asked the Secretary of State for Energy, if he will arrange for an exhibition relating to wind power technology to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

Such an exhibition is being organised by the British Wind Energy Association for display during the week beginning Monday 10 February. My Department is sponsoring it, and I will attend the formal opening.

asked the Attorney-General if he will list in the Official Report those voluntary bodies and organisations assisted by the Lord Chancellor's Department with grant aid and in the last financial year for which figures are available and the size of the grant so given.

In the financial year 1984–85 the following grants were made by the Lord Chancellor's Department to voluntary bodies:

	£
Adamsdown Community Law Centre	64,230
Cambridge House Legal Centre	38,090
Harehills and Chapeltown Law Centre	78,010
Newham Rights Centre	97,620
North Kensington Law Centre	148,650
Saltley Action Centre	58,930
Tower Hamlets Law Centre	115,175
Law Centres Federation	48,155
Bristol Courts Family Conciliation Service	20,000
	668,860

asked the Attorney-General if he will list in the Official Report the governmental agencies to which the Lord Chancellor's Department gives grant aid which in turn provide financial support for voluntary bodies and organisations and the size of the grant so given in the last financial year for which figures are available.

No such grants are made by the Lord Chancellor's Department.

asked the Attorney-General if he will outline the steps which the Lord Chancellor's Department takes to ensure that grant aid given to voluntary bodies and organisations, whether directly or indirectly, is not used for political purposes.

It is not absolutely clear to which organisations my hon. Friend refers in the question. But the seven law centres which exceptionally receive financial support from the Lord Chancellor's Department are required as a condition of their annual grant to adhere to the Lord Chancellor's guidelines for law centres. These include the requirement that a law centre should refrain from party political activity and should not allow its premises to be used for that purpose.

asked the Attorney-General what negotiations he has had, or is proposing to have, arising from the Coopers and Lybrand report, with the Bar Council over fees in criminal legal aid cases.

Officials have discussed the Coopers and Lybrand report with representatives of the Bar Council. The Lord Chancellor will be writing later today to the chairman of the Bar with the Government's response. I have also written to the chairman of the Bar.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on co-ordination between the Department of Employment and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on publicity for the availability of grants for farm/tourist operators.

Publicity for grants available under the agriculture improvement scheme for investments in farm tourism is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. His Department is in touch with the Department of Employment and the English and regional tourist boards about the administration of the scheme.

asked the Prime Minister which Minister has responsibility for the provisions of civil defence telecommunications.

The Home Secretary has responsibility for a number of emergency communications arrangements which would support civil defence plans in time of war. As from 1 April 1986, he will also assume responsibility for other emergency communications services that are currently the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

asked the Prime Minister when a decision will be made regarding the request by Bradford City football club for financial assistance to enable the Valley Parade ground to be rebuilt.

I have been asked to reply.At the request of Bradford city council I am pleased to be able to make it an additional capital expenditure allocation for 1985–86 of £1·462 million. This will enable the council to make a grant to the Bradford City football club towards the rebuilding of the club's ground at Valley Parade. I pay tribute to my hon. Friend's efforts on behalf of the club.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he proposes to meet leaders of the nursing profession in Wales regarding hospital management and nursing; and if he will make a statement.

I have no immediate plans to do so, though of course the Department is in frequent touch with leaders of the nursing and other professions associated with the Health Service in Wales on a wide range of topics, and I met the chairmen of all statutory advisory committees earlier this month for example.I have also discussed these matters with nursing managers and front-line staff during my visits to date to the health authorities in Wales. Our officials have had useful recent contact with the Welsh branch of the RCN specifically on matters related to the introduction of general management to the NHS in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he has taken to improve consultative procedures for nurses employed in the National Health Service in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

It is a feature of the changes implied by the introduction of general management into the NHS in Wales that lines of nursing and other professional accountability and advice should be made more plain. Health authorities are well aware of their responsibility to ensure proper consultation on appropriate matters with all relevant professional groups.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many workplace agreements have been signed with employers in Wales concerning cervical cancer testing agreements; and if he will make a statement.

This information is not available centrally. It is for health authorities to decide how best to provide screening facilities, and it is open to them to consider whether it can be provided effectively in the workplace.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to the extent of denial of human rights in re-education camps in Vietnam; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 5 February, at column 182.Many thousands of people have been detained since 1975 in the so-called "re-education" camps in Vietnam, without charge or trial, apparently on an indefinite basis and in contravention of the international covenant on civil and political rights, which Vietnam ratified in 1982. We are deeply disturbed that the detainees have still been neither charged, nor tried nor released, and that they continue to be subjected to harsh treatment.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the impact that the rise in pound sterling interest rates has had on the economies of less developed countries.

The proportion of debt of less developed countries denominated in pounds sterling is so small that a change in sterling interest rates has relatively little impact.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government have taken to seek to ensure adherence to the recent United Nations General Assembly resolution on the situation in El Salvador; and if he will make a statement.

No resolution on the situation in El Salvador has been tabled for the next United Nations General Assembly.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what allocation has been made in the current year for building work on voluntary aided and church schools in Oxfordshire; to which schools money was allocated; and what were the criteria for allocations.

Oxfordshire's allocation for grant-aided building works in voluntary schools for 1986–87 is £470,000. This sum covers committed expenditure and is allocated for the current project at the recently established St. Augustine of Canterbury ecumenical school, Oxford. In making allocations for the aided building programme nationally, first priority was given to expenditure committed to projects already under way. This took up about two thirds of the available resources. The remainder was allocated, first, to projects to provide new school places in areas of population growth; second to those related to approved statutory proposals involving the removal of surplus places; and, finally, to a small number of projects which were urgently and unavoidably needed because of serious dilapidation of school buildings.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what response he has made to the representations from Lancashire county council for additional funding for the repair and maintenance programme for school buildings; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has not received any representations from Lancashire county council.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will pay an official visit to Lancashire to discuss with representatives of the local education authority the current repair and maintenance programme for school buildings in both the county and aided sectors and the adequacy of the current level of resources available for it; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has no immediate plans to pay an official visit to Lancashire in the near future. The repair and maintenance of school buildings is the responsibility of the local education authority, with the exception of external repairs to school buildings in the aided sector which are the responsibility of the school governors, and on which 85 per cent. grant is available from the Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he proposes to receive a delegation of county councillors, officials and hon. Members from Lancashire regarding the school repairs and maintenance programme for the county; and if he will make a statement.

	16-year-olds in maintained schools		17-year-olds in maintained schools
Region	Number	Proportion* 'Staying On' per cent.	Number	Proportion† 'Staying On' per cent.
North	11,047	23·5	7,449	15·4
Yorkshire and Humberside	19,010	24·8	12,158	15·8
North West	22,371	22·7	15,707	15·6
East Midlands	14,110	23·8	9,376	15·6
West Midlands	18,835	23·0	12,671	15·3
East Anglia	6,579	25·0	3,962	14·8
Greater London	29,667	35·3	15,228	17·4
Other South East	45,301	31·6	28,757	19·5
South West	14,424	23·8	9,606	15·5
England	181,344	26·7	114,914	16·6

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give on a regional basis a breakdown of destinations of school-leavers of (a) 16, (b) 17 and (c) 18 years of age.

England
Leavers from maintained schools: 1983–84
	Intended Destination—Percentages
Region	Age*	Full-time Further & Higher Education Courses	Available for Employment†	Not Known
North	15	10·3	77·1	12·6
	16	20·0	63·5	16·6
	17	57·6	32·7	9·8
Yorkshire and Humberside	15	13·1	75·3	11·6
	16	19·8	66·9	13·2
	17	59·1	32·9	8·1
North West	15	19·0	65·7	15·3
	16	21·6	60·2	18·2
	17	59·2	31·1	9·7
East Midlands	15	17·3	69·9	12·9
	16	21·3	56·6	22·0
	17	59·7	32·9	7·5
West Midlands	15	19·5	66·7	13·8
	16	22·5	59·3	18·1
	17	56·9	35·2	7·9
East Anglia	15	21·7	67·7	10·6
	16	29·0	58·5	12·3
	17	48·4	45·7	6·0

While my right hon. Friend would be willing to receive a delegation of county councillors, officials and hon. Members, he has not been asked to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will provide an analysis of those staying on at school after 16 years of age by region.

The number and proportion of pupils aged 16 and 17 years staying on in maintained schools as at January 1985 are given in the table:

The information is shown in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has received any representations regarding the emergency closure of Burnley Wood county primary school; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has not received any representations concerning this school.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he proposes to make any changes to the 1985–86 cash limits for his Department's Votes.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the 1985–86 cash limit for Class X, Vote 5, (Research Councils etc.: Agricultural and Food Research Council) will be increased by £2,385,000 from £50,340,000 to £52,725,000. This is to enable the Agricultural and Food Research Council to meet extra short-term costs arising from the restructuring of the council's work, which will lead to cost savings in future years. The increase will be charged to the Reserve and will not therefore add to the planning total of public expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further assistance he will make available to refugees and victims of the African famine.

