asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department spent on advertising in national and local newspapers, on television and in other printed journals during the financial year 1984–85; and what is the amount budgeted and spent to date in 1985–86.

The information as requested is not available except at disproportionate cost. However, total figures for all forms of advertising for the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments are as follows:

	£
Expenditure 1984–85	2,090,000
Budget 1985–86	2,689,188
Expenditure 1985–86 (to date)	1,595,318

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has yet received the report of the panel investigating library status under section 207(5) of the Local Government Act 1972; and when he expects to make a decision on the matter.

The panel has completed its inquiries and is now finalising its report which I expect to be submitted for consideration early in 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department spent on advertising in national and local newspapers, on television and in other printed journals during the financial year 1984–85; and what is the amount budgeted and spent to date in 1985–86.

The information requested is as follows:

	£
1984–85 Expenditure	66,300
1985–86 Budget	171,000
Expenditure to date	117,000

asked the Attorney-General if he will amend the distress for rent rules 1983 so as to require certificated bailiffs to issue a detailed inventory when levying a notice of distress; and if he will make a statement.

The prescribed notice of distress, in form 5, already requires the goods seized, distrained or impounded by a certificated bailiff to be specified in an inventory, which is part of the form, when the form is issued to a tenant by the bailiff on levying a distress, in accordance with rule 12(2) of the distress for rent rules 1983. Further amendments to the rules are under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a further statement about the proposed building society legislation referred to in the Gracious Speech.

[further to the answer given by the Minister of State, Treasury, on 7 November 1985, c. 3: I can provide the following information.The Government issued a consultation paper last year seeking views on the way in which conflicts of interest and anti-competitive practices could be avoided if building societies and other financial institutions were to offer conveyancing services to the public. Following that consultation, the Government have concluded that there is no difficulty in principle in such institutions providing conveyancing to persons to whom they are not also offering a loan. However, the Government are not satisfied that lending institutions could safely be permitted to offer both conveyancing and a loan in the same transaction. It is therefore proposed to prohibit lending institutions from providing conveyancing, either directly or through a subsidiary company in which they hold a majority stake, to those who are also borrowing from them.The Government are also examining the possibility of estate agents providing a combined service of sale and conveyancing to vendors, and of lending institutions providing conveyancing to borrowers from them through associated companies in which the lender holds only a minority shareholding. Consultation on those matters is not yet complete.It is also proposed to set a number of other conditions to ensure proper consumer protection. In particular, institutions will be required to ensure that their conveyancing work is supervised by a qualified person; and adequate arrangements will have to be made to protect the consumer against negligence or fraud on the part of those providing the service. Details will be announced in due course, after further consultations with the interests concerned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the provision to be made in the Building Societies Bill for the conversion of building societies to company status.

The Government have made it clear that the new building society legislation should allow building societies to become companies, subject to the approval of their members. In view of the complexity of the issues, however, we have decided to publish a consultative paper setting out proposals, on which comments are invited by the end of January.General provision for the conversion of building societies into companies is made in the Bill as published today and, in the light of the consultation, detailed provisions will be brought forward during the passage of the Bill. Copies of the consultative paper have been placed in the Library.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the level of investment per person as a share of real gross domestic product in the following countries at the latest available date: (a) Japan, (b) West Germany, (c) France and (d) the United Kingdom.

The figures requested are as follows:

	1984	Current prices
		Investment (gross fixed capital formation)	Investment as a percentage of GDP	Population (million)
(a)	Japan (yen billion)	82,049	28·0	120–0
(b)	West Germany (DM million)	354,580	20·2	61·2
(c)	France (Franc billion)	810·1	18·9	54·9
(d)	United Kingdom (Sterling million)	55,319	17·3	56·5

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any safeguards have been included in European Community proposals on the respective treatment for tax purposes of different types of spirit to ensure that Scotch whisky is not placed at a competitive disadvantage as a result of subsidies granted to other imported spirits; and if he will make a statement.

The EC proposals for harmonising the structure of the taxation of spirits would provide for the same rate of VAT to be charged on home-produced and imported spirits and for a single specific rate of excise duty. France would be permitted to retain for a limited period a reduced rate of excise duty on a quota of rum from the French Overseas Departments, and Denmark would be allowed a transitional period to abolish the ad valorem element in their excise duty on spirits.The question of unfair competition by subsidies is outside the scope of these harmonisation proposals.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many applications have been made to the Board of Inland Revenue for the out of time admission of an election under the provisions of section 154(2) of the Taxes Act 1979; in how many cases the late election was accepted; and in what circumstances such late elections are accepted;(2) how many applications have been made to the Board of Inland Revenue for the out of time admission of a claim under the provisions of section 264 of the Taxes Act 1970; in how many cases the late claim was accepted; and in what circumstances such late claims are accepted.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what would be the cost of introducing an income tax rate of 15 per cent. to apply to half the present 30 per cent. tax rate band, leaving other tax rates undisturbed;(2) what changes would be necessary to higher rate bands to ensure that no tax benefit accrues to higher rate taxpayers if a lower rate band is introduced at 15 per cent. to apply to half the present 30 per cent. tax-rate band.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rate of interest is currently charged by the Public Works Loan Board on loans to local authorities.

The Public Works Loan Board lends to local authorities at both fixed and variable rates of interest. Fixed rates are published regularly in the London and Edinburgh Gazettes, copies of which are available in the Library. Variable rates are quoted to borrowers on application to the board.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he has had, as part of his review of the Fire Precautions Act 1971, on the effects of extending designations to include hostels and houses in multiple occupation.

