asked the Attorney-General what was the average time between receipt of application for civil legal aid and determination thereof in England and Wales in each year from 1979–80 to 1984–85.

The average time taken to issue legal aid certificates was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the savings which resulted from competitive tendering for local authority services for each of the past three years; and what are the total estimated savings that can be extrapolated from this information for the current financial year.

Although some information is available about the savings estimated to accrue from the award of work to contractors, it is impossible to estimate the total efficiency gains which have resulted from exposure of in-house services to competition.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to use his powers under part 3 of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 relating to local authority direct labour organisations which have made less than five per cent. return in each of the past three years.

My right hon. Friend has to date used his powers under section 17(4) of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 to direct five local authorities to submit special reports on construction work carried out by their direct labour organisations. In one case he has decided to take no further action. In the other four cases he has not yet decided what action to take.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many responses have been received from (i) individuals, (ii) church bodies, (iii) conservation organisations and (iv) others in reply to his Department's

asked the Attorney-General what proportion of the total criminal legal aid bill in each of the last five years in England and Wales has been recovered from defendants through contribution orders.

The proportion of the total criminal legal aid bill recovered in contributions in each of the last five years is set out in the following table:consultation paper, The Ecclesiastical Exemption From Listed Building Control, published in 1984; and if it is intended to publish an official reply to them.

136 responses have been received, as follows:—

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy towards the conclusions and recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Environment, report No. 11: Managing Waste: the Duty of Care: and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply of 22 January from my hon. Friend the Minister for Environment, Countryside and Local Government to my hon. Friend the Member for Romsey and Waterside (Mr. Colvin) at columns 293–4.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest total capital value of local authority housing stock; and how this compares to five and 10 years ago.

The market value of the local authority housing stock in England at present is estimated to be in the region of £75 billion, on the basis of hypothetical vacant possession. Estimates are not available for five years ago or ten years ago.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of the implications for Welsh participation in the Commonwealth Games, he will intervene following the selection of six South African rugby players for the world fifteen squad to play the British Lions in Cardiff on 6 April.

I have been asked to reply.The possible implications of sporting contacts with South Africa for participation in the Commonwealth games have been made clear to the Welsh Rugby Union on a number of occasions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish changes in the overall make-up of (a) total, (b) current and (c) relevant expenditure in each year from 1981–82 to 1986–87, taking account of changes in definition and service transfers from year to year.

[pursuant to his answer, 9 December 1985, c. 473]: The following table gives the level of current, relevant and total expenditure as set out in annex A of Rate Support Grant Reports (England) for the relevant years. Changes in definition and service transfers are explained in the notes.

asked the Prime Minister if she will raise at the next meeting of the European Council the question of the United Kingdom's deficit in manufactured trade with other EEC members.

I have no present plans to do so, but these topics are often raised generally at meetings of the European Council.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the co-ordination between the Home Office, Lord Chancellor's Department and the Department of the Environment of current responsibilities for the operation and funding of law centres; and if she will take steps to assign these responsibilities to a single Minister.

Law centres are independent local bodies (depending on local initiative and support at first instance) and are managed accordingly. The Government as such are not responsible for their operation. Financial assistance is currently provided to a number of individual law centres by the Department of the Environment under the urban programme in accordance with its general principles, priorities and procedures, and seven law centres currently receive support from the Lord Chancellor's Department. The Home Office voluntary services unit has general co-ordinating responsibilities within Government for relations with and support for the voluntary sector as a whole. There are no current plans to alter the present arrangements.

asked the Prime Minister if Her Majesty's Government will institute proceedings against Collette Bowe under the Official Secrets Act for the unauthorised disclosure of official information in relation to the Westland affair.

I have been asked to reply.I refer the hon. Member to the statement which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made to the House on 23 January.

asked the Paymaster General what plans he has to introduce legislation to strengthen section 6 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act; and in what respect.

Legislation to amend section 6 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act will be introduced as soon as the parliamentary timetable permits. This will take account of comments received on the proposals set out in the Health and Safety Commission's consultative document issued in August 1984.

asked the Paymaster General if he will publish the views of the member of the Health and Safety at Work Executive responsible for operation of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 in the National Health Service on the lessons learnt from the seven years' experience of Crown notice operation.

