A note setting out the volume of United Kingdom and Community intervention stocks, including those of foodstuffs, on the latest available dates is deposited in the Library of the House and is updated monthly.The storage, handling and related costs of United Kingdom intervention products (including barley and feedwheat) in 1984 were £46·4 million. We have no figures for storage costs incurred by other member states.

Twenty nine per cent. of the grain held at 29 November 1985 has been in store for more than one year.

I have carefully considered the proposals for restructuring of veterinary investigation centres in the light of the many comments received from interested organisations and individuals. In addition, we have undertaken a detailed investment 'appraisal of the recommendations made by the efficiency study.Against this background, I have concluded that the Gloucester centre should be closed but with retention of the badger-tuberculosis unit. I confirm that Chester and Cardiff centres will be closed. Discussions on the future of the Moulton centre have taken place with Northampton county council to ascertain whether it would wish to take it over. It concluded that it did not wish to do so. Accordingly this centre will also be closed. I have also decided that it would be wrong to close both the Leeds and Lincoln centres, which would leave the large pig population in the area without adequate laboratory diagnostic facilities, and concluded that the best course would be to retain and enlarge the Lincoln centre and close that at Leeds. This represents a better option than establishing a new centre in the area.

[pursuant to her reply, 13 December 1985]: Our policy for the areas of poorer land in the United Kingdom is to take full advantage of the provisions of EC Directive 75/268 on farming in less favoured areas. Accordingly, we secured agreement in Brussels last year to a major extension of these areas which now represent over 50 per cent. of our agricultural land. For many years we have paid headage allowances in them and on 28 November my right hon. Friend the Minister announced an increase in the rates. Within the constraints of the common agricultural policy we are continually seeking ways of assisting these areas. But most of them are riot basically suitable for any form of agricultural production except livestock rearing. It is partly with this in mind that in the new agricultural improvement scheme, introduced on 1 October, we included certain new features to encourage conservationally sensitive investments and diversification.

[pursuant to her reply, 13 December 1985]: The Agricultural and Food Research Council already studies a wide range of crops. There is close collaboration between my Department and the council in order to identify opportunities for the further development of agriculture.

Yes. Another payment on account scheme will operate in the current financial year, on a similar basis to those operated in each of the last two years.

On the last count at the beginning of the year there were 27,244 active justices of the peace, of which 15,980 were male and 11,264 female. The other information could not be ascertained except at undue cost.

It has rightly been the practice of successive Prime Ministers not to disclose or discuss details of the procedures and processes by which their recommendations to the Crown for inclusion in honours lists are arrived at, and I do not propose to depart from that practice.I keep the arrangements under regular review, and they are modified from time to time in the light of changing needs or circumstances. I have no plans for any kind of external review.

None. The United States strategic defence initiative is a research programme to investigate the feasibility of strategic defence.

The British Atlantic committee (BAC), whom we have consulted, receives no grant from the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. NATO refund a proportion of the travelling costs of visits to NATO headquarters organised by the BAC and other voluntary associations affiliated to the Atlantic Treaty Association. In the case of the BAC, this amounted to £13,201·50 in 1984–85.

Membership of the conference is small and flexible. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will be represented as appropriate.Sir John Biggs-Davison asked the Prime Minister which Ministers and Departments of State have taken part or been represented in meetings of, and within the framework of, the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Council.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, my hon. Friends the Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office, and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State attended the first meeting of the intergovernmental conference on 11 December. The Northern Ireland Office and Foreign and Commonwealth Office were represented at official level. There have been no other meetings.

As I stated in reply to a question from the hon. Member for Knowsley, North (Mr. Kilroy-Silk) on 30 October at column 556, no record is kept of the total number of petitions received from prisoners in prison in England and Wales.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so. Every Government Department already has a duty to keep under review as appropriate the legislation relevant to its areas of responsibility. The Equal Opportunities Commission has a duty to keep under review the working of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and the Equal Pay Act 1970 and may review other legislation in the fulfilment of its other statutory duties.Ms. Harman asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will establish a special office within his Department to monitor periodically and accelerate the process of equitable representation of women as called for in paragraph 88 of the United Nations Nairobi forward looking strategies for women.

The Home Office designated two equal opportunity officers in January 1984. They oversee and monitor the equal opportunities policy within the Departments, including the Civil Service programme of action for women.Ms. Harman asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to evaluate those parts of the United Nations forward looking strategies for women which apply to his Department; what resources he has allocated to this; and if he will make a statement.

Those parts of the 'forward looking strategies' which are relevant to the Home Office are being carefully considered as part of the normal work of the Department.

The information is contained in the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies 1984". I understand that the 1985 edition is to be published on 17 December and that a copy will be placed in the Library.

The Government have no power to remove from the United Kingdom animals which have been legally imported and properly held in compliance with our quarantine regulations.

Nationals of all countries outside the European Community are required on entering the United Kingdom to complete a landing card which includes details of the purpose of their journey. Analyses of these cards showing the numbers admitted by nationality (including the United States of America) and purpose of journey are published annually in table 1 of "Control of Immigration: Statistics, United Kingdom" (Cmnd. 9544 for 1984).

For the period of their service in the national drugs intelligence unit (NDIU), provincial officers are seconded to the Metropolitan police. They do not remain on the strength of their home force and chief officers providing officers to NDIU may replace them for the duration of that secondment; there is thus no need for any increase in establishment. NDIU is funded as a common police service.This reply also provides information pursuant to my reply of 13 December to a question from my hon. Friend about police officers being seconded to the NDIU.Mr. Mason asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in establishing a new national drugs intelligence unit and the creation of drug wings within regional crime squads; and if he will make a statement.

The national drugs intelligence unit, superceding the central drugs intelligence unit, came formally into existence on 1 November. It currently consists of 25 officers drawn from provincial forces as well as from the Metropolitan police together with five officers from Her Majesty's Customs and Excise and 16 civilian staff.My right hon. Friend has indicated to police authorities his readiness to approve appropriate increases in establishments of regional crime squads, to make provision for drugs wings, which they are currently considering.Mr. Mason asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated extra annual expenditure to the South Yorkshire police committee and the metropolitan council in the funding of the new drug wings within regional crime squads; to what extent this will be nationally funded; and if he will make a statement.

The precise arrangements for the funding of each regional crime squad, including drugs wings, are a matter for its constituent police authorities. Eligible expenditure will rank for 50 per cent. police grant from the Home Office in the usual way.Mr. Mason asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will meet a delegation from the Association of Metropolitan Authorities to discuss the operational and financial implications of establishing drug wings within each regional crime squad and the possibilities of national funding; and if he will make a statement.

As the then Home Secretary indicated, we are ready to approve requests for increases in regional crime squad establishments necessary to create drugs wings. The extra expenditure involved will qualify for 50 per cent. police grant from the Home Office in the usual way. Moreover, specific provision has been made in police grant related expenditure to cover local authority expenditure for this purpose.The addition of drugs wings will not change the operational or other arrangements as regards the control of regional crime squads.Officials are already in touch with the AMA, and my right hon. Friend is ready to consider any particular issues which it may wish to raise: but we hope that police authorities will play their part in the tripartite system by recognising in financial provision the priority which the Government attaches to the investigation of drugs offences.

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

The Commissioner of Police does not disclose details of reward payments. The policy is that payments are made in suitable cases, where there is no risk of compromising the criminal process. They vary in size but the decision is always taken at the highest level within the specialist Operations Department.

This study is expected to be complete in a year or so's time after which the results will be made available to the House. An internal report has been made on the first part of the study which has confirmed the need for regional co-ordination. It would not be appropriate to place it in the Library. The study takes into account the agreement referred to in as much as plans made under it bear on regional co-ordination.

According to the records held centrally, which are approximate, on 31 October 1985 about 340 persons aged under 16 were held in prison department establishments in England and Wales.

It is planned both to make the Cinemas (Safety) Regulations and issue the accompanying guidance during the course of 1986. No significant changes to the draft regulations are expected, but the guidance's advice on access for disabled people will be revised on the lines explained in the reply given on 5 December 1985 to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Hannam).

None.

British citizens do not require leave to enter the United Kingdom under the Immigration Act 1971. The immigration officer's examination of such persons is confined to establishing that they are British citizens. The tribunal determination to which the hon. Member refers concerns rights of appeal, not substantive questions of admission. Passengers who are refused entry because they do not satisfy the. immigration officer that they qualify under the Immigration Act and the rules but who nevertheless can put forward a claim to British citizenship by descent may, as the tribunal confirmed, appeal against refusal on the grounds that they do not need leave to enter.

This is already covered in sections 22–25 of the "Emergency Planning Guidance to Local Authorities" issued last June. A copy is in the Library.Mr. Corbett asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will estimate total spending by local authorities on training, designation and preparation of appropriate staff at each level to cope with peacetime emergencies;(2) what, in each of the past five years, has been the level of

This information is not available in the form requested.Mr. Corbett asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the categories of grant available to local authorities for planning to deal with peacetime emergencies.

None is available to local authorities specifically to support peacetime emergency planning.

At all ports, the number of cases in which a right hon. or hon. Member makes representations is recorded. At terminal 3 Heathrow in the first nine months of this year it is recorded that representations by right hon. or hon. Members were made in about 2,500 cases. These statistics are required as management information both at the ports, and centrally, as a record of the cases themselves, and as a measurement of the work involved and of the resource implications of that work. The available information is looked at in a variety of ways depending on the issue being examined.Mr. Dalyell asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) pursuant to the answer of 2 December,

The statistics available to me of the number of representations made by right hon. and hon. Members about immigration cases are compiled and presented by immigration service management and/or by my private office. I have not received such statistics from representatives of the Immigration Service Union but, in my discussion with it, both I, and it, referred to the considerable increase this year in cases attracting such representations at the ports.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that the information requested is as follows:

Officers of South African origin
Rank	Year of joining police service	Currently serving at
Chief Inspector	1963	S District
Chief Inspector	1972	A3 Branch
Inspector	1967	N District
Inspector	1973	N District
Sergeant	1959	C11 Branch
Sergeant	1963	W District
Sergeant	1968	Special Branch
Sergeant	1971	M District
Sergeant	1976	L District
Sergeant	1977	K District
Sergeant	1978	C District
Sergeant	1979	P District
Sergeant	1979	S District
Constable	1962	Special Branch
Constable	1974	C District
Constable	1975	R District
Constable	1976	C District
Constable	1976	Special Branch
Constable	1976	D District
Constable	1977	Royalty and Diplomatic Protection Department
Constable	1981	P District
Constable	1981	Q District
Constable	1981	M District

No staff are presently engaged exclusively on such work. The total estimated staff time devoted to reorganisation in all seven areas is:

Grade	Total staff input at each grade devoted to this work
Grade 3	0·2
Grade 4	less than 0·1
Grade 5	1·0

The Government's response of 1983 to the ninth report of the Royal Commission on environmental pollution set a target date of December 1989 for reducing lead concentrations in drinking water to acceptable levels. Our application to the European Commission under article 20, which is consistent with that policy, relates to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and to the areas covered by the Anglian, Severn-Trent, North West and Yorkshire water authorities where major improvement programmes are still under way. These programmes will be substantially complete by the target date.Private supplies, although only serving 1 per cent. of the population, are spread throughout the country and in general do not constitute a serious health risk. District councils have a duty to ascertain the wholesomeness of private water supplies and powers to ensure that action is taken to secure improvement when necessary. The article 20 application does not relate to private supplies serving more than 500 people.

There is no single authoritative measure of the difficulties faced by a particular area. The Z scores prepared by my Department provide a comparative index of local authority areas, combining six indicators of deprivation based on information at census enumeration district level. They provide a useful guide to the incidence of multiple deprivation, but cannot give a comprehensive picture of an area's social and economic circumstances.

Each case must be considered on its merits in the light of all the circumstances.

My Department does not have comprehensive information about the GLC's land and property holdings. It is for successor authorities to obtain information about the property to be transferred to them at abolition.

Bids from local authorities are being considered and an announcement will be made in the new year.

The requirements of the regulations, including those for thermal insulation, are under review. The principal aim of the review is to reduce the burden of regulation, but the Government recognise that the building regulations have a role in setting basic standards of cost-effective energy efficiency.

My right hon. Friend has today laid before Parliament the Building (Inner London) Regulations 1985. It is intended that the regulations will come into operation on 6 January 1986. The effect of the regulations is that the building control system will become essentially the same in inner London as in the rest of England and Wales. With certain limited exceptions the Building Regulations 1985 will apply to building work in inner London in place of the present constructional byelaws made under the London Building Acts. The Building (Approved Inspectors, etc) Regulations 1985 will also apply to inner London from 6 January 1986.

My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland are responsible for making section 29 orders within their own territories. In total, the following orders have been made:—

Order	Date Made
The Baddesley Common (Hampshire) Nature Conservation Order 1982	21 October 1982
The Sandford Heath (Dorset) Nature Conservation Order 1982	9 December 1982
The Tealham and Tadham Moors (Somerset) Nature Conservation Order 1983	23 March 1983
The Annesley Woodhouse Quarry (Nottinghamshire) Nature Conservation Order 1983	24 June 1983
The Waltham Chase Meadows (Hampshire) Nature Conservation Order 1983	28 June 1983
The Carstairs Kames (Strathclyde) Nature Conservation Order 1984	31 May 1984
The Carnkief Pond (Cornwall) Nature Conservation Order 1984	21 September 1984
The West Westray (Orkney) Nature Conservation Order 1984	26 September 1984
The Tan-y-Gadair, Cadair Idris (Gwynedd) Nature Conservation Order 1984	2 October 1984
The Uddens Heath (Dorset) Nature Conservation Order 1984	22 October 1984
The Llyn Mawr (Powys) Nature Conservation Order 1984	3 December 1984
The Walton Moss (Cumbria) Nature Conservation Order 1984	20 December 1984
The Horse Field (North Yorkshire) Nature Conservation Order 1984	21 December 1984
The Upton Heath (Dorset) Nature Conservation Order 1985	22 January 1985
The Leek Moors (Staffordshire) Nature Conservation Order 1985	1 May 1985
The Tealham and Tadham Moors (Somerset) Nature Conservation Order 1985	7 April 1985
The West Mersea Meadow (Essex) Nature Conservation Order 1985	17 May 1985
The Hencott Pool (Shropshire) Nature Conservation Order 1985	17 July 1985
The Coedydd A Chorsydd Aber Teifi (Dyfed)	6 August 1985

Dr. David Clark asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide details, including dates, of those orders under section 29 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which were proposed by the Nature Conservancy Council and which he rejected.

In three cases submitted to him by the Nature Conservancy Council, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment was not satisfied that the criteria set out in section 29 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 had been fully met. Details of the three sites are:

Sire	Date rejected	Comment
Went Ings—South Yorkshire	30 August 1983	Order requested to avert damage. Agreement involving exchange of land subsequently reached.
Sherburn Willows—North Yorkshire	8 February 1985	Order requested to curtail damage. Modified site being renotified.
Brimham Rocks—North Yorkshire	27 February 1985	Order requested to avert damage. Site currently protected under the provisions of section 28 of the Act.

I will answer this question shortly.

Yes. The Government have consulted the Nature Conservancy Council on the relevant environmental and nature conservation matters in respect of the proposed Channel fixed link and will take its views into account in reaching a decision on which (if any) scheme is to be preferred.

The North West water authority reported 690, 690 and 600 significant collapses respectively in 1981–82, 1982–83 and 1983–84. Reporting standards have improved but they vary between water authorities and this makes comparisons unreliable. Ignoring those variations, the north west has about 14 per cent. of the collapses in England and Wales. The rate of collapses per kilometre is about the same as for England and Wales as a whole.

I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible with the information available.Mr. Nicholas Winterton asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the crude surplus by which the number of dwellings in England and Wales exceeded the number of households in the latest year for which figures are available; and how this figure compares with the adjusted figure, taking into account second homes, unfit dwellings, unoccupied dwellings undergoing repair and concealed households.

1981 is the most recent year for which information is available about each of the items referred to in the question. The "crude surplus" of dwellings over households in England and Wales was:

	Number
Dwellings	19,086,000
Households	18,293,000
"Crude surplus"	793,000

There is no unique conventional set of adjustments to be made to the crude surplus. The 1981 figures for the item referred to in the question are:

	Number
Second residences, including holiday accommodation	221,000
Dwellings that were vacant and undergoing improvement	181,000
Unfit dwellings	1,207,000
Concealed families	343,000

Some of the concealed families are likely to have lived that way from choice. There is probably some overlap between vacant dwellings undergoing improvement and unfit dwellings. Many of the unfit dwellings could prabably be made fit by remedial work.

I am not aware of any application by the GLC for consent in respect of a payment to London Forum.

Over 60,000 Easiform houses are estimated to have been built in England and Wales. A preliminary analysis of local authorities' responses to my Department's recent stock condition inquiry has identified only some 38,000 houses of this type; and that authorities had some information on 36,500. Some 1,000 were reported to require no renovation work of any kind; the other 35,500 were said to require renovation work averaging £5,100 per house, compared with an average cost of £4,900 for all dwellings requiring renovation.Mr. Sumberg asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received from hon. Members seeking designation of Easiform houses under the Housing Defects Act 1984.

I have received three such representations this year, including that from my hon. Friend the Member for Bury, South. In response I have explained that the Department has no evidence at present to justify national designation of Easiform houses under the Housing Defects Act.Mr. Sumberg asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities have designated Easiform houses under section 12 of the Housing Defects Act 1984.

None.

	1980–81 £	1981–82 £	1982–83 £	1983–84 £	1984–85 £
Rugby Football Union	21,615	19,766	24,703	32,229	23,762
Rugby Football Schools Union	7,961	5,161	12,500	6,691	6,691
TOTAL	29,576	24,927	37,203	38,920	30,453

Figures for capital grants are only available for the last two financial years. For 1983–84 the total was £137,776, and for 1984–85,£183,951.

I am arranging for copies of the eleventh report to be placed in the Library. Other NCC publications may be obtained direct from the council.

Comparison of Key Indicators of Deprivation for Authorities invited to bid for Traditional Urban Programme new approvals in 1986–87
Local Authority	Number of Times in Worst 50*	Number of Times in Worst 10+	Main Issues	Local Authority
Burnley	4	1	Lacking amenities, Mortality rate, single parents, pensioners living alone	Burnley
Calderdale	2	—	Overcrowding, pensioners living alone	Calderdale
Camden	6	2	Population loss, non-whites, Lacking amenities, single parents, overcrowding, pensioners living alone	Camden
Corby	4	2	Unemployment, Single parents, mortality rate, overcrowding	Corby
Derby	2	—	lacking amenities, non-whites	Derby
Derwentside	2	1	mortality rate, Unemployment	Derwentside
Ealing	5	2	Non-whites, lacking amenities, Overcrowding, population loss, single parents	Ealing
Greenwich	3	—	single parents, non-whites, overcrowding	Greenwich
Grimsby	3	—	single parents, unemployment, mortality rate	Grimsby
Halton	3	—	unemployment, mortality rate, single parents	Halton
Haringey	5	3	population loss, Non-Whites, Lacking Amenities, Single Parents, overcrowding	Haringey
Hartlepool	5	1	Unemployment, single parents, lacking amenities, overcrowding, mortality rate	Hartlepool
Hyndburn	2	—	lacking amenities, mortality rate	Hyndbum

The decision was signed on behalf of the Secretary of State on 18 July 1985.

The Sports Council grant aids rugby union football in England through direct grants to the governing bodies and capital grants to clubs.Grant aid to the governing bodies for rugby union football in England for the last five years was:

[pursuant to his answer, 13 December 1985]: The information requested is shown in the table.

The powers in the Cycle Tracks Act 1984 to convert footpaths to cycle tracks are discretionary, and it is for the local authorities concerned to decide what use to make of them. To assist them we shall shortly be issuing a circular giving advice on the Act and the associated regulations.

On the basis of the 1984 school meals census in Wales, the following is an approximate estimate:

Pupils receiving free meals on the basis of:	Numbers
(a) families' receipt of supplementary benefit	64,000
(b) receipt of family income supplement	16,000,
(c) local authority discretion	14,000

The figures for 1984, the latest year for which information is available, are as follows:

	Numbers
Primary Schools
Pupils present	222,564
Pupils taking midday meals:
On payment	81,115
Free	57,007
Pupils bringing own food	56,488
Secondary Schools
Pupils present	198,788
Pupils taking midday meals:
On payment	72,864
Free	37,009
Pupils bringing own food	30,276

On 3 December I announced that the total of capital allocations for 1986–87 in Wales would be £323 million. Authorities have also been informed of the allocations I have made for housing (£141 million) and for projects of regional or national importance or special projects (£10 million). The major remaining component of local authority capital allocations is distributed on a formula basis. These allocations together with those for major road schemes will be notified today. In total they amount to almost £150 million. Authorities will then have the information they need to plan their detailed capital programmes for the coming year.Details of the allocations for individual authorities have been placed in the Library. Allocations for schemes under the Urban Programme, totalling £23 million, will be announced early in the new year.

Information is readily available covering only the past five years and not all of that permits the advertising agent to be readily identified. However, where the advertising agent is known the information is as follows:

Agency	Campaign	Expenditure £
1980–81
Ogilvy Benson and Mather	Queens Award to Industry	28,067
Doyle Dane Bernbach	Furniture Fire Safety	43,729
Doyle Dane Bernbach	Electronic Applications Division	6,023
Ogilvy Benson and Mather	National Maritime Institute	2,690
Ogilvy Benson and Mather	Technology Advisory Point	7,026
Doyle Dane Bernbach	Conference on Chemical Nomenclature	4,176
Ogilvy Benson and Mather	Computer Aided Design Centre	31,850