The current review of the Fire Precautions Act 1971, which was the subject of a consultative document published on 23 July 1985, is primarily concerned with the statutory arrangements for securing reasonable standards of fire safety in occupied buildings. No detailed consideration has yet been given to what new occupancies might be designated if the new system proposed in the consultative document were to be adopted. However, there would be full consultation with all the interested organisations before any such designation orders were made. From time to time representations have been made that some types of hostels and other houses in multiple occupation should be designated under the 1971 Act as requiring a fire certificate, but it has been so far decided that it would be wrong to contemplate any new designations while the Act is being reviewed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the applicants for the post of equal opportunities officer in his Department were (a) white males, (b) white females, (c) males of Afro-Caribbean or Asian origin or (d) females of Afro-Caribbean or Asian origin.

It is not the practice to fill posts of this nature by inviting staff to apply for them. The heads of two personnel management divisions have been designated as equal opportunity officers on the basis of their overall suitability and not on the basis of sex or ethnic origin. Equal opportunity matters are not their sole responsibility.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visitors from Pakistan were refused entry in August, September and October; how many in each month were granted temporary admission pending consideration of representations by hon. Members; and what are the comparable figures for 1984.

Information about persons seeking leave to enter the country as visitors who are refused leave to enter at United Kingdom ports and those whose removal is deferred pending representations, is not available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.The numbers of citizens of Pakistan who were refused leave to enter and subsequently removed in August, September and October in 1984 and 1985 are as follows:

Month of removal	1984	1985
August	155	155
September	138	153
October	149	151

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representatives of the South West Africa People's Organisation have been detained or arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

No one has been detained or arrested by virtue of his or her connection with SWAPO. One of the hundreds of people briefly examined by the police at the ports this year is known to have been a representative of SWAPO.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what terms Mr. Shapua Kaukungua of the South West Africa People's Organisation has been allowed to enter and work in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Kaukungua was appointed as the London and Western European representative of the South West Africa People's Organisation in 1976. In November of that year he was admitted to the United Kingdom for 12 months on condition that he took no employment other than with the organisation and he has since been granted further leave to remain on that condition.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department spent on advertising in national and local newspapers on television and in other printed journals during the financial year 1984–85; and what is the amount budgeted and spent to date in 1985–86.

The information requested is not readily available. I will reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many letters have been sent out to local authorities by Mr. Eric Alley, civil defence adviser to the Home Office, since 1 October; with which authorities Mr. Alley has engaged in correspondence; and if he will publish the text of all correspondence in the Official Report.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 November 1985, c. 275]: Between 1 October and 20 November the civil defence advisee wrote to Avon, Greater Manchester, Kent, Mid-Glamorgan (two letters), North Yorkshire, Tyne and Wear, Warwickshire and West Glamorgan (two letters) county councils; and Carmarthen district council. Whilst it would not be appropriate to publish the correspondence in the Official Report, I have placed copies in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable as to the number of new investigations started by the City of London police company fraud squad for each year since 1979; how many of those investigations have been completed since 1979; how many of these investigations have led to prosecutions; and how many of these investigations have been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

[pursuant to his reply, 2 December 1985, c. 29: I understand from the Commissioner of Police for the City of London that from 1 January 1979 to 31 October 1985, 450 fraud investigations were commenced; of these 321 cases have been completed, 112 cases have resulted in prosecutions, and 133 cases have been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable as to how many of the investigations commenced by the City of London's police company fraud department have been referred to the Department of Trade and Industry or to the City solicitor for assistance; of these how many have been completed; and how many led to prosecution.

[pursuant to his reply, 2 December 1985, c. 29: I understand from the Commissioner of Police for the City of London that from 1 January 1979 and to 31 October 1985, 110 cases were referred to the Department of Trade and Industry or the City solicitor or both, and of these 78 cases have been completed, resulting in 47 prosecutions.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if there is any disagreement within the European Economic Community on the interpretation of articles 81 and 84 of the Euratom treaty; and if he will make a statement.

There is no disagreement between the United Kingdom and the European Commission over the interpretation of articles 81 and 84 of the Euratom treaty.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to reach agreement with the European Commission over article 36 of regulation 3227/76 about the safeguarding of civil nuclear facilities; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the written question of the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Thomas) on 25 July 1985.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will indicate the specific time periods in which the radioactive material produced in (a) Calder Hall and (b) Chapel Cross nuclear reactors has been subject to the full safeguards procedures as set out in the 1977 tripartite safeguards agreement between the United Kingdom, Euratom, and the International Atomic Energy Authority.

The safeguards procedures set out in the 1977 tripartite safeguards agreement between the United Kingdom, Euratom and the International Atomic Energy Agency are not applicable to material in facilities which are excluded for national security reasons. The Calder Hall and Chapel Cross nuclear reactors fall into this category and the material produced in them is not subject to the terms of the agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the future plans for the fast reactor programme beyond 1990.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy announced on 16 January 1984, at columns 47–48 that the United Kingdom had joined a European collaboration for the joint and long-term development of fast reactors through signature of an intergovernmental memorandum of understanding with France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy and Belgium.I subsequently reported on 24 May this year, at columns 586–87, that the Government's general policies on the United Kingdom's participation in the collaboration had been set out in a letter from the Secretary of State for Energy to the chairman of the UKAEA, copies of which are available in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy 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 Energy how much his Department spent on advertising in national and local newspapers, on television and in other printed journals during the financial year 1984–85; and what is the amount budgeted and spent to date in 1985–86.

