asked the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has on the number of retail businesses employing 10 or fewer people in the Cardiff, West parliamentary constituency in (i) 1965 to 1970, (ii) 1971 to 1975, (iii) 1976 to 1980 and (iv) 1981 to 1984.

The information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he plans to seek further control over the use of nylon monofilament nets in Scotland.

My right hon. and learned Friend plans to introduce orders shortly under sections 1 and 2 of the Inshore Fishing (Scotland) Act 1984 to prohibit fishing for salmon or sea trout with a gill net in a specified sea area off the coast of Scotland and to prohibit the carriage of monofilament gill nets in British fishing boats in Scottish inshore waters.

Age and Duration Analysis of the Unemployed for Statistical Date 10 October 1985
Littleborough and Saddleworth CC
Males
Duration of Unemployment in weeks	Under 17	17	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–39	40–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60 and over	Total
One or less	3	7	9	5	22	9	3	2	4	7	4	3	4	82
Over 1 and up to 2	4	2	7	8	25	11	8	5	3	4	1	3	0	81
Over 2 and up to 4	9	11	12	11	26	10	9	7	7	6	3	4	4	119
Over 4 and up to 6	18	14	25	5	19	15	11	9	5	4	9	15	6	155
Over 6 and up to 8	2	4	10	5	22	10	8	6	8	3	3	4	1	86
Over 8 and up to 13	1	9	14	15	35	30	11	17	16	10	9	11	3	181
Over 13 and up to 26	10	22	26	28	93	31	27	32	16	13	22	18	19	357
Over 26 and up to 39	1	8	16	12	44	28	20	18	14	10	9	22	22	224
Over 39 and up to 52	0	1	8	11	36	20	19	20	12	8	16	10	9	170
Over 52 and up to 65	0	9	5	10	22	13	9	9	4	6	4	11	2	104
Over 65 and up to 78	0	0	6	4	18	16	7	6	4	3	4	9	5	82
Over 78 and up to 104	0	0	6	10	28	21	17	13	12	10	9	19	1	146
Over 104 and up to 156	0	0	6	11	30	24	29	21	20	13	18	29	6	207
Over 156 and up to 208	0	0	0	2	22	16	16	14	17	13	19	25	2	146
Over 208 and up to 260	0	0	0	0	11	14	13	17	11	13	15	21	1	116
Over 260	0	0	0	0	6	10	15	15	8	12	22	32	6	126
Grand totals Males	48	87	150	137	459	278	222	211	161	135	167	236	91	2,382

Females
Duration of Unemployment in weeks	Under 17	17	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–39	40–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60 and over	Total
One or less	5	1	1	2	12	5	5	7	2	0	1	2	0	43
Over 1 and up to 2	6	3	8	3	12	9	3	5	2	3	2	0	0	56
Over 2 and up to 4	7	6	14	5	25	14	11	7	5	4	2	1	0	101
Over 4 and up to 6	23	15	21	8	17	8	11	5	6	4	4	7	0	129
Over 6 and up to 8	2	2	3	3	11	10	4	5	1	0	2	0	0	43
Over 8 and up to 13	2	6	7	8	28	22	9	6	5	4	3	7	0	107
Over 13 and up to 26	6	10	13	10	66	49	22	17	9	10	10	7	0	229
Over 26 and up to 39	0	9	7	5	29	33	24	18	7	8	5	7	0	152

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now instigate an inquiry into the policy for tolls on the Forth road bridge following the recommendatons of his Department's report on 9 October 1985.

No.

asked the Paymaster General how many new businesses were established in the greater London area in 1978 and 1984; and if he will make a statement.

I regret that estimates are not available for the period specified. The available estimates, which relate to 1980 to 1983, are published in an article in the 18 January 1985 edition of British Business, a copy of which is in the Library.

asked the Paymaster General if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the number of unemployed claimants in the Littleborough and Saddleworth parliamentary constituency using the most recent available figures, analysed by sex and by the age of the unemployed and duration of unemployment.

The following information is in the Library. The figures relate to 10 October 1985, the latest date for which an analysis of unemployment by age and duration is available.

asked the Paymaster General if he will provide a breakdown of the number of unemployed claimants in the Littleborough and Saddleworth parliamentary constituency by their last trade, occupation or profession.

The information requested is not available.

asked the Paymaster General whether he is satisfied that the Christmas undertaking under the youth training scheme that all unemployed minimum age school leavers would be offered a suitable place by Christmas 1985 has been met; and if he will make a statement.

I am very pleased to say that the Government's undertaking has been effectively met for the third successive year. There are around 300,000 young people on the youth training scheme and on 3 January only 2,290 youngsters were waiting for the offer of a place. The comparable figure for the previous year was 3,850.This is another excellent achievement by all concerned —the Manpower Services Commission, the careers service, employers, trade unions, local authorities, colleges and voluntary organisations—and I am grateful for their support and commitment. I very much look forward to this continuing under the new two year scheme to be introduced in April.The enthusiasm of young people for the youth training scheme is clearly demonstrated by these figures, and I am confident that the new scheme will be equally popular with them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give such information, either readily available, or as may be provided without incurring disproportionate cost, regarding the number of people stopped and breathalysed by the police during the Christmas period by force area throughout England and Wales; and if he will make a statement on the operation of breath tests and the level of positive breath tests.

The official Home Office statistics on breath tests in England and Wales in 1985 including the Christmas period, will not be available until the middle of this year, but the Association of Chief Police Officers has collated provisional figures for roadside screening tests from 31 police forces and this information is given in the table.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reasons he attributes to the increase in the amount of City fraud under investigation between 1981 and 1984; how many separate cases are being investigated involving the years 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985; and what is the total amount of money involved in each year.

I presume the hon. Member has in mind the figures published in the recent report of the Fraud Trials Committee (page 245) which were discussed in that report. I am informed by the Commissioner of Police for the City of London that the only additional information which can be provided without incurring disproportionate cost is that given in the following table, which shows the number of new investigations into fraud in the City started each year by the company fraud department. These figures are consistent with the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Thurrock (Dr. McDonald) on 6 December 1985, at column 358. They have narrower coverage than the figures published in the Roskill report because they do not include cases where after the initial investigation the police were not satisfied that an offence had been committed and because they also exclude a small number of cases investigated on behalf of provincial forces or overseas law enforcement agencies where the alleged offence was committed outside of the City.

New investigations into City fraud started by the City of London police
	Number
1981	54
1982	60
1983	61
1984	91
1985	81

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now make a statement on his investigations into measures being taken in Malaysia to deter drug-trafficking; and what is their relevance to the United Kingdom.

There are some similarities between Malaysian and United Kingdom drugs law and we understand that consideration is being given by the Malaysian Government to the introduction of legislation on the confiscation of the assets of drug traffickers. All Governments, however, have to ensure that any legislation on these matters reflects local conditions and the particular nature of their drugs problem; the recent changes in the maximum penalty under our law for drug trafficking and our proposals for legislation on the confiscation of assets reflect this approach.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Greater Manchester on what consultations he undertook with interested organisations prior to the decision to post machine gun guards at Manchester international airport, as to whether local representatives of the Police Federation were consulted about the decision, and as to what consideration he gave to the alternative of using military personnel to undertake the duties which have now been assigned to uniformed police officers.

I would refer the right hon. Member to the reply the Prime Minister gave to a question from him today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many motorists have been prosecuted in England and Wales and Greater London, respectively, in each quarter since 1 January 1982 for failing to observe traffic lights, distinguishing between those cases involving injury, death and no injury.

I shall reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he proposes to issue guidance on the sale of potentially dangerous martial art weapons to young people; and if he will make a statement.

Possession of an offensive weapon in a public place without reasonable excuse is an offence under the Prevention of Crime Act 1953, and I have been particularly concerned at the indiscriminate sale of martial arts weapons to persons with no valid reason to possess them. In conjunction with the Martial Arts Commission I am therefore issuing guidelines to traders urging that such items should not be sold to persons under 18 or to those who cannot produce evidence of membership of a bona fide martial arts club. I look to traders to act responsibly and to pay close attention to the guidelines, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total annual expenditure on wages and salaries of (a) local authority manual workers, (b) local authority administrative workers and (c) firemen; and what are the total numbers employed in each group.