Agency	CampaignExpenditure
£
Ogilvy Benson and Mather	British Business	16,825
Freeman Matthews Milne	Small Firms Service	362,969
Freeman Matthews Milne	Inward Investment	16,356
Doyle Dane Bernbach	BOTB Home and Overseas Publicity	3,968
Charles Barker Recruitment	Recruitment	123,942
Charles Barker Recruitment	Statutory Notices	10,234
1981–82
Freeman Matthews Milne	Companies (No. 2) Act	101,749
Doyle Dane Bernbach	Queens Award to Industry	26,889
Doyle Dane Bernbach	Country of Origin Legislation	2,133
Freeman Matthews Milne	Business Opportunities	7,069
Freeman Matthews Milne	Small Firms (Local)	124,226
Doyle Dane Bernbach	National Maritime Institute	20,848
Doyle Dane Bernbach	National Physical Laboratory	39,180
Royles and Parker Ltd	Robotics	91,433
Freeman Matthews Milne	Small Firms (West Midlands)	32,299
Doyle Dane Bernbach	National Engineering Laboratory	85,042
Doyle Dane Bernbach	British Business Magazine	7,184
Roles and Parker Ltd	Microprocessors Application	79,184
Doyle Dane Bernbach	Technology Advisory Point	18,997
Doyle Dane Bernbach	CADCAM	58,762
Doyle Dane Bernbach	BOTB Export Services	19,167
J Walter Thomson	BOTB Export Services	135,035
Charles Barker Recruitment	Recruitment	29,166
Charles Barker Recruitment	Stalutory Notices	11,2·29
1982–83
Doyle Dane Bernbach	Queens Award to Industry	34,520
Doyle Dane Bernbach	National Physical Laboratory	14,371
Doyle Dane Bernbach	CADCAM	18,702
Doyle Dane Bernbach	NPL (NATLAS)	16,341
Doyle Dane Bernbach	British Business Magazine	22,603
J Walter Thomson	BOTB Export Services	133,298
Charles Barker Recruitment	Recruitment	25,630
Charles Barker Recruitment	Statutory Notices	19,806
Doyle Dane Bernbach	National Engineering Laboratory	70,544
Doyle Dane Bernbach	Research Support	52,876
Doyle Dane Bernbach	Technology Advisory Point	14,420
Doyle Dane Bernbach	Robotics	4,891
Doyle Dane Bernbach	Cadcentre (Home/Overseas)	48,374
Doyle Dane Bernbach	Regional Industrial Development	191
Doyle Dane Bernbach	National Maritime Institute	43,055
Doyle Dane Bernbach	Information Technology Caravans	39,272
Freeman Matthews Treasure	Small Firms	469,562
Dewe Rogerson Ltd	Information Technology Year	485,000
		Hilton Advertising Ltd
Roles and Parker Ltd	Biotechnology	50,058
Roles and Parker Ltd	Microprocessor Application Project	86,558
Wight Collins Rutherford Scott	Small Firms	964,917
1983–84
Doyle Dane Bernbach	Queens Award to Industry	30,954
Doyle Dane Bernbach	SURMA-Asian Eye Make-up	7,854
Doyle Dane Bernbach	Furniture Fire Safety Regulations	10,462
Doyle Dane Bernbach	NPL Awareness	24,197
Wight Collins Rutherford Scott	Help for Small Businesses	19,257
Roles and Parker Ltd	Quality Control	244,338
Roles and Parker Ltd	Robotics	238
Roles and Parker Ltd	SEFIS	48,761
Roles and Parker Ltd	Microsystems	90,996
Dorland	Information Technology	1,315
Roles and Parker Ltd	CADCAM	124,376

[pursuant to his reply, 6 December 1985, c. 373]: Information is not readily available to provide a breakdown of the advertising between national and local newspapers and periodicals nor is it readily available for minor amounts of advertising placed other than through the COI or centrally by my Department. The figures which are readily available are:

	1984–85 £	*1985–86 £
Press and Periodicals	2,081,283	1,160,410
TV	31,635	Nil

* To 4 December 1985.

I have no such plans. Under present legislation, the electricity and gas supply industries fix the maximum resale prices of electricity and gas and I understand that in the light of my statement to this House on 5 December at column 287 the electricity supply industry is considering some further rationalisation of the domestic resale price of electricity.

We expect to publish a White Paper early next year, setting out the Government's proposals for the reform of copyright law.

No staff of the Department of Trade and Industry are employed on the implementation of the Local Government Act 1985 in relation to the functions referred to.

The information is not available in the detail requested.

