asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all new hospital schemes, including the anticipated number of beds, approved since May 1979, and indicate the likely opening date.

New hospital schemes in Wales approved by the Welsh Office since May 1979 are given in the following table:

Scheme	Number of beds	Opening Date
St. Davids, Carmathen, Scheme I	90	July 1983
East Glamorgan EMI Unit	30	February 1984
Bryntirion Scheme II—EMI Ward	30	April 1984
Geriatric Ward	30	February 1985
		Likely
		Opening Date

NHS Staffing in Wales
*Year	Ancillary staff		†Works and maintenance staff		Ambulance staff		Nurses and midwives
	Whole-time equivalent	Percentage of total	Whole-time equivalent	Percentage of total	Whole-time equivalent	Percentage of total	Whole-time equivalent	Percentage of total
1975	11,476	24·7	1,813	3·9	1,204	2·6	21,255	45·8
1976	11,552	24·3	1,850	3·9	1,279	2·7	21,804	46·0
1977	11,407	23·9	1,912	4·0	1,286	2·7	21,860	45·9
1978	11,753	23·9	2,019	4·1	1,330	2·7	22,386	45·6
1979	11,879	23·6	2,051	4·1	1,336	2·7	23,031	45·8
1980	11,989	23·0	2,073	4·0	1,347	2·6	‡24,366	46·8
1981	11,839	22·2	2,128	4·0	1,396	2·6	25,362	47·6
1982	11,784	21·8	2,145	4·0	1,416	2·6	25,909	47·9
1983	11,559	21·4	2,117	3·9	1,428	2·6	25,981	48·0
1984	10,964	20·1	2,144	3·9	1,460	2·7	26,448	48·5

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he will publish the consultation paper on the local authority capital expenditure control system in Wales which was promised in chapter 6 of the Green Paper, "Paying for Local Government." Cmnd. 9714.

Scheme	Number of beds	Opening Date
Ystradgynlais Community Hospital	52	March 1986
Morriston Scheme II	72	Mid 1986
St. Tydfil's Day Unit and Adaptations	154	Mid 1986
Llandudno Scheme I	66	Mid 1987
Ysbyty Glan Clwyd Scheme II	146	Mid 1988
Llandough Obstetric Unit	108	Early 1989
Prince Charles Scheme II	77	Early 1991
Singleton Scheme III—Obstetric/ Paediatric Unit	188	Mid 1991
Geriatric	90	Mid 1993
General Acute Unit	30	Mid 1993
Wrexham Scheme II—Phase 1	140	Mid 1991
Phase 2	60	Mid 1994

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many (a) ancillary staff, (b) maintenance staff, (c) ambulance staff and (d) nurses and midwives were working in the National Health Service for each year since 1975 expressed in absolute numbers and as a percentage of total National Health Service staff.

Whole-time equivalents for each of the required staff groups are given in the following table, expressed as numbers and as percentages of the total:

The consultation paper "Review of the Local Authority Capital Expenditure Control System in England and Wales" is being sent to local authorities and other interested organisations today. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to grant financial assistance for post-experience courses for university graduates or students; and if he will make a statement.

I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to how many university lecturers have been either pensioned off or have accepted voluntary redundancy payments during the last six academic years and as to what costs have been incurred by universities as a result.

The numbers and cost of academic and academic related staff taking retirement under the UGC's redundancy compensation scheme since it was introduced in 1981–82 have been.

Year	Number retiring	Cost £ million
1981–82	1,600	35
1982–83	1,100	31
1983–84	1,000	30
1984–85	700	23

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many university students graduated in mathematics and physics at universities or polytechnics in the academic years between 1974–75 and 1978–79 and between 1979–80 and 1984–85; and how

	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85	1985–86	1986–87
Arts	2,000	2,500	2,700	2,900	3,150	3,310	3,480
Science	3,000	3,600	3,600	3,800	4,150	4,350	4,570
Clinical years of medicine, dentistry and veterinary science	5,000	6,000	6,600	7,000	7,650	8,050	8,450

The recommended minima apply to undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many academic research projects have been financially supported by research councils and the University Grants Committee during the last seven years.

The University Grants Committee provides through recurrent, equipment and capital grants general financial support for reseach in universities. This support is not related to specific projects, but is intended to provide facilities and research activities, which can be further selectively funded by specific grants by the research councils.The number of research grants awarded by each of the research councils to academic institutions over the past seven years is as follows:

The number of first-degree graduates in mathematics and physics from universities in Great Britain and polytechnics in England and Wales between 1974–75 and 1978–79 is estimated to have been 27,000. The number graduating between 1979–80 and 1984–85 was 35,000. The number of graduates in 1985–86 is not yet available.Information is not collected annually on the deployment of teachers within schools. A staffing survey was carried out by the Department in 1984 among a sample of maintained secondary schools in England estimated that some 41,000 full-time teachers were teaching mathematics and some 13,000 were teaching physics. There were also some 10,000 who were teaching remedial mathematics. Some of the teachers in each of these subjects were teaching other subjects as well. Physics is also taught as a component within the subject "General Science", which some 28,000 teachers were teaching in 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the range of tuition fees which students from overseas have been required to pay for (a) undergraduate courses and (b) post graduate courses at universities since 1979–80.

For the academic year 1979–80 the Secretary of State for Education and Science recommended that overseas students should pay fees of £940 for undergraduate courses and of £1,230 for postgraduate courses. For subsequent years minimum fee levels have been recommended by the University Grants Committee as follows:

	Number
AFRC	839
ESRC	1,790
MRC	3,272
NERC	1,119
SERC	14,892

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the different maintenance awards which have been granted for each academic year since 1979–80; and to what extent the value of student maintenance grants has declined or increased during the same period.

