asked the Attorney-General if he has any plans to seek to amend the law of trespass, to speed up the process of eviction of illegal itinerant occupiers of private or public-owned land.

No. It is considered that there is already available both in the High Court and county courts a summary procedure which enables an order for recovery of possession of land to be made very quickly in such cases.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the number of applications for licences to kill cormorants received in 1984 and 1985; and what was the number granted, the number of cormorants allowed to be killed, and the number of cormorants killed, with, in each case, the location and the reason for the killing.

Twelve applications for licences to kill cormorants were received by Agricultural Departments in England and Wales in 1984, of which four were granted. In 1985, five applications were received, of which one was granted. Details of licences granted in 1984 and 1985 are as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, further to his answer to the question from the hon. Member for Salisbury on 18 July 1985, OfficialReport, column 275, whether his Department has concluded its survey to assess levels of antimicrobial agents in the edible tissues of trout; and if he will make a statement.

The survey to assess levels of antimicrobial agents in the edible tissues of trout is still in progress.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the contribution of the Greater Manchester and Merseyside county councils to the revenues of the Lancashire and Western sea fisheries joint committee in 1985–86 in cash and as a proportion of the total precept-borne revenue.

I understand from the Lancashire and Western sea fisheries joint committee that the contributions to its revenue in 1985–86 of Greater Manchester and Merseyside metropolitan county councils were £94,043 and £56,024 respectively and that these represented 32·6 per cent. and 19·4 per cent. of the total precept-borne revenue.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what will be the future of the Lancashire and Western sea fisheries joint committee following the abolition of the Greater Manchester and Merseyside county councils; and if he will make a statement.

The effect of the abolition of the Greater Manchester and Merseyside county councils on the future of the Lancashire and Western sea fisheries joint committee will depend upon the outcome of consultations which are at present taking place with the district councils in these areas, which will inherit the relevant powers of the metropolitan county councils.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the present safety limit for concentrations of mercury in the flesh of fish caught for human consumption; and when that limit was last revised.

There are no statutory levels for the presence of mercury in food in the United Kingdom. The World Health Organisation in 1972 recommended that the tolerable level of intake for methyl mercury from all sources is 0·2 milligrams per week. As part of its programme of control of pollution of the aquatic environment the EC laid down in 1982 a specific limit of 0·3 milligram per kilogram of mercury in fish flesh.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the average concentration of mercury present in fish caught in the sea areas regulated by the Lancashire and Western Sea Fisheries Joint Committee, at the latest date for which figures are available.

0.27 milligrams per kilogram.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will place in the Library details of the recipients, and prospective recipients, of licences to prospect for lignite and petroleum in Northern Ireland together with a map of the areas of exploration.

On 10 December 1985 I announced the intention of the Department of Economic Development to award two petroleum licences and three prospecting licences for lignite. Details of these prospective licensees and of the holders of two existing petroleum licences and one lignite prospecting licence were included in a press release. I have made arrangements for the Library to receive a copy of this press release together with a map of Northern Ireland showing the areas which are currently licensed for petroleum or lignite exploration and the areas for which the Department's intention to award licences has been announced.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what ports of entry will be used for spent fast reactor fuel for the reprocessing plant at Dounreay.

The planning application from the UKAEA and BNFL to construct a demonstration fast reactor reprocessing plant at Dounreay has been called in by the Secretary of State for Scotland and will be the subject of a public local inquiry starting on 7 April.I am advised that the applicants have, at his request, informed the reporter to the inquiry that their present preferred port options are (in alphabetical order):

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much prototype fast reactor fuel has been recovered at Dounreay since 1979 from the prototype fast reactor core and from the prototype fast reactor blanket; how much was reprocessed each calendar year; and how much plutonium was extracted from each in each year.

I am advised that the prototype fast reactor (PFR) fuel reprocessing plant first reprocessed PFR fuel in 1980 and throughput has kept pace with the arisings from the reactor. The amount of PFR core sub-assemblies reprocessed and the plutonium output from that reprocessing for each calendar year since 1980 is as follows. None of the breeder blanket sub-assemblies has been reprocessed.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what quantity of the prototype fast reactor fuel recovered at Dounreay was processed elsewhere; how much of the plutonium and uranium recovered was recycled into new prototype fast reactor fuel rods; and what is the weight of plutonium and uranium in each fuel rod and each fuel subassembly before and after irradiation.

I am advised that prototype fast reactor (PFR) fuel has been reprocessed only at Dounreay. Except for relatively small amounts used in experimental work associated with the PFR fuel cycle, all plutonium so recovered at Dounreay is transferred to British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL) Sellafield for fabrication into new subassemblies for use within the PFR fuel cycle. The uranium recovered is retained in store at Dounreay. The weight of plutonium and uranium in each sub-assembly before and after irradiation varies with experimental and operational requirements and with the zone in which it is placed in the reactor.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) when he will be publishing the Government's response to the Waddilove committee on compensation for subsidence damage; and if he will give the reasons for the delay;(2) how many representations he has received seeking publication of the response to the Waddilove committee on compensation for subsidence damage; and what responses he has made.

The Waddilove report raised a number of complex issues which deserve — and are receiving — full and careful consideration; the Government's response will be published as soon as possible. I have replied on these lines to a number of interested parties, including Members of this House and representatives of agricultural and commercial bodies, whose inquiries I welcome and who continue to keep me informed of their views.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if, pursuant to the answer of 13 January, Official Report, column 441, about the allowance to hon. Members for assistance in drafting private Members' Bills, he has any plans to increase the allowance.

I have no present plans to propose any increase in this allowance. During the last four Sessions there have only been five applications from hon. Members for this form of assistance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he derives from health sources about the incidence of assaults on women and children.

None at present. For the purpose of research on the incidence of such assaults, it has been found more useful and practicable to make use of data from the British crime survey and, for offences against children, the NSPCC's child abuse registration system.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which major prison works developments have been held up as a result of the prison department's decisions communicated to prison governors in August 1985.

The letting of contracts for the following major capital building schemes was deferred in order to keep within the cash limit on the relevant vote sub-head:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what types of maintenance and improvement work in prisons have been delayed as a result of the prison department's decision communicated to prison governors in August 1985.

The non-urgent maintenance and improvement work delayed as a result of the measures taken to deal with the increased levels of the prison population included schemes of the following kinds:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Official Report all accidents involving the death of a police officer or a member of the public as a result of police car accidents for 1983, 1984 and 1985.

The information requested is not available centrally. We have asked that for the future we collect information on police vehicle accidents involving death or serious injury, and proposals as to the precise means of doing so are being considered by the Association of Chief Police Officers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is his estimate of (a) the cost and (b) the income of the nationality division in 1986–87;(2) what is his estimate of the cost in 1986–87 of providing extra advice, information and publicity to people whose right to registration under the British Nationality Act 1981 expires at the end of 1987.

Detailed estimates including estimates for the cost of publicity are currently being produced in the light of the overall planning assumptions announced in the White Paper on Public Expenditure published on 15 January.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many passengers seeking admission as visitors were required to submit to further examination by nationality and outcome of the case at terminal 3 Heathrow during the latest three-month period.

The information is not readily available in the form requested. In the period 1 October to 31 December 1985 the total number of passengers who were (a) required to submit to further examination and (b) subsequently refused entry at terminal 3 Heathrow was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the objectives of his Department's criminal injury compensation policy; how he is monitoring its effectiveness; and if he will make a statement.

Our policy is to make available public funds for the compensation of innocent victims of violent crime by way of the criminal injuries compensation scheme. Under the terms of the scheme, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board is exclusively responsible for the consideration and determination of individual applications for compensation. The board's annual report, however, enables my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to keep the general working of the scheme under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many individuals came ashore from Warsaw pact ships during 1985 at Ullapool, Aberdeen, Stornoway and Leith;(2) what steps are taken as a matter of routine to seek to ensure that crewmen from ships of Warsaw pact nations are properly documented and recorded when disembarking for shore leave in British ports.

Under section 8 of the Immigration Act crew members are normally exempted from the

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the increase in absolute and percentage terms in women police officers employed by each police force in each year since 1979.

The information requested is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Her Majesty's Government intend to restore the right of individual petition by people resident in the Isle of Man to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

Her Majesty's Government have asked the Isle of Man Government whether they wish Her Majesty's Government to make a declaration on the Island's behalf recognising the right of individual petition to the European Commission of Human Rights. Their reply is awaited.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to provide for a referendum on the issue of corporal and capital punishment.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many colour television licences were issued in Wales in 1979 and in the latest year for which figures are available.

Information about the number of colour television licences issued in Wales in the course of a particular year is not readily available, but the number of such licences which were in force in the area covered by the Wales and Marches Postal Board as at 31 December 1979 was 779,667. The comparable figure for 30 November 1985 was 981,875.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set up an urgent investigation into the circumstances that resulted in the physical injuries to Ms. Sue Pitman, at the site of the Carmarthen district council peacetime emergency control centre on Saturday 11 December; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set up an inquiry into the incidents at Carmarthen on 11 January, in which a member of CNDCYMRU was injured; and if he will make a statement.

I was sorry to hear of the injury suffered by Ms. Pitman. I understand that allegations have been made to the police in respect of the incident and these are being investigated. It would not be proper for me to comment further while the investigation is proceeding. However, I have asked the chief constable to provide me with a report when this investigation is concluded.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he intends to assess local public opinion on competing applications for community radio station licences.

My right hon. Friend's selection of the successful applicants for the experimental community radio licences will be made in the light of advice from the advisory panel on community radio, which has taken account of the level of public support that different stations might attract. The aim of the experiment is to test the viability of and scope for a range of different types of community radio stations set up and financed in different ways, so that other considerations are also relevant to selections in individual areas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has now been able to confirm the byelaws to give park rangers greater control over dogs and dog owners using parks in Wirral.

The byelaws adopted by Wirral council to regulate their parks were confirmed on 26 September and came into operation on 9 October.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a date has now been set for the abolition of the district command structure and the transfer of responsibilities to the area and division headquarters in the Metropolitan police.

No firm date has yet been fixed for the formal dismantling of the district structure, but this is expected to take place in the spring. An essential preliminary to ensure a smooth handover of responsibilities and functions when the districts are finally abolished has been the setting up of the new area headquarters. Almost all the commanders designated for area posts have now moved to their new locations. Where this has involved transferring commanders from districts, the posts thereby vacated are not being filled but a chief superintendent has in each case been appointed to take responsibility for district-related functions whilst the districts remain.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 21 November 1985, Official Report, column 272, whether he is now in a position to give the information requested in relation to any of the squads and units referred to; if he expects consultation to be completed and decisions made before the districts are abolished; and if he will make a statement.

I will reply shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to seek powers for the licensing of security guards employed by private security organisations; and if he will make a statement.

No. The Government continue to support the steps which have been taken by the British Security Industry Association and the International Professional Security Association towards self regulation of the private security industry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when immigration officers will be issued with instructions concerning British citizen children, seeking to enter the United Kingdom from Bangladesh, being required to prove paternity by blood tests; and if he will publish these instructions.

There is no such requirement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he proposes to introduce any requirement to obtain prior entry clearance on those settled in Bangladesh who wish to visit the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

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

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards acceptance of blood tests as offering conclusive evidence of family relationships;(2) what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards acceptance of the genetic finger printing test as conclusive evidence of family relationship.

The weight of evidence before the courts is a matter of the courts and not for Her Majesty's Government.In the context of immigration, conventional blood tests do not in general offer conclusive evidence of family relationships. The newly-developed DNA test offers the prospect of such evidence. Preparations are accordingly being made to assess the acceptability and feasibility of using it in immigration cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish information on the volume and speed of traffic on the A1 road in East Lothian for the last 10 years.

