most recent annual period for which figures are available and in each of the previous nine years.

The following is the information:

Tonnage of United Kingdom imports (including conversion material) of steel industry products
'000 tonnes
	From European Community	From rest of world
1976	2,590	1,498
1977	2,345	1,373
1978	2,231	1,441
1979	2,347	1,437
1980*	3,059	1,561
1981	2,515	800
1982	2,615	1,221

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the percentage reduction in steel capacity in the United Kingdom and each of the member states of the European Economic Community since the beginning of 1979.

The following is the available information:

Production potential of steel in Europian Community
	1979 million tonnes	1983 million tonnes	Percentage change 1979 to 1983
Belgium	19·7	17·0	-14
Denmark	1·2	0·9	-25
France	32·0	28·8	-10
Greece	*	4·0	*
Ireland	0·1	0·3	*†
Italy	37·0	39·6	+7
Luxembourg	7·3	6·4	-12
Netherlands	8·4	8·0	-5
United Kingdom	28·9	24·5	-15
West Germany	68·8	61·4	-11
* Not available.
†Precise percentage change for Ireland cannot be provided from these figures.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has received British Shipbuilders annual report and accounts for 1984–85.

In accordance with sections 17(9) and 18(6) of the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Act 1977, my right hon. Friend will tomorrow lay before each House copies of British Shipbuilders' annual report and accounts for 1984–85.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to ensure the supply of software to schools; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. As a result of this Government's policies we have a more highly developed use of computers in the United Kingdom than any other comparable country.The Government wish to maintain the momentum created and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science is announcing today a new programme for England, Wales and Northern Ireland to replace the microelectronics education programme after March 1986.My Department intends to contine its support for the education system in this field. In particular we need to ensure that hardware already installed is supported by an adequate supply of educational software. We have decided, therefore, to provide additional help in this area during the current financial year, 1986–87 and 1987–88. Accordingly, sums of £0·5 million, £2 million and £1 million have been set aside in each of the three financial years concerned for local education authorities and independent secondary schools. The purpose of this support is to enable the education system to buy more educational software from the commercial sector. The scheme will apply throughout the United Kingdom. It represents support for the consumer rather than the producer and local education authorities will be free to make their own decisions about which software to buy.I regard this as significant support by the Government for both the education system and educational software suppliers which will help schools to make full use of their existing investment in hardware. I hope that as a result of this support, software houses and educational publishers will recognise the determination of the Government to maintain the British lead in this area and that they will consider further investment in education software accordingly. The scheme should also provide a solid base in the United Kingdom from which our companies can take advantage of export opporturnties.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will institute an inquiry under the Companies Acts into the activities of Sumrie Clothes plc, Leeds; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 22 July 1985]: I am considering whether any action by my Department should be taken in respect of alleged breaches of the Companies Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to seek to stop moves by local authorities to dispose of their mortgages en-bloc to institutions in order to circumvent limits on capital expenditure.

Local authorities have normally retained mortgages until they have been redeemed by the individual borrower in the same way as private sector lenders such as the building societies and the banks. Last autumn, however, I welcomed the initiative which a number of local authorities and new town corporations were taking to speed up this process by arranging for building societies to offer replacement loans to the authority's borrowers individually enabling them to pay off their council mortgages. The borrower is free to decide whether or not to enter into a new mortgage contract with the building society, which may offer better terms. And the local authority gets the advantage of an earlier capital receipt.Recently, however, some authorities have packaged their mortgage loans and sold them direct to financial institutions, without consulting the borrowers, in order to generate in a short time large blocks of additional capital receipts. This is an artificial transaction and should not count as an addition to capital receipts. Moreover, the borrower may have no say in the matter, and may be unaware of the transaction until after the event. We believe that local authorities should not sell a mortgage without the prior consent of the mortgagor.Accordingly, the Government propose to legislate at the earliest opportunity to give home owners with a local authority mortgage the right to decide whether or not the local authority may dispose of its interest to a specified purchaser. A transfer without consent would be invalid. In order to give interim protection to such mortgagors, our intention is that the legislation conferring this right should have retrospective effect as from midnight tonight.We shall also consider whether the borrower's consent should be required before a local authority sells a mortgage of industrial or commercial property; we shall consult on this.Some sales of mortgages have taken place on terms which may leave the local authority with a continuing financial risk in relation to the mortgage. Such transactions are, in substance, the equivalent of expensive borrowing rather than a genuine disposal of assets.Subject to further consideration and consultation on the practicalities, we intend to legislate to require that any sale of a mortgage should provide for the transfer of risk to the purchaser, if it is to be treated as a capital receipt; but any requirement of this kind would not have effect from today.My Department is writing today to local authorities and other interested organisations to draw this announcement to their attention, and to consult on the details of the proposal. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales is writing in similar terms to Welsh local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the implementation of the European Community directive on the "Quality of Water Intended for Human Consumption", 80/778/EEC.