The information is as follows:

asked the Attorney-General what change he proposes to make to the 1985–86 cash limit for class IX, vote II, Administration of Justice, Northern Ireland.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the cash limit for class IX, vote II will be increased by £355,000 from £7,403,000 to £7,758,000. The increase is required for repair costs to certain courthouses in Northern Ireland and for the procurement of alternative accommodation for the legal aid department in Belfast, both of which have been necessary following extensive damage caused by terrorist activity. The increase will be a charge to the Capital Reserve and will not, therefore, add to the planning total of public expenditure.

asked the Attorney-General, for the most recent year for which figures are available (a) how many social security appeals in total were made to the commissioners, (b) how many of these appeals were made other than on a point of law, (c) how many appeals were made by women and (d) how many of these appeals were made other than on a point of law.

In 1985, 2,151 appeals were made to the social security commissioners in England and Wales. I understand from my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland that the corresponding figure for Scotland was 426 appeals. I regret the other information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will support research into the economic feasibility of the construction of modular units for small-scale electricity generators suitable for rural areas and for export.

My Department will consider any proposal submitted for small-scale devices. Support is currently being given towards small-scale hydro-power devices for electricity generation.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many jobs have been lost in the mining industry since March 1985.

Between the end of March 1985 and 25 January 1986 there was a reduction of some 31,000 in the number of men on NCB colliery books.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many collieries have been closed since March 1985; and what is the approximate number of tonnes of capacity which have been lost as a result of these closures.

I understand from the National Coal Board that 24 pits have closed since the end of March 1985. Questions of mining capacity are matters for the National Coal Board.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people admitted to the United Kingdom as (a) visitors and (b) on temporary admission subsequently married and sought permission to settle; and how many such applications were permitted in each of the last three years.

I regret that information on these lines is not at present available, but arrangements have already been made which should in due course enable it to be provided in the future.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he is undertaking, and with whom, in preparation for the appointment to the chair of the Equal Opportunities Commission which falls vacant in May.

None. My right hon. Friend intends to invite the present chairman to serve for a further term.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken before approving amendments to the tactical options manual to ensure that operations carried out in accordance with the current manual would not give rise to any conflict with section 3 of the Criminal Law Act 1967.

The tactical options manual was prepared by the Association of Chief Police Officers and it is for it to make any amendments. The amount of force which may lawfully be used in any police operation is subject always to the overriding principle set out in section 3 of the Criminal Law Act 1967 that the police shall use no more force than is reasonable in the circumstances. What is reasonable force for the purposes of that section depends on the particular circumstances in each case.

Baker asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the average sentence imposed by criminal courts for rape during each of the last five years; and if he will indicate the trend over the same period of the shortest and longest custodial sentences imposed for the offence.

The readily available information is published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, Supplementary Tables" (for 1984, under classification 19 in vol. 2, tables S2.1(A), S2.3, S2.4 and S2.5). These figures include offences of aiding and abetting rape and attempted rape. Corresponding information for 1985 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his reply to the right hon. Member for Brent, East on 30 January, Official Report, column 582, if he will name the persons and groups from ethnic minorities whom the advisory committee on community radio has met and which the committee has listed.

I understand that discussions between members of the advisory panel on community radio, individually and collectively, and interested individuals and groups from the ethnic minority communities took place on an informal, and in some cases a confidential, basis. In these circumstances, I do not think it would be right to identify particular individuals or groups.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to make any changes to the cash limits within his responsibility.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the cash limit on the Prisons Vote (class IX, vote 8) will be raised by £22,814,000 from £591,444,000 to £614,258,000. This additional provision will be used to cover the cost of acquiring, converting and bringing into use RAF Lindholme as a prison, and of other measures taken to cater for the exceptional surge in the prison population during the first half of the year. In addition, the provision will be used to make good a shortfall in the level of receipts expected to be realised from the sale of staff quarters.The additional provision is partly offset by savings on the Central Administrative, Miscellaneous and Community Service and Civil Defence Vote (class IX, vote 7), the cash limit for which will be reduced by £9,000,000 from £306,352,000 to £297,352,000. The net increase of £13,814,000 will be charged to the Reserve and will not therefore add to the public expenditure planning total.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to enable district councils to add to the national non-domestic rate poundage proposed in "Paying for Local Government", Cmnd. 9714, an element which will reimburse the local authority for giving a commercial refuse disposal service.

Local authorities currently have a duty to make reasonable charges for trade refuse disposal. This would not be affected by introduction of a national non-domestic rate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those local authorities which deduct tenants' rents from salary, when the tenant is an employee of the authority.

The information requested is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy towards the future role of metropolitan district councils in relation to the work currently done by the metropolitan counties in promoting local industrial or economic development initiatives.

It is for the metropolitan district councils to decide whether they wish to continue promoting local industrial economic initiatives currently carried out by the metropolitan counties, following implementation of the Local Government Act 1985.They already have the necessary powers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on progress towards further provision for handicapped people in building and access regulations.

The next step is to recast the access regulations in schedule 2 to the Building Regulations 1985 into the functional form of the rest of the regulations. A draft requirement and a supporting approved document giving practical guidance are being prepared for public consultation.When the British Standards Institution has finalised its comprehensive code of practice on means of escape for disabled people, we will be consulting publicity on extending the scope of the access requirements to a wider range of buildings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the total of legal costs incurred by district auditors over the last 10 years and the total costs of district auditors other than legal costs in identifying and certifying and dealing with losses.

The Secretary of State for the Environment is no longer responsible for local authority audit. Responsibility for this was transferred to the Audit Commission in 1983. The information requested, so far as it relates to the period prior to 1 April 1983, is not available except at disproportionate expense. As to the period after the date of handover, I can only suggest that the hon. Member contacts the Audit Commission. The commission's address is: 1 Vincent Square, London SW1P 2PW.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, since 1972, how many certificates of surcharge have been issued against local councillors by the District Audit Service; what is the total of the losses certified by district auditors over that period; how much of such losses has been recovered from surcharged councillors; and to what account surcharged receipts have been paid.

