asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report for each health authority in Wales the number of (a) paediatric cardiologists and (b) paediatric cardiac surgeons employed.

	Cardiologists		Cardiac Surgeons
	Number	Whole-time Equivalents*	Number	Whole-time Equivalents*
Clwyd	—	—	1	0·1
East Dyfed	—	—	—	—
Pembrokeshire	—	—	—	—
Gwent	—	—	1	0·1
Gwynedd	—	—	—	—
Mid Glamorgan	—	—	1	0·1
Powys	—	—	—	—
South Glamorgan	3	2·5	3	2·8
West Glamorgan	2	1·7	—	—

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report the number of representatives from west Wales on the perinatal mortality initiative committee.

Among the 13 members of the perinatal mortality survey group appointed by my right hon. Friend are two from west Glamorgan; Dr. J. Thomas, specialist in community medicine and Miss J. Sinnott, former director of community nursing services. Members

	Paediatricians		Obstertricians and Gynaecologists*
	Number	Whole-time Equivalents†	Number	Whole-time Equivalents†
Clwyd	4	4·0	6	5·9
East Dyfed	6	2·3	7	3·3
Pembrokeshire	1	0·9	2	2·0
Gwent	4	4·0	7	7·0
Gwynedd	3	2·0	6	3·2
Mid Glamorgan	7	5·9	8	7·8
Powys	4	1·2	5	0·5
South Glamorgan	11	7·8	8	6·6
West Glamorgan	4	3·7	6	5·5

It is not possible, from the information available centrally, to indentify paediatric cardiologists and paediatric cardiac surgeons within the overall totals for cardiologists and cardiac surgeons, respectively. The latest information relating to the numbers of consultants in these specialties is given in the table:of the survey group have been appointed because of their particular expertise in the fields of maternal and neonatal care and do not represent any geographical area.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report for each health authority in Wales (a) the number of paediatricians and (b) the number of obstetricians employed.

The latest available information relating to consultants is given in the table below:—

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the estimated value of the total oil that has been extracted from oil wells in the United Kingdom or United Kingdom territorial waters for each year since production commenced.

The value of crude oil produced on the United Kingdom continental shelf since 1975, at the average prices then ruling, is shown in the following table. Only very small quantities of oil were produced in the United Kingdom before that date. The figures represent the gross value of sales of oil and take no account of production costs.

	£ billion
1975	0·03
1976	0·65
1977	2·23
1978	2·81
1979	5·69
1980	8·85
1981	12·34
1982	14·43
1983	17·04
1984	20·59
*1985	14·80

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much grant aid has been given to how many projects under the coal boiler conversion scheme for 1985.

In 1985, grant aid totalling £6·6 million in respect of 132 projects was offered under the coal firing scheme, and 16 offers of grant were rejected. In 1984, grant aid totalling £18·5 million in respect of 129 projects was offered and 53 offers were rejected.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many representations he has received about the miners who were made redundant in the 1960s and who receive no free coal.

Under the concessionary coal payments scheme, the Government reimburse to the National Coal Board certain costs involved in the provision of concessionary coal to redundants. Since the introduction of the scheme in 1973, occasional representations have been made to successive Secretaries of State for Energy regarding retrospective application of the scheme to those made redundant in the 1960s. The Government have always made clear their view that this could not be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the estimated value of the free coal allowance given to miners aged over 50 years who have been made redundant after 10 years in the industry.

The average annual value of coal allowance given to miners taking redundancy at age 50 or over at November 1985 prices is about £380 per person.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will place in the Library the intergovernmental memorandum of understanding signed on 10 January 1984 on behalf of the British, French, Federal German, Belgian and Italian Governments on a collaborative programme for fast breeder research, development and design, together with the text of agreement subsequently entered into by the electricity supply organisation, the national nuclear organisations and fuel cycle companies of the participating countries, in pursuance of the memorandum.

A copy of the intergovernmental memorandum of understanding was placed in the Library at the time of my right hon. Friend's answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Mr. Baldry) on 16 January 1984 at columns 47–48. Release of the texts of agreements subsequently entered into by the various organisations concerned is a matter for those organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if the European Commission may require action by the United Kingdom in relation to the operation and maintenance of nuclear power installations under the Euratom agreement following the completion of enquiries at the request of the European Assembly; and if he will make a statement on the position following the decision of the Assembly on 20 February to require an inquiry into Sellafield.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Prime Minister today to a closely related question. Only if it were shown that measures were needed to prevent infringement of the basic standards of radiological protection and that there were a case of urgency would the Commission have powers under article 38 of the Euratom treaty to require a member state to take measures to comply with the standards and regulations. There is no case for the Commission to take such steps in relation to Sellafield.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the implications for policy on renewable energy sources of the report from the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology assessing native and naturalised species of plants as such sources.

I have nothing to add to my reply of 24 January 1986 at columns 351–352.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what assessment he has made of the comparison of radiation emerging from nuclear and coal-fired power stations, respectively, into the atmosphere; and what assessment he has made of the danger presented to the general public by each of those sources of radiation.

I refer to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Honiton (Sir P. Emery) on 20 February 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if, when he next meets the chairman of the National Coal Board, he will raise with him, in the light of the board's decision to close Bates colliery, the possibility of the board establishing in Blyth a local office of NCB (Enterprise) Ltd.; and if he will make a statement;(2) which areas of the National Coal Board do not yet have a director appointed full time for NCB (Enterprise) Ltd.; and when these vacancies are to be filled.

These are matters for the National Coal Board and I am asking the chairman to write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Attorney-General what are the terms of the agreement between Kagan Textiles Ltd. and the Treasury regarding payment of the fine imposed in 1980 on Cellofoam (Yorkshire) Ltd.; and if he will make a statement.

I shall circulate in the Official Report a fuller account of the circumstances of the agreement. In essence, Kagan Textiles Ltd. undertook to provide Cellofoam (Yorkshire) Ltd. with funds to pay the fine of £375,000 over an eight-year period in return for an undertaking from the Treasury not to pursue a petition to wind up Cellofoam (Yorkshire) Ltd.

asked the Attorney-General how much it is proposed to save from the recently announced changes in the qualifying limits for legal aid.

Around £ 7.5 million in a full year.

asked the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the matters raised in the legal aid annual reports published on 23 January.

The 35th annual reports of the Law Society and the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committee were published on 23 January. The Lord Chancellor will wish to consider carefully the matters raised therein.

asked the Prime Minister, is she will list the achievements of Her Majesty's Government since May 1983.

Since the 1983 election, the inflation rate has remained low at around 5 per cent. Gross domestic product has continued to grow steadily, with the United Kingdom now in its fifth successive year of growth, and GDP at an all-time high. In 1985, output in the United Kingdom is expected to have grown faster than all other EC countries and the United States. Investment reached a record level in 1984 and is expected to have risen by a further 4 per cent. in 1985. The balance of payments current account has continued in surplus since 1983 and has now been in surplus for six successive years. Manufacturing productivity has risen at an annual rate of 6 per cent. —higher than France or Germany—and company profitability is at its highest for two decades. Employment is rising, with around 600,000 more people in work since June 1983.The Government have continued to maintain sound public finances. Public expenditure has been falling as a percentage of GDP since 1982–83 and is planned to fall further over the next three years. The public sector borrowing requirement in 1985–86 is forecast to account for the smallest proportion of GDP for 14 years.The Government have pursued a substantial programme of tax reform. Business taxation has been radically restructured: by April 1986, the United Kingdom will have the lowest rate of corporation tax of any industrialised country. For income tax payers, thresholds have been raised in real terms. Further proposals for reform will be set out in the forthcoming Green Paper on personal taxation. Three taxes—the national insurance surcharge, development land tax and the investment income surcharge—have been abolished completely.The large programme of privatisation has continued. There have been nine successful share sales since June 1983. The privatisation of British Telecom in 1984 was the world's largest ever flotation and led to a massive increase in the number of people holding shares. Several other smaller public enterprises have also been transferred to the private sector. Preparations are continuing for the sale of British Airways, the royal ordnance factories, the National Bus Company and Rolls Royce, Legislation to transfer the British Gas Corporation and the British Airports Authority to the private sector is now before Parliament and a White Paper has been published with proposals for privatisation of the water authorities in England and Wales.Further measures have been introduced to improve the operation of markets. Incentives have been increased by the tax changes and by the restructuring of national insurance contributions announced in the 1985 Budget. Changes in employment legislation and measures to encourage labour mobility have improved the operation of the labour market. Regulations applying to a wide field of industry and finance have been removed entirely; the small firms sector has been helped by special schemes and greater sums have been spent on training. The Government have also sought to introduce more competition in the professions.The Government have launched a more cost-effective and job-related regional industrial policy; have backed the Alvey programme for research into advanced information technology; have set up a National Space Centre and have allocated substantial funds for the promotion of new technology.Productivity per person in agriculture has continued to improve and has helped this sector to provide food to consumers at prices which have risen more slowly than the general price level. The volume of agricultural food and drink exports has shown a further rise of 6 per cent. in the first 18 months after the end of 1983.Progress in tackling costly surpluses under the common agricultural policy has been made with measures in the European Community designed to control CAP spending and, specifically in the milk and wine sectors, to curb over-production. Agreements have been reached to reduce CAP support prices in real terms. In fisheries we have resolved most of our outstanding problems with Norway. Improvements have been made in the conservation of stocks and the fishing of herring in the North sea has been resumed.The Government have developed new policies designed to achieve a better integration of environmental and agricultural objectives by encouraging farmers to maintain and enhance the landscape and nature conservation interest in their farms. Improvements in the welfare standards of livestock husbandry have been promoted, notably through the contribution of the Farm Animal Welfare Council. The Government have maintained the United Kingdom's good record of freedom from major animal disease and this remains an important priority. We have recently issued for consultation proposals to implement the COMA report, which will improve further the labelling of food for consumers.In transport, London Transport has been transferred from the GLC to London Regional Transport, and targets set for better value for money. The revenue subsidy has been reduced by about 40 per cent. already, with no significant real increase in fares or reduction in services. Similarly, British Rail has been given targets for the reduction of subsidy and the improvement of customer service, and major new investments approved.New initiatives have been announced to control drug misuse, and the Government supported the Video Recording Act to control video nasties. Legislation has been put through for data protection; to provide for the fourth television channel and for the Welsh fourth channel to provide a framework for the development of direct broadcasting by satellite and cable television; to set out a new framework for police powers and for handling complaints against the police, in the Police and Criminal Evidence Act; and to enhance both the powers available to deal with terrorism and the safeguards for the citizen under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, and to control the possession and sale of alcohol in connection with football matches. An independent Crown prosecution service for England and Wales is being established this year. Measures have been taken to ensure that the terms of imprisonment served by violent offenders fully reflect society's abhorrence of their crimes.In education, the Government have launched a major initiative to raise standards in schools including the publication of broad curricular objectives for the five-to-16 age group, the reform of the 16-plus examination system, and the decision to introduce records of achievement for school leavers of all abilities. The technical and vocational education initiative has been introduced to boost practical elements in the 14-to-18 curriculum. The Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education has been established to evaluate teacher training courses and a discussion paper on school teacher numbers and deployment in the longer term has been published. In higher education, record numbers of students have been admitted, and the Government endorsed plans which provide for a continuation of the significant shift towards science and engineering and other subjects in the public sector of higher education.The Government have continued to be active in strengthening safeguards against fraud and in ensuring that the probity of our financial institutions is maintained without undermining their competitiveness. The Insolvency Act 1985 increased the scope for disqualifying directors of companies which have gone into liquidation or receivership, and introduced a new liability of directors for wrongful trading. The Financial Services Bill broadens the general regulatory framework within which people in financil institutions have to operate. The recommendations of the Roskill committee on the investigation, prosecution and trial of fraud cases are now before us, and we are moving towards early legislation based on them.In the social security field, the Government have maintained the protection of social security benefits against inflation. The retirement pension is at a record real level. Legislation currently before the House builds on the Social Security Act 1985, which gave new pension rights to early leavers from pension schemes. We are providing for a major extension in occupational pensions provision and for the first time we are giving everybody a right to a personal pension of their own. In addition, the Government have completed a fundamental and far-reaching review of other social security provisions.In the Health Service, we have continued to develop services for patients and waiting lists have fallen. NHS spending has been maintained at record levels, and the drive for better management continues with the appointment of general managers throughout the Health Service.Over 1 million young people have entered the youth training scheme since it was launched in 1983. We are helping to train 200,000 adults this year and 250,000 next year. The community programme and enterprise allowance scheme have been expanded.The Trade Union Act has been extending the rights of members of trades unions to influence the affairs of their unions.In energy, Government policies on taxation and licensing have made 1984 a record year for oil and gas exploration and development in the North sea with 1985 a record year for approval of new developments. The North sea contribution to United Kingdom employment has been further expanded in both years. In 1985, flaring was also at a record low figure. With Government support, the electricity and coal industries enabled the electricity system to withstand a year-long coal strike without power cuts and with only limited damage to the rest of British industry.In local government, the Rates Act is protecting ratepayers from huge increases in rates in the highest spending councils. Under the Local Government Act 1985, the GLC and the metropolitan county councils will be abolished on 1 April 1986. Proposals for reform of local government finance and taxation, including the abolition of domestic rates, have recently been set out in the Green Paper "Paying for Local. Government". A committee has been established to inquire into the conduct of local authority business; and legislation has been introduced to regulate local authority publicity activities. A consultation document on increasing competitive tendering in local government has been published.On housing, the right to buy their homes has been extended to more council tenants, discount terms have been improved for many, assistance has been provided to the owners of defective houses previously in the public sector, and an urban housing renewl unit has been set up to help local authorities to tackle the problems of their rundown estates. We are consulting on proposals to increase competitive tendering by councils.In the environment, we have taken the initiative in Europe in bringing to an end the addition of lead to petrol and paint, and we are steadily removing it from those water supplies where it is stilt a problem. We have taken steps to reduce the pollution of our rivers, estuaries and beaches.The derelict land programme has been maintained. The land register system has continued to bring about the sale and development of unused publicly owned land. A series of national garden festivals has been announced. The urban development corporations have made further progress in London docklands and Merseyside. Further enterprise zones have been designated.In defence, the capability of our armed forces has continued to be strengthened. The Government have played their full part in implementing NATO's 1979 decision to modernise intermediate range nuclear weapons. Increased efficiency is being pursued by the continuing transfer of resources from the support areas to the frontline, and by introducing increased competition in defence contracts and promoting collaboration without international partners. A major reorganisation of the headquarters structure of the Ministry of Defence has been introduced.The Government concluded in 1985 the Anglo-Irish Agreement, which seeks to develop further our unique relationship with the Republic of Ireland; to enhance cooperation, including over security matters, between the two countries; and also to assist in achieving lasting peace and stability within Northern Ireland. Following the approval of the agreement by the British and Irish Parliaments, the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference was established and is now pursuing its work in fields assigned to it under the agreement.In foreign policy, the Government have maintained Britain's strong commitment to the NATO Alliance and played a leading role in the revival of the Western European Union. British Ministers and representatives have been active in building up an East-West dialogue with high-level visits in both directions and in promoting the arms control process, notably in the negotiations on chemical weapons, on non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and on conventional disarmament and force reductions in Europe. Within the European Community, the Government achieved a refund for 1983 of £430 million and a VAT abatement for 1984 of £600 million; negotiated a lasting settlement on budgetary imbalances, under which our future net contribution will be about half of what it might otherwise have been; and played a prominent part in the successful conclusion of the third Lomé convention and the enlargement negotiations. The Government have also been instrumental in bringing about an agreement on amendments to the EC treaties which should improve Community decision-taking while safeguarding essential United Kingdom interests. The Sino-British Joint Declaration on the future of Hong Kong was ratified in May last year. Over Gibraltar an agreement was reached with Spain in February 1985, and the border is now open.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list the achievements of Her Majesty's Government from 1979 to date.

The rate of inflation is almost half the level the Government inherited, with further falls in prospect. The United Kingdom is in its fifth successive year of growth with GDP at an all time high: and output is expected to have grown faster in 1985 than all other EC countries and the United States. Investment reached a record level in 1984 and is expected to have risen by a further 4 per cent. in 1985. The balance of payments current account has been in surplus for six successive years. Manufacturing productivity has risen at an average annual rate of 6 per cent. for the last five years—higher than France or Germany—and company profitability is at its highest for two decades. Employment is rising, with around 700,000 more people in work since March 1983.The Government have restored sound public finances. Public expenditure has been falling as a percentage of GDP since 1982–83 and is planned to remain broadly stable at the 1984–85 level in real terms over the next three years. The public sector borrowing requirement in 1985–86 is forecast to account for the smallest proportion of GDP for 14 years.The Government have pursued a substantial programme of tax reform. Business taxation has been radically restructured; by April 1986 the United Kingdom will have the lowest rate of corporation tax of any industrialised country. For income tax payers, the basic rate was reduced to 30 per cent. in 1979 and, since then, thresholds have been raised about 20 per cent. in real terms. Further proposals for reform will be set out in the forthcoming Green Paper on personal taxation. Three taxes—the national insurance surcharge development land tax and the investment income surcharge—have been abolished completely.Since 1979, the Government have transferred 12 major companies and a number of other enterprises to the private sector. As a result of this policy and tax reliefs designed to encourage employee shareholding the number of individual shareowners in the United Kingdom has doubled. The privatisation programme continues to develop. By the end of this Parliament, 40 per cent. of the state-owned industrial sector we inherited in 1979 should be returned to private enterprise.

asked the Prime Minister what steps Her Majesty's Government have taken since 1979 to improve the management and efficiency of the Government and Civil Service.

Since 1979, the Government have maintained their policy to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of administration through the Civil Serviceand other parts of the public sector, with the aim of giving better value for taxpayer's money. We have reduced the size of the Civil Service by over 18 per cent. to 596,000—the lowest since the war. With the help of the efficiency unit set up in 1979, departments have carried out some 290 efficiency scrutinies and reviews from which savings worth over £900 million in total have already been achieved, with recurring savings now running at £295 million per year. Further significant savings are in prospect, for example from implementation of recommendations flowing from reviews of Government purchasing and accommodation.We have initiated the lasting reform of financial management throughout Departments, so that all managers have clear objectives and responsibilities; and similar reforms of personnel development and training, including exchanges of staff between the Civil Service and outside industry, to improve management skills and performance at all levels, and to provide better arrangements for reporting and appraising staff performance so that their efficiency is monitored more keenly.Non-departmental public bodies have also been subject to critical review and their numbers reduced by over 500 to below 1,700 in 1985. Another programme of review of the remaining NDPBs to seek progressive improvements in their performance is under way. We have also widened the opportunities for private enterprise to undertake services traditionally provided by the public sector. The Civil Service has responded well to the new demands made of it and the drive for improvement is continuing.

asked the Prime Minister, if she will list the actions taken by the Government since 1979 which were designed to, or had the effect of, assisting small businesses.

Measures introduced since 1979 include the business expansion scheme, which increases the supply of finance for investment in unquoted companies, the loan guarantee scheme and the enterprise allowance scheme, which assists unemployed people to start up their own business. In the improved climate for business there has been an increase generally in the sources of finance for small firms.Business training is an important element in the Government's support for small firms. Through the training for enterprise programme, the Manpower Services Commission provides a range of courses to assist those starting or wishing to develop businesses. Expenditure on this will increase from approximately £14 million in 1985–86 to £20 million in 1986–87.Since 1979 there has been a substantial increase in the number of agencies that are able to offer business advice. The Government have greatly expanded its advice and counselling to small firms through the small firms service. It has also encouraged the development of local enterprise agencies, which now number more than 300, and will be stepping up its financial support to agencies in the next financial year.

asked the Prime Minister if she will reallocate ministerial responsibility for all Forestry Commission matters outwith Scotland; and if she will make a statement.

I see no reason to change the present allocation of responsibilities.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on co-ordination between the relevant Departments of Her Majesty's Government's fiscal and social security policy towards the lower paid.

This is a matter of great concern, and we therefore ensure that there is close co-ordination between Departments on fiscal and social security policy towards the lower paid. A number of important measures have recently been introduced or announced. For example:The new family credit, now before Parliament, will provide substantial extra help to low paid working families with children and will therefore improve the relationship between the income a family would receive in and out of work. It will be paid through the pay packet, in effect as an offset against tax and national insurance payments.The planned reform of income-related benefits will end the position where the combination of tax, contributions and loss of benefits can leave individuals worse off as their gross income rises.Successive Budgets have ensured that many of the lowest paid have been taken completely out of tax.The reformed structure of national insurance contributions, introduced in October 1985, has relieved the burden of contributions on the low paid.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement setting out all the steps being taken by Her Majesty's Government to seek to halt the spread of acquired immune deficiency syndrome, to establish causes and cures, and to educate the public and health professionals about the nature and hazards associated with the spread of the disease.

The Government have a substantial programme of action to deal with the urgent problem of acquired immune deficiency syndrome.1. To provide a general framework, information on a number of cases in the United Kingdom is collected by the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre; an expert advisory group was established at an early stage to provide expert medical advice; the Public Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 1985 were applied to make provision to remove a person to hospital and detain them there in exceptional circumstances; advisory committees have been set up in Scotland and Wales to monitor the spread of infection and advise on measures to reduce the rate of spread; and an interdepartmental ministerial steering group co-ordinates strategy on wider issues arising from the infection.2. To improve the safety of blood and blood products, since 1983 leaflets have been issued by the national blood transfusion service to all blood donors, warning those in at risk groups not to donate blood. Blood products for haemophiliacs are now heat-treated. £138,000 was provided for the evaluation of kits which could test blood for the presence of antibodies to the virus which leads to AIDS (HTVL III). Since October 1985, when the suitability of the kits was confirmed, all blood donations are screened and those showing such antibodies are rejected. Over £2 million extra money has been provided in Great Britain for the testing of blood samples and the screening of blood donations. Health authorities have been asked to provide facilities for tests to be undertaken outside the blood transfusion services, and for counselling for people found to be infected with the virus.3. To deal with AIDS on a comprehensive basis, health authorities in England have also been asked to draw up plans and to send these to the Department of Health and Social Security this summer. Extra money has been allocated to north-east, north-west and south-east Thames regional health authorities, which at present treat the majority of United Kingdom AIDS cases: £680,000 in 1985–86 and £2·5 million in 1986–87. More money was also allocated to the haemophilia reference centres to provide specialist counselling services: £90,000 in 1985–86 and £270,000 in 1986–87. The Government provided £150,000 for the provision of counselling training courses for health professionals.

asked the Prime Minister why, pursuant to the answer of 17 February, Official Report, column 9, on Westlands, she considered the answer given on 14 February, Official Report, column 561, inappropriate.

My office wrote to the hon. Gentleman on 14 February.

asked the Prime Minister (1) whether the then Secretary of State for Trade and Industry was aware of the likely contents of the letter from the Solicitor-General to the then Secretary of State for Defence before extracts from the letter were read to him over the telephone on 6 January; and if she will make a statement;(2) whether the then Secretary of State for Trade and Industry discussed with his private secretary or his chief information officer the possibility of disclosing the contents of the Solicitor-General's letter to the then Secretary of State for Defence, before extracts from the letter were read to him over the telephone on 6 January; and if she will make a statement;(3) when Sir Robert Armstrong first discussed with

I have nothing to add to the full account which I gave to the House in my statement on 23 January at columns 449–460 and in the debate on 27 January at columns 651–658.

asked the Prime Minister what civil funds are now available to support new colllaborative projects for research and development in advanced information technology.

A range of civil funds is available to support new collaborative projects for research and development in advanced technology.Financial assistance is available under the Department of Trade and Industry's support for innovation scheme, the Alvey programme and under European Community programmes such as Esprit. The last two of these programmes are now almost fully committed and consideration is being given to what might succeed them.Total estimated outturn for all forms of United Kingdom civil support for IT collaborative research in 1985–86 is £40 million. In addition, the United Kingdom receives a proportion of the funds disbursed by the European Commission under the Esprit programme of collaborative research.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on her recent meeting with the Prime Minister of Turkey.

I had a most valuable discussion with Mr. Ozal, covering a wide range of issues, which confirmed the friendship that exists between our two countries. On Turkey's relations with the European Community, we agreed that our priority must be to revitalise the association agreement and work towards a much closer economic relationship. We also discussed Cyprus, where Mr. Ozal confirmed Turkey's support for the UN Secretary General's initiative; and the latest developments in the middle east.I welcome the progress that Mr. Ozal's Government had made towards the restoration of parliamentary democracy and the steps taken on human rights. Mr. Ozal assured me that progress would continue.I congratulated Mr. Ozal on Turkey's recent economic performance and welcomed our increasing trading and commercial links. I told Mr. Ozal that we had further increased our medium term export credit for Turkey. During the visit, a double taxation agreement and a memorandum of understanding, agreeing to work towards an investment promotion and protection agreement, were signed. These should further encourage investment and trade between our two countries.

asked the Prime Minister if Her Majesty's Government intend to co-operate with the inquiry into Sellafield called for by the European Assembly in terms of the Euratom agreement; and if she will make a statement.