The Health and Safety Commission has recently reviewed standards of health and safety in Crown premises. I am expecting its advice shortly.

asked the Paymaster General if he will publish the Secretary of State for Employment's Letter to the General, Municipal, Boilermakers and Allied Trades Union dated 27 November 1985 regarding Crown immunity and the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974; if he will identify the cases referred to; and if he will make a statement.

The General, Municipal and Boilermakers Allied Trade Union wrote on this matter to the Secretary of State for Employment's predecessor. I have arranged for a copy of my right hon. and noble Friend's reply to the GMBATU to be placed in the House of Commons library. The hon. Member should ask the GMBATU for any further information on its report which he requires.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the implications of the decision on the fixed Channel link for the future of container ports in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

The potential diversion of containers from lift-on, lift-off shipping services to rail services using a fixed link was taken into consideration when assessing the proposals for a fixed link. As I made clear in my reply on 20 December at column 345 to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Hall Green (Sir R. Eyre), the Government will not seek to influence banks and other institutions by publishing information about the Government's assessments of the traffic that will use the link.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to increase from 50 per cent. to 80 per cent. the allowance given to private industries to create new railway sidings in preparation for the completion of the fixed Channel link.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will meet the chairman of British Rail with a view to developing throughout the United Kingdom an electrification programme in preparation for the completion of a fixed Channel link.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will discuss with the chairman of British Rail a possible review of the policy of moth-balling locomotive power.

The deployment of locomotives is a management matter for the British Railways Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to require the chassis number of motor vehicles to be recorded on Ministry of Transport test certificates; and if he will make a statement.

I will consider requiring vehicle identification numbers to be recorded on test certificates when a greater proportion of vehicles of testable age have them. Only since 1982 have all vehicles had to be marked with a readily accessible identification number.

The chairman is already aware that I am ready to approve proposals from him for worthwhile investment in the railways.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will instigate a series of trans-shipment centres in preparation for the completion of a fixed Channel link.

We have no plans at present for any trans-shipment centres other than those already in the CTG proposal.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will show estimated expenditure in 1985–86 and planned expenditure in 1986–87 by local authorities, London Regional Transport and public transport joint boards on (a) revenue support, (b) concessionary fares, (c) public transport investment and (d) public transport administration.

The information requested which is available is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to require motorists to display insurance and Ministry of Transport test certificates on vehicle windscreens; and if he will make a statement.

A windscreen display would not give conclusive evidence of insurance—where, for example, policy conditions were breached. It would be open to abuse and, for vehicle testing purposes, I would have to be convinced that instituting such a system would be cost-effective.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether Her Majesty's Government will apply for the coupons offered in the recently announced provisional settlement of the United States anti-trust class action which arose out of the collapse of Laker Airways.

No. As my right hon. and learned Friend the then Secretary of State for Trade and Industry explained to the House on 11 December, the Government's view is that the unilateral application of United States' anti-trust law to air services operated under the United Kingdom-US Air Services Agreement (Bermuda 2) is not compatible with the United Kingdom's rights under the agreement and is damaging to the trading interests of the United Kingdom. Since the Government therefore consider that the bringing of the class action is incompatible with our rights under Bermuda 2, there can be no question of Government Departments benefiting from the settlement.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland what was the number of prosecutions in 1984 and 1985, respectively, for illegal fishing in the sea.

for Scotland: The respective figures are 50 and 55. The figure for 1984 has been revised.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland how many prosecutions for illegal sale of cigarettes were made in 1985.

for Scotland: There are no available statistics in relation to contraventions of the relevant provision which is section 18 of the Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1937.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland how many policemen were prosecuted for breaches of discipline during 1985.

for Scotland: My Department does not prosecute policemen, or any other person, simply for breaches of discipline. Prosecutions are only undertaken in respect of breaches of the criminal law. Breaches of police discipline are a matter for chief constables or, in the case of officers above the rank of chief superintendent, police authorities. Should the case be reported to the procurator fiscal and Crown Office and reveal no criminal conduct, but a possible disciplinary breach, it may be referred to the deputy chief constable for such action, if any, as he considers appropriate.