The EC directive on the "Quality of Water Intended for Human Consumption" was notified to member Governments on 17 July 1980. They were required to comply with it within five years.The directive lays down standards for concentrations of chemical, toxic or microbiological material present in drinking water; and for its other qualities. It allows member states, in defined circumstances, to authorise departures from some of these standards, by granting derogations, provided that these do not constitute a public health hazard (article 9). It also provides for member states to obtain the agreement of the Commission to an extended period within which to achieve the directive's standards by means of a timetabled programme of action (article 20).In order to implement the directive, water authorities and water companies were asked in August 1982 to review their water supplies in the light of the directive's standards. Ninety per cent. of public water supplies meet the directive's standards in all respects. The Department has considered 350 applications in respect of parameters in particular water supply zones in conjunction with medical officers of the Department of Health and Social Security.In the coming weeks, the Government will take the following action:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the major sources of pollution of the Mersey with percentages, their location and the substance that is discharged.

Responsibility for the control of pollution in the River Mersey lies with the North West water authority and comprehensive information is not held by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any present plans to visit Thamesmead.

I plan to visit Thamesmead again on 1 August and will meet representatives of the Thamesmead Community Association.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the answers of 7 May, Official Report, column 299 and 10 July, Official Report, column 479, if he will make a statement on the delay in the publication of the report of the North-East Hampshire structure plan, and give a date for its eventual publication.

Publication of the report of the examination in public of the proposed alteration to the North-East Hampshire structure plan has been awaiting completion of full consideration of all the recommendations in the report and all the objections and representations. The report will be published shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the expected level of investment in public sector house building in each of the next three years, expressed in both cash and real terms using 1985 as a base year, and for private house building over the same period.

The White Paper on the Government's "Public Expenditure Plans 1985–86 to 1987–88" (Cmnd. 9428) shows gross capital expenditure on housing as:

	million
1985–86	3,051
1986–87	3,120
1987–88	3,150

The equivalent figures in real terms at 1985–86 prices are:

	million
1985–86	3,051
1986–87	2,995
1987–88	2,911

No plans have been published for 1988–89. My Department makes no forecast of what proportion of this planned expenditure will be used for house building, nor does it make any forecast of investment in private house building.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environmet if he will publish a list showing the physical, chemical and radioactive nature of the types of waste likely to arise in decommissioning a typical Magnox nuclear power station, distinguishing each stage of decommissioning and, for each type of waste, stating, (a) the approximate volume arising, (b) the approximate specific activity and (c) the approximate radioactive half-life.

The information requested is to be found in the Central Electricity Generating Board report entitled "Proposals for Decommissioning Magnox Nuclear Power Stations", a copy of which will shortly be available in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the OfficialReport the average cost of rate fund contribution and main housing subsidy for each occupied council house in England at the latest available date.

The available information for local authorities in England for 1984–85 is as follows. The figures are based on estimates provided by local authorities in their housing subsidy claim forms for the year, and allow for an estimated national average of 2·3 per cent. vacant dwellings.

	£
Main housing subsidy per occupied dwelling Rate fund contribution per occupied dwelling	38
(Net of transfers from housing revenue account to general rate fund)	94

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how his Department has responded to the United Nations international year of shelter for the homeless, 1987.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, North-West (Mr. Malins) on 18 July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received advocating the amendment of the Land Compensation Act 1973 so as to create a statutory right for householders affected by oil and gas-related activities to claim compensation; and if he will make a statement.

In addition to my hon. Friend's recent letter on this subject, my hon. Friend the Member for Wealden (Sir G. Johnson Smith) has also raised this issue with me. I see no reason why oil and gas operations should be made the only form of private sector development subject to statutory compensation under the Land Compensation Act 1973. I shall be writing to my hon. Friend shortly to explain why.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he plans to issue any guidance to staff of the metropolitan councils about their future job prospects in the light of the enactment of the Local Government Act 1985; and if he will make a statement.