The Secretary of State for the Environment is no longer responsible for local authority audit. Responsibility for this was transferred to the Audit Commission in 1983. Between 1 January 1972 and 31 March 1983, 37 certificates of loss were issued against council members by the district audit service. The total value of the certificates was £123,317. As to the number issued after 1 April 1983, the hon. Member may care to contact the Audit Commission. The commission's address is: 1 Vincent Square, London, SW1P 2PW.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now announce the final allocations of grant to assist voluntary bodies affected by the abolition of the metropolitan counties and the Greater London council; and if he will make a statement.

I am pleased to be able to announce our allocations of transitional grant to London boroughs and metropolitan districts. These allocations are only one aspect of the support to voluntary bodies after abolition. Transitional grant is the extra support to £20 million worth of voluntary projects which the Government are giving over and above the RSG support to abolition areas. The allocations will be followed as soon as possible by letters to individual authorities indicating which projects have been accepted as eligible for transitional grant. This will enable authorities to go ahead and confirm their very substantial spending plans — amounting to some £40 million for grants to voluntary bodies affected by abolition.In making allocations we have taken account wherever possible of spending to replace grants paid direct to voluntary bodies by abolition authorities, even though some of these additional spending burdens are not directly supported by transitional grant.This spending is in addition to the plans for funding county-wide groups which are now under way in most areas. In London, a budget of £27 million has already been drawn up by the boroughs for collective funding of voluntary groups. This is a very encouraging demonstration of the willingness of authorities to work together in support of the voluntary sector.I am placing a list of allocations in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from voluntary organisations located in Merseyside concerning their future funding; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 11 February 1986]: I have received a number of representations from Merseyside voluntary organisations, particularly expressing the view that transitional grant should be made available to help local authorities on Merseyside support voluntary bodies operating countrywide. My Noble Friend the Minister of State met a representative group in Liverpool on Friday.I refer also to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside (Mr. Parry) on 7 February 1986, at columns

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans for increasing the rate support grant for local authority police spending in the coming financial year.

I have decided, following my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary's decision to increase the rate of police grant for 1986–87 to 51 per cent., to increase the total of block grant available by £22 million. This would increase aggregate Exchequer grant in England by about £50 million. All police authorities in both shire and metropolitan areas, will gain grant, and the table shows how much. This recognises the priority which the Government give to improving the policing of our country. No other authorities will lose grant. All ratepayers will therefore benefit from the increased grant.

	Estimated increase in Police grant	Estimated increase in block grant	Estimated increase in police and block grant
	£	£	£
Greater Manchester Police Authority	1,650,000	1,440,000	3,090,000
Merseyside Police Authority	1,180,000	1,040,000	2,220,000
South Yorkshire Police Authority	720,000	410,000	1,130,000
Northumbria Police Authority	880,000	200,000	1,080,000
West Midlands Police Authority	1,640,000	1,110,000	2,750,000
West Yorkshire Police Authority	1,250,000	720,000	1,970,000
Metropolitan Police	8,050,000	8,870,000	16,920,000
Avon	450,000	270,000	720,000
Bedfordshire	270,000	210,000	480,000
Berkshire	330,000	350,000	680,000
Buckinghamshire	290,000	290,000	580,000
Cambridgeshire	280,000	200,000	480,000
Cheshire	480,000	320,000	800,000
Cleveland	340,000	260,000	600,000
Cornwall	200,000	70,000	270,000
Cumbria	240,000	60,000	300,000
Derbyshire	450,000	230,000	680,000
Devon	450,000	180,000	630,000
Dorset	260,000	170,000	430,000
Durham	300,000	30,000	330,000
East Sussex	290,000	220,000	510,000
Essex	690,000	550,000	1,240,000
Gloucestershire	230,000	120,000	350,000
Hampshire	690,000	440,000	1,130,000
Hereford and Worcester	300,000	190,000	490,000
Hertfordshire	470,000	430,000	900,000
Humberside	460,000	140,000	600,000
Isle of Wight	60,000	20,000	80,000
Kent	680,000	350,000	1,030,000
Lancashire	720,000	170,000	890,000
Leicestershire	430,000	240,000	670,000
Lincolnshire	270,000	90,000	360,000
Norfolk	310,000	190,000	500,000
Northamptonshire	270,000	170,000	440,000
North Yorkshire	330,000	100,000	430,000
Nottinghamshire	510,000	270,000	780,000
Oxfordshire	240,000	170,000	410,000
Shropshire	190,000	80,000	270,000
Somerset	200,000	80,000	280,000
Staffordshire	510,000	220,000	730,000
Suffolk	270,000	140,000	410,000
Surrey	440,000	380,000	820,000
Warwickshire	230,000	150,000	380,000
West Sussex	280,000	220,000	500,000
Wiltshire	250,000	100,000	350,000

These calculations assume that rate-limited authorities would have spent at rate limit and other authorities would have spent at the settlement assumption, and that the increase in police grant leads to no increase in expenditure. They assume that before the increase in the police grant police expenditure net of police grant accounted for 6·7 per cent. of shire counties' settlement spending assumption.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish the consultation paper on the local authority capital expenditure control system which was promised in chapter 6 of the Green Paper "Paying for Local Government", Cmnd. 9714.

The consultation paper "Review of the Local Authority Capital Expenditure Control System in England and Wales" is being sent to local authorities and other interested organisations today. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give the expenditure on transport professional and technical services by local authorities for 1985–86 based upon estimated outturn and for 1986–87 as planned.

Outturn figures for 1985–86 will not be available until the end of 1986. Local authorities do not provide separate budget figures for expenditure on professional and technical services. It is combined with net receipts from parking. The total of local authority 1985–86 budgets for the two items combined is £194 million. Recent trends suggest that in 1985–86 net receipts from parking will total about £45 million. So if local authorities' outturn is in line with their budgets, the figure for professional and technical services will be £239 million. The provision for professional and technical services in the Government's public expenditure plans for 1986–87 is £189 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what changes he proposes to make to the cash limits on class VI, votes 1 and 4.

The cash limit for class VI, vote 1 is to be reduced by £4 million from £825,009,000 to £821,009,000 and the cash limit for class VI, vote 4 is to be reduced by £4 million from £108,945,000 to £104,945,000. These reductions will partly offset additional costs on class VI, vote 3, which are subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate. The balance of the public expenditure costs of the increase will be charged to the Reserve and will not add to the planning total of public expenditure.The reduction on class VI, vote 1 is in respect of delayed payment of reimbursements to county councils of redundancy costs of ex-local authority staff of road construction sub-units and will not affect this year's road construction programme. The reduction on class VI, vote 4 is in respect of lower than expected costs of agency services and savings on salaries and other running costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list in the Official Report those voluntary bodies and organisations assisted by his Department with grant aid in the last financial year for which figures are available, and the size of the grant so given.

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

	£
Northern Ireland Office
Belfast Law Centre	70,200
Northern Ireland Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders	210,094
Extern	303,122
Northern Ireland Intermediate Treatment Association	1,365
Save the Children Fund	152,697
Presbyterian Church (Thompson House)	49,778
Ulster Quaker Service	9,304
Dismas House	18,701
Belfast Voluntary Welfare Society	12,001
Citizens Advice Bureau	825
Belfast Rape Crisis Centre	250
Department of Finance and Personnel
Refreshment Clubs	380,659
Northern Ireland Civil Service Sports Association	27,500
Northern Ireland Civil Service Retirement Fellowship	4,100
Army Benevolent Fund	15,000
Police Benevolent Fund	49,000
Ulster Defence Regiment Benevolent Fund	20,000
Public Service Training Council	178,673
Northern Ireland Economic Development Office	240,000
Incorporated Council of Law Reporting	3,000
Civil Service Benevolent Fund	13,000

	£
Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland Council of Social Services	276,000
Community Service Volunteers	5,381
St. Vincent de Paul Society	52,026
Belfast Voluntary Welfare Society	3,500
Cara-Friend	5,147
Retirement Association of Northern Ireland	7,235
International Voluntary Service	14,438
Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents	27,268
Northern Ireland Council for Orthopaedic Development	16,800
National Deaf Children's Society	2,420
Ulster Institute for the Deaf	6,300
Age Concern	71,873
Abbeyfield Society	2,400
Royal Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults	7,560
Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health	81,432
Northern Ireland Marriage Guidance Council	31,981
Northern Ireland Council on Alcohol	55,599
British Epilepsy Association (Northern Ireland Region)	6,000
Northern Ireland Women's Aid Federation	30,300
Northern Ireland Widows Association	5,230
Gingerbread	45,660
Catholic Marriage Advisory Council	70,900
Church of Ireland Social and Family Welfare Society	1,120
Blind Centre for Northern Ireland	18,000
Motability	11,111
Multiple Sclerosis Action Group	13,340
Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Families Association	700
Physically Handicapped and Able-Bodied	13,000
Family Planning Association (NI Region)	3,500
Council on Alcohol Related Problems	23,924
Crossroads Care Attendant Scheme	14,700
Multiple Sclerosis Society (NI Branch)	3,150
Ambulance Services	3,150
Women's Health Fair	2,250
National Health Service Retirement Fellowship	557
PRAXIS	22,298
Home Insulation Schemes	56,437
Disabled Drivers' Association	1,050
National Schizophrenia Fellowship	16,065
National Council for Carers and the Elderly Dependants	500

	£
National Rubella Campaign	700
Northern Ireland Hospice	50,000
Northlands Centre	17,000
Marie Curie Memorial Foundation	5,000
Industrial Therapy Organisation	25,000
Order of Malta Ambulance Corps	15,500
British Red Cross Society	1,289
Women's Information Group	2,000
CRUSE in Northern Ireland	11,250
Open Door Housing Resettlement Project	7,000
Presbyterian Church in Ireland	1,820
Northern Ireland Council for the Single Homeless	1,500
Workers Education Association	2,400
Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust	10,000
Northern Ireland Childminders Development Committee	4,193
Parents Advice Centre	2,913
Extern—West Belfast Auto Project	26,770
Northern Ireland Foster Care Association	4,163
Northern Ireland Pre-School Playgroup Association	66,954
Northern Ireland Intermediate Treatment Association	1,364
Northern Ireland Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders	3,443
Down and Connor Catholic Family Welfare Society	53,225
National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children	37,444
Dr. Barnardo's	53,926
Belfast Voluntary Welfare Society—Home Start Scheme	5,016
Community Service Volunteers—Give and Take Scheme	20,455
National Council of Voluntary Child Care Organisations (Northern Ireland Group	1,833
National Playbus Association	671
Glendhu Children's Hostel, Belfast	3,827
Johnston Memorial Children's Home, Belfast	10,000
Manor House Children's Home, Lisburn	15,223
Marianville Mother and Baby Unit, Belfast	14
Nazareth House, Londonderry	2,619
Orans Children's Home, Newry	415
Glebe House Holiday Home, Kilclief	1,187

	£
Department of Education for Northern Ireland
Arts Council for Northern Ireland	2,849,000
Linenhall Library	52,000
Northern Ireland Library and Information Services Council	628
Forum for Community Work Education	35,000
Protestant and Catholic Encounter	9,300
Corrymeela	69,989
Harmony Community Trust	18,000
Irish Council of Churches/Irish Commission for Justice and Peace—Peace Education Programme	14,248
Children's Community Relations Holiday Scheme	106,398
Churches' Central Committee for Community Work	17,982
Citizens' Advice Bureaux Headquarters	109,000
Voluntary Sports Organisations	1,407,567
Glencairn Community Association	181
Ulster Peoples College	7,524
Methodist College Inter-Schools Project	2,455
Sixth-formers Community Relations Project	127
Youth Clubs and Youth Organisations	1,486,479
Ulster American Folk Park	355,000
Workers' Educational Association	97,774
Educational Guidance Service for Adults	34,215
Retirement Association of Northern Ireland	4,000
Northern Ireland Council for Educational Research	163,802
Centre for Information on Language Teaching and Research	3,000
British Association for the Advancement of Science	3,345
Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges	56,560
League for the Exchange of Commonwealth Teachers	9,019
Council for Education in World Citizenship	915
Ulster College of Music	6,809
Ulster Society for Irish Historical Studies	1,640

	£
Christian Education Movement	468
Community of the Peace People	4,475
Irish Genealogical Association/Christian Heritage	475
Joint Ecumenical Talks Project	270
Community Relations Information Service	630
Federation for Ulster Local Studies	500
Community Relations in Schools—(East Belfast) Project	7,615
Federation of Women's Institutes (Northern Ireland)	1,000

	£
Department of Environment for Northern Ireland
Antrim Ringing Group	480
British Trust for Ornithology	2,500
Copeland Bird Observatory	1,000
Irish Brent Geese Expedition	1,000
National Trust Strangford Lough Wildlife Scheme	32,500
North Down Ringing Group	400
Northern Ireland Bird Records Committee	435
Northern Ireland Ornithologists Club	580
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds	12,594
Strangford Lough Wildfowlers Association	500
Ulster Game and Wildfowl Society	250
Ulster Trust for Nature Conservation	1,050
National Trust	415,000
Conservation Volunteers (NI)	75,080
Northern Ireland Council for Social Services	3,505
HEARTH Housing Association	9,554
Road Safety Council (NI)	65,000
Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents	41,593
Environmental Improvement Scheme	2,737
St. Oliver Plunkett Environmental Committee	41,350
Belfast Voluntary Welfare Society "Better Belfast" Project	20,040
Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations	70,500
National Federation of Housing Association	200
Registered Housing Associations	41,413,371
Unregistered Housing Associations	66,725
Belfast Housing Aid Society	20,000
Tenants Participation Advisory Service	12,500
Community Technical Aid	10,000
Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland
Royal Ulster Agricultural Society	48,248
Down Royal Corporation of Horse Breeders	55,866
Young Farmers Clubs of Ulster	46,000
Various Show Societies	1,695
Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents	125
Seed Potato Promotions Ltd	130,000

	£
Department of Economic Development
The Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions	80,000
Action for Community Employment (funded 860 projects in private and voluntary sector organisations)	9,724,000
Community Volunteering Scheme (funded 24 voluntary sector organisations)	523,000
Youth Community Projects (funded 27 projects in private and voluntary sector organisations)	877,539
Community Workshops	12,094,737
Younghelp	587,175
National Trust	171,657
Incorporated Cripples Institutes and Holiday Homes	46,942
Thomas Doran Training Centre	264,856
Glencraig Village Community	88,742
Mourne Grange Village Community	154,923
Clanobogan Village Community	8,000
Royal National Institute for the Blind	10,309
Irish Linen Guild	9,148
Automation Centre (Queen's University Belfast)	47,250
Wolfson Signal Processing Unit (Queen's University Belfast)	7,000

	£
The Lambeg Industrial Research Association	96,439
Occupational Respiratory Surveillance Scheme	15,217
Occupational Health Survey	2,789
Northern Ireland Consumer Council	50,000
University of Ulster (CAD Engineer) R & D Purposes	25,279
The Scottish-Irish Trust of Ulster	99,042
The Railway Preservation Society	2,700
YMCA	4,466

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will outline the steps which his Department takes to ensure that grant-aid given to voluntary bodies and organisations, whether directly or indirectly, is not used for political purposes.

All expenditure on Government grant-aid to voluntary bodies and organisations in Northern Ireland is subject to careful scrutiny to ensure that it is used for the genuine purpose of improving social, environmental or economic conditions in areas of need. There are special circumstances in Northern Ireland requiring particular care in administering grant-aid, and where it is considered that payment of grant would not be in the public interest, no grant is paid.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about assistance to the Local Economic Development Unit from the youth enterprise scheme.

The youth enterprise scheme, which is administered by Practical Action in Northern Ireland, is an excellent example of the private and public sectors pooling their resources to provide help for young people wishing to start their own businesses. The scheme is designed to create a more supportive environment for such young people by providing funding, equipment and professional advice. The Local Enterprise Development Unit, Northern Ireland's small firms agency, fully supports the initiative and is making available £300,000 over the next three years to assist the scheme on condition that this is matched on a pound-for-pound basis by the private sector.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the action he is taking to limit the destruction caused by mink.

Wild mink are not a significant agricultural pest, although they are predators of wildfowl, poultry, fisheries and game.The Ministry provides specialist advice to occupiers and others on control methods and also loans traps free of charge.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether it is proposed to change the cash limit on any departmental Vote for which he has responsibility.

Yes. Following underspending on a number of services, the cash limit for class III, vote 4 (Other Agricultural and Food Services and Support for the Fishing Industry) is being reduced by £600,000 from £144,683,000 to £144,083,000 and that for class III, vote 5 (Departmental Research, Advisory Services and Administration) by £500,000 from £207,248,000 to £206,748,000. These reductions are in addition to the savings I announced on 12 December, at column 728, in reply to the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies) and together they will partly offset increased expenditure, subject to parliamentary approval, of £20,296,000 on class III vote 3 (Agricultural Support, Animal Health, Land Drainage and Flood Protection) which is not subject to a cash limit and for which a supplementary estimate will be presented to Parliament shortly. The balance of this increase not covered by offsetting savings will be charged to the Reserve, and there will therefore be no net addition to the planning total of public expenditure.

asked the Prime Minister what assessment Her Majesty's Government have made of the effect on (a) employment and (b) the United Kingdom manufacturing base of the possible sale of British Leyland divisions to United States companies.

The Government's aim is to secure a strong vehicle manufacturing base in the United Kingdom. Only efficient operating units producing competitive products which people at home and abroad want to buy will strengthen the manufacturing base and guarantee jobs in the long term.

asked the Paymaster General (1) how many women were in full-time employment as at 1 January in each of the years 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980 and 1985;(2) how many women were in part-time employment as at 1 January in each of the years 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980 and 1985.

The following table gives, for the December preceding each of the dates specified, the numbers of female employees in employment and of females in self employment in Great Britain. Figures are not available for January. Estimates of full-time and part-time female employees are not separately available for dates before 1971, and are available only for June between 1971 and 1977. Estimates of females in full-time and part-time self employment are not separately available.

Females in Employment in Great Britain (thousands)
	Employees in Employment
December each year	Full time	Part time	Self Employed	All females
1959	n/a	n/a	†326	7,577
1964	n/a	n/a	†350	8,349
1969	n/a	n/a	†368	8,603
*1974	n/a	n/a	378	9,407
1979	5,626	3,918	366	9,910
1984	4,963	4,283	614	9,859

n/a Not available.

asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement on his assessment of the effect of rationalisation on employment.

Rationalisation which helps to improve efficiency and competitiveness helps also to generate wealth, and, ultimately, employment.

asked the Paymaster General how many local enterprise agencies have been established.

There are currently 314 local enterprise agencies in the United Kingdom, of which 231 meet the requirements of the Finance Act 1982, which allows private sector sponsors tax relief on their contributions to such bodies.

asked the Paymaster General what was the number of job vacancies registered at Sunderland jobcentres at the latest available date; and how many of these were (a) part-time, (b) situated outside the Sunderland travel-to-work area and (c) funded by community programme, or other special employment measures.

The number of vacancies (excluding those funded by special employment measures) registered at Sunderland jobcentre remaining unfilled on 3 January 1986 was 477, of which 53 were part-time (that is for fewer than 30 hours per week). In addition, there were 159 unfilled vacancies funded by special employment measures, of which 42 involved work for fewer than 35 hours per week.The exact location of vacancies relating to travel-to-work area boundaries could be established only at disproportionate cost, but it is known that all vacancies registered at Sunderland jobcentre are in the Sunderland area.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what fresh proposals Her Majesty's Government intend to make on verification of nuclear tests and a comprehensive test ban treaty.

None. The United Kingdom tabled a paper on seismic monitoring for a comprehensive test ban at the conference on disarmament in July 1985. This followed two earlier United Kingdom papers. We are disappointed that these papers have not yet received clue attention in what is a useful forum for discussion of these issues.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has received any request from the Swedish Government for assistance in establishing the reason for the non-return of the body of Raoul Wallenberg after his reported death in a Soviet prison.

We have made it clear to the Swedish authorities that we stand ready to help them to establish with greater certainty what has happened to Raoul Wallenberg, and accordingly remain in contact with them on this subject. The Swedish Government have not, however, asked us for assistance in pursuing the particular question raised by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what cost estimates have been made for the proposed swimming pool at Mount Pleasant in the Falklands.

If it is decided to build a swimming pool at Mount Pleasant, it is currently estimated that the cost will be somewhere between £1 million and £2 million depending upon the form of construction used and the specification.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the funding of the Ministry of Defence defence arms control unit.

I shall answer shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to which countries Britain has provided training for police and special force personnel during 1985 (a) in Britain and (b) overseas; and what training is expected to be provided during 1986.

In 1985 Britain provided police training for the following countries:

(a) In Britain	Indonesia
Anguilla	Italy
Antigua	Jamaica
Australia	Jordan
Bahamas	Kenya
Bangladesh	Kiribati
Bahrain	Lesotho
Barbados	Luxembourg
Belgium	Malaysia
Belize	Maldives
Botswana	Mauritius
Brunei	Montserrat
British Virgin Islands	Netherlands
Cyprus	Nepal
Canada	New Zealand
Denmark	Nigeria
Ethiopia	Oman
Egypt	Portugal
France	Qatar
Fiji	Saudi Arabia
Gambia	Singapore
Guyana	St. Helena
Gibraltar	St. Vincent
Grenada	Sri Lanka
Hong Kong	Swaziland
India	Tonga

Tanzania	Grenada
Uganda	Indonesia
United States of America	Jamaica
Vanuatu	Kenya
West Germany	Kuwait
Yemen Arab Republic	Lesotho
Zambia	Malawi
Zimbabwe	Montserrat
	Oman
(b) Overseas	Pakistan
Anguilla	Swaziland
Antigua and Barbuda	St. Lucia
Bangladesh	St. Kitts and Nevis
Bahamas	St. Vincent
Belize	Tanzania
British Virgin Islands	Turks and Caicos Islands
Barbados	Uganda
Cayman Islands	Vanuatu
Dominica	Zambia
Gambia

The training was arranged by a number of Government Departments, principally the ODA and the Home Office. Some of it was paid for by the British Government, for example under the aid programme, and some by the countries themselves.It is not our practice to provide details of training for special force personnel.For 1986 it is too early to say what police training is expected to be provided but the pattern is unlikly to be very different from 1985.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of houses in Scotland are connected to the public sewerage system; how this compares with other member states of the European Community; and how this compares with the United States of America.

Information about the percentage of houses in Scotland connected to the public sewerage system is not available. It is however estimated that about 94 per cent. of the population of Scotland live in accommodation so connected. The other information requested is not held by the Scottish Development Department, but I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given yesterday by my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing, Urban Affairs and Construction at the Department of the Environment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what figures he has on the number of people earning wages below supplementary benefit levels in Strathclyde.

This information is not available. Details of earnings in Strathclyde can be obtained from the "New Earnings Survey 1985", part E, available in the Library of the House, but this survey does not collect any information on household circumstances, and supplementary benefit levels cannot therefore be derived for comparative purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the conclusions of the report on "Dementia in Scotland" produced by Scottish Action on Dementia, a copy of which has been forwarded to him.

I welcome the very recent publication of this report as a clear statement of what its authors see as the main needs of persons suffering from dementia and the pattern of services which they may require either at home or, where necessary, in residential care or in hospital. I shall certainly wish to give careful consideration to the recommendations addressed to me on the provision of health and social work services, finance, research and other matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated income from non-domestic rates for each Scottish local authority in this financial year; and what level of uniform non-domestic rate poundage would produce the same total non-domestic rate income.

The information is as follows. The estimate is arrived at by multiplying the 1985–86 non-domestic rateable value figure for each authority by its rate poundage. The figures used are those in "Rating Review" published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (Scottish Branch) in August 1985. This estimate of rate income is overstated since relief on empty property, appeals and other factors will reduce the actual income received. On the same basis, a uniform rate poundage of 64·8p would produce the same total non-domestic rate income.

	£ million
Regions
Borders	10·150
Central	50·510
Dumfries and Galloway	16·262
Fife	68·975
Grampian	82·226
Highland	30·623
Lothian	133·830
Strathclyde	364·638
Tayside	57·569
Districts
Berwickshire	0·344
Ettrick and Lauderdale	0·908
Roxburgh	0·846
Tweeddale	0·286
Clackmannan	2·339
Falkirk	11·239
Stirling	6·003
Annandale and Eskdale	0·792
Nithsdale	1·633
Stewartry	0·402
Wigtown	0·477
Dunfermline	5·050
Kirkcaldy	8·831
North East Fife	2·040
Aberdeen City	20·583
Banff and Buchan	2·849
Gordon	0·968
Kincardine and Deeside	0·707
Moray	2·283
Badenoch and Strathspey	0·397
Caithness	0·470
Inverness	2·551

	£ million
Lochaber	0·891
Nairn	0·221
Ross and Cromarty	1·240
Skye and Lochalsh	0·215
Sutherland	0·200
East Lothian	3·219
Edinburgh City	32·441
Midlothian	2·975
West Lothian	5·086
Argyll and Bute	2·962
Bearsden and Milngavie	0·943
Clydebank	3·178
Clydesdale	1·506
Cumbernauld and Kilsyth	2·397
Cumnock and Doon Valley	1·132
Cunninghame	8·491
Dumbarton	5·349
East Kilbride	3·214
Eastwood	1·091
Glasgow City	88·700
Hamilton	5·624
Inverclyde	6·011
Kilmarnock and Loudoun	4·106
Kyle and Carrick	5·717
Monklands	4·856
Motherwell	8·602
Renfrew	14·000
Strathkelvin	2·985
Angus	2·470
Dundee City	12·936
Perth and Kinross	4·296
Islands Councils
Orkney	10·498
Shetland	36·477
Western Isles	4·353
SCOTLAND TOTAL	1,175·163

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the availability of a national cervical screening facility in Scotland.

Health boards already provide cervical cytology services in Scotland and, despite backlogs that have built up in one or two areas, these services are operating satisfactorily. There is no justification for setting up a national cervical screening facility in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will detail all moneys which have been recouped from the Scottish Development Agency and the Highlands and Islands development board, respectively, for each financial year since 1980, stating in each case whether any sums involved relate to (a) profits realised through the sale of shareholdings or assets, (b) underspend from existing budgets at the time, and (c) any other sources; and if he will make a statement.

There have been no occasions on which the Highlands and Islands Development Board has paid moneys to the Exchequer. In cases where the board did not spend the budgeted amounts approved by Parliament or obtained receipts which were not used for higher than budgeted spending there would be a reduced need for payments of grant-in-aid by my Department to the board.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the chairman or chief executive of the Scottish Development Agency; and what matters were discussed.

My right hon. and learned Friend met the chairman and chief executive of the agency on Friday 17 January to discuss the agency's budgetary provision for the present financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the chairman of the Highlands and Islands Development Board; and what matters were discussed.

My right hon. and learned Friend met Mr. Cowan on 17 January 1986 to discuss budgetary provision for the present financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the Scottish commentary on the public expenditure White Paper: "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1986–87 to 1988–89", Cmnd. 9702.

My Department is issuing today "Public Expenditure to 1988–89: A Commentary on the Scotland Programme" which gives more information about the public expenditure within my responsibility. I have arranged for a copy to be sent to each right hon. and hon. Member representing a Scottish constituency and I shall be pleased to let any other hon. Member have a copy on request. Copies are also being placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on progress on the proposed new general agreement on tariff and trade round.

The contracting parties to GATT agreed unanimously on 28 November 1985 to set up a preparatory committee for a new round of multilateral trade negotiations. Ministers are expected to make a formal decision to launch the new negotiations at a special meeting planned for this September.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is satisfied that all sectors of business, in particular independent grocery retailers, are benefiting from his Department's policies of competition.