Robertson asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if he will keep a record of prosecutions under section 18 of the Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1939.

No.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland how many prosecutions were undertaken in each of the last five years in respect of causing death by dangerous driving; and how many of those prosecutions resulted in convictions.

for Scotland: Figures are available for 1980 to 1984 and are as follows:

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland when he expects to receive reports on the cause of the explosion and subsequent loss of life which occurred recently in the Bankhead area of Rutherglen; and if he will make it his policy to ensure that these reports are made available to the public.

for Scotland: The procurator fiscal at Glasgow has been making inquiry into the death of five persons arising from the incident at Kingsbridge drive, Rutherglen on 29 November 1985 to which the hon. Member refers, and I expect to receive his report during the course of next month. Also, I am informed that the Health and Safety Commission has directed the Health and Safety Executive in terms of section 14(2)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 to investigate the incident and to make a special report to the commission. I understand that a copy of this report will he made available next month to the procurator fiscal. Recognising that this is an issue of public interest there is a likelihood that my noble and learned Friend, the Lord Advocate, will wish to instruct a fatal accident inquiry. The final decision will be taken once my noble and learned Friend has had an opportunity to consider the reports to which I have referred.Death report which are prepared and submitted by procurators fiscal to Crown Office are confidential and in accordance with the normal practice the report of the procurators fiscal in this case will not be made available to the public. It is a matter for the Health and Safety Commission to decide whether the report by the Health and Safety Executive should be published.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his latest estimate of the number of drug misusers in Britain, by county or by health authority area.

Since drug misuse is usually a covert activity, it is not possible to give a reliable estimate of the total number of drug misusers in Britain. Information on the number of drug addicts notified by medical practitioners to the chief medical officer at the Home Office in 1984 is given, by police force area, in tables 3.11–3.13 of "Statistics of the Misuse of Drugs, United Kingdom, Supplementary Tables, 1984". Some research carried out in two urban areas in England in 1981 suggested that the number of notified addicts was only one fifth the number of opioid addicts in the local population at that time. The research also indicated that the number of opioid addicts may have been matched by a similar number of people misusing other drugs. However, it is likely that the number of drug misusers varies greatly, according to the locality and over time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the electoral register is currently used in conjunction with the administration of television licences; and whether there are any plans to use it in that respect when it is available in machine readable form.

The electoral register is currently used by the National Television Licence Records Office to assist in identifying addresses occupied by more than one household. No decision has yet been taken on the use of the electoral register when it is available in machine readable form.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what review is currently taking place into the claim that those sentenced to long terms of imprisonment for their part in the Birmingham bomb outrage of the early 1970s can now prove their innocence.

My right hon. Friend is examining the case carefully in order to determine whether material which has been sent to him contains new evidence of a kind which would make it appropriate for him to refer the case to the Court of Appeal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he now expects the investigation by the police complaints authority into the shooting of Mrs. Cherry Groce to be completed.

I understand that the report of the investigation into the shooting of Mrs. Groce is with the Director of Public Prosecutions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number and proportion of boys received into detention centres in any recent convenient period who were assessed as being unfit and removed from the regime or transferred to another establishment.

The information is not available currently. However, the prison department recently initiated a three-month monitoring study to determine the incidence of cases where, on reception, an inmate was assessed as unsuitable for detention in a detenction centre because of his physical or mental condition and the action taken in each case. I will write to the hon. Member when the results of the study are available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on the percentage of juveniles and young adults, respectively, received into detention centres who (a) have been in the care of a local authority and (b) have been in residential care.

The information requested is not recorded centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentages of (a) detention centre trainees and (b) youth custody trainees in any recent convenient period were from ethnic minorities.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 18 December 1985 at column 170.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many actual and attempted suicides there were in detention centres and youth custody centres, respectively, in any recent convenient period.

Between 1 January 1984 and 31 March 1985, the latest period for which full information is available, there were 110 instances of non-fatal self-injury with apparent suicidal intent in youth custody centres and five such instances in detention centres. There were no suicides in either youth custody or detention centres during this period. There has been one suicide in a youth custody centre since.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his Department's broadcasting division made any representations to the British Broadcasting Corporation about the television programme, "Red Herrings", due to have been shown on 23 January; and if he will make a statement.