In 1984–85 my Department budgeted and spent the following on advertising:

• Press £1,572,000
• TV £1,302,000

In 1985–86, £75,347 has been spent on press advertising to date. The main advertising spend will occur in January to March 1986 with press and television advertising to support Energy Efficiency Year. I anticipate total advertising expenditure to be approximately

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his answer, Official Report, 25 November, column 412, to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Thomas) if he will specify which Magnox reactors were the origin of the spent fuel and plutonium to which he referred.

the information is as follows:

• Civil Reactors:
• Berkeley
• Bradwell
• Dungeness A
• Hinkley Point A
• Hunterston A
• Latina
• Oldbury
• Sizewell A
• Tokai Mura
• Trawsfynydd
• Wylfa
• Military Reactors:
• Calder Hall
• Chapelcross

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the United Kingdom's overseas aid budget for the last five years to each recipient country in terms of per capita in each such country.

This information is contained in the 1981 to 1985 editions of "British Aid Statistics", copies of which are available in the Library of the House. The relevant tables are numbered 15 in the 1981 and 1982 editions and 26 in the 1983, 1984 and 1985 editions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the Government's contribution to relief agencies in (a) Honduras, (b) Nicaragua, (c) El Salvador and (d) Guatemala, both in terms of gifts in kind and funding of programmes; which organisations received such aid, giving amounts in each case; and if he will make a statement.

The British Government's response to appeals for assistance to Central America from international relief organisations for the financial years 1983–84, 1984–85 and 1985–86 (to date) was:

Financial year	Organisation	Amount (£)	Principal beneficiary
1983–84	International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)	200,000	El Salvador
1983–84	International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)	100,000	El Salvador/Nicaragua
1983–84	UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)	100,000	Central America
1983–84	UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)	100,000	Nicaragua/El Salvador/Guatemala
1983–84	Catholic Fund for Overseas Development (CAFOD)	100,000	El Salvador
1984–85	International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)	100,000	El Salvador/Nicaragua
1984–85	UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)	65,000	Honduras
1984–85	Catholic Fund for Overseas Development (CAFOD)	200,000	El Salvador
1984–85	Catholic Fund for Overseas Development (CAFOD)	100,000	Nicaragua
1985–86	International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)	200,000	El Salvador/Nicaragua
1985–86	UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)	165,000	Honduras/Nicaragua
£100,000 was provided in 1985–86 for Guatemalan Refugees in Mexico.

Britain also supported small development projects co-financed with British voluntary agencies as follows:

Financial year	Agency	Amount (£)	Number of projects	Country
1983–84	Help the Aged	4,065	1	El Salvador
1983–84	Oxfam	6,814	2	Nicaragua
1983–84	Christian Aid	13,334	1	Nicaragua
1983–84	CAFOD	4,106	2	Nicaragua
1984–85	Oxfam	5,197	2	Honduras
1984–85	Christian Aid	12,675	2	Honduras
1984–85	Oxfam	3,584	2	Nicaragua
1984–85	CAFOD	13,893	3	Nicaragua
1985–86	Oxfam	19,341	7	Honduras
1985–86	Christian Aid	4,000	1	Honduras
1985–86	Oxfam	11,781	2	Nicaragua
1985–86	Christian Aid	12·710	2	Nicaragua
1985–86	CAFOD	49,798	5	Nicaragua

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what purpose funds paid by his Department to the International Planned Parenthood Federation are intended.

IPPF provides family planning information and services in poor countries. ODA's grant is a contribution to the federation's work programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is satisfied that none of the funds made available through his Department to the International Planned Parenthood Federation are used to finance programmes involving elements of compulsory abortion and sterilisation and that none of the funds are used to substitute staff and resources which are used in such programmes.

The International Planned Parenthood Federation provides support for family planning associations, which are bound by the federation's overall policies. These clearly state that abortion is not a method of family planning and that individuals should not be coerced into practising family planning. I know of no evidence that any family planning association runs a compulsory abortion or sterilisation programme. The question of substitute staff and resources does not therefore arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the International Planned Parenthood Federation concerning compulsory sterilisation programmes in El Salvador.

I saw the federation's secretary general and other officials in February. The federation's programme in El Salvador was one of the issues raised, and I was assured that it had no element of coercion.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will cease the funding of the International Planned Parenthood Federation; and if he will make a statement.

The Government intend to continue their support for the International Planned Parenthood Federation. They remain convinced that population issues are an important aspect of economic and social development, and that the fund has a significant role to play.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if financial assistance would be granted to head teachers of secondary schools for additional responsibilities resulting from his proposed system of teacher appraisal; and if he will make a statement.

The offer tabled in the Burnham committee on 12 September and constructed on the Government's conditional willingness to see an extra £1,250 million spent on teachers' pay would have provided for the introduction of systematic arrangements for appraisal of performance and would have given head teachers substantial pay increases of about 18 per cent. The unions rejected this offer after just 20 minutes' consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he last met representatives of the University Grants Committee; and what subjects were discussed.

I last met the University Grants Committee on 1 November 1984 when a number of issues were discussed, including the committee's advice, published in September 1984, on "A Strategy for Higher Education into the 1990s". Since that date I have had several meetings with the chairman of the University Grants Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many of the applicants for the post of equal opportunities officer in his Department were (a) white males, (b) white females, (c) males of Afro-Caribbean or Asian origin or (d) females of Afro-Caribbean or Asian origin.

