asked the Prime Minister if she will set out in a statement the conclusions on the imposing of strict budgetary discipline on the European Economic Community which was agreed at the meeting of the European Council at Fontainebleau; and if she is satisfied that these limits and disciplines are being adhered to.

A copy of the budgetary discipline text, as adopted by the Foreign Affairs Council on 4 December 1984 is available in the Library.As my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Treasury told the House on 3 February at column 43, the most important element in budget discipline, the agricultural guideline, has been fully respected in the 1986 budget as adopted by the Parliament. The non-obligatory spending totals in the Budget are, however, incompatible with the Council's budget discipline conclusions. The Council and individual member states, including the United Kingdom, are challenging the budget as adopted by the Parliament before the European Court.

asked the Prime Minister why she agreed to references in Community law to the European Assembly being altered to the European Parliament in the European Act.

The European Act follows current usage in the Community. Whatever terminology is used, the nature of the institution is unchanged.

asked the Prime Minister if she will set out in a statement the additional rights, entitlements and privileges which will be given to the European Assembly in consequence of the European Act.

Under a new co-operation procedure, an absolute majority of the Members of the European Parliament will be able, in certain areas, to propose amendments to Commission proposals. It will be for the Council to decide whether to accept such amendments. The European Parliament will also have the right of assent to new accessions and new association agreements.

asked the Prime Minister why the United Kingdom withdrew its reserve in relation to majority voting on health and safety directives by the Council of Ministers; and if she will make a statement.

As I made clear to the House on 5 December 1985 in my statement on the Luxembourg European Council, the United Kingdom reserve on qualified majority voting in respect of the proposed EC treaty amendment on working conditions was entered because we wished to avoid unfair burdens being imposed on small and medium-sized businesses. That aim has been secured through the inclusion in the treaty text of a specific provision protecting the position of such undertakings, thus enabling the United Kingdom reserve to be lifted.

asked the Prime Minister with whom ministerial responsibility lies for disciplinary action against civil servants in the Cabinet Office.

I am Minister with departmental responsibility for the Cabinet Office; I am assisted in the day-to-day discharge of this responsibility by the Minister of State, Privy Council Office. Disciplinary powers are exercised, in the Cabinet Office as in other Departments, by the permanent head of the Department.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list the activities of the Cabinet Office for which she doe not have ministerial responsibility.

I have departmental responsibility for all of the activities of the Cabinet Office, with the exception of the Civil Service Commissioners who have certain independent responsibilities under Orders in Council.

asked the Prime Minister, pursuant to the answer of 5 December, Official Report, column 437, if it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to transform relations amongst member states of the EEC into a European union; and if she will make a statement.

Our policy is unchanged. The phraseology used by my hon. Friend appears in the Preamble to the Single European Act which itself refers back to the Stuttgart Solemn Declaration of 1983.

asked the Prime Minister in what publication the rules and procedures of a leak inquiry are contained.

None. For each inquiry, the procedure is suited to the needs and circumstances of the case.

asked the Prime Minister what cooperation there is between the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the DAFS in monitoring the additional demands made on the fisheries protection services by Spanish and Portuguese accession.

There is full co-operation, including frequent meetings between the two fisheries Departments, to discuss the deployment of fisheries protection resources in response to enforcement needs. In addition, both Departments co-operate closely with the authorities in France and the Republic of Ireland on the surveillance arrangements.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list all contacts during 1984 and 1985 between Her Majesty's Government on the one hand and (a) Lord Aldington and (b) any other representatives of Westland plc on the other.

In 1984 and 1985, as before and since, there were very numerous contacts between Westland and Government departments, especially the Department of Trade and Industry, the sponsor Department for the company, and the Ministry of Defence, its most important customer. It would be impracticable to list these contacts.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement about the effects on the British economy since 1979 as a result of the Government's privatisation programme; and what future effects she expects.

Privatisation, through exposing former state-owned companies more fully to the disciplines and opportunities of the market, and reducing political interference, improves the efficiency of businesses that are crucial to our overall economic performance. As such, it forms an important part of the Government's overall strategy for long-term economic growth.The privatisation programme is also promoting the widening of share ownership, further reinforcing the enterprise culture that is essential for economic success.Since 1979 12 major companies, comprising some 20 per cent. of the state commercial sector, have been privatised. By the end of this Parliament, a further 20 per cent. should have been transferred to the private sector.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list the countries whose Governments have asked the United Kingdom for information or help in formulating their own privatisation policies.

The success of the United Kingdom's privatisation programme is internationally recognised. A number of overseas Governments and Members of Parliament have approached Government Departments here, as well as City institutions, privatised companies and other bodies, to ask about our privatisation experience. It would not be practical to list all the Governments who have made these inquiries, as no central record is kept.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate how many people will be employed from Wales on the construction of the Channel tunnel; in which industries; and if he will make a statement.

It is for the Channel Tunnel Group-France-Manche to decide, subject to European Community rules, how to award contracts for construction of the Link and for the supply of materials. I know it is CTG-FM's intention to invite bids from companies throughout the United Kingdom. No doubt the business will go to those which are most competitive.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration has been given to the possible involvement of private capital in developing rail services to serve the Channel tunnel.

Channel fixed link shuttle rail services will be financed and operated entirely by the private sector. I would welcome any proposals from BR for the involvement on a commercial basis of private capital in the provision of through train services.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the plans he has for improved vehicle relicensing facilities.

Following an agreement I concluded with the chairman of the Post Office last year, an extra 500 sub-post offices will be added to the vehicle relicensing network over the period to the middle of 1988. This will give a total of over 3,500 post offices which can be used for vehicle relicensing. In addition motorists who are not in possession of a licence renewal reminder form or a registration document will shortly be able to relicense at the Post Office. Steps are also being taken to tighten up the security of this transaction. Motorists will then be able to use post offices for virtually all vehicle relicensing transactions.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will now take steps to collect information on the movement of nuclear and other radioactive materials; and if he will make a statement.

The regulations which cover the transport of radioactive materials require adequate protection to be built in to the containers used, so that the materials could not present a significant danger, even in the event of a severe accident. Safety is not therefore dependent on special routeing. No useful purpose would be served by collecting information on the movement of individual consignments.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the report on counter-pollution measures to protect marine and bird life from sea and shore pollution from shipping.

I have no plans to publish a report on counter-pollution measures to protect marine and bird life from sea and shore pollution from shipping. If the hon. Member is referring to the promised report on counter-pollution measures taken following the grounding of the Bridgeness off the Pembrokeshire coast in June 1985, then I refer him to the answer of 5 December 1985 at columns 304–5. As promised in that answer, a copy of the report has been placed in the House Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many motorists' deaths occurred on the M1, M6 and M3 between June 1984 and June 1985.

Following is the information:

Deaths on motorways M1, M3 and M6 July 1984 to June 1985
	M1	M3	M6
Pedestrians*	6	2	1
Motor cyclists	3	0	2
Car occupants	24	4	27
Light goods vehicle occupants	4	1	3
Heavy goods vehicle occupants	5	0	5
TOTAL	42	7	38

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made initiating a study of traffic problems east of Leeds following his decision on the A1–M1 link; and if he will make a statement.

I hope to make a further statement soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the list he has received of highway improvements schemes from the Hertfordshire and Essex county councils relating to the expansion of Stansted airport, together with the estimated costs when they are available to him; and if he will indicate his response to the request that these schemes should be funded by additional capital allocations to the councils concerned.

The councils have provided the following lists with their estimates of costs:

	£ million
a) Hertfordshire (dual carriageway unless stated)
Al20 Puckeridge to Little Hadham	7·78
Al20 Little Hadham to Bishop's Stortford	4·98
Al20 Bishop's Stortford Bypass	5·97
Bishop's Stortford SW distributor—(single carriageway)	3·20
A414 Stansted Abbots to Harlow (Eastwick)	5·98
A414 Harlow (Eastwick) to A1184	6·00
Total	33·91
b) Essex
New bypass of Takeley requiring amendments to the airport road system and extension to the Great Dunmow bypass	16·00
Widening of Great Dunmow bypass	1·50
Widening from Great Dunmow to Rayne or provision of second carriageway (costed option)	10·00
M11/B1383 interchange at Quendon	3·00
New single and dual carriageway from A1184 to M11 (Harlow link)—estimate for single carriageway	6·00
Widening of Al20 from B1383 to M11	1·50
Total	38·00

We will meet representatives of both Councils to discuss these and other proposals. I do not speculate on the outcome. We shall take into account any proposals for capital expenditure on local roads when the Councils submit their Transport Policies and Programmes for future years.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received concerning the 'O' operator licensing system.

Several aspects of the PSV operator licensing system were debated during the passage of the Transport Act 1985. On the goods side the department is currently considering representations on the proposed changes to the arrangements for charging fees, and also responses to the review of the environmental provisions which came into effect in June 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to alter the regulations concerning the 'O' operator licensing system.

Various changes in the PSV operator licensing system will be made by statutory instruments during this year as part of the implementation of the Transport Act 1985. On the goods side, the Department has recently consulted interested parties on amendments to the regulations which would affect the basis on which fees for operator licences are charged.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the police maintain records of minor motoring convictions following disqualification.

The police do not maintain records of minor motoring convictions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria were used in deciding the amount of double cell accommodation to be built into Woolwich and Bicester prisons; and if he will make a statement.

In relation to Woolwich prison, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question by the hon. Member for Woolwich (Mr. Cartwright) on 5 December at column 320. The design for Bicester prison is based in part on the Woolwich design, and similar considerations apply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how often he met the chief constable in charge of the national reporting centre throughout the dispute between the National Union of Mineworkers and the National Coal Board.

The president of the Association of Chief Police Officers has control of the centre ex officio. My right hon. and learned Friend the then Home Secretary met the two chief constables who were successively president of ACPO during the period of the dispute on a number of occasions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many days the Auld committee on Sunday trading sat for; from how many witnesses it received oral evidence; from how many witnesses it received written evidence; and what was the total estimated cost of the inquiry.

I regret that not all this information is readily available. I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current waiting time for persons holding British overseas citizenship who do not have an automatic right of abode but have applied, for instance, on quota systems, for the right of abode, broken down by each country of application.

Certain British overseas citizens are eligible for admission to the United Kingdom under the special voucher scheme introduced in 1968. A British overseas citizen who meets the requirements of this scheme may be issued with a special voucher, which does not confer on the holder a right of abode in the United Kingdom but enables him to come to this country for immediate settlement.In India, applicants for special vouchers who were interviewed at the end of 1985 had waited eight years but current estimates suggest that those now applying will have to wait for about four years as the number of applications lodged has declined in recent years. In East Africa applicants for special vouchers were interviewed within 1½ months and there are no queues elsewhere.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times the right of appeal against the internal disciplinary system in the police forces has been exercised (i) for members of the regular constabulary and (ii) for members of the special constabulary for each of the past three years.