The broadcasting department made no representations to the BBC about this programme. I understand that the BBC withdrew the programme because advertisements encouraging people to watch it had been placed in the press by interested parties in advance of the broadcast. It is a long-standing policy of the BBC not to show programmes in such circumstances, in order to avoid the dangers of political or commercial manipulation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the minimum entry requirements necessary for males and females to enter the Metropolitan police service.

The statutory qualifications for appointment as a police officer are set out in regulation 14 of the Police Regulations 1979, which provides a minimum height requirement of 172 cm (about 5' 8") for men and 162 cm (about 5'4") for women. These are the minimum height requirements for the Metropolitan police, but the Commissioner uses the discretion provided by regulation 14 to accept certain candidates below the minimum height who possess special qualities or skills.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for reports from chief constables as to the minimum entry requirements for males and females to enter their police forces.

The statutory qualifications for appointment as a police officer are set out in regulation 14 of the Police Regulations 1979, but the minimum height and eyesight requirements vary from one force to another. I am sending details to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list his reasons for refusing entry into the United Kingdom to Mr. Bryan Hubbard, founder of the Church of Scientology; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Hubbard applied through his solicitors in 1982 for an entry clearance to visit the United Kingdom but declined to attend an interview with an entry clearance officer. His application was therefore refused because we could not be satisfied that he qualified for admission under the relevant provisions in the immigration rules.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to prohibit the use of animals in cosmetic tests.

No, but under the proposed new legislation all applications for project licences for the testing of cosmetics will be referred to the new Animal Procedures Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take into account the therapeutic necessity of a new product when issuing licences for experiments on animals under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Bill [Lords].

Under clause 5(4) of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Bill [Lords] my right hon. Friend is required to weigh the likely adverse effects of scientific procedures on animals against the likely benefit of the work. He will take into account, where it is relevant, the possible therapeutic effect of a product.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inspections were made by his Department's inspectors, employed under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876, between 1980 and 1985; and what proportion of these visits were unannounced.

The information available on the number of visits made by the cruelty to animals inspectorate to Departments within places registered under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876, and to other places, relates to the years 1980 to 1984 and is given in table 24 of the "Statistics of Experiments on Living Animals, Great Britain 1984" (Cmnd 9574). The majority of these visits were made without notice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inspectors are currently employed under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876.

One chief inspector, two superintending inspectors and 12 inspectors.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the estimated number of licences in the substantial severity category of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Bill [Lords] that are expected to be applied for;(82) what is the estimated number of licences in the moderate severity category of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Bill

It is not possible to give reliable estimates in advance of the new licensing system coming into operation. It is likely that most work will fall into the mild or moderate categories.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if there are regulations ensuring that suffering experienced by animals during the LD50 test is kept to a minimum.

The pain condition imposed under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 requires any animal in severe and enduring pain to immediately and humanely killed. Similarly, under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Bill [Lords], all personal licences will contain a condition requiring the immediate humane killing of any animal found to be in severe pain or severe distress which cannot be alleviated. There will also be a condition in every personal licence requiring the holder to take precautions to reduce to the minimum consistent with the purposes of the procedure any pain, distress or discomfort to the animals used.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if there are regulations to ensure that animals undergoing the LD50 test are anaesthetised.

No. LD50 tests are not normally performed under anaesthesia, unless an anaesthetic agent is itself the subject of the test. The purpose of an LD50 test is to determine the toxicity of a particular substance and the administration of an anaesthetic, which is itself toxic, would be likely to invalidate the result.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average number of animals used in each LD50 test.

The specific information requested is not available a LD50 tests are not separately identified in the current returns of statistics of experiments performed on living animals. The number of animals necessary for toxicity studies varies widely. A formal LD50 test employs five dose levels with 10 animals in each group. Other determinations in use might require as few as 10 animals in all.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what information he has as to the breeds of dogs, other than greyhounds and purpose-bred animals, used in experiments in laboratories in each of the years between 1980 and 1985, and as to where these dogs were obtained;(2) what information he has as to the number of greyhounds used in experiments in laboratories in each of the years from 1980 to 1985, and as to where they were obtained.