The United Kingdom Government have received no request from the Commission following the passage of resolutions by the European Parliament on 20 February relating to Sellafield. United Kingdom authorities have complied with Community requirements to provide information on environmental radiation monitoring. This information confirmed that Sellafield has been operated in accordance with the basis standards for radiological protection laid down by the European Community.

asked the Minister for the Arts if he will estimate the extent of the benefit to the Arts from reduced rates of personal and corporate taxation and the reduced rate of capital transfer tax mentioned in his answer on 20 January, Official Report, column 15; and if he will make a statement.

No meaningful estimate can be made, but it is reasonable to assume that where a reduction in taxation leaves people and corporations with more disposable income the arts will be likely to benefit accordingly.

asked the Minister for the Arts if he will exercise his powers under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 to obtain and publish information on the number of local authorities which have banned News International newspapers from their public libraries; and if he will make a statement.

The information requested is not available and could not be obtained without disproportionate expense. However, I welcome the opportunity to make it clear that I deplore any attempt to ban particular books or newspapers for which there is a demand from public libraries, whatever the reason for such a ban. If a newspaper has been available in a public library, to meet the demands of users, then I can see no justification for ceasing to make it available in order to make a political or industrial point. I understand that the Library Association, the professional body for librarians, shares my concern at recent developments of this nature, as no doubt do many library users.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drivers have been banned from driving in each of the past three years.

The available information relates to the number of driving licence disqualifications and is published in table 10 of Home Office statistical bulletin 28/85 "Offences Relating to Motor Vehicles, England and Wales, 1984". In 1982, 1983 and 1984 there were, respectively, about 145, 150 and 155 thousand disqualifications.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he has any plans to seek to amend section 7, subsection (3), of the Criminal Attempts Act 1981 to assist prosecution of shopkeepers who sell cocaine snorting kits;

I refer the hon. Member to what I said on this matter during the debate on the Third Reading of the Drug Trafficking Offences Bill on 18 February, at columns 220–221.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the amount spent (a) by local government, (b) by central Government and (c) by other bodies on combating drug addiction in each London borough for the last year for which figures are available.

Central Government expenditure in 1985–86 includes £750,000 under the DHSS funding initiative on drugs projects serving Greater London, £57,000 under the urban programme on drugs projects in London boroughs, and £183,000 under the after-care accommodation scheme on drugs projects in the inner London probation area. It is not possible to quantify separately the far larger total contribution to combating drug misuse in London made by other central Government expenditure. The other information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to institute a formal discipline code for special constables;(2) further to the answer of 10 February,

The need for a discipline code for special constables has been considered from time to time. The conclusion has always been that it is neither sensible nor practicable to apply such a code to voluntary, part-time, unpaid officers and we have no present plans to introduce one. Chief officers of police are, however, recommended to follow discipline procedures for special constables which, so far as it is possible given the significant differences in status and conditions of service, are in line with those which apply to regular officers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of West Yorkshire on the progress of inquiries into, and charges arising from, the alleged illegal activities of members of extremist organisations and on the possible links between such organisations and the Ulster Defence Association; and if he will make a statement.

I will reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received advocating an increase in controls on air pistols and similar weapons; and if he will make a statement.

We have received representations from about 20 hon. Members and 25 members of the public since January 1985. Most urged that a licensing system should be introduced. On that, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Chipping Barnet (Mr. Chapman) on 23 January, at column 436.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received representations from chief constables about the sufficiency of police powers to counter witchcraft.

We have received no representations from chief constables about witchcraft.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he has yet received from all chief officers of police the information about allegations of racial discriminatory behaviour by police officers as requested in the circular 4/86 on this subject; and if he intends to publish them;(2) what representations he has received from the Police Federation about his circular 4/86;(3) if, pursuant to his circular 4/86, about allegations of racially discriminatory behaviour by police officers, he will publish in the