The information requested is given in the table below:

	Wages & salaries* 1985–86 estimates		Numbers (June 1985)
	£million	Full-time	Part-time	Total
(a)Manual workers	2,420	357,600	566,500	924,100
(b)Administrative workers†	4,160	504,100	144,500	648,600
(c) Firemen	370	36,900	400	37,300

*Excluding national insurance and superannuation but including London weighting.†Defined as all white-collar workers employed on general services except teachers and lecturers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those local authorities which are currently consulting or have in the past consulted representatives of industrial and commercial ratepayers, as permitted under section 13 of the Rates Act 1984.

All major rating and precepting authorities are obliged, under sectin 13 of the Rates Act 1984, to consult representatives of industrial and commercial ratepayers before setting their rates or precepts each year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations concerning unsatisfactory building work he has received in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Congleton (Mrs. Winterton) on 21 November 1984. The information provided by the Office of Fair Trading for each of the last 10 years is as follows:

Year	Number
1975	13,061
1976	16,375
1977	20,675
1978	23,136
1979	27,960
1980	24,436
1981	24,673
1982	28,727
1983	36,316
1984	46,549
1985*	18,950

*(first 6 months).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if money paid by a health authority to a local authority under the terms of section 1 of the Health and Social Services and Social Security Adjudications Act 1983 is to be taken into account for ratecapping calculations; and if he will make a statement.

The rate limits proposed for rate-capped authorities are based on the level of total expenditure earlier determined for them. Total expenditure is reduced by most payments into the rate fund including payments by a health authority towards projects which they jointly finance with local authorities. Rate-capped authorities have until 22 January to indicate whether or not they agree to their proposed rate limit, and if they consider it inadequate to cover their spending needs to seek agreement with the Secretary of State on a higher limit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish his response to the memorandum on the operation and activities of the London Docklands development corporation sent to him by the hon. Members for Bethnal Green and Stepney (Mr. Shore), for Bow and Poplar (Mr. Mikardo), for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) and for Newham, South on 5 June 1985.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State does not intend to publish a formal response to this document which was designed to form the basis for discussions between the right hon. and hon. Members who presented it and the chairman of the London Docklands development corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has, for each water authority, on the number of significant sewer collapses in 1982–83, 1983–84 and 1984–85.

The information requested is set out below for English regional water authorities. The Welsh water authority is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

Number of significant sewer collapses
	1982–3	1983–4	1984–5
Anglian	180	150	*275
North West	690	600	1,000

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, for each water authority, the total number of properties connected to the sewerage system, the total population connected to the sewerage system and the total population connected to the water supply system.

The information requested is set out below for English regional water authorities. The Welsh water authority is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

Water Authorities: Population and Properties Connected
Authority	*Properties	†Population	†Population connected to water sup ply system
	connected to sewerage system
Anglian	1,807	5,192	3,600
North West	2,650	6,878	6,822
Northumbrian	1,006	2,631	1,222
Severn-Trent	3,119	8,173	6,809
South West	531	1,431	1,427
Southern	1,483	3,922	2,047
Thames	4,985	11,489	7,126
Wessex	880	2,378	1,047
Yorkshire	1,755	4,639	4,384

*

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list for each water authority the target rate of return set for 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88;(2) if he will list for each water authority the external financing limit set for 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88.

I shall answer these questions shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has, for each water authority, on the number of properties flooded by sewage in 1982–83, 1983–84 and 1984–85.

The information requested is set out below for English regional water authorities. The Welsh water authority is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the organisations which commented on the document entitled "Water Privatisation —a Discussion Paper", indicating which supported privatisation and which opposed it.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has for each water authority on the number of people suffering complete loss of piped water supply for a period of 12 hours or more in 1982–83, 1983–84 and 1984–85.