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

The following is the available information:

United Kingdom Producers Deliveries
'000 tonnes
	*1976	1980	1984	║1985
Ordinary steels	14,626	9,221	11,072	8,542
Special steels†	1,686	1,293	1,566	1,215
of which
engineering steel	976	742	665	532
tool steel	13	13	6	4
TOTAL STEEL	16,312	10,514	12,638	9,757

United Kingdom Steel Consumption of Finished Steel Products
million tonnes
	1976	1980	4'198311	║1985
Ordinary steel	14·50	11·47	10·31	n/a
Special steel	1·67	1·30	1·31	n/a
TOTAL STEEL	16·17	12·77	11·62	8·51

The Official Receiver is already investigating the affairs of Fab Fashions Limited and Fair Fashions Limited which are in compulsory liquidation. The hon. Member's request for investigation of Quatriz Limited will be considered but it is open to creditors to petition for its compulsory winding-up.

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

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply of 11 November at columns 48–49 to my hon. Friend the Member for Fulham (Mr. Stevens) and to my right hon. Friend's reply of 27 November at columns 877–78 to my hon. Friend the Member for Glanford and Scunthorpe (Mr. Hickmet). In order not to delay the adoption of conclusions which represented a successful outcome for the United Kingdom, I judged it important to give my agreement even though the House had not had the opportunity to debate the proposals in accordance with the Scrutiny Committee's recommendation. I reported to the House at the earliest opportunity in my reply of 11 November.

I meet the chairman of the National Coal Board regularly to discuss all aspects of the coal industry.27. Mr. Skeet asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give figures on the increased productivity per man shift of British coal mines.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, South (Mrs. Currie) earlier today.32. Mr. Dormand asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he next intends to meet the chairman of the National Coal Board to discuss investment in the coal industry.

My right hon. Friend and I meet the chairman of the National Coal Board frequently to discuss all aspects of the coal industry, including the NCB's substantial programme of investment to reduce costs and improve productivity.

So far in 1985 I have approved 18 projects.19. Mr. Alexander asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish a list of the number of oil and gas wells drilled so far in the current year and in each of the past 10 years.

The total number of oil and gas wells drilled so far this year, and in each of the last 10 years is as follows:

	Number
*1985	329
1984	330
1983	244
1982	245
1981	237
1980	197
1979	154
1978	167
1977	207
1976	145
1975	156

* To 30 November.30. Mr. Greg Knight asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will estimate the value of research and development work carried out in relation to the offshore oil and gas industry since 1979.

My Department has spent over £90 million on research and development since 1979. We do not have any figures available for the amount of money invested by the oil and gas industry.

The Government intend to see the widest possible ownership of British Gas shares. Details of the special opportunities which will be provided for small investors will be announced nearer the time of the sale.26. Mr Roy Hughes asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has had any recent discussions with trade unions involved in the gas industry concerning his privatisation proposals.

My right hon. Friend and I have received a number of representations from various organisations and individuals, including the trade unions involved in the gas industry.

In the 11 months to the end of November 1985, grants were offered for 118 schemes for converting boilers to coal firing.

My Department is supporting a comprehensive research and development programme aimed at exploiting the United Kingdom wind resource for electricity generation. The Department of Trade and Industry, through its support for innovation scheme, makes funds available to manufacturers for innovative research and development in this and other sectors. The European Commission offers grants both for research and development and for demonstration projects in wind energy.7. Mr. Neale asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has any plans further to assist development of wind energy for isolated communities.

Wind energy is a most promising source for generating electricity in particular for isolated communities in the United Kingdom and overseas. My Department's renewables programme for this year includes £6·5 million for wind energy research and development.

No. The Gas Bill provides that the existing consumer protection in respect of meter testing will continue unchanged; it would be both unjustified and impracticable to test some 16,000,000 meters before privatisation.

The National Coal Board had submitted 19 planning applications for opencast coal sites in the last 12 months (since December 1984).

The CEGB has applied for consent to build a PWR station at Sizewell B. The board's plans for further stations will depend on the outcome of the inquiry into that application.33. Mr. Patchett asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has any plans to introduce amending legislation concerning the mining industry before the Christmas recess following recent consultations with the industry.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Barnsley, West and Penistone (Mr. McKay) earlier today.34. Mr. Nellist asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he next expects to meet the chairman of the National Coal Board to discuss manning levels.

My right hon. Friend and I meet the chairman of the National Coal Board regularly for discussions on the coal industry.

The Government expect that oil companies exporting North sea crude will do so in the markets of our partners in the International Energy Agency and in the European Community. This expectation in no way cuts across the maintenance, to the extent possible, of any existing patterns of trade outside these regions. In practice, such patterns exist only with Finland and certain Caribbean destinations.

These questions are matters for the National Coal Board and I am asking the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

I have no doubt that all our partners in the collaboration are fully conscious of their obligations under clause 5 of the memorandum of understanding.