The returns sought by Home Office circular 4/86 are intended to supplement the information about the complaints and discipline system which is already collected on an anual basis.My right hon. Friend decided that, in order to meet expected parliamentary interest in the new offence of racially discriminatory behaviour, it was important to know what use had been made of it in forces. Not all the required returns have yet been received. Detailed statistics on complaints and discipline are published each year, and it is my right hon. Friend's intention to publish figures of the use of the new offence also.The circular also sought information about the circumstances in which the new offence has been charged, and about the use of other disciplinary offences in regard to misconduct in which a racial element appeared to have been present. The object was to enable the Home Office to monitor the use of the new provision, having regard to the Government's stated belief that no new offence was needed in order to deal with instances of such behaviour when they came to light.The Police Federation represented to me its anxiety that statistics of suspected racialist behaviour might give a misleading picture, and they complained that they had not been consulted on the preparation of the circular. I indicated in response that the material was being collected to facilitate the discharge of the Home Office's own responsibilities for monitoring the complaints and discipline system, and that it had not been seen as affecting the interests of federation members. But I have expressed my regret that they were not told, out of courtesy, of our plans to issue the circular.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many non-European Economic Community nationals are employed, with valid work permits, at the News Group Newspapers Limited additional printing facility at Wapping.

This information is not recorded.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list, for each year since 1979, the numbers and ranks of Metropolitan police officers disciplined, demoted, suspended, dismissed from the force or required to resign following a successful civil action against the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis for a wrongful act by an officer.

I will reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his Department has provided grant-in-aid for Action on Smoking and Health; and whether any donations have been made during the past five years.

The Home Office has never given a grant or made a donation to this organisation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the longest period of time between a Minister in his Department giving a holding answer to a priority written question and the substantive answer over the last 12 months; and what is the longest similar period for such a question given a holding answer but for which a substantive answer has not yet been given; and if he will make a statement.

Our records show that, over the last 12 months, the vast majority of priority written questions initially given a holding reply received a substantive answer within a month. In the same period, the longest interval between a holding reply and the substantive answer being given to a priority written question was two months and six days, and the longest period for which a substantive reply is still outstanding is seven months.I regret that it has not yet been possible to give a substantive answer to my hon. Friend's question of 29 November. I understand that my hon. and learned Friend hopes to give a full reply within the next two weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in the light of his recent conviction at Newport Crown court, he will make a statement on the circumstances of the release on licence in 1983 of Peter William Jones and on the assessment made at that time of the likelihood of his committing further violent offences.

Mr. Jones was sentenced to seven years imprisonment for causing grevious bodily harm on 5 March 1980, when he had already been in custody on remand for six months. He became eligible for parole on 6 January 1982 but was refused parole then and at the next parole review. He was released on licence on the recommendation of the Parole Board on 21 November 1983, just over five months before the end of his sentence. He was recalled to prison on 13 December 1983 because he had breached the conditions of his licence. He served the rest of that sentence in prison, being released on 4 May 1984, more than a year before the current offence. The release on licence in 1983 was thus irrelevant to the offence of rape, for which Mr. Jones was sentenced to life imprisonment this month.The decision on whether or not to release a prisoner on parole in such circumstances depends on an assessment of whether compulsory supervision by the probation service for a few months at the end of a prisoner's sentence is likely to reduce the long-term risk to the public, bearing in mind that at the end of that period the prisoner will be released into the community anyway. In Mr. Jones' case, the view was taken that the risk of re-offending would be reduced if he could overcome his drinking problem and the conditions of his licence included residence in a hostel for the treatment of alcoholics. The power to recall a prisoner who refuses to comply with the conditions of his licence and thereby benefit from supervision is an important safeguard, which was exercised promptly in this case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many animals have been used in experiments in British laboratories since 1975 in which they have been deprived of their sight, either in one eye or both; what species of animals have been used; and where these experiments are performed.

Such experiments are not separately identified in the information collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations the Government have received since the publication of the report of the Auld committee; and of those how many were (a) for and (b) against the deregulation of Sunday trading.

Since the publication of the report of the Auld committee, the Government have received 310 representations supporting and 37,317 opposing the deregulation of Sunday trading.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Boundary Commissions for England and Wales intend to conduct any interim reviews of parliamentary constituencies; and if he will make a statement.

The commissions have informed me that they intend to conduct interim reviews of 63 parliamentary constituencies under the powers provided in section 2(3) of the House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Act 1949. The counties and constituencies concerned are as follows:

England—Counties and Constituencies
Bedfordshire	South West Bedfordshire CC
Luton South BC
Mid Bedfordshire CC	Berkshire
North Luton CC	Reading West CC

Wokingham CC	North Durhan CC
	Sedgefield CC
Lincolnshire
Gainsