asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he proposes to issue guidelines to appropriate local education authorities about establishing curricula for primary schools in inner city areas; and if he will make a statement.

The Government's White Paper "Better Schools" envisages all schools, including inner city schools, offering a curriculum which is broad, balanced, relevant and differentiated, within the framework of appropriate LEA policies. Her Majesty's Inspectorate is currently issuing a series of curriculum discussion documents which cover the age-range five to 16 and offer guidance about the design of the curriculum as a whole and in its parts, including such matters as differentiation of work to meet the range of ability to be found in schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which people from outside Her Majesty's Government have been responsible for advising Ministers of his Department about his plans for merit and distinction awards in the 16-plus examination.

Some 390 responses, from individuals and bodies both within and outside the education service, were received to the consultation paper on GCSE distinction and merit certificates issued last December. In the light of these, revised proposals are to be brought forward for further consultation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the number of research grants which have been given by his Department to academic and scientific institutions during the last six years; and what this number represented as a proportion of the applications for research grants submitted to his Department during the same period.

Information on this is published annually by the Department in "List 1: Current Educational Research Projects supported by the Department of Education and Science", and copies for the years 1979 to 1985 inclusive are available in the Library. The number of research grants awarded to academic and scientific institutions by the Department during the last six years totalled 430. Information as to what this number represented as a proportion of the applications for research grants submitted to the Department during the same period is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent meeting between representatives of local education authorities and officials of his Department about proposed legislation on midday supervision.

The meeting formed part of the Department's consultation with the local authority associations on the proposal to add

"securing the supervision of pupils in schools at midday"

to the schedule of purposes specified in the Education Support Grants Regulations as those for which education support grants may be paid. Draft regulations incorporating this amendment have now been laid before the House as the Education Support Grant Regulations (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 1985. As a result of the meeting, a draft addendum to circular 5/85 was issued to the local authority associations on 27 November seeking their further comments. Copies of the draft addendum are available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to improve facilities in secondary schools for the teaching of mathematics and modern languages; and if he will make a statement.

Arrangements for the teaching of mathematics and modern languages are the responsibility of the local education authorities and the schools themselves. The Department's architects and building group has published design advice on secondary school accommodation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to introduce a maintenance payment system for disabled university students to enable them to retain accommodation which they occupy as a result of their disability and to introduce an additional allowance to reimburse students who can supply satisfactory medical evidence of special dietary needs for vouched items of expenditure on diet incurred wholly by reason of those needs.

There are no plans to change the present arrangements, which provide for a disabled student to be reimbursed up to a specified sum additional expenditure incurred by reason of his disability and in respect of his attendance on a course.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to increase the present level of allowances for university students who are married to take into account requirements for dependent families or relatives.

The allowances for students' dependants are increased each year to reflect the change in social security benefit rates to which they are directly related.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table giving pupil-teacher ratios in England and Wales for (i) primary schools and (ii) secondary schools in each year since 1979.

The figures for Wales are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Wales. The pupil-teacher ratios for maintained primary and secondary schools in England since 1979 are as follows:

January of each year	Pupil-teacher ratio in Primary Schools	Pupil-teacher ratio in Secondary Schools
1979	23·1	16·7
1980	22·7	16·6
1981	22·6	16·6
1982	22·5	16·6
1983	22·3	16·5
1984	22·1	16·2
1985	22·2	16·1

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table giving the pupil-teacher ratio in Hertfordshire for (i) primary schools and (ii) secondary schools in each year since 1979.

The pupil-teacher ratios in maintained primary and secondary schools in Hertfordshire since 1979 are as follows:

January of each year	Pupil-teacher ratio in Primary Schools	Pupil-teacher ratio in Secondary Schools
1979	22·5	15·9
1980	22·3	16·0
1981	22·2	15·9
1982	21·9	16·0
1983	22·4	16·2
1984	22·4	16·1
1985	22·2	16·0

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table giving the pupil-teacher ratio in Buckinghamshire for (i) primary schools and (ii) secondary schools in each year since 1979.

The pupil-teacher ratios in maintained primary and secondary schools in Buckinghamshire since 1979 are as follows:

January of each year	Pupil-teacher ratio in Primary Schools	Pupil-teacher ratio in Secondary Schools
1979	24·2	16·8
1980	23·8	16·5
1981	23·9	16·7
1982	23·8	16·7
1983	24·1	16·4
1984	24·3	16·5
1985	24·2	16·4

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will raise with the chairman of the Post Office a request that both the English and Welsh languages should be treated as official languages for the purposes of addressing mail within Wales.

No, this is a matter for the Post Office board.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why he does not distinguish between wage claims and wage settlements in describing the position of the United Kingdom motor car industry; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend makes the appropriate distinction between a wage claim for negotiation and a wage settlement which may be subsequently agreed as a result of negotiation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures he has taken to seek to encourage United States pharmaceutical investment in the United Kingdom.

Medical products and biotechnology are among the key industry sectors in the United States from which it is aimed to attract investors through the Department's Invest in Britain Bureau's major promotional campaign—Britain Means Business. In collaboration with the public and private sectors, the bureau is conducting this campaign in addition to its normal activities and draws attention to the undoubted attractions of the United Kingdom to foreign investors, not least of which is the favourable business climate created by this Government.To coincide with the Biotech '85 exhibition in Washington in October the Invest in Britain Bureau organised a successful seminar "Biotechnology—the national habitat" attended by more than 20 corporate executives and representatives of the two trade associations covering this sector of the pharmaceutical industry.As a result of the Government's earlier efforts to encourage United States pharmaceutical investment, Damon Biotech announced recently that it intended to set up a £30 million biotechnology manufacturing facility in Livingston, Scotland to provide 300 jobs over the next four years.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has had any representations from British firms in the export market regarding the implication for United Kingdom export prospects of the recent increase in commission charged by the Crown Suppliers; and if he will make a statement.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, pursuant to the answer of 28 November, Official Report, column 626, he has at any time requested the West Midlands county council to keep his Department informed of any business which might have been generated by that council's mission to Hong Kong in autumn 1984; and if he will make a statement.

No. As the mission was not officially sponsored, no such request was made.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is Her Majesty's Government's response to the report by the Director General of Fair Trading on the resale of electricity by landlords; and if he will make a statement.

The Government expect to deal with this subject not by making overcharging a separate criminal offence but as part of the proposed new legislation on misleading price indications announced in my predecessor's statement of 4 March to the House. When the necessary powers become available under that legislation, we expect to introduce an order requiring those who resell electricity to give itemised bills which include a statement showing the number of units charged for, the rates applied and the statutory maximum rate. The general provisions of that legislation, under which it would be a criminal offence to give a misleading price indication or to fail to comply with an order, would then apply to those bills and the information given in them. The present civil remedy would also continue to be available.The electricity supply industry, with the agreement of the Government, has decided not to abolish the daily availability charge as recommended in the report but, instead, to rationalise it throughout the United Kingdom on the basis that the maximum any tenant pays through the daily availability charge will be no more than he would pay through the domestic standing charge if he were a standard direct credit customer of his electricity board. The industry has satisfied itself that this will be a fair arrangement for both tenants and landlords and expects to introduce this change in the next general round of tariff changes, probably in the spring of 1986. The arrangements for itemised bills will also embrace the daily availability charge.I understand that many electricity boards are discussing with their area electricity consultative councils what steps should be taken with regard to the report's recommendation that there should be increased publicity for maximum resale prices. In some areas, discussions have already taken place and in others the subject will be included as part of the normal discussions regarding the next general round of tariff changes. The Government recognise that additional publicity will be necessary for the new powers which I have outlined today at the time they become available and will consider the form this should take in due course. The industry has however already informed the Government of its willingness to play its part by incorporating details of the new arrangements in its own leaflets, showroom notices and other advertisements about the maximum resale price of electricity.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 2 December, if, in the light of his letter to each right hon. and hon. Member detailing grants related to jobs in each constituency, he will now publish the same information in the Official Report.

