asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will enumerate magistrates in the county palatine under the following categories (a) sex, (b) age groupings, (c) occupation, (d) social background, (e) resident or non-resident within their petty sessional area and (f) any political viewpoint or affiliation they have acknowledged.

This information is not held centrally and could therefore only be obtained at a disproportionate cost. But if the hon. Member would care to write to me about any particular bench, I would do my best to provide the information for which he asks

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received advocating using European Economic Community food mountains to relieve starvation in Africa; and if he will make a statement.

I have received numerous representations on the subject from hon. Members, voluntary organisations and from the general publicIt is not a primary purpose of the food aid programme to reduce EC food surpluses. But the European Community does draw on them as part of a food aid programme which cost about £420 million last year, the United Kingdom share being £91 million. As I have said on a number of occasions, the Government believe the first priority for this programme should be the provision of food aid for the relief of famine Between December 1984 and October 1985 about 144 million tonnes of cereals were delivered by the Community and its member states to the African countries* worst affected by famine.*Ethiopia, Sudan, Mali, Mauritania, Chad, Niger, Angola, Mozambique.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many establishments other than pits and workshops have been closed by the National Coal Board since the end of the dispute in March; and if he will list them.

The only establishments other than collieries covered by the provisions of the coal industry's review procedures and closed since the end of the strike are the Caerphilly tar plant of Thomas Ness Ltd. and Derwenthaugh coking works of National Smokeless Fuels Ltd. The closure of other establishments are matters for the National Coal Board's local management on which information is not collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many workshops have been closed by the National Coal Board since the end of the dispute in March; and if will list them.

I understand from the National Coal Board that seven workshops have closed since the end of the strike in March. They are:

• Whitburn
• Carcroft
• Elsecar
• Birdwell
• Blackwell
• Kirkless
• Tondu

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many pits have been closed by the National Coal Board since the end of the dispute in March; and if he will list them.

I understand from the National Coal Board that 23 collieries have closed since the end of the strike in March. They are:

• Brenkley
• Herrington
• Sacriston
• Ackton Hall
• Savile
• Yorkshire Main
• Cortonwood
• Brookhouse
• Fryston
• Moorgreen
• Pye Hill
• Wolstanton
• Bold
• Haig
• Bedwas
• Celynen South
• Markham
• Treforgan
• Penrikyber
• Aberpergwm
• Abertillery
• St. Johns
• Garw

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many mineworkers have been redeployed by the National Coal Board from establishments closed since the end of the dispute in March; and how many have opted for voluntary redundancy.

The redeployment of mineworkers is a matter for the National Coal Board. Between 9 March 1985 and 30 November 1985 some 18,500 men from colliery books took redundancy. The proportion of these who came from establishments closed since the end of the dispute could be established only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the targets and plans established for domestic sector activity in Energy Efficiency Year.

The purpose of Energy Efficiency Year is to increase awareness and up-take of appropriate measures as a contribution to the energy efficiency office's objective of a 20 per cent. improvement in energy efficiency by 1995. Present Government programmes relevant to the domestic sector will continue through the year: these include the homes insulation scheme; a review of the thermal insulation standards for new dwellings; demonstration projects for energy efficiency measures in new and existing (including rehabilitated) dwellings; and financial support for the voluntary insulation projects. The office's domestic publicity campaign includes an information pack for householders as a response to enquiries resulting from national advertising, and part-sponsorship of a win-a-house competition. In addition, the fuel utilities, energy efficiency industries and other bodies are organising events, many of them aimed at the domestic sector. The Office's information pack on "Monergy '86" included the initial list of such events, and further events are being organised.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what proportion of expenditure in energy efficiency will be committed to the domestic sector; and what is the total amount to be spent.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what plans he has to brief systematically consumer and voluntary organisations on his plans for Energy Efficiency Year.

Several thousand information packs on Energy Efficiency Year have been distributed to organisations interested in energy efficiency. Five hundred packs were sent to neighbourhood energy action, the national coordinating body for voluntary insulation projects for distribution to voluntary groups.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will now reply to the letter sent to him on 24 October

Value £ million
	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984
(i)Hardwood
United Kingdom imports (cif)	143	114	133	136	213	228
United Kingdom exports (fob)	8	9	8	7	8	8
Homegrown hardwood*	80	60	50	55	55	45
Homegrown hardwood* used on home market	70	50	45	50	50	35
(ii) Softwood
United Kingdom imports (cif)	593	563	464	529	716	767
United Kingdom exports (fob)	4	6	18	20	14	15
Homegrown softwood*	50	85	70	85	95	105
Homegrown softwood* used on home market	45	80	55	65	80	90

* Approximate.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will state the volume of the United Kingdom's trade with Iran for each of the last 10 years.

The information is as follows:

Value £ million
	Imports (cif)	Exports (fob)
1975	701	495
1976	1,047	515
1977	787	658
1978	527	751

by the hon. Member for Gower concerning the status of approved Welsh Office schemes for the repair of Cornish-unit type houses.

A reply was sent on 18 December.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has anything to add to his answer of 11 December, Official Report, columns 654–6, concerning gross capital expenditure in Wales.

I regret that, due to an error in compiling the table, the figures in cash terms for local environmental services (including the urban programme) were wrongly quoted for the years 1980–81, 1984–85 and 1985–86. The correct figures are £63 million, £77 million and £97 million respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total value of (a) imports and (b) exports of (i) hardwood and (ii) softwood timber in each of the years 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1984; and if he will also give details of the value of home-produced timber (1) hardwood and (2) softwood for each of these years and show in each case the total used on the home market.

The information is as follows:

	Imports (cif)	Exports (fob)
1979	243	232
1980	107	393
1981	154	403
1982	226	334
1983	101	631
1984	369	703

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish a table showing for each regional area in (a) cash terms and (b) at 1985 prices (i) the amount of money paid in regional development grants and selective regional assistance and (ii) the total investment in manufacturing industry in 1979 and in the latest year for which figures are available.

The latest year for which figures are available is 1984 in respect of payments of regional development grant and regional selective assistance, and

TABLE 1
1979
	RDG		RSA		Investment in manufacturing industry*
	A†	B‡	A†	B‡	A†	B¶
Region
Scotland	81·5	135·3	12·9	21·4	589·0	918·0
Wales	62·0	103·0	24·6	40·9	472·1	735·8
Northern	129·0	214·2	11·9	19·8	613·3	955·8
North West	61·2	101·6	27·0	44·8	971·2	1513·6
Yorkshire and Humberside	21·4	35·5	6·2	10·3	625·0	974·1
East Midlands	2·4	4·0	0·8	1·3	478·3	745·4
West Midlands	0·026	0·043	0·03	0·05	705·3	1099·2
South West	6·0	10·0	3·1	5·1	377·1	587·7
East Anglia	—	—	—	―	210·5	328·1
South East	—	—	—	—	1581·1	2464·2

TABLE 2
1983
	RDG		RSA		Investment in manufacturing industry
	A	B	A	B	A	B
Region
Scotland	246·9	270·7	23·9	26·2	490·6	542·3
Wales	74·6	81·8	13·8	15·1	353·2	390·4
Northern	95·3	104·5	15·6	17·1	392·8	434·2
North West	81·1	88·9	13·4	14·7	837·7	926·0
Yorkshire and Humberside	24·3	26·6	9·6	10·5	499·1	551·7
East Midlands	8·2	9·0	7·9	8·7	455·0	502·9
West Midlands	—	—	—	—	598·5	661·6
South West	7·4	8·1	2·2	2·4	434·7	480·5
East Anglia	—	—	—	—	226·4	250·3
South East	—	—	—	—	1626·7	1798·1

TABLE 3
1984
	RDG		RSA		Investment in manufacturing industry
	A	B	A	B	A	B
Region
Scotland	115·4	121·3	26·0	27·3	n/a	—
Wales	80·8	84·9	18·3	19·2	n/a	—
Northern	89·5	94·0	15·5	16·3	n/a	—
North West	81·9	86·1	11·0	11·6	n/a	—
Yorkshire and Humberside	21·2	22·3	8·9	9·4	n/a	—
East Midlands	4·8	5·0	7·9	8·3	n/a	—
West Midlands	—	—	—	—	n/a	—
South West	8·1	8·5	1·8	1·9	n/a	—
East Anglia	—	—	—	—	n/a	—
South East	—	—	—	—	n/a	—
* Manufacturing investment comprises net capital expenditure by manufacturers in classes 2 to 4 of the standard industrial clasification 1980 (source: annual census of production).
† columns headed "A" in all tables show current prices.
‡ columns headed "B" under RDG and RSA in all tables show current prices adjusted to 1985 prices by use of the implied market price GDP deflator.
¶ columns head "B" under "Investment in manufacturing industry" in all tables show current prices adjusted to 1985 prices by use of the implied manufacturing investment deflator.
║ West midlands ceased being an assisted area on 1 August 1982 under earlier regional measures but was designated an assisted area (with intermediate area status) under the measures which became effective on 29 November 1984.
• East Anglia and the south east have never been designated as assisted areas.

1983 in respect of investment in manufacturing industry. Tables 1 and 3 provide the information requested. In addition table 2 sets out regional development grant and regional selective assistance figures for 1983 in order to provide a basis for comparison between the categories of information supplied for the years 1979 and 1984. Figures for investment in manufacturing industry for 1984 are not available:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has plans to introduce legislation to give statutory backing to the City code on takeovers and mergers; and if he will make a statement.

The Government have decided not to include provisions on the regulation of takeovers in the Financial Services Bill. In reaching this decision we have considered carefully the views which the panel, the Bank of England, the Securities and Investments Board Ltd and others have put to us. The Government believe that the panel is doing a good job in regulating takeovers on a non-statutory basis, that it injoys the support of the City, and that no change is desirable at present in the status of the panel and the take-over code.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has received any representations regarding the implications for British firms in the home market of the recent increase in commission charged by the Crown Suppliers; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.The Crown Suppliers has received two approaches about the increase in commission rates. One from G F E Bartlett & Sons Ltd which manufactures catering equipment and one from the Catering Equipment Manufacturers Association. Total sales of all products subject to increase in commission rates were 20 per cent. higher in the first quarter of 1985–86 than in the corresponding quarter last year. The increases were to ensure that the contracts make a full economic return for the resources employed.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his policy on the maintenance of business schools within the university sector in the light of the Institute of Economic Affairs' paper, "Whose Business," a copy of which has been sent to him.

My right hon. Friend is reviewing his policy for postgraduate management education in the light of consultation with relevant interests about the analysis and recommendations in the Institute of Economic Affairs paper. He hopes to make a policy statement on this subject in 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish the scale of salaries for university teaching staff and the hours they are contracted to work.

The current (1 April 1984) pay scales for university non-clinical academic staff are as follows:

Assistant Lecturer and Lecturer
£	£
7,520	11,205
7,980	11,675
8,450	12,150
*8,920	12,635
9,390	13,120
9,860	13,625
10,330	14,135
10,720	14,925
Senior Lecturer/Reader
14,135	16,170
14,775	16,675
15,150	17,190
15,665	17,705
Professor—Mininum Average
18,070	21,235
*Minimum point for those aged 27 and over

There is no national agreement on hours of work. Conditions of service are negotiated locally.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what will be the grades of the new posts of the director of research and the site directors of the new animals and grassland research institute of the Agriculture Food Research Council; what will be the preferred specialisation of the successful candidates.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 13 December to the hon. Member for Alyn and Deeside (Mr. Jones) at column 790.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to the numbers of overseas students pursuing studies for higher degrees at the University College of Wales of the Welsh plant breeding station, giving an indication of the broad areas of work involved; and what comparable data are available in respect of 1979–80.

I refer to my reply of 13 December to the hon. Member for Alyn and Deeside (Mr. Jones) at column 788.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has on the subsequent career of those who graduated from institutions of higher education in England and Wales over the past five years.

Regular information on the subsequent career of those who graduated from institutions of higher education is limited to surveys of the first destination of graduates and diplomates as at 31 December of the year in which they graduated.The position for the years 1980 to 1984—the latest year for which data are available—for first degree graduates only is as follows. A statistical bulletin is to be published shortly on this subject and a copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) whether any changes are envisaged in the recognition of educational psychologists; if existing students on recognised courses will be protected; if additional time with children will be required; and if he will make a statement on any changes envisaged in the qualification, training or standards for educational psychologists;(2) if he will indicate the minimum qualification to be recognised as an educational psychologist; if he will give the minimum period of training or experience required for full recognition in such a post; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend does not determine these requirements. The qualifications, training and experience normally required by local education authorities for educational psychologists in their employment are published in the "Report of the Committee on Salary Scales and Service Conditions of Inspectors, Organisers and Advisory Officers of Local Education Authorities." I am arranging for a copy to be placed in the Library. My right hon. Friend is not aware of any plans to change those requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the local education authorities that are short of educational psychologists; if he will give the number in each case; and if he will make a statement.

The complement of educational psychologists employed by local education authorities is a matter for individual authorities to determine. The Department has no information about authorities that are below their complement of educational psychologists; this information is not collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will now announce his decisions on public sector higher education provision in 1986–87 and on the distribution of the advanced further education pool and voluntary sector quantum for 1986–87; and if he wil make a statement.

I have today written to the chairman of the committee of the National Advisory Body for public sector higher education (NAB) in response to its advice on the planned disposition of academic provision and of students in public sector higher education in 1986–87, and on the basis for distributing the advanced further education quantum of £661 million and the voluntary sector quantum of £45·4 million for the financial year 1986–87, which I announced in the House on 12 November 1985 at columns 104–108. I have accepted its advice in its entirety, with the exception of recommendations bearing on intakes to part I architecture courses in 1986–87.NAB's plans provide for overall student numbers to remain roughly stable compared with the targets set for 1985–86 and for the continuation of the policies reflected in those targets, notably, the preservation of student access. They also offer a continuing incentive to institutions to maintain provision in science, engineering and other vocational disiplines and provision for sub-degree and part-time students.In relation to architectural education, I have accepted NAB's recommendation that intakes to public sector courses in England should be reduced so as, with parallel reductions in universities and Scottish provision, to stabilise the size of the architectural profession at the level reached when students at present on course qualify. I have not been able however to accept NAB's advice that this reduction should be accomplished with the closure alone among the 18 public sector schools in England of the Department at the North East London polytechnic. Accordingly, I propose to consider further the pattern of provision in 1986, consulting as appropriate with institutions, before coming to a final decision in one to two months. In the meantime, in order to avoid pre-empting my final decision, I have determined intakes for the purpose of financial allocations in 1986–87 so as to allow for possible intakes at all the existing public sector schools, including NELP.In 1986–87 the greater part of the local authority quantum and the whole of the voluntary sector quantum are being allocated to local education authorities and voluntary colleges in relation to target student numbers by institution, mode of attendance and subject. The allocations have been made so as to allow every institution a standard teaching unit of resource for each weighted student. This is supplemented in the case of institutions where advanced provision exceeds 25 per cent. of the total in recognition of the higher costs associated with predominantly higher education work. The effect of this is to continue the pressure on high spending institutions to reduce their costs and to afford increased protection to the more economical institutions.The allocations announced today also include for a few selected local authority institutions sums to a total of £2·5 million to continue the selective support of research and £451,000 for further support of the biotechnology initiative, both of which began last year. A further £648,000 is included in respect of the recurrent costs in 1986–87 to the institutions selected for participation in phase 2 of the engineering and technology programme. This assumes that the institutions concerned will be able to demonstrate satisfactory support for their approved courses from industry.Letters are today being sent to local education authorities and institutions notifying them of my decision. Copies of my letter to the NAB committee chairman and of a note explaining the method by which the two quanta for 1986–87 are being distributed, together with full details of the allocations, have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent consultations he has had with providing bodies about the voluntary schools sector.

There have been a number of meetings following the publication of "Better Schools" (Cmnd. 9469); in addition I have recently invited the voluntary bodies and the local authority associations to consider with the Department how I can achieve a closer match between capital expenditure at aided and special agreement schools and what is voted annually for this purpose.

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.

[pursuant to his reply, 19 December 1985]: Photographic surveillance was not used to estimate the size of the crowd attending the rally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding is available for experimental crime prevention projects involving the use of television cameras as a means of surveillance and countering vandalism in town and city centres; and if he will make a statement.

The funding and installation of closed circuit television systems in town and city centres for experimental crime prevention projects is a matter for local authorities and other relevant local agencies, including the owners of private shopping centres, in consultation with the police.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of his Department's budget is spent on experimental projects of all types; if he will list the projects concerned; and if he will indicate in each case the costs so far incurred and the date the project started.

Detailed information in the form requested is not readily available. The Home Office spends 1·8 per cent. of its central budget on research and development. The expenditure is allocated between main subject areas as follows:

Subject area	1985–86
	£million
Equal opportunities	0·3
Law services	2·2

Subject area	1985–86
	£ million
Race relations	0·1
Prison security	0·3
Civil defence	0·9
Police research	5·7
Forensic science	1·6
Fire research	1·1
Telecommunications	2·1
Research into the voluntary sector	0·1
Sex discrimination and equality	0·2
Other costs	0·4
Total	15·0

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to answer the letter of the hon. Member for Alyn and Deeside of 18 October concerning Mr. P. Reid.

My noble Friend will reply very soon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a statement with appropriate statistics, explaining the basis on which expenditure on the police is budgeted to increase by 6 per cent. in 1986–87, and by 2 per cent. in real terms, over what was scheduled to be spent in that year, as stated by the hon. Member for Putney (Mr. Mellor) on 5 December, Official Report, column 419.

The basis for the reply of my hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Mr. Mellor) on 5 December was as follows.Planned expenditure on the police in 1985–86, as given in the 1985 public expenditure White Paper, was £2,843 million. Planned expenditure on the police for 1986–87 was given in a reply to a question from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton (Mr. Kaufman) on 18 November at columns

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes in the guidelines on sentencing powers and principles relating to violent crime he proposes to incorporate in the new edition of "The Sentence of the Court."

The previous edition of "The Sentence of the Court" was published in 1978. The new edition will reflect the many changes in courts' statutory powers since then, including the revised custodial sentences for young offenders introduced by the Criminal Justice Act 1982 and the criteria, set out in the Act, for imposing them. It will also refer to sentencing guidance given by the Court of Appeal during the same period, including that concerning the need for substantial prison terms for serious violence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now reply to the question tabled by the hon. Member for Billericay about visitors from the New Commonwealth and Pakistan to which he gave a holding answer on 29 November.

I regret that I am not yet able to do so since the information requested has not been produced routinely hitherto and a detailed analysis of computer records is required. I shall reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to introduce a visa requirement for visitors from the Indian sub-continent; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Brigg and Cleethorpes (Mr. Brown) on 5 December at column 311.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women in addition to Martina Anderson and Ella O'Dwyer are currently being held in Brixton prison.

One.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Martina Anderson and Ella O'Dwyer, currently being held in Brixton prison, are being checked on up to four times an hour during the night.

Standard security procedures require frequent checks to be made on category A inmates during the night.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set up an inquiry into the conditions in which Martina Anderson and Ella O'Dwyer are being held in Brixton prison.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) on how many occasions on each day in November a strip search was carried out on Martina Anderson and Ella O'Dwyer in Brixton prison;(2) on how many occasions in November

My noble Friend is writing to the. hon. Member.

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 arrest of two French girls, Jamila Majid and Sylvia Thomarin, on 20 November and on the subsequent strip-searching of one of the girls.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis will require further information before it is possible to trace the details of the arrest of a Jamila Majid and a Sylvia Thomarin.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department with what offence Mr. Billy Monteith, arrested on 20 November, has been charged.

Further information is necessary before the police can trace the details of the arrest of a Mr. Billy Monteith.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the Metropolitan police have refused to collaborate with the inquiry to be established by Haringey council into the Tottenham riot on 6 October which was to be chaired by the hon. Mark Bonham Carter.

The Metropolitan police are preparing a report on the Tottenham riot for the next meeting of the Haringey police community consultative group. An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Mrs. Jarrett is being carried out under supervision of the Police Complaints Authority. We understand that the commissioner took the view, which we strongly share, that his participation in an inquiry conducted by the Haringey council would not usefully add to the action already being taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prison officers, both male and female, died in service from January 1982 to November 1985, inclusive;(2) how many prison officers from the rank of chief officer downwards, both male and female, have retired from the service in the period January 1982 to November 1985, inclusive;(3) how many prison officers from the rank of chief officer downwards, both male and female, resigned the service in the period January 1982 to November 1985, inclusive.

From 1 January 1982 to 30 November 1985 there have been 943 male and 51 female retirements, 420 male and 195 female resignations and 143 male and one female deaths in service from all grades of prison officer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many male officers and how many female officers have been recruited into the prison service during the period January 1982 to November 1985.

From 1 January 1982 to 30 November 1985, 2,365 male and 325 female officers were recruited.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the overall net gain or loss in the prison officer establishment for the period January 1982 to November 1985, inclusive.

From 1 January 1982 to 30 November 1985 there was a net gain in prison officer establishment of 1,509 male (9 per cent.) and 126 female (14 per cent.) officers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis proposes to take in the light of the case of Wilson and Farbridge and the Metropolitan Police.

A complaint was made by Miss Farbridge in 1982 which was investigated and referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who was satisfied that there was insufficient evidence to justify criminal proceedings. The papers were then referred to the Police Complaints Board, as it then was, under the procedures established by the Police Act 1976. The board decided to defer consideration until after the civil proceedings had been completed. The commissioner is reporting the outcome of the civil action to the Police Complaints Authority, as successor to the board, which will decide what action should now be taken in the light of the court's decision.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people received sentences of immediate imprisonment for (a) fraud from Her Majesty's Inspector of Taxes and (b) fraud from the Department of Health and Social Security for every year since 1979.

I have been asked to reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what decision he has taken on the regulations to require the fitting of rear seat belts.

My right hon. Friend has now made regulations which will make rear seat belts or child restraints a legal requirement for all new cars manufactured from 1 October 1986, and first registered from 1 April 1987. The regulations allow for different types of belt or restraint to be fitted in order to meet our European Community obligations and also allow individuals to choose the most suitable type of belt for themselves or restraint for their children. The regulations also require a seat belt to be fitted in the centre front seat of cars and light vans where such a seat is provided. I am particularly anxious that car owners should have the freedom to choose the seat belts that best suit their needs. There are no plans to introduce the compulsory wearing of seat belts in the rear of cars.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce a new system of traffic signs for tourist attractions following Lord Young's report, "Pleasure, Leisure and Jobs—The Business of Tourism", and the experiments in Kent and Nottinghamshire.

I have recently issued a consultation document to a wide range of interested organisations setting out our proposals for introducing a new system of distinctively coloured white on brown traffic signs for tourist attractions in England. Consultees have been asked to submit their comments by the end of February 1986 so that arrangements can be introduced in time for the 1986 summer tourist season.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he intends making available in the White Paper the Government intend to publish about the Channel fixed link, or elsewhere, the Government's forecasts of the traffic that will use the link and the revenue to be derived therefrom.

No. It would not be right for the Government to seek to influence the banks and other institutions to which a successful promoter will be looking for finance for a chosen link project. If the Government decide to facilitate one of the proposals in January, and subject to the final decision of Parliament, it will be for the successful promoter to put the details of the project, in the form in which it is to go ahead, to potential investors to allow them to decide whether to invest in it, without Government guarantee in any form, express or implied.A decision by the Government to facilitate one project or another will not constitute endorsement by the Government of the promoter's forecast costs, traffic or revenues.

asked the Attorney-General if he will seek to amend the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1976 to extend the anonymity of rape victims to related civil proceedings.

The Government will consider this in the light of recent events.

asked the Attorney-General if he will enumerate magistrates in the north-west, excluding the county palatine, under the following categories (a) sex, (b) age groupings, (c) occupation, (d) social backgrounds, (e) resident or non-resident within their petty sessional area and (f) any political viewpoint or affiliation they have acknowledged.

The description "north-west excluding the county palatine" is vague. In Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Lancashire appointments are made by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. The Lord Chancellor makes appointments in Cheshire and the rest of England and Wales. The information as to sex, age goupings and political views of magistrates in Cheshire is as set out, with the caveat that views are indicated prior to appointment and may have since changed, and that appointments were at a range of dates widely varying from the present.The information sought on occupation, social background and whether magistrates reside or do not reside in the petty sessional area is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Justices on the active list in Cheshire
	Number
Male	299
Female	239
Total	538
Age group
Under 40	35
40–49	157
50–59	234
60–69	112
	538
Conservative	234
Labour	156
Liberal/SDP	52
independent	73
Undisclosed	23
	538

asked the Attorney-General if he is satisfied that the Director of Public Prosecutions, in his consideration of possible prosecutions against certain members of the Peter Cameron-Webb syndicate and Howdens, has access to all the evidence available to Lloyd's concerning those individuals.

So far as the Director of Public Prosecutions is aware, he has received from Lloyd's all evidence in its possession material to the fraud investigation group's inquiries into the affair of Peter Cameron-Webb and Howden. This includes the transcripts of evidence given at relevant disciplinary proceedings which were passed to him on 16 December 1985.

asked the Prime Minister what representations she has received from the General Electric Company about the proposed sale of a controlling interest in Westland to a United States company.

None.

asked the Prime Minister if, pursuant to her answer of 12 December, Official Report, columns 1060–1, she will publish in the Official Report a table showing the public sector borrowing requirement in cash, at 1984–85 prices and as a percentage of gross domestic product for the years 1970–71 to 1984–85 and the projections for 1985–86 to 1988–89 on the assumption that actual or assumed proceeds of privatisation, including sales of land and buildings outside the special sales of assets, were replaced by a similar amount of borrowing.

Figures for the public sector borrowing requirement, on the three bases requested, were provided in the answer my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary gave the hon. Member on 2 December at column 101–2. Figures for the proceeds of privatisation and sales of land and buildings, in cash, were provided in the answers my right hon. Friend gave the hon. Member on the same day at columns 102–3 and the earlier answers referred to therein. Estimates of the gross domestic product (GDP) and the GDP deflator for 1970–71 to 1984–85 were published in Economic Trends (Annual Supplement 1985 and November 1985 editions). A forecast of the GDP for 1985–86 was published in the "Autumn Statement 1985" table 1·11. Assumptions for the GDP in 1986–87 to 1988–89 were published in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1985–86" table 2·4, which also included assumptions for the GDP deflator in 1985–86 to 1988–89.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list all measures her Government have taken to promote the welfare of animals; and if she will make a statement.

The Government are committed to promoting the welfare of animals and have taken wide-ranging measures to improve their protection. We played a leading role in the preparation of a draft Council of Europe convention for the protection of vertebrate animals used for scientific and other experimental purposes, and have introduced in another place a Bill to relace the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 with a new system of controls which will strengthen the safeguards against avoidable suffering by animals used in scientific research.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department has given support and assistance to privately introduced measures to prohibit the sale of pet animals at markets (the Pet Animals (Amendment) Act 1983), and to strengthen the legal protection of badgers against acts of cruelty (section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside (Amendment) Act 1985). Further protection was given to a number of wild species by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.The Government supported the introduction of the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 and in April 1984 my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment issued standards of modern zoo practice dealing among other things with the care and accommodation of animals in zoos, in accordance with section 9 of that Act.This year the Government extended for a further four years the prohibition on the import of skins and products made from harp and hooded seals. The original prohibition, for two years, was introduced in 1983. In 1984, the Government introduced measures to treat all whales as an endangered species and to prohibit all products made from whales for commercial trade.With regard to the welfare of farm animals, the Government established, in 1979, the Farm Animal Welfare Council which keeps under review the welfare of all farm animals and advises on any legislative or other changes which it considers necessary or desirable in order to improve or maintain standards of welfare. The council has reviewed all the welfare codes for livestock issued under the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968. Revised codes in respect of cattle and pigs have been approved by Parliament and are in operation, and those for domestic fowls and turkeys are under consideration. The council is now considering the revised codes to see whether any of the recommendations could more appropriately be made mandatory by incorporation in regulations.In addition, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has introduced the Veterinary Surgeons (Operations) Order 1982, further controlling operations on farm animals; the Export of Animals (Protection) Order 1981 which improves protection for animals in transit; and the Slaughter of Poultry (Humane Conditions) Regulations 1984 which provide further protection for poultry at the point of slaughter.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list the parliamentary private secretaries presently in office and the Ministers they serve.

The information is as follows:

Department	Secretaries of State and Ministers	Parliamentary Private Secretaries
Prime Minister	Mrs. Thatcher	Mr. M. Alison
Foreign Office
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs	Sir Geoffrey Howe	Mr. Richard Ryder
Minister of State	Mr. Rifkind	Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
Minister of State	Lady Young	Mr. Richard Ottaway
Minister of Overseas Development	Mr. Raison	Mr. William Powell
Minister of State	Mr. Renton	Mr. Richard Ottaway
Department of Trade and Industry
Secretary of State for Trade and Industry	Mr. Brittan	Mr. Gerry Malone
Minister of state	Mr. Channon	Mr. David Atkinson
Minister of Information Technology	Mr. Pattie	Mr. Spencer Batiste
Minister of State	Mr. Morrison	Dr. Ian Twinn
Parliamentary Under-Secretary	Mr. Howard	Mr. Rob Hayward
Her Majesty's Treasury
Chancellor of the Exchequer	Mr. Lawson	Mr. Peter Lilley
Chief Secretary	Mr. MacGregor	Mr. Michael Lord
Financial Secretary	Mr. Moore	Mr. John Ward
Economic Secretary	Mr. Stewart	Mr. Barry Henderson
Minister of State	Mr. P. Brooke	—
Home Office
Secretary of State for the Home Department	Mr. Hurd	Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
Ministers of State	Mr. Waddington and	Mr. Graham Bright
	Mr. Shaw
Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State	Mr. Mellor and Lord Glenarthur	Mr. Patrick Nicholls
Department of Education and Science
Secretary of State for Education	Sir Keith Joseph	Mr. Edwins Currie
Minister of State	Mr. C. Patten	Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
Department of Energy
Secretary of State for Energy	Mr. Walker	Mr. Stephen Dorrell
Minister of State	Mr. Buchanan-Smith	Mr. Robert Key
Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State	Mr. Hunt and Mr. Goodlad	Mr. Michael Hirst
Ministers of Defence
Secretary of State	Mr. Heseltine	Mr. Nicholas Baker
Minister of State Armed Forces	Mr. Stanley	Mr. Roger Freeman
Minister of State Procurement	Mr. Lamont
Scottish Office
Secretary of State for Scotland	Mr. Younger	Mr. Alex Pollock
Welsh Office
Secretary of State for Wales	Mr. Edwards	Mr. Peter Hubbard-Miles
Lord Privy Seal	Mr. Biffen	Mr. Richard Page
Department of Health and Social Security
Secretary of State for Social Services	Mr. Fowler	Mr. Charles Wardle
Minister for Health	Mr. Hayhoe	Mr. Tom Sackville
Minister for Social Security	Mr. Newton	Mr. James Couchman
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster	Mr. Tebbit	Mr. lain Mills
Northern Ireland Office
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland	Mr. King	Mr. Brian Mawhinney
Minister of State	Dr. Boyson	Mr. Alan Howarth
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Minister of Agriculture, Fishries and food	Mr. Jopling	Mr. Paul Marland
Minister of State	Mr. Gummer	Mr. Nicholas Soames
Department of Transport
Secretary of State for Transport	Mr. Ridley	Mr. Gerry Neale
Minister of State	Mrs. Chalker	Mr. Tony Baldry
Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State	Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Spicer	Mrs. Marion Roe
	Earl of Caithness	—
Department of Employment
Secretary of State for Employment	Lord Young	Mr. Robert Arkins
Paymaster General	Mr. Kenneth Clarke	Mr. Colin Moynihan

Department	Secretaries of State and Ministers	Parliamentary Private Secretaries
Department of the Environment
Secretary of State for the Environment	Mr. Baker	Mr. Alistair Burt
Minister of State, Environment, Countryside and Local Government	Mr. Waldegrave	Mr. Steven Norris
Minister of State,	Lord Elton	—
Minister of State, Housing, Urban Affairs and Construction	Mr. J. Patten	Mr. Martin Brandon-Bravo
Minister for the Arts	Mr. Luce	Mr. Michael Colvin
Attorney-General	Sir Michael Havers	Mr. Nicholas Lyell
Solicitor-General	Sir Patrick Mayhew	—

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is the overall cost of storing the surplus butter currently held by intervention boards within the European Economic Community; and what the figure is for storing the surplus butter held within the United Kingdom;(2) what was the overall cost of storing the surplus butter held by intervention boards within the European Economic Community for 1983 and 1984, respectively;(3) what is the estimate for the overall cost of storing the surplus butter held by intervention boards within the European Economic Community for 1986;(4) what is the percentage change in the overall cost of storing the surplus butter held by intervention boards within the European Economic Community for the years 1983, 1984 and 1985, respectively; and what is the estimated percentage change for 1986;(5) what is the overall cost of storing the surplus butter currently held by intervention boards within the European Economic Community; what was the overall cost for 1983 and 1984, respectively; what is the estimated cost for 1986; and what is the percentage change for each year from 1983 to 1986, respectively;(6) what is the overall cost of storing one tonne of surplus butter held by intervention boards within the European Economic Community for one year.

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

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Council of Agriculture Ministers' meeting held in Brussels on 19 December; and if he will make a statement.

The Council had an initial discussion of a document from the Commission reporting the conclusions reached as a result of the consultations on its earlier paper "Perspectives for the Common Agricultural Policy". This document covers a wide range of issues, including price policy, co-responsibility, changes in intervention arrangements, diversification of production and measures to benefit the environment.During the discussion I again stressed the paramount importance of price policy in tackling the problems of the CAP, the necessity of observing financial limits, and the need to avoid discrimination between producers.The Council again considered the Commission's proposal to ban the use of hormones for fattening purposes, which had previously been supported by all member states except the United Kingdom. After a long discussion, the Chairman decided that a revised version of the text, in the form of a directive, should be voted upon by written procedure. If approved by qualified majority vote, the ban would apply from 1 January 1988.As a result of my pressure, the Commission indicated that it would use the procedures set out in the directive to propose a derogation which would postpone the introduction of the ban in the United Kingdom until 1 January 1989. Nevertheless I intend to vote against the measure. There is no scientific evidence justifying the ban, and the procedure is contrary to the Council's earlier decision that a ban should be introduced only by unanimous agreement between member states.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has for each constabulary of the capital cost of the mainframe equipment used by that constabulary and the recurrent costs of maintaining that computer.

I understand that, of the eight Scottish police forces, only Lothian and Borders police have their own mainframe computer (this term being taken as excluding mini and microcomputers). Capital expenditure, including enhancements since the computer was first installed, has amounted to £1·3 million and maintenance costs are of the order of £134,000 per annum.Some other forces have access, in varying degree, to local authority mainframe equipment, for which appropriate charges are made.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the latest estimate of the length of Scottish motorways and trunk roads requiring reconstruction, compared to the total length of the road network.

Estimates of the length of motorways and trunk roads requiring reconstruction, as distinct from structural repairs generally (ie reconstruction, resurfacing, overlay or surface dressing), are not separately available. In 1984, 360 kms of carriageway on such roads were assessed as requiring structural repairs generally, representing 9·5 per cent. of the total network of carriageway length.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has a long-term programme to reduce the backlog of Scottish trunk roads requiring reconstruction, analagous to that of the Department of Transport for English trunk roads.

Yes. In view of an increase in the length of trunk road requiring structural repairs, my right hon. Friend has decided to increase expenditure on such work. Provision in the supply estimates for 1985–86 was £13·387 million but this was increased in the winter supplementary estimates to 15·262 million. In 1986–87, this will be further increased to £18 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, further to his answer in the Official Report of 9 December, column 457, to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Shettleston, he will consider co-operating with regional and island councils to produce an annual road maintenance condition survey similar to the one produced for England and Wales.

I do not consider that this would be necessary or helpful in view of the comprehensive information already available for trunk roads and motorways in Scotland, and the participation of most roads authorities in a sample survey for the remaining roads.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland 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 region.

The information, by health board areas, is as follows. The details in respect of new hospital beds relate to new hospital buildings, funded from the central building programme: information in respect of locally funded developments is not held centrally. Many

Hospital facilities opened		Date project approved
1979
Greater Glasgow Health Board
Belvidere hospital—phase I	30 beds	May 1978
Woodilee hospital—phase I	60 beds	May 1978
1980
Argyll and Clyde Health Board
Johnstone hospital	30 beds	1978
Grampian Health Board
Woodend geriatric hospital	30 beds April 1979
Greater Glasgow Health Board
Blawarthill hospital	30 beds	May 1978
Canniesburn hospital	30 beds	May 1978
Gartloch hospital	30 beds	May 1978
Gartnavel hospital	30 beds	May 1978
Mearnskirk	30 beds	May 1978
Stobhill hospital	60 beds	May 1978
Tayside Health Board
Irvine Memorial hospital, Pitlochry	12 beds	June 1977
Murray Royal hospital, Perth	60 beds	June 1977
1981
Ayrshire and Arran Health Board
Crosshouse hospital	710 beds	September 1964
Fife Health Board
Glenrothes hospital	72 beds plus 20 day places	January 1974

of the beds have been provided as replacements for outdated facilities and are not additions to the overall complement. The details of beds closed refer only to complete hospitals taken out of use. Information in respect of partial closures of hospitals is not collected centrally.

Health Board	(a)	(b)
	New Hospital beds	Hospital beds closed
Argyll and Clyde	180	432
Ayrshire and Arran	710	220
Borders	50	47
Fife	492	65
Forth Valley	180	—
Grampian	264	26
Greater Glasgow	754	181
Highland	710	—
Lanarkshire	120	40
Lothian	462	—
Shetland	—	62
Tayside	234	132
Total	4,156	1,205

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland 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.

Details, in respect of projects funded from the central building programme, are as follows. Comprehensive information on locally funded schemes is not held centrally. The total bed complement is shown but it should be noted that not all beds were necessarily brought into use in the given years. Many of the beds provided are replacements for outdated facilities elsewhere and are not additions to the overall complement:

Hospital facilities opened		Date project approved
Lothian Health Board
Edinburgh Royal infirmary redevelopment—phase I	Nil	December 1959
Edinburgh Royal hospital—phase I	120 beds plus 50 day places	March 1972
Tayside Health Board
Perth Royal infirmary	60 beds plus 25 day places	June 1977
Royal Liff hospital, Dundee	60 beds	October 1977
1982
Grampian Health Board
Inverurie hospital	30 beds	June 1980
Spynie hospital, Elgin	30 beds	Novermber 1972
Highland Health Board
Highland Health Board
Lochaber hospital	30 beds	June 1976
Lothian Health Board
Astley Ainslie	90 beds plus 40 day places	October 1974
Tayside Health Board
Blairgowrie cottage hospital	30 beds plus six day places	June 1977
1983
Borders Health Board
Hay Lodge, Peebles	50 beds plus 15 day places	May 1974
Fife Health Board
Whyteman's Brae, Kirkcaldy	180 beds plus 80 day places	November 1973
Forth Valley Health Board
Royal Scottish National hospital, Larbert	120 beds	April 1979
Grampian Health Board
Ugie hospital, Peterhead	30 beds	October 1978
Woodend hospital—Glenbum Wing	24 beds	April 1979
Woodlands hospital	120 beds	November 1976
Greater Glasgow Health Board
Glasgow Royal infirmary—phase I	214 beds	December 1966
Stobhill hospital	90 beds	May 1978
Lothian Health Board
Herdmanflat hospital	72 beds	April 1974
Tayside Health Board
Aberfeldy cottage hospital	12 beds	June 1977
1984
Lanark,hire Health Board
Kirklands hospital—phase I	120 beds	July 1979
Argyll and Clyde Health Board
Dunoon and District General Hospital	30 beds plus 10 day places	April 1982
Merchiston hospital—phase I	120 beds	January 1978
Greater Glasgow Health Board
Gartloch hospital	120 beds	June 1978
Forth Valley Health Board
Sauchie hospital	60 beds	June 1979
1985
Fife Health Board
West Fife district general hospital	240 beds plus 130 day places	March 1976
Highland Health Board
Raigmore hospital, Inverness	680 beds	June 1979
Lothian Health Board
Royal Victoria hospital—phase III	180 beds plus 50 day places	January 1974
(b) Openings expected within the next 18 months
Argyll and clyde Health Board
Paisley Disrict general hospital	700 beds	December 1971
Merchiston hospital—phase II	30 beds	May 1984

Hospital facilities opened		Date project approved
Dumfries and Galloway Health Board
Geriatric unit, Annan	30 beds	October 1980
Forth Valley Health Board
Falkirk Royal infirmary—matenity/geriatric block	176 beds	June 1979
Greater Glasgow Health Board
Leverndale Hospital Redevelopment—phase 1 A plus B	240 beds	November 1983
Lennox Castle hospital redevelopment	120 beds	May 1983
Highland Health Board
Caithness hospital—phase II	97 beds	October 1973
Raigmore hospital—phase II	92 beds	June 1973
Lothian Health Board
Western General hospital—phase II	144 beds	May 1973

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to receive the report of the working party on historic gardens, concerning maintenance grants and capital grants; and if he will make a statement.

Officials from the Scottish Development Department and the Countryside Commission for Scotland set up an informal discussion group in August 1985 to consider policy issues likely to arise from an inventory of the most important gardens and designed landscapes in Scotland. The inventory is being prepared on behalf of SDD and CCS by Land Use Consultants Ltd. and is due to be completed in autumn 1986. The group will not be preparing a formal report but the outcome of the joint discussions will be reflected in the advice I receive once the inventory is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many accused persons have appeared from custody in Glasgow sheriff court as new cases in the latest convenient month for which figures are available and in each of the previous 12 months.

I regret that reliable information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases there have been in which the questioning of a suspect was recorded in a police station and which resulted in a prosecution in Glasgow sheriff court, together with the total number of suspects so interviewed in Glasgow for the last year or the latest convenient date for which figures are available, giving the first total as a percentage of the second.

I regret that the information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many summary complaints have been dealt with in Glasgow sheriff court in each of the last five years.

The information requested is set out in the table.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was (i) the average daily prison population for the latest month for which figures are available, (ii) the figure for the same month in each of the previous five years and (iii) in each case the number of prisoners within that total who were on remand awaiting trial or sentence.

The information is set out in the table.

Average daily population in penal establishments
November	Persons on remand	Total
1980	744	4,900
1981	838	4·510
1982	884	5,176
1983	862	4,988
1984	1,089	4,951
1985	1,097	5,602