Appeals were received from members of police forces dealt with for offences against discipline as follows:

Year	Number
1983	*76
1984	†76
1985	*71

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how precisely police forces record the location of accidents involving the deaths of motorists on motorways; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the police record the location of cars involved in accidents on motorways by reference to the numbered marker posts situated at 100 m intervals along each carriageway. Photographs are also normally taken in fatal accident cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Official Report the proportion of the population of each police authority area in England covered by neighbourhood watch schemes.

The information required is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department takes to ensure that persons admitted to the United Kingdom as visitors leave the United Kingdom upon the expiry of their leave to enter.

The conditions on which persons are admitted to the United Kingdom as visitors require them to leave the country before their period of leave expires, save where an application is made for an extension of stay or change of immigration status.The embarkation of some visitors is confirmed by reference to the record on the current computer system and those who overstay their leave are liable to prosecution or to the other enforcement action for which provision is made in the Immigration Act 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reports have been published by the Animal Experimentation Advisory Committee since 1979.

In 1979 the advisory committee published a report on the LD50 test. In 1981 it published a report on the framework of legislation to replace the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the mechanism whereby military personnel are mobilised in aid of the police for exercises such as those at Heathrow and for other public order duties;(2) to whom the police apply when seeking assistance from the military; and whether an application from a chief constable or Commissioner of Police is required to be considered by or supported by any independent individual or body prior to the request going forward.

A decision to request the deployment of military units to Heathrow is taken at a senior level in the Metropolitan police. The request is made to the Home Office where it is considered in consultation with other interested Government Departments. If no objections are raised, the police are given authority to proceed with the detailed arrangements and the Ministry of Defence authorise the deployment of the military units.As to public order matters, the police have the primary responsibility for maintaining the peace. A chief officer of police who required reinforcements in dealing with public disorder would seek them first from other chief officers. Under long-standing arrangements, the deployment of service men to assist the police, as a measure of last resort, would require the approval of Ministers of the Crown.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what section or department inside the Home Office is specifically responsible for military aid to the civil power; and how many people are employed on such work.

The Home Office aspects of this subject are dealt with by the police department. No one is employed full time on it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to the extent of the availability and illicit consumption of the drug sinsemilla, a derivative of the cannabis plant; what steps he proposes to take to control the incidence of this drug; if he will call for reports from chief constables as to the numbers of prosecutions of persons alleged to be dealing in this drug or to have exhibited posters offering it for sale; and if he will make a statement.

We have no evidence at present that sinsemilla is available on any significant scale in the United Kingdom. As a form of cannabis it is already controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and there are adequate powers to deal with persons who deal in it or who offer it for sale. My right hon. Friend has no plans, in the short term, for calling for special reports from chief constables, but we shall ensure that the Home Office drugs inspectorate monitors the situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with the number of training places in Wales in the current year and the number planned for 1986–87; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. This year the Manpower Services Commission expects that around 10,200 adults will start on training courses. The provisional planned figure for next year is around 14,000, which represents a three-fold increase since 1984–85. The two-year YTS will commence in April and 27,000 young people are expected to participate in 1986–87.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with the operation of the community programme in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. At the end of December some 12,090 people were employed on the community programme in Wales and the Manpower Services Commission are confident of filling the 20,000 places allocated to Wales by June of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received regarding the proposal by the Trade and Industry Committee that the Wales tourist board should be abolished.

I have received letters from two local authorities and two town councils; and the Wales tourist board has responded to my invitation to comment on this report. I also took note of the questions and comments of members of the Select Committee on Welsh Affairs when I appeared before them on 29 January.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received about projected traffic flows along the A5 on Anglesey after the completion of the A55 dual carriageway and the roll-on roll-off deep-water berth in Holyhead.

I have received representations about future traffic flows on the A5 in Anglesey from my hon. Friend and from the Holyhead town council.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many primary schools in Wales have (a) fewer than 50 pupils and (b) 50 pupils or more; and if he will make a statement.

354 and 1,442 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the average per capita income of self-employed farmers in Wales in each of the years 1980 to 1985; and if he will make a statement.

Data showing net incomes of self-employed farmers are not available. Data showing net incomes on full-time farms for the period up to 1982–83 are published in "Farm Accounts in Wales", copies of which are available in the Library of the House. Figures for 1983–84 and 1984–85, which are the latest available, are given in press notices issued by the Welsh Office, copies of which I am sending to the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales by what proportion farm incomes have fallen during each of the past two years (a) in Wales and (b) in the area of the Vale of Glamorgan council; and if he will make a statement.

For Wales it is estimated that average farm incomes fell by 4 per cent. between 1982–83 and 1983–84 and by 10 per cent. between 1983–84 and 1984–85. These latest estimates are based on the farm accounts of a sample of farms. Separate figures are not available for the area of the Vale of Glamorgan council.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to build advance factories in New Quay, Ceredigion, during the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

No provision is made for advance factory building in New Quay in the 1986–87 construction programme of the Development Board for Rural Wales which I approved last month. Two factories are to be built in Ceredigion, both in Aberystwyth. Building programmes for the years after 1986–87 have yet to be determined.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what measures are being taken to safeguard the livelihoods of marginal hill farmers in Wales after the 43 per cent. fall in agricultural incomes last year.