The information on which the letters were based is as follows:

	£'000
Aberavon	6,743
Aldridge-Brownhills	295
Alyn and Deeside	3,825
Angus, East	1,295
Ashton-under-Lyne	140
Ayr	3,725
Barnsley, East	26
Barnsley, West and Penistone	49
Batley and Spen	320
Berwick-upon-Tweed	85
Beverley	361
Birkenhead	314
Birmingham, Erdington	432
Birmingham, Hall Green	25
Birmingham, Ladywood	225
Birmingham, Northfield	25
Birmingham, Selly Oak	50
Birmingham, Small Heath	188
Birmingham, Sparkbrook	2,633
Birmingham, Yardley	65
Bishop Auckland	2,336
Blackburn	525
Blaenau Gwent	2,193
Blaydon	240
Blyth Valley	998
Bolton, North-East	208
Bolton, South-East	92
Bolton, West	175
Boothferry	370
Bootle	700
Bosworth	259
Bradford North	1,146
Bradford South	215
Bradford West	494
Brecon and Radnor	136
Bridgend	2,343
Bridlington	9,060
Brigg and Cleethorpes	5,234
Bromsgrove	38
Bury, North	137
Bury, South	40
Caenarfon	157
Caerphilly	468
Calder Valley	40
Cannock and Burntwood	80
Cardiff, Central	221
Cardiff, North	2,850
Cardiff, South and Penarth	428
Cardiff, West	155
Carmarthen	123
Carrick Cumnock and Doon Valley	617
Central Fife	2,819
Ceredigion and Pembroke	185
Chorley	174
City of Chester	293
City of Durham	795
Clackmannan	1,020
Clwyd, North-West	508
Clwyd, South-West	80
Clydebank and Milngavie	1,812
Conwy	10
Copeland	253
Corby	6,199
Coventry North East	70
Coventry South East	737
Coventry South West	428
Crosby	134
Cumbernauld and Kilsyth	11,571
Cunninghame North	3,839
Cunninghame South	710

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on revisions to the British Gas Corporation's external financing limit for 1985–86.

BGC's EFL for 1985–86 was published in Cmnd. 9428 as—£352 million. The figure had been agreed with the corporation in November 1984. In the early part of this year, exchange rates were markedly lower than had been assumed. The cost to BGC of its gas purchases is closely linked to exchange rates, albeit with some delay. Although the rates have since improved, the corporation's gas costs for 1985–86 are expected to be higher than had been forecast when the EFL was agreed. I have, therefore, decided it would be right to set a new EFL and have agreed with the corporation a figure of —£176 million, which takes into account offsetting savings made by BGC. BGC's negative EFL reflects the net cash generated by the business and is a cssh surplus, retained by the corporation, although it counts as negative public expenditure. The change in BGC's EFL from —£352 million to —£176 million will be charged to the reserve and therefore will not affect the public expenditure planning total.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any plans to implement a full physical separation of civil and military facilities and activities at Sellafield; and if he will make a statement.

Amongst other conclusions, the final declaration of the non-proliferation treaty review Conference recommended

"consideration of separation of the civil and military facilities in the nuclear weapons states".

Her Majesty's Government are considering this recommendation.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has held any discussions with representatives of the Norwegian Government concerning the purchase of natural gas by the British Gas Corporation.

My right hon. Friend and I meet the Norwegian Minister for Petroleum and Energy from time to time to discuss matters of mutual interest in relation to both oil and gas on the United Kingdom and Norwegian continental shelves. The most recent meeting was at the Anglo-Norwegian Co-ordinating Committee in Oslo on 21 November which I attended.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has issued guidelines to chief police officers on the use of plastic bullets.

Guidelines were issued to chief officers of police in 1981 when plastic baton rounds were first made available to forces in Great Britain. They cover the following points:

Baton rounds are to be used only with the express authority of the chief officer of police (or, in his absence, his deputy), under the direction and control of a senior officer whom he has designated as officer in charge, and by police officers who have been trained in the use of the equipment and know its characteristics.

Baton rounds are to be used only as a last resort where conventional methods of policing have been tried and failed, or must from the nature of the circumstances obtaining be unlikely to succeed if tried, and where the chief officer judges such action to be necessary because of the risk of loss of life or serious injury or widespread destruction of property. Wherever practicable, a public warning of their use is to be given.

Only baton rounds and riot guns of a type authorised by the Home Office may be used for these purposes. Nothing in the guidelines will affect the principle, to which section 3 of the Criminal Law Act 1967 gives effect, that only the minimum force necessary in the circumstances must be used. The degree of force justified will vary according to the circumstances of each case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements have been made for the future of the ecology section following the abolition of the Greater London council.

This is a matter for the borough councils; I understand that a report on the ecology unit is being prepared for the London co-ordinating committee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his intentions for the transfer at abolition of property owned by the Greater London council and metropolitan county councils.

Proposals for the making of orders under section 100 of the Local Government Act 1985 were issued for consultation in September in my Department's second property memorandum. This proposed that orders should be made on general principles, transferring land and other property according to the statutory purpose for which it was held on 16 July 1985. These principles were designed to ensure that property needed for the continuing provision of inherited services would pass immediately at abolition to the appropriate successor authority. Other property, including that for which the appropriate successor has not been identified, would pass initially to the residuary bodies.My right hon. Friend has now considered the responses to his published proposals. He has concluded that, as a first step, it is essential that a general order, applicable in all the seven areas concerned, should be made as soon as possible. The order would be based on the general principles set out in the second memorandum. It would deal also with contractual and other rights and liabilities, proposals for which were set out in the third memorandum issued on 12 November.In some areas, proposals have been put forward that virtually all property should pass directly to successor authorities at abolition. This would include the categories of land which the second memorandum proposed should go to the residuary bodies. The making of any initial general order on the lines now proposed will not rule out the bringing forward of further orders to meet more closely the wishes of successor authorities. However, before making such supplementary orders, my right hon. Friend would wish to be satisfied

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received relating to the implications for the archaeological heritage of the possible development of the Cresswell Crags site in Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement.

A planning application from the Severn-Trent water authority for improvements to a water reclamation plant near Cresswell Crags was publicly advertised in May this year. The local planning authorities received notices of objection from at least 100 individuals and organisations, while my right hon. Friend received representations against these proposals from the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Sir J. Osborn), from Sheffield university and from the chairman of the Council of Europe sub-committee on arts and architecture.On the advice of the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission my right hon. Friend scheduled Cresswell Crags as an ancient monument on 29 July, and on 12 August served a direction on the local planning authorities withdrawing their powers to approve this development while he considered whether the application should be called in.Further discussions are now taking place between the Severn-Trent water authority, the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission, the local planning authorities and other interested parties, which my right hon. Friend hopes will bring about an acceptable solution.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what investigation has been made into the extent of soil contamination at the site of the new Woolwich prison; and what steps have been taken to deal with the problem.

The Property Services Agency commissioned reports from a specialist laboratory and from the environmental safety group of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, Harwell. In the light of the reports' recommendations, some limited areas heavily contaminated with metal were identified. The contamination will be disposed of under controlled conditions. The greater part of the site will then be covered with clean fill to varying depths of up to 1·5 metres. The necessary work is scheduled to begin early in 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much public dividend capital has been allocated to each of the nationalised industries for which he is responsible in each of the past five years.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has received the 11th report of the Royal Commission on environmental pollution; and if he will make a statement.

I have today received this report and will be giving it detailed consideration. I intend to make a statement very soon about the Government's proposals for strengthening waste disposal legislation and I am pleased to have the opportunity to consider the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution's views before so doing. A full response to the wider issues addressed in the report will follow as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he hopes to decide on the restoration of the guildhall windows at Dartmouth, the application form for which was returned to the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission on 1 May; if he will explain why no reply has yet been sent and no decision yet given; and if he will make a statement.

The distribution of grants for the repair of historic buildings and monuments are the responsibility of the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission rather than of my right hon. Friend. I understand that although an application for grant was made to the commission on 1 May, complete information on the costs of the repairs work and their design were not submitted until 5 September. The commission will inform the applicants of its decision shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why it has taken three years to conclude negotiations with the estate of the late Mr. King, the former lessee of the Old Battery at Dartmouth Castle, with regard to compensation; and what estimate he has made of the potential income lost as a result of the delay.

These negotiations were complicated by the fact that there were four separate interests in the property that had to be reconciled. No estimate has been made of potential income lost during the negotiations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment for how long the Old Battery at Dartmouth Castle has been empty.

Four years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out in the Official Report the use envisaged for the Old Battery at Dartmouth Castle; and what steps he is taking to see the premises are re-let at the earliest opportunity.

The Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission plans to open the Old Battery to the public in an improved presentation of Dartmouth Castle as a whole. These plans will seek to provide better refreshment facilities and new lettings are being urgently negotiated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department will consult Dartmouth town council about the future use of the Old Battery at Dartmouth Castle.

The Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission will, I am informed, consult Dartmouth town council about its plans.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what have been the factors which have resulted in the Old Battery at Dartmouth Castle being unoccupied for three years since the death of the former lessee.

The factors were as follows: first, the late Mr. King's landlord, the South Hams district council, chose not to renew their lease from the Crown Estates Commission in 1981 and instead asked the Secretary of State who had guardianship of the monument to renegotiate a new lease between the freeholder and Mr. King.Secondly, Mr. King died in 1981 before terms could be agreed.Thirdly, Mr. King's estate claimed a protected tenancy facility entitling them to a renewal of the sub-lease.Fourthly, management under guardianship was transferred from the Department of the Environment to the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission.Fifthly, the Commission's plans to improve presentation of the monument were delayed by protracted negotiations with Mr. King's estate on the surrender value of the sub-lease.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review the eligible expense limits applicable to home improvement grants in the light of changes in the costs of building materials since these limits were last set; and if he will make a statement.

The eligible expense limits are kept under regular review to take account of variable factors such as inflation. We have received few representations about their present level and have no plans to revise them in the immediate future.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the findings of the surveys being carried out by the Crown Suppliers and the Property Services Agency into import penetration of commodities used in the catering equipment industry; and if he will make a statement.

The Property Services Agency seeks to assist British firms to compete more effectively in those product areas in which import penetration is particularly high. The agency has commissioned a study to assess the degree of and reasons for import penetration in the commercial catering equipment industry.A report is expected in January 1986. Within the constraints of commercial confidentiality, any significant findings will be brought to the attention of British manufacturers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of the latest cost of repairing the aqueduct at High Street, Weedon.

Current repairs of the aqueduct at Weedon are being undertaken by the British Waterways Board within its general budget for waterways operation about which we do not require specific information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the extent of the emergency works being carried out on the north Oxford canal between Brinklow and the Hawksbury junction in Warwickshire; what is the cost; and whether there is any casual relationship between these repair works and those carried out in the area where the M69 crosses the canal near Anstey in Warwickshire.

Repairs to Nettlehill cutting on the north Oxford canal are to be undertaken by the British Waterways Board at an estimated cost of £500,000 over two winters and from the programme of backlog work requiring specific grant aid from my Department. However, the start of this work has had to be deferred until January to tie in with the repair programme elsewhere in the area. There is no connection between the work on the cutting and any nearby road works on the M69 at Anstey where it crosses the Oxford canal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each housing authority the estimated cost of repairs referred to in his Department's recent report on local authority housing stock; and if he will place the full submission from each authority in the Library.

The Department's inquiry was undertaken with the primary objective of obtaining a picture at the national level of the condition of the local authority housing stock; the returns were completed and analysed with that in mind. We are now considering, in consultation with the local authority associations, what further information might appropriately be released, beyond that already given in the stock condition inquiry report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will state the number of outstanding applications for consent under the Local Government Act 1985 submitted by the Greater Manchester county council; and how many have been outstanding for (a) less than one month, (b) less than two months and (c) more than three months;

Authority	Number of applications outstanding
	One month or less	Between one and two months	Over three months	Total outstanding
Greater London council	61	34	101	208
Greater Manchester council	39	6	28	75
Merseyside county council	2	2	0	4
South Yorkshire county council	7	1	9	19
Tyne and Wear county council	10	4	4	18
West Midlands county council	11	4	4	19
West Yorkshire county council	1	1	11	13

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to announce a decision under section 95 of the Local Government Act 1985 relating to repair work and the removal of asbestos being carried out at the Emerald club, 263 Hammersmith road, for which he gave his consent under section 8 of the Local Government Act 1985 on 19 February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state the number of outstanding requests for consent under the Local Government Act 1985 submitted by the Greater London council; and how many have been outstanding for (a) a month or less, (b) two months or less and (c) three months or more.

The position regarding outstanding applications for consent under sections 91 and 92 of the Local Government Act 1985 and section 9 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984 as amended by section 95 of the 1985 Act is set out in the table below:

A decision on this proposed contract will be reached as soon as possible. In the meantime the council's attention has been drawn to the existence of a general consent for the carrying out of emergency work in certain circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to give his decision on a contract for the monitoring and evaluation of mineral damaged land for which the Greater London council applied on 5 June.