I have no present plans to add to the guidance to staff contained in the paper entitled "Abolition of the GLC and MCCs, Arrangements for Staffing the New Structure", issued in November 1984. But the "Guidance Note to Metropolitan District Councils", which my Department issued on 16 July, reminds successor authorities of their duties under the Local Government Act 1985 and the need to take early steps, within procedures laid down by the Staff Commission, to make offers of jobs to staff they will need to meet their new or enhanced responsibilities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he intends to take to establish satisfactory severance terms for those employees of the South Yorkshire county council who may be adversely affected by the Local Government Act 1985; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend will, after consultations with interested bodies, make regulations under section 24 of the Superannuation Act 1972 to provide for compensation to any local authority employee who may suffer loss of employment in consequence of any provision made by or under the Local Government Act 1985. The compensation terms will combine fairness to the staff concerned with fairness to the ratepayers who will bear the costs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in the light of the various changes made in the passage of the Local Government Bill, and in particular those relating to funding voluntary organisations, he will now revise the estimated savings expected to arise in the metropolitan counties; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, when he next meets chairmen of the south west water authorities, he will raise with them the accuracy of information being disseminated by water authorities concerning the possible effects of privatisation; and if he will make a statement.

The South West water authority's views on privatisation are contained in its response to my Department's discussion paper. This has been placed in the Library of the House, together with memoranda received from other water authorities, the Water Authorities Association, and the Water Companies Association. South West raises a number of points which will need to be considered, if privatisation goes ahead, but, like the Water Authorities Association, makes no recommendation for or against privatisation. The Government are considering the responses they have received in the context of their own examination of the prospects for privatisation in the water industry. If our study of the issues brings to light any points that need to be taken up further with the water authorities, we shall certainly pursue them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now make a statement arising from the deputation seen by officials on 18 July on what action is to be taken to ensure that the Walsall council has sufficient resources to undertake the modernisation of Rosehill estate, Willenhall.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give an assurance that rate support grant will continue to be paid to Liverpool city council at the same level as that paid during the first three months of the current financial year.

No. Following the House's approval of the Rate Support Grant Supplementary Report for 1985–86, the city council will, from 7 August, be paid grant based on the budget of £265 million included in its resolution of 14 June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make arrangements to meet a delegation from Liverpool city council to discuss questions such as disregards, capital and partnership allocations; and if he will make a statement.

As I indicated to the hon. Member when I met him and other hon. Members for Liverpool on 15 July, I do not believe that at the moment there are any grounds for my meeting a delegation from Liverpool city council. But I shall of course consider carefully any written representations the city council wishes to make.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities received allocations under the traditional urban programme for each year since 1978–79.

The information is as follows:

	Authorities receiving main phase approvals Number
1978–79	88
1979–80	119
1980–81	111
1981–82	145
1982–83	167
1983–84	163
1984–85	134
1985–86	106

The total for 1978–79 and 1979–80 includes allocations to nine partnership and 15 programme authorities which in later years became ineligible for approvals through the traditional urban programme. A further eight authorities became ineligible in 1984–85 following their promotion to programme authority status.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what changes he proposes for the traditional urban programme for 1986–87; and if he will make a statement.

The limited resources available under the traditional urban programme will continue to be concentrated on fewer authorities. In these circumstances, my right hon. Friend does not consider that it is any longer appropriate to issue a general circular inviting new bids. Instead, we will be putting to the local authority associations proposals for issuing invitations to specific local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he proposes to make any changes in the housing factor E7 used in calculating grant-related expenditure allocation.

Proposals for changes to the assessment of the E7 GRE component for 1986–87 have come forward in this year's round of consultations with the local authorities on GRE development. No decisions on any options have yet been taken. My right hon. Friend will be considering all the possibilities shortly, and will announce his decisions in due course, as part of the RSG settlement for 1986–87.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made with the study of the best practicable environmental options for radioactive wastes following the Halliday report; and if he will make a statement.