The Capenhurst enrichment plant has been designated for inspection by the IAEA under the terms of article 78 of the United Kingdom International Atomic Energy Agency/Euratom safeguards agreement. Article 14 of this agreement provides for the withdrawal of nuclear material from safeguards for national security reasons.I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to the hon. Member for Bedfordshire North (Mr. Skeet) on 9 March 1983 at column

The Government have no plans for the introduction of private capital into the deep-mined coal industry.

I understand that rail will continue to be the dominant means for delivering coal to the Central Electricity Generating Board's power stations.

The price of gas to tariff customers will be strictly controlled by reference to changes in the retail price index and changes in gas costs. The maximum price (covering both standing charge arid rate per therm) that can be charged will be determined by the price formula set out in the licence.The price formula itself is in two parts:

I refer to the answer I gave earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow East (Mr. Dykes).

The CEGB has confirmed its continuing full compliance with its statutory duty to maintain safe working conditions at all times, and has advised me that the Hinckley Point B incident on 29 November has no implications for any of its other nuclear power stations, which do not have gas circulators of the same design.

The Continental Shelf (Jurisdiction) Order 1968 (SI 1968/892) was revoked by the Continental Shelf (Jurisdiction) Order 1980 (SI 1980/184), which re-enacts the provisions of the 1968 order (and subsequent amendments), and also extends jurisdiction to additional designated areas.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 December 1985, c. 751–752]: The following is a list of CEGB Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactors showing the number of main gas circulators in each.

Power Station	Reactor/Unit	Number of main gas circulators
Dungeness B	Reactor 21	4
	Reactor 22	4
Hartlepool	Reactor 1	8
	Reactor 2	8
Heysham I	Reactor 1	8
	Reactor 2	8
Heysham II	Reactor 7	8
	Reactor 8	8

The main gas circulators on all the above AGRs (8 in all) are different from those at Hinckley Point B.

It is not the practice to fill this post by inviting applications. A member of the personnel division is designated equal opportunities officer on the basis of overall suitability and not on sex or ethnic origin. The first postholder was female, the current holder is male.

I have met representatives of the Civil Service unions, including the CPSA, informally.

I have not yet had formal discussions with the Civil Service unions but I met representatives informally on 29 October.

The Philippines are members of the Association of South East Asian Nations and occupy an important strategic and economic position. Our policy towards them takes count of these factors. We also take opportunities, with others, to encourage and help the Philippine Government to pursue policies contributing to the stability and development of the region.

I will ask the Falkland Islands Government to provide me with statistics regarding convictions in the Falkland Islands comparable to those which are made available about convictions in the United Kingdom. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of my letter in the Library.Mr. Foulkes asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what personnel are available for the detection, prosecution and trial of offenders in the Falkland Islands; what training and qualifications they have; and whether he has any plans to strengthen their complement.

There ae eight fully trained police officers in the Falkland Islands. There is an Attorney-General and a stipendary magistrate, both of whom are solicitors. There are also lay magistrates. There is a Supreme Court, but no resident judge. Most prosecutions are conducted by the police. If appropriate, the Attorney-General or counsel from the English Bar would prosecute. The legal assistant to the Attorney-General, who is a barrister, is available to represent accused persons, there being no lawyers in private practice in the islands. The Falkland Islands Government have no plans to increase the strength of the police or legal service.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations continues to have our full support and confidence. He has pursued his initiative through talks with both sides in recent weeks. We understand he will continue this process following the elections in the Republic of Cyprus.

No. These events are a matter for the European Parliament itself.

Such exchanges with British companies and trade bodies are held on the basis that they will remain confidential.

Tristan da Cunha has a long-standing but non-contractually binding agreement with Table Bay Marine of Capetown which acts as a buying agent of general merchandise for the island.The concession to take crayfish from Tristan waters (the only known exploitable resource) is held by South Atlantic Islands Development Corporation Limited (SAIDC) a Bermuda registered company. The concession is operated by its subsidiary, Tristan Investments Limited of Capetown. Tristan da Cunha receives a royalty (1985 US $294,000) for this concession, which along with revenue from the sale of postage stamps makes the island financially self-sufficient. The concession runs from 1962 to 1997.

[pursuant to his reply, 29 November 1985]: The information concerning those bodies to which my Department makes appointments is as follows:

Name of body	Number of appointments	Number of women appointed
Diplomatic wing appointments
Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind	3	0
British Council: Board	2	0
Great Britain—China Centre	2	0
Great Britain—East Europe Centre	2	0
Universities China Committee	1	0