asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the present performance and future role of the British Technology Group.

The role of the British Technology Group (BTG—the name under which the National Research Development Corporation and the National Enterprise Board have been co-operating since 1981) was set out by the then Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in 1983. The BTG now concentrates its efforts on technology transfer, helping British industry to exploit technology mainly derived from United Kingdom public sector sources. This task is intended to be carried out in such a manner as to become self-financing.The 1983 statement also required a high priority to be given to the disposal of the group's portfolio of equity investments inherited from the NEB. The corporate plan to carry out these objectives was agreed with Ministers in 1984 and updated in 1985. The BTG has been very successful in meeting these objectives.On the NRDC side, revenues from technology transfer were significantly better than forecast and the NRDC paid dividends of £2 million to the Exchequer from surplus funds for both 1983–84 and 1984–85. It has also now been agreed that in future NRDC will pay dividends equal to 50 per cent. of the post-tax profits for the previous year, although this would not necessarily be regarded as the upper limit, if the corporation enjoyed a "windfall" profit. It remains a major objective for the NRDC to generate increased revenue from a wider range of inventions than in the past.On the NEB side, progress on the disposal of equity investments has been very good. The rate of disposals and their value has exceeded expectations and from the disposal proceeds a total of £168 million was paid to the Exchequer as a refund of public dividend capital in 1984–85. A further £22 million has been paid so far in the current financial year. The BTG also repaid outstanding loans of £2 million to the Exchequer in 1984–85.For the future, the Government regard technology transfer of great importance to British industry, leading to the starting up of new industries and new product lines, with consequential job creation. Mr Ian Harvey, a qualified engineer with experience of industry, the World Bank and consultancy, was appointed chief executive of the BTG in October 1985, to develop the BTG's technology transfer role. This has been accompanied by a reorganisation of the group, to place increased emphasis on technology transfer.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, in the light of the recently announced provisional settlement of the class action relating to the collapse of Laker Airways, what is the Government's policy towards the application of the United States anti-trust laws to civil aviation.

The Government have consistently maintained the view that in so far as the activities of airlines are authorised and regulated in accordance with an air services agreement, the domestic laws of a contracting party may not be used to constrain or regulate those activities, unless that is provided for expressly , or is necessary in order to implement the agreement, or the laws can be applied in a manner which is compatible with the agreement. Regulation under the agreement by the contracting parties jointly of matters such as market access, capacity and tariffs necessarily displaces the unilateral application of the domestic competition laws of each party which implements the national economic philosophy of each country and are not designed to deal with the special characteristics and needs of international civil aviation.In particular, the Government's view is that the unilateral application of United States anti-trust law to air services operated under the United Kingdom-United States air services agreement (Bermuda 2) is not only incompatible with the United Kingdom's rights under the agreement, but is damaging to the trading interests of the United Kingdom. In 1983 the then Secretary of State for Trade and Industry exercised his powers under the Protection of Trading Interests Act 1980 to prohibit compliance by persons carrying on business in the United Kingdom with requirements for the enforcement of United States anti-trust laws in relation to activities of United Kingdom airlines and concerning the operation of air services under Bermuda 2.Our policy is unchanged, and I therefore intend to exercise powers unde that Act to whatever extent is necessary if proceedings under the anti-trust laws were to be begun in the future in United States courts against any United Kingdom airline in relation to air services operated by it under Bermuda 2, and would not envisage consenting to requests to comply with discovery orders made by United States courts in such cases.While maintaining this position, the Government's longer-term objective is to reach mutually acceptable arrangements as appropriate with foreign Governments to deal with anti competitive behaviour by airlines. As a first step we have indicated to the United States Government that we are ready to discuss these issues with them.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made by the Companies Registration Office towards meeting the target for improving the reliability of the register of companies.

As was reported to the Public Accounts Committee on 20 June 1984, the Registrar of Companies is aiming to achieve compliance by 80 per cent. of the companies on the register by the middle of 1986.In May 1984 an estimated 457,000 companies were in default. Only 60,000 of those defaults remain unrectified and the majority of the companies concerned are likely to be struck from the register as defunct. Since then, the Registrar has sent out over 1 million letters to defaulting companies and their directors, has prosecuted over 1,500 directors for failure to deliver accounts and-or returns and has struck off 64,000 companies identified as defunct. In addition, a programme of reminders has begun with the aim of bringing to the attention of directors of companies their filing obligations before companies go into default. A total of 286,000 such letters has been despatched.Of the 1,004,000 companies on the register at 29 November 1985, 66,000 are in liquidation and will ultimately be removed from the register. A further 143,000 are in the course of being struck off the register. There remain 795,000 active companies; 592,000 (74 per cent.) of these are currently up to date with filing accounts and 631,000 (79 per cent) are up to date with their annual returns. A total of 541,000 (68 per cent.) are in full compliance, some 165,000 more than in May 1984.The proportion of companies in default for long periods has also decreased. In May 1984 an estimated 400,000 companies were in default for more than six months, compared with the present figure of 150,000.With over 1 million companies now on the register, the 80 per cent. compliance target effectively means that over 800,000 companies would have to be up-to-date with their filing of both accounts and returns. As there are currently over 200,000 companies in liquidation or in the course of dissolution, I think it more sensible to express the target in terms of the number of active companies and, in addition, to require the Registrar to give particular priority to eliminating the number of companies in default for more than six months.Progress has so far been considerable. Full compliance now stands at 68 per cent. of active companies. 80 per cent. by mid-1986 is an ambitious target and I am satisfied that the Registrar and his staff are making every effort to reduce the amount of arrears with the continuing cooperation of the accountancy profession, which I gratefully acknowledge.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his estimate of the present number of individuals selling life policies and selling unit trusts who would have to be licensed for part-time as well as full-time work if his proposed legislation came into effect.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, before deciding whether to compel all individuals selling life policies and all individuals selling unit trusts to become licensed, he will estimate the present number of such persons who would have to be licensed for part-time as well as full-time work.

When the Marketing of Investments Board organising committee makes a detailed case to me for the inclusion of licensing in the forth-coming Financial Services Bill, I shall look at all relevant aspects of the case, including what information the committee has on the number of salesmen likely to be covered by such a licensing scheme. It is very difficult to produce firm estimates of the numbers involved, particularly because it ranges from those involved in selling such products on a full-time basis to an even larger number who occasionally sell such products.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of his staff are directly assisting computer and electronics exporters from the United Kingdom; and what direct funding he is making to such programmes.

Staff in my Department engaged in running BOTB export services deal with companies from all industries and details are not available to illustrate how total staff effort, or total export promotion expenditure, breaks down by sector.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what forms of assistance are available to retail developments opting to trade in designated assisted areas.

Retail firms both inside and outside the assisted areas may be able to benefit from the loan guarantee scheme, enterprise allowances and the small firms service. However, regional assistance is not generally available to retail developments serving only the immediate locality because of the net effect of such developments on competitors and jobs in the assisted region.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has appointed merchant bank advisers for the privatisation of Rolls-Royce.

Following my announcement on 4 June. Samuel Montagu and Co. Limited was appointed to give preliminary advice in connection with the privatisation of Rolls-Royce Limited. On 8 November, I indicated that I had received Samuel Montagu's advice, and I confirmed that, subject to market conditions, the Government intended to privatise Rolls-Royce before the end of the present Parliament. I have now decided to appoint Samuel Montagu as the Government's merchant bank adviser for the privatisation itself.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what funds have been made available from the European Community Social Fund for purposes connected with the United Kingdom textile and clothing industries.

I have been asked to reply.The social fund has made the following allocations of funds for the training of workers and former workers in the United Kingdom textile and clothing industries:

	£
1977	2,756,753
1978	5,036,766
1979	1,922,296
1980	1,201,469
1981	1,960,891
1982	3,138,630
1983	3,761,840

With the introduction in 1984 of new social fund rules, the separate budgets for textile and clothing workers and for various other categories were abolished from 1984. The information is therefore not available in the form requested.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on British participation in the ocean drilling programme.

[pursuant to his reply, 26 November 1985, c. 522]: The United Kingdom is to join the ocean drilling programme (ODP) as a full member. The United Kingdom will be represented through the Natural Environment Research Council, and its Secretary, Dr. John Bowman, has written today to the National Science Foundation of the United States of America applying for membership in the ODP. A group of United Kingdom oil producers—BP, Britoil, Burmah, Enterprise, Shell UK and Tricentrol—have agreed to contribute to the annual subscription of US $2·5 million as have the Departments of Energy, (which will contribute 20 per cent.), Environment, and Trade and Industry. The NERC regards this programme as high priority and will contribute the balance of almost £1 million per annum. The NERC will also provide support to British scientists participating in the cruises and subsequent research.The involvement of the Government, the NERC and industry underlines the Government's keeness to encourage joint funding in partnership with industry of strategic research projects such as ODP which traditionally have been funded from the public sector.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to the average period which elapses between visits by Her Majesty's inspectors to voluntary colleges and the publication of their subsequent reports; what steps he is taking to reduce this period of time; and if he will make a statement.

Visits by Her Majesty's inspectors to educational establishments, including the voluntary colleges, have a variety of purposes. The majority are informal visits to enable Her Majesty's inspectors to keep in touch with developments in the particular institution. Her Majesty's inspectors report orally to the staff concerned on what they find, but these visits do not lead to published reports. In the academic year 1984–85 all the voluntary colleges in England received at least two such visits and most were visited each term. Formal inspections leading to published Her Majesty's inspectors reports are less frequent. Since 1 January 1983 there have been four such reports on provision in voluntary colleges, in each case initial teacher training in a particular institution. The average time between inspection and publication has been nearly 10 months. It remains the aim of the Department and Her Majesty's Inspectorate, as set out in the 1983 policy statement "The Work of Her Majesty's Inspectorate in England and Wales", that reports be issued to individual institutions within six months of the inspection; ways of accelerating current procedures are being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what level of grant aid the Medical Research Council makes available to Moorfields eye hospital and the Institution of Ophthalmology for the purposes of research into the inherited eye disease, retinitis pigmentosa; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that in the financial year 1984–85 the Medical Research Council spent £74,000 on research into the inherited eye disease retinitis pigmentosa, at the Moorfields eye hospital institute of ophthalmology. The council's overall expenditure in the same financial year on research into this disease amounted to £197,000. The Medical Research Council is always willing to consider soundly based scientific proposals in competition with other applications.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the teachers' pay dispute.

The teachers' panel of the Burnham committee met on 5 December and resolved to seek an early resumption of negotiations. The management panel is to meet today. The Government will continue to work for a settlement of this damaging and unnecessary dispute of a kind which would secure progress towards its objectives for better schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to ensure that the latest offer to teachers is made known to school governors and to individual teachers; and if he will make a statement.

The offer made by the management panel on 12 September, and constructed on the Government's conditional willingness to see an extra £1,250 million spent on teachers' pay in the four years 1986–87 to 1989–90, was rejected by the unions after just 20 minutes. That offer is no longer on the table, although the Government's conditional offer of additional resources still stands. The holder of my office does not employ the teachers and I was not in a position to write to them direct about the 12 September offer. However, it is my judgment that most teachers did learn about the content of the offer through their unions, their employers or the educational press.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the implications for his policy on the education of those with special educational needs of the recent judgment of Mr. Justice Taylor on the education of a dyslexic child from Southampton; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is awaiting the transcript of the judgment in this case.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has about the proportion of schools which have been modified since 1981 with aids to assist handicapped pupils; and if he will make a statement.

This information is not available centrally. However, the Department's building bulletin 61 "Designing for Children with Special Educational Needs—Ordinary Schools", published last year, included guidance on how existing school buildings could be used or adapted for the purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has about the proportion of children assessed as to their special educational needs and the proportion of children in special schools on whom statements have been prepared, under the terms of the Education Act 1981.

According to returns submitted to the Department by all LEAs in January 1985 as part of the annual statistical exercise, a total of 127,889 children have statements of special educational needs under the 1981 Act. Overall, this represents 1·6 per cent. of all the school population. It is not possible to identify from the returns the proportion of children in special schools with statements.The figures for individual LEAs are as follows:

Proportion of children with statements of special educational needs England—(as at 17 January 1985)
	Number of children with statements	Percentage of school population
Avon	617	0·4
Barking	384	1·5
Barnet	644	1·3
Barnsley	443	1·1
Bedfordshire	1,529	1·6
Berkshire	2,121	1·6
Bexley	713	2·1
Birmingham	3,478	1·9
Bolton	675	1·4
Bradford	1,391	1·6
Brent	Nil	—
Bromley	766	1·7
Buckinghamshire	2,859	2·7
Bury	507	1·7
Calderdale	338	1·0
Cambridgeshire	1,252	1·2
Cheshire	3,468	2·1
Cleveland	2,290	2·1
Cornwall	965	1·3
Coventry	1,232	2·2
Croydon	791	1·5
Cumbria	1,353	1·6
Derbyshire	2,698	1·7
Devon	2,807	1·9
Doncaster	14	0·0
Dorset	1,590	1·7
Dudley	908	2·0
Durham	1,569	1·5
Ealing	513	1·0
East Sussex	1,766	1·8
Enfield	779	1·9
Essex	4,555	1·8
Gateshead	598	1·8
Gloucestershire	483	0·6
Hampshire	5,252	2·1
Haringey	556	1·8
Harrow	596	1·9
Havering	626	1·6
Hereford and Worcester	14	0·0
Hertfordshire	3,472	1·9
Hillingdon	698	1·8
Hounslow	12	0·0
Humberside	2,417	1·6
Inner London Education Authority	7,349	2·2
Isle of Wight	317	1·7
Isles of Scilly	Nil	—
Kent	5,137	2·0

	Number of children with statements	Percentage of school population
Kingston upon Thames	340	1·7
Kirklees	929	1·3
Knowsley	348	1·1
Lancashire	4,708	2·0
Leeds	1,038	0·9
Leicestershire	1,797	1·2
Lincolnshire	2,001	2·2
Liverpool	1,663	1·9
Manchester	345	0·4
Merton	160	0·6
Newcastle upon Tyne	882	1·9
Newham	755	2·0
Norfolk	1,494	1·3
North Tyneside	604	1·8
North Yorkshire	1,723	1·6
Northamptonshire	1,858	1·8
Northumberland	806	1·6
Nottinghamshire	2,617	1·5
Oldham	661	1·6
Oxfordshire	1,046	1·2
Redbridge	724	2·1
Richmond upon Thames	305	1·3
Rochdale	618	1·6
Rotherham	844	1·8
St. Helens	647	1·9
Salford	815	1·9
Sandwell	1,103	2·0
Sefton	581	1·1
Sheffield	1,383	1·6
Shropshire	780	1·1
Solihull	84	0·2
Somerset	1,320	1·8
South Tyneside	467	1·8
Staffordshire	2,671	1·5
Stockport	862	1·7
Suffolk	1,532	1·4
Sunderland	1,000	1·8
Surrey	3,384	2·0
Sutton	190	0·8
Tameside	669	1·8
Trafford	278	0·8
Wakefield	981	1·7
Walsall	777	1·5
Waltham Forest	716	2·0
Warwickshire	1,547	1·8
West Sussex	1,394	1·3
Wigan	108	0·2
Wiltshire	1,795	2·0
Wirral	1,277	1·1
Wolverhampton	720	1·5
Total: England	127,889	1·6

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in the Official Report, for each local education authority in England, at the latest available date, the number and proportion of children of compulsory school age in (i) mainstream, maintained schools and (ii) special schools whose education is governed by a statement under the provisions of the Education Act 1981.

[pursuant to his reply, 3 December 1985 c. 158]: The number and proportion of children with statements of special educational needs in maintained primary, middle and secondary schools and in maintained and non-maintained special schools in each LEA in January 1985 were as follows:

	Number of pupils with statements in special schools	Number of pupils with statements in primary, middle and secondary schools	All pupils with statements	Percentage of pupils with statements in special schools	Percentage of pupils with statements in primary middle and secondary schools
Barking	279	32	311	89·7	10·3
Barnet	426	75	501	85·0	15·0
Bexley	355	94	449	79·1	20·9
Brent	537	60	597	89·9	10·1
Bromley	533	187	720	74·0	26·0
Croydon	613	91	704	87·1	12·9
Ealing	584	141	725	80·6	19·4
Enfield	494	34	528	93·6	6·4
Haringey	424	88	512	82·8	17·2
Harrow	269	100	369	72·9	27·1
Havering	450	74	524	85·9	14·1
Hillingdon	531	53	584	90·9	9·1
Hounslow	610	—	610	100	—
Kingston-upon-Thames	255	54	309	82·5	17·5
Merton	313	54	367	85·3	14·7
Newham	611	65	676	90·4	9·6
Redbridge	465	33	498	93·4	6·6
Richmond-upon-Thames	186	23	209	89·0	11·0
Sutton	293	34	327	89·6	10·4
Waltham Forest	851	146	997	85·4	14·6
Inner London	7,338	1,195	8,533	86·0	14·0
Birmingham	3,138	416	3,554	88·3	11·7
Coventry	966	86	1,052	91·8	8·2
Dudley	645	143	788	81·9	18·1
Sandwell	877	169	1,046	83·8	16·2
Solihull	419	40	459	91·3	8·7
Walsall	696	95	791	88·0	12·0
Wolverhampton	581	129	710	81·8	18·2
Knowsley	622	35	657	94·7	5·3
Liverpool	1,904	171	2,075	91·8	8·2
St. Helens	502	67	569	88·2	11·8
Sefton	672	37	709	94·8	5·2
Wirral	887	202	1,089	81·5	18·5
Bolton	580	14	594	97·6	2·4
Bury	303	71	374	81·0	19·0
Manchester	1,819	57	1,876	97·0	3·0
Oldham	722	94	816	88·5	11·5
Rochdale	570	69	639	89·2	10·8
Salford	947	28	975	97·1	2·9
Stockport	817	156	973	84·0	16·0
Tameside	381	152	533	71·5	28·5
Trafford	437	181	618	70·7	29·3
Wigan	782	110	892	87·7	12·3
Barnsley	365	51	416	87·7	12·3
Doncaster	944	2	946	99·8	0·2
Rotherharn	611	156	767	79·7	20·3
Sheffield	1,440	248	1,688	85·3	14·7
Bradford	1,287	118	1,405	91·6	8·4
Calderdale	381	23	404	94·3	5·7
Kirklees	680	131	811	83·8	16·2
Leeds	2,136	435	2,571	83·1	16·9
Wakefield	846	11	857	98·7	1·3
Gateshead	556	89	645	86·2	13·8
Newcastle upon Tyne	1,001	68	1,069	93·6	6·4
North Tyneside	575	61	636	90·4	9·6
South Tyneside	331	56	387	85·5	14·5
Sunderland	777	272	1,049	74·1	25·9
Isles of Scilly	—	—	—	—	—
Avon	2,316	3,289	5,605	41·3	58·7
Bedfordshire	1,161	370	1,531	75·8	24·2
Berkshire	1,906	859	2,765	68·9	31·1
Buckinghamshire	1,803	534	2,337	77·2	22·8
Cambridgeshire	1,460	494	1,954	74·7	25·3
Cheshire	1,913	1,426	3,339	57·3	42·7
Cleveland	1,934	385	2,319	83·4	16·6
Cornwall	292	575	867	33·7	66·3
Cumbria	632	509	1,141	55·4	44·6
Derbyshire	1,970	693	2,663	74·0	26·0
Devon	2,199	507	2,706	81·3	18·7

	Number of pupils with statements in special schools	Number of pupils with statements in primary, middle and secondary schools	All pupils with statements	Percentage of pupils with statements in special schools	Percentage of pupils with statements in primary middle and secondary schools
Dorset	1,260	211	1,471	85·7	14·3
Durham	1,154	201	1,355	85·2	14·8
East Sussex	1,791	139	1,930	92·8	7·2
Essex	3,485	505	3,990	87·3	12·7
Gloucestershire	1,380	169	1,549	89·1	10·9
Hampshire	4,204	472	4,676	89·9	10·1
Hereford and Worcester	1,512	76	1,588	95·2	4·8
Hertfordshire	2,543	750	3,293	77·2	22·8
Humberside	1,649	665	2,314	71·3	28·7
Isle of Wight	311	54	365	85·2	14·8
Kent	3,852	941	4,793	80·4	19·6
Lancashire	3,893	348	4,241	91·8	8·2
Leicestershire	1,341	509	1,850	72·5	27·5
Lincolnshire	1,296	552	1,848	70·1	29·9
Norfolk	999	496	1,495	66·8	33·2
North Yorkshire	1,398	242	1,640	85·2	14·8
Northamptonshire	1,607	428	2,035	79·0	21·0
Northumberland	636	76	712	89·3	10·7
Nottinghamshire	2,349	129	2,478	94·8	52
Oxfordshire	1,116	65	1,181	94·5	5·5
Shropshire	800	424	1,224	65·4	34·6
Somerset	881	373	1,254	70·3	29·7
Staffordshire	2,272	511	2,783	81·6	18·4
Suffolk	835	613	1,448	57·7	42·3
Surrey	3,003	285	3,288	91·3	8·7
Warwickshire	1,528	69	1,597	95·7	4·3
West Sussex	1,258	148	1,406	89·5	10·5
Wiltshire	842	819	1,661	50·7	49·3
England	114,344	26,787	141,131	81·0	19·0

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the gross capital investment in (i) schools and (ii) higher and further education in 1970–71,

£ million (England)
	Schools		Higher and Further Education
	Cash	1984–85* Real Terms	Cash	1984–85* Real Terms
1970–71	192	927	129	623
1975–76	367	935	180	458
1980–81	401	516	334	430
1984–85	360	360	320	320
1985–86	279	266	281	268
1986–87	294	268	298	272

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is the percentage change in the funding of each university by the University Grants Committee between 1980–81 and 1983–84, excluding those amounts representing compensation for changes in home student fees, compensation for redundancy and early retirement, changes to take account of minor capital works from the recurrent grant changes in the level of local authority rates additions made for the information technology and new blood programmes;(2) what is the percentage change in real terms, measured by the gross domestic product deflator, in the funding of each university by the University Grants Committee between 1980–81 and 1983–84, excluding

1975–76, 1980–81, 1984–85, 1985–86 and planned for 1986–87, expressed in

The information is as follows:those amounts representing compensation for changes in home student fees, compensation for redundancy and early retirement, changes to take account of minor capital works from the recurrent grant and changes in the level of local authority rates

[pursuant to his reply, 3 December 1985, c. 161]: The percentage changes in the funding of each university by the University Grants Committee between 1980–81 and 1983–84 in (a) cash and (b) real terms measured by the gross domestic product deflator, excluding those amounts representing compensation for changes in the level of home student fees, compensation for redundancy and early retirement, provision for capital in recurrent expenditure, local authority rates and additions made for the information technology and new blood programmes are as follows. The percentage changes shown will be in part the consequence of the withdrawal of the overseas student subsidy and to the extent that these losses have been made up by increased fee income will not accurately reflect the changes in the universities financial position.

Percentage change in UGC funding (Academic Years)
University	(a) Cash 1980–81 to 1983–84	(b) Real terms 1980–81 to 1983–84
Aston	-16·6	-31·0
Bath	15·4	- 4·5
Birmingham	3·4	-14·4
Bradford	-17·0	-31·2
Bristol	4·7	-13·4
Brunel	0·7	-16·6
Cambridge	10·8	- 8·2
City	- 3·2	-19·8
Durham	13·9	- 5·7
East Anglia	11·1	- 8·0
Essex	- 3·4	-20·0
Exeter	2·5	-15·1
Hull	0·3	-17·0
Keele	-18·0	-32·1
Kent	- 3·2	-19·8
Lancaster	6·0	-12·3
Leeds	4·6	-13·4
Leicester	12·9	- 6·5
Liverpool	2·4	-15·2
London Graduate School of Business Studies	61·3	+33·6
London University	4·0	-13·9
Loughborough	11·5	- 7·7
Manchester Business School	- 9·8	-25·2
Manchester	2·4	-15·2
University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology	-13·7	-29·2
Newcastle	10·2	- 8·7
Nottingham	6·5	-11·8
Oxford	9·3	- 9·5
Reading	4·7	-13·3
Salford	-30·3	-42·3
Sheffield	7·2	-11·2
Southampton	8·3	-10·3
Surrey	- 5·5	-21·8
Sussex	- 2·1	-18·9
Warwick	6·1	-12·1
York	18·6	-1·7
Aberystwyth UC	0·7	-16·6
Bangor UC	4·1	-13·8
Cardiff UC	5·1	-13·0
St. David's, Lampeter	21·6	+ 0·7
Swansea UC	1·1	-16·3
University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology	1·3	-16·1
Welsh National School of Medicine	12·1	- 7·1
Aberdeen	- 2·4	-19·2
Dundee	2·3	-15·3
Edinburgh	10·3	- 8·6
Glasgow	12·6	- 6·7
Heriot-Watt	9·1	- 9·6
St. Andrews	0·4	-16·9
Stirling	- 5·2	-21·4
Strathclyde	2·8	-14·8

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what help is currently given to British exporters by British embassies and high commissions abroad.

Over a third of the front-line staff of nearly 200 British embassies, high commissions and consular offices in 130 countries are engaged in the promotion and protection of Britain's commercial and economic interests overseas. The help and advice they give in support of exporters is outlined in the recently-produced booklet "Ambassadors for Exports", copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House and given a wide distribution to the business community.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the current capacity and state of the art of seismographic verification in nuclear arms control.

In our view there are many questions, of both a theoretical and a practical nature, which must be resolved before an adequate verification regime could be established. These difficulties were outlined by my hon. Friend the Member for Shoreham (Mr. Luce) in the speech that he made in the House during the Adjournment debate on 7 June at column 617–024. We follow closely developments in seismology to see what contribution, if any, we can make to the resolution of these outstanding difficulties.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to monitor and secure compliance with the United Nations Organisation's ban on arms exports to South Africa; and if he will make a statement.

The United Nations arms embargo is implemented in the United Kingdom by means of the Exports of Goods (Control) Order 1985 (as amended). Her Majesty's Customs and Excise is responsible for implementing the control. Any alleged breaches are fully investigated and, where appropriate, prosecutions follow.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has about the level of compliance by the Soviet Union with those provisions of the Helsinki final act relating to freedom of worship.

Despite its United Nations and Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe commitments, the Soviet Union does not permit freedom of religion and belief as we know it. Significant numbers of Soviet citizens do attend religious services, but the Council of Religious Affairs maintains tight controls through the requirement to register a congregation and through controls on the printing and distribution of prayer books, and so on. Unofficial worshippers suffer discrimination and harassment and there have been several cases in which individuals who persist in the face of official discouragement have been imprisoned.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the response to the proposal by the Hungarian Government for abolition of visa requirements between Hungary and the United Kingdom.

No. The Hungarian Government have made no proposal for the abolition of a visa requirement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the specific purpose of the grant of £1,000 in 1984–85 under class II, Vote 2, section B3 of his Department's appropriation accounts, entitled "Palestine".

The payments were for replacement artificial limbs for pensioners of the former Palestine Government and arise because on termination of the mandate for Palestine in 1948 certain liabilities of the former Palestine Government fell to Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the gross capital construction investment on defence, as defined by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation in 1970–71, 1975–76, 1980–81, 1984–85, 1985–86 and planned for 1986–87, expressed in (a) cash terms and (b) 1984–85 prices.

The information requested is as follows:

£ million
	Cash	1984–85 prices*
1971–72†	60	263
1975–76	146	370
1980–81	283	364
1984–85	603	603
1985–86	750	714
* Cash figures have been converted to 1984–85 prices using the GDP (market prices) deflator.
†Information is not available prior to 1971–72.

Provision for 1986–87 is not currently available.

asked the Prime Minister what reply she is sending to the letter sent to her on 2 December by the honorary president/secretary of British War Widows and Associates; and if she will seek Mrs. Strange's agreement to publish the exchange of correspondence in the Official Report.

My office will be replying to the honorary president/secretary of British War Widows and Associates on my behalf shortly. It is not my practice to publish correspondence sent to me by members of the public.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what degree of interest has been shown by private companies in energy efficiency year since its launch; and what steps they are taking to support this campaign.

In the short time since Energy Efficiency Year was announced, private companies have shown a substantial level of interest. Over 170 events have already been planned by individual private sector organisations or companies acting together through their trade or professional associations. This is in addition to the substantial number of events being run by my Department, the nationalised fuel industries, universities, local authorities and chambers of commerce. As planning for the year progresses, we would expect private companies to account for an increasing proportion of events. We also expect the breakfast briefing sessions planned during the year to receive the same high level of support from private companies as the original series which finished in May 1985.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will indicate the percentage of the total amount of radioactive material reprocessed in the B204 plant at Sellafield that arises from electricity board reactors.

Less than 1 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list for each year snce the B205 chemical separation plant at Windscale/Sellafield came into operation (a) the weight of plutonium separated from the spent nuclear fuel arising from electricity board reactors and (b) the tonnage of civil spent nuclear fuel processed.

The total weight of plutonium derived from the boards' reactors cannot be given for national security reasons as explained in note (g) to the answer given to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Thomas) on 23 July 1985 at column 473 and by my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, Central (Mr. Moore) in answer to a question from my hon. Friend the hon. Member for Bedfordshire, North (Mr. Skeet) on 9 March 1983 at column 401. However, plutonium production figures such as those given in the answer on 23 July have been provided in each year since 1981.I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Livingston (Mr. Cook) on 27 May 1977 at column

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many employees are currently engaged by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority on the fast reactor programme.

I am advised by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) that as at 31 August this year some 2,300 staff were employed at Dounreay, their principal centre for fast reactor development.Within the authority overall, in terms of qualified scientific and engineering staff, 715 man-years of effort will be deployed on the fast reactor programme in 1985–86 at Dounreay and at other sites. In addition, more junior technical and other ancillary staff provide support to this and to other UKAEA programmes at these locations.

asked the Paymaster General if he will give details of Her Majesty's Government's measures or proposed measures to help and encourage the training of graduates in private industry.

It is primarily the responsibility of employers to provide suitable training for their graduate employees. As part of the adult training campaign, the Government are encouraging employers to recognise the importance of investing in training to improve the skills of their work force at all levels, including graduates. In addition, employees may benefit from the pump-priming training grants available to industry through the Manpower Services Commission, and from the commission's development programmes. Measures of particular relevance to graduates are the national priority skills scheme, under which support is provided to a number of industrial training organisations to help meet graduate level key skill needs in their industries; the graduate gateway programme which encourages new graduates to consider working in new businesses and owners of small business to consider recruiting graduates; and the management development programme, the aim of which is to develop improved methods of management training and to promote the spread of good practice.

asked the Paymaster General what were the average gross male industrial earnings in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

The latest figures for the United Kingdom are as follows:

Average gross weekly earnings (£) of full-time adult male employees* in manufacturing industry†
April	Aged 21 and over	On adult rates
1980	124·1	—
1981	136·9	—
1982	152·3	—
1983	162·9	160·8
1984	—	176·5

asked the Paymaster General how many of the wages inspectors currently employed are of ethnic origin.

The information is not currently available. All staff are appointed on the basis of their overall suitability irrespective of ethnic minority origin.

asked the Paymaster General how many people in Lambeth are employed on special employment and training measures in Lambeth, identifying the numbers in respect of each separate employment or training scheme.