The net farm income of hill and upland farms in Wales for 1985–86 is now forecast to decline by much less than the 43 per cent. national figure. The Government have already taken action to safeguard the livelihoods of farmers in hill areas by significantly increasing the hill livestock compensatory allowances for 1986 and by granting fodder aid in those areas most severely affected by last summer's poor harvest.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he takes to ensure the adequacy of standards and even distribution of resources in the community care, health and social services sectors; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has increased the financial resources for the Health Service in Wales to record levels. To ensure that these resources are used effectively to improve patient care he has implemented the Griffiths report on the management of the NHS.The provision of personal social services is the responsibility of individual local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what meetings he has had since Christmas with the teaching trade unions in Wales to discuss the teachers' pay dispute; and if he will make a statement.

None. Responsibility for teachers pay rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will indicate the level of resources allocated to the urban programme since 1979.

Resources allocated in Wales to the urban programme, which since 1982 has also included the urban development grant scheme, have increased from £7·1 million in 1979–80 to £29 million in 1986–87, or by 144 per cent. in real terms. The total allocated since 1979–80 is £148 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all the urban development grant projects approved by his Department during 1985, stating for each project the total amount of grant, the percentage of grant comprising the total cost of the project, the name of the public or private sector participants within each project, and the cost from public funds for each new job created within each project.

A list of all projects approved for urban development grant in Wales and which are completed, currently under way, or have yet to commence has been placed in the Library of the House. This contains, for each project, a brief description, the name of the sponsoring local authority and private sector participant(s), the total amount of grant awarded and the estimated total development cost.Seven projects were approved in the calender year 1985, of which two were approved-in-principle only and are subject to further negotiations on the precise level of grant. For the remaining five just over £9·5 million of urban development grant will bring forward a total investment of around £52 million. The average estimated public expenditure per new job to be created in commercial, industrial and mixed projects is £5,047. This ignores jobs retained, temporary jobs and the other social, economic and environmental benefits.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average length of time taken in National Health Service laboratories in Wales to process and diagnose cervical smears.

This information is not collected by the Welsh Office. In January informal inquiries of Welsh health authorities indicated that the time taken for test results to be notified varied between 48 hours and nine weeks of the test being taken. Apart from one laboratory, all were processing them within the eight weeks recommended by the joint NHS-Welsh Office working group on cervical cytology screening services in Wales, as the maximum time.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give details of the surveys his Department is carrying out into school buildings; and if he plans to publish the results.

The Department is seeking the help of local education authorities in carrying out a sample survey of school building improvement needs. The sample comprises about 1,000 county and controlled primary and secondary schools in England. The survey, which has been developed in consultation with the local authority associations, seeks information on the scale and nature of work which might be necessary to bring the schools in the sample to defined standards of educational adequacy and physical condition. Copies of the Department's circular letter on the survey and of the survey questionnaire and notes of guidance have been placed in the Library. My right hon. Friend will inform the House of the outcome of the survey.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, further to the answer given to the hon. Member for Caithness and Sutherland, on 30 January, Official Report, column 571, what information he has as to the willingness of Quinton Kynaston school, St. John's Wood, NW8, to admit the police.

I understand that the school does admit the police and that a number of visits are currently being planned.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many universities in the United Kingdom offer Japanese and how many Russian; and how many students are studying one or other, or both.

There are 28 universities in the United Kingdom which are offering degree courses in October 1986 in Russian language and studies and four which offer Japanese. In 1984, the latest year for which student numbers are available, there were 530 full-time undergraduates studying Russian language and studies. The numbers studying Japanese are not collected separately but are included within a group of 546 studying Oriental, Asian and African languages and/or studies.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he intends to take to seek to resolve the teachers' pay dispute in Wales.

As I said in my statement on 3 February, at column 29, I welcome the provisional agreement reached at ACAS which holds out the promise of a settlement of the 1985 dispute, a return to normal working in the schools in England and Wales and constructive negotiations on pay, pay structure, duties and conditions of service. I hope that we shall soon see progress in negotiations which will justify the release of the additional resources which the Government have set aside for an increase in teachers' pay.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what meetings he has had with the Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals, the Association of University Teachers and other groups concerning proposals to review the system of academic tenure in universities.

My right hon. Friend discussed the Government's intentions to limit academic tenure with the Committee of Vice chancellors and Principals in October 1984 and with the Association of University Teachers in January 1985. Both bodies have been invited to comment on the detailed proposals for legislation published on 9 December last.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many individuals would be affected by the proposed changes in the system of academic tenure for university lecturers.

The proposed limitation of academic tenure, as opposed to any amendment of provision for dismissal for "good cause", will apply only to those appointed after a future date yet to be specified, and to existing staff on promotion. It is therefore not possible to identify the numbers that will be affected.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has made any recent estimate of the degree to which university academic staff salaries are comparable to those on offer in industry to individuals of similar qualification and experience; and if he will make a statement.

No. The Government continues to believe that the prime determinants of pay levels should be the employers' ability to pay and the need to recruit, retain and motivate staff of the right quality. We noted in our Green Paper on higher education that national undifferentiated pay scales may not always enable institutions to attract staff whose skills are in most demand elsewhere and suggested that the pay structure in the universities should reflect to a greater extent the differential supply of, and demand for, abilities in different subjects.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consideration he is currently giving to the introduction of a national system of maintenance allowances for students undertaking approved courses in schools or colleges beyond the period of compulsory education.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Short) on 29 November at column 689.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has on the costs which will fall upon local education authorities as a result of the proposed implementation of the new GCSEs; and if he will give (a) the proposed examination fee, (b) the revised cost for equipment, stationery and text books, and (c) the financial implications for staffing costs in schools as a result of the new examination syllabuses.

The general criteria for the GCSE provide that syllabuses and methods of assessment should not make unreasonable demands on human or financial resources. The Government's expenditure plans should allow authorities to make appropriate provision for the GCSE provided that they take advantage of the scope for efficiency savings and contain their costs. The GCSE examining groups have not yet determined examinations fees for the GCSE.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if the new GCSEs will meet the educational and academic standards now available in the GCE and CSE examinations.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if the planned introduction of the new GCSEs in 1988 will be influenced in any way by the consultative and preparatory process involving teachers who are currently involved in dispute with their employers.

As my right hon. Friend has recently confirmed, the Government do not intend to postpone the introduction of the GCSE. A national training programme, intended to help teachers with their preparations for the new examination courses, is now well under way.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total number of advisers and other non-teaching staff employed (a) by his Department and (b) by local education authorities on curriculum development for each year from 1975 to 1986; and what was the total cost by year.

Although the Department funds a variety of curriculum development work, officials are not themselves directly involved in carrying it forward. Her Majesty's inspectors of schools do engage in and support curriculum development by such means as their programme of short courses for teachers and participation in in-service training activities arranged by local education authorities. They also stimulate such work through their publications, inspection reports and day-to-day contacts with the education service. Information is not available to quantify or to cost the amount of time spent on these various activities. Nor is information available centrally in respect of the work of advisers and other non-teaching staff employed by local education authorities.

asked the Attorney-General why Her Majesty's Government have decided to take action against the European Assembly in the European Court under article 173 of the treaty of Rome which provides the court with jurisdiction over the actions of the Council of Ministers and the Commission; and if he will make a statement.

In its application to the European Court of Justice, the United Kingdom, in common with the views shared by the Council and the other Member states bringing actions against the European Assembly, contends that, despite the apparently restrictive wording of Article 173 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community and Article 146 of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, those provisions on their true construction extend to Acts of the European Assembly. The United Kingdom also relies upon Article 38 of the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community. which expressly confers jurisdiction on the European Court to declare an act of the Assembly to be void. As the budget of the European Communities covers expenditure of all three Communities, the application refers to jurisdictional bases in each of the three treaties.

asked the Attorney-General whether the immunity granted in a leak inquiry pre-empts any possible decision by the police to institute a prosecution.

If and to the extent that I authorise the grant of immunity from prosecution, its practical effect is to preclude prosecution by any other person or authority, including the police. The exact nature and extent of the immunity granted in any particular case will depend on the facts of that case.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the extent and disbursement of, and expenditure on, United Kingdom aid to the Southern African Development Co-ordination Conference.

British aid provided under the auspices of the Southern African Development Co-ordination Conference amounts so far to £1,568,000 in terms of actual expenditure. It has been spent on transport and communications projects, a fisheries study, and training awards. We have, however, pledged a total of £22 million primarily for regional transport projects.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the latest activities of NCB (Enterprise) Ltd.

At the end of January 1986, NCB (Enterprise) Ltd. had committed £7–1 million assisting 311 projects to create 4,412 job opportunities. Additionally, at the end of December 1985 just under £1 million had been committed to assist 45 enterprise agencies.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will arrange for an exhibition of energy savings opportunities in the Upper Waiting Hall.

I have arranged that there will be an exhibition on energy savings opportunities in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday 3 March to Friday 7 March, which I have agreed to open at 4.30 pm on the Monday.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list in the Official Report the governmental agencies to which his 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.

The information for the financial year ended 31 March 1985 is:

Total grant paid by agency to voluntary bodies
Sponsoring Department	Agency	£
Northern Ireland Office	Probation Board for Northern Ireland	623,000
Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland	Northern Ireland housing Executive	23,901

Sponsoring Department	Agency	£
Department of Economic Development	Local Enterprise Development Unit	1,600,000
Department of Education for Northern Ireland	Arts Council for Northern Ireland	2,161,300
	Sports Council for Northern Ireland	300,829

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to publish proposals for a draft order applying to Northern Ireland the provisions of the Matrimonial and Family Provisions Act 1984.

It is the Government's intention to publish proposals in the near future for the implementation in Northern Ireland of Law Commission reports Nos. 112, 116 and 117.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the arrangements to monitor the implementation of the Government's equal opportunities policy in the Northern Ireland Civil Service; and what are the figures for the composition of the Northern Ireland Civil Service in terms of religion, sex and disability.

I announced on 4 December 1984 the publication of an equal opportunities policy statement which proclaimed and emphasised the commitment of the Northern Ireland Civil Service to equal opportunity for all its staff on the basis of ability, qualifications and aptitude and without regard to religion, sex or any other irrelevant factor.A comprehensive monitoring system has now been set up by the Department of Finance and Personnel. It is generally accepted that the nature of the management arrangements for the school where the civil servant was educated is the best proxy for determining a person's religious affiliation in Northern Ireland and this information is now held on the computer for just under 95 per cent. of the non-industrial Northern Ireland Civil Service and, within that figure, for 99 per cent. of general service grades in post at 1 January 1985. It was sought by questionnaire supplemented by reference to personal files, and was validated by the issue to all staff of transcripts of the information. As new recruits join the Civil Service, the appropriate information will be added to the data base.For the purpose of monitoring, "Protestants" are defined as those who were educated in a school attended mainly by Protestant pupils, "Roman Catholics" as those who were educated in a school managed by the Roman Catholic Church and attended mainly by Roman Catholic pupils, and "unknown" as staff who were educated outside Northern Ireland or whose school management type was either undefined or unknown. At this stage of the exercise, disabled staff have been defined as those who are or were at some stage of their careers recorded as registered disabled persons.A preliminary analysis of the database gives the global composition of the Northern Ireland Civil Service in percentage terms as follows:

	Male	Female	Total
Protestant	30·2	28·2	58·4
Roman Catholic	14·7	18·0	32·7
Unknown	6·0	2·9	8·9
TOTAL	50·9	49·1	100

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the number of claimant couples with children in receipt of (a) family income supplement, (b) unemployment benefit, (c) supplementary benefit and (d) unemployment benefit and supplementary benefit for the latest available year in Northern Ireland.

The information requested is as follows:

Benefit	Number of claimant couples	Latest available date
Family income supplement	11,541	31 December 1983
Unemployment benefit	3,570	8 December 1984
Supplementary benefit	33,332	31 December 1983
Unemployment benefit and supplementary allowance	24,752	31 December 1983

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the number of lone parent claimants in receipt of (a) family income supplement, (b) unemployment benefit, (c) supplementary benefit and (d) unemployment benefit and supplementary benefit for the latest available year in Northern Ireland.

The information requested in respect of unemployment benefit is not available. The rest of the information is as follows:

Benefit	Lone parent claimants	Latest available date
Family income supplement	1,725	31 December 1983
Supplementary benefit	14,693	31 December 1983
Unemployment benefit and supplementary allowance	139	31 December 1983

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the number of claimants in receipt of (a) unemployment benefit, (b) supplementary benefit and (c) unemployment benefit and supplementary benefit excluding lone parents, couples with children and pensioners for the latest available year in Northern Ireland.

The information requested is as follows:

Benefit	Number of claimants	Latest available date
Unemployment benefit	22,265	8 November 1984
Supplementary benefit	73,900	7 December 1983
Unemployment benefit and supplementary benefit	2,500	7 December 1983

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the number of claimants in receipt of (a) sickness benefit, (b) invalidity benefit pension, (c) industrial disablement benefit and (d) non-contributory invalidity pension and housewives' non-contributory invalidity pension or (e) severe disablement allowance for the latest available year in Northern Ireland.

The number of claimants in receipt of the benefits listed, at the latest available date, is as follows:

Social Security Office	Number of single payments			Rate per 1,000 claimants for supplementary benefits
	Under pension age not required to register	Under pension age required to register	Over pension age	Under pension age not required to register	Under pension age required to register	Over pension age
Andersonstown	5,212	8,838	738	2,800	2,218	787
Antrim	3,810	7,141	750	2,552	2,332	557
Armagh	1,831	3,793	1,359	1,802	1,698	876
Ballymena	1,877	3,602	491	1,303	1,495	277
Ballymoney	1,757	2,936	915	1,573	1,536	695
Ballynahinch	303	405	199	927	927	389
Banbridge	1,243	1,739	488	1,773	1,354	427
Bangor	979	1,620	373	970	1,000	218
Carrickfergus	1,572	2,715	632	1,953	1,975	823
Coleraine	2,818	4,172	596	1,943	1,943	376
Cookstown	1,393	3,041	1,029	1,811	1,896	1,039
Corporation Street*	5,095	8,491	1,497	1,741	1,526	532
Downpatrick*	1,080	1,842	298	2,734	1,659	385
Dungannon	2,929	4,560	1,899	2,192	1,795	1,080
Enniskillen	2,354	3,429	1,770	1,268	1,143	585
Falls Road	8,692	11,199	1,112	3,427	2,356	651
Holywood Road	3,928	5,986	1,559	2,004	1,674	561
Kilkeel*	370	606	171	1,069	1,237	365
Knockbreda	1,861	2,459	742	1,356	1,069	271
Larne	1,327	2,591	346	1,872	1,777	471
Limavady	1,369	2,903	624	2,545	1,631	823
Lisburn	4,075	6,984	2,155	2,746	2,607	1,031
Londonderry*	5,556	9,179	1,948	1,582	1,172	669
Lurgan*	3,015	5,506	1,227	2,842	1,737	814
Magherafelt	1,321	2,296	1,122	1,263	1,146	725
Newcastle	630	1,121	393	1,745	1,611	692
Newry*	3,406	6,655	2,201	1,623	1,461	804
Newtownabbey*	3,441	5,785	1,202	2,323	2,016	760
Newtownards	946	1,369	489	940	871	322
Omagh	3,653	3,892	1,768	3,007	1,715	1,132
Portadown	1,847	2,826	719	2,023	1,857	534
Shaftesbury Square	1,917	3,289	883	1,432	1,019	497
Shankill	2,612	3,558	993	1,843	1,465	583
Strabane	3,325	6,079	2,154	2,276	2,082	1,288
* Data incomplete due to industrial action.
1. The rate of single payments of supplementary benefit per 1,000 claimants in Northern Ireland in 1985, based on the average number of claimants in the year, was 1,434.
2. The average single payment paid to persons in Northern Ireland in 1985 who were:
(a) under pension age and not required to register for work was £115·85;
(b) under pension age and required to register for work was £116·75;
(c) over pension age £108·98.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the number of single payment awards to the rate per 1,000 claimants in each office in Northern Ireland to (a) persons under pensionable age not required to register for work, (b) persons under pensionable age required to register for work and (c) persons over pensionable age for the latest available year; and what is (i) the rate per 1,000 claimants and (ii) the average payment to persons in each of the categories listed.

The information requested is as follows in respect of 1985:

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the number of claimant pensioners (a) aged over 80 years and (b) aged between 60 and 79 years in receipt of (i) retirement pension, (ii) supplementary pension and (iii) retirement pension and supplementary pension for the latest available year in Northern Ireland.

The information requested is as follows:

Number of Pensioners
Benefit	Over 80	Aged 60–79	Latest available date
Retirement Pension	*37,616	†171,802	30 November 1985
Supplementary Pension	12,430	41,124	7 December 1983
Retirement Pension and Supplementary Pension	11,695	35,810	7 December 1983

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any changes are proposed in the cash limit for the Inland Revenue.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class XIII vote 6 will be increased by £21,900,000 from £858,715,000 to £880,615,000. This is to cover, in part, some necessary additional expenditure on computers that will be offset by savings in later years and, in part, the cost of overtime associated with an initiative, announced by the Department on 12 November 1985, to reduce arrears of work in local tax offices. The increase will be charged to the reserve and will not therefore add to the planning total of public expenditure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the tax treatment of payments under the enterprise allowance scheme.

A number of representations about the tax treatment of the enterprise allowance have been received.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will set out in tabular form, for each year since 1969 to the latest now available, identifiable public expenditure by programme in each standard region of England and in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales expressed (a) in total cash terms and (b) in cash terms per head of population.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen, South (Mr. Malone) on 22 February 1985 at column 606 which gave figures back to 1979–80. I shall arrange for more recent data to be published in the Official Report as soon as it becomes available. However, this will only cover identifiable public expenditure in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland; total public expenditure figures for regions within England are not available. Figures going back to 1969 are not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is the practice of the Inland Revenue to seek to raise an assessment on grant paid to police officers by police authorities to compensate for tax on rent allowance paid in the previous year; and if he will make a statement.

I can confirm that the grant to which the hon. Member refers is chargeable to income tax and is assessed accordingly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what was the capital outflow from the United Kingdom in each year since 1978 to (a) the United States of America and (b) the countries of the EEC, excluding Spain and Portugal; and what was the capital inflow to the United Kingdom from these countries for the same period.

The figures available for capital transactions between the United Kingdom and the EC as a whole (excluding Spain and Portugal) over the period 1978–1984 were published in table 12.1 of the 1985 CSO publication "United Kingdom Balance of Payments" (the Pink Book). Figures for transactions with individual countries, including the US, are available only in respect of direct investment (other than by oil companies) and are published in tables 3.1 (outward) (as amended) and 4.1 (inward) of the 1983 HMSO "Business Monitor MA4, Overseas Transactions". Both publications are available in the House of Commons Library.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how Inland Revenue or Customs and Excise inspectors carry out in-depth investigations into the tax affairs of companies, businesses or schedule D taxpayers;(2) how many companies went into liquidation, businesses ceased trading and schedule D taxpayers were declared bankrupt following in-depth Inland Revenue or Customs and Excise investigation, stating what proportion that was of those companies, and so on assessed for further tax in each of the years since 1979;(3) how many in-depth investigations into companies, businesses and schedule D taxpayers the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise have carried out where they have gone back up to 10 years for each of the years since 1979 to date; and how many such investigations revealed that further tax was payable giving the total figures involved in each year;(4) how many companies, businesses and schedule D taxpayers following an in-depth investigation by the Customs and Excise or Inland Revenue were given the choice to pay a lesser sum over a period of time or contest the full sum before the commissioners, giving the sums involved;(5) why, in in-depth investigations by the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise, the onus is placed on the taxpayer to show that further tax is not payable;(6) what administrative directions set out how the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise exercise their powers to carry out in-depth investigations into the tax affairs of companies, businesses and individuals paying tax under schedule D, after audited accounts have been submitted; and if he will state up to how far back such investigations normally go;(7) what proportion of directors of companies or businesses or schedule D taxpayers who were assessed as liable to pay further tax after an in-depth investigation used professional legal or accountants' assistance in their dealings with the Inland Revenue at the time of agreeing to pay further tax.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are being taken by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise to facilitate the detection and to prevent the importation into the United Kingdom of the drug Sinsemilla; what quantities of the drug have so far been impounded at ports of entry; how many people have been found to have the drug in their possession on entering the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

The importation of Sinsemilla, a term describing a seedless cannabis plant, is prohibited under Section 3(1) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise enforce this prohibition as for all other prohibited drugs. The detection, prevention and investigation of drug smuggling is a top priority of the Board of Customs and Excise.Separate records of Sinsemilla seizures are not kept because it is a form of herbal cannabis.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the Polish Government concerning proposals for the rescheduling of its foreign debts.

Proposals for the rescheduling of Polish foreign debts are considered by official creditors on a multilateral basis. Agreements were reached last year on restructuring official debts falling due in the period from 1982 to 1985. Discussions continue on future rescheduling arrrangements. The United Kingdom signed a bilateral rescheduling agreement with Poland on 30 November 1985 covering debts falling due in the period 1982–84.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had with his partners in the Council of Ministers of the European Community before the United Kingdom left the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation; and what views they put to him.

My right hon. and learned Friend had no formal collective discussions about UNESCO with Community colleagues in the period immediately preceding our decision not to rescind our notice of withdrawal from the organisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent visit of the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Renton) to Hong Kong.

I paid a brief visit to Hong Kong on 23 and 24 January following my visit to China between 18 and 23 January. During my stopover in Hong Kong I held useful discussions with the Governor, the Executive Council and the Unofficial Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the People's Republic of China has made any objections concerning further democratic reform in Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement.

There will be a review of the further development of representative government in Hong Kong in 1987. Decisions on any further developments must await the outcome of that review. The Joint Liaison Group discussed recent changes in Hong Kong's political system at the group's second meeting between 26 and 29 November 1985. The group's proceedings are confidential, but the atmosphere of the discussions was friendly and co-operative.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make a statement on relations with the Philippines following the recent elections;(2) what arrangements Her Majesty's Government have made to obtain information about the conduct of the recent election in the Philippines; and if he will make a statement.

We attach importance to our relations with the Philippines, as a member of the Association of South-East Asian Nations and a country of considerable strategic importance. Together with our European Community partners, we expressed the hope that the election would be held in accordance with the law and the constitution. The situation is still very confused, but we are concerned at the widespread allegations of electoral fraud.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress he has made in negotiating with the East German Government compensation for British citizens whose property was appropriated by the Nazis prior to 1945.

We held a plenary session of talks about these claims which arise mainly for the period post 8 May 1945 with the German Democratic Republic in London in March 1985. Good progress was made at that meeting and a programme of work was agreed to help speed up the remainder of the negotiation. Most of that work is now well in hand. We hope to hold further meetings with the German Democratic Republic this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his reply of 27 January, Official Report, column 369, what further information he has as to the nature and the directors of the two European legal entities referred to in that answer.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what underspend is anticipated in urban aid community programme aid in 1985–86; how much he expects Bradford to be offered in additional community programme funds; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 18 October 1985 that authorities in Yorkshire and Humberside would receive £2·25 million out of an extra £15 million which was being allocated to inner-city authorities in England. Bradford subsequently made a bid for some of those additional resources but key information about the proposed schemes is still awaited. The amount to be offered will depend upon the quality of the projects submitted and the city council's ability to use extra capital resources before the end of the current financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out in the Official Report the rate support grant paid or to be paid to Stockport metropolitan district council in each of the years from 1976–77 to 1986–87, inclusive, in real terms.

The rate support grant figures for the metropolitan district of Stockport are shown below in constant 1984–85 prices:

(1) 1976–77 to 1980–81
	£ million (1984–85 prices)
1976–77	80·2
1977–78	73·9
1978–79	72·1
1979–80	66·6
1980–81	65·4

(2) 1981–82 to 1986–87
	£ million (1984–85 prices)
1981–82	51·8
1982–83	47·2
1983–84	45·7
1984–85	43·7
1985–86	39·1
1986–87	*(42·6)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the rate support grant 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 rate support grant figures for the London borough of Waltham Forest are shown below:

	Cash £ million	1979–80 Prices million
(1) 1979–80 and 1980–81
1979–80	46·7	46·7
1980–81	54·4	45·8
(2) 1981–82 to 1986–87
1981–82	54·6	41·8
1982–83	61·0	43·7
1983–84	65·5	44·9
1984–85	64·8	42·6
1985–86	65·1	40·7
1986–87	(71·2)	*(42·6)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on what research is being carried out by the water research centre into the increasing discoloration of water supplies in certain parts of the United Kingdom.

As the causes of discoloration are known, no research is being carried out on this by the water research centre. However, the Yorkshire water authority—studying what particular factors may have given rise to recent increases in discoloration in their area. Improved methods for removing colour from water are being developed, for example, by the Yorkshire water authority, which is installing a pilot plant using a novel process to treat highly coloured, soft water. Its performance will be monitored and evaluated by the water research centre.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment on what date his Department received a reply from Birmingham city council to the circular letter from his Department to local authorities of 18 February 1983 concerning prefabricated reinforced concrete houses.

Birmingham city council first responded to my Department's letter on 11 May 1983. The information it supplied was amended and updated in subsequent letters of 9 June 1983 and 10 December 1984. I understand that the matter is still being pursued and that further information will be forwarded in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of the total paper used annually by his Department is recycled paper; and what savings the use of this paper represents in cash terms and as a proportion of the total expenditure on paper by his Department.

A total of 11 tonnes of recycled paper has been ordered for letter-headed notepaper and matching envelopes and about half has been distributed. Figures for total paper consumption are not readily available and percentages and costs cannot be given.Annual savings in cash terms are currently in the region of £5,500.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) on what date he received the working party report on water and sewerage law;(2) which association or bodies were represented on the working party on water and sewerage law;(3) when he expects to make a statement on his policy towards the conclusion of the working party report on water and sewerage law.

The working party comprised officials from my Department, members of the water industry nominated by the Water Authorities Association and the Water Companies Association, and one outside member with local authority experience. I received a report on their findings on 19 December. As mentioned in the White Paper "Privatisation of the Water Authorities in England and Wales" (Cmnd. 9734), a consultation paper on the Government's proposals for reform of the law will be published shortly.