It is not the practice to fill posts of this nature by inviting staff to apply for them. Existing staff in personnel units have been designated as equal opportunity officers on the basis of their overall suitability and not on the basis of sex or ethnic origin. Equal opportunity matters are not their sole responsibility.

Net Institutional Expenditure per pupil
(1985–86 Real Terms⋆)
		Primary			Secondary
	Hertfordshire	Buckinghamshire	England‡	Hertfordshire	Buckinghamshire	England‡
Financial year	LEA	LEA		LEA	LEA
	£	£	£	£	£	£
1979–80	705	660	690	1,045	1,010	980
1980–81	745	700	740	1,095	1,050	1,040
1981–82	760	715	760	1,095	1,070	1,065
1982–83	760	730	780	1,080	1,105	1,085
1983–84†	765	730	800	1,120	1,110	1,115
* Real terms are the cash expenditure for each year repriced using the gross domestic product (market prices) deflator.
† 1983–84 is the latest year for which actual figures are available.
‡ Since 1979–80 responsibility for primary and secondary education in Wales has rested with the Secretary of State for Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has issued any guidance to professional bodies in order to help them improve their contributions to vocationale education.

My right hon. Friend has not issued any formal guidance, and would not expect to do so unless the final report of the review of vocational qualifications (expected in April 1986) indicates that such guidance might be desirable. However, my right hon. Friend does on occasion address gatherings organised by professional bodies, at which he may raise issues relating to their contribution to vocational education. In particular, he raised several such issues in his Rivers lecture on 14 November last, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member. In addition, officials of the Department and Her Majesty's inspectors have regular contact with the major professional bodies concerned with vocational education, in the course of which they may give guidance on my right hon. Friend's views and policies.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consideration he is currently giving to seeking the repeal of the Remuneration of Teachers Act; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will publish a table showing for (i) primary schools and (ii) secondary schools in England and Wales expenditure per pupil in constant price terms for each year since 1979;

(2) if he will publish a table setting out expenditure per pupil for (i) primary schools and (ii) secondary schools in Hertfordshire in constant price terms for each year since 1979;

(3) if he will publish a table setting out expenditure per pupil in constant price terms for (i) primary schools and (ii) secondary schools in Buckinghamshire in each year since 1979.

The net institutional expenditure per pupil in primary and in secondary schools in Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and in England as a whole in each year since 1979 is set out in the table:

The local authority association expressed to me last March their dissatisfaction with the present pay machinery. I have made it clear that I am prepared to consider the case for change but that before coming to a firm view on the matter I would want to be satisfied that any new arrangements would offer the prospect of being a real improvement on the existing ones. I still await the detailed submission of such a case by the local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals are currently being considered by his Department to initiate research intended to throw further light on in-school factors that affect the performance and achievement of pupils.

My right hon. Friend has received a number of proposals in this area, in particular as a result of his statement of 14 November 1984, at columns 696–97, in which he expressed his willingness to consider such proposals in detail.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he intends to take to assess the extent to which the provisions of the Education Act 1981 relating to special educational needs for handicapped children have been complied with.

My right hon. Friend is already monitoring implementation of the provisions of the Education Act 1981 through routine statistical returns, reports from Her Majesty's inspectors, contacts between officers of the Department and local education authorities and voluntary bodies and by means of a major research project based at the University of London Institute of Education. The report on this project is due to be presented in September 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much his Department spent on advertising in national and local newspapers, on television and in other printed journals during the financial year 1984–85; and what is the amount budgeted and spent to date in 1985–86.

The Department spent £18,544 on press advertising and nothing on television advertising in 1984–85. Budgeted expenditure to date in 1985–86 is £26,049 on press advertising and nothing on television advertising.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Cambridgeshire, North-East of 2 December, Official Report, column 13, whether the figures referred to are derived from form 7; whether this form distinguishes between children already in receipt of a statement and those for whom a statement could be considered appropriate by the school; and whether he will place a copy of the relevant form from which the figures are compiled in the Library.

The numbers of pupils with statements of special educational needs in mainstream and special schools given in the answer of 13 June at columns 514–18, were derived from form 7 and form 7M, respectively, for January 1984.Before 1984 pupils were not classified as having special education needs but were ascertained as handicapped under the provisions of the Education Act 1944. The returns for January 1984 fell during the period when transitional arrangements under the 1981 Act applied, because authorities were not legally required to have completed their issue of statements until 31 March 1984. Accordingly, form 7 in January 1984 required schools to include in their returns, pupils already in receipt of statements and those who were previously ascertained as handicapped but had not yet received statements. These two categories of pupils were not distinguished in the return: to do so would have increased the complexity of the form to an unacceptable degree.The form 7M returns for special schools (other than hospital schools) for both 1984 and 1985 did not ask schools to distinguish pupils with statements from others. All pupils in these schools are assumed to have statements. Copies of the relevant forms and notes for guidance have been placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will provide figures to illustrate the equipment costs of the engineering and technology programme for 1985–86 and 1986–87 broken down between the university and public sectors, respectively.

The current estimate of institutional expenditure on equipment for phases 1 and 2 of the engineering and technology programme in 1985–86 and 1986–87 is as follows:

Financial Year	Universities	£m Public Sector
1985–86	*3·95	—
1986–87	2·74	1·93
*Including £0·43m for the Open University

Grant for 1986–87 is subject to parliamentary approval. Allocations under phase 2 of the programme are provisional pending the receipt of information from institutions concerning additional industrial support made available to them.The above figures do not include provision made in 1985–86 for equipment expenditure in later years of the programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the sum of money available for capital spending on advanced further education, other than for the advanced further education major building programme, in 1986–87.

