asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will seek to deter seagulls from the Terrace of the Houses of Parliament; and if he will make a statement;(2) what plans he has to expedite the removal of seagull droppings from the Terrace of the Houses of Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

Unfortunately, my right hon. Friend has no powers of control over visits to the Terrace of uninvited birds, whether seagulls or any other variety. Such visitors have been unusually prolific this year, perhaps due to the improved catering facilities, the hospitality of Members, or the declining prospects over the river at County Hall. The normal cleaning arrangements have been adjusted to cope with the additional burden falling on them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the cost of cleaning the fabric of the Houses of Parliament since 1979.

The programme of stonework repair, restoration and conservation began in July 1981. Costs of each phase so far are as follows:

		£
Phase I	New Palace Yard	293,700
Phase II	House of Lords, West Front	761,000
Phase III	Speaker's Green	614,000
Phase IV	Clock Tower	*1,750,000
Phase V	Terrace	*1,800,000
*Estimated

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any information about the potential production of dioxins or furans during the combustion of polyvinyl chloride materials in municipal refuse incinerators; and if he will make a statement.

There are conflicting views about the role of the various potential chlorine sources, including polyvinyl chloride, in the formation of trace quantities of dioxins and furans during the complex combustion processes taking place in municipal refuse incinerators. However, investigations are currently being carried out by the Warren Spring Laboratory, designed amongst other things to test the content of dioxins and furans in the flue gases from municipal incinerators.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if there are any plans to bring up to date and correct waste management paper No. 6 on polychlorinated biphenyl wastes.

While the general guidance given in this paper still holds good, work on a second edition is already in hand in order to reflect current United Kingdom and international knowledge, and to strengthen the guidance on disposal of PCB wastes. Publication will be in the first half of 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement about grant-related expenditure assessments for local authorities in England in 1986–87.

In response to requests from the local authority associations and many individual authorities, I have sent to all local authorities in England details of their provisional GREs for 1986–87. Copies have been placed in the Library and in the Vote Office. For the first time this provides them with information about GREs some six weeks in advance of the RSG settlement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council house tenants have bought their own home since the introduction of right-to-buy legislation; of these figures how many bought were flats, and if he will break down these figures by region and also give the figures for Leicester.

Between October 1980 and June 1985 an estimated 482,400 right-to-buy sales were completed by local authorities and new towns in England, including 16,300 flats. Corresponding figures reported by Leicester city council were 3,907 houses and eight flats.I am placing in the Library the regular table showing sales by individual local authorities by region. This includes numbers of dwellings sold under the right to buy and total flats sold since April 1979, including voluntary sales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied that the urban development grant made concerning Solarite house, Wednesbury, Birmingham, met the appropriate criteria.

I wrote to my hon. Friend about this case on 23 September.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will investigate the Property Services Agency portfolio of central London buildings and nominate a site for the proposed Community Trade Mark office.

I shall be assisting my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in reviewing and assessing all the potential sites for the proposed Community Trade Mark office, including any suitable ones within the Property Services Agency's portfolio.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to provide finance to objectors and to county councils at public inquiries on nuclear waste dumping proposals.

It is not Government policy to give financial aid to local authorities and objectors at public inquiries of this nature.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether sanctions and penalties on council spending will be incurred by special expenditure by councils in relation to public inquiries into nuclear waste dumping proposals.

The system of expenditure targets and grant holdback will be abandoned from the financial year 1986–87, and so will not apply to any expenditure of this nature. However, the general constraints of the block grant machinery will continue to apply to revenue spending by local authorities, including expenditure on public inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) in what way and at what stage he intends to consult the National Radiological Protection Board on NIREX's proposals for nuclear waste dumps;(2) in what way and at what stage he intends to consult the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee on NIREX's proposals for nuclear waste dumps;(3) if he will publish the principles by which schemes for nuclear waste dumps will be assessed by him under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960.

The National Radiological Protection Board and the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee have already been consulted on the principles to be applied in considering any projects for disposal facilities for low and intermediate level wastes. These principles have already been published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office in the document "Disposal Facilities on Land for Low and Intermediate-Level Radioactive Wastes: Principles for the Protection of the Human Environment". In addition, the board has published its own guidance on assessing the acceptability of sites for disposal. It is not the current intention to consult the board or the committee on specific projects. These would fall to be considered at a public inquiry in the light of the published principles.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how it is proposed to deposit or store, in the long term, the volume of intermediate-level waste currently stored in a temporary repository at Harwell.

Radioactive waste packaged for deep ocean disposal in 1983 remains in a dry storage building at Harwell. A decision on its disposal has been deferred pending the results of the study by the Department of the best practicable disposal options for this and other low and intermediate-level wastes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment has been made of the effect on the volume of radioactive waste produced in the United Kingdom of the eventual decommissioning of the United Kingdom civil reactor programme.

The inventory of radioactive wastes kept jointly by my Department and NIREX includes decommissioning wastes estimated to arise up to the year 2029. The relevant figures, which are published in the annual reports of the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee, are based on the CEGB estimates for decommissioning typical Magnox and AGR power stations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when and by what means he intends to announce the proposed sites which NIREX wishes to investigate as possibly suitable for the disposal of short lived and medium term nuclear waste.

[pursuant to his reply, 24 October 1985, c. 255]: NIREX has told me that it is making good progress towards a final list of possible sites. It should be possible for it to announce candidate sites for detailed geological investigation before the end of the year. It is in everyone's interest that delay should be kept to a minimum. It is also in everyone's interest that the best possible sites are chosen.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the members of the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee and their qualifications and indicate how often it meets.

The Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee holds one-day meetings five times a year and normally undertakes one visit a year to installations of interest. Current members and their qualifications are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how often and in what years the special development order procedure has been used.

The numbers of special development orders made in England and Wales since 1947 is as follows:

	Number
1950	3
1954	1
1956	3
1957	3

Authority	Grounds	Outcome
London Borough of Hackney	1984–85 expenditure guidance unlawful	Heard March 1984; application for judicial review dismissed, Hackney's appeal to Court of Appeal dismissed 2 May 1985: no further appeal.
Bradford Metropolitan Borough Council	1985–86 guidance unlawful	Application dismissed on 15 March, Court of Appeal reversed decision on 3 October. House of Lords considering Respondent's appeal on 28 October.
Nottinghamshire County Council	1985–86 guidance unlawful	Application dismissed on 15 March, Court of Appeal reversed decision on 3 October. House of Lords considering Respondent's appeal on 28 October.
Derbyshire County Council	1985–86 guidance unlawful	Application dismissed on 15 March—no further appeal.
London Boroughs of Hammersmith and Fulham	Secretary of State misdirected himself in refusing disregard	Application allowed 9 May 1985.
London Borough of Lambeth	1984–85 guidance unlawful	Not proceeded with.
Newcastle City Council	Guidance for years 1983–84 to 1985–86 unlawful	Leave for judicial review granted: to be heard.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities have received urban aid grants for the refurbishment of specific housing estates in the last three years.

Six local authorities have received offers of urban development grant towards eight projects for the refurbishment or conversion of council housing for sale to owner-occupiers. Many of the authorities for the 48 districts designated under the Inner Urban Areas Act 1978 have also received urban programme grant towards additional facilities or environmental improvements on council estates. In addition, 12 community refurbishment schemes on council estates have been approved for urban programme grant.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the number of local authorities since the implementation of the Local

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will update his reply of 30 January, Official Report, column 174, about local authorities which have commenced or have given notice of their intention to commence legal proceedings against him in respect of the administration of block grant, expenditure guidance and grant holdback whether by way of an action for judicial review, for a declaration or otherwise since 1 April 1981, summarising the grounds upon which the actions were stated to have been brought and, where appropriate,. the outcome.

Following is the information:Government (Access to Information) Act who have started to levy charges on members of the public wishing to inspect documents and if he will list those authorities.

My Department does not collect information of the kind the hon. Member seeks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received an application from Portsmouth city council for a grant towards the refurbishment of the Portsdown Park housing estate.

No. The leader of Portsmouth city council has written to my right hon. Friend recently asking whether a possible scheme for the refurbishment of the estate would qualify for urban development grant. I have replied to that letter today.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a further statement on the winding up of the Lear Fan project.

It is unlikely that any substantial recoupment of the public funds invested in the Lear Fan project will be achieved by sale of physical assets owned by Lear Fan Ltd. in either the United States or in the United Kingdom. Such recoupment appears to be wholly dependant on the sale and subsequent successful development of the Lear Fan technology rights. The receiver of Lear Fan Ltd. (appointed by the Government), those who invested private funds in the project and the US trustee in bankruptcy are currently discussing the possibility of establishing a new company to market the technology rights.The new company shareholding would be allocated on the basis of the investment made by the respective parties and the rights they hold in respect of the project. The US trustee in bankruptcy could decide to take out a shareholding in the new company. If so the Government, who even if a new company is formed will still be creditors of Lear Fan Ltd., would be entitled to a proportion of any benefits ultimately accruing to the trustee in respect of his shareholding in the new company. Formation of a new company will require the approval of the United States Bankruptcy Court.The receiver has had some discussions with a consortium about the possible acquisition of the project; but there is no question of any further Government investment even if there are proposals to exploit the project within the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the cases during the last three years in which a prison sentence imposed for a scheduled offence has been reduced under the prerogative, indicating the respective offences, sentences and reductions.

The information is not readily available in the form requested and it is not our practice to give details of release under the Royal prerogative of mercy. However, the numbers of persons released under the Royal prerogative of mercy since 1980 were published most recently in my reply to the hon. Member for Londonderry, East (Mr. Ross), at columns 57–58.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many teaching staff were employed in public sector higher education in Northern Ireland for each year since 1979.

The following figures, which relate to academic years, are approximate.

	Full-time	Part-time
1978–79	702	164
1979–80	712	142
1980–81	719	147

	Full-time	Part-time
1981–82	723	135
1982–83	721	176
1983–84	712	175
1984–85	142	65

Note:The Ulster polytechnic merged with New University of Ulster to form the University of Ulster on 1 October 1984. Academic staff of the two Northern Ireland universities are excluded.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many strip searches were made of female prisoners in Her Majesty's prison, Armagh, in July, August and September, respectively, if he will give the number of persons involved and the number of times each person was searched, whether any prison contraband, smuggled item or illegal correspondence was discovered in any search, indicating which items, in how many cases prisoners refused to be searched and had to be restrained while the search was being conducted, and if he will indicate the reasons for the search, namely, making an appearance at Armagh courthouse on remand, attending trial, inter-prison visit or other reasons.

During July 1985 a total of 28 searches were carried out on 22 prisoners; 16 prisoners were searched once and six were searched twice. During August 1985, there was a total of 25 searches carried out on 14 prisoners; three prisoners were searched once and 11 were searched twice. During September 1985, there were 21 searches carried out on 14 prisoners; nine prisoners were searched once, three prisoners were searched twice, and two prisoners were searched three times. No prohibited article was found during these searches and no prisoner refused to be searched. Searches were carried out in the following circumstances:

	July	August	September
First admission on remand and awaiting trial	6	2	5
First admission on sentence and final discharge	13	15	11
Attending Armagh Remand Court	1	—	—
Attending other Remand Courts	1	—	2
Bail Court appearance	3	2	—
Home Leave Scheme	3	4	2
Inter-Prison Visits	—	2	—
Visits to outside hospital	1	—	1
Total	28	25	21

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions during the last 12 months, the hard shoulder on the M2 and the M5 motorways out of Belfast has been used during road works or diversions, and of these, on how many occasions signs were placed to direct motorists to use the hard shoulder.

On one occasion, and appropriate signing was provided.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take steps to require signs to be placed in future on motorways during road works at diversions to indicate to motorists that the hard shoulder may be used.

Where motorists are required to use the hard shoulder on motorways in Northern Ireland during roadworks or diversions, adequate signing will be provided.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what consultations he has had with London Regional Transport about the cost of constructing a new London Regional Transport station at Hillingdon as part of the blue scheme for the improvement of the A40 Western Avenue;(2) whether any part of the cost of the new London Regional Transport station at Hillingdon is part of the blue scheme for the improvement of the A40 Western Avenue will fall on his Department's Vote.

The Department, through its consulting engineers for the A40/Long Lane road improvement scheme, has held preliminary meetings with London Underground Ltd. about the reconstruction of Hillingdon station.The normal equivalent reinstatement basis of compensation will apply.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many additional contracts have been issued to the contractor and consultants responsible for the Wisley to Reigate section of the M25; and if he will list those projects.

Three contracts were let for the construction of the sections of the M25 between Wisley and Reigate:

(i) Leatherhead interchange—

• Awarded to Balfour Beatty Ltd. on 14 June 1982 at £14·1 million.

(ii)Wisley-Leatherhead section—

• Awarded to Fairclough Civil Engineering Ltd. on 5 October 1982 at £15·4 million.

Section of M25	Contractor	Original Contract Completion Date	Revised Contract Completion Date
A3 to Chatley Heath	Balfour Beatty Ltd.	30 August 1983	26 June 1984
Chatley Heath to Leatherhead	Fairclough Civil Engineering Ltd.	5 November 1984	9 September 1985
Leatherhead interchange	Balfour Beatty Ltd.	15 April 1985	—
Leatherhead to Reigate	Birse/Farr (formerly—Bovis/Birse) Joint Venture	23 December 1984	9 September 1985

All the contracts were supervised by W. S. Atkins & Partners, Consulting Engineers.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the precise nature of the problem which delayed the opening of the Wisely to Reigate section of the M25; and what is his Department's proposal for overcoming future maintenance problems on this section.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the eventual length of the M25 and how many miles of the M25 are (a) floodlit and (b) have a crash barrier.

The eventual length of the actual M25 will be 117 miles excluding the Dartford tunnel and the approach roads. Approximately 40 miles are lit at present and safety fences are provided throughout the entire length of the open sections except for 1·8km between junctions 11 and 12 which has a very wide central reserve.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what studies were undertaken before his Department selected a three-lane carriageway on the M25, and how many motorways in England are four-lane;(2) if he is satisfied that a three-lane carriageway is adequate for all sections of the M25; and if he will make a statement.

Comprehensive studies to predict traffic flows were carried out in the design stages of the M25. The choice of carriageway width was based on these predictions. The M25 is generally dual three-lane, but dual four-lanes have been provided between junctions 13 (Staines interchange) and 15 (M4). The adjoining sections from junction 11 (Chertsey interchange) and to junction 16 (M40) have been built with dual three-lanes, but in a way which will facilitate the future provision of fourth lanes should that prove necessary.There are six other sections of four-lane motorway in England, mostly short lengths between admacent junctions.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list the contractors and consultants who built the Wisley to Reigate section of the M25;(2) what was the original date for the completion of the Wisley to Reigate section of the M25 as notified to his Department by the contractors and consultants.

The M25 between Wisley and Reigate was constructed under the following main contracts:—

On the advice of Surrey county council it was decided that all the sections of the M25 between Wisley and Reigate should be opened at the same time. [t was not possible to open the last section between Leatherhead and Reigate on the contract completion date of 9 September 1985 because of the need to repair joints formed in the concrete slabs and hairline cracks appearing in the slabs. Some repairs remain to be completed in the normal maintenance period of 12 months following completion. These repairs, together with any other maintenance needed, will be so arranged as to minimise delays to traffic.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what studies his Department has made on traffic volume between Reigate and the Heathrow exit on the M25; and if he will publish those studies.

The latest estimated forecasts of traffic flows on the Reigate to Heathrow sections per 16-hour day in 1987, the expected first full year of operation of the complete M25, are in the following ranges:

Section of M25
From	To	Vehicles per day (000s)
A217	A243	44 to 53
A243	A3	50 to 58
A3	A320	61 to 80
A320	M3	72 to 85
M3	A30	67 to 80
A30	Airport spur	78 to 85
Airport spur	M4	78 to 85

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what studies his Department has made of the consequences of confining coaches to the centre and inner lanes of motorways.

As coaches are not confined to the centre and inside lanes of motorways, specific studies cannot be made. I have already announced that I am looking very carefully at every aspect of the speed and safety of coaches on motorways, including lane usage.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what advice his Department gives to contractors over the choice of tarmac or concrete for motorway surfacing.

Unless there are engineering reasons to the contrary, contractors are provided with designs for concrete and bituminous pavement construction, and invited to tender prices for both. The designs are in accordance with the Department's standards, and materials and construction must be in accordance with the Department's specification. Those criteria ensure that either form of construction would normally be equally acceptable. The contract is then awarded on the basis of the lowest tender, which ensures that the most economical form of construction is adopted, and therefore ultimately determines the type of material that is used.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has had consultations with the aviation authorities of Canada, Ireland and India regarding the cause of the loss of the Air India Boeing 747 off the coast of Ireland in June 1985; what advice on the matter he has received from the Civil Aviation Authority; and if he will make a statement.

The responsibility for the accident investigation into the loss of the Air India Boeing 747 lies with the Indian Government, with assistance from the state of manufacture.I have had no consultations with the aviation authorities of India, Canada and Ireland regarding the cause of this tragic accident, but the Civil Aviation Authority, which is solely responsible for United Kingdom aviation safety regulation, is keeping in touch with all the relevant authorities pending the outcome of the accident investigation.My accident investigation branch is also keeping in close touch with all the authorities concerned and is providing assistance to the Indian authorities when requested.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what further measures he intends to take concerning the dangers of second-hand tyres; and if he will make a statement.

Existing regulations prohibit the use and sale of sub-standard tyres, whether new or secondhand. I have recently advised motorists to check the condition and the markings on second-hand tyres before purchase.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he is satisfied with the operation of the regulations regarding the construction of tachographs on coaches, and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will introduce legislation requiring tachographs on coaches to be crash-proof and fireproof, and if he will make a statement.

Tachographs and recording charts must comply with the requirements of EEC regulation 1463/70. I am satisfied that this provides for appropriate standards of construction including some protection against fire and accidental damage. It is extremely rare for a tachograph chart to be destroyed in a crash or by fire. I do not believe more onerous requirements would be justified at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on the final report on the study of light dues.

I have received a large number of most helpful comments from individuals and from representative bodies. I am most grateful to all concerned for the thought and attention that they have given to the proposals. I am considering the issues carefully and will make a further statement in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate, in terms of amount per vessel per year, of the cost of collecting a levy in respect of light dues from yachts under 20 tonnes.

I have not yet reached any conclusion on the desirability of levying light dues on yachts that are at present exempt, nor made any estimate of the costs of levying such a charge.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will arrange for a further round of public consultation to include the Beckford Spur, in addition to his Department's published details of alternative routes for the Batheaston bypass (A4) and the A36 at Bathampton and A46 at Swainswick; and if he will make a statement.

An unusually long period was allowed for public consultation about this scheme, and I now intend to proceed to a decision on a preferred route.The so-called Beckford spur has no role to play in the national trunk road network, but should Avon county council wish to consult the public on it as a local distributor road, it is of course open to it to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what research has been undertaken involving the carriage of Magnox spent fuel by advanced gas-cooled reactor flasks with regard to crash tests and International Atomic Energy Agency drop tests;(2) when the safety of transport of irradiated Magnox fuel by MK2a and MK2b flasks was last reviewed, and what conclusions were reached;(3) on what grounds the use of MK2c flasks in the transport of irradiated fuels has been authorised as replacements for MK2a and MK2b flasks.

We are satisfied, from tests carried out under the requirements of IAEA regulations. that those AGR flasks which are in some cases used to transport Magnox fuel can do so safely.The MK2a Magnox fuel flask is no longer in service. Details of its withdrawal were given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in a written answer to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) (8 November 1983, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has had discussions with the Civil Aviation Authority concerning the crash of the Boeing 737 at Manchester airport in August, with particular reference to the problem of cracks in the engine burner cans; and if he will make a statement.

The Civil Aviation Authority is solely responsible for United Kingdom aviation safety requirements and regulations. I understand that as a result of evidence arising from the accident investigation the CAA has required the burner cans on JT8D engines which have completed specified numbers of flights or flight hours to be inspected for unacceptable cracking.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he plans any changes in the arrangements for issuing international driving permits to motorists travelling abroad; and if he will make a statement.

International driving permits have for many years been issued on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State by the Automobile Association, the Royal Automobile Club and the Royal Scottish Automobile Club. It is a task they perform responsibly and well. But I do not think the right to issue these permits should be restricted to these associations if other motoring organisations can show themselves to be suitably qualified. I have therefore decided, following examination of its proposed scheme, that the Secretary of State should delegate authority to the National Breakdown Recovery Club to issue international driving permits as from 1 January, 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in his talks with the West German Government seeking the extension of the rights of cabotage in West German waters to British-registered ships.

I am pleased to announce that we have now reached a satisfactory agreement with the Federal Republic. This will have the effect of ensuring that British operators offering a competitive service will have no bureaucratic difficulties in participating in German cabotage trades. We shall be seekang similar arrangements with other EC member states which at present exclude our vessels from such trades, while continuing to press for the early adoption of the Commission's proposal for abolition of cabotage restrictions among member states.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer, given on 13 June, Official Report, column 539, when London Regional Transport will publish a statement on the circumstances of the fire at Oxford Circus, and on the action being taken to prevent a recurrence.

LRT will be publishing its statement today and I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken to satisfy himself that the conditions prevailing on domestic air routes are such as to make competition possible with those airlines currently serving them and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to the reply, 28 October 19851: Before licensing a competing domestic service the Civil Aviation Authority, in accordance with its statutory duties, must consider a number of factors including whether a route can support competing services and the effect on an incumbent operator of licensing a competitor. There are no other constraints on route entry apart from statutory considerations such as these. Domestic fares in particular are now effectively deregulated, although the authority retains powers to deal with anti-competitive behaviour on fares, as well as in other areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many teaching staff were employed in public sector higher education in Wales for each year since 1979.

	Teachers in maintained establishments of higher and further education*
Year (as at January)	Full-time	Part-time (full-time equivalents)	Total full-time and full-time equivalents
1979†	3,717	—	—
1980	3,822	578	4,400
1981	3,783	536	4,319
1982	3,834	571	4,405
1983	4,104	518	4,622
1984	4,158	604	4,762
1985	4,082	565	4,647
* Excluding adult education centres and youth clubs and centres.
† Figures on part-time numbers are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what was the total amount allocated in by his Department in urban development grant to each county council in Wales for the year 1984–85 and for each of the previous five years; and what are the estimated figures to be allocated to them in 1985–86 and 1986–87;(2) what was the total amount allocated in by his Department in urban development grant for the year 1984–85 and for each of the previous five years, and what are the estimated figures to be allocated 1985–86 and 1986–87.

The urban development grant scheme was introduced in 1982 and the first approvals were announced in February 1983. Expenditure on approved projects may extend beyond the year of approval.Total amounts approved for projects in Wales which have been completed or are in progress are, by year of approval:

1982–83	1983–84	1984–85	*1985–86
£ million	£ million	£ million	£ million
3·552	2·23	10·62	2·016
* (to date)

The above figures include expenditure on approved projects submitted by four county councils, as follows:

County Council	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85	1985–86
	£ million	£ million	£ million	£ million
South Glamorgan	0·385	0·045	8·5	0·093
Dyfed	—	0·016	—	—
Clwyd	0·338	—	—	—
Mid Glamorgan	0·025	—	—	—

Levels of urban development grant in 1986–87 will not be decided until the overall capital expenditure provision for Wales has been determined.

Figures on the number of teaching staff in public sector higher education are not available. however, the information on those employed in maintained higher and further education establishments in Wales is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report details of the mechanism within the Welsh grant-related expenditure formula whereby community councils' expenditure is taken into account.

Community councils' precepts form part of district councils' expenditure, which qualifies for rate support grant. Under the 1985–86 grant-related expenditure (GRE) formula, 50 per cent. of GRE which relates to community councils' precepts is distributed to district councils in proportion to their home population. The remaining 50 per cent. is distributed on the basis of enhanced population (as defined in note 5 to table 9.5 in Appendix 9 to the Welsh rate support grant report 1985–86) adjusted to take account of population density, population in accommodation lacking amenities and unemployment.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the total public expenditure in Wales undertaken by community councils.

Approximately £6 million in 1985–86.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total expenditure in Wales during the last financial year by local authorities in Wales under section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972.

Figures for 1984–85 are still being collected. For 1983–84 the gross expenditure under section 137, by counties and districts in Wales, was £3·993 million; the net expenditure was £3·102 million. Expenditure under section 137 by community councils is not held centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the amounts actually spent in each financial year from 1978–79 to 1984–85, at 1984–85 prices, by each individual Welsh health authority.

Expenditure incurred by Welsh Health Authorities at 1984–85 prices
£000's
	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	Provisional for 1984–85
Clwyd	82,249	84,517	93,406	95,118	98,216	97,521	103,009
East Dyfed	70,902	72,241	76,532	78,058	66,747	69,236	72,008
Pembs					14,439	15,260	16,422
Gwent	105,187	106,842	112,920	115,972	120,655	122,350	125,091
Gwynedd	50,110	51,829	55,876	56,339	57,920	59,572	64,400
Mid Glam	123,316	124,885	132,959	134,006	138,514	141,370	146,780
Powys	24,391	25,200	26,698	27,200	28,518	29,046	29,846
South Glam	135,259	133,367	143,321	146,660	149,927	152,253	154,380
West Glam	83,585	84,911	90,930	93,301	96,035	96,884	101,224
WHTSO	24,325	22,056	28,898	29,462	34,583	36,215	25,766
Total	699,324	705,848	761,540	776,116	805,554	819,707	838,926

Notes:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of people leaving youth training scheme courses in June in Wales are currently in full-time, permanent employment.

Information for June leavers is not available. The most recent published results of a sample survey of people who left youth training schemes in Wales related to the period between July and September 1984. This gave a figure of 49 per cent. going into full-time employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, of the 15 per cent. of youth training scheme leavers in Wales who receive Manpower Services Commission questionnaires regarding their employment status, what percentage reply.

The most recent 15 per cent. survey for which results are currently available for Wales is for young people who left youth training schemes between July and September 1984. This survey achieved a 67 per cent. response rate.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many people so far in the current year in Wales have notified that they have contracted dysentery; and what were the total notifications for each year since 1979.

For the numbers of notifications of dysentery in Wales in the years 1979 to 1984 I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to him on 18 June 1985 at column 61 by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State. Provisional notifications for the current year, up to the week ending 11 October, totalled 551.

The information requested is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales by how much in real terms the urban programme has risen since 1979; and if he will break this figure down by each of the Welsh counties.

Using the GDP deflator as a measure of inflation, between 1979–80 and 1985–86 the urban programme (including urban development grant) has risen by £18·5 million in real terms. This figure is broken down as follows:

	£m
Clwyd	3·31
Dyfed	1·28
Gwent	1·70
Gwynedd	0·59
Mid Glamorgan	3·93
Powys	0·14
South Glamorgan	6·00
West Glamorgan	1·53

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he proposes to give health authorities in Wales additional cash to enable them to put into effect the recommendations of the working party on cervical cytology; and if he will make a statement.

The cervical cytology screening service is managed on a district basis and its funding is the responsibility of the health authority concerned. Whilst it is not proposed to provide additional money for the service itself, the Welsh Office is funding the provision of computers for all the family practitioner committees and this will facilitate the administration of the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how much of the financial year 1984–85 had elapsed before he approved West Glamorgan's proposals for the development of services for mentally handicapped people in that year; why approval had not been given earlier; and what was the level of underspend for the council for that year on these plans;(2) when approval for West Glamorgan plans for the development of services for mentally handicapped people was given in respect of the financial year 1985–86;(3) if he will now take steps to place approval for West Glamorgan plans for the development of services for mentally handicapped people on a three-year rolling plan basis.

The West Glamorgan plan for the development of services over a 10-year period necessarily received detailed consideration by the Department and the all-Wales advisory panel and was the subject of consultation with the planning group before it could be approved on 7 June 1984. At that time a firm cash limit was announced for 1984–85 together with an advance indication of likely funding for 1985–86 and 1986–87. Due to a number of factors there was an underspend of £246,000 in 1984–85. A firm cash limit for 1985–86 was notified on 22 May 1985. Advance indication of the likely level of funding for the three year period starting 1987–88 will be given during 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a statement of policies and priorities for health services in Wales.

I have today published such a document. Copies have been placed in the Library and I have sent individual copies to all right hon. and hon. Members representing constituencies in Wales. I intend to publish a corporate plan for the NHS in Wales in a few months' time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many hon. members have currently got a stop on one or more immigration cases;(2) what proportion of stops is placed by hon. members on behalf of immigrants or relatives of immigrants resident in their own constituencies;(3) how many immigration cases are currently subject to a stop;(4) how many immigration cases have been placed on stop over the last 12 months;(5) what is his policy with regard to placing a stop on an immigration case when

[pursuant to his reply, 24 October 1985 c. 209]: The policy is to accept in good faith approaches by hon. Members, or their personal representatives, on the assumption that detailed representations about cases on which a stop has been placed will be submitted very quickly.In the period from 1 January to 30 September this year hon. Members made representations in 4,146 cases handled by the immigration service compared with 3,532 in the whole of 1984. From 1 to 22 October an additional 764 representations have been received, bringing the total so far this year to 4,910. Currently representations are being considered in 3,325 passenger arrival cases. This substantial growth in case work is a cause for serious concern since the additional resources required to handle it are being drawn from the initial control at ports of entry and the longer this persists the more serious will become the impact on large numbers of other passengers. The more that representations are made, and the longer they take to deal with, the longer it is that persons refused entry are likely to stay in this country; and where it is not possible to serve removal directions within two months of the date of refusal the cost of removal may fall on public funds. Comprehensive information is not separately available of the number of hon. Members making representations nor on what proportion of stops is placed by hon. Members on behalf of passengers whose relatives or sponsors in this country are their constituents.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many Bangladeshi nationals, applying for visits to the United Kingdom have been detained prior to a decision being made whether to admit or refuse, for July, August and September, broken down on a monthly basis, compared with the same period in 1984;(2) how many Bangladeshis have genuinely absconded from temporary admission during the period July to September, compared with the same period in 1984;(3) how many Bangladeshi visit refusals have resulted in representations from Members of Parliament for July, August and September, broken down on a monthly basis, compared with the same period in 1984;(4) how many Bangladeshi nationals have been granted temporary admission for 10 days or more, on arrival, but on reporting back for their first interview have been refused and detained with no further temporary admission, in the months July to September, compared with same period in 1984;(5) how many Bangladeshis have married while on temporary admission after claiming to be here for short visits during the period July to September 1985;(6) how many Bangladeshi nationals were refused entry for visits at Heathrow in July, August and September, broken down on a monthly basis, compared with same period in 1984;(7) how many Bengali interpreters were employed by the immigration service at Heathrow for the period July to October;(8) what is his policy concerning detaining passengers awaiting decisions on applications for entry or results of representations by Members of Parliament in prison accommodation;(9) If he will make a statement on the circumstances in which a large number of visitors were detained on the night of 4 October in the Queen's building, Heathrow, Harmondsworth detention centre and Ashford remand centre and in the case of at least one visitor from Bangladesh in a cell at the Northside police station.

[pursuant to his reply, 24 October 1985, c. 208–9]: Information about the number of citizens of Bangladesh recently refused leave to enter, including those who sought entry as visitors is available only from terminal 3 at Heathrow, as is the information requested about the number of representations from hon. Members, and that about absconders. The available information is as follows:

	1984	1985
Refusals of Entry
July	22	129
August	28	237
September	22	318
TOTAL	72	684
Representations from Hon. Members
July	7	57
August	4	122
September	5	181
TOTAL	16	360
Absconders who cannot be traced
July–September	2	24

As far as detention is concerned, in the London airports area the immigration service detention centres at Harmondsworth, Queen's building and Gatwick are able to accommodate those passengers who are not considered appropriate to be granted temporary admission. Where this cannot be done passengers are detained in Ashford remand centre and, exceptionally, in other prison accommodation or in police cells. In recent weeks there has been a sharp rise in the arrival rate of nationals of Bangladesh who have been refused entry, a number of whom have not been considered appropriate to be granted temporary admission. On 4 October the number of people to be detained exceeded the available accommodation at the Harmonsworth, Queen's building and Gatwick detention centres. Those passengers for whom room could not be found in any of the three centres were detained in Ashford remand centre with the exception of one person who was detained at Uxbridge police station.Three full-time and six hourly-paid Bengali interpreters were employed by the immigration service at Heathrow during the period July to October. The other information requested is either not available or not available in the form requested.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the number of arrivals in the United Kingdom from (a) Bangladesh, (b) India, (c) Pakistan and (d) Sri Lanka detained by the immigration authorities in each week during the past three months.

[pursuant to his reply, 25 October 1985, c. 270]: The following figures, which are provisional, give the information available on the number of occasions on which passengers were taken by the immigration authorities to approved detention accommodation. They are based on returns from all ports of entry plus returns from the detention facilities at Harmondsworth and Heathrow Queen's building. Passengers who were taken to different buildings at different times may have been counted more than once. Some of those detained will subsequently have been granted temporary admission to the United Kingdom while consideration of their case is completed.

Nationality	July	August	September
Bangladesh	113	114	170
India	131	106	105
Pakistan	112	106	92
Sri Lanka	17	20	32

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions over the past 12 months the Metropolitan police air support unit has used the heli-tele suveillance camera, what these occasions were, whether a film record was made during any of these surveillance operations and on what occasion the heli-tele was first used.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that over the past 12 months the heli-tele surveillance camera was used by his air support unit on about 30 occasions for the following purposes:

i. to assist security operations at such events as state visits, Trooping the Colour and the moving of high-risk prisoners from prison to court;

ii. to assist with traffic control at major sporting events such as the Cup Final;

iii. to assist with the command and control of police officers deployed at demonstrations and marches; and

iv. to assist in the preparation of training exercises.

Video recordings were made on a number of these occasions.The commissioner assures me that on each occasion the use of heli-tele was fully within the guidelines for the use of equipment in police surveillance operations, a copy of which is in the Library.Heli-tele was first used at the Notting Hill Gate carnival in 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in each London police district, what is the number of (a) baton rounds held in armouries, (b) weapons that discharge baton rounds and (c) officers trained in their use;(2) which of the following departments of the Metropolitan police have stocks of plastic baton rounds, baton round launchers and officers trained in their use; and in each case what are the numbers involved: commissioner's office, A1 to A10, B1 to B14, C1 to C13, D1 to D15, area headquarters, training schools and holding centres.

For operational reasons it would not be sensible to disclose the quantity of baton round equipment held by the Metropolitan police, its location or the number of officers who have been trained in its use.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what responses have been received from the Greater London council, London boroughs and district councils and local authority associations concerning the central structure of the reorganisation of the Metropolitan police; and how many responses were favourable and how many unfavourable.

The commissioner tells me that since he announced the broad outline of his proposals for reorganising the Metropolitan police in November 1984, he has received some 20 representations from borough and district councils, local authority associations and the Greater London Council. Among the points raised were the absence of external consultation before the announcement and the effect of the abolition of districts on community/police consultative arrangements. Assurances were also sought about the commissioner's intention to consult on the detail of the reorganisation.As part of his commitment to consult widely on the implementation of the reorganisation, the commissioner earlier this year sought the views of all right hon. and hon. Members for constituencies wholly or partly within the Metropolitan police district, of borough and district councils and of community/police consultative groups on the proposed introduction of the eight new areas. He tells me that of the 63 per cent. who responded, 59 per cent. expressed agreement with the proposal; 7 per cent. agreed with reservations; 19 per cent. made no specific comment but expressed no objection; 6 per cent. either asked for further information or were unable to respond before consulting others; and 9 per cent. disagreed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which organisations, companies, staff associations, and trades unions were consulted concerning reorganisation of the Metropolitan police prior to November 1984; what comments or reports were received; and which of them he has made available to hon. Members.

The commissioner informs me that he took advice from the following police forces and outside organisations:

• Marks and Spencer
• Shell International
• Unilever
• G.K.N.
• MacDonalds
• Corning Glass
• British Leyland
• McKinseys
• Chloride
• Ellerman Lines
• I.C.L.
• National Coal Board
• I.C.I.
• Prime Ministers Efficiency Unit
• H.M. Treasury
• H.M. Treasury (Staff Inspection and Evaluation Division)
• Home Office (Scientific Research and Development Branch)
• Home Office (Police Research Services Unit)
• Ministry of Defence
• Army (Northern Ireland and S.E. Command)
• British Institute of Management
• Institute of Management Services
• Association of Teachers of Management
• Oxford Regional Management Centre
• South West Regional Management Centre
• Anglian Regional Management Centre
• Police Staff College
• F.B.I. Academy, Quantico
• Management Seminar, Boston, Massachusetts
• Police Foundation
• London Business School
• University College London
• Polytechnic of Central London
• North East London Polytechnic

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police authorities have sought 100 per cent. reimbursement from the Government of the cost of policing the miners' dispute.

Ten.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Metropolitan police anti-terrorist squad has been involved in the investigation of recent racial attacks in the London area; and if he will make a statement.

No, it has not been involved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the role of the Metropolitan police anti-terrorist squad.

To investigate bombing attacks and terrorist attacks in the Metropolitan police district including politically motivated murder, attempted murder or kidnapping.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will conduct a review of the licensing laws in so far as they permit children over five years old to consume alcohol on licensed premises other than in the bar; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has at present no plans to review the licensing law as it relates to the consumption of alcohol by young people on licensed premises.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Cambridgeshire police as to the reasons why the police took photographs of visitors to the peace camp at Molesworth USAF base on 13 September and as to where those photographs are now held.

The chief constable of Cambridgeshire informs me that, so far as he is aware no such photographs were taken. He will however make further inquiries if additional details are provided.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were (a) two to a cell and (b) three to a cell on the most recent convenient date.

Information on cell sharing is collected once a month. Figures for October are being compiled. I shall write to the hon. Member when they are available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total cost of purchasing Lindholme Royal Air Force station and of converting it for use as a prison.

The cost of the site was £3·6 million. We are undertaking building work totalling approximately £9 million to provide accommodation for 750 prisoners.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will conclude his consideration of the representations regarding the conviction of Mr. Godfrey Pritchard.

My right hon. Friend hopes to be able to do so shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether disabled justices, defendants and the public have access to the courthouses in the Wirral.

Neither of the two magistrates' courthouses in the Wirral is modern, but we understand that access to courtrooms on the first floor is provided for wheelchair users at Birkenhead. I understand that the court in Wallasey is not so convenient, but that arrangements could be made for a disabled defendant to appear at a court on the ground floor.

Persons proceeded against in the Cheshire police force area for certain offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
		Number of persons
Type of drug	Type of offence*	1982	1983	1984
Heroin	Unlawful possession	3	9	55
	Possession with intent to supply unlawfully	—	2	4
	Unlawful supply	—	—	18
Cocaine	Unlawful possession	4	—	6
	Possession with intent to supply unlawfully	1	—	1
	Unlawful supply	—	—	—

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the hon. Member for Birkenhead has not yet received a reply to his letter to the clerk of Wirral justices of 13 March about access by disabled people to the courthouse in the Wirral, nor to his reminder of 11 July.

We understand that a reply has now been sent to the hon. Member's letter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the amount of compensation paid by central and local government for damage caused by each riot since 1979.

Under the Riot (Damages) Act 1886 responsibility for paying compensation rests with the compensation authority for the police area. No central record is kept of payments made. After the disturbances in 1981, a special scheme was instituted whereby in certain circumstances the Home Office met 60 per cent. of certain expenditure arising from the disturbances, including compensation payments. Four compensation authorities qualified for that scheme and to date the following sums have been paid to each by the Home Office in respect of compensation payments:

Compensation Authority	£m
Greater Manchester county council	0·29
Merseyside county council	3·40
West Yorkshire county council	0·39
Receiver for the Metropolitan police district	2·15

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Cheshire as to the number of people (a) within the area covered by the Cheshire constabulary and (b) within the area covered by the Macclesfield division of the Cheshire constabulary who have been charged with (i) possession of and (ii) supplying (a) amphetamines, (b) heroin and (c) cocaine in each of the last three years; and if he will publish the information in the Official Report.

The information available for the Cheshire police force area is given in the following table. Police forces are not required to provide centrally any information for individual divisions or stations within their areas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department of those persons in Wales convicted of (a) all drugs related offences and (b) offences related to the use of heroin or its derivatives, how many were unemployed for each year from 1980 to 1985.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 October 1985, c. 44]: The information available, from returns made mainly by the police, is given in the following table; corresponding figures for 1985 will not be available until the summer of next year.

Persons found guilty of offences under drugs legislation or other offences involving controlled drugs
Wales, 1980–84	Number of persons
	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984
All offences
Total number of persons	800	771	1,000	1,110	1,297
Number recorded as unemployed	342	417	598	760	856
Offences involving heroin
Total number of persons	11	12	15	25	54
Number recorded as unemployed	8	7	11	20	47

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Leicestershire as to the additional costs of policing the city of Leicester during the nights of 9 and 10 October, and if he will make a statement on the disturbances which took place in Leicester on those dates.

I shall reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will list in the Official Report the number of prisoners on remand who have been waiting (i) more than six months, (ii) more than nine months and (iii) more than 12 months for their trial at the latest available date (a) in England and Wales and (b) at Cambridge Crown court, and whether he will make a statement.

The latest readily available information for England and Wales is that given in the letter of 10 September 1985 to the hon. Member for St. Helens, South (Mr. Bermingham), a copy of which is in the Library. Corresponding figures for Cambridge Crown court are not available centrally. The prosecution of Offences Act 1985 established a scheme for applying time limits in criminal proceedings. Field trials are about to begin in four areas to test the practical implications and effects before we apply statutory limits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many circuses have been prosecuted over the last five years for cruelty to animals.

The information, which may be incomplete, on proceedings for all offences of cruelty to animals is published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, Supplementary Tables, Volume 1" (Table S.1.1(A) of the 1984 issue under offence classification 108). The information collected centrally does not identify prosecutions against circuses. However, within the published totals, only one or two prosecutions a year were for cruelty to performing animals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the operation of the Farriers (Registration) Act 1975, and if he will make a statement.

We have no reason to be dissatisfied with the general working of the Act. Its day-to-day administration is the responsibility of the Farriers Registration Council, which will no doubt be in a position to answer any specific questions.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the budget for the veterinary laboratory at Lasswade in the last financial year; and what proportion of that budget represented expenditure on research and development.

The recorded expenditure for the veterinary laboratory at Lasswade in the last financial year was £1,425,000 of which £193,000 represented expenditure on research and development projects as such.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the proposed closure of the veterinary laboratory at Lasswade and the financial savings expected to arise from closure.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the proposed closure of the central veterinary laboratory at Lasswade.

Research and development spending by the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service will be reduced by some £4 million in 1986–87. This is in line with earlier decisions to reduce Government expenditure on agricultural research and development.This will be achieved by rationalising the organisation of ADAS's R & D and concentrating work on fewer sites. This approach is intended to maintain ADAS's capability to respond to advice on the longer term priorities for R & D which the Priorities Board for Research and Development in Agriculture and Food is considering and to respond to the needs of industry as expressed through the financial contributions which the Government consider the industry should make towards the cost of R & D from which it benefits. This approach has been endorsed by the priorities board.As part of these economies, the department of the central veterinary laboratory located at Lasswade will close from 1 April 1986. The arrangements for maintaining the essential services needed in the areas concerned will be announced later. Until these announcements have been made it will not be possible to provide figures on the overall financial savings resulting from closure, nor will it be possible to assess the number of redundancies likely to be needed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the Government regulations applicable to the manufacture of bread.

The main regulations which apply to the manufacture of bread are, as follows:

(a) the Bread and Flour Regulations 1963, as amended, to be replaced entirely on 1 July 1986 by the Bread and Flour Regulations 1984 covering England and Wales. Similar regulations exists in Scotland and Northern Ireland;

(b) the Weights and Measures Act 1963 (Bread) Order 1977, the Weights and Measures (packaged goods) Regulations 1979, as amended and the Weights and Measures Act 1963 (Miscellaneous Foods) Order 1984 covering Great Britain. Similar legislation exists in Northern Ireland.

In addition, the manufacture of bread in the United Kingdom is subject to regulations which apply to foodstuffs in general, covering, for example, health and hygiene, labelling, contaminants and units of measurement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received concerning the level of imports of strawberry pulp and the level of domestic production; and whether he will make a statement.

We have received representations on behalf of strawberry growers about the impact on profitability of imports of strawberry pulp. We have no powers to act unilaterally on this. As a result of the pressure we have exerted, the European Commission has reached agreement with the Polish and Yugoslavian authorities on measures to safeguard the interests of strawberry and other soft fruit growers in the Community. My noble Friend the Minister of State is in touch with the farmers unions and will review developments with them next month.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information is available to his Department in respect of the number of domestic producers of strawberry pulp and the number of domestic users of strawberry pulp in each of the last five years (a) in England and Wales and (b) in the East Anglian region.

No information is available on the number of domestic producers or users of strawberry pulp. It is understood that 17 per cent. of the strawberry area in England and Wales was for processing in 1984 and that over 90 per cent. of this was in the eastern region.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will list in the Official Report such information as he has as to the average price per tonne of (a) domestic strawberry pulp and (b) imported strawberry pulp from each source country in each of the last five years; and whether he will make a statement.

No information is available on average prices per tonne of domestic strawberry pulp. The information on imports is as follows:

United Kingdom imports of strawberry pulp. Average unit value (£/tonne c.i.f)
	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984
Netherland	425	299	378	441	411
FRG	—	—	478	554	303
Irish Republic	336	286	421	484	428
France	—	490	—	—	—
Italy	—	340	—	—	—
Greece	—	—	—	—	1,094
Poland	119	280	339	430	303
Israel	—	—	—	—	549

Source: United Kingdom Overseas Trade Statistics.