The information requested is not available, as data on individual breeds of dogs and the sources from which animals are obtained are not collected in the current returns on statistics of experiments performed on living animals. Information on the number of experiments started on all breeds of dogs in the years 1980 to 1984 is given in table 14 of "Statistics of Experiments on Living Animals, Great Britain, 1984" (Cmnd 9574); the corresponding figure for 1985 will not be available until the summer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many animal experiments have been conducted since 1980 in connection with forensic studies; and what species of animals were used for this purpose.

Information on the number of experiments performed and species of animal used for this purpose under licences granted by the Secretary of State is not available. Section 12 of the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 empowers a High Court judge to grant a licence or give a certificate authorising experiments on living animals where this is essential for the purposes of justice in a criminal case. We believe that this power is rarely exercised.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which drugs intended for the treatment of cancer require the LD50 test.

I take it that the question refers to the testing of new drugs. The testing requirements for these will depend on the precise nature of the drug concerned and are determined, in the light of this, by the appropriate regulatory authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which regulations currently demand either a precise or approximate LD50 determination in laboratory animals.

The specific information requested is not collected centrally, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Acute toxicity studies, including LD50 values to varying degrees of precision, are required by regulatory authorities in the United Kingdom, the European Community and in other countries as part of the safety testing of a wide range of products, including vaccines, industrial, agricultural and household chemicals, pesticides and some medicines, as well as other products in daily use.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to amend the Home Office guidelines on the work of the special branch, published on 19 December 1984, so as to prohibit the offer by any police officer of any money to a student in higher or further education in exchange for information in relation to any special branch responsibilities.

No.

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.

[pursuant to his reply, 20 January 1986, c. 10]: The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that the squads and units mentioned are still the subject of consultation and no decisions have yet been taken as to their future roles and organisation. I understand that consultations are likely to have been completed and decisions reached on the special patrol group, the district support units and district crime squads before the abolition of districts. However, the future of district juvenile bureaux (youth and community sections) may not have been decided by that time, and in this event the bureaux will continue to operate as at present (but reporting to area headquarters rather than districts) until their future is determined.Robbery squads and intelligence and surveillance units operate on an area basis, so decisions on their future will not be affected by the timetable for the abolition of districts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is the practice of the community relations branch of the Metropolitan police to maintain lists of the party political affiliations of London borough councillors.

[pursuant to his reply, 13 January, c. 459]: The Commissioner informs me that it is not his practice to maintain such lists. Information of this nature was sought on one occasion recently in connection with the commissioner's duty under section 106 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 to establish community-police consultative arrangements throughout the Metropolitan police district. I understand that a number of local political parties had represented that his policy of opposing the affiliation of political parties as such to community-police consultative groups was effectively excluding them from the consultative process in areas where, as minority parties, they were not represented among council nominees to the local consultative group. Information about the political affiliation of councillors was requested from borough councils, as a one-off exercise to help in considering these representations. This information is, of course, publicly available. I understand that most councils have already provided it and that none has objected to the request.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the recent intensive training course held at the Cooperative college, Lusaka, and the assistance contributed by the Plunkett foundation.

The course, which took place in November, was concerned with the marketing and distribution of agricultural produce. The students were nominated by the co-operative unions in Zambia, and the instructors included four tutors from the Plunkett Foundation; the cost of their services was met from the British aid programme. I am grateful to the foundation for its contribution to the success of the course.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will detail visits, home and overseas, made by each Select Committee since 1979, indicating the number of members involved, the place and purpose of the visit and the cost to public funds; and if he will make a statement.

1 shall reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the European Economic Community Council has received a report from the European Economic Community Court of Auditors about the recent intergovernmental agreement to provide additional finance to the European Economic Community; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The Court of Auditors referred to the 1984 intergovernmental agreement in paragraphs 1.10 to 1.13 of its annual report on the Communities' accounts published in the Official Journal on 16 December 1985 (OJ c326). The report is under discussion in the Council's Budget Committee. Copies are available in the Library of the House. An explanatory memorandum on the report was submitted on 17 January 1986.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the £117,917,000 being paid to the European Economic Community under article 10(2) of Council regulation 2891/77 represents an actual increase in European Economic Community contributions by the United Kingdom.