Some 2,000 people were covered by the employment and training measures in Lambeth at the end of November. Because of the various bases on which local information is collated, an unknown proportion will be in areas outside the borough of Lambeth. The numbers in respect of each scheme are as follows:

	Number
Community Industry	108
Community Programme	289
Enterprise Allowance Scheme	1,364
Job Release Schemes	165
Young Workers Schemes	57

asked the Paymaster General what funds have been made available from the European Community social fund for the training of workers and former workers in the United Kingdom textile and clothing industries.

The social fund has made the following allocations of funds for the training of workers and former workers in the United Kingdom textile and clothing industries:

Year	Amount £
1977	2,756,753
1978	5,036,766
1979	1,922,296
1980	1,201,469
1981	1,960,891
1982	3,138,630
1983	3,761,840

With the introduction in 1984 of new social fund rules, the separate budgets for textile and clothing workers and for various other categories were abolished from 1984. The information is therefore not available in the form requested.

asked the Paymaster General when he expects to publish a leaflet setting out practical advice for small firms affected through the delayed payment of accounts by larger firms.

We are aiming to issue practical guidance on this subject early in 1986. It is intended to help purchasing and supplying organisations in the public and private sectors.

asked the Paymaster General if, pursuant to the answer of 29 November, Official Report, column 677, he will specify the nature of the safety improvements being carried out at the Ault and Wiborg paint factory at Perivale; and when the work is expected to be completed.

The works being carried out are extensive modifications to the bulk storage facilities and improvements to the distribution system for highly flammable liquids in the factory. The work is due to be completed by the end of 1985.

asked the Paymaster General what have been the numbers on special employment measures in each of the last six months.

Numbers on the employment and training measures were as follows:

Month in 1985	Number
May	587,000
June	600,000
July	630,000
August	635,000
September	671,000
October	675,000

asked the Paymaster General if he will provide a breakdown of the number of youth training scheme trainees in the Leeds metropolitan district council area on (a) mode A courses and (b) mode B courses, by ethnic group.

The following table shows the number of young people in training on the youth training scheme on 31 October 1985 in the Leeds metropolitan district council area, according to the mode of training and ethnic origin:

In-training on 31 October 1985
Ethnic origin	Mode A	Mode B
White	2,763	994
Black/African/Caribbean descent	43	88
Indian sub-continent descent	40	49
Others	22	14
Total	2,868	1,145

asked the Paymaster General if he will provide the number and percentage of youth training scheme trainees in the Leeds metropolitan district council area on (a) mode A courses and (b) mode B courses who leave during the first three months of the course.

Of the young people who joined the youth training scheme in Leeds metropolitan district during the financial year 1984–85, 681 mode A trainees (19 per cent.) and 518 mode B trainees (31 per cent.) left during the first three months of their course. These figures must be treated with caution as they will include young people who may have joined and/or left the scheme more than once during the period.

asked the Paymaster General how many loans have been made under the small firms loan guarantee scheme in each year since 1981.

The table shows the number of guarantees issued in each financial year since 1981.

Financial year	Number issued
1981–82	3,351
1982–83	6,045
1983–84	4,890
1984–85	2,084
1985–86*	365
* 31 October 1985.

asked the Paymaster General what has been the value of the guarantee called in under the small firms loan guarantee scheme in each year since 1981.

The table lists the values of guarantees called in each financial year since 1981.

Financial year	Value £ million
1981–82	0·188
1982–83	14·830
1983–84	34·501
1984–85	42·371
1985–86*	25·72
* To date.

asked the Paymaster General how many guarantees called in under the small firms loan guarantee scheme have been the subject of criminal investigation.

The investigation of crime is a matter for the police. Loans covered by the guarantee scheme are made to small firms by banks and other financial institutions, which are entitled to claim under a guarantee following default by the borrower. No claim by a lender under a guarantee has been the subject of a police investigation. Police inquiries into the affairs of a borrower or associated persons have occasionally come to my Department's notice.

asked the Attorney-General (1) if he will provide a breakdown of the political opinions of all magistrates appointed to benches in Greater London in each of the last five years;(2) how many justices of the peace served for more than eight years after their appointment in each of the last five years.

The information required could not be ascertained except at undue cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young people under 18 years of age were in detention centres at the latest available date; how many were in youth custody; and what was the average cost of a detention centre place and a youth custody place, respectively, at the latest available date.

According to the records held centrally, on 30 September 1985 there were about 690 persons aged under 18 in detention centres, about 1,140 in closed youth custody centres and 280 in open youth custody centres. In addition, about 250 youth custody trainees aged under 18 were being held in prisons and remand centres. The estimated average weekly cost per inmate for 1984–85 was £334 for detention centres, £260 for closed youth custody centres and £294 for open youth custody centres.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many registered disabled persons have been sentenced to prison during the last six years for (a) theft and (b) refusal to pay fines.

The information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases have been brought to his attention concerning alleged assaults by officers on inmates in youth detention centres and prisons; and what action he has taken as a result of such complaints.

Statistics of allegations are not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. All allegations of assaults by officers on inmates in prison department establishments are investigated, at the appropriate level and whenever a criminal offence may have been committed the matter is referred to the police.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officers in youth detention centres and prisons have been suspended from duty or dismissed during the last five years; and what were the reasons for their suspension or dismissal.

Since 1 January 1981, nine officers serving in prison department young offender estalishments have been dismissed (five following convictions for criminal offences; four for internal disciplinary reasons) and 23 suspended for a range of managerial reasons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many robberies and burglaries took place in Lambeth district in 1984; and how this compares with the number in 1979.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the information available is as given in the following table. It is not possible to specify all the robberies and burglaries that took place since information is only available on those recorded by the police. Figures for 1979 are not directly comparable with those for 1984 because of changes made by new counting rules which were introduced at the beginning of 1980. For this reason, figures are given for 1980 instead of 1979.

Notifiable offences recorded by the police in "L" District (Lambeth) of the Metropolitan Police District
	Offences recorded in:		Percentage change
	1984	1980	1980–84
Robbery	2,015	870	+132
Burglary and going equipped for stealing	10,533	6,640	+59

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners sentenced to be detained during Her Majesty's pleasure before 1955 are still so detained.

According to the records held centrally, on 30 September 1985 two persons were detained during Her Majesty's pleasure in a prison department establishment in England and Wales having been sentenced before 1955. Both had been recalled following release on licence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners convicted for murder in each year from 1970 to 1977 have since been released from prison; and what was the length of sentence served for each prisoner released.

I shall reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convicted murderers released from prison since 1975 have committed murder a second time; and what was the average sentence served for the first offence.

According to the records held centrally, four sentenced murderers released from prison department establishments in England and Wales since 1975 have been sentenced for further murders committed following release. The average time they spent under sentence in prison department establishments in England and Wales for the first murder was about twelve and a half years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been sentenced to be detained during Her Majesty's pleasure in each year since 1970.

The information is published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, Supplementary Tables": for 1983 and 1984 in volume 2, table S2·1(A) under offence classification 1 (murder) in column (24); and for earlier years in table S2·1(a)(i).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many convictions for manslaughter occurred for each year between 1964 and 1985, resulting in the deaths of children (a) under five years, (b) aged five years to 10 years and (c) aged 11 to 16 years; and what was the average sentence served;(2) how many children

Information on offences of homicide by age of victim is published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales": in table 4·6 of the issue for 1984 (Cmnd. 9621) and in the corresponding tables for earlier years. For victims aged under 16, the available information on convictions for murder and manslaughter is given in the following two tables. Provision of corresponding details for earlier years would involve disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were sentenced to be detained during Her Majesty's pleasure for each year between 1955 and 1970; how many have sought a review of their sentence; and if he will make a statement.

The information requested on those sentenced to be detained during Her Majesty's pleasure is published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales". Of the 48 so sentenced in the years 1955 to 1970, one prisoner sentenced in 1965, one sentenced in 1968 and one sentenced in 1969 were still in prison department establishments on 30 September 1985. Statistics of how many such prisoners have sought a review of their sentences by way of an appeal or otherwise are not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied that the present strength of the city fraud squad is adequate to deal with impending fraud investigations; and if he will make a statement.

The commissioner's commitment to combating fraud is demonstrated by the contribution of 63 detective officers of his force's establishment to the Metropolitan and City company fraud branch. The deployment of additional officers to fraud duties from within the City and Metropolitan forces is a matter for the commissioners.

£ thousands
	1970–71	1975–76	1980–81	1984–85	1985–86	1986–87
Prisons
(a) in cash terms	8,291	31,791	33,571	84,212	105,485	126,611
(b) at 1984–85 prices	40,022	80,953	43,193	84,212	100,461	115,390
Police
(a) in cash terms	23,858	57,616	61,100	95,202	128,653	116,075
(b) at 1984–85 prices	115,168	146,713	78,613	95,202	122,526	105,787
Magistrates' courts
(a) in cash terms	6,227	13,406	9,120	13,982	20,473	35,541
(b) at 1984–85 prices	30,058	34,137	11,734	13,982	19,499	32,391

For the years to 1984–85 the figures reflect gross outturn, for 1985–86 the forecast of gross outturn and for 1986–87 the planned gross provision. The totals cover acquisition of land and buildings, construction including staff housing, and vehicles, plant and machinery.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is (a) the basic salary, (b) average earnings, (c) the value of fringe benefits and (d) average overtime for each rank in the Metropolitan police force in

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied that Keith Lionel Jones, L37780, a remand prisoner at Pentonville prison is receiving the medical treatment he requires.

Yes. Mr. Jones has been receiving treatment at Pentonville and arrangements are being made for him to be seen by an outside specialist.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) males and (b) females remanded in custody awaiting trial were not produced at their court hearings at the due date due to shortage of prison staffs in the metropolitan area in each of the months of 1985; and if he will make a statement.

This information is not available centrally and could only be collected at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the gross capital investment in (i) prisons, (ii) police stations and (iii) courts in 1970–71, 1975–76, 1980–81, 1984–85, 1985–86 and planned for 1986–87, expressed in (a) cash terms and (b) 1984–85 prices.

I set out information about the services for which I am responsible:each year since 1979; and if he will give the percentage rise for police officers by rank using 1980 wage levels as the base line.

I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the conditions on which Mr. Bob Astles has been granted entry into the United Kingdom; for what length of time; whether any restrictions will apply whilst he remains in the United Kingdom, and if he has applied for his British nationality to be reinstated; and if he will make a statement.