asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has now completed his consideration of the report of the joint review committee on the Control of Pollution (Special Waste) Regulations; and if he will make a statement.

The Government have completed their consideration of the report of the joint committee on the Control of Pollution (Special Waste) Regulations. They have taken into account comments received on the report and in particular those expressed in the sixth report of the Select Committee on Science and Technology in another place. They have also carefully considered the views of the Royal Commission on environmental pollution. I am happy to say that the conclusions reached on the principal issues are broadly in line with the commission's approach.The Committee's report raises important issues not only on the control of those hazardous wastes ranking as "special", but on the control of industrial and commercial waste generally. The Government accept its central conclusion, which is also reflected in the first report of the Hazardous Waste Inspectorate, that action is needed to ensure the more consistent and effective application of existing controls over disposals. Meetings have already taken place with representatives of both local authority associations and industry to discuss the immediate action needed by all concerned.But action to improve the application of the law as it stands will not be enough. We also have to improve the framework of control while avoiding the creation of new claims on resources. The Government propose therefore to bring forward amendments to the regulations, on the lines recommended, which will ensure that these cover all substances representing a significant risk to human life. In addition, we shall want to consider extending these to cover particular substances, which while not dangerous to human life in the terms defined, are of substantial concern to the public on wide environmental grounds. I propose to invite the local authority associations and industry to join in setting up a small expert group which will advise on the specific changes needed and keep the scope and application of the regulations under regular review. Any changes will also be the subject of wider consultation with environmental organisations.The Government also accept the need to strengthen and supplement the wider framework of control over disposal of industrial and commercial waste. First, it is proposed to enhance the responsibilities of producers of waste so that they have a general obligation to take all reasonable steps open to them to secure its satisfactory disposal. It is right that all producers of waste who hand it over to others for disposal should be expected to show the same concern for its proper handling that responsibly minded producers already displaySecondly, it is proposed to extend the powers of the licensing authorities for operators of heavy goods vehicles so that they can take into account offences under the Control of Pollution Act, for example, illicit dumping, when exercising their functions of granting or reviewing licences. Similarly, we propose to extend the powers of local authorities so that they can take into account previous relevant offences when deciding applications for site licences. Thirdly, it is proposed to strengthen the powers of local authorities to secure proper aftercare of waste disposal sites and to facilitate prosecution for breaches of licence conditions.There remain two important issues on which there have been conflicting representations; whether all producers of industrial and commercial waste should be required to register with waste disposal authorities and whether all transporters and other handlers of such waste should be licensable by them.The Government are not convinced that a requirement for registration of producers would be justified. It would be expensive both for industry and authorities and it is considered that it would not significantly improve enforcement of controls. It is nevertheless proposed to review the information needs and sources of authorities and I am accordingly inviting the local authority associations to join me in establishing a small working party to carry out this review in consultation with industrial interests.It is also accepted that further steps are needed to curtail illicit disposal operations. The Government do not believe that it would be justifiable to introduce a system of licensing for all waste handlers. This could impose significant costs, and would create a confusion of jurisdiction with the arrangements for licensing operators of heavy goods vehicles. They do, however, consider it right to legislate for a simpler requirement that all handlers of waste should have to register with each waste disposal authority in which they have an operating centre. I propose to seek the views of the local authority associations and bodies representing industry on the details of such a scheme.All these changes require primary legislation and proposals for it will be brought forward at the earliest suitable opportunity. The opportunity will be taken also to make certain other amendments of the law, principally to put the Hazardous Waste Inspectorate on a statutory footing and to empower waste disposal authorities to charge costs of control of licensed waste disposers. This will ensure proper funding of the measures of control needed and will be consistent with the polluter pays principle.I believe that the proposals which I have announced today together with our current initiative to get better standards of operational practice and enforcement, will make a substantial and lasting contribution to the more effective control over waste disposal and to the protection of the environment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to encourage extra nursery provision in those inner city areas, such as the London borough of Newham, with an above average number of one-parent families.

Individual authorities are responsible for determining the balance of their expenditure within and between services, in the light of their own priorities and their judgment of local needs. The education component of each local authority's grant related expenditure assessment, which influences an authority's total block grant entitlement, includes an allowance for the additional costs of educating children with special needs arising from their social or economic backgrounds. Relevant factors include the number of children who were born, or live in households whose head was born outside the UK, Ireland, USA and Old Commonwealth; those in poor housing conditions; those in large or in one-parent families; those from low socio-economic groups; and those from families receiving supplementary benefit. These factors are taken into account at nursery, as well as primary and secondary level, reflecting the policy of the Government to concentrate nursery provision in areas of social need.The Government also assist nursery provision in inner city areas through the urban programme. The total value of nursery projects approved under the UP for 1984–85 was £12·6 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to announce a decision on the future of the dog licence.

As soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to include in any measure to implement privatisation of the water industry a requirement that all meetings shall be held in public; and if he will make a statement.

The question does not arise at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue a general direction to regional water authorities to hold their meetings as if they were covered by the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1959.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has plans to introduce further legislation to clarify the position in relation to rights of access to common land and its management.

My right hon. Friend will consider the situation in the light of the report of the Common Land Forum, which is expected to be presented to the Countryside Commission in March 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to consult in the near future representatives of non-domestic ratepayers concerning a uniform business rate; and if he will make a statement.

We shall be consulting all those concerned with the future of the non-domestic rate after we publish our consultative document on this, and the other aspects of local government finance, in the new year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what information he has on the current maximum production capacity of the United Kingdom cement industry;

(2) what information he has on the current percentage of capacity in use in the United Kingdom cement industry;

(3) what information he has on the current production for home consumption of the United Kingdom cement industry;

(4) what information he has on the current production for export of the United Kingdom cement industry.

The capacity of the United Kingdom cement manufacturing industry is approximately 15·8 million tonnes pa. Some 85 per cent. of this capacity is currently in use. Out of the total production of 13,195,849 tonnes in the year 1 October 1984 to 30 September 1985, 115,438 tonnes were exported.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state, at 1985 prices, the total amount of rate support grant for local authorities in North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Humberside for each year from 1979–80 to 1985–86 inclusive.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton (Mr. Kaufman) on Tuesday 3 December 1985, at column 172.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide, at 1985 prices, the total amount of housing investment programme allocations for local authorities in North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Humberside for 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85 and 1985–86.

The total housing investment programme allocations for local authorities in North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Humberside for the years 1979–80 to 1985–86 are as follows. Since 1981–82 local authorities have been able to add to their spending power by drawing on the prescribed proportion of their housing capital receipts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the amount spent by Nottingham city council on capital expenditure (housing) for 1984–85 and 1985–86 (first six months).

Nottingham city council's capital expenditure on housing for 1984–85 was £23·384 million and for the first six months of 1985–86 was £10·742 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will specify the nature of the proposed development threatening those eight sites identified as meriting designation as special protection areas under directive 79/409, which the Nature Conservancy Council considers to be at risk.

I am advised by the Nature Conservancy Council that the proposed or approved developments for the eight sites are as follows:

Caenlochan—downhill ski development

Drumochter Hills—downhill ski development

Firth of Forth—land reclamation

Islay—peat extraction

Loch Ken—recreational boating

Teesmouth Flats & Marshes—land reclamation

Humber Flats—reclamation for industrial development

Stour/Orwell Estuary—Felixstowe dock expansion

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the total of (a) gross and (b) net capital expenditure by local authorities at (i) plan and (ii) estimated out-turn in each year from 1981–82 and 1986–87.

[pursuant to his reply, 9 December 1985: The following table gives the information requested for the main cash limit on local authority capital expenditure, DOE/LAI. The outturn figures for 1981–82 to 1984–85 are as reported by local authorities. The position for 1985–86 is very uncertain. Latest projections on the basis of the second quarter expenditure returns suggest an overspend against the cash limit of about £¾ billion. Any eventual overspend would be met from the public expenditure reserve. It would be most unwelcome but, on the basis of current forecasts of other claims on the reserve, it is expected that it can be contained within the estimated outturn for the planning total shown in the Chancellor of the Exchequer's autumn statement.

asked the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the circumstances and purpose of the Solicitor-General's meeting on 2 December with Mr. Boyd, of counsel, and others.

The meeting was requested on 2 December by the assistant solicitor instructing counsel (Mr. Boyd) on behalf of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise for the prosecution in the case of Peljeric and Ropret at the Crown court, Reading. It took place at 7 pm in the Attorney-General's room at the House of Commons.The purpose was to acquaint me with the fact that the trial judge had that day been requested on behalf of the defendants to order that the name of an alleged informant in the case be disclosed in open court; to inform me of the importance and value of informers to the investigative functions of the Customs and Excise regarding controlled drugs; and to seek my approval for the withdrawal of the prosecution in the event that the judge acceded to the defence request. Mr. M. Jones, the investigating officer in charge of the case, was present. Counsel, whether for the prosecution or the defence, and representatives of any Government Department, are entitled at any stage of a criminal trial in which they are participating to seek to consult a Law Officer of the Crown on any matter affecting them which they believe gives rise to a serious question concerning the public interest or their professional duty. The request for the meeting which took place on 2 December was made in accordance with the standard practice of the solicitor to Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in such circumstances.On learning that a substantial proportion of the drugs seized each year by the Customs and Excise is found through informers, and of the great importance of protecting the identity of such informers, I gave advice as to the submission that might be made to the learned judge the next day by Mr. Boyd, and gave my approval to the withdrawal of the prosecution in the event that disclosure of the name was ordered.It is important to note that, while it is the general rule that the courts shall protect the identity of informers, exceptionally circumstances can exist which may require the disclosure of identity to be ordered. Whether that is so in a particular case is a matter for the trial judge to determine in accordance with principles established by law. In a case where disclosure is ordered it is for the prosecutor to decide whether or not to proceed further with the prosecution.

asked the Attorney-General if the Lord Chancellor will make it his policy to require a declaration of interest by judges and justices of the peace as to whether they are masons.

No. This would be a very dangerous infraction of personal privacy and personal freedom, and there is no evidence to justify the discrimination between freemasonry and other forms of voluntary association. In the case of justices of the peace, they are also free to join political associations and campaigning bodies so long as they remain within the law, behave in a manner not calculated or bring the magistracy into disrepute and disqualify themselves from sitting in cases in which it might reasonably be supposed that they were emotionally or personally involved.

asked the Attorney-General if he will issue instructions to the Crown Prosecution Service that prosecuting counsel shall not without the consent of defence counsel, conduct a conference with a police officer involved in the trial whilst the officer is under oath as a witness; and if he will make a statement.

No. Counsel who conduct prosecutions on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service will be members of an independent profession in private practice. The question raised by the hon. and learned Member relates to a matter of professional conduct and etiquette and is a matter for direction by the professional conduct committee of the Bar Council and not by the Crown Prosecution Service. The relevant principles are currently set out in paragraph 142 and annex 12 of the Code of Conduct for the Bar of England and Wales (3rd Edition).

asked the Attorney-General if the trial of Rony Kevin Dunbar at Knightsbridge crown court between 5 and 8 August, indictment No. 851029, was held wholly or partly in camera; and if he will make a statement.

During the trial referred to by the hon. and learned Member, an application was made by counsel for the defendant that evidence on the defendant's behalf should be received in camera, and the trial judge acceded to this application.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the British Airports Authority will be published.

The report is published today.The Monopolies and Mergers Commission was asked to investigate the efficiency and costs and standard of service of the commercial activities of the British Airports Authority. Its report concludes that the authority has shown a generally satisfactory standard of performance although there is room for improvement.In the course of its inquiries the commission made a detailed study of the various elements of the authority's commercial activities including concessions, licences, leases, rents and property and the implications for competition and quality of service. The commission recognises that the authority is continually faced with the need to decide between competing demands for limited facilities and support the view expressed by the chairman of the authority, who told it that the duty to provide proper operation facilities for passengers and cargo shippers must take precedence over commercial activities. The commission says that in practice an airport constitutes a closed market in which monopolistic exploitation would be practicable and that such general considerations must be borne in mind in any attempt to assess how well—or badly—the authority carries on its commercial activities.The commission recommends an increase in the size of the board to allow a member with retailing experience to be appointed, and that the board should pay a more active role in ensuring that when decisions on the provision and allocation of space at new and redeveloped terminals are needed a full range of feasible commercial possibilities is considered.The commission recommends that planning guidelines be updated more frequently, that more challenging targets for commercial performance and budgets be set and notes the authority's awareness of deficiencies in the property mangement information systems.The Commission also recommends that a distinction continue to be drawn in the authority's accounts between air traffic operations and commercial activities. Other recommendations concern regular tendering for concessions, fuel arrangements at Gatwick, and quality of service and performance indicators.The commission explains that competition at point of sale is limited by the lack of space at terminals, but considers that even where competition would be possible the authority's policy sometimes restricts or prevents it. While the authority believes that it has an obligation to protect concessionaires' interests, it also believes that in some areas consumer choice is better secured through a variety of products for sale than through duplication of suppliers and tries to ensure by price regulation and other controls over concessionaires that customers get value for money. The commission did not find these arrangements fully effective and offered several recommendations to increase competition.As is usual in such references, the commission was asked to consider whether the authority is pursuing a course of conduct contrary to the public interest. It concludes that while there is scope for improvement in the service provided by the authority in its commercial activities, it is not, in relation to those activities, pursuing a course of conduct which operates against the public interest. In a note of dissent one commission member found that the attitude of the BAA in effectively restricting or preventing competition to its concessionaires operated against the public interest and that a partial remedy would be for the authority to be obliged to implement the relevant recommendations in the report.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrial and commercial schemes in Paisley, North have received financial assistance from his Department during the current financial year.

During the current financial year (from 1 April—30 November 1985) 39 offers totalling £1,689,000 have been made to companies in Paisley, North under the new regional development grants scheme or regional selective assistance.I am afraid that information relating to other forms of assistance are not available on a constituency basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has as to the relative hours of labour required to produce a motor car in the United Kingdom, the Federal Republic of Germany and Japan; and if he will make a statement.

There are no industry-wide comparisons available even in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legislation to prohibit the practice of insurance companies offering an immediate cash settlement of a claim in return for a reduction in that claim; and if he will make a statement.

I have no plans to introduce such legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what representations he has had advocating measures to protect patents for new medicines; and if he will make a statement;(2) what plans he has to introduce measures to protect patents for new medicines.

I have received representations from individual pharmaceutical companies and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry for repeal of the licences of right provisions contained in the 1977 Patents Act affecting patents granted under the previous 1949 Act and for extension of the present 20-year patent term. On the licences of right issue, I am awaiting further data relevant to the pharmaceutical industry's case from the ABPI and the Department of Health and Social Security. With regard to extension of patent term, Community members resolved in 1975 to bring their national patent laws into conformity, as far as practicable, with provisions of the European patent convention. This was done in the United Kingdom by the Patents Act 1977, which provided inter alia for the extension of patent terms from 16 to 20 years in line with the European patent convention. There are no immediate plans for common action with other Community states to extend the term further. However, I am considering whether a United Kingdom initiative might be appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he anticipates a loss to public funds arising from the proposed sale of the Millshaw Park factory of Systime plc.

It is difficult at this stage to anticipate the effect on Systime of the proposed sale and therefore its implications for public funds.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further grant recoveries he anticipates making from Systime plc in addition to those shown in Systime's recent accounts.

Detailed information about grants is a matter of commercial confidentiality between the Department and companies involved. I am therefore unable to comment on individual cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether Control Data Corporation of the United States of America gave an undertaking to his Department or to the British Technology Group to make available a sum of £20 million for Systime plc in spring 1985; and if he will make a statement.

There is no question of CDC having given any undertaking in the terms suggested.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the meeting between the Minister of State for Industry and the hon. Member for Christchurch, together with a delegation from the Publishers' Association, concerning the problem of book piracy and its effects on the exports of British publishers.

The Government have noted with concern, representations made at the meeting about the severe effects of book piracy in overseas markets. I stressed that we would continue to support the efforts of all sectors of industry to combat this sort of problem by pressing for comprehensive and enforceable copyright law in countries which lack it, and by participating in international initiatives against piracy and counterfeiting, for example, within the general agreement on tariffs and trade, the World Intellectual Property Organisation, and the European Community.I am concerned that our support should be as effective as possible and we shall be looking at ways in which it might be made more so. Industry can help by keeping us well-informed about the nature and scale of the problem and its effect on United Kingdom exports, and I was grateful for the evidence provided at the meeting.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will list, at 1985 prices, the amount of regional grants paid to Yorkshire and Humberside under (a) section 7 of the Industrial Development Act 1982 and (b) under Part II of the Industrial Development Act 1982 for the financial years 1979–80 to 1983–84 inclusive;(2) if he will estimate the amount of regional assistance to be allocated to Yorkshire and Humberside during the 1985–86 financial year.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will publish a table showing the total amount of money paid to Britain in European regional development fund grants in each year from 1979 to the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will list the figures (a) in cash terms, (b) in real terms at 1985 prices and (c) as a proportion of the total European Economic Community budget;(2) if he will publish a table showing the ratio of European regional development fund payments to total regional policy expenditure for each year from 1979 to the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will estimate the ratios for the years 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88.

The available information is given in the following table:

£m
Year	ERDF Payments to UK—Actual	ERDF Payments to UK at 1985 prices	ERDF Payments to UK as percentage of total payments from European Community Budget
1979	107·251	178·10	1·00
1980	136·423	188·946	1·65
1981	143·161	177·192	1·64
1982	119·460	137·647	1·24
1983	176·816	193·896	1·41
1984	214·930	225·856	—
1979–1984	924·354

Fotnotes:1. Current price expenditure has been converted to 1985 prices by use of an estimated GDP deflator.2. Figures of payments from the EEC budget in 1984 as certified by the Court of Auditors are not yet available.Expenditure in Great Britain on regional development grant and regional selective assistance in the financial years 1979–80 to 1984–85 totalled £3,536 million in Great Britain and on standard capital grant and regional selective assistance in Northern Ireland for the same period £871 million. The majority of receipts from the European regional development fund were in respect of capital investments in infrastructure, but there is no definition of "regional policy expenditure" to form the basis of the other table requested.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to introduce legislation requiring all gas cookers to be installed with flues; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.No. The Gas Safety (Intallation and Use) Regulations 1984 already require gas installers to ensure that piped gas appliances can be used without endangering persons or property. Most gas cooking appliances are designed not to need flues when properly installed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report details of his spending plans for 1986–87, 1987–88 and 1988–89.

Total expenditure on the programmes within my responsiblity will by £7,565 million in 1986–87, £7,410 million in 1987–88 and £7,430 million in 1988–89. The figure of £7,565 million which I have now provided for 1986–87 is £225 million higher than the figure for that year published in the 1985 public expenditure White Paper (Cmnd. 9428) and £407 million—5·7 per cent.—higher than the planned figure for the current year. Outturn for 1985–86 is currently expected to be about £7,356 million. That excess over provision largely reflects continued revenue spending by local authorities above the levels provided for. The outturn figure is likely to change as firmer information becomes available.The lower totals in 1987–88 and 1988–89 are largely due to the completion of the Torness nuclear power station which allows the South of Scotland Electricity Board's external financing limit to be substantially reduced in each year. In addition, as in England and Wales, no decision has been taken on provision for local authority current expenditure for 1987–88 and 1988–89. The figures for those years included in the programme totals therefore simply repeat those for 1986–87. They will be reconsidered during next year's public expenditure survey.As I announced on 3 December, I will shortly be completing my consultations with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities about the rate support grant settlement for 1986–87 and will then lay before the House the relevant rate support grant order. Subject to those consultations, the order will provide for a total relevant expenditure of £3,574·6 million and aggregate Exchequer grant of £2,005 million. A further addition will be made to both of these figures to take into account the transfer of financial responsibility for list D schools to local authorities as from 1 April 1986.The proposed provision for relevant expenditure is, excluding loans charges, interest receipts and the list D schools transfer, 3·9 per cent. above the figure for 1985–86 and £59 million above the provision in the White Paper (Cmnd. 9428).I thought it right to continue the revaluation rebates scheme for domestic and commercial ratepayers although relief next year will be 75 per cent. of the amounts presently available. The cost of the relief in 1986–87 will be about £20 million part of which will be provided by a transfer of resources from my block.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the average waiting time in each health board area for the hip replacement operation.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 12 July 1985 at column 244.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the nature and place of all convictions in Scotland for offences relating to the misuse of citizens band radio equipment for the first nine months of 1985.

The offences for which information is requested cannot be separately identified in the classification of crimes and offences used by the Scottish Home and Health Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the approval by the Forestry Commission for planting grant of an application in respect of 1,000 acres of Kinnell estate, Killin, which had previously been turned down by the regional advisory committee of the commission.

During 1983 and the early part of 1984 the Forestry Commission considered two applications for grant aid under the forestry grant scheme for planting part of the hill land of Acharn farm on the Kinnell estate. The first of these applications was turned down on the grounds that the proposed planting would leave an unviable hill sheep farm. However, a subsequent sale of the Kinnell estate resulted in the Acharn farm buildings and some lower land passing into a different ownership from that of the hill land. Because of this change of circumstance, the continuing viability of the farm was no longer a key issue when the new owner of the hill land submitted his planting proposals, and these were approved for grant aid.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will detail the buildings in Cumbernauld and Kilsyth which have been listed as being of architectural or historic interest.

I am arranging to send the hon. Member the information he seeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many acres of land available for development in Cumbernauld and Kilsyth are owned by (a) Cumbernauld and Kilsyth district council and (b) Cumbernauld development corporation.

Information on the amount of land available for development owned by district councils is not held centrally and should be sought from the district council. Cumbernauld development corporation owns approximately 1,100 acres of land available for development, permission for development on about 290 acres of which has been granted under section 6 of the New Towns (Scotland) Act 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report current programmes funded by his Department for inner city regeneration in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

A wide range of programmes contribute to our objective of inner city regeneration. The main ones are as follows:

(a) the urban programme provides 75 per cent. grant support to local authority and voluntary projects which tackle multiple deprivation in urban areas;

(b) the local enterprise grants for urban projects (LEG-UP) scheme administered by the Scottish Development Agency provides funding to lever desirable private sector investment into urban areas;

(c) in addition, the Scottish Development Agency has wide ranging powers to tackle the economic and environmental aspects of urban renewal. Specifically, it has nine local economic initiatives under way which are intended to regenerate the local urban economy and environment;

(d) housing associations (through the Housing Corporation) and the Scottish Special Housing Association contribute to urban regeneration through the rehabilitation and development of urban housing;

(e) regional assistance programmes (regional development grant and regional selective assistance) provide funding to support new economic activity in assisted areas.

In addition, many Government programmes assist urban areas, although not specifically targeted on them.The Government remain committed to tackling the problems of urban decay and disadvantage through determined focusing of a wide range of resources, by central and local government, other agencies and the voluntary and private sectors.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with Church representatives on the future of the steel industry in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

I have received a number of written representations from the Churches, but they have not asked to meet me.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with Church leaders on the teachers' pay dispute; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend met representatives of the Churches on 29 November. He was interested to hear the Churches' views on the dispute and undertook to consider carefully any further initiatives which might help to bring an end to it. He still firmly believes, however, that pay cannot be considered in isolation from the duties for which teachers are paid and that the best way of moving forward is for negotiations to begin between teachers and their employers on both salaries and conditions of service.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what controls applied to Scottish and Norwegian fishermen, respectively, in the herring fishery in the north and central North sea during 1985.

Scottish fishermen have been permitted to fish only in the European Community zone of the northern and central North sea this year. Their activities have been regulated by the relevant Community quota, conservation, control and marketing regulations. In addition, under United Kingdom fisheries legislation vessels over 10 m long require a North sea herring licence.Norwegian herring fishermen also fished only in their own zone in 1985 and so were subject only to their domestic controls which include catch limits and conservation measures.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the European Commission's proposal that 40 per cent. of the total allowable catch of herring from the northern and central sector of the North sea should be allocated to Norway for 1986.

We have made clear to the Commission that we are not wholly satisfied with the agreement negotiated with Norway, and have reserved our position on it. The Fisheries Council will consider the matter on 16 December.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average percentage share of the herring fishing in the northern and central sector of the North sea that was taken by Norway in the 10 years immediately before the closure of that fishery.

Papers submitted to the International Council for the exploration of the sea herring assessment working group indicate that Norwegian catches of herring from the North sea in the period from 1967 to 1976 were about 36 per cent. by weight of the total catch by fishermen from Norway and European Community countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why no new applications will be accepted by him in respect of crofting townships roads programmes; why no applications already lodged under the programme will be approved; what is the total estimated cost of the townships road unapproved programme submitted by the Highlands regional council; and if he will make a statement.

In 1983 the five local authorities concerned were advised that the crofting township roads scheme would end at 31 March 1987; that new applications would be accepted up to 30 September 1986; and that total funds available for the scheme would be about £350,000 per annum. Since then the number of applications, and the cost of the projects, have both risen faster than anticipated. Outstanding grant approvals will absorb all the available funds and, to allow for grant on these projects to be paid in full before the scheme ends, it has been decided that no further applications can be approved. The estimated total cost of projects submitted by Highland regional council which will not now qualify for approval under the scheme is £363,420.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to seek to ensure that the ewe premium will be payable on untupped gimmers.

In accordance with European Community legislation sheep annual premium is payable only on female sheep which have been put to the tup for the first time or which have lambed at least once. The Government are continuing to press in the Council of Ministers for agreement that untupped gimmers should also be eligible for premium.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to bring into force section 35 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1985.

I have made an order bringing this section, which contains provisions as to the rights of persons detained or arrested in respect of terrorism, into force on 1 January 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to receive from the University Grants Committee its proposals for the reorganisation of the teaching of veterinary medicine; and if he will make a statement.

The University Grants Committee and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons have set up a joint working party to consider the organisation of the training of veterinary medicine in the light of the report of the Manpower Review of the Veterinary Profession in the United Kingdom, which was published in August; it is not expected to report for several months.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the additional £25 million which he has announced for increases in university grants takes into account the projected increase in student numbers.

The grants for the universities announced by my right hon. Friend on 12 November, at columns 104–8, take into account the costs arising from the additional students entering universities under the engineering and technology programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if moneys granted to the University Grants Committee under the medical subhead are not spent in the financial year in respect of which they were granted, may be spent for other purposes; and how he monitors the use of these resources after allocation.

From the current financial year the medical subhead forms part of one major capital subhead for the universities. Moneys allocated for major medical projects are therefore interchangeable with moneys for major non-medical projects. If funds for major capital projects are not spent, part of the underspend can normally be transferred forward to the next financial year under the end-year flexibility arrangements for capital works. Any remaining provision is either returned to the Exchequer or, with Treasury approval, vired to other subheads within the universities' vote. Detailed control of expenditure is a matter for the University Grants Committee, but outturn figures by university are published each year in the Official Report—most recently on 22 October 1985, at columns 111–18.

Short asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much has been allocated to the University Grants Committee under the medical subhead; upon what conditions these moneys are granted; and for what purposes they may be allocated by the University Grants Committee.

The allocation to the University Grants Committee for the medical subhead A2(2) in the financial year 1985–86 was £12·87 million plus £0·66 million carried forward from the 1984–85 financial year. These moneys are provided to cover the construction and furnishing of teaching facilities for medical and dental schools in teaching hospitals or where the cost is shared with the National Health Service. The money can be used only for projects where the university share is estimated to cost £1 million or more. The selection of individual projects and the control of expenditure are undertaken by the University Grants Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about his proposals for the government of schools following the publication of the document, "Better Schools".

The proposals for the reform of school government set out in chapter 9 of "Better Schools" (Cmnd. 9469) are aimed at re-invigorating governing bodies as a force for good in the life of individual schools. As announced in the Gracious Speech, the necessary legislation will be introduced this Session.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much has been spent on the assisted places scheme in each local education authority in 1983–84 and 1984–85.

Figures for the school year 1984–85 are not yet available. The information requested for the school year 1983–84 is as follows:

Local Education Authority	Total expenditure £
Barking and Dagenham	Nil
Barnet	121,097
Bexley	Nil
Brent	Nil
Bromley	153,605
Croydon	326,818
Ealing	101,613
Enfield	Nil
Haringey	53,355
Harrow	* 122,433
Havering	Nil
Hillingdon	24,123
Hounslow	Nil
Kingston-upon-Thames	90,183
Merton	122,247
Newham	Nil
Redbridge	124,811
Richmond-upon-Thames	230,477
Sutton	44,136
Waltham Forest	105,593
Inner London Education Authority	1,984,323
Birmingham	287,007
Coventry	135,909
Dudley	Nil
Sandwell	Nil
Solihull	Nil

Local Education Authority	Total expenditure £
Walsall	Nil
Wolverhampton	193,207
Knowsley	Nil
Liverpool	424,779
St. Helens	Nil
Sefton	313,791
Wirral	377,575
Bolton	231,679
Bury	163,534
Manchester	540,340
Oldham	189,960
Rochdale	Nil
Salford	Nil
Stockport	206,827
Tameside	Nil
Trafford	81,886
Wigan	Nil
Barnsley	Nil
Doncaster	Nil
Rotherham	Nil
Sheffield	57,977
Bradford	129,947
Calderdale	Nil
Kirklees	108,969
Leeds	304,892
Wakefield	173,769
Gateshead	Nil
Newcastle Upon Tyne	445,553
North Tyneside	Nil
South Tyneside	Nil
Sunderland	Nil
Avon	891,372
Bedfordshire	590,496
Berkshire	184,515
Buckinghamshire	13,438
Cambridgeshire	239,608
Cheshire	*224,818
Cleveland	Nil
Cornwall	125,586
Cumbria	158,527
Derbyshire	217,583
Devon	416,163
Dorset	150,365
Durham	Nil
East Sussex	207,303
Essex	321,341
Gloucestershire	64,080
Hampshire	756,809
Hereford and Worcester	383,845
Hertfordshire	565,659
Humberside	160,648
Isles of Scilly	Nil
Isle of Wight	Nil
Kent	264,666
Lancashire	491,456
Leicestershire	170,359
Lincolnshire	89,224
Norfolk	196,432
North Yorkshire	96,561
Northamptonshire	204,055
Northumberland	Nil
Nottingharnshire	95,740
Oxfordshire	352,134
Shropshire	47,133
Somerset	415,698
Staffordshire	377,833
Suffolk	288,852
Surrey	618,637
Warwickshire	163,797
West Sussex	Nil
Wiltshire	59,720
* Estimated.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the level of parental contributions to the fees of pupils in the assisted places scheme in 1986–87.

Subject to the usual consultations and to parliamentary approval, the parental contribution scales will be adjusted upwards for the school year 1986–87 as follows:

Part of relevant income to which specified percentage applies	Only assisted pupil per cent.	Each of two assisted pupils per cent.	Each of three assisted pupils per cent.
That part which exceeds £6,640 but does not exceed £7,220	9	6·75	5·25
That part (if any) which exceeds £7,220 but does not exceed £7,810	12	9	7
That part (if any) which exceeds £7,810 but does not exceed £8,980	15	11·25	8·75
That part (if any) which exceeds £8,980 but does not exceed £10,780	21	15·75	12·25
That part (if any) which exceeds £10,780 but does not exceed £13,130	24	18	14
That part (if any) which exceeds £13,130	33	24·75	19·25

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the preparation of teachers for the new general certificate of secondary education examination courses.

The Government funded, national programme of preparation for the GCSE involves all teachers in introductory training seminars during 1986. These seminars will provide a general introduction to the GCSE and its assessment methods, particularly with application to the teacher's own specific subject. As GCSE courses begin, however, and teachers experience the inevitable difficulties associated with turning principles into practice, they will require further help and preparation related to the specific syllabuses that they are following and the assessment and moderation techniques involved. This further in-service training will need to be flexible and offered intermittently during the first two years of the new examination courses. The four examining groups in England are already drawing up plans for this further training and have estimated that their costs will be of the order of £4 million, of which £600,000 will be needed for the preparation of training materials. I have today written to the secretary to the joint council for the GCSE to say that the Department of Education and Science is prepared, subject to the approval of Parliament, to fund the production of these materials by means of a special grant of £600,000 to the Secondary Examinations Council for onward transmission to the examining groups in England.One half of this sum, £300,000, would be payable in the financial year 1986–87 and the other half in the following year, on receipt of a satisfactory progress report about the first year's activities. The examining groups will each be considering the best means of providing training, based on these new materials, for teachers using their syllabuses. Both the examining groups and the Department are in no doubt of the importance of this further in-service training for the GCSE, which should be of very great help to the teachers concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to announce his decision on section 8 grant applications to facilitate coal movements from the south Wales coalfield.

My right hon. Friend has decided not to approve the application submitted by Cawoods of Northern Ireland Limited and has so informed the company. No further consideration can now be given to the related applications submitted by the National Coal Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the local authorities in Wales owning (a) more than 40,000 dwellings, (b) between 20,000 and 30,000 dwellings and (c) between 30,000 and 40,000 dwellings, indicating the number for each authority.

The only local authority in Wales owning more than 20,000 dwellings is Cardiff. (22,800 dwellings).No authority owns more than 30,000 dwellings.

Infant mortality rates†
	Under one year		Under four weeks		Under one week		Under 24 hours
	1983	1984	1983	1984	1983	1984	1983	1984
Clwyd	8·3	11·1	5·0	7·3	*3·7	5·9	*1·9	*3·8
East Dyfed	9·0	*7·6	*6·5	*5·2	*4·1	*5·2	*0·8	*2·4
Pembrokeshire	*13·2	*7·3	*8·8	*5·8	*8·8	*4·4	*5·9	*3·6
Gwent	11·1	8·7	6·2	5·2	5·3	4·3	*2·2	*2·3
Gwynedd	10·6	*4·8	*6·6	*2·6	*4·7	*1·5	*2·6	*1·1
Mid Glamorgan	12·8	9·7	8·4	6·6	7·3	5·8	3·6	3·4
Powys	*8·8	15·9	*5·6	*10·3	*4·8	*8·7	*4·0	*4·8
South Glamorgan	12·0	8·8	6·8	5·0	5·1	4·3	*2·4	*2·4
West Glamorgan	8·3	6·1	6·1	4·6	4·8	*3·7	*4·0	*2·0
WALES	10·7	8·8	6·7	5·7	5·4	4·8	2·8	2·8
* Denotes a rate calculated from less than 20 events.
† Rates per 1,000 live births.

asked the Prime Minister when next she expects to visit south east Asia.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the percentage increase in domestic water rates in each year since 1979.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Cambridgeshire, North-East (Mr. Freud) on 21 November, at column 281.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the total increase in domestic water rates in Wales between 1979 and 1985 in both real and cash terms.

The total increase in the average domestic water bill in Wales between 1979 and 1985 in both real and cash terms is £15·43 and £54·83 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many fatalities have occurred in the past two years on motorways in Wales; and how many of these accidents occurred at places where lanes have been restricted due to repair work.

During the two years ending 15 August this year there have been 14 fatalities on the M4 in Wales. One of these fatalities occurred where lanes were restricted due to repair work being carried out.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what were the infant mortality rates per 1,000 live births for children (a) under one year, (b) under four weeks, (c) under one week and (d) under 24 hours for each Welsh health authority in 1983 and 1984, respectively.

The information is given in the table. The asterisked rates are based on less than 20 events and in such cases the apparently large changes from year to year are not statistically significant.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if staff at No. 10 Downing street or at the Cabinet Office have been questioned by the police on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions as to the authenticity of the purported leaks of Falklands War Cabinet deliberations alleged to have been made to Miss Sarah Keays by the then Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the right hon. Member for Hertsmere (Mr. Parkinson); and if she will make a statement.

No.

asked the Prime Minister what steps have been taken by Her Majesty's Government to press for a debate at the General Assembly of the United Nations Organisation regarding the plight of the Baha'i community in Iran.

The human rights situation in Iran has just been considered by the third committee of the United Nations General Assembly. The United Kingdom voted for the adoption of a resolution on 6 December which expressed concern at allegations of human rights violations in Iran, urged the Government of Iran to respect their international human rights obligations and decided to consider human rights in Iran, including the situation of minority groups such as the Baha'is, at its next session.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will recommend to Her Majesty that she create six offices of profit under the Crown by establishing for each of Her Majesty's three Chiltern Hundreds of Stoke, Desborough and Burnham separate posts of steward and bailiff.

No. The present two stewardships, of the three Hundreds of Chiltern and the Manor of Northstead, adequately meet the requirements of the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975, and that of hon. Members.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement setting out the additional areas of responsibility and powers of consultation which will be available to the European Assembly in consequence of the agreement made in Luxembourg on 2 and 3 December.

It was agreed that the European Assembly should be consulted on the Council's initial view of commission proposals for legislation in a limited number of areas (some internal market, technology and environment matters ). It would be able, by an absolute majority of its members, to suggest amendments to such proposals. The last word would remain with the Council. The Assembly's assent would be required for new accessions to the Community and for new association agreements with third countries or groups of countries.

asked the Prime Minister whether any decisions were taken at the European Council meeting at Luxembourg on 2 and 3 December on the threshold for value added tax; and if she will make a statement.

No, but I made the United Kingdom's position quite clear to the Commission in the context of our discussions on deregulation. I understand that it will be making new proposals in the near future. The Government will continue to press for member states to have greater flexibility in determining their threshold.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 December.

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others, including one with Secretary of State Shultz. In addition to my duties in this House, I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I hope to have an audience of Her Majesty the Queen.

asked the Prime Minister what plans she has to increase the efficiency of Government Departments.

I and all my colleagues are determined to get better value for every single pound of the taxpayers' money. This means making essential services better and reducing costs.We are continuing and strengthening the programme of financial management and personnel reforms. With the help of Sir Robin Ibbs, Ministers are setting value for money targets as a means to secure improvements. The Efficiency Unit is currently studying how targets can be best used in departments.There is a strong programme of efficiency scrutinies being carried out in association with Sir Robin Ibbs and the Efficiency Unit this financial year. The programme so far is as follows:

asked the Prime Minister what has been the total cost of entertaining foreign heads of Government for each of the past six years.

During the past six years the total cost of entertaining foreign Heads of Government has been as follows:

Year (April to March)	Cost at outturn prices £
1979–80	189,238
1980–81	97,183
1981–82	109,576
1982–83	158,433
1983–84	56,183
1984–85	194,787

asked the Prime Minister on how many occasions since 1979 Ministry of Defence aircraft have been used for Prime Ministerial foreign travel; on how many occasions civil aircraft were used: and what was the cost in each case.

[pursuant to her reply, 5 December 1985, c. 325: I have not used civil aircraft for foreign travel on official business. The costs to the Prime Minister's Office of the use of Ministry of Defence aircraft for foreign travel since 1979 have been:

Year	Destination	Cost £
1979
June	France	1,050
June	France	720
June/July	Japan/Australia	43,600
August	Zambia	49,290
October	Germany	400
October	Luxembourg	690
October	Italy	680
November	Republic of Ireland	920
December	United States of America	1,685
1980
April	Luxembourg	800
May	Yugoslavia	No charge
June	Italy (two visits)	12,140
September	France	2,730
September	Yugoslavia/Greece	16,330
November	Germany	1,130
November	Italy	2,080
December	Republic of Ireland	620
December	Luxembourg	1,030
1981
February	United States of America	19,750
February	Netherlands	820
March	Netherlands	2,110
April	India and Middle East	147,430
June	Luxembourg	2,960
July	Canada	43,030
Sept/Oct	Middle East/Australia/Pakistan	176,340
October	Mexico	33,500
November	Germany	1,730
December	France	3,320
1982
March	Belgium	1,810
June	France	2,200
June	Germany	2,260
June	Belgium	2,870
June	United States of America	30,500
July	Italy	12,460
September	Far East	108,380
October	Germany	6,860
November	France	1,620
December	Denmark	6,050
1983
January	Falklands	150,000
March	Belgium	1,800
May	United States of America	1,897
June	Germany	6,190
July	Switzerland	2,980
July	Canada/United States of America	4,906
September	Netherlands/Germany	26,200
November	India	57,990
November	Germany	24,140
December	Greece	13,130
1984
January	Italy	2,150
January	France	1,090
February	Hungary	8,530
February	USSR	28,331
March	Belgium	1,700
April	Portugal	29,401
May	France	1,412
June	France	2,160
July	Switzerland/Austria	6,760
November	India	80,727
Nov/Dec	France	8,000
	Hong Kong/China/United States of
December	America	61,770
December	Republic of Ireland	4,610
1985
January	Germany	3,916
February	United States of America	35,000

Year	Destination	Cost £
March	Belgium	3,502
March	USSR	27,073
April	South East Asia	99,300
May	Germany	5,000
June	Italy	16,000
July	United States of America	40,000
August	Austria	5,300
September	Egypt/Jordon	26,600
October	Bahamas/United States of America	70,000
November	Germany	4,500
November	Belgium	3,000
December	Luxembourg	Not yet available

1. When on security advice I travel by RAF aircraft other than on official business, arrangements are made for a payment to public funds of the equivalent of first class airfare, or where there is no such commercial airfare, the equivalent of the tourist class airfare. These arrangements are similar to those which have applied under previous governments.

Proposal	Comment	Additional annual cost to public expenditure £ million
1. Pension of half and one-third gross average earnings for couple and single person respectively.	Cost also includes other linked long-term benefits. The national insurance implications alone (£12,500 million) would increase the Class I national insurance contribution by £16·00 a week for male employees on male average earnings of £200 a week.	16,000
2. Six monthly uprating on a permanent basis.	Each 1 per cent. increase in pension and other long-term national insurance benefits brought forward by 6 months would cost £110 million (1985–86).	110
3. Adequate heating allowance covering all fuel.	Examples:
	(a) The cost of extending the basic rate heating addition to all pensioners on housing benefit would be about	300
	(b) The cost of extending it to all pensioners who are householders would be in the order of	or 500
4. Index-linked Christmas bonus of £20.	Each additional £ 1 on the bonus costs over £ 11 million.	110
5. Reducing pension age to 60 and	Estimate based on 1983–84 benefit rates. Costs arising longer term. Net costs to central Government funds at least—	*2,600
abolition of the earnings rule.	Net cost to central Government for abolition of the earnings rule on present pension age around £85 million*	190
6. Adequate death grant.	Estimate for restoring death grant to original value in respect of all deaths—£230.	135
7. Free health.	Unquantifiable.	—
8. Availability of community and personal social services.	Unquantifiable.	—
9. Appropriate accommodation including choice.	Unquantifiable.	—
10. National scheme of free off peak travel on local buses. Concessions for people of pensionable age.	Estimate is the minimum.	400
11. Access to education and leisure facilities.	Unquantifiable.	—
		£20,000
* Net cost to central Government funds.
† Rounded and absolute minimum.

asked the Prime Minister if she will publish the latest estimate of the cost of implementing the pensioners' charter of the National Pensioners' Convention, in the manner of the answer of 22 March 1983, Official Report, columns 384–86.

[pursuant to her reply, 9 December 1985, c. 421: Some of the proposals are insufficiently specific for any costings to be made, but the following table sets out the proposals in summary form and the latest available costings:

asked the Paymaster General what representations he has received from the Confederation of British Industry in respect of shortages of skill; what has been his response; and if he will make a statement.

My ministerial colleagues and I are in regular contact with the Confederation of British Industry about a wide range of issues. We have not received any direct representations from the confederation specifically in respect of skill shortages. However, in December 1984 the CBI conducted, on behalf of the Manpower Services Commission, a special survey of skill shortages to determine the effects on output and investment and to identify the occupations affected. The survey is to be repeated this month and we look forward to continued co-operation in this important area.The commission's adult training programmes are now much more closely directed towards responding to local labour market needs; but the primary responsibility for training must rest with employers.

asked the Paymaster General how many people in Lambeth have been unemployed between one and two years, between two and three years, between three and four years and more than four years.

The following information is in the Library. Figures are given showing the number of claimants in the London borough of Lambeth who, on 10 October 1985, the latest date for which an analysis of unemployment by duration is available, had been unemployed for the durations requested.

	Number
Over one and up to two years	5,208
Over two and up to three years	2,734
Over three and up to four years	1,781
Over four years	1,926

asked the Paymaster General what evidence he has that employees within the Welwyn Hatfield constituency are registered as unemployed in other areas; and if he will make a statement.

A recent fraud drive in the Hertfordshire-Bedfordshire area has revealed that some people do work in one locality while drawing benefit in another. The number of known cases is small and I have no specific information about any in the Welwyn Hatfield constituency.

asked the Paymaster General what plans he has for an area manpower board covering Leicester; and if he will make a statement.

Following a recent review of area manpower boards, the Manpower Services Commission has decided that the board which now covers Leicestershire and Northamptonshire should be divided into two county-based boards. This change will take effect from 1 July 1986 when the boards are due to be reconstituted. Copies of the review report are held in the Library.

asked the Paymaster General if he will publish a table showing the total amount of money paid to Britain under the European Economic Community social fund in each year from 1979 to the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will list the figures (a) in cash terms, (b) in real terms at 1985 prices and (c) as a proportion of the total European Economic Community budget.

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

asked the Paymaster General what is his estimate of the drop-out rate of those involved with the enterprise allowance scheme; and how many businesses are still operating one year after starting on the enterprise allowance scheme.