Further consideration will be given to this application when the council responds to the Department's request for further information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what reports or representations he has received from water authorities pursuant to his request in May 1983 that they drew up civil defence plans by mid—1985; and if he will place copies of those reports or representations in the Library.

Water authorities have reported their progress at April 1985 on drawing up civil defence plans. They expect to complete this task by the end of the year or within the following six months. I do not intend to place copies of these reports in the Library.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will arrange for facsimile document transmission facilities to be installed in the House of Commons for the use of hon. Members.

I understand that facsimile document transmission facilities have been available in the Post Office in Central Lobby since 20 November 1985.

asked the hon. Member for Wokingham as representing the Church Commissioners, how much the Church Commissioners received from the sale of the Holy Trinity Church site at Bishops Bridge Road, Paddington; and whether the valuation of the site was based on its future use for residential purposes.

To give the information requested in the first part of the question would be in breach of the commissioners' normal commercial practice; the answer to the second point is yes.

asked the hon. Member for Wokingham, as representing the Church Commissioners, what input was made by the Church commissioners into the recent report, "Faith in the City", commissioned by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The commissioners gave both written and oral evidence to the commission. I am arranging for a copy of their written submission to be placed in the Library.

asked the Attorney-General if he will give the estimated costs over a full year of the proposed Crown prosecution service; if he has received any estimate of the cost of the alternative salary structure proposed by the representatives of the legal staff involved; and if he will make a statement.

The estimated costs over a full year of the proposed Crown prosecution service are £115 million. This includes the additional costs of about £1·7 million arising from the revised salary and grading structure, and the package of other terms and conditions of service, which I detailed in my answer to the hon. Member for Warwick and Leamington (Sir D. Smith) on 13 November 1985 at column 172. The most comprehensive proposals for a salary structure for lawyers have in fact been put forward by the Council of the Prosecuting solicitors' Society of England and Wales pursuant to a resolution passed at its annual conference. Although the society does not have formal negotiating rights, its proposals were of course carefully considered. They would have increased salary costs by a further £1·7 million. I am confident that the salary structure which will now be used in the Crown prosecution service will recruit and retain sufficient staff of the appropriate quality.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when his Department expects to receive a copy of the report of the consulting engineers who have been commissioned by the British Airports Authority and Thames Water to investigate alternative options for the treatment and disposal of the sludge from Thames water's Mogden works; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

A study of options for the release of the Perry Oaks sewage disposal site to Heathrow airport has been commissioned jointly by the British Airports Authority and the Thames water authority. It will be for these bodies to decide whether to publish the report, but in any event I expect them to make the findings public and shall make an announcement at the time.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total value of the capital investment programme approved for British Rail in connection with its five-year rolling programme of modernisation of the locomotive and carriage fleet; and if he will make a statement.

The British Railways Board corporate plan 1985 records that over the next five years it is planning to invest £716 million in traction and rolling stock. The Government have already approved projects totalling some £340 million, which will provide more than 90 new locomotives and 1,130 new passenger vehicles.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will state for the latest available date such information as he has on the numbers of oil supply boats, crane barges, diving support boats and stand-by boats operating under foreign flags in the Scottish jurisdictional sector of the North sea; if he will list these by country; and if he will give comparative figures for each of the last five years.

There is no Scottish jurisdictional sector in the North sea but the information for the United Kingdom sector is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to the number of oil supply boats, crane barges, diving support boats and stand-by boats operating under the United Kingdom flag in each of the continental shelf zones in the North sea belonging to Norway, Denmark, West Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and France; and what are the comparable figures for each of the last five years.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider establishing a post-test probationary period for drivers, during which a driver's maximum speed is limited to 50 miles per hour; and if he will make a statement.

I have already considered introducing a probationary scheme for newly qualified drivers. Schemes in various countries have been examined including those involving a speed limit. But there is no clear evidence of road safety benefits.It is an idea we shall continue to look at in the light of current evidence of any benefits which it might offer for road safety.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents there have been involving loss of life on motorways in each of the past five years; and what information he has as to how many involved drivers of less than one year's post-test experience.

