asked the Prime Minister (1) what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the provision and promotion of community service;(2) what has been the total value of Government funds allocated for the provision of community service in each of the last five years; and if she will give a departmental breakdown of the allocation of such funds in each year;(3) if she will list in the

The Government's policy is to encourage and promote the provision of a wide range of opportunities for service to the community; and several Government Departments make funds available for this purpose. Because the concept of "community service" is such a wide one, it is not possible to provide a definitive list of every type of community service for which support is provided from Government funds. Nor can grant paid to support or encourage community service be separately identified in the available information relating to grants paid by Government Departments to voluntary organisations. But it is a characteristic of voluntary organisations that they exist to serve the needs of the community, and some indication of the increasing support which the Government have given to the development of community service can therefore be taken from those figures. Information relating to the five year period 1979–80 to 1983–84 is provided in the table. Figures for 1984–85 are not yet available, but they are likely to show a further increase. Within available resources, the Government will continue to look for ways of enabling more people to provide a service to the wider community.

asked the Prime Minister when she intends to reply to the representations made by Church leaders for the Hercules aircraft food mission to be extended into 1986; whether she intends to accede to this request: and if she will make a statement.

I replied to the Archbishop of Canterbury and his colleagues on 19 July, that a decision on the future of the airlift must await a report by the Minister for Overseas Development on his return from Ethiopia. As my right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development told the House on 22 July, at columns 722–23, we have concluded that the Hercules detachment will be needed beyond the end of September. We have therefore offered the Ethiopian Government an extension of the airlift until the latter part of December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will state the monthly increase of take-home salary for the categories of persons covered by the eighth report on top salaries at 1 April 1986 where the individual is married and receives only basic tax allowances.

I shall reply to the hon. Gentleman shortly.

asked the Attorney-General how many of the recommendations for change made by the last Royal Commission on legal services in England have been implemented to date.

The White Paper "The Government Response to the Report of the Royal Commission on Legal Services" (Cmnd. 9077) published in November 1983 set out how matters then stood on the recommendations for which the Government are responsible. Of the matters then still under consideration, recommendation 9.3, which advocated access to a solicitor by persons taken into custody, will be implemented when section 58 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 comes into force on 1 January 1986, and recommendation 9.11, which pressed for legal representation to be available to prisoners in certain disciplinary proceedings, was implemented in April 1984. The Administration of Justice Bill presently before Parliament will, in the context of the extension of the right to undertake conveyancing for reward to properly qualified non-solicitors, implement recommendation 21.3 in part by extending the restrictions on conveyancing for reward to the preparation of the contract and will implement recommendation 21.4 by empowering local authority trading standards departments to institute proceedings for breach of the conveyancing restrictions. The Bill will also implement recommendation 16.4(a), by empowering the Lord Chancellor to reimburse from public funds costs thrown away by the death or incapacity of a judge, and recommendation 25.13, by transferring the jurisdiction of the legal aid complaints tribunals to the profession's disciplinary tribunals.

asked the Attorney-General how many cases in 1985 involving persons injured by plastic bullets in Northern Ireland have been considered by the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland; and what action was taken in each case.

Figures for cases considered between 1 January 1985 and 30 June 1985 by the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland involving persons killed or injured by the alleged use of baton rounds are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what conclusions he has reached following the consultations on the future of the air travel reserve fund; and if he will make a statement.

I am grateful to all those who commented on the proposals for strengthening the present arrangements for protecting air package holiday makers. There was virtually unanimous support for the proposal that the Air Travel Reserve Fund Agency should be wound up, including from the agency itself, and the fund transferred to the Civil Aviation Authority to administer on a trustee basis. Some of those consulted were, however, concerned about questions of accountability under the new arrangements and, in particular, that the advisory committee which is to be set up under the new arrangements should be able to play a strong and independent role.In the light of the consultations, I can confirm that the agency is to be wound up. But we are amending the new arrangements in some respects to meet the concerns which have been expressed.The trustees of the fund will be members and officers of the CAA. My Department will draw up a trust deed. Amongst other matters, the deed will define what payments can be made from the fund. I would expect that in deciding what payments to make, the trustees' discretion would be no narrower than the discretion which bond administrators have in administering payments from tour operators' bonds. The trustees will have power to obtain banking, accountancy and other services; to delegate the settlement of eligible claims to bond administrators; and to decide on whether an on what terms top-up insurance should be arranged. The trust deed will be drawn up in a way which ensures flexible and speedy settlement of claims from holiday makers. The deed will also require the trustees to publish and submit to my right hon. Friend an annual report and accounts.I received several suggestions that the trustees of the fund and the proposed advisory committee should be merged into a single body. I have not been able to accept this. The committee will include commercial interests and I have concluded that it would not be right for any trustee of the fund to be a person representative of a commercial interest in the travel trade.But I am persuaded that the committee should enjoy greater stature and independence than was envisaged in my original proposals. To this end, it will be appointed by my right hon. Friend, and not by the CAA, for at least the first two or three years of its existence. It will have an independent chairman and its members will be drawn from the travel trade, the air transport users' committee, the trustees of the fund and independent representatives. I am pleased to say that Sir Peter Lane has agreed to serve as its first chairman, and we would expect to appoint members of the Air Travel Reserve Fund Agency to the committee.The committee will exercise an important role in relation to the new arrangements for protecting holiday makers. Its terms of reference, which my right hon. Friend will draw up, will require it to advise on the operation of the fund and bonding arrangements; to guide the trustees of the fund on the use of their discretion when making payments, including the mechanisms for handling claims; and to seek a uniform approach from bond administrators when making payments from bonds. One of its early tasks will be to consider with the trustees the question of top-up insurance. My Department will also consult the committee on the principles of the trust deed to be drawn up.The committee will be required to report annually to my right hon. Friend on its activities, at the same time as the annual report which the trustees must make. I would expect the committee, either in its report or at any other time, to draw attention to any problem areas where action is required. My right hon. Friend will ensure that copies of the annual reports from the trustees and the committee are available to Parliament when published.An order to wind up the Air Travel Reserve Fund Agency and transfer the fund to the CAA will be laid early in the next Session. I would expect the committee to be appointed in good time to advise on the transition to the new arrangements, including the principles of a trust deed. Subject to the committee's views on the transitional arrangements, the agency will probably be wound up at the end of February next year. Sir Kenneth Selby will remain chairman of the agency until then.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on progress on upgrading the Al to motorway status at Hatfield, on the resolving of difficulties for local residents relating to construction work, and on the expected environmental impact of the completed project.

This complex scheme is on schedule for completion in April 1987. A noise barrier has been erected along the eastern boundary of the tunnel section to screen adjacent houses during construction work.Regular bulletins are issued to keep local residents informed, especially of traffic diversions, and the resident engineer's office is there to try to resolve any difficulties. On completion the cut-and-cover tunnel will reduce the environmental impact of the new motorway.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 8 May, Official Report, column 396, if he will now take steps to provide information on departmental committees of inquiry established from 1974 to 1979.

The following is a list of committees of inquiry whose reports were published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office between 1974 and 1979 compiled from the annual catalogues of Her Majesty's Stationery Office publications. It would not be possible, except at disproportionate cost, to verify that this list is comprehensive.

askedthe Secretary of State for Transport if, when he last met the chairman of British Rail, he raised with him the electrification of the Manchester-Blackpool line; and if he will make a statement.

No. British Rail sees no financial case under its normal investment criteria for electrifying this route. But Lancashire county council and the Greater Manchester council believe they can justify the additional costs by taking other benefits into account. Exploratory discussions have been held and the councils will be supplying further information about their proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in negotiating the basis upon which United States airlines may operate direct scheduled services to Manchester as referred to in paragraph 6.31 in the airports policy White Paper.

Immediately after publication of the White Paper, arrangements were made with the United States Government for consultations to take place at the beginning of August.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list those organisations representing the interests of driving instructors which were consulted by his Department about the trainee licensing system during the passage of the Road Traffic (Driving Instruction) Act 1984; and, in the case of each of these organisations, whether they were broadly in favour of the abolition of the trainee licensing system;(2) if he will list those organisations representing the interests of driving instructors that have made representations to his Department favouring

Six national driving instructor organisations were consulted, along with other interested bodies, prior to the introduction of the Bill which became the Road Traffic (Driving Instruction) Act 1984, on proposals for changes in the trainee driving instructor licensing system. There was no consultation with the organisations during the passage of the Bill.Representations against retention of the trainee licensing system were made by the following driving instructor organisations:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the mandatory fitting of rear seat belts in the light of the recommendation in the Transport Committee report on road safety.

I welcome this recommendation from the Select Committee. Rear seat belts have great potential for saving lives and reducing injuries, and it is right that they should be fitted to new cars to provide rear seat passengers with the opportunity to protect themselves. It is also most important that parents should be encouraged to provide child restraints for younger children. The Department is therefore circulating draft regulations which would make rear seat belts or child restraints a legal requirement for all new cars manufactured from October 1986, and first registered from April 1987. The draft regulations provide for different types of belt or restraint to be fitted so as to meet European Community obligations and to allow individuals to choose the most suitable type of belt for themselves or restraints for their children. The regulations also require a seat belt to be fitted in the centre front seat of cars and light vehicles where such a seat is provided.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement updating the information contained in his reply to the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish, Official Report 21 December, column 363, concerning grain supplies and supplementary food and edible oil requirements in Ethiopia.

The total cereal requirement for famine relief in Ethiopia in 1985 has been estimated at 1·5 million tonnes. So far some 780,000 have been delivered.Supplementary food needs (skimmed milk powder and high protein biscuits) are estimated at about 106,000 tonnes; 53,000 tonnes have been pledged and nearly 36,000 tonnes delivered.Edible oil requirements are not known; 36,500 tonnes have been pledged and 30,200 tonnes have been delivered.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the work of the RAF Hercules on famine relief in Ethiopia; and for how long that work will continue.

I refer the hon. Member to the statement I made in the House on 22 July at columns 722–23.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the 1984 report and accounts of the Crown Agents holding and realisation board will be laid before Parliament.

The 1984 report and accounts are being laid before Parliament today. As soon as they are available, published copies of the report and accounts will be placed in the Library of both Houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to publish the next annual review of the Overseas Development Administration.

The third annual review of the work of the Overseas Development Administration, entitled "British Overseas Aid 1984", is published today price £6·95, and will be available from HMSO bookshops. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses and are available on request from the Vote Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the number of employees and the number of operatives in the chemical industry to match the table in column 369 of the Official Report, 9 March 1982.

The following table gives, annually from 1973 to 1981, the estimated number of employees in employment in Great Britain in the chemical industry (Order V of the 1968 standard industrial classification). It also gives the numbers of operatives included in the totals. Quarterly figures are not available for the number of operatives.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the number of people employed directly in cider making during each of the last five years.

The Department's employment estimates are analysed according to the 1980 standard industrial classification which does not separately distinguish cider making.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will now make a statement on the conclusions of his discussions about extending community programme support for work on football league grounds.

The Government are awaiting receipt of the interim report from Mr. Justice Popplewell before deciding what role the community programme can play in improving the safety of football league grounds.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many of those registered for employment at jobcentres in the parliamentary constituency of Southampton, Itchen on 7 June were resident in that constituency.

This information is not available in the form requested. The only information available relates to the total numbers registered at a particular jobcentre.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received about the 1985 increases in job release scheme allowances.

Some 200 Members of Parliament and others have written to my right hon. Friend about the 1985 increase in allowances.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps are being taken to provide additional equipment grants and help with staff salaries to enable information technology centres to continue to work.

[pursuant to his reply, 19 July 1985, c. 297–98]: The Manpower Services Commission has made available extra funds to enable those information technology centres exhausting their entitlement to the Department of Trade and Industry's financial support to sustain staff salaries at the levels previously paid. This transitional funding by the Commission will be available until the end of October 1985 when each centre completing its first three years of operation should be in a position to operate without further pump-priming funding from the Department of Trade and Industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the amount spent by local authorities on (a) school transport and (b) schools meals in the latest year for which figures are available, the forecast for 1985 and the amount in 1978–79—all at 1985 prices.

Actual expenditure by local education authorities in England on home to school transport and on school meals, in 1978–79 and 1983–84, the latest year for which firm information is available, is given in the following table, together with the Government's plans for spending on these areas, as set out in Cmnd. 9428. All figures are at 1985–86 prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the percentage of disabled students who registered with the Open University in 1971 who have now graduated; if he will list the total number of disabled students who have graduated from the Open University: and if he will make a statement.

In answer to the first part of the question, about 80 per cent.; the second, over 1,400. The Open University has a notable record in providing for disabled students, and the visiting committee recommended in January that it should continue to ensure that, as far as practicable, such students should be able to study on equal terms with other students. I am happy to endorse that recommendation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the number receiving free school meals in Burnley at the latest date for which figures are available.

Figures are collected annually in October in the school meals census from each local education authority as a whole. Burnley is not a local education authority but forms part of Lancashire local education authority and separate figures for Burnley are not available centrally. Copies of the latest school meals census for Autumn 1984 are available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children have a current statutory entitlement to free school meals in (a) the London borough of Camden, (b) the London borough of Barnet, (c) Greater London and (d) Holborn and St. Pancras, respectively.

This information is not available centrally. The Department's annual school meals census collects data from each LEA on the number of children who actually take a free meal on the October census day. Copies of the census are available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what would be the cost per academic year of providing an educational maintenance allowance to every pupil aged between 16 and 19 years in full-time education at the weekly rate of (a) £26·25 and (b) £27·30 for 40 weeks and subjecting the allowance to tax as part of the parental income and part of the income sum in calculations for family eligibility to social security.

Approximately (a) £460 million and (b) £480 million after allowing for deductions in respect of child benefit and existing education maintenance allowances and grants to 16 to 19-year-olds in non-advanced further education. Tax and social security benefits are dependent on individual circumstances and it is not therefore possible to make generalised assumptions in relation to them.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are current salary rates for all teaching grades employed by the Inner London education authority for each grade, what is the inner London weighting allowance; if he will estimate the consequences of a 6·9 per cent. increase in salary rates, giving the revised pay scales; and if there are any proposals to increase the London weighting allowance.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he proposes to take in response to the judgment of the divisional court that his decision not to change the formula for the pooling of advanced further education expenditure for 1985–86 was an unlawful decision.

In the light of the court's judgment I have decided to make proposals for a new formula for the determination of the appropriate contributions of local education authorities to the advanced further education (AFE) pools in 1985–86 and subsequent financial years. These proposals are based upon the number of AFE students resident in each authority's area. I am under a duty to consult the local authority associations about them and the Department has now begun this process. Following that consultation I shall make and lay before the House regulations incorporating a new formula.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make available the results of the research commissioned by his Department and undertaken by the University of Leeds in the area of social background and educational achievement.

Yes. Copies of a summary report of the project are now available from DES on request. Copies are also being placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will list in the Official Report those organisations who were consulted about the 60 per cent. requirement in relation to children entering the assisted places scheme from the maintained sector; and whether he will give details of the form of the consultative process.

[pursuant to his reply, 22 July 1985 c. 349]: The minimum proportion of entrants from the maintained sector was one of the matters covered in the general consultative document issued in July 1979 to the local authority associations, voluntary bodies, teachers' associations and representatives of the independent schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will state the number of pupils who, at the time of selection for an assisted place, were choirboys; what proportion of the relevant age group entering the scheme this represents; and what proportion of all assisted places pupils entering the scheme from the private sector this represents.

[pursuant to his reply, 22 July 1985, c. 350]: Information on individual pupils taking part in the assisted places scheme is not collected by the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will list in the Official Report a breakdown by age group of the pupils entering the assisted places scheme who attended a private school at the time of their selection for the scheme; and how many and what proportion of each group attended the same school before and after their entry to the scheme.

[pursuant to his reply, 22 July 1985, c. 350]: Of the pupils admitted to assisted places in the school year 1984–85, 1,129 at ages 11–15 and 609 sixth formers came from other than publicly maintained schools. Information on whether this involved a change of school is not collected by the Department.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if the Services Committee will consider making refreshment facilities available in the House for large parties of Members' constituents; and if he will make a statement.

It is unlikely that accommodation could be provided within the Palace for this purpose; but I understand that the Catering Sub-Committee is already investigating the possibility that, in the context of phase 1 of the Bridge street re-development, the Refreshment Department might make use of the upper floors of St. Stephen's Tavern to provide such a service on a commercial basis. I will refer my hon. Friend's question to the Sub-Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy by how much productivity has increased in (a) the coal mining industry, (b) the electricity industry and (c) the gas industry since the end of 1980; and how these figures compare with the economy as a whole.

No specific productivity indices comparable with those compiled and published for the economy as a whole are readily available for the coal mining, electricity and gas industies. However, figures of coal output per man-shift at NCB mines are published monthly in Energy Trends, copies of which are available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about the meeting in Paris on 9 July of the Governing Board of the International Energy Agency at ministerial level.

The governing board of the International Energy Agency met at ministerial level in Paris on Tuesday 9 July under the chairmanship of Dr. Van Aardenne of the Netherlands. I represented the United Kingdom. Copies of the cornmunique are available in the Libraries of the House.IEA Ministers reaffirmed their belief that a risk of renewed dependence on oil could arise in the 1990s with a projected tightening of the world energy supply/demand situation. They welcomed the structural adjustments of the past decade and stressed the need to maintain progress towards the more efficient use of energy and enhanced collaboration in research and development.New refineries in countries outside the IEA (particularly in the Middle East and North Africa) will be adding to the world supply of refined products over the next few years. Ministers took the view that it should be possible for these additional quantities to find markets without causing disruption, provided the impact was not concentrated in particular regions. They therefore agreed on a common approach to maintain or create conditions to permit this. The IEA will continue to monitor developments in this area.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the National Coal Board's financial limits for the current year.

After the NUM dispute the National Coal Board reviewed thoroughly its financial forecasts for the present year. These forecasts have been discussed between my Department and the Board, and I have now set the following financial limits for 1985–86.The National Coal Board's EFL for 1985–86 has been revised from the provisional figure of £723 million to £929 million. The board's capital approval is £725 million. In setting the deficit grant limit of £306 million in respect of 1985–86 I have taken into account inclusion in the hoard's deficit for 1984–85 of a provision of £342 million for directly strike-related losses which are expected to arise in the present year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has completed his consideration of the responses to the consultation paper and proposals to control the supply and use of anti-fouling paint containing organotin compounds; and if he will make a statement.

I have received about 1,000 responses to our consultation paper and draft regulations to control the supply of these paints for use on small boats, which we issued last February. Despite many objections to the proposals, no serious challenge to the scientific evidence has been made.The Government remain convinced that measures must be taken urgently to protect shellfish, plants and other marine life from dangerous concentrations of this poison. The paint industry needs a reasonable time to develop improved and alternative products which are acceptable to boat owners and thereby ensure that any controls which are introduced are effective. We have, therefore, decided on an approach which it is intended will lead to an environmental improvement and which will include an assessment of the effects on the environment whilst allowing the paint industry and its customers time to adjust.The Government intend to ban the supply of "free association" organotin-based paints to small boat owners. In addition, maximum levels will be set for the organotin content of "copolymer" paints and of other anti-fouling paints using organotin compounds to boost their performance. These will be based on the lowest levels of organotin present in such paints generally available to boat owners at present. These levels will be reviewed in time for the 1987 painting season with a view to reducing them in line with advances in paint technology.With effect from 1 January 1986 we intend to introduce controls to prevent the supply of the following types of anti-fouling paint to chandlers and other retailers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how much per head was paid out in the last five years in Sports Council grants (a) in England and (b) in each of the Sports Council's regions;(2) how much has been expended in Sports Council grants in each of the last five years broken down by region and county;(3) what major projects in the last five years have received Sports Council grants in

Sports Council grant expenditure over the past five years, total and per capita, nationally and broken down by Sports Council regions, is shown in the table. A breakdown by county is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received requesting the implementation of section 4 of the Litter Act 1983; when he plans to implement that section; and if he will make a statement.

I have had representations from six individuals or bodies requesting implementation of this section, which requires local authorities to prepare litter abatement plans. There are no proposals at the moment to implement this section, in view of the need for restraint in public expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given to the recent report on housing defects in Manchester, a copy of which has been sent to him; what action he will be taking; and if he will make a statement.

I have read this report with interest. Together with Manchester city council's response to my

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the reply of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Hazel Grove, Official Report, 10 June, column 315, what value he places on the archival material used in the Ordnance Survey's commercial ventures; and how this valuation is calculated.

Ordnance Survey's commercial ventures draw upon the whole range of its mappings. This archive has been built up over decades and cannot be strictly valued in monetary terms.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 2 May, Official Report, column 183, if he will now take steps to provide the information on departmental committees of inquiry established since 1974.

The information is set out in the following table. As central records were not maintained throughout the period I cannot guarantee that the list is complete.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the number of wildfowl other than swans that have died as a result of eating lead fishing weights; and as to the trend in such deaths in recent years.

There is little existing evidence to suggest that waterfowl other than swans are affected by ingesting lead from fishing weights.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many swans are estimated to have died as a result of eating lead fishing weights in each of the last five years; what were the comparable figures for the years 1970 to 1975 and 1960 to 1965; and to what factors the variations are attributed.

The Nature Conservancy Council's report on lead poisoning in swans, produced in 1981, estimated that 3,000–3,500 swan deaths annually were due to lead poisoning. A report to the Nature Conservancy Council working party on swans in January 1985 estimated the number of deaths annually to be between 3,370 and 4,190. The later figure is higher because the increased number of post-mortem examinations carried out since 1981 suggest a higher death rate should be used in the calculations. I regret that there are no comparable figures for earlier years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to bring forward changes in legislation concerning houses in multi-occupation.

None at present. My Department is carrying out research which involves an examination of the condition of houses in multiple-occupation and local authorities' use of existing legislation. I wish to see the outcome of this research before deciding whether further measures are necessary. The timetable for this research was set out in the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Staffordshire, Moorlands (Mr. Knox) on 3 June, at columns 33–34.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received any recent representations regarding legislation on houses in multi-occupation.

Yes. I have received several representations from Members of Parliament, professional bodies, interested organisations and the general public. They have been reminded of the wide range of powers available to local authorities for securing improved conditions in houses in multiple-occupation and of the action which the Government has already taken to strengthen some of these powers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the percentage reduction in real terms on net public expenditure on housing since 1979.

The years from 1979 have seen a major shift in the balance between housing provision in the public and private sectors. Between 1979–80 and 1984–85 net public expenditure on housing fell by 54 per cent. in real terms. Between December 1979 and December 1984, home ownership in England rose by 1·5 million to a total of 11·691 million owner-occupiers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment by how much productivity has increased in the water industry since the end of 1980; and how that figure compares with the economy as a whole.

Regional water authority manpower has reduced by 18 per cent. since the end of 1980, and the authorities taken together have met demanding performance aims for operating costs while improving levels of service, but no precise productivity measure for the industry is available. Output per person employed in the economy as a whole, seasonally adjusted, increased by about 13 per cent. to the end of March.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangement he proposes to make, following abolition, for dealing with housing association schemes originally funded by the Greater London council; and if he will make a statement.

Proposals for dealing with these schemes were set out in the October 1983 housing consultation paper, a copy of which was placed in the Library. Following consideration of the representations received, my right hon. Friend has decided that on abolition of the GLC, these proposals should be broadly maintained. Thus the councils of the London boroughs will become responsible for funding ex-GLC housing association schemes in their areas still in progress on abolition day. They will also assume responsibility for the GLC-funded schemes where work has been completed but where final grant payments are still under consideration by the Department. They will also become the lending authority for any completed schemes previously funded by the GLC but where new involvement by a lending authority is required, for example in respect of major repairs, including those GLC-financed schemes which up to 31 March 1968 received funds from the Housing Corporation.The Housing Corporation normally looks to local authorities to fund housing associations in respect of schemes which were originally funded by local authorities but where further funding is now required. They have already announced that their funding of major repairs to a small number of schemes originally funded by the GLC will cease on 31 March 1986. They will, however, continue to fund certain re-improvements to ex-GLC schemes.After abolition, loan repayments on completed housing association schemes which would have been made to the GLC will be paid to the London Residuary Body, who will be responsible for servicing the outstanding debt on such schemes.The GLC has also funded housing association schemes of a London-wide significance, for example in providing for the single homeless. It will be for the London boroughs to decide either individually or collectively, in conjunction with the Housing Corporation, how best to continue this initiative.In addition, the GLC are also at present providing rate fund contributions to offset revenue losses incurred by some housing associations. While we do not intend to make any special arrangements in respect of such funding, individual cases will be considered on their merits within the normal rules for revenue deficit grant.The London boroughs have been invited to bid for housing investment programme allocations in respect of schemes hitherto funded by the GLC. They have been assured that the resources which would have been available to the GLC will after abolition be distributed amongst the boroughs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will release the latest statement from his Department's management information system for Ministers (MINIS).

As in previous years, I am placing a set of MINIS 6 statements for the Department of the Environment and the Property Services Agency in the Library. They describe the organisation and work of the Department during 1984–85, and show suggested plans for 1985–86. They are also on sale to the public.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has now received the annual report of the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee.

Yes. The sixth annual report of RWMAC will be published shortly, and I will then place copies in the Library of the House. My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales and I are grateful to the chairman, Professor Paul Matthews FRS, and to the members of the committee, for their valuable work over the past year in advancing thinking on this vital subject, and we shall continue to take full account of their views in developing and implementing the national strategy for waste management.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he proposes to make any changes to the Severn-Trent water authority's external financing limit for 1985–86.

The Severn-Trent regional water authority's external financing limit for 1985–86 has been increased from £22 million to £55·2 million. This covers the cost of refinancing £202·5 million of the authority's outstanding National Loans Fund debt. The authority will benefit from future lower interest payments and external financing requirements as a result of the refinancing. The increase has been charged to the reserve and does not add to the public expenditure planning total.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will update the table giving information on sales of dwellings by each local authority in England which was referred to in the answer given to the hon. Member for Mid-Staffordshire (Mr. Heddle) on 3 April, Official Report, columns 669–70.

I have today placed in the Library the latest figures, to which my hon. Friend refers, giving information reported by each local authority in England on the progress of council house sales to the end of March 1985.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements he proposes to make for the allocation, following abolition of the Greater London council's rights and liabilities, under agreements under the Town Development Act 1952.

As I indicated in my written answer to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) on 23 November 1984, at column 315, the London Residuary Body will assume the GLC's liabilities under existing town development agreements. The GL.C's tenancy nomination rights under those agreements will be transferred to the Secretary of State. It is his intention to exercise those nomination rights through the National Mobility Steering Committee. Any other GLC rights under the town development agreements will pass to the London Residuary Body.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of houses on London Docklands Development Corporation-owned land (a) represent transfers to households which were previously on other London Docklands Development Corporation-owned sites and (b) are owned by the second or subsequent purchasers of the house.

[pursuant to his reply, 22 July 1985]: The information is not collected.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the London Docklands Development Corporation requires clauses in its contracts of employment to specify that racial and sexual harassment at work is a discplinary issue.

[pursuant to his reply, 22 July 1985]: Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements exist for advertising posts in the London Docklands Development Corporation; and which newspapers, including black and ethnic minority newspapers, are used to place adverts.

[pursuant to his reply, 22 July 1985]: The corporation advertises vacancies both internally and externally. The following newspapers and journals are used:

• Accountancy Age
• Architects Journal
• Barking and Dagenham Express
• Building Design
• Campaign
• Caribbean Times
• Chartered Surveyor Weekly
• Computing
• East London Advertiser
• Estates Gazette
• Financial Decision
• Financial Times
• The Guardian
• Local Government Chronicle
• Marketing
• Newham Recorder
• Opportunities
• Planning
• South London Press
• The Sunday Times
• The Telegraph
• The Times

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many advisers the London Docklands Development Corporation ernploys with a specific knowledge of relevant employment and equal opportunity legislation.

[pursuant to his reply, 22 July 1985]: The corporation employs one personnel consultant and draws on the services of two other consultants who have a specific knowledge of employment and equal opportunity legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people with disabilities are employed by the London Docklands Development Corporation; and at what grades.

[pursuant to his reply, 22 July 1985]: The corporation employs two registered disabled people, both in APTC grades.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many women are employed by the London Docklands Development Corporation; and at what grades.

[pursuant to his reply, 22 July 1985]: The corporation employs 35 permanent female staff; 10 in professional posts and 25 in administrative, professional, technical and clerical (APTC) grades. In addition, the corporation also employs 26 females on fixed term contracts; five at professional level and 21 in APTC grades.

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.

[pursuant to his reply, 23 July 1985]: My officials have given me a full account of the points made by the hon. Member and tenants from the Rosehill estate at their meeting on 18 July. I have now written to the hon. Member on the matter.I understand the strong wishes of many of the tenants that something should be done to improve conditions on the estate. However, it is for Walsall district council to decide what action to take within the context of its housing programme as a whole. In addition to the HIP allocation of £9·5 million for 1985–86, Walsall has received a supplementary capital allocation of £627,000. Apart from some further small amounts to be allocated among authorities with difficulties in meeting their obligations under the Housing Defects Act, there are no further resources available for distribution this year. Before the HIP allocations for 1986–87 are made, Walsall will have an opportunity to explain its needs and the points which the hon. Member and the tenants from the Rosehill estate have made will also be taken into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is yet in a position to announce the outcome of the Forestry Commission's review of policy for broadleaved woodlands; and if he will make a statement.

The Forestry Commission has now completed its review after wide consultations covering a period of some two and a half years, and my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Wales and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and I have agreed new policy initiatives designed to maintain and enhance the value of Britain's broadleaved woodlands for timber production, landscape, recreation and nature conservation.The new policy will have a number of complementary aims. It is the Government's wish to ensure that the broadleaved character of the well-wooded parts of the country is maintained and improved and to see broadleaved woodlands established in areas where they are scarce, including areas on the periphery of towns and cities. The maintenance and greater use of broadleaves in the uplands will also be encouraged, particularly where they will add to the beauty of the landscape and the wildlife interest; this will apply equally to the extensive conifer plantations which have been established in the uplands in response to our continuing policy of expanding home timber supplies. Encouragement will also be given to the greater use of broadleaved woodlands generally for conservation, recreation, sport and landscape, as well as for wood production. In particular, steps will be taken to ensure that the special interest of the ancient semi-natural woodlands is recognised and maintained. Essential to these objectives is the need to increase the quality and value of timber produced by broadleaved woodlands. We also consider it important to the success of these new policy aims that they are pursued with a reasonable degree of flexibility and within the framework of an essentially voluntary approach which harnesses the interest and goodwill of landowners, farmers and foresters.A number of new measures will be introduced to achieve these policy aims, both for the long term and to afford more immediate protection for existing woodlands; they will apply equally to woodlands under the direct management of the Forestry Commission and to those in private or other ownership. These measures are outlined below. Full details will be given in a Foresty Commission booklet to be published shortly.Among the long-term measures, the Forestry Commission will be designating a senior officer in each of its seven Conservancies who will be responsible for coordinating the advice already available from a wide variety of Government and non-Government sources on the establishment and management of broadleaved woodlands; for stimulating new planting in poorly-wooded areas and the better management of existing woods, by means of promotional activities and practical demonstrations; and for assembling and disseminating information on the marketing of produce and the encouragement of co-operative marketing ventures. These officers will be supported by the Commission's 70 Forest District Managers and their staffs in each locality. The Commission will also be arranging training—both for its own staff and for advisers in other Government departments and agencies and in the voluntary movement — in the various aspects of broadleaved woodland management, including landscape design, wildlife conservation and the provision of recreation and will be promoting further research into the measures required to enhance the conservation value of broadleaved woodlands and the development of less costly establishment techniques.A new Forestry Commission grant scheme, to be known as the broadleaved woodland grant scheme, will be introduced on 1 October 1985. It is designed to assist in bringing neglected woodlands back into use for a variety of purposes, to help meet the cost of creating new multipurpose woodlands; and has particular relevance to farm woodlands, especially in the lowlands. Significantly higher rates of grant will be offered under this new scheme, as shown in table 1, for the use of broadleaved species on their own and the rate of grant will be determined by the area planted and not by the size of the wood in which planting takes place. Details of the new scheme, which will be closely monitored and funded within the Forestry Commission's planned expenditure, will be published shortly by the Commission. Broadleaves in mixture with conifers will be grant-aided under the forestry grant scheme, which will continue as a separate scheme.In addition to the Forestry Commission's grant-aid schemes, which all have wood production as one of their aims, there are other sources of finance available for planting broadleaved trees for other purposes, notably those administered by the Countryside Commissions and local authorities for amenity planting, which are designed to dovetail with the Forestry Commission's grants.At this point, it would be appropriate to inform the House that the levels of grant available under the Commission's Basis II and III Dedication Schemes and the Forestry Grant Scheme have recently been reviewed by the Forestry Commissioners under the agreed biennial review arrangements, and my right hon. Friends and I have endorsed their proposal that the planting grants under those schemes should be increased from 1 October 1984.Management grants, available only under the dedication schemes, will remain at the present levels. The revised rates of planting grant are shown in tables 2 and 3. These will give rise to an increase in expenditure of about 5 per cent. in a full year.Before the start of the broadleaved woodland grant scheme, the Forestry Commission also plans to publish, after further discussions with the Environment Departments, the Nature Conservancy Council, the Countryside Commissions and appropriate non-Government bodies, general guidance on the management considerations appropriate to various types of broadleaved woodlands. The Forestry Commission will have regard to this guidance, both in its own operations and in considering applications for grant aid or felling permission. This should make the Commission's consultations with other interested authorities easier and lead in time to a reduced requirement for consultation where the proposed management is in accordance with the guidelines, although it is intended that local authorities would continue to be informed of proposals of particular interest to them. It is recognised that there is a growing public interest in broadleaved woodlands. The Forestry Commission will be taking this into account in considering ways and means of making the proceedings of its regional advisory committees more open when they are dealing with disputed applications for grant aid or felling permission, as announced by my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secrtary of State for the Environment, in his response to the Countryside Commission's report "A Better Future for the Uplands" on 31 January 1985 at column

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the detailed studies called for in the Lenihan report on Re-Chem International Ltd. will be finalised.

The only detailed study which the Lenihan review group recommended should be pursued is the further investigation of the problem of microphthalmos in the Forth Valley health board area and elsewhere. Work on this is proceeding, but it is not possible to say when it will be completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the implications for animal welfare of the 16 per cent. cut in research into animal diseases proposed in the agriculture and food research service report, "A Long Term View"; and if he will make a statement.

The Agricultural and Food Research Council's recent paper "A Long Term View" is concerned with management roles and structures and makes no recommendations about levels of research activity.The council's corporate plan for 1985–1990 proposes a 16 per cent. reduction in research in animal diseases but I would not expect this to affect work on animal welfare which is funded under a separate heading.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many objections have been lodged up to 18 July against the planning application for the proposed European demonstration reprocessing plant at Dounreay (a) by persons or bodies based in Scotland, (b) by persons or bodies in the rest of the United Kingdom and (c) by persons or bodies outwith the United Kingdom.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will report on progress on the sale of MacBrayne Haulage.

I have approved a proposal by the Scottish Transport Group to sell MacBrayne Haulage to the owners of Kildonan Transport Ltd., who operate existing road haulage services in north-east Scotland. The sale price is £450,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether a decision has yet been reached on the representation made by the Lothian health board to the National Health Service tribunal in respect of Mr. J F. Mitchell BDS.

In relation to the Appeal by Mr. J. F. Mitchell BDS, Whitehouse, Whitehouse Road, Barnton, Edinburgh against a direction of the National Health Service tribunal dated 24 October 1984 following a representation to the tribunal by Lothian health board, I have decided to accept the recommendation of the reporter, Mr. W. D. Prosser QC, dean of the Faculty of Advocates, that the direction should be confirmed without modification. I have therefore confirmed the direction whereby Mr. Mitchell's name shall be removed from the list maintained by Lothian health board of the names of dental practitioners who undertake to provide general dental services under the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 and his name shall be removed from or not included in any corresponding list kept by any other health board under Part II of the 1978 Act.I am arranging for a copy of the letter which is being sent today from the Scottish Home and Health Department conveying this decision to Mr. Mitchell to be placed in the Library.In its statement containing the foregoing direction, the NHS tribunal suggested that consideration should be given to the existing procedures under the 1978 Act and the National Health Service (Service Committees and Tribunal) (Scotland) Regulations 1974 for dealing with issues of this kind and I shall consider this matter in the light of the tribunal's comments.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much financial assistance the Highlands and Islands development board has provided from public funds in support of newspapers; and if he will list the newspapers and the amounts involved in each case.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 July 1985, c. 554]: Since its establishment the board has approved assistance totalling £223,222 grant and £304,950 loan to 10 newspapers published in various parts of the board's area.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will announce financial objectives and performance aims for the postal business of the Post Office; and if he will make a statement.

Over the last several months the Post Office has moved to greater separation of the mails and counter businesses operationally, managerially and financially. I have therefore decided that this is the right time to discontinue the setting of postal business targets and to move, from 1985–86, to setting targets separately for each of royal mail and counters. National Girobank is already targeted separately.The postal business was set the performance aim in February 1982 of reducing its real unit costs by 5 per cent. in the three years to 1984–85 taking 1981–82 as a base, with a provision for a reduction of 2 per cent. in 1982–83. I congratulate the management and work force of the Post Office for having bettered that target.I have decided that the royal mails business should be set the target of further reducing its real unit costs by 2·2 per cent. in 1985–86 compared with 1984–85 and that the counters business should be targeted for a reduction of 1·5 per cent. compared with 1984–85.The Government have no doubt that it is vital to the future of both businesses and to the future of jobs in both businesses that the Post Office should strive to make further significant improvements in efficiency in order to retain its existing customers and to attract new work. I believe that these targets are demanding but I am confident that the Post Office is capable of reaching them.The move to separate targets raises certain problems in attempting to set financial objectives. It will be a little time yet before sufficiently robust figures are available on which separate profit targets for the two businesses could be determined.I have therefore decided to review the financial objectives for mails and counters and to delay setting medium-term financial objectives until later this year. As an interim measure, therefore. I have decided that each of royal mails and counters businesses should be required to secure a 4·5 per cent. return on turnover, on the current cost accounting convention, before tax but after interest, for the financial year 1985–86.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received following the lifting of import restrictions on the Argentine.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to conclude negotiations with the European Economic Community over car exhaust emissions.

The proposed directive on car exhaust emissions will be discussed in the next Environment Council, scheduled for November. I hope that the important outstanding technical points will by then have been satisfactorily resolved.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much per head in tourism grants was paid out in the last five years (a) throughout England and (b) in each of the English Tourist Board regions.

The information requested is as follows: