asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of programmes which will benefit from the money saved by withdrawal from UNESCO.

We intend to allocate through the aid programme in the next financial year the amount saved from the UNESCO contribution of about £6·4 million to the following activities: the ODA technical co-operation training programmes; a joint scheme to provide scholarships in the United Kingdom for Chinese students; the ODA shared scholarship scheme; the Key English language teaching programme, particularly in Francophone Africa; a distance learning programme among academic institutions in the Commonwealth; a Commonwealth training scheme for black South Africans at post-graduate level; the Foreign and Commonwealth Office scholarships and awards scheme; participation in the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, the international geological correlation programme, in international hydrology and environmental sciences through the Natural Environment Research Council and research in arid Commonwealth Africa; dissemination of results of research at universities and other bodies and an increased grant to the Commonwealth Africa; dissemination of results of research at universities and other bodies and an increased grant to the Commonwealth media development fund.I shall be responsible for the above programmes with the exception of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office scholarships and awards scheme. The diplomatic wing of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will be responsible for our bilateral relations with UNESCO as from 1 January 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made by the Post Office on the implementation of the recommendations made in the report of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on the letter post service of the Post Office in the head post office areas of Glasgow, Belfast and Cardiff and in the numbered London postal districts, published on 12 September 1984; and if he will make a statement.

I stated in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. Terlezki) on 28 February, at column 241, that I had received the initial response of the Post Office to the report of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, published in September last year, and that my Department had begun discussions with the Post Office on the commission's recommendations. Subsequently a detailed implementation plan, with provision for progress checks and a timetable for full and rapid implementation of those recommendations accepted by the Post Office, was agreed.I have now received from the Post Office a report on progress in the year to September 1985. I am placing copies of the report in the Library of the House.I am glad to say that the report indicates that the Post Office is working to the implementation plan and that good progress is therefore being made in implementing the commission's recommendations. A number of these had major industrial relations implications and it is therefore significant that the Post Office has successfully negotiated a far-reaching business efficiency package with the Union of Communication Workers (UCW). A prime aim of the agreement (when fully implemented) is to reduce the dependence of the mails business on voluntary overtime, which will be achieved mainly by using part-lime and casual labour to cover work peaks. In addition, there are further improvements in productivity schemes and incentives. The agreement also provides for the speedy introduction of new technology, and the UCW has lifted its embargo on the extension of mechanised sorting of inward mail. The Post Office's report points out that the local implementation of this agreement has led to a number of unofficial industrial disputes, but the board remains committed to securing the improvements agreed with the UCW, even at the cost of temporary setbacks in quality of service.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the current level and scope of export credits for sales of British grain.

ECGD support for sales of British grain is available. Normally such support would be restricted to sales on credit terms of up to 180 days but consideration can be given to support of extended credit to public buyers in certain markets to match foreign competition.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether he will prosecute Associated British Foods under section 243 of the Companies Act for failing to deliver full accounts for the year 1984–85;(2) whether he will require Associated British Foods under section 447 of the Companies Act 1985 to produce to him all documents relating to its contributions to the Irish Republican Army in 1984;(3) whether he will prosecute Associated British Foods under section 393 of the Companies Act in relation to information supplied to the company's auditors covering the contributions to Irish Republican Army funds in 1984;(4) whether he will appoint inspectors under section 432 of the Companies Act 1985 to investigate the affairs of Associated British Foods in respect of illegal contributions to the Irish Republican Army.

I have no evidence that full accounts have not been delivered or that false information has been provided to the auditors. I know of no reason to appoint inspectors or to require the production of documents but shall consider any information that the hon. Member may have about the company.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will appoint an inspector under section 432(2) of Companies Act 1985 to inquire into the affairs of Distribution and Media Sales (UK) Ltd. on the grounds that the affairs of the company may have been conducted with intent to defraud its creditors.

I know of no reason for doing so but shall consider any information which the hon. Member may have about the company.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many responses he has received to his Department's consultation document on the accounting and audit requirements for small companies; what proportion favoured change and what proportion favoured the retention of the status quo; and when he expects to make a statement of Government policy on this matter.

We have received a total of 204 resonses. Overall, views on the audit requirement are more or less evenly divided, though most of those arguing for its abolition would either limit it to "shareholder managed" companies or introduce in its place new rules relating to the preparation or certification of accounts. On accounting requirements, there is a clear majority for simplification, though a significant minority believe present requirements should be maintained and, in some cases, strengthened. Our analysis of the responses is now virtually complete and I would expect to announce the outcome in the course of the next few weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the implications of the proposed Westland deal with United Technologies for Her Majesty's Government's policy on the retention by avionics companies supplying technologically advanced products to Her Majesty's Government of a full research and development capability.

I believe the continuation of helicopter design, development and production at Westland will be good for the business of United Kingdom avionics companies and will thus help them to maintain a full research and development capability.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any plans to increase the cash limit for the Office of Fair Trading; and if he will make a statement.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the cash limit for Class IV, Vote II (Office of Fair Trading) will be increased by £800,000 from £7,479,000 to £8,279,000 to meet the increased costs of computerising the consumer credit licensing operation. The additional amount will be charged to the reserve, and so will not add to the planning total of public expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress was made at the meeting of the Research Council of European Community Ministers on 10 December; and if he will make a statement.

The Community's Council of Ministers (Research) met on 10 December 1985 in Brussels: I represented Her Majesty's Government.The Council reached agreement in principle on the financial resources for and technical content of two research programmes proposed by the Commission in the fields of the environment and materials. The formal adoption of these programmes by Council is subject to the opinion of the European Parliament.The environment programme will cover research into environmental protection, climatology, including a small element on earthquakes, and major techonological hazards and has been allocated a total of 75 million ecu (£45,525,000 sterling) over a five-year period 1986 to 1990.The materials programme will cover research into primary and secondary raw materials, advanced materials, which will form nearly one half of the programme, and wood and has been allocated a total of 70 million ecu (£42,490,000 sterling) over a four-year period 1986 to 1989.The Council also held a discussion on the 1984–87 budget of the Community's joint research centre and noted the Commission's intention to find savings of 20 million ecu (£12,140,000 sterling) during 1986 and 1987.The Council also agreed the 1986 work programme for the European strategic programme of research on information technology (ESPRIT), subject to a United Kingdom parliamentary reserve (which has been subsequently lifted); invited the Commission to consider integrating into the existing science and technology for development programme a proposal for the development of endogenous scientific and technical research capacity in developing countries; and discussed an Italian proposal on an initiative for re search in informatics applied to society (IRIS).

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Government have come to a decision as to the future of the Trade Descriptions (Origin Marking) (Miscellaneous Goods) Order 1981 following the judgment of the European Court of Justice delivered on 25 April in the current year.

After consulting organisations representing those interests most likely to be affected, and having taken into account all the views expressed, it has been decided that the only sensible course is to revoke the 1981 order in its entirety. I propose to make an order to that effect early in the new year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will arrange for an exibition relating to gas appliances and safety to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall from 3 to 7 February 1986.

Arrangements have been made for such an exhibition in the Upper Waiting Hall to take place from 3 to 7 February 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what advice he has received from the Securities and Investment Board and the Marketing of Investments Board Organising Committee concerning their future operations.

The chairmen of these two bodies have written to me proposing that the effectiveness of the regulatory system put forward in the Financial Services Bill will best be served if responsibility were to be placed in the hands of a single authority. I accept their view, which I know to reflect opinion both of practitioners and consumers and to command much sympathy in the House. I look forward to receiving detailed proposals at the appropriate time in 1986. When the new body is formed, it is intended that its chairman should be Sir Kenneth Berrill and its deputy chairmen should be Mr. Mark Weinberg and Sir Martin Jacomb.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report the new training procedures for the Ulster Defence Regiment.

[pursuant to his reply, 16 December 1985, c. 102]: I regret that the original answer given was incomplete. The full answer should read:

"Training in all branches of the armed forces is kept under review in an effort to identify possible improvements and a number of such improvements in the training of the UDR have either recently been set in hand or are about to be introduced, as follows:

a. The basic training of part-time members of the regiment is to be increased from nine to 14 days. The extra five days will be completed within the recruits' first three months of service.

b. Until now UDR officers, full or part-time, have attended a two week course at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, but from next year selected permanent cadre officers will be eligible to attend the six-month standard military course taken by potential officers in the Regular Army.

c. UDR officers and NCOs already attend some courses in Great Britain in company with affiliated regular battalions and it is planned to extend this with a scheme of voluntary attachments of up to six weeks to infantry battalions in Great Britain.

d. A number of additional training posts are also being created within the UDR itself. There will be a new post at HQ UDR with specific responsibility for training throughout the regiment which will he filled by a t.-col. reporting direct to Commander UDR. A senior NCO from the Regular Army will be attached to each UDR battalion to assist with training and also to the regiment's training centre at Ballykinler. These NCOs will assist both with the additional recruit training mentioned above and with training generally.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the latest expected deployment date of the Trident missile system.

The United Kingdom Trident force is planned to enter service in the mid-1990s.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many widows of service men have been granted pensions or special payments in the following circumstances: (a) where a widow has lost her service pension on remarriage and has then been widowed a second time and (b) where a woman marries her serviceman husband after his retirement and is then widowed; and what are the criteria upon which the decision is made and the amount assessed.

The number of widows pensions awarded in categories (a) and (b) could be provided only at quite disproportionate cost.The conditions governing awards of pension and determination of amount in these categories are:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why Mr. Seamus Mallon was questioned last week by the Ulster Defence Regiment; and if he will make a statement.

On 12 December Mr. Seamus Mallon was by a patrol of the Ulster Defence Regiment carrying out vehicle check point duties. The patrol carried out routine checks as empowered by the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978. Nothing untoward was found and Mr. Mallon was allowed to continue his journey.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when the Super VC10s and VC 10s were purchased for the Royal Air Force for conversion to tanker aircraft;(2) what is the total cost of the conversion programme for the Royal Air Force VC10s and Super VC10s;(3) what is the length of the conversion programme for the Royal Air Force VC10 tankers;(4) when the programme for conversion of the VC10s and Super VC10s purchased by the Royal Air Force began.

[pursuant to his reply, 16 December 1985, c. 98]: Standard and Super VC10s were purchased for the Royal Air Force in 1978 for conversion to tanker aircraft, and conversion began the same year. The total cost of the programme has been some £160 million at outturn prices. The last aircraft is due to be delivered to the service next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) which current procurement contracts and projects have not been completed within the due period;(2) with which contractors his Department is negotiating in respect of overdue procurement contracts and projects;(3) if he will list the current procurement projects and contracts whose terms and conditions he is reviewing.

[pursuant to his reply, 9 December 1985, c. 546]: At any one time the Ministry of Defence has approximately 100,000 headquarters contracts in operation. To review them all in order to answer the issues raised would require disproportionate time and administrative effort. If the hon. Member has any particular instance in mind, I shall be happy to write to him.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will make a statement on redundancy terms for mineworkers following the expiry of the present redundant mineworkers' payment scheme on 29 March 1986.

The generous benefits available under the redundant mineworkers payments scheme have enabled the National Coal Board to maintain its policy of not making redundant men who wish to continue to work in the coal industry, while carrying through the extensive restructuring that is needed to secure the industry's future viability. The coalminers' dispute, in addition to the other damage which it inflicted on the industry, delayed that necessary restructuring. Against that backgroud, I have concluded that it would be right for the present to maintain broadly the present level of scheme benefits. I have also concluded that it would be right to make available additional weekly benefits to men aged 50 or over on redundancy whose total weekly benefits would otherwise be seriously reduced by their failure, through deficient national insurance contribution records in 1984–85, to qualify for unemployment benefit or sickness benefit at the standard rate. Men who receive this additional weekly benefit will, however, have their lump sum benefits under the scheme reduced in recognition of their having failed to pay full national insurance contribution.In summary, my proposals are as follows.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has on the level of capital investment in the United Kingdom in the production and supply of (a) oil, (b) gas, (c) coal, (d) nuclear fuels for energy purposes.

In 1984 gross domestic fixed capital formation (capital expenditure on fixed assets) in United Kingdom energy industries was:

£ million
Extraction of mineral oil and natural gas*	3,223
Mineral Oil processing	201
Gas supply	651
Coal and coke	394
Electricity	1,700
Nuclear fuel Production†
(all aspects)	380
* Separate figures are not available due to the joint production of oil and gas from several fields.
† 1984–85.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has as to the number of personnel working on rigs in the North sea and as to the numbers of British nationals, EEC nationals and others involved.

The numbers requested are as follows:

Personnel at 30 September 1984
Nationality	On fixed Platforms	On Floating Platforms and Supply Boats
British	14,683	11,921
Other EC	207	986
Non-EC	443	3,039
Total	15,333	15,946

The above figures are derived from the Inland Revenue's annual "Survey of Offshore Personnel" taken on 30 September 1984 and are the most recent available.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will name, list and describe the various categories and classifications used by his Department in recording accidents, incidents and untoward occurrences of varying severity, including events without any radiological consequences, at (a) licensed nuclear sites and (b) Atomic Energy Authority sites; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will name, list and describe what information is held by his Department in regard to an event in the nature of an accident, incident or untoward occurrence of any type at

I refer the hon. Member the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, Central (Mr. Moore), to the hon. Member for Copeland (Dr. Cunningham) on 26 July 1982, at column 374. The reporting procedures set out therein apply to both licensed nuclear sites and those operated by the Atomic Energy Authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will state the amount in millions of barrels of oil per day imported from Iran for each of the last 10 years.

The published annual volumes of Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom give imports from Iran in tonnes. These figures converted to millions of barrels per day, are as follows:

Oil imports from Iran
	Million barrels per day
1975	0·34
1976	0·39
1977	0·25

	Million barrels per day
1978	0·18
1979	0·06
1980	0·02
1981	0·02
1982	0·03
1983	0·01
1984	0·04

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what technology agreements have been concluded with overseas companies engaged in oil development in the Scottish sector of the North sea; and what is their worth.

I have not made any technology agreements with overseas companies engaged in oil development on the United Kingdom continental shelf, nor do I have any plans to do so. I am encouraging the anchoring in the United Kingdom of new technology developed for the UKCS, but the means which may be used are for the commercial parties involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will arrange for an exhibition relating to the activities of NCB (Enterprise) Ltd. to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

I understand that arrangements have been made with the authorities of the House for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday 20 January 1986 to Friday 24 January 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many persons have been (a) killed and (b) injured in the nuclear industry in each year since 1960.

The information requested is not readily available, but I hope to provide it shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many persons have been (a) killed and (b) injured in coal mining in each year since 1960.

The figures requested for the National Coal Board are as follows:

Year	Fatal	Serious reportable or major injuries
1960	316	1,553
1961	234	1,464
1962	255	1,541
1963–64	236	1,325
1964–65	181	1,276
1965–66	217	1,156
1966–67	145	1,000
1967–68	130	975
1968–69	115	788
1969–70	82	672
1970–71	92	599
1971–72	58	578
1972–73	78	569
1973–74	60	461

Year	Fatal	Serious reportable or major injuries
1974–75	56	576
1975–76	59	538
1976–77	38	515
1977–78	48	520
1978–79	72	480
1979–80	31	456
1980–81	39	*601
1981–82	34	826
1982–83	44	807
1983–84	22	746
1984–85	12	213

asked the Attorney-General what means exist for enforcing the current legislation on Sunday trading hours; if any changes are proposed to the system in the light of the proposals contained in the Shops Bill [Lords]; and if he will make a statement.

The Shops Act 1950 provides that, save for certain authorised transactions, every shop in England and Wales is to be closed for the serving of customers on a Sunday. Breach of those provisions is a criminal offence, and the Act makes it the duty of every local authority to enforce within their districts the provisions of the Act, and for that purpose to institute and carry out such proceedings in respect of contraventions of the provisions as may be necessary to secure observance of them: see section 71.That duty and the way in which its discharge should be approached were considered by the House of Lords in the case Stoke-on-Trent City Council

asked the Attorney-General if, pursuant to the answer of 14 November, Official Report, column 266, regarding the investigations of an alleged serious sexual assault on Ms. Adebola Makenjuola, the Director of Public Prosecutions has now completed his consideration of the police report; and if he will make a statement.

The matter is still under consideration.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will prosecute Associated British Foods under section 10(2) of the Prevention of Terrorism Act 1984 for making a £2 million payment to the Irish Republican Army.

I at present have no evidence which would justify the action suggested by the hon. Member, but if he would let me have the information on which his question is based I should be happy to examine it and, if appropriate, ask the Director of Public Prosecutions to invite the police to investigate it and to report the result to him.

asked the Attorney-General when he expects to reply to the question about fraud tabled by the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras and to which the Solicitor-General gave a holding reply of 9 December, Official Report, column 426.

I wrote to the hon. Member on 18 December 1985.

asked the Attorney-General what guidance is issued by his Department or the Law Society on the application of regulation 33 of the legal aid regulations; and how many cases are determined by area committees each year in which regulation 33 is applied, broken down according to area and to different types of case.

Regulation 33 of the Legal Aid (General) Regulations 1980 concerns the grant of legal aid for proceedings in which others beside the applicant himself have the same interest. Guidance on the interpretation of the legal aid regulations is issued by the council of the Law Society and is published in the "Legal Aid Handbook". A copy of the most recent (1984) edition is in the Library. Guidance on regulation 33 appears on pages 214 and 216. No statistics are kept of the numbers of legal aid applications determined under individual regulations, and the information requested, could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Attorney-General what response Her Majesty's Government have made to the report of the Lord Chancellor's advisory committee on legal aid calling for financial support to those law centres whose funding is threatened.

The Government's general position on law centres has been made clear; there are no plans to withdraw or reduce the funding currently provided by the Lord Chancellor's Department to seven law centres, nor to extend that commitment to other centres.

asked the Attorney-General if he will make a statement about the future funding of law centres.

The Government have acknowledged that law centres may have a part to play in the provision of legal services, as a supplement to the legal aid and advice schemes, where this suits local circumstances. Such centres are seen as essentially matters for local decision and initiative. Central Government support continues to be provided through the urban programme, in accordance with its general principles and procedures, and the Lord Chancellor's Department continues to provide funding to seven law centres.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is yet in a position to make any announcement about the resources available to the Director of Public Prosecutions for fraud investigation work.

I told the House on 2 December at column 12, that the resources available to the fraud investigation group of the Director of Public Prosecution's department were being reviewed. My right hon. and learned Friend has arranged to recruit nine professional officers to the fraud divisions to add to the 15 now employed there. There will also be corresponding increases in non-professional support staff. My right hon. and learned Friend will not hesitate to provide further staff for the Director if that is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to take to help owners of Smith houses in the Birmingham area whose houses also suffer from use of shale fill in their foundation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has now reached a decision on the designation of Smith houses under the Housing Defects Act; and if he will make a statement.

The Government have decided that Smith houses should be designated under the Housing Defects Act. As my hon. Friends are aware, the Building Research Establishment has recently carried out a study of Smith houses in Sandwell. The BRE found vertical splitting and cracking, caused by deterioration of the steel handling reinforcement bars. BRE's advice is that this defect can be expected to manifest itself in all Smith houses at some stage. We are therefore satisfied that it is a defect of design or construction with effects on value sufficiently serious to warrant designation of all Smith houses. The BRE's report is being published today and I am placing copies in the Library. Copies are being sent to those authorities which have reported that they own Smith houses.The Government are also aware of the particular problems faced by owners in the Birmingham area, where colliery shale fill has been used in the foundations of some Smith houses. My Department will be seeking urgent discussions with Birmingham city council, to explore whether any further measures are needed to assist such owners, including whether the council might wish to make a local designation under the Act in respect of those properties.Under the Act a local designation in respect of a building has to precede any national designation applying to that building.In order to provide time for the discussions with Birmingham city council (and any other council that believes there may be Smith owners in that position) the formal national designation will not be made straight away. But I can assure Smith home owners that their position will be protected: the designation, when made, will specify today as the "cut-off-date" for assistance under the Act. This means that owners who bought before today's announcement will be within the scope of the Act. They will of course need to satisfy the other requirements of the Act, notably that the house concerned must have been sold, at some stage, by a public sector authority.I very much recognise the anxieties and concerns Smith home owners have experienced over the last year. I hope that this announcement will help to put their minds at rest, and that they can now look forward to the assistance to which they will be entitled under the Act. I recognise that most owners will wish to have their house repaired. To that end, we will be discussing with the National House Building Council an extension of its approval and warranty scheme for repair methods (operated by its subsidiary, PRC Homes Ltd.) to Smith houses. I hope that repair methods for Smith houses will therefore emerge quickly and that local authorities will be able to offer reinstatement grant wherever repair is the appropriate solution.The Secretary of State for Wales is taking similar action, in relation to Smith houses in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide details of the allocation to local authorities for housing investment programme for 1985–86.

The allocations for 1985–86 were announced on 20 December 1984. My right hon. Friend announced on 20 November 1985 that gross provision for capital expenditure by local authorities on housing in 1986–87 is £2,532 million, and the total available for allocations to local authorities is £1,465 million. In setting the allocation total, account was taken of the need to bring actual expenditure into line with provision, of spending power from capital receipts and of the increasing use local authorities are making of other opportunities for capital expenditure. The gross provision figure includes £26 million, and the allocation total includes £23½ million, for the homes insulation scheme. This is expected fully to meet total demand, though my right hon. Friend will bear in mind Energy Efficiency Year in considering any applications from individual authorities for additional allocations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the most recent figures for the nitrate levels found in public drinking water supplies in East Anglia, compared with the acceptable standard.

Nitrate levels in public water supplies are within acceptable limits. In East Anglia (that is Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire) water containing less than 50 mg nitrate per litre, which is the standard in the EC drinking water directive, was supplied to 1½ million people between July and September this year. Water supply containing between 50 and 67 mg nitrate per litre was supplied to 200,000 people. Water from one small source serving 430 people contained greater concentrations of nitrate and the source has now been abandoned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the London borough of Newham concerning the future ownership of land at the northern end of the Thames barrier, currently in the ownership of the Greater London council.

	Estimated Full Time Equivalents
Grade	GLC	MCC's	General Implementation
Grade 2	—	—	0·2
Grade 3	0·1	0·8	1·4
Grade 5	1·0	0·7	7·8
Grade 6		-0·4	0·3
Senior Legal assistant	—	—	4·0
Principal	2·9	4·1	11·8
Principal information officer			0·1
Principal Planning officer	—	—	0·4
Principal research officer	—	0·5	—
Principal professional and technical officer	—	0·1	—
Senior executive officer	0·9	0·9	6·6
Senior research offecer	—	0·6	—
Higher executive officer/HEO(D)	3·0	3·0	11·2
Executive officer/administration trainee	2·6	1·8	8·3
Clerical officer	1·1	1·2	4·0
Clerical assistant	0·2	1·3	0·9
Senior personal secretary	0·1	0·2	0·1
Personal secretary	1·0	0·1	5·1
Typist	—	—	2·6
Total	12·9	15·7	64·8

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the level of rent arrears in respect of council house accommodation for each year

The London borough of Newham has requested that surplus GLC-owned land at the northern end of the Thames barrier should be transferred to the borough council at abolition. That request is being considered against the background that the general principles of the proposed property transfer order would result in the land passing initially to the London Residuary body.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list separately for (a) the six metropolitan county councils and (b) the Greater London council, the number of civil servants working in his Department on duties associated with the implementation of the Local Government Act 1985, listing in each case the numbers and ranks of officers and the estimated cost per year of each group.

[pursuant to his reply, 16 December 1985, c. 15]: The information the hon. Member requested is as follows.It has not been possible in all cases to divide staff effort on implementation of the Act between effort in relation to the GLC and MCCs. Staff whose duties fall into this category are listed under "general implementation".The cost, including accommodation, of employing these staff for a full year would be approximately £2·95 million (1985 prices), including £340,000 for the staff whose work relates wholly to the GLC and £320,000 for the staff whose work relates wholly to the MCCs.since 1979 for

Provisional figure for gross rent arrears on 31 March in each of the years since 1979 were as follows:

£ million
	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985
England (all authorities)	54·39	97·6	97·1	126·61	161·81	183·0	203·7
York District Council	0·01	0·006	0·04	0·06	0·07	0·14	0·09
Leeds Metropolitan District Council	0·97	0·66	1·82	1·18	2·56	3·24	3·10
Darlington District Council	0·06	0·09	0·16	0·16	0·17	0·12	0·10
Middlesbrough District Council	0·12	0·25	0·37	0·73	0·90	0·84	0·91
Durham District Council	N/A	0·006	0·007	0·02	0·03	0·03	0·04
Sheffield Metropolitan District Council	0·75	0·65	0·86	1·53	1·94	3·63	9·65
Kingston-upon-Hull District Council	0·30	0·32	0·62	0·63	0·79	0·72	0·82

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will be in a position to publish the proposed Green Paper on the control of atmospheric pollution.

I expect to publish a consultation paper on this subject in the new year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends that the Thamesmead community trust should take over responsibility for the assets of Thamesmead from the London Residuary Body.

On 2 April 1986, or as soon as practicable thereafter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the first elections for the Thamesmead community trust to take place; who will be responsible for supervising the election; what qualifications will be required of prospective candidates; and who will determine the electoral areas.

I expect the elections to be held in late February 1986, supervised by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. An offer from the London borough of Bexley to conduct the ballot is being considered. Candidate qualifications and electoral areas are being discussed with a steering group drawn from existing local community organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why he has refused permission for the improvements on the Willowbrook estate in Peckham; if he will reconsider the matter; and if he will make a statement.

This scheme is being allowed to proceed, subject to the normal reappraisal at tender stage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of council homes sold since the introduction of the right-to-buy legislation for each local authority district; what percentage this is of the local authority housing stock; if he will also provide the relevant figures for (a) houses on which options to buy have been granted to tenants and not yet taken up and (b)houses on which options have been taken up but where the sale has not yet been completed; and if he will express all these figures as a percentage of the national total.

I am placing in the Library the latest version of the regular table showing sales completed by local authorities in England up to September 1985.The term "options to buy" is not used in the right-to-buy legislation. The table shows the available figures of numbers of claims made by tenants and, of these, the numbers where the right to buy has been admitted by the authority.Between October 1980 and September 1985 an estimated total of 885,300 claims under the right to buy had been made to local authorities in England and 496,450 sales had been completed. No authority has received more than 3 per cent. of the national total, and most of the 367 local housing authorities accounted for less than 1 per cent. of the total.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why the nine authorities listed in his answer of 16 December, Official Report, column 18, which do not appear in the comparison of key indicators of deprivation, have been invited to bid for traditional urban programme new approvals for 1986–87.

The table given in my reply of 16 December compared authorities in terms of the intensity of need on key indicators. In deciding which authorities should be invited to bid for new approvals under the traditional urban programme in 1986–87 account was also taken of the scale of need, and of changes in unemployment since the census.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce his decision on the planning application in respect of the proposed superstore development at Cippenham in Slough.

Consideration of the inspector's report of the inquiry into this appeal is well advanced and I expect the decision to be issued early in the new year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received about the implications of the Government's financial targets for the prospective water supply and sewerage charges by North West water from 1986–87; and if he will make a statement.

I have received representations from the chairman of the authority and comments by the Confederation of British Industry have been sent to me. The rise in charges will be about 10 per cent., which is less than the confederation had feared.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make the offices in Richmond terrace available to hon. Members when the rehabilitation work is completed.

No. It is intended to use the accommodation in the Richmond terrace redevelopment as Government offices. More offices for Members will become available, though, when phase I of the new parliamentary accommodation in Parliament street is completed in 1990.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he has taken to support those law centres whose funding may be affected by the abolition of the Greater London council and metropolitan counties.

After abolition, the responsibility for making local authority grants to voluntary organisations, including law centres, will pass entirely to borough and district councils. The Government have made provision to enable local authorities collectively to fund countywide projects, and are making grant-aid available for a transitional period to help individual boroughs and districts take on grants for local groups.

Housing corporation—Approved development programme 1986–87
		£ million*	£ million*
Net allocation (cash limit)			585
Receipts			100
Gross allocation			685
Memorandum of Authorisation:
Programme heads
Existing fair rent and hostel projects
1. Contracted expenditure (Block 1)			420
2. New tenders approved (Block 2)			101
3. New fair rent and shared housing projects (Block 3)			46
Other tenures
4. (a) Improvement for sale	Committed expenditure	82	104
(b) Leasehold schemes for the elderly
(c) Shared ownership	New projects	22
(d) Home-ownership for tenants of charitable housing associations
5. Major repairs			10
6. Mini HAG (for short-life properties)			2
			683
7. Right to buy mortgages			2
			685
* All figures expressed in estimated 1986–87 outurn prices.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has decided the breakdown of the Housing Corporation's approved development programme for 1986–87.

My right hon. Friend announced on 20 November that the gross provision for the Housing Corporation in 1986–87 was £685 million. This figure comprises an allocation of £585 million, plus an estimated £100 million of capital receipts. Of the gross provision of £685 million, £521 million will be needed to meet existing commitments on fair rent and hostel projects, and £82 million to meet commitments on low cost home ownership projects.The balance of the provision will be used largely to finance new projects for rent, and low cost home ownership, including provision of £26 million for the scheme for tenants of charitable housing associations. At my right hon. Friend's request, resources for new fair rent and shared housing projects are being concentrated particularly on meeting special housing needs in inner city areas. The detailed breakdown of the programme is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what conclusions he has come to on recent efficiency scrutinies carried out in his Department; and if he will make a statement.

I have today placed copies of the scrutinies of the identification and development of internal talent, and of the management of office accommodation, incorporating our response, in the Libraries of both Houses. These two scrutinies were carried out jointly with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport's Department. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him today by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions his Department has had with the organising committee of the London marathon regarding assistance from his Department for the 1986 marathon; and if he will make a statement.

None, except that I have been in correspondence with the London marathon organisation about the effects of the GLC's abolition on their use of County Hall buildings. I understand that, as a result, the organisers have had discussions with the London Residuary Body, to which County Hall will pass on 1 April 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total amount paid to each local authority in each of the last five years under the homes insulation programme; and what is the amount allocated for 1985–86.

The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the percentage of empty dwellings in (a) the public sector, (b) the voluntary sector, (c) the private sector and (d) those owned and controlled by Her Majesty's Government, giving the numbers represented by the percentage.

[pursuant to his reply, 2 December 1985, c. 60]: The available estimates for April 1985, derived from English local authorities' housing investment programme returns, are as follows:

	Vacant dwellings
	Number	Percentage of stock
Local authorities	109,500	2·4
Housing associations	15,400	3·5
Other public sector	19,200	6·6
Total public sector	144,100	2·7
Private sector	545,000	4·1
All sectors	689,000	3·7

asked the Prime Minister when she intends to make an official visit to north Yorkshire.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister what has been the cost of maintaining her Private Office since May 1979.

The cost to date of running No. 10 Downing street and all other costs associated with the Office of the Prime Minister (including the full costs for the financial year 1979–80) is £16,008,120.

asked the Prime Minister what has been the cost of her foreign tours since May 1979.

The latest estimate of the cost to the Prime Minister's Office of foreign visits during the period May 1979 to December 1985 is £2,165,852. This figure corrects an over-estimate of 1984–85 costs which was included in the answer given on 9 May 1985.

asked the Prime Minister what has been the cost of official entertaining at (a) Chequers and (b) Downing street (i) since May 1979 and (ii) since June 1983.

The latest figure for the cost of official entertainment during the period since May 1979 is £110,329. The latest figure for the period since June 1983 is £48,366. These figures cover entertainment at both Chequers and No. 10 Downing street; the information is not available by location.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she list her official engagements for Thursday 19 December.

This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in this House I shall be having further meetings later today.

asked the Prime Minister what representations she has had from the scientific community on strategic defence initiatives.

I have received a number of letters on this subject over the last year, but none from persons writing on behalf of scientific institutions.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make a statement on the response to date in the Province to the Anglo-Irish Agreement.

As at 17 December 1985 the Prune Minister and I had together received letters and messages from 475 individuals and organisations in northern Ireland in response to the Anglo-Irish Agreement. The majority of these expressed reservations about or opposition to the agreement. There have also been responses by other organisations and individuals, some in favour of the agreement, some opposed, which cannot be accurately counted.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to what extent the principle that the armed forces in Northern Ireland operate only in support of the civil power has been breached during the past 12 months; and to what extent, during the same period, there has been no police presence in operations which involve direct contact with the community.

The armed forces have at all times in the past 12 months acted in support of the civil power and will continue to do so. That is the foundation of our security policy. Records are not kept in a form which would allow an assessment of the extent to which over the last 12 months there has been no police presence in operations by the armed forces involving direct contact with the community.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been (a) the total number of new hospital beds since May 1979 and (b) the total number of hospital beds closed, including those in hospitals which have been partially closed, since May 1979 by health board.

The information is not held centrally in the precise form requested. For the period in question the net change in hospital bed numbers was:

Health and Social Service boards Hospital beds
Northern	+24
Southern	-55
Eastern	-145
Western	-231
All Boards	-407

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list all new hospitals which have opened since May 1979 or are due to open over the next 18 months, indicating the first date on which approval for each scheme was given.

The information requested is as follows:

Major Hospital Developments*	Year of Approval
New Belfast City Hospital	1960
Daisy Hill Hospital Phase 2	1970
Altnagelvin Area Hospital Cluster 1	1977
Altnagelvin Area Hospital Cluster 2	1983
* Developments costing over £2 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what photographic surveillance was used by Her Majesty's security forces for the purpose of estimating the size of the rally which took place in Belfast city centre on Saturday 23 November; and what was the resulting estimate.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the funding of the farm aid package for Northern Ireland.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food announced on 28 November at columns 1033–41, details of a package giving increased rates of hill livestock compensatory allowances and emergency aid to livestock farmers affected by the exceptionally severe weather earlier this year.The total aid package amounts to £25·3 million of additional expenditure in the United Kingdom: £20 million will be a charge on the reserve, with the balance of £5·3 million being found from offsetting savings in the agriculture and territorial programmes. The package will not therefore lead to an increase in public expenditure. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland announced on 28 November that Northern Ireland farmers would benefit by £5·5 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the implications for Northern Ireland public expenditure programmes of the autumn statement made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 12 November.

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 12 November, at columns 431–43, announced total public expenditure planning figures for the Northern Ireland programme as follows:

Year	£ million
1986–87	4,520
1987–88	4,690
1988–89	4,820

The figure for 1986–87 represents an increase of some £250 million on the forecast outturn for 1985–86 and £60 million on the previously planned total for 1986–87 in the 1985 public expenditure White Paper (Cmnd. 9428), adjusted for Budget measures. The figures for 1987–88 and 1988–89 have now been adjusted for technical reasons to £4,680 million and £4,810 million respectively. The former represents an increase of some £80 million on previously published plans.I have decided on the following cash allocations to individual programmes (rounded to the nearest £5 million for 1986–87 and to the nearest £10 million for 1987–88 and 1988–89—figures may not sum to totals because of roundings).

Programme			£ million
	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89
Agriculture, fisheries, food and forestry	80	90	90
Industry, energy, trade and employment	465	460	460
Transport	120	120	130
Housing	355	360	360
Other environmental services	170	170	170

Revenue and Captial Expenditure on Health Services by Health and Social Services Boards in Northern Ireland (see notes (1) to (3)) (a) Expressed in cash terms (£m)
Board	Northern		Southern		Eastern		Western
Year	Revenue	Capital	Revenue	Capital	Revenue	Capital	Revenue	Capital
1974–75	19·2	0·5	18·4	1·6	65·4	4·7	17·7	1·2
1975–76	25·4	0·6	24·5	2·2	86·2	7·0	23·6	2·3
1976–77	30·0	1·1	28·6	2·2	101·9	8·6	28·9	2·2
1977–78	33·7	2·0	32·5	2·3	113·4	9·9	32·0	1·6
1978–79	39·0	2·4	36·8	2·4	129·2	11·9	36·5	1·7
1979–80	47·8	2·8	45·7	2·0	158·9	12·8	44·1	2·9
1980–81	62·2	3·6	58·2	2·1	201·7	13·8	55·9	2·4
1981–82	70·3	4·2	66·0	1·9	223·6	13·8	63·8	2·7

Programme			£ million
	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89
Protective services	20	20	20
Education and science, arts and libraries	665	680	700
Health and personal social services	740	770	800
Social security	1,360	1,450	1,510
Other public and common services	75	80	80
Total Northern Ireland Departments	4,055	4,210	4,320
Northern Ireland Office
Law, order, protective and miscellaneous services	465	470	490
Total Northern Ireland	4,520	4,680	4,810

The planning figure for 1986–87 will form the basis for preparation by Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office of Main Estimates for the coming year, which will be presented to Parliament in due course.The allocations reflect my assessment of how best to distribute the Northern Ireland public expenditure total in response to local needs and circumstances. Copies of a more detailed statement on these allocations have been placed in the Library of the House of Commons.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give for each health and social services board the revenue and capital expenditure on National Health Service services in each year since 1974, expressing the figures (a) in money terms, (b) adjusted by the gross domestic product deflator and (c) adjusted by the movement of National Health Service pay and prices.

[pursuant to his reply, 2 December 1985, c. 46]: The following tables show revenue and capital expenditure on health services by health and social services boards in each year from 1974–75 to 1984–85.The national movement in Health Service pay and prices has been applied to the combined total of board expenditure, as it might be misleading to apply it to the differing composition of the expenditure of individual boards.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish in the Official Report the new code of conduct of the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

[pursuant to his reply, 16 December 1985, c. 42]: I understand that the Chief Constable hopes to introduce a code of conduct as soon as possible in 1986. Its publication will be a matter for his decision.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment Her Majesty's Government make of the effect on the operation of the courts of the existence of the right of peremptory jury challenge; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to what I said in the debate on jury challenges following the Consolidated Fund Bill yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the discussions which took place recently between officials of his Department, the chief constable of the west midlands and the chairman of the West Midlands county council police committee about the use of plastic bullets; and what is his policy towards the borrowing of plastic bullets from the Metropolitan police by constabularies outside the London area.

In reply to a question by my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Mid-Bedfordshire (Mr. Lyell) on 26 November at cols. 515–16, my right hon. Friend said that, where a chief constable concluded that he required plastic baton rounds, and this was endorsed by Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary, he regarded it as essential that the equipment should be available to the force concerned. The purpose of the meeting with officials on 5 December, which was attended by the police authority chairmen and chief constables of Greater Manchester, West Midlands, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire, was to work out how such a requirement was best met.At the meeting the chairmen of the police authorities explained the position in their particular authorities. The chief constables expressed the view that there was a need for their forces to have plastic baton rounds available. None of the four police authorities had yet agreed to their purchase. The Department's officials stressed that it was my right hon. Friend's wish that all parties should consult and proceed in co-operation, if possible. It was made clear, however, that, if necessary, the equipment and training in its use would be provided through central facilities under Home Office auspices.Arrangements for the loan of items of equipment between forces are, in the first instance, a matter for the chief officers of police concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will advise the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board to increase the awards made to victims of rape or serious sexual attack.

It is the practice of the board to review from time to time the guidelines it uses on compensation in particular classes of case, having regard to the current level of damages awarded in civil proceedings and the terms of the criminal injuries compensation scheme. This is not a process in which my right hon. Friend would think it right to intervene.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will allocate more resources and manpower to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.

Financial provision for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board in 1986–87 will allow for an increase in staff and in compensation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will allocate funds to the Kirkby victims support scheme.

We have no funds available for this purpose during the current financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to the circumstances in which a man was apprehended on the roof of 10 Downing street on Friday 13 December; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on the circumstances surrounding the apprehending and subsequent release of an unnamed man on the roof of 10 Downing street during the night of Friday 13 December.

I have now received a report from the Commissioner. At 8·13 pm on Friday 13 December, a security alarm system was activated at 10 Downing street. Officers of the Metropolitan police on duty there chased a man found on the roof. The man climbed down to Horse Guards parade where he was arrested at 8·16 pm.The Metropolitan police conducted a thorough search of the roof area of 10 Downing street and adjacent buildings, as well as neighbouring streets and open spaces. Nothing was found.In the absence of any evidence that any criminal offence had been committed and after police inquiries about the individual concerned and into the incident generally, the man was released without charge at 7·50 pm on 14 December.Although the alarm system and the police response were effective, it is a matter of concern that the man was able to reach the roof of 10 Downing street. It would not be right on security grounds to go into detail about the arrangements to protect that building, but I have set in hand an urgent review of this incident in order to ensure that any necessary improvements are undertaken immediately, and that the security arrangements for the complex of buildings adjoining 10 Downing street, which are occupied by several Departments, are adequately co-ordinated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to announce a decision on Dr. Nazemi, ref. No. 97047, and his ability to take up an academic post which is on offer for 1 January 1986.

Dr. Nazemi was interviewed on 17 December. A decision on his application will be taken as soon as possible when the report of the interview has been considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what civil defence grant allocations were made to county councils and the Greater London council for 1983–84, 1984–85 and 1985–86.

The total initial allocations made to county councils, the GLC and police authorities for civil defence grant-eligible expenditure were as follows:

	£'000s
1983–84	10,456
1984–85	10,877
1985–86	12,418