I have decided to make available a further £3 million for spending in the current financial year. Of this, £1·5 million is being allocated to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; £500,000 to the League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies; and £1 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list in the Official Report, for the last 10 years for which figures are available, the amounts of money paid by his Department, whether directly or indirectly through some other agency, to organisations and bodies working in the field of health education, detailing the organisation and bodies concerned, the amounts they received and the method of payment.

A proportion of the funds allocated to health and social services boards is used for health education but it is not possible to identify the amounts involved. The table lists grants to other bodies whose primary role is health education. Payments are made directly to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents in respect of home safety activities in Northern Ireland. The contributions to other organisations are paid through the Department of Health and Social Security.

Financial Year	Health education council	ROSPA*	Family Planning association	National rubella council	Total
1975–76	37,516	5,400	3,500	—	46,416
1976–77	44,705	9,150	5,000	—	58,855
1977–78	49,918	11,333	5,000	—	66,251
1978–79	50,948	12,500	5,000	—	68,448
1979–80	105,350	15,500	6,250	—	127,100
1980–81	152,442	17,500	3,300	—	173,242
1981–82	200,147	21,000	3,300	—	224,447
1982–83	250,068	24,500	3,300	—	277,868
1983–84	256,041	25,970	3,300	500	285,811
1984–85	265,045	27,268	3,500	700	296,513

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has about the attitude adopted by representatives of the nationalist community and the Roman Catholic Church towards the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the Ulster Defence Regiment, following the signing of the Anglo-Irish agreement.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if Her Majesty's Government were aware before signing the Anglo-Irish agreement of the extent to which the Irish Government had engaged in consultation with the Social Democratic and Labour Party in Northern Ireland about the progress of negotiations on the agreement; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 3 February 1986, c. 78]: The Government were aware that there were informal consultations between the SDLP and the Irish Government in the course of the negotiations. The Government were not informed about the substance of such consultations.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many persons were detained under the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Acts 1973 and 1978 in 1985;(2) what information he has concerning the number of people who were detained in 1985 under the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978 and who were charged with scheduled offences under the Act, and other Acts, separately;(3) if he will make a statement concerning the operation of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978 in 1985 with regard to the annual total of arrests made under the Act; and how many persons arrested under the Act were detained for the following periods:

[pursuant to his reply, 3 February 1986, c. 77]: In 1985 there were 986 arrests by the Royal Ulster Constabulary and 61 by the members of the armed forces under the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978. Some of those arrested by members of the armed forces would be recorded in the Royal Ulster Constabulary figures if they were subsequently handed over to the Royal Ulster Constabulary.Of those arrests carried out by the Royal Ulster Constabulary, in 784 of the cases the persons concerned were released without charge; in one case a person was subsequently charged with offences under the Act only; in one case a person was charged with offences under the Act and with offences under other legislation; and in 200 other cases persons were charged with offences under other legislation. One hundred and seventy three of the cases involved persons charged with scheduled offences, though details of the offences are not readily available.Information on persons charged with an offence under the Act after arrest under other provisions and information on the length of time individuals were held under the Act could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is satisfied with safety arrangements on the M25.

The safety arrangements on the M25 are in line with the usual provision on motorways. Improvements to the M25 signalling system, by installing "matrix" signs, have been brought forward a year and are due to be completed by the end of 1987. The Department recently published details compiled by the Meteorological Office of fog-prone areas on the M25. We shall be deciding whether to install more fog-detection equipment that would help drivers. We are also reviewing lighting policy on motorways generally, taking economic and environmental considerations into account.The greatest aid to safety is still careful and considerate driving. I would be happy to consider any specific point which may concern my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it a condition of issue of an advanced driving instructor licence that its validity is conditional upon the licensee also holding a valid driving licence; and if he will make a statement.

The issue of a certificate of registration as an approved driving instructor is already conditional upon the applicant holding a full driving licence and having held it for four out of the last six years; the Registrar has the power to remove anyone from the register if he no longer holds a current licence.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on standards of maintenance in relation to the recent directive from the Federal Aviation Authority following the discovery of cracks in Boeing 747s.

The Civil Aviation Authority, which has the statutory responsibility for ensuring the safety of aircraft, informs me that aircraft built to modern standards, such as Boeing 747, ae designed to be tolerant of structural cracking which can occur in service. Inspections are specified initially as a result of manufacturers' testing, but subsequently take account of service experience. The cracking recently discovered on some Boeing 747 aircraft was within the structural capability of the aircraft concerned. However, the CAA informs me that additional inspections are being specified to ensure that any necessary rectification action is taken in good time.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects the discussions with the relevant bodies to establish a better system of avalanche forecasting in Scotland to produce recommendations.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what applications have been made to the Forestry Commission for planting grant in respect of land at Crichness in East Lothian; and what decisions have been made on such applications.

Altogether, the Forestry Commission has received a total of five grant applications for proposed planting at Crichness. The first, for the planting of some 240 hectares, was made in November 1984, but was withdrawn in January 1985 following the sale of the land and before a decision was given. The second application was made by the new owners in January 1985 and covered 508 hectares. This was replaced in February 1985 by one for 212 hectares. Consideration of this revised application was suspended in March 1985 when it was learnt that planting had already commenced on part of the area; no grants were paid in respect of this planting.A fourth grant application, covering 225 hectares lying outside the area already planted, was submitted in September 1985. The Forestry Commission has since indicated that it would be prepared to approve this application subject to the applicants producing a satisfactory landscaping plan.The latest application, made in December 1985, is for the proposed planting of 8·4 hectares of broadleaved trees under the broadleaved woodland grant scheme. This is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many of the markers recruited by the Scottish Certificate of Education Examinations Board for 1986 have been markers on (a) at least one previous occasion and (b) two or more previous occasions;(2) how many of the markers recruited by the Scottish Certificate of Education Examinations Board for the 1986 examinations are teachers or further education lecturers presently employed

To provide the information requested, the Scottish Examination Board will require to scrutinise the records of some 2,500 markers individually and calculate the actual and likely expenditure incurred on recruitment of markers in 1985 and 1986, respectively. I have asked the chairman of the board to write to the hon. Member when the information is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in what exceptional circumstances markers for the Scottish Certificate of Education Examinations Board will be excused from attendance at markers' meetings for the 1986 examinations.

The Scottish Examination Board has informed me that it will consider waiving the normal requirement of compulsory attendance at markers' meetings:

i. where a meeting is to be held on a weekday and serving teachers cannot be given release to attend the meeting by their headteacher;

ii. where a meeting is to be held on a Sunday and the marker is unwilling on grounds of religious principle to attend; and

iii. where the marker has a previous specific and unbreakable commitment on the day fixed for the markers' meeting.

In any event, every marker receives written instructions and, where a marker is unable to attend a meeting, these are supplemented as required.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the usual qualifications of markers recruited by the Scottish Certificate of Education Examinations Board; and what qualifications, and so on, are required of those markers who do not fulfil the normal qualifications.

The Scottish Examination Board continues to require all applicants for consideration for appointment as markers to have, either in the subject concerned or in a related subject, three years experience of presentation for the Scottish Certificate of Education or Certificate of Sixth Year Studies or three years examining experience in tertiary education.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will state for each year since 1978 the number of in-patients and out-patients treated in National Health Service hospitals in Scotland.

The table shows the numbers of patients discharged from in-patient treatment and of new out-patients attending consultant clinics in National Health Service hospitals in each year to 30 September.

Year	Number of patients discharged*	Number of new outpatients attending consultant clinics
1978	748,984	1,961,338
1979	735,583	1,960,952
1980	774,246	1,998,853
1981	792,572	2,032,589
1982	763,867	2,020,560
1983†	790,989	2,041,866

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will state, for each year since 1978, the number of nurses employed in National Health Service hospitals in Scotland.

The information requested, in the form of whole-time equivalents as at 30 September, is set out in the table. The numbers include those who are qualified, in training and unqualified.

Year	Number of Nurses
1978	49,449·0
1979	50,801·4
1980	53,251·4
1981	55,708·0
1982	56,353·1
1983	56,675·5
1984	56,336·0
1985	*56,470·1

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is considering any alterations to the current treatment of profits accruing through the sale of shares and investments in companies in which the Scottish Development Agency and the Highlands and Islands Development Board, respectively, have existing interests; and if he will make a statement.

In planning the public expenditure provision for these bodies, account is taken of the total receipts each expects to receive. These can include those accruing from the realisation of investments, including shares; the amount of which can be either greater or less than their original cost. As provision is both planned and provided on a cash flow basis, the question of profits or losses accruing from individual assets does not arise directly. The question of whether to allow unanticipated excess receipts to increase gross expenditure on activities financed by the grant-in-aid will continue to be considered if, and when, it arises in the light of all the circumstances prevailing at the time.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the profits accruing, respectively, to the Scottish Development Agency and the Highlands and Islands Development Board through the sale of shares and investments in companies in which they have had interests for each of the years since 1980.

Information on the performance of each body in respect of their investments is contained in their annual accounts, copies of which are obtainable in the Library.Profits (losses in brackets) on the disposal of shares in companies are as follows:

£'000
Financial Year	SDA	HIDB
1980–81	171	Nil
1981–82	(13)	11
1982–83	(21)	(57)
1983–84	466	53
1984–85	918	192

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress is being made in reviewing the work of non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible; and if he will make a statement.

As part of a programme of reviews of the work of all non-departmental public bodies, announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 19 November 1984, at columns 57–58, the following 17 policy reviews and one financial management survey have already been completed:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any guarantees involving the contingent commitment of public funds have been extended on the rescue of (a) members of the London gold market other that Johnson Matthey and (b) members of any other London financial market.

• National Galleries of Scotland
• Scottish National Camps Association
• Colleges of Education

This review programme is designed to ensure that the work of these bodies continues to represent good value for money.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to whom chairmen of boards of governors of colleges of education in Scotland are responsible for the actions taken by them.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 February 1986, c. 233]: Regulation 4 of the Teachers (Colleges of Education) (Scotland) Regulations 1967 provides for the constitution of a governing body for each college of education; and regulation 11(3) of those regulations contains provision for each such governing body to elect a chairman. The chairman is responsible to the governing body as a whole, subject to any delegated authority which that governing body may have granted to him.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the level of income in current prices and expressed as a percentage of average earnings at which single people, married couples (both working) and married couples with two children pay less income tax and national insurance contributions than they did in 1978–79.

The table shows the ranges of earnings within which income tax plus national insurance contributions form a smaller proportion of gross earnings in 1985–86 than in 1978–79, assuming that earnings have risen in line with the national average.At all income levels those whose earnings have risen in line with the national average have seen a real increase in their take home pay since 1978–79.

No guarantee relying on funds provided by Parliament was extended in the rescue of Johnson Matthey Bankers Ltd., nor at the present time is there any liability on the taxpayer under such a guarantee to rescue any other member of the London gold market or any member of any of the London financial markets.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer of exempting from tax the concessionary travel warrants given to officers of the Northern Constabulary posted to Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles.

I regret that a precise estimate is not possible, but the revenue cost is unlikely to exceed £40,000 per annum.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy towards the treatment and destination of profits accruing to public sector bodies from the sale of part or all of their shares in companies in which they have invested; and if he will make a statement.

The treatment of disposal receipts of public sector bodies able to hold shares will vary according to the nature and scale of the holding concerned and the framework of their accounting arrangements. Such receipts would generally be taken into account in determining the public sector resources available to the body in question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of gross national product is represented by oil revenues; and if he will make a statement.

The value of total sales of North sea oil and gas, net of costs, is estimated to have been 5 to 6 per cent. of our gross national product in 1985.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to the effect the proposals by certain Civil Service unions to set up political funds will have on the relationship between the Government and the Civil Service.

I refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, for each of the years 1983, 1984, and 1985 those planning applications in which he overturned the recommendation of an inspector following a public inquiry; for each application what is the title and nature of the application, the name of the applicant, the inspector's recommendation and Secretary of State's decision; and if he will give a brief reason for his decision in each case.

Some of this information, particularly in relation to section 36 appeals in 1983, cannot be provided without disproportionate cost. I shall write to the hon. Member with such information as is readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many authorities have authorised voluntary agencies to issue dog licences under section 134 of the Post Office Act 1969; what steps he has taken to encourage local authorities to do so; and if he will make a statement.

Local authorities are responsible, under section 134 of the Post Office Act 1969, for the issue of dog licences. I am not aware that any authority has chosen to employ a voluntary agency as its agent for this purpose. I see no need to seek to influence local authorities' judgment in this matter.

asked the Sectetary of State for the Environment if he will call in for his consideration the proposal by Gravesham district council to give planning consent for the use of the town centre swimming pool and public open space to private developers.

I am informed that there are at present no formal planning proposals before Gravesham borough council for the use of this site. If such proposals are forthcoming and are referred to my right hon. Friend, he will consider whether to intervene.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what, in real terms, was the housing investment programme allocation to the Cherwell district council for the last five years.

The housing investment programme allocations to the Cherwell district council for the five financial years from 1982–83 to 1986–87 at 1985–86 prices were:

	£m
1982–83	2·239
1983–84	2·58
1984–85	2·726
1985–86	2·411
1986–87	2·082

The authority's share of the total HIP allocation in the south-east has risen in each of the years in question, from 1·13 per cent in 1982–83 to 1·48 per cent in 1986–87. Since 1981–82 local authorities have been able to supplement their HIP allocations by spending the prescribed proportion of their capital receipts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the housing invesrnent programme allocation paid or payable to the London borough of Waltham Forest in each year from 1979–80 to 1986–87 in (i) cash and (ii) real terms expressed in 1979–80 prices.

The allocations were as follows:

Year	Cash Terms (£ million)	Real Terms (£ million, 1979–30 prices)
1979–80	17·046	17·046
1980–81	12·892	10·854
1981–82	9·225	7·054
1982–83	9·082	6·488
1983–84	8·627	5·900

Year	Cash Terms (£ million)	Real Terms (£ million, 1979–80 Prices)
1984–85	8·945	5·853
1985–86	8·684	5·412
1986–87	7·716	4·601

Since 1981–82 authorities have been able to augment their allocations by use of prescribed proportions of capital receipts. Additional allocations may be made for 1985–86 and 1986–87.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it a condition of any future grant to the Sports Council that it does not give any money to the Rugby Football Union while that body persists in laying down rules and conditions incompatible with the concept of a free gangway for British Amateur Rugby League Association players and Rugby Football Union players.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in the context of Energy Efficiency Year, he will review the thermal insulation values within the building regulations.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Ealing, Acton (Sir G. Young) on 16 December 1985 to the question from my hon. Friend the Member for Devon, North (Mr. Speller), at column 13.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for the future of the Greater London training board.

None. This is a matter for successor authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total amount of grant based on debt charges and allocation given for capital expenditure for Hyndburn, Burnley and Blackburn local authorities for (a) the urban programme, (b) the urban development grant, (c) the derelict land grant and (d) the European regional development fund for 1984–85; and what is the estimate for 1985–86 for each of these buildings.

Figures are as follows:

Urban programme
	Capital allocation		Grant paid		Debt charges claimed
	1984–85	1985–86	1984–85	1985–86	1984–85	1985–86
	£000s	£000s	£000s	£000s	£000s	£000s
Blackburn	3,199	3,222	302	385	403	570
Burnley	381	742	49	38	65	50
Hyndburn	209	50	68	62	90	93

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give full details of the listed building status, together with dates of listing, of all the cathedrals of the Church of England.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied about the working of the voluntary tobacco agreement between the governing bodies of sport and the tobacco companies; whether he has sought the advice of the Sports Council on this matter; and if he will make a statement.

I am satisfied that a voluntary agreement provides the best way of securing that the promotional activities of tobacco companies conform with the overall Government policy and in particular with the voluntary agreement on advertising. I have sought the advice of the Sports Council and other interested bodies on the working of the present agreement. Any alterations sought to the agreement will be decided in the light of comments which I receive and amendments to the voluntary agreement on advertising, which are currently under discussion between the companies and by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the answer of 19 November 1985, Official Report, column 148, what further representations have been received from relevant local authorities on the future of county funded voluntary organisations on Merseyside following abolition of the county councils, in the light of his Department's letter to them indicating in more detail how the transitional grants will be allocated; and if he will make a statement.

The Merseyside co-ordinating committee of local authority representatives has met my noble Friend the Minister of State to press its view that transitional grant should be made available to help local authorities on Merseyside support voluntary bodies operating countywide. These views have been supported by letters from individual authorities.The transitional grant scheme is designed to help individual authorities take on support for voluntary bodies operating primarily on a local basis whose funding is affected by abolition. Countywide voluntary bodies can look to all the authorities in an abolition area for funding, and authorities can contribute either through a collective grant-giving scheme, or on an individual basis. The RSG settlement has ensured that successor authorities have access to all the resources the county would have had, and we have no proposals to treat Merseyside authorities on a more favourable basis than authorities elsewhere in the country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the reply of 21 January, Official Report, column 143, when he expects to be in a position to announce what financial assistance her Majesty's Government intend to give to Bradford City football club to help rebuild its ground at Valley Parade.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend to his hon. Friend the Member for Bradford, North (Mr. Lawler).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out in the Official Report tables showing net rates as a percentage of income assuming the operation of rebates as at present and on a basis comparable with the tables at figures 9 page 20 and figure 11 page 25 of Cmnd. 9714.

[pursuant to his reply, 3 February 1986, c. 26]: The information requested is set out in the table, together with figures for the proposed community charge calculated on the same basis. The figures show that with the present rebates system as well as the new rebates system on which the Cmnd. 9714 illustrations are based the lowest income households would, on average, pay less in local taxes under a community charge.

Relationship of net rates and net community charge to net household income with present rebate scheme—(Great Britain 1984–85 prices)
Range of net household income (£PW)	Net local tax bills as a percentage in each range
	(1) Net rates	(2) Net Community Charge
Under 50	1·0	0·7
50–75	2·3	1·8
75–100	3·1	2·7
100–150	3·6	3·5
150–200	3·2	3·2
200–250	2·8	2·8
250–300	2·5	2·6
300–350	2·4	2·4
350–400	2·3	2·2
400–500	2·2	2·0
500+	1·9	1·5
All households	2·8	2·8

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the means by which his Department secures its objectives of supporting British shipbuilding; how he is monitoring their implementation; and if he will make a statement.

Financial support for merchant shipbuilding is available through the intervention fund. British Shipbuilders also receives public dividend capital. The performance of British Shipbuilders is carefully monitored against its annual corporate plan. As sponsors, my Department both monitors and supports the industry as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many system X telephone exchanges have been sold overseas by Plessey and the General Electric Company as a result of assistance from his Department.

Orders outside the United Kingdom for system X have been won in St. Vincent, Jersey and Guernsey. In each case the business was won on the competitive merits of the system and its suppliers.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to encourage Ford, Vauxhall and Peugeot Talbot to increase their use in the United Kingdom and elsewhere of United Kingdom-made components.

Departmental Ministers and officials are in regular touch with the senior management of Ford, Peugeot Talbot and Vauxhall and every opportunity is taken to emphasise the need for the companies to give full and fair access to United Kingdom component manufacters. I am optimistic about the way matters are developing.Ford, of course, is itself an important manufacturer of components in the United Kingdom for use both here and overseas. Its United Kingdom vehicles already have a United Kingdom content of around 80 per cent.Peugeot Talbot has recently launched the Ryton-built Peugeot 309 with an initial level of United Kingdom content of 65 per cent. Talks will commence shortly between the company and my officials to explore ways in which more United Kingdom components might be incorporated in PSA group models built here and overseas.As far as Vauxhall are concerned, General Motors Passenger Cars (Europe) set up a high level task force last year to look at the imbalance between what it builds in the United Kingdom and what it sells here. Vauxhall has now undertaken to increase United Kingdom production and increase United Kingdom component sourcing which should mean that by the end of 1986, some 64 per cent. of Vauxhall cars sold here will be built here with a United Kingdom content of 60 per cent. Talks between my Department and the task force are continuing with the aim of securing further improvements and further opportunities for United Kingdom component manufacturers.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will detail the functions of his Director of Information.

The Director of Information is responsible for advice on, and overall supervision of, the presentation of departmental policies, activities and services through the news media and through paid publicity; for the management of the Department's weekly business magazine, British Business, and its monthly staff newspaper, DTI News; and the management of the Department's general inquiry point.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to announce details of the privatisation of Rolls-Royce Ltd.

I am not yet in a position to add to my reply of 8 November to my hon. Friend. I shall make a further announcement in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the chairman of the Post Office concerning the future of benefit payments at post offices; and if he will make a statement.

The payment of social security benefits forms a substantial proportion of the work of the counters business and the future level of such traffic is therefore covered in my department's periodic discussions with the Post Office about future plans for the business.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to prepare the Post Office Corporation for privatisation; and if he will make a statement.

The Post Office is not excluded from our policy to transfer activities from the public to the private sector wherever it is practicable and commercially sensible to do so. We have not decided whether the corporation might be privatised and we therefore have no plans at present to prepare it for privatisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what account he took of the long-term agreement reached between Land Rover and Fiat of Italy for the supply of engines for the Land Rover vehicle when he made his statement to the House on Monday 3 February; and if he will make a further statement in regard to promises given to his Department by General Motors.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 February 1986, c. 252]: I am told by Land Rover Ltd. that it does not have agreements with Fiat of Italy.Were a deal with GM to be reached in relation to Leyland Trucks, Land Rover, Freight Rover and certain related overseas operations, it would be willing to give full undertakings that the majority of products sold by the businesses involved would be manufactured in the United Kingdom; that the products would continue to have a high local content; that there would be a substantial level of exports; that research and development facilities will be maintained and developed in the United Kingdom; that Land Rover will retain its distinct British identity; and that appropriate level of investment will be injected into the business to achieve competitive future models and facilities.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the present state of the negotiations on the future of the multifibre arrangement.

[pursuant to his reply 6 February 1986, c. 251]: Discussions are in progress in the Community on a mandate for the negotiations on the renewal of the MFA. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has recently met the industry and other interested parties. I intend to keep closely in touch with interested parties in the United Kingdom on this.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated cost of the treatment of a patient with bed sores in a National Health Service hospital.

The information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will state the number of medical practitioners whose conduct in respect of the diagnosis of meningitis has been found unsatisfactory by family practitioner service committees in each of the last five years.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give a breakdown of the losers from the £450 million cut in housing benefit under the Social Security Bill, by category of claimant and by numbers losing less than £1 per week, £1 to £2, £2 to £3, £3 to £4, £4 to £5, £5 to £6, £6 to £7, and more than £7 per week.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the total number of claimants of housing benefit at his Department's offices at Highgate and Finsbury Park for each year since the scheme was introduced.

Housing benefit is administered by local authorities and it is therefore not possible to relate the case load to this Department's local offices. Tables showing each local authority's estimate of its rent rebate, rent allowance and rate rebate case load, for each year since the introduction of housing benefit, were placed in the Library last July following a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire, South (Mrs. Currie) on 19 July 1985, at column 305.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the present cost to his Department of the administrative processing of a prescription.

The administrative cost of the Prescription Pricing Authority in 1984–85 was 4·62p per prescription.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the percentage of prescriptions for prescription-only medicines which have a content value of less than £2.

I regret that the information required can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of claimants of funeral grant for each year since 1979 at the Highgate and Finsbury Park offices of his Department.

The information relating to the number of claims to death grant received in the years from April 1980 to date is as follows; figures for the year commencing April 1979 are no longer available:

	Highgate	Finsbury Park
1980–81	1,327	947
1981–82	938	882
1982–83	1,256	1,108
1983–84	1,109	1,028
1984–85	1,116	883
1985–86*	1,311	716

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has about the circumstances surrounding the recent failure of a private contractor to fulfil a contract to supply clean laundry at the Stanley Royd hospital in Wakefield; and if he will make a statement.

I have no such information. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of Wakefield health authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what discussions he is having with the banks about the Government's response to the recommendations of the 20th report of the Public Accounts Committee about switching benefit payments from post offices to banks; and if he will make a statement.

No such discussions are currently taking place. The position remains as described in the Government response to the Public Accounts Committee's report.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, pursuant to his reply on 17 January, Official Report, column 746, he will publish a similar table showing the total weekly pensions on the assumption that the additional 2 per cent. contribution to personal and occupational pension schemes ceases after the first five years.

Tables P1 to P6 in the technical annex to the White Paper were all prepared on the basis sought. The 2 per cent. incentive addition to the rebate has not been assumed to continue beyond 1992–93. This point is explained in paragraph 1.9 on page 2 of the technical annex.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, pursuant to his reply on 17 January, Official Report, column 746, he will publish a similar table showing the rate of income support for a single person, assuming annual increases in the income support rate in line with average earnings and annual increases of earnings of 1·5 per cent. in real terms (a) including the premium for a person aged over 80 years and disabled and (b) excluding that premium.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what assumption was made in table Pl of the technical annex to "Reform of Social Security" as to the proportion of the payments made to personal and occupational pension schemes that would be used to defray adminstrative expenses, to pay commission, or in any other way not resulting in the provision of benefit for or in respect of members of those schemes.

Administrative and all other charges are assumed to account for 10 per cent. and 7 per cent. respectively of contributions to personal pensions and occupational money-purchase schemes, as indicated in paragraphs 1.6 and 1.7 of the techincal annex. These assumptions were made for illustrative purposes only and are not intended as firm indications of the Government's intentions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report details of the waiting lists for hospital treatment for each district health authority in the north-west region.

The requested information is given in the "Hospital In-Patient Waiting List at 31 March 1985, England, District Summaries", a copy of which is in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has received any representations regarding the proposed closure of Bank hall and Marsden hospitals in the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale district health authority; and if he will make a statement.

No representations have been received. I understand Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale health authority is about to consult locally on the Bank hall and Marsden hospitals. The hon. Member may therefore wish to address his inquiries to the chairman of the authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has about shortages of trained nurses in hospitals for the mentally sick and handicapped; and if he will give figures on a regional basis.

I regret that detailed information of this nature is not collected centrally. However, a survey for the Review Body for Nursing Staff, Midwives and Health Visitors showed that at 31 March 1984 in England 3 per cent. of all whole-time equivalent funded posts for mental illness and 4·6 per cent. for mental handicap nursing staff remained vacant for at least three months, compared with the average of 2·5 per cent. of all nursing and midwifery staff.The information for March 1985 is still being validated.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether any changes will be made to the cash-limited Votes for his Department.