The information requested is set out below for English regional water authorities. The Welsh water authority is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

Number of people suffering complete loss of piped water supply for 12 hours or more (including repetitions)
	1982–83	1983–84	*1984–85
Anglian	17,000	2,800	2,750
North West	55,000	35,000	45,000
Northumbrian	5,213	647	624

Section A: Dwelling stock position at 1 April 1985
Thousand dwellings
	Local authorites	Housing associations	Other public sector	Private sector	Total
1 Total (including non-permanent)	4,511	439	292	13,275	18·517
2 Specially designed or adapted and intended for use: by the elderly
(a) sheltered	271	83	3	11	368
(b) others by the disabled	292	15	5	2	314
(c) wheelchair	11	3	1	3	18
(d) others	21	1	—	8	31
3 Unfit	87	12	2	548	649
4 Fit but lacking amenities	95	7	4	461	566
5 Non-substandard, in need of renovation	1,209	18	23	1,525	2,776
6 Prefabricated reinforced concrete, designed before 1960	131	—	6	25	162
7 Difficult to let	321	4	2	n/a	n/a
8 Total vacant	110	15	19	545	689

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why he approved an urban development grant for the Spencerbeck estate in Langbaurgh which involves the loss of the second water closet in the threebedroomed houses.

[pursuant to his reply, 13 January 1986, c. 465–6]: Design and layout defects had resulted in part of this estate becoming difficult to let. Following an invitation from the local authority to housebuilders to submit proposals for refurbishment, urban development grant was approved for a scheme which was considered to provide the best overall solution to the problems. The only dwellings to lose a WC are 3-storey, 4-bedroom houses which had proved to be unpopular and which are being reduced to 2-storey, leaving each house with 2 bedrooms.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the totals for England of each aspect of housing needs appraisal listed on the numercial statement sent by housing authorities to his Department on form DOE 16314.

[pursuant to his reply, 13 January 1986, c. 465–6]: Totals for England, including allowances for any missing figures, for each of the items in local authorities' 1985 housing investment programme housing needs appraisal statements (HIP1) are as follows:

Section B: Households in need at 1 April 1985
Thousand households
	Total in need	On housing list and in need
1. Overcrowded:
(a) more than 1 but not
more than 1·5 persons
per room	415	168
(b) more than 1·5 persons
per room	114	58
2. Needing accommodation as described in A2:
(a) elderly	667	232
(b) disabled	111	13
3. Concealed:
(a) married couples	193	105
(b) lone parents	170	69
4. Sharing:
(a) single persons	244	168
(b) other	124	93
5. OthersA	*	*

	Thousand households
6. Households accepted as homeless 1 April 1984 to 31 March 1985:
(a) total	108
(b) of which, in priority need	81

Section C: Nominations made to housing association or new town dwellings between 1 April 1984 and 31 March 1985
	Thousand households
1. Households taking up nominations to secure tenancies:
(a) total	18
(b) of which, homeless households	2

Section D: Relets (HRA stock) between 1 April 1984 and 31 March 1985
	Thousand dwellings
1. Vacant and available for letting on 1 April 1984	33
2. Came into management during the period:
(a) newly built	26
(b) through acquisition or following
modernisation or, conversion	15
3. Other (including dwellings vacated by existing tenants, even if moving to another local authority dwelling)	412
4. Total available for letting 1 April 1984 to 31
March 1985	487
5. Let through the National Mobility Scheme and, for London, other schemes:
(a) total	13
(b) which, homeless households	1
6. Let through the Tenants Exchange Scheme	7
7. Let to tenants of other authorities under Exchange
Agreements (excluding D5 and D6)	7
8. Let to existing tenants transferring within an
authority's own stock	163
9. Let to new secure tenants:
(a) displaced through slum clearance or redevelopment	7
(b) homeless households	46

	Thousand dwellings
(c) housed from waiting list (normal allocation)	156
(d) other	20
10. Let to new tenants not on secure tenancies:
(a) total	11
(b) of which, homeless households	8
11. Total let 1 April 1984 to 31 March 1985	429
12. Included at D4, but subsequently taken out of
management and not available for letting 31 March
1985	26
13. Vacant and available for letting on 31 March 1985	32

Section E: Loans for purchase of dwellings in the private sector between 1 April 1984 and 31 March 1985
	Thousands
1. Total applications in priority categories to local authorities	18
2. Of which:
(a) granted loans by local authorities	2
(b) referred to building societies	13
3. Referrals resulting in building society loans	9

*Reliable totals cannot be estimated from those figures received less than 500.n/a Not applicable.Local authorities' figures for housing not in their ownership, are not usually based on detailed surveys and they are, therefore, less firm. Also, local authorities' criteria for some items might differ: for example, on unfitness, for which the totals are not consistent with the results of the English house condition survey. Authorities' coverage of other households in need (B5) varies so widely that meaningful totals cannot be estimated from the figures received.The aggregate figures returned, with no adjustment for missing figures, are in the "HIP1 (1985) all items print" which is available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish details of the updated returns which he requested by the end of December 1985 from local authorities in respect of additional resources required to operate the Housing Defects Act 1984.

[pursuant to his reply, 13 January 1986, c. 465–6]: To date only 25 returns have been received. As soon as a substantial number are available I shall arrange for details to be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how does the net provision for the total housing programme in 1986–87 compare with the expected outturn for 1985–86 and if he will show the difference in (a) cost and (b) real terms.

[pursuant to his reply, 13 January 1986, c. 465–6]: The net provision for the total housing programme in 1986–87 is £2,752 million in cash terms and £2,633 million when expressed in real terms at 1985–86 prices. The expected net outturn for 1985–86, based on first quarter estimates, is £2,742 million. In the 7 terminology used in the public expenditure White Papers, "real terms" are equivalent to "cost terms". Figures for net expenditure do not include the spending power available to local authorities and the Housing Corporation from capital receipts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the most recent estimate of the cost to local authorities of providing bed and breakfast accommodation for homeless families.

[pursuant to his reply, 13 January 1986, c. 465–6]: According to information published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy gross expenditure by authorities on maintaining homeless households in bed and breakfast accommodation in 1984–85 was £14–4 million or £18·77 per household per day; net expenditure, taking into account income from fees and charges including income received direct from the Department of Health and Social Security in respect of such households, was £10·3 million or £13·35 per household per day.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing the total numbers of staff employed full-time, part-time and full-time equivalent by (a) all local authorities in England and (b) by local authorities by their party of control since 1979 to date.

[pursuant to his reply, 13 January 1986, c. 469–70]: Given below are the figures requested. The figures showing employment in authorities according to political control refer only to those authorities whose political control has remained unchanged between 1979 and 1985.

	June 1979	June 1985	Change per cent.
England
Full-time	1,468,995	1,373,994	—6·5
Part-time	876,079	859,726	—1·9
Full-time equivalent	1,813,217	1,714,639	—5·4
Conservative controlled (20·6 per cent. of 1985 Manpower)
Full-time	318,683	283,409	—3·6
Part-time	191,199	175,980	—
Labour Controlled (22·6 per cent. of 1985 Manpower)
Full-time	339,683	327,453	—3·6
Part-time	171,678	176,425	+2·8
Liberal controlled (less than 0·1 per cent. of 1985 Manpower)
Full-time	418	341	—18·4
Part-time	70	50	—28·6
Independent controlled (0·6 per cent. of 1985 Manpower)
Full-time	12,360	11,880	—3·9
Part-time	1,882	1,935	+2·8

asked the Prime Minister what discussions she had with the President of the United States of America on the future of Westland plc.

asked the Prime Minister if she has had any recent discussions with the President of the United States of America over the future of Westland helicopters and the role of the Sikorsky company in a rescue bid for Westland helicopters; and if she will make a statement.

None.

asked the Prime Minister what assessment she has made of the wider national implications of the involvement of British Aerospace plc, as currently proposed in the rescue of Westland plc.

There are no wider national implications which make either proposal unacceptable.

asked the Prime Minister (1) what are the current limits on the value of gifts received by Ministers in their official capacity which they may retain personally; and what happens to gifts surrendered by Ministers on the grounds that they are valued in excess of the limit;(2) if she will list all the gifts she has received in her official capacity since 1979; and if she will list those which she has not retained personally on the grounds that their value is in excess of the permitted limit.

The current limit for the value of gifts which Ministers may retain is £75. The rules governing disposal of gifts of higher value, of which Ministers are advised when taking office, are similar to those governing the acceptance of gifts by civil servants, which are contained in the Civil Service Pay and Conditions Code (paragraph 9882 to 9893), a copy of which is in the Library.I regret that information on the numbers of gifts I have received since 1979 could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

asked the Prime Minister what consultations Ministers undertook with interested organisations prior to the decision to post guards armed with machine guns at Manchester international airport; if the Police Federation was consulted; and what consideration was given to the alternative of using military personnel to undertake the duties which have now been assigned to uniformed police officers.

This was a decision for the chief constable and not for Ministers. I understand that the chief constable discussed his decision with the Police Federation before it was implemented. Armed police officers have for some years been present at Manchester airport when this has been considered necessary; I understand that the chief constable does not think it necessary to ask for military personnel to be deployed at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he plans to seek further controls over the use of nylon monofilament nets in Northern Ireland.

It is illegal to use a net which is constructed of a single filament of synthetic material for the taking of salmon or freshwater fish in Northern Ireland. There are no plans to seek further controls at present.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to receive the Dunnet review on badgers; and if it is his intention that it will be published.

I understand that Professor Dunnet's review team has now completed its inquiry and is well advanced with the detailed drafting of its report. I expect to receive that report in two or three months. I have already made clear my intention to publish it in full.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he plans to seek further controls over the use of nylon monofilament nets in England and Wales.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Durham, North of 7 October concerning Turville school.

I hope to be in a position to reply very shortly. I regret not having been able to do so earlier, but examination of the matters raised has required reference outside my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what would be the total cost of meeting the National Union of Teachers' latest pay demand for 1986.

The National Union of Teachers is to discuss a motion on pay at a special salaries conference on January 18, calling for an increase from April 1986 of at least £1,700 for each teacher. Illustratively, and using teacher numbers in England and Wales as at January 1985, the cost of a £1,700 increase for each teacher would be £770 million, or over 17 per cent. of the 1984–85 salary bill (excluding employers' national insurance and superannuation contributions).

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what conveniently available figures he has for 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1985 for the number of new Ph.Ds willing to accept appointment as post-doctoral research associates; and if he will make a statement.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to be in a position to announce a timetable for the privatisation of British Airways.

The Government intend to privatise British Airways as soon as possible, but current litigation under US anti-trust law has to be settled before a timetable can be set.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the anticipated start and completion dates for (a) the north Devon link road stage 2A, (b) the north Devon link road stage 2B, (c) the north Devon link road stage Barnstaple bypass, (d) the A39 Barnstaple relief road, (e) the A39 Bideford bridge completion, (f) the A361 Braunton bypass, (g) the A377 Barnstaple to Exeter improvement and (h) the B3226 Aller Cross to Blackmoor Gate improvement, and any other parts of the north Devon road programme.

The estimated start and completion dates of trunk road schemes in north Devon which I am at present able to give are:

	Start	Completion
North Devon Link Road Stage 2A	Spring 1987	Spring 1989
A39/A361 Barnstaple Bypass	Winter 1986/87	Winter 1988–89
A39 Bideford Bypass	In progress	Summer 1987

Dates for stage 2B of the north Devon Link cannot be determined until the remaining statutory procedures have been completed.The other road schemes listed are the responsibility of the Devon county council.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is satisfied that the navigational beacon at Minsters rock on the Rubha Na Leachaig on the west coast of Scotland is suitable for all weather conditions; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he is satisfied with the efficiency of the navigation lights into Loch Inchard and Kinlochbervie on the west coast of Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

I shall answer these questions shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport to whom the letter entitled "Dear Transport Operator" signed by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State was sent; how many copies of the letter were issued; and at what cost.

The letter entitled "Dear Transport Operator" was sent to businesses in the transport field who might wish to take up the opportunities provided by the Transport Act 1985 to extend their activities into public service vehicle operation. About 39,000 copies of the letter were printed, at a cost of £1,500. They were mailed at no extra cost with copies of the leaflet, "Your Business in the Making", for which the combined printing and postage cost was £22,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many copies of the leaflets "Your Business in the Making: Tomorrow's Buses" have been printed; how the leaflets are to be distributed; what has been the total cost; and whether it is planned to issue any other similar leaflets.

About 54,500 copies of the leaflet "Your Business in the Making" have been printed and mailed at a cost of £22,000. These leaflets have been mailed to transport businesses which might be interested in extending their activities into public service vehicle operations.Similar leaflets have been provided for existing bus operators, taxi and hire car operators. Other leaflets are in preparation directed at potential investors and operators in the bus business, financial ad legal advisors and members of the general public.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements he has already made or plans to make for publicising the terms of the Transport Act 1985; and what is the total estimated cost of such publicity and advertising, including the costs of preparation within his Department.

Approximately £950,000 has been set aside for paid publicity, mainly in the form of short leaflets and trade press advertising. The aim is to provide information to the public on the Transport Act, and to draw the attention of those concerned to the new business opportunities it provides. The cost of officials' and my time in preparing information material has not been assessed separately and is not included in this figure.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will name any advertising agents or public relations consultants who have been retained by his Department to advise on publicity relating to the Transport Act 1985; and what is their likely cost.

My Department has been advised on the paid publicity programme for the Transport Act 1985 by the Central Office of Information, with assistance on press advertising from Davidson Pearce Ltd, the Department's contracted agency on other issues. A total of approximately £950,000 has been set aside in 1985–86 and 1986–87 for its advice, the preparation of information material, and media costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what new safety measures are now being taken to improve evacuation standards on aircraft in consequence of the Boeing 737 fire at Manchester international airport on 22 August 1985; and if he will make a statement.

As I have explained to the right hon. Member, aviation safety requirements and standards are the statutory responsibility of the Civil Aviation Authority.The CAA has recently announced three new mandatory airworthiness instructions for UK airlines:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when his Department and the Civil Aviation Authority, respectively, first became aware that loss of life in aviation accidents would be reduced by the use of less flammable material on aircraft seats.

Civil aviation safety matters are the statutory responsibility of the Civil Aviation Authority. The CAA has advised it has for some time been clear that potential loss of life would be reduced by the introduction of more fire resistant seats. The timing, however, of such a requirement was dependent on the availability of effective and practical materials in production quantities.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to the estimated cost of an average airline seat upholstered with fire resistant material compared with one upholstered in current materials.

The Civil Aviation Authority is statutorily responsible for aviation safety requirements and standards and I have drawn the hon. Gentleman's question to the attention of the chairman, who will reply direct to him.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many cases of injury have occurred and how many cases of death in England and Wales and Greater London, respectively, in each quarter since 1 January 1982 arising from motorists failing to observe traffic lights.

Information on failure to observe lights is not included in routine accident reports.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what action he proposes to take regarding the recommendations contained in the report of the loss of MFV Mhari L in relation to the Coastguard to be alerted rapidly when contact is lost with fishing vessels, fishing vessels being fitted with hydrostatic life rafts and the action recommended when fishing gear foul underwater cables.

[pursuant to his reply, 13 January 1986, c. 479]: The recommendations are being studied. At present Her Majesty's Coastguard takes every opportunity to stress the importance of the earliest possible warning that a vessel may be missing, and merchant shipping notices recommend that life rafts be fitted with hydrostatic release units and also advise on the dangers of fishing gear being fouled on the sea bed. My Department is, however, considering what further action can effectively be taken to prevent such tragic losses.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the annual cost to the taxpayer of the administration of lighthouses under the control of the Northern Lighthouse Board; how much of this relates to lighthouses in the Isle of Man; and what contribution is made by the Isle of Man Government towards the cost.

[pursuant to his reply, 13 January 1986, c. 479]: The expenses of the board are met, not by the taxpayer, but from the general lighthouse fund, which is derived from light dues levied on shipping using ports in the British Isles.In 1984–85 the board incurred current and capital expenditure of about £5 million on lighthouses of which of £0·3 million was in the Isle of Man. The Isle of Man Government do not contribute to the board's costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how much was spent on the improvement carried out on the lighthouse-keepers' houses on Davaar Island; what has been recovered of this cost by subsequent sale or letting of the houses; and what charges have been made on public funds to cover the costs involved.

[pursuant to his reply, 13 January 1986, c. 479]: I understand that the Northern Lights Board has spent no money on improving these houses in the last five years. No house has been let or sold, and no charge has fallen on public funds.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the drink-drive campaign undertaken by his Department during the Christmas holiday period, including the cost and efficiency of the campaign, and the planned follow-up during 1986; and if there are any plans to introduce random breath testing.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the Christmas drink-drive campaign.

I have asked for a full report on the campaign, the publicity for which cost £1·4 million. This will require an analysis of national accident and breath testing data.Existing legislation sets out clearly the circumstances in which the police may require a breath test. These are:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 20 December, Official Report, column 364, what form the contacts with Argentina are taking regarding the question of fisheries in the south-west Atlantic; and if he will make a statement.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation is taking the lead, in consultation with all the Governments concerned, in undertaking a technical assessment of fisheries in the south-west Atlantic. Our own communications with the Argentine Government are conducted through the protecting powers and are confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the visit to London of a senior official from the Food and Agriculture Organisation to discuss wildlife in the south Atlantic.

An official of the Food and Agriculture Organisation secretariat will visit London later this month in connection with the FAO's technical study of the southwest Atlantic fishery. We are co-operating fully in the preparation of this study, which we hope will lead on to agreement on multilaterally-based fisheries conservation and management arrangements for the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his committee of scientific experts has started work on the questions put to him regarding European cancer research by the hon. Member for Linlithgow, Official Report, column 306, 18 December; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The Committee of EC cancer experts set up following the December Foreign Affairs Council will meet for the first time on 24 January in Brussels. Its task is to make recommendations for a coordinated plan of action to combat cancer in EC member states. The United Kingdom's representative will be Professor Norman Bleehen, honorary director, Medical Research Council unit of clinical oncology and radiotherapeutics.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has had discussions with the Chinese Government on the question of the granting of Chinese citizenship to non-Chinese citizens of Hong Kong who are not presently entitled to British citizenship, resulting from the transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China in 1997; and if he will make a statement.

We have discussed this matter with the Chinese Government in the Sino-British joint liaison group. They have confirmed that non-Chinese who meet the legal requirements under Chinese nationality law may apply for Chinese nationality, and that such cases would be dealt with by the appropriate authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next proposes to meet the Trades Union Congress to discuss industrial development.

My right hon. and learned Friend, I and other Ministers of the Department meet the TUC at meetings of the National Economic Development Council, where such questions arise regularly.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to meet the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress to discuss the state of British industry.

Either I or another Minister from my Department meet the CBI and TUC each month at the National Economic Development Council where such matters are regularly discussed. I have no immediate plans for a separate meeting with the two bodies on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next proposes to meet the Trades Union Congress to discuss industrial development.

My right hon. and learned Friend, I and other Ministers of the Department meet the TUC at meetings of the National Economic Development Council, where such questions arise regularly.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has had any recent consultations with the Romanian authorities concerning United Kingdom trade with Romania; and if he will make a statement.

I met the Romanian ambassador yesterday for a general discussion on a number of bilateral issues. I am anxious to increase Anglo-Romanian trade to our mutual benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met representatives of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss the level of earnings in industry; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend has regular contact with the leaders of the CBI. He has taken every opportunity to make clear to the CBI that the Government fully support its initiative for lower settlements in the present pay round. It is vitally important that our competitive position should not be eroded by excessive pay rises.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement of progress on implementing the soft loans package announced last August.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced on 12 November the introduction of a soft loan facility under the aid and trade provision. Support for several projects is under consideration following useful initial discussions with the Chinese Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with public bodies within his responsibility and private companies concerning the dispersal of their research and development activities to the regions; and if he will make a statement.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is satisfied with the workings of regional industrial policy.

Yes. However, I intend to supervise closely the workings of the current arrangements and consider carefully the possible need for any future changes which may appear necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further steps he proposes to take to seek to improve industrial development in the regions.

Under the new regional policy announced in November 1984 a greater emphasis is placed on job creation. Many parts of the country have been designated as assisted areas, thus benefiting from various measures of assistance for industrial development. We will be monitoring the effectiveness of the new arrangements with great care.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next proposes to meet the National Economic Development Council to discuss the relationship between economic development and job creation in the regions.