The Government's competition policy is designed to create a climate in which enterprises are able to compete on the basis of their perception of the market opportunities available. This will benefit the consumer by leading to improved service and keener prices, and will make United Kingdom industry and commerce as a whole more prosperous and competitive.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to receive the report of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on the proposed merger of the General Electric Company and Plessey; and if he will make a statement.

The Monopolies and Mergers Commission is due to make its report by 19 July.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he plans to make a statement on the current state of negotiations on the multi-fibre arrangement.

Negotiations in the GATT on renewal of the MFA are still at an early stage, and discussions in the Community on a mandate for the negotiations are continuing. It is too early to say whether we are likely to achieve our objectives as described by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 9 May 1985, but the Community has agreed that an extension of the MFA is needed.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his policy towards the maintenance of an anti-surge mechanism in any renewed multi-fibre arrangement.

The anti-surge mechanism is one of a number of features of the present MFA which we, in conjunction with our Community partners, are examining in the negotiations on the renewal of the MFA. Our attitude to it will take account of the overall package on offer.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met the Trades Union Congress textile committee concerning the renewal of the multi-fibre arrangement.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry met the Trades Union Congress textile committee on 24 January to discuss the renewal of the multi-fibre arrangement.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to finalise the negotiating mandate in connection with the renewal of the multi-fibre arrangement; and if he will make a statement.

The Council of Ministers agreed on 27 January that the Council should try to agree on a Community negotiating mandate before the end of February.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he proposes to give special treatment to the poorest supplier countries in negotiations to renew the multi-fibre arrangement.

As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced on 9 May 1985, the Government are in favour of special treatment being given to the poorest supplier countries. The question of how such countries should be defined is still under discussion in the Community. In our view, the narrower the definition, the more favourable the treatment that could be given to such countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals for social development he wants to see incorporated in any new multi-fibre arrangement.

I see no need to strengthen the existing references to social development in the multi-fibre arrangement.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the negotiations relating to the renewal of the multi-fibre arrangement.

Negotiations in the GATT on renewal of the MFA are still at an early stage, and discussions in the Community on a mandate for the negotiations are continuing. It is too early to say whether we are likely to achieve our objectives as described by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 9 May 1985, but the Community has agreed that an extension of the MFA is needed.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is satisfied with progress being made in negotiations relating to the renewal of the multi-fibre arrangement; and if he will make a statement.

Negotiations in the GATT on renewal of the MFA are still at an early stage, and discussions in the Community on a mandate for the negotiations are continuing. It is too early to say whether we are likely to achieve our objectives as described by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 9 May 1985, but the Community has agreed that an extension of the MFA is needed.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many representations he has received concerning the renewal of the multi-fibre arrangement.

I have received a very large number of representations from organisations representing employers and employees in the textile and clothing industries, consumers, importers, retailers, local authorities and individuals writing mainly on behalf of these interests or the development movement.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his latest assessment of the contribution of the textile and clothing industries to total British exports.

The contribution of the textile and clothing industries to total United Kingdom exports is provisionally put at over £3 billion for 1985. representing nearly 4 per cent. of the total. These industries have maintained their percentage share of total exports in the last five years, despite strong competition in overseas markets.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he is taking to assist the British textile and clothing industries; and if he will make a statement.

The provision of specific Government aids to the textile and clothing industries is not permitted under present European Community policy. However, companies in these sectors can apply for assistance under the Department's national schemes of support and also through its regional schemes aimed at projects safeguarding and creating new jobs.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on progress being made towards opening up the internal market within the Community.

The Council adopted a number of measures in 1985 which will help remove barriers to trade in goods and services in the Community. The presidency action programme for 1986 lists more than a hundred further measures capable of adoption this year as part of the objective, agreed by successive European Councils, of completing the internal market by 1992.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the result of his Department's consideration of the Elders IXL bid for Allied Lyons plc.

My right hon. and learned Friend, the former Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, announced the reference of this merger proposal to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on 6 December. The commission was given six months in which to report.As I am sure my hon. Friend appreciates, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the issues involved while the investigation is in progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he is taking to resolve the current crisis in the tin industry; and if he will make a statement.

The Government are continuing to make every effort to secure an acceptable settlement of the International Tin Council's obligations and a return to orderly trading in tin.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the current situation within the tin mining industry.

The Government are continuing to make every effort to ensure a successful outcome to the present session of the International Tin Council. The priority is to secure a return to orderly trading in tin.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions he has had with the Confederation of British Industry and other employers' organisations on the effect of rates on industry's costs.

My right hon. Friend looks forward to discussing the subject of rates with the CBI and other representative bodies, along with the level of earnings and other matters affecting industry's costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will meet the chairman of the British Steel Corporation to discuss the state of the steel industry.

My right hon. Friend intends to meet the chairman, as well as other leaders of major public and private sector industries, as soon as can conveniently be arranged.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the work of the Anglo-Soviet Trade Commission.

The thirteenth session of the British-Soviet Joint Commission met in London on 6 and 7 February. During the session there were useful discussions on matters relating to economic, industrial, scientific and technological co-operation between the two countries. On 6 February, Mr. Manzhulo, leader of the Soviet delegation, and I initialled a new long-term programme for economic and industrial co-operation for the period 1980 to 1990. This highlights a number of areas in which there are excellent opportunities for British business in the Soviet market. I am placing a copy of the long-term programme and the joint agreed communiqué in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the amount of trade and industry grants given in the Gainsborough area since 1972.

Offers of regional selective financial assistance totalling £4·4 million have been made since 1 April 1982, of which £3·2 million has been paid.Assistance under the Science and Technology Act is available nationally. Grants totalling £32,000 have been made to support innovative projects in the Gainsborough TTWA.Gainsborough will also have been able to benefit from several other departmental schemes of assistance which have been available nationally from time to time, but records have not been kept on a detailed geographical basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement about government assistance in the future for the Westland helicopter company.