An interim report has been produced on methodology and data, and I have today placed copies in the Library of the House. The overall purpose of the study is to consider disposal and storage options for low and intermediate-level wastes which would be individually acceptable in terms of radiation exposure, and compare them to establish their relative merits for any given type of waste. The interim report on methodology and data summarises work undertaken in the first phase of the study, and will enable my Department to review the approaches and models adopted, in consultations with the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee, the Trades Union Congress and others concerned, and identify issues which need further consideration before preparing the final report of the study, which is due for completion by the end of the year. No clear conclusions emerge at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many permanent local residents were employed in the construction of the Falklands Islands airport; and what was the total number employed in the construction of the airport.

[pursuant to his reply, 22 July 1985]: The Falkland islands Government have made it clear that the local labour force is so limited that any significant recruitment by PSA contractors could prejudice Government services. The PSA has therefore instructed its contractors to consult the Falkland Islands Government before recruiting local workers. At present the Laing-Mowlem-Amey Roadstone Construction joint venture are employing one Falkland islander on the Mount Pleasant airport project. There are currently 2,000 other contractors' employees engaged on the project. In accordance with United Kingdom policy, these workers have been recruited in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the housing investment programme allocation made to the city of Manchester for 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85 and 1985–86 at constant prices.

[pursuant to his reply, 22 July 1985]: The final housing investment programme allocations made to the city of Manchester in each of the years in question, at constant 1984–85 prices, are as follows.

	£ million
1982–83	58·439
1983–84	46·643
1984–85	40·499
1985–86	34·498

In addition, local authorities are able to supplement their allocations by the prescribed proportion of any capital receipts which they generate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the final review report of the Police Complaints Board.

The report is published today.On behalf of the Government, I wish to record my thanks to Sir Cyril Philips and his colleagues and their predecessors on the board for their work since June 1977. The board made a major contribution to the task of maintaining and developing public confidence in the police during those years, and it paved the way for the new developments in regard to police complaints of which the creation of the Police Complaints Authority is the major element. The board has provided an excellent foundation on which the new authority can build.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is yet able to announce the conclusions of his review of the disclosure of information on the criminal background of those seeking positions which would give them substantial access to children; and if he will make a statement.

I have received the first report of the review, a copy of which has been placed in the Library. The report recommends a wide extension of the arrangements for checking the criminal background of those seeking to work with children and improvements in the arrangements for reporting convictions for offences committed after engagement. The proposed scheme would apply in the first instance to those seeking to work in the statutory sector, whether on a paid or voluntary basis, arid would enable senior nominated staff of the relevant statutory bodies to make thorough checks on any criminal record through local police forces. Applicants would be asked to disclose in advance any convictions or cautions recorded against them, and to agree in writing to the check being made.I welcome the proposals in the report, which provide a valuable basis for improving the protection of children. My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Health and Social Services, for Education and Science and for Wales and I will now hold urgent consultations with interested organisations, with a view to bringing new arrangements into early effect. My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Northern Ireland will also be considering what implications the report may have for their own disclosure arrangements.While these consultations are taking place, the review will proceed to consider what checking arrangements might suitably be introduced to cover those working in the voluntary sector, with the aim of submitting a second report before the end of the year.The new arrangements will be on a non-statutory basis, but I am confident that they can be made to work effectively for the benefit of the children they are designed to protect, while at the same time providing appropriate safeguards for those who will be the subject of checks. But I should be willing to consider introducing legislation if experience shows that it is required.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the review of the Fire Precautions Act 1971 has been completed.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have today published a consultative document entitled "A Review of the Fire Precautions Act 1971". The document embodies proposals, formulated over several years within the machinery of the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Councils for England and Wales and for Scotland, for a modified system of fire precautions controls which would replace the fire certification arrangements of the current system with a statutory duty on the owners-occupiers of premises put to a designated use to achieve and maintain a reasonable standard of fire safety. We are most grateful to the organisations represented on the CFBACs for helping to bring this work to a successful conclusion in the publication of this document. I should, however, emphasise that the proposals in no sense represent final conclusions and my right hon. Friend and I will want to consider them again in the light of comments which are made on them. I have in particular, invited Mr. Justice Popplewell to consider the proposals in the context of his inquiry into the operation of the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 following the Bradford fire, so that any relevant conclusions can be taken into account.Copies of the consultative document, on which written comments are invited by 31 December 1985, are being sent to fire authorities and to other interested bodies and individuals, and copies have also been placed in the Library of the House. Further copies can be obtained on request in writing to the Home Office Fire and Emergency Planning Department, Room 916, Home Office, 50 Queen Anne's Gate, London SW1H 9AT.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the arrangements for the release into the community from hospital of prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment who are subsequently transferred to and remain in hospital under the provisions of section 47 of the Mental Health Act 1983.