[pursuant to his reply, 27 January 1986, c. 410]: No. The sum of £117·917 million is that part of the advance payment of £134 million of non-VAT own resources announced on 21 November 1985 at columns 248–249 which could not be financed from the provision remaining in class II, vote 9. It was financed initially from the Contingencies Fund and the Government are now seeking supplementary provision to repay the fund. Advance payment of the £134 million in November, rather than in December, represented a change in timing but not in the level of our contributions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the percentage and amount of national income derived from taxation for each year since 1979, in total and broken down between taxes on income and expenditure, national insurance and rates.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about Her Majesty's Government's policy on the latest developments in South Africa.

We remain deeply concerned about the internal situation in South Africa. We shall continue to use our influence and contacts, including our contacts with the South African Government, to press for fundamental reforms and emphasise the need for the widest possible dialogue about the political future of South Africa.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the South African Government on behalf of the seven prisoners in South Africa currently sentenced to death and awaiting execution, in particular, Clarence Payi and Theresa Ramashula; and if he will make a statement.

We consider such representations on compelling humanitarian or human rights grounds. There are no such grounds in the case of Clarence Payi. Her Majesty's Embassy in South Africa is investigating the case of Theresa Ramashula and others convicted with her.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 20 January to the hon. Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing), Official Report, columns 34–5, what were the reasons why he considers that public statements by foreign Governments on matters which are both internal to the United Kingdom and the concern of the private sector are not helpful; and if he will make a statement.

As we have made clear on a number of occasions, this is a matter to be decided by the board and shareholders of Westland plc.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his plans to develop the work of the British Council following Britain's withdrawal from UNESCO.

There are no plans to develop the work of the British Council as such, as a result of Britain's withdrawal from UNESCO, but as my right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development indicated in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Lindsey, East (Sir P. Tapsell) on 23 January, the volume of work done by the British Council on behalf of the ODA in support of education, will increase.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government have taken in respect of human rights violations in El Salvador; and if he will make a statement.

We have repeatedly made clear to the Salvadorean Government our concern over human rights violations. Most recently my right hon. and learned Friend raised the matter with the Salvadorean Foreign Minister in November 1985. But, we and many other countries recognise the improvements that have taken place under President Duarte. We are also concerned about increasing human rights violations committed by the guerrilla forces active in El Salvador.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received about the latest developments in Uganda.

We have received regular reports from our high commissioner in Kampala about the situation in Uganda during the recent outbreak of fighting. He has informed us that the National Resistance Army led by Mr. Yoweri Museveni has effective control of the capital and of the southern half of the country including all major routes into Uganda. Life in those areas is returning to normal and it is hoped that the airport at Entebbe will soon be open to scheduled airline flights. It is already open to charter flights. The high commission has no reports of any British citizens being harmed in the fighting and only a small number have indicated any wish to leave.We are in contact with Mr. Museveni and the National Resistance Army in Kampala.We hope that Uganda will at last achieve a stable administration which puts into practice full respect for human rights and brings about a reconciliation of the factions which have been at war. Britain is ready to support such a process with aid and training for the rehabilitation of this country, which has suffered so much.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to make a statement of his intentions following receipt of the final report of consulting engineers into the need for and feasibility of providing bypasses for communities on the A5 on Anglesey.

The report was received last month and is now being studied. I hope to be able to indicate my views on the need for improvements in the late spring.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if there are any areas within the Welsh water authority's remit where levels of lead in drinking water exceed limits stipulated in European Community directive (80/778/EEC) relating to the quality of water intended for human consumption.

Yes, there are areas within the Welsh water authority's remit where the maximum acceptable concentration for lead can from time to time exceed the limit stipulated in the European Community directive (80/778/EEC).The Welsh water authority's lead in water indentification survey has given rise to a programme of modifications and additions to existing treatment processes to reduce plumbo-solvency. This programme will enable the Welsh water authority to meet the Government's target date of December 1989 for reducing lead concentrations in drinking water to acceptable levels. This is in line with the Government's application to the European Commission for an article 20 delay in respect of the lead parameter.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the future of the Wales tourist board in the light of the recommendations of the first report from the Trade and Industry Committee into tourism in the United Kingdom.