Information on fatal accidents on motorways in Great Britain is given in table 4 of "Road Accidents Great Britain 1984", a copy of which is in the Library. No information is recorded about the driving experience of those involved in road accidents.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will state the number of vehicles he expects to use the Woolwich ferry in the year 1986; and how many such vehicles originate or are destined for the London boroughs of Newham and Greenwich.

I do not have a forecast for vehicles using the Woolwich ferry in 1986, but an origin and destination survey carried out in 1984 indicated that at that time some 3,500 vehicles used the ferry on an average weekday. Of these, four fifths had origins or destinations outside Newham and Greenwich, with a fifth having both origins and destinations in those two boroughs.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will state the mileage of trunk roads for which he is responsible in the London boroughs of Newham and Greenwich, respectively, and the sums he has expended on capital or maintenance purposes for these roads in each borough.

There are 5–5 km of existing trunk roads in Newham. During 1984–5, about £275,000 was spent on their maintenance. Contracts have recently been let to construct the A406 South Woodford to Barking relief road, some 2 km of which lies within Newham.There are no trunk roads in Greenwich.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if work on the Maidstone to Ashford section of the M20 is proceeding to schedule; and when it will be completed.

Draft orders for an interchange and the remaining alterations to side roads will be published on 6 December. The publication of the draft compulsory purchase orders will follow in the new year. Subject to the satisfactory completion of the remaining statutory procedures we are still on schedule to start construction in 1987 for completion in 1989.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) on how many occasions closed circuit television cameras have been installed on the M1 between London and Wakefield; when they were installed; for what period of time they were used; for what specific purposes they were operated; when, in each case, they became inoperative; when they were removed; and what was the entire cost of the various operations in manpower and equipment;(2) pursuant to the answer of 28 November,

Temporary closed circuit television cameras have been used on several occasions for roadworks on the M1 motorway. They are operational during the critical period of the work for the purpose of aiding traffic management and deployment of emergency services. They are an integral part of the roadwork schemes and the costs and manpower involved are therefore not separately available.They were in use on the M1 motorway for the roadworks at junction 14 during October 1985. They ceased operation on 4 November and were subsequently removed. Supporting brackets were removed from lamp columns at the same time but a small number mounted on special posts remain in position to await their redeployment to a future roadworks site.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of unlit motorway exist on the M1 between London and Wakefield; which sections are unlit; and if he will identify the various authorities responsible for those sections.

There are 104 miles of unlit motorway on the M1 between London and junction 39.The following sections are unlit:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what tests were carried out on the highway drainage system on the M1 motorway in July between Leeds and Wakefield;(2) what tests were carried out on the highway drainage system on the M1 motorway in June 1983 and December 1983 between Leeds and Wakefield.

In June 1983, following mining subsidence on the M1 motorway just south of junction 41, inspections of the drainage using closed circuit television were carried out. At the same time, the levels of the drains were surveyed. As a result of these inspections, the drainage was reconstructed, between December 1983 and March 1984. The reconstructed drains were air-tested on completion, and inspected visually in July 1985, when they were found to be satisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what type of drainage was installed on the M1 motorway between Leeds and Wakefield when it was constructed; and what frequency of inspection is carried out to ensure safety on the MI carriageway and surrounding areas.

When the M1 motorway between Leeds and Wakefield was constructed, the drainage system installed consisted mainly of gullies and sealed pipes leading to drainage outfalls. The gullies are inspected visually once a week, and if any ponding is observed, or if a complaint has been received, more detailed investigations are put in hand.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if, in the light of the failure by the London boroughs to reach an agreement on the scheme, he will now take steps to guarantee the future of the Greater London council taxicard service.

No. My understanding is that the London boroughs, through the London co-ordinating committee, are continuing to work towards an agreement. We have repeatedly made clear the Government's view that the funding of concessionary travel, including Taxicard, is a matter for the local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if, in granting route licences for long haul flights, the Civil Aviation Authority imposes any conditions regarding the use of two-man crews; and if he will make a statement.

The crew composition is determined by the CAA certification standards of the aircraft and by flight time limitations, not by the conditions of route licences.Both the CAA and the flight time limitations board are considering whether special rules are required for long-range two crew operations.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when the Civil Aviation Authority study of the working environment of North sea helicopter pilots is due to commence; what are its terms of reference; and what information he has as to when it will be completed.

The Civil Aviation Authority study of the working environment of North sea helicopter pilots is due to commence in January 1986 and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.The CAA tells me that the study, which also involves Southampton university and the Institute of Aviation Medicine, will investigate the fatigue factors in North sea rotary wing operations. The terms of reference cover the noise, vibration and temperatures to which pilots are exposed in the course of their work.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if the Civil Aviation Authority has made any studies of the stowage and use of smoke hoods on board aircraft; and if he will make a statement.

Safety matters are the statutory responsibility of the Civil Aviation Authority and not of my right hon. Friend. The CAA has made a study and I understand that smoke hoods are commercially available which would enable cabin crew to fight in-flight fires. These types of hood are bulky and special training is needed in their use. They are not suitable for passengers.From time to time, the CAA reviews the availability of devices which would be effective for passenger protection.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if the Civil Aviation Authority has made any studies of halon gas flooding on civil passenger aircraft; and if he will make a statement.

Aviation safety matters are the statutory responsibility of the Civil Aviation Authority, not of my right hon. Friend.I understand that the Civil Aviation Authority is aware of the tests carried out by the US Federal Avaiation Adminstration on the use of halon 1301 gas, and the conclusion is that it does not offer an effective system for a typical post crash fire.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will respond to the recommendations made by the independent assessors commissioned by his Department in their report of the effects of compulsory seat belt wearing; and if he intends to publish a supplementary report.

I accept the recommendations. Durbin and Harvey's further study confirms the analyses contained in the main study report. I have placed copies of our response to the recommedations and the results of the supplementary study in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he will publish the report of the counter-pollution measures taken following a spill of oil from the Bridgeness, after the vessel grounded off the Pembrokshire coast on 16 June.

The report is being published today. It gives an account of the action taken by my Department's marine pollution control unit and explains the limitations of at-sea clean-up techniques in dealing with the type of oil split on this occasion. A copy of the report will be placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many young people were employed in youth training schemes in the hotel and catering industries in Wales during November.

The information requested is not available. However, the latest statistics show that from April to the end of September 1985 there were 253 youth training scheme entrants in the hotel and catering industries in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many vacancies were notified to the jobcentres in Wales during the month of November in the hotel and catering industries; and how many of these vacancies remain unfilled.

The number of vacancies notified to jobcentres in Wales during the quarter 5 August to 8 November in the hotel and catering industries was 3,911. The number of unfilled vacancies at 8 November in the hotel and catering industries was 758.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give details of financial allocations for housing in Wales in 1986–87.

My right hon. Friend is making available to local authorities housing allocations totalling £141·3 million, an increase of almost 30 per cent. over this year's figure of £109·5 million. The allocatable total may be supplemented by individual authorities' use of the prescribed proportion of receipts which remain unchanged from 1985–86. This is a significant increase in the resources available for housing in Wales. Special allocations will be made to local authorities to help them to renovate the worst of the council housing stock and to reduce the backlog of renovation grant applications. In addition allocations will be made to encourage the repair of whole terraces or groups of houses, and to meet bids in full for expenditure under the Housing Defects Act. Special allocations will also be made under the priority estates programme, whose aim is to bring improved management to some of the most difficult council estates.Furthermore, net provision for the Housing Corporation has been increased by almost 15 per cent. to £44·7 million thus recognising the vital role that the housing associations play, both in renovating the older stock and in providing new homes.Copies of individual local authority housing strategy and investment programme bids and letters notifying them of their individual allocations will be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he takes to ensure that grain given as food aid to Ethiopia reaches the people for whom it is intended; and if he is satisfied that it always does so.

We do all we can to ensure that food aid reaches its intended destination. Following standard practice the Ethiopian Government, through which most of our food aid passes, provides the world food programme (WFP), acting for the British Government in this case, with facilities to monitor, transport, storage and distribution of food aid. The WFP fulfils this obligation through a network of food monitors, including two from the United Kingdom who are financed by my Department. The remainder of our food aid passes through voluntary organisations which organise and monitor its distribution on our behalf. Although there may be occasional lapses, I am in general satisfied with the reports I receive.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will seek to introduce proportional representation for Westminster elections for Northern Ireland constituencies.

No. The Government remain of the view that all Members of the United Kingdom Parliament should be elected on the same basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many young people were employed in youth training schemes in the hotel and catering industries in Northern Ireland during November.

An estimated 350.