When life sentence prisoners transferred to hospital under the Mental Health Act 1983 are to be released, it has hitherto been the practice to discharge such persons on a warrant of conditional discharge under section 42(3) of the Act. I now intend to use the powers available to me under section 50(1)(b) of the Act, which enables me to release such persons under the same arrangements as those they would have been subject to had they remained in, or been returned to, prison. This means that, in future, such persons will normally be released on life licences under the provisions of section 61 of the Criminal Justice Act 1967, in accordance with the sentencing courts' intention, that is, on the recommendation of the Parole Board and after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice and, if available, the trial judge. In exceptional cases, where the Lord Chief Justice and the trial judge so recommend, I will be prepared to consider whether it would be more appropriate to authorise discharge under section 42(3) of the 1983 Act.Under the new procedure, a life sentence prisoner who has been transferred to hospital, can be released on life licence without having to return to prison before release. Persons released on life licence under these arrangements will be subject to recall to prison under the provisions of section 62 of the 1967 Act. Should their mental condition be such that they are recommended for transfer to hospital this could very quickly be effected under the provisions of section 47 of the 1983 Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were detained in prison department establishments under Immigration Act powers during 1984 following completion of a custodial sentence.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish records of those detained under Immigration Act powers on a regular basis.

Figures of detention orders served under paragraph 2 of schedule 3 to the Immigration Act 1971 and of illegal entrants detained are already regularly published in "Control of Immigration: Statistics" and information on persons received into prison under the powers of the Immigration Act 1971 is likewise already published in "Prison Statistics". The collection of information on the numbers of persons detained under Immigration Act powers has been recently extended and the question of whether and in what form further information should be published is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what percentage of (a) male and (b) female adult prisoners discharged during 1981 were reconvicted within two years;(2) what percentage of

The latest readily available information relates to persons convicted within two year of discharge from prison department establishments in 1980 and is published in tables 8(b) and 8(e) of "Prison Statistics, England and Wales, 1983" (Cmnd. 9363). Similar information for persons discharged in 1981 will be published soon in the volume for 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many complaints have been registered against the police in connection with the operation at Stonehenge on 1 June;(2) whether any police officers have been disciplined as a result of police action at Stonehenge on 1 June.

The present position is that 12 formal complaints relating to police action at Cholderton on 1 June are being investigated by a senior officer from Surrey in accordance with the procedures laid down in part 9 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. The Police Complaints Authority has been notified and is supervising the investigation. One further complaint is no longer being pursued by the complainant.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the record of thefts from licensed owners of (a) shotguns, (b) rifles and (c) hand guns, in England and Wales, and in Scotland, in each of the last five years.

The available information relates to England and Wales and is given in the table. The

Persons proceeded against in magistrates' courts and found guilty at all courts of offence under the production of children Act 1978
England and Wales	Number of persons
Year	Proceeded against in magistrates' courts			Found guilty in all courts
	Principal offence		Non-principal offence	Principal offence		Non-principal offence
	Total	Of which only offence		Total	Of which only offence
1979	6	4	14	2	1	6
1980	7	5	33	15	1	27
1981	11	6	30	14	5	35
1982	9	*	*	12	*	*
1983	12	*	*	12	*	*
* Not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he intends to take to ensure that questioning procedures with regard to visitors arriving in the United Kingdom from the Indian subcontinent are made more efficient and that refreshment facilities are provided at more regular intervals; and what plans he has to increase the number of immigration officers at

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria he uses in determining whether an applicant who has proved his status as a British subject but who is not a British national under the terms of the British Nationality Act 1981 should be issued with a passport; and if he will make a statement.

A British passport describing the holder as a British subject may be issued only to an applicant who produces satisfactory evidence that he has the status of a British subject within the meaning of part IV of the British Nationality Act 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been brought against persons charged only with offences under the Protection of Children Act 1978 in each full year since July 1978; and what were the corresponding numbers of convictions.

The information available to me, which may be incomplete, is given in the following table. Corresponding information for 1984 is not yet available.Heathrow and other airports to receive and question such visitors in order to reduce the work load of the present number already employed there.