In accordance with normal practice the Government will be considering the recommendations of the Trade and Industry Committee and will respond in due course. Full account will be taken of the importance of the industry to the Welsh economy.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he remains satisfied with security at Greenham common.

[pursuant to his reply, 27 January, c. 356]: Security at Greenham common remains under close and continual review.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the implications for security at Greenham common of the lessons learnt from exercise Brave Defender.

[pursuant to his reply, 27 January, c. 356]: Exercise Brave Defender successfully tested plans and procedures for the ground defence of vital installations in this country against attack by enemy special forces during a period of tension or war. A first impressions report was placed in the House of Commons Library on 22 October 1985 and detailed analysis is continuing. My hon. Friend will understand that I cannot refer to the details of the security plans for specific RAF stations.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the 46 navigators and 89 pilots who have expressed a desire to leave the Royal Air Force on premature voluntary retirement, are currently serving with Royal Air Force Germany.

[pursuant to his reply, 16 December 1985, c. 100–101]: Four navigators and two pilots.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether his Department has carried out any studies of the effect and cost of voluntary export restraint agreements.

My Department keeps all restraints which have an effect on trade under careful scrutiny.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he plans to allow the Patent Office Trade Marks Registry to accept applications for registration of service trade marks under the Trade Marks (Amendment) Act 1984.

It is the Government's intention to implement the Trade Marks (Amendment) Act 1984 one year early, namely on 1 October 1986, but this is contingent on the passage of the Patents, Designs and Marks Bill. Under the commencement provisions of that Bill, an application for registration of a service mark which is received before the date on which the 1984 Act comes into force will, while having no legal status before that date, become a valid application on that date. It is not possible to give a precise indication at this stage of how long before that date the Trade Marks Registry will be able to accept such applications, but it should be several weeks and will I hope be at least two months.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he intends to make available for publication details of amateur radio licensees' call signs and addresses.

All applicants for amateur radio licences are asked whether they are prepared for their call signs and addresses to be published. For many years, details of those who have agreed have been published by the Radio Society of Great Britain. Recently, I have received a number of requests for this information to be made more widely available. With effect from 1 January 1987, I intend to make it available to any person or organisation on payment of a fee which covers the cost of producing the necessary computer tapes and makes a small contribution to the costs involved in amateur radio licensing.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if any applications have been received For licences for the export of any defence equipment to El Salvador.

It has been the practice of successive Governments not to make public information of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has as to whether, following the takeover of the Carbodies company, it is the new company's intention to continue with the development and production of the CR6 taxi cab; and if he will make a statement.

Manganese Bronze plc., which acquired Carbodies Ltd. in 1973, set up London Taxis International in April 1984 to co-ordinate its various taxi interests. With regard to the CR6 taxi, my Department has been monitoring progress on the project and is currently discussing its future with LTI.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to ban cosmetics that require experimentation on animals.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what have been the average annual percentage changes in United Kingdom exports to and imports from the European Economic Community for total visible trade and for manufactured goods, respectively, since 1972.

The average annual increases in the value of United Kingdom trade with the European Community, excluding Spain and Portugal, between 1972 and 1985 are as follows:

Exports: 21·5 per cent. (total) and 18·4 per cent. (manufactures).

Imports: 20·2 per cent. (total) and 21·3 per cent. (manufactures).

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many examiners are in post at the national weights and measures laboratory; what are their grades; what is the average annual salary in each grade; and if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the total salary bill of the laboratory in each year since 1979, together with his best estimate for the years 1985 to 1986–87.

[pursuant to his reply, 27 January 1986, c. 383]: There are 10 examiners currently in post at the national weights and measures laboratory of which six are in the senior professional and technology officer grade and four are in the higher professional and technology officer grade. The average annual salary for these grades is £15,610 and £13,570 respectively.Because of organisational changes, it is not possible to give strictly comparable figures for the laboratory's salary bill over the requested period. Approximate figures are as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what are the operational costs of keeping butter stored in intervention in Norfolk per year compared with the market value of the butter stored;(2) what are the operational costs of keeping butter stored in intervention in Lincolnshire per year compared with the market value of the butter stored;(3) what are the operational costs of keeping butter stored in intervention in north Yorkshire per year compared with the market value of the butter stored;(4) what are the operational costs of keeping butter stored in intervention in Humberside per year compared with the market value of the butter stored;(5) what are the operational costs of keeping grain stored in intervention in Norfolk per year compared with the market value of the grain stored;(6) what are the operational costs of keeping grain stored in intervention in Lincolnshire per year compared with the market value of the grain stored;(7) what are the operational costs of keeping grain stored in intervention in north Yorkshire per year compared with the market value of the grain stored;(8) what are the operational costs of keeping grain stored in intervention in Humberside per year compared with the market value of the grain stored.

Storage costs are not recorded separately for different areas. The average annual costs of storage and handling are about £13 per tonne for cereals and £77 per tonne for butter. The current average market prices are £112 per tonne for feedwheat and barley and £1,845 per tonne for butter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what was the level of butter stored in intervention, and where it was stored, within Humberside in January as compared with the same date in 1979, 1984 and 1985;(2) what was the level of grain stored in intervention, and where it was stored, in Humberside in January compared with the same date in 1979, 1984 and 1985.

The following stocks of intervention butter and grain were stored in Humberside as at 1 January 1984, 1985 and 1986. Records of storage locations in 1979 are no longer available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what was the level of butter stored in intervention, and where it was stored, in Lincolnshire in January compared with the same date in 1979, 1984 and 1985;(2) what was the level of grain stored in intervention, and where was it stored, in the county of Lincolnshire in January compared with the same date in 1979, 1984 and 1985.

The following stocks of intervention butter and grain were stored in Lincolnshire as at 1 January 1984, 1985 and 1986. Records of storage locations in 1979 are no longer available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what was the level of butter stored in intervention in January in Norfolk, and where it was stored, as compared with the same date in 1979, 1984 and 1985;

The following stocks of intervention butter and grain were stored in Norfolk as at 1 January 1984, 1985 and 1986. Records of storage locations in 1979 are no longer available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what was the level of butter stored in intervention, and where was it stored, in north Yorkshire in January as compared with the same date in 1979, 1984 and 1985;(2) what was the level of grain stored in intervention, and where was it stored, in north Yorkshire in January as compared with the same date in 1979, 1984 and 1985.

The following stocks of intervention butter and grain were stored in north Yorkshire as at 1 January 1984, 1985 and 1986. Records of storage locations in 1979 are no longer available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the rate of increase of food prices in the United Kingdom since May 1979 and if he will make a statement.

Between May 1979 and December 1985, the food component of the retail price index rose at an average annual rate of 6·5 per cent. In contrast, during the period February 1974 to May 1979 when the previous Administration held office, retail food prices rose at an average rate of 16·4 per cent. per annum.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to the answer on 9 December 1985, Official Report, columns 485–486, to the right hon. Member for Halton, if his Department has held any further discussions with the dairy trade about extending the existing Community social butter scheme; and if he will make a statement.

My Department is in continuing contact with the dairy trade and other interested parties about the suggestion that the United Kingdom should seek an extension to the existing Community "social butter" scheme. Work on assessing the various implications of this is nearing completion and I hope soon to be able to consider the results.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consider the re-introduction of the lime subsidy in respect of land where liming may be expected to improve soil condition or fertility.

Under the capital grant schemes assistance is available for liming as a capital improvement in the less favoured areas or for part of an approved programme of grassland reseeding and regeneration, excepting on heathland and moorland.The use of lime for routine maintenance is regarded as a cost-effective operation of normal good husbandry and I have no plans to introduce a general subsidy. Such a measure would be contrary to the European Community rules on state aids.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in the Official Report the age distribution of students in (a) further and (b) higher education according to the following ranges: 18 to 21 years, 22 to 25 years, 26 to 35 years, 35 to 45 years and 45 plus years.

The table shows the readily available information on student numbers in the 1984–85 academic year by age. Evening only figures in further education have not been shown because of difficulties over multiple enrolments.