My right hon. Friend has not yet decided the allocation of the total available for capital expenditure on advanced further education in 1986–87 between major building and other items.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from individuals and organisations regarding the future of the architectural schools in higher education establishments in the regions; what decisions have been made on any closures which may result; and what criteria will govern such a decision.

I have received some 350 representations from hon. Members, organisations and individuals regarding the future of the schools of architecture. As yet, no advice has been submitted by the National Advisory Body for Public Sector Higher Education (NAB). Consideration of provision in the Northern Ireland region is a matter for the University Grants Committee (UGC). No decisions have been taken.I will consider the NAB's advice against the criteria determined by the transbinary architecture group and the recommendations made by the architecture intakes working party. I will, of course, give full consideration to the views expressed in the representations against the possible closure of individual schools.

asked the Minister for the Arts what assistance he is giving to the English National Opera to cover the deficit incurred in its 1984 tour of the United States of America; and if he will make a statement.

The English National Opera Company's tour of the USA in 1984 was an artistic success and increased American interest in British arts. However, it incurred a financial loss of some £750,000 because promises of local support did not materialise.Like my predecessor, I have been impressed by the company's efforts to eliminate its tour deficit during the last year. I am happy to say that it has now raised over £421,000 towards this, and in recognition of its fundraising effort and of the special circumstances the Government are making an exceptinal contribution to the company of £200,000 in the current financial year towards the balance. This contribution is being found from within the existing 1985–86 Supply Estimates provision for Class V, Vote 10, subhead B4 (research, surveys and other assistance). With these sums, the company should be able to eliminate the remaining deficit at an early stage.

asked the Prime Minister whether the President of the United States of America was able to report progress over the plight of Jews in the Soviet Union when he briefed her in Brussels following his summit with Mr. Gorbachev.

No progress in this area has been reported as a result of the Geneva summit. President Reagan raised the issue with Mr. Gorbachev and started a dialogue on Soviet Jewry and other human rights issues which will be continued at subsequent United States/ Soviet meetings. There is no doubt about the importance the United States Administration attach to progress on human rights. I am sure, however, that the approach which the President has adopted is the right way to generate the mutual trust without which little progress can be made on matters of such sensitivity to both sides.

asked the Paymaster General if he will take steps to develop the current job release scheme so that voluntary early retirement could commence at 60 years for men and 58 for women; and if he will make a statement.

Measures such as the job release scheme are kept under review, but we have no plans at present to change its current scope.

asked the Paymaster General what has been the effect on employment of the changes in national insurance contributions; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to my hon. Friend the Member for Enfield. North (Mr. Eggar) on 25 April 1985 at column 980.

asked the Paymaster General how much his Department spent on advertising in national and local newspapers, on television and in other printed journals during the financial year 1984–85; and what is the amount budgeted and spent to date in 1985–86.

A total of £6,670 was spent by the Department on advertising in 1984–85. This was for announcements of a routine nature in local newspapers.The amount spent to date in 1985–86 is £18,102.

asked the Paymaster General what was the training allowance for individuals on training opportunities schemes at skillcentres in November 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1985.

The weekly personal allowance paid by the Manpower Services Commission for full-time trainees aged 19 and over, including skillcentre trainees, on the training opportunities scheme and its main successor the job training scheme for each of these years is shown in the table. In addition to the personal allowance, trainees receive a credit of national insurance contributions, a midday meal allowance (or free meal) and assistance towards travel costs over and above the first £4 per week. Further allowances for an adult dependant and a contribution towards the cost of living away from home may be available depending on individual circumstances.

Weekly personal allowance
November	£
1982	36·70
1983	38·00
1984	38·00
1985	38·00

asked the Paymaster General how many business closures have been reported to him since May 1979.

In the five-year period between 1 January 1980 and 31 December 1982 there have been 690,000 business closures and 830,000 business openings in the United Kingdom. These figures are derived from registrations and deregistrations for VAT.Detailed figures were published in the 23 August 1985 edition of

asked the Paymaster General if he will list all the changes which have occurred in the method of compiling employment, unemployment and vacancy statistics since 1979; and if he will estimate the quantitative change in those statistics which has occurred as a result.

[pursuant to his reply, 2 December 1985, c. 77: Employees in employment, the self-employed and Her Majesty's forces are estimated separately, and together comprise the employed labour force. Since 1979 there have been changes in the methodology for estimating the first two elements of the employed labour force. In 1979 the estimates for employees in employment were based on the census of employment, updated by applying proportionate changes in the numbers of employees as estimated from sample surveys of employers. Estimates for the self-employed were obtained from the census of population, updated to 1975 by applying proportionate changes in self-employment from counts of national insurance cards; self-employment was assumed unchanged since 1975.The first change in methodology since 1979 was the use of labour force survey (LFS) results to produce new estimates of self-employment for 1975 to 1979. These were published in the Janurary 1982

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will state the total amounts offered to firms in the Monklands, East constituency under regional industrial grants for each of the last 10 years.

Because information about payments under the old RDG scheme is not computerised, it cannot be provided on a constituency basis. However, information about RSA offers in previous years can be provided on a constituency basis, and the details for RSA in the Monklands, East constituency are as follows:

	Value of offers £'000
1975/76	90
1976/77	396
1977/78	nil
1978/79	20
1979/80	263
1980/81	568
1981/82	230
1982/83	120
1983/84	158
1984/85	299

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give details of the amount of £1,328,000 stated to have been offered to firms in Monklands, East constituency referred to in his letter to the right hon. and learned Member for Monklands, East dated 27 November.