Immigration service staff are deployed in a way that is designed to enable the majority of passengers to pass through the control in the shortest practicable time. But at peak arrival periods, particularly in the early mornings at Heathrow, terminal 3, the simultaneous arrival of large numbers of passengers is bound to lead to delays. We try to keep these to a minimum, but there are limits to the extent for which we can employ staff just to deal with this peak demand.A small minority of passengers have to be referred for secondary examination and the substantial growth of passenger traffic this year has contributed to an increase in their numbers. Where further examination is necessary, priority is given to the elderly and those with young children. Cases requiring additional interviews can be transferred to the port or airport nearest to the sponsor's home.The refreshment facilities are satisfactory at the detention units at Harmondsworth and Queen's Building, Heathrow. Drinks and light refreshments are available in the secondary examination area at Heathrow, terminal 3, but I am aware that there have been some recent difficulties at times of pressure and the present arrangements are being reviewed.The availability of immigration service staff including interpreters to meet peak demands is kept under constant review and staff are redeployed between ports in the light of variations of traffic.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will provide a breakdown by London borough of charges brought and type of charge laid against persons in relation to racial attacks and racial harassment for 1984 and the first six months of 1985;(2) if he will provide a breakdown by London borough of the conviction rate for charges brought against persons for racist attacks and racial harassment.

The information requested is not collated in the form requested. The number of reported racial incidents in all Metropolitan police districts which resulted in arrests was 197 for 1984 and 113 in the first six months of 1985.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a breakdown, by London borough, of cases of racial attack and racial harassment for the first six months of 1985.

Statistics on racial incidents are not kept on a borough basis. The figures for reported racial incidents in the Metropolitan police area by district from 1 January 1985 to 30 June 1985 are given in the table:

District	1 January 1985 to 30 June 1985
A	1
B	3
C	1
D	1
E	22
F	4
G	15
H	111
I	0
J	40
K	68
L	24
M	6
N	16
P	13
Q	108
R	44
S	19
T	34

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for reports from all chief constables as to the progress of implementation of the recommendations in the 1983 report entitled "Police Service: Civilianisation and Related Matters" and as to the cost savings so far achieved through the substitution of civilians for police officers in certain aspects of police work.

No. This report was prepared by the former Audit Inspectorate of the Department of the Environment (now Audit Commission). Its report recognised, as we do, that civilianisation cannot be considered in cost terms alone. Our policies were set out in Home Office Circular No. 114/1983 on "Manpower, Effectiveness and Efficiency in the Police Service", which is in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contact is maintained between the Metropolitan police and the Docklands forum.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that the commander of "H" district and the chairman of the Docklands forum have provisionally agreed to the setting up of a sub-committee of the forum to look at the changing policing needs of docklands. The sub-committee will include representatives of all police districts covering docklands and, subject to the approval of the full forum, is likely to start work shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how the costs of reprocessing spent thermal oxide fuel compare with those for dry storage of such fuel.

Oxide fuel is not currently being reprocessed in the United Kingdom. At this stage any comparison must be speculative and would need to take account of the cost of subsequent treatment of fuel after dry storage, whether that be by reprocessing or direct disposal, and other factors such as the availability and price of fresh uranium.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what estimates he has made of the maximum safe storage periods for advanced gas-cooled reactors and pressurised water reactors spent nuclear fuel, respectively, in wet and dry storage facilities.

No firm estimates are available, but I am advised that both PWR and AGR fuel could in principle be stored in dry conditions for a considerable time before reprocessing or disposal. PWR fuel can also be stored in water for very long periods. AGR fuel may be stored under water for 10 years or more given satisfactory pond conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what have been the trends in costs of reprocessing spent thermal oxide fuel and in the price of uranium fuel in the past five years.

The price of nuclear fuel reflects a number of factors including the cost of uranium ore, fuel enrichment and fuel fabrication. Recently nuclear fuel costs have declined and this trend may continue for some time. Oxide fuel is not reprocessed in the United Kingdom at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what research and development work has been done on the decommissioning of magnox nuclear power stations; and what has been the cost of such work.

The CEGB has been carrying out a programme of research and development specifically on the decommissioning of its magnox nuclear power stations for the last five years. The approximate total cost involved amounts to £1 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will estimate the approximate cost of decommissioning a typical magnox nuclear power station to (a) stage 1, (b) stage 2 and (c) stage 3, stating the assumptions made about the timing of each stage of decommissioning and excluding the costs of dispersal of the radioactive waste.