The following table provides the most up to date information available on vehicle counts on various sections of the A1 trunk road in East Lothian:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if any estimate has been made of savings which may be achieved by merging the Macauley Institute of Soil Research and the Hill Farming Research Organisation on the Macauley site in Aberdeen; and if he will make a statement;(2) what are the estimated savings expected to be achieved by the proposed merger of the Macauley Institute of Soil Research and the Hill Farming Research Organisation on a combined site in Edinburgh;(3) what is the estimated cost for transferring staff of the Macauley Institute of Soil Research from Aberdeen to Edinburgh for employment at the Hill Farming Research Organisation site;(4) what is the estimated site value of land and buildings of the Macauley Institute of Soil Research at Aberdeen.

No detailed estimates have yet been made of the costs and savings likely to be involved through location of the new institute at either of the two main possible sites. The feasibility study will require to include assessments of the costs of staff transfers, the value of land and buildings and other financial, administrative and scientific aspects relevant to the consideration of the most appropriate location for the new institute.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations have been held with the Macaulay Trust on the proposed merger of the Macaulay Institute of Soil Research and the Hill Farming Research Organisation on a site in Edinburgh.

None so far, but consultation with representatives of the Council of Management of the Institute, which holds in trust the land occupied by the institute, will be undertaken in the further studies which have now been launched.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff will be employed by a combined Macaulay Institute of Soil Research and Hill Farming Research Organisation on a site in Edinburgh and how many staff will be transferred from Aberdeen.

No decisions can be taken about the number of staff to be employed by the new amalgamated Institute, or how many staff of the existing Scottish agricultural research institutes will be required to transfer from their existing place of employment until agreement has been reached on the precise remit of the new institute, on other questions relating to the location, organisation and staffing of the new institute, and on the allocation of the present work of the Macaulay Institute for Soil Research to the Scottish agricultural colleges and the Scottish Crop Research Institute.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations he will have with trade union representatives of those employed at the Macaulay Institute of Soil Research in Aberdeen on conditions for staff involved in the proposed merger with the Hill Farming Research Organisation in Edinburgh.

A meeting has been arranged between the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland and the Institution of Professional Civil Servants to discuss a number of issues arising from the paper "Strategy for Agricultural Research and Development". Further discussions with trade union representatives will be arranged on specific issues as appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what will be the remit of the feasibility study into the proposed merger of the Macaulay Institute of Soil Research and the Hill Farming Research Organisation on a site in Edinburgh; and if a merger on the Macaulay site in Aberdeen will be considered.

The arrangements for the feasibility study, including the remit, are under active consideration with the various interests concerned. The study will include an assessment of the relative merits of both the Bush Estate, Edinburgh and Aberdeen as a location for the new institute.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the names of the personnel who will conduct the feasibility study into the proposed merger of the Macaulay Institute of Soil Research and the Hill Farming Research Organisation on a site in Edinburgh.

Ths study will be conducted by officials of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland reporting to a Steering Committee comprising the directors of the Macaulay Institute for Soil Research, the Hill Farming Research Organisation, the Scottish Crop Research Institute and the Secretary-General of the Council of Scottish Agricultural Colleges, as well as senior officials of the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he discussed with the chairman of the Post Office at their meeting of 24 October the state of postal services in Gwynedd.

No, that is an operational matter for the Post Office Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, during the recent visit to the United Kingdom of the Iraqi Foreign Minister, he had any discussions concerning loans or credits to Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

We had no discussion of any substance on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many British books have been republished in the Soviet Union during the last five years; and what is Her Majesty's Government's policy in this regard.

Statistics on the numbers of British books republished in the Soviet Union are not collected. In the United Kingdom-USSR educational, scientific and cultural agreement of 1959, the two Governments agreed, inter alia, to encourage co-operation in the field of publishing and the exchange of books. Her Majesty's Government continue to support co-operation in this and other fields on the basis of mutual benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what basis a trade mark based on the lion rampant symbol has been granted to the Scotch House retail group; and if he will make a statement.

Trade marks embodying lions rempant in various forms have been registered to the Scotch House group and various other concerns over many years. The registrations cover a variety of goods. They have been made on the basis that a lion rampant is in itself registerable as a trade mark, subject to the general rules governing registration. The fact that a lion rampant may sometimes appear as part of a national emblem or flag does not disqualify a device of this type from registration in its own right.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the criteria governing decisions on applications for the registering of national symbols as trade marks.

In the United Kingdom, there is a statutory bar to the registration as trade marks of the royal arms, royal crowns and the royal and national flags. Similarly, these may not be included as elements of registered trade marks. The United Kingdom also observes the Paris convention for the protection of Industrial Property. This provides, inter alia, that emblems of the states subscribing to the convention shall not be registered as trade marks nor shall trade marks be registered in which those emblems appear as elements. The registrar ensures that these prohibitions are observed.Applications for the registration in their own right of commonplace elements which sometimes figure in national symbols eg a lion or unicorn or thistle or leek are considered on their merits against the more general criteria for registration. There is no statutory bar to their registration.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, further to his reply of 12 December, Official Report, column 717, if he will indicate the nature of the investigations which took place into the investment practices of the financial institutions as part of his Department's recent review of regional policy.

In their recent review the Government invited views on a wide range of regional industrial policy issues, and received almost 500 submissions in response. The investment practices of financial institutions were the subject of little or no comment in these responses.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will publish the date of the commencement of the inquiry into Lloyd's; and if he will give an assurance that the inquiry will be completed before the Financial Services Bill completes all its parliamentary stages;(2) if he will publish in the

While the inquiry will begin work as soon as possible, I have nothing to add to what my right hon. and learned Friend said in the House during the Second Reading debate on the Financial Services Bill on 14 January and in my reply to the hon. Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett) on 15 January.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received opposing the takeover bid by the General Electric Company for Plesseys.

It is the normal practice to treat as confidential representations on merger matters, and it would therefore not be appropriate to comment on them.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will now refer the proposed takeover of Plesseys by the General Electric Company to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission; and if he will make a statement.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the official record of his meeting with Sir Raymond Lygo of 8 January was submitted to him for approval before it was finalised; and why the minute of the meeting on 8 January was not signed until 10 January.

The record was read to me over the telephone. The meeting concluded at 17.40 on 8 January, the note was dictated on 9 January, and signed, dated and circulated about lunchtime on 10 January, following confirmation by all those present from the Department that it was an accurate record.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish the draft manuscript notes of 8 January, taken by officials, recorded at his meeting with Sir Raymond Lygo.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what other minutes or records were made by officials in his Department of his meeting with Sir Raymond Lygo on 8 January other than the single published record sent to the private secretary of the Minister of State, dated 10 January.

The record prepared by my private secretary, and published on 15 January, was circulated following confirmation by all those present from the Department that it was an accurate record.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if at any time in his conversation with Sir Raymond Lygo on 8 January the question of British Aerospace's withdrawal from the European consortium on Westland helicopters was discussed.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he proposed at his meeting on 8 January to Sir Raymond Lygo, following his statement that the European consortium bid might affect sales of the A 320.

I said I was ready to act immediately in defending British Aerospace's interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has had any discussions with representatives of the United States Government about whether the involvement of Fiat in the offer to Westland would bring the company within the United States trade embargo with Libya.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what access Mr. Jeffrey Archer has been given to his Department's papers relating to Westland.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why he expected to be consulted by British Aerospace prior to its joining the European consortium on Westlands.

I did not expect to be consulted. I said it might have been helpful if British Aerospace had spoken to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has as to the number of British Telecom shareholders now holding (a) between one and 399 shares, (b) between 400 and 700 shares, (c) between 800 and 1,599 shares and (d) between 1,600 and 1 billion shares; and if he will state for each of the categories (a) to (d) (i) what is the number of shares, and (ii) what percentage of the total shares, including the Government's, that represents.

While this is properly a matter for British Telecom, I understand that the latest information available, showing the pattern of shareholdings at 30 November 1985, is as set out in the table. Figures for category (ii) are only available for holdings between 400 and 799 shares.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East on Wednesday 15 January, Official Report, column 1060, he will list those businesses which are intended to be wholly returned to the private sector during the current Parliament.

British Shipbuilders aims to sell its remaining warship building yards by 31 March 1986. It is my right hon. and learned Friend's intention that, subject to market conditions, Rolls Royce should be returned to the private sector within the lifetime of this Parliament. Decisions on the method and timing of returning other businesses to the private sector will be announced when they have been taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if any discussions took place between representatives of the Sultan of Brunei and his Department on the takeover of the House of Fraser; and if he will make a statement.

No such discussions took place.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, pursuant to the answer of 16 January to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) his Department received any other representations apart from the request from the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, seeking an extension of the period for the Monopolies amd Mergers Commission to report on the merger reference of Lonrho and House of Fraser; and if he will make a statement.

The then Secretary of State for Trade and Industry received no other representations on the question of extension of the period for the MMC report.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information was available to his Department as to the interests of Mohammed Fayed or representatives of the Sultan of Brunei in the takeover of the House of Fraser before his predecessor's statement on the report of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on the matter; and if he will make a statement.

The then Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced on 14 March 1985 that on the information before him he had decided not to refer the proposed acquisition of House of Fraser by Alfayed Investment Holdings plc to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. It is the normal practice to treat as confidential representations on merger matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will seek the permission of Mr. R. W. Rowland, chief executive of Lonrho, to publish in the Official Report the letter to him from Mr. Rowland of December 1985 regarding the takeover of the House of Fraser; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will publish in the

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what new measures he proposes to combat the counterfeiting of manufactured goods in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 15 January 1986, c. 591]: The existing laws covered trade descriptions, trade marks, copyright, patents, designs, and passing-off provide an effective framework of protection to deal with counterfeit manufactured goods in the United Kingdom. Some proposals for change have been put forward by the Anti-Counterfeiting Group, which represents firms in a range of industries, and these form the subject of current discussions between the Group and my officials. I shall carefully consider what action could or should be taken in the light of these discussions.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has concerning the share of the total world market which has been held by the United Kingdom aerospace industry in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

[pursuant to his reply, 16 January 1986, c. 632]: Information on the share of the total aerospace market, as distinct from the share of total aerospace exports, is not readily available. The United Kingdom industry's share of exports of aircraft and associated equipment by the non-communist world for 1975–1984 has been as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has concerning the share of the total European aerospace market which has been held by the United Kingdom aerospace industry in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

[pursuant to his reply, 16 January 1986, c. 632]: Because many countries do not provide a complete breakdown of trade by region for aerospace goods, it is not possible to estimate reliably the United Kingdom industry's share of the aerospace exports of noncommunist countries to western Europe.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the current projects which will involve official aid totalling more than £10 million.

Current projects involving bilateral aid funds of over £10 million as at the end of 1984 are as follows.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the amount of aid allocated to each country over the past 12 months for which figures are available.

Figures of total aid to each individual country for 1984 are set out in detail in table 18 of "British Aid Statistics 1980–1984", copies of which are in the Library of the House. Figures for 1985 are expected to be published in July.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what instructions he gave to the German executive director concerning the report to the executive board of the Inter-American Development Bank meeting on 15 January about the proposed loan for agriculture to Nicaragua; and what was the outcome.

Discussion of this report has been postponed until 5 March, at the request of the executive director representing Nicaragua. It is not our policy to disclose the nature of instructions to the executive director of the constituency which contains the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if, in the light of representations to that effect received from Torfaen district council and Gwent county council, he will make it his policy to hold a public inquiry prior to deciding on the request for a grant from Re-Chem International in respect of its Panteg site.

No. An offer of a grant has already been made.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to visit Pwllpeiran experimental hill farm in Cwmystwyth, Cardiganshire, during 1986; and if he will make a statement.

I have visited the farm on several occasions in the past but have no plans to visit it again at the present.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what were the total numbers registered as unemployed in Caernarfon and Wales in 1979 and 1985, respectively.

On 12 December 1985 the number of unemployed claimants in the Bangor and Caernarfon travel-to-work area totalled 5,261. The figure for Wales was 181,496. Comparable 1979 figures for the Bangor and Caernarfon travel-to-work areas are not available because of changes to area boundaries. The December 1979 figure for Wales was 78,476.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many people are unemployed in Wales; how many were unemployed in 1979; and by how much unemployment has increased, both as a total and as a percentage.

On 12 December 1985 there were 181,496 unemployed claimants in Wales. The corresponding figure in December 1979 was an estimated 78,476 and the increase between the two dates is 103,020 or 131·3 per cent.

Jones asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the latest figure for the pupil-teacher ratio overall in maintained schools in Wales; and what was the corresponding figure in 1978–79.

The pupil-teacher ratio overall, for all maintained schools in Wales, excluding special schools, was 17·6 in 1984–85. The corresponding figure for 1978–79 was 18·2.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage reduction there has been in infant mortality rates in Wales in each of the last four five-year periods; and what information he has on comparable figures in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) West Germany, (d) France and (e) Sweden.

I welcome the evidence in the following figures that Wales has shared in the very substantial reduction in infant mortality in western Europe.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will consider granting assistance for those farmers whose farms were badly affected by the weather last summer but which lay outside the boundaries of the parishes which qualify for aid.

Although most farmers were affected by the bad summer, I am not prepared to go back on the difficult decisions that were taken and announced in November, which concentrated assistance on those in the most disadvantaged areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the Government's assumption for the percentage increase in pay within local government services in Wales when the rate support grant settlement for 1985–86 was first published; and what is his latest estimate of the increase in pay within local government in Wales for the same period.

The Government do not make specific assumptions about pay for local authority employees. If local authorities, as employers, concede excessive pay settlements, they cannot expect the Government to provide additional resources. Pay awards should not lead automatically to higher spending nor should they result in higher rate bills. Councils should seek to absorb any additional costs through better use of resources and by achieving better value for money. The increase in expenditure on pay during 1985–86 will not be known until authorities submit their revenue outturn returns later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what correction he has published following the error contained in his briefing notes for editors (Ref. FD/S/40/D7) published by his Department in relation to the rate support grant settlement of 18 December 1985, which wrongly calculated the potential for rate reduction in the Arfon area.

The rating projections for Arfon contained in the Briefing Note for editors issued in relation to the 1986–87 rate support grant settlement did not take full account of the increase in rateable value resulting from the opening of Dinorwic power station. Allowing for this gives a projected rate increase of 1·6 per cent., if the authority spends 5 per cent. more than this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give an assurance that targets for local authority spending in Wales will not be re-introduced in 1987–88.

I have no plans at present to re-introduce targets in 1987–88. Decisions about the rate support grant mechanisms for that year will be taken towards the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the most recent figures for the nitrate levels found in public drinking water supplies in Wales compared with acceptable standards.

The Welsh water authority annual report and accounts 1984–85—a copy of which is in the Library — indicates that all supplies of water passing into the distribution system were well below the 50mg/1 nitrate limit set by the EC Directive relating to the. quality of water intended for human consumption (80/778/EEC).

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish an analysis of the expenditure shown in table 3.17 of the "Government's Expenditure Plans 1986–87 to 1988–89", Cmnd. 9702 II, on a similar basis to tables 3.4, 3.5, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 3.10, 3.12, 3.13 and 3.14 of the same publication.

The information is set out in the following tables. In all the tables the totals have been derived from unrounded figures and thus the components may not always add exactly to the totals shown.