For reasons of commercial confidentiality, publication of the details of assistance to individual firms is limited in accordance with the arrangements announced by the then Secretary of State for Industry on 31 July 1974. But I am able to say that the amount of £1,328,000 referred to breaks down as follows:

	No. of offers	Value £'000
RDG II	24	1,048
RSA	3	280

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much of the money offered to firms in Paisley, North under the assisted areas scheme has been taken up.

So far £161,370 has been paid to companies on offers totalling some £1,687,700 made between 29 November 1984 and 31 October 1985 under regional selective assistance and the new regional development grant scheme in the constituency of Paisley, North. Payments are normally spread over a number of years, and further payments can be expected.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will itemise the £252,700 offered under the new regional industrial policy to firms in the constituency of Copeland.

Two offers were made under the transitional arrangements as part of the new regional policy changes introduced on 29 November 1984. I would have difficulty in supplying itemised information to the hon. Member. All offers of grant above £5,000 are published in due course in British Business, but it would undermine the commercial confidentiality on which the scheme is based to make this information available in advance of publication.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 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.

The information requested is as follows:

	British Shipbuilders	Post Office
	£ million	£ million
1980–81	110	—
1981–82	107	5
1982–83	70	—
1983–84	274·9	—
1984–85	189	—

British Steel does not receive public dividend capital.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much his Department spent on advertising in national and local newspapers, on television and in other printed journals during the financial year 1984–85; and what is the amount budgeted and spent to date in 1985–86.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the arrangements relating to United States export controls referred to in the reply of 23 November, Official Report, column 332, takes the form of a written agreement; and what degree of detail is involved.

The arrangements which my right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade announced on 23 November 1984 were confirmed in writing in a confidential exchange between the United Kingdom and United States authorities. They are principally procedural, intended to reduce the scope for major disputes through consultation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many of the applicants for the post of equal opportunities officer in his Department were (a) white males, (b) white females, (c) males of Afro-Caribbean or Asian origin or (d) females of Afro-Caribbean or Asian origin.

It is not the practice to fill posts of this nature by inviting staff to apply for them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the amount of derelict industrial land now available for reclamation; and what plans exist to reclaim it.

The 1982 survey of derelict land showed that there were 45,700 hectares of derelict land in England, of which 34,300 were considered by local authorities to justify reclamation. This year £82 million is available to reclaim derelict land compared with £23·5 million in 1979–80. Priority is given to schemes designed to reclaim urban land for an industrial, commercial or private housing end use.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will bring forward proposals to encourage private firms to reclaim derelict industrial land; and if he will make a statement.

Grant is available to private firms to reclaim derelict land. In assisted areas and derelict land clearance areas derelict land grant is paid at the rate of 80 per cent. of the net loss incurred; in other areas it is 50 per cent. Demand from the private sector remains high and the resources made available have more than doubled in the last two years to £5 million in 1985–86.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much has been spent on urban development grants in each year since 1982; how much it is proposed to spend in each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

Up to the end of 1983–84, 44 projects assisted with urban development grant (UDG) had started on site. These projects involved public expenditure estimated at £16 million and private sector investment of £73 million. In 1984–85 a further 56 projects, involving public expenditure of £28 million and private investment of £100 million, started. In 1985–86 so far, 33 projects have started involving public expenditure of £17 million and private investment of £109 million. Thirtysix other projects have been approved for grant but have not yet started; these would involve public expenditure of £16 million and private investment of £57 million. Spend in future years will depend on the quality and number of projects submitted and the extent to which they address the objectives of UDG.These figures demonstrate that UDG is levering into inner urban areas significant private investment which would not otherwise have taken place there.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what housing investment programme allocation he intends to make to Lambeth for 1986–87.

Housing investment programme allocations for individual authorities for 1986–87 have not yet been decided.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much his Department spent on advertising in national and local newspapers, on television and in other printed journals during the financial year 1984–85; and what is the amount budgeted and spent to date in 1985–86.

During the financial year 1984–85, my Department, including the PSA, spent £1,207,000. For the financial year 1985–86, the budget is £995,000. Expenditure to date is £395,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, with reference to appendix 1 of the London Docklands Development Corporation's five-year operational plan published in January, whether the projections shown were made within the constraints imposed by the Government's external financing limit; and if he will make a statement.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will state the expenditure at the London Docklands Development Corporation on (a) the acquisition of the land and (b) on reclamation carried out on the land by 31 March, referred to in the 1984–85 annual report and accounts in the category being reclaimed;(2) if he will state the expenditure on acquiring and reclaiming the land referred to in the 1984–85 London Docklands Development Corporation annual report and accounts in the categories awaiting development, being developed, in use-released to developers and in use-environment and community.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the London Docklands Development Corporation in the second question. LDDC's expenditure on acquiring and reclaiming the land referred to in its 1984–85 annual report is as follows:

	Acquisition	Reclamation	Total
	£million	£million	£million
Awaiting development	12·645	13·688	26·333
Being developed	8·340	8·579	16·919
In use/released to developers	4·248	3·185	7·433
In use/environment and community	3·463	6·051	9·514
Being reclaimed	17·112	11·691	28·803

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) of the total land acquired by the London Docklands Development Corporation since the initial vesting, on how much reclamation had not been completed by 31 March;(2) of the land which was initially vested in the London Docklands Development Corporation in the orders of 1981, on how much reclamation had not been completed by 31 March.

Reclamation of 67 hectares of the 237 hectares of land initially vested in 1981 had not been completed by 31 March 1985. Of the 199 hectares of land acquired by LDDC since initial vesting, reclamation was not complete on 158 hectares by 31 March 1985. The 225 hectares of land in question is the same as the total of 556 acres of land in the categories "awaiting reclamation" and "being reclaimed" in the LDDC's 1984–85 annual report and accounts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the responses received to his Department's proposals in the consultation paper arising from the Local Government Act 1985 regarding early retirement arrangements for staff of the Greater London council and metropolitan county councils; and if he will make a statement.

No. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 11 November at column 23.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department intends to review the operation of waste disposal in London after the new arrangements have been in operation for 18 months; and if he will make a statement.

Section 10(1) of the Local Government Act 1985 places a continuing duty on my right hon. Friend to ensure that the arrangements for waste disposal are satisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Department intends to lay the statutory order referred to in his Department's recent press release on waste regulation and disposal.

The Waste Regulation and Disposal (Authorities) Order 1985 (S.I. 1985/1884) has been laid before Parliament today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what use he intends to make of his powers under section 10 of the Local Government Act 1985 to establish single authorities for waste regulation and disposal where they consider that there would be advantage in joint arrangements between boroughs or districts but no satisfactory arrangements were made before 15 November 1985.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 November 1985, c. 255: I said that I would be prepared to consider alternative arrangements for waste disposal operations in the London boroughs of Bexley, Greenwich, Lewisham and Southwark if the two reasons which made it advantageous to have joint arrangements between all four boroughs ceased to apply.The first reason concerned the arrangements for the existing contract for waste disposal serving Bexley, Greenwich and Lewisham. These boroughs and the contractor have now reached agreement on the future of the contract so that joint arrangements are no longer needed.The second reason was the need to ensure adequate future waste disposal arrangements in the longer term for Bexley, which would not on its own be a sensible unit. The London borough of Bexley and Kent county council have now reached an agreement whereby Kent will act as agent for Bexley.Since the advantages to be secured by joint arrangements between Bexley and the other three boroughs have thus been achieved in other ways, it is only necessary to consider the need for joint arrangements between these three boroughs. The agreement made by them on 14 November 1985 for their own waste disposal operations meets this need satisfactorily.In these circumstances it is no longer necessary to set up a single authority for waste disposal operations for all four boroughs. The Waste Regulation and Disposal (Authorities) Order 1985 (S.I. 1985/1884) which has been laid before the House today. accordingly makes no provision for an authority for these four boroughs. All four boroughs, however, form part of the area of the London Waste Regulation Authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the responses received in support of his Department's proposals for future arrangements for the Greater London council's seaside and country homes; and if he will make a statement.

No. It is for those making responses to decide whether or not to make them more widely available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ensure that the Greater London council's renovation programme to its transferred housing stock will be maintained at its current level after 31 March; and if he will make a statement.

It will be for the boroughs to decide the level of their renovation programmes to the transferred housing stock.

Legislative proposals relating to housing and planning
Proposal	Date and form of announcement
HOUSING PROPOSALS
1. Disposal of public sector housing for renovation	17 July: consultation letter to interested bodies, anticipated in Written Answer of 19 June
2. The right to buy: service charges	22 October: consultation paper and Written Answer
3. The right to buy: changes in discount provisions	28 November: Written Answer
4. Innovative approaches to management and ownership of local authority housing stock	29 November: consultation letter anticipated in Written Answer of 28 November
PLANNING PROPOSALS
5. Simplified planning zones	9 May 1984: consultation paper and Written Answer. 13 September 1985: consultation paper on revised proposals
6. Planning control over hazardous substances	30 July 1984: consultation paper and Written Answer
7. Improvements and amendments to the planning system	30 July 1984: consultation paper and Written Answer
8. Development plans	21 December 1984: addendum to consultation paper on improvements and amendments to the planning system
9. The ecclesiastical exemption from listed building controls	30 January 1984: consultation paper and Written Answer
Note: In addition, consultation papers were issued by the Scottish Office on 17 May and 31 July 1984 on simplified planning zones, planning control over hazardous development and improvements and amendments to the planning system.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the organisations which have received the letter from his Department dated 29 November relating to innovative approaches to the

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what talks he or his officials have had with Philips and Drew concerning Liverpool city council's financial arrangements; what was the substance of the exchanges; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answers given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Campbell-Savours) on 29 November, at column 720, and on 4 December at column 242.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the average rate of interest paid by local authorities on loans raised by them in the first half of the current financial year.

The Government do not collect information on the average rate of interest paid by local authorities on loans until after the end of the financial year. Moreover, such information as is then collected does not distinguish between loans according to the period in which they were raised.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library a list of all outstanding legislative proposals relating to housing and planning, giving the date and form of announcement of each proposal.

The proposals which have been announced are set out in the table. The Bill will not necessarily include all proposals which have been the subject of consultation. It is always open to the Government to include in a Bill proposals which have not been the subject of consultation.management and ownership of local authority housing stock—proposals for legislation; and if he will place copies of the responses in the Library.

The letter of 29 November relating to innovative approaches to the management and ownership of local authority housing stock—proposals for legislation, was sent to the following bodies:

• Association of District Councils
• Association of London Authorities
• Association of Metropolitan Authorities
• Greater London Council
• London Boroughs Association
• Housing Corporation
• Institute of Housing
• National Consumer Council
• National Federation of Building Trade Employers
• National Federation of Housing Associations
• National Federation of Housing Co-operatives
• National Tenants Organisation
• New Towns Association
• SHAC
• SHELTER

I do not propose to put copies of the responses in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will outline the procedure by which a local authority is or can be relieved by him of debt charges on housing which is demolished.

This procedure applies only to local authorities receiving housing subsidy. If an authority can show, from a full consideration of the alternatives, that demolition is the best course on housing and financial grounds, it can apply to the regional office of my Department for a determination that subsidy should continue to be paid on the outstanding loan debt on the demolished housing and that subsidy should be paid on the costs of demolition. Such an application should normally be made before the decision to demolish is taken. Among the alternatives all local authorities are expected to consider is disposal of the housing or of the cleared site to the private sector. In some cases this will realise enough money to pay off the whole of the loan debt.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to submit evidence to the Widdicombe inquiry on the roles of officers and members in local government.

I have today placed in the Library copies of a joint submission made by my Department, the Scottish Office and the Welsh Office on the respective roles of elected members and officers in local government.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the total amounts offered under the various selective financial assistance schemes at 1984 prices to companies in Scotland for each of the past 10 years.

The total amounts of selective financial assistance at 1984 prices offered to companies in Scotland for each of the past 10 financial years are shown in the table below:

	Value of offers (£ million)
1975–76	70·3
1976–77	67·8
1977–78	47·9
1978–79	75·8
1979–80	64·9
1980–81	50·4
1981–82	50·7
1982–83	63·8
1983–84	67·0
1984–85	81·7

Notes (1) The figures include assistance under Section 7 and Section 8 of the Industrial Development Act 1982 and its predecssors.(2) Current price values were converted to 1984 prices using a gross domestic product market prices deflator.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the total amounts offered, at 1984 prices, of selective financial assistance to firms in the Rutherglen constituency for each of the past 10 years.

The total amounts of regional selective assistance at 1984 prices offered to firms in the Rutherglen constituency for each of the past 10 financial years are shown in the table below.

	Value of Offers (£ thousand)
1975–76	19
1976–77	—
1977–78	23
1978–79	91
1979–80	21
1980–81	—
1981–82	2,772
1982–83	583
1983–84	78
1984–85

Notes: (1) The figures include assistance under Secion 7 of the Industrial Development Act 1982 and its predecessors. Figures for Section 8 assistance on a constituency basis are not available.(2) Current price values were converted to 1984 prices using a gross domestic product market prices deflator.(3) Figures for the years 1976–77, 1980–81 and 1984–85 cannot be released as to do so would disclose confidential information relating to individual establishments.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report all the voluntary bodies in Scotland which have received direct Government funding over the past five years and the total amount of such funding.

The total amount of the grants paid by the Scottish Office to voluntary bodies in each of the last four years is as follows:

	£
1981–82	104,436,456
1982–83	123,353,973
1983–84	131,359,441
1984–85	145,567,067

Comparable information is not readily available for 1980–81. Lists of the bodies in receipt of grant are voluminous so I am sending them to the hon. Member and placing copies in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many small firms in Scotland have gone into liquidation since May 1979.

I regret that the information is not available in the form requested. It is not possible to separately identify those company liquidations involving small firms.Between 1 April 1979 and 31 October 1985 there were 3,001 company liquidations in Scotland. This figure includes both compulsory liquidations and also creditors' voluntary liquidations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total number of all categories of staff currently employed at Stobhill hospital.

In 1984–85 the equivalent of 2,138 whole-time staff were employed at Stobhill hospital. Details in respect of the current year are not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many gynaecological patients were admitted to Stobhill hospital maternity unit from Kilsyth in each year for the past five years.

Gynaecological patients are not generally admitted to maternity units. On the basis of the latest available information, however, the total number of patients from Kilsyth who were discharged from the Stobhill maternity unit in each of the last five years was as follows:

	Number
1980	181
1981	188
1982	172
1983	176
1984	142

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many gynaecological patients were admitted to Stobhill hospital maternity unit from Cumbernauld in each year for the past five years.

Gynaecological patients are not generally admitted to maternity units. On the basis of the latest available information, however, the number of patients from Cumbernauld who were discharged from the Stobhill maternity unit in each of the last five years was as follows:

	Number
1980	461
1981	620
1982	532
1983	518
1984	510

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which hospitals will provide maternity services for Cumbernauld and Kilsyth in the event of the maternity unit at Stobhill hospital closing.

This would be for the Greater Glasgow health board to consider, in consultation as appropriate with the Lanarkshire health board, and to explain in any submission to my right hon. Friend for approval to close the unit.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department spent on advertising in national and local newspapers, on television and in other printed journals during the financial year 1984–85; and what is the amount budgeted and spent to date in 1985–86.

The total spent by the Scottish Office on advertising in national and local newspapers and other printed journals during the financial year 1984–85 amounted to £516,505. The amount spent on television advertising during the same period was £187,950.The amount budgeted for advertising in newspapers and printed journals in 1985–86 is £496,800 of which £324,662 has been spent to date. The budget for television advertising is £140,000 of which £97,919 has been spent.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will conduct an inquiry into the incidence of leukaemia deaths in the Rosyth dockyard area.

I am considering how best the necessarily complex statistical and epidemiological analysis of claims made about the incidence of leukaemia near Rosyth dockyard and other defence establishments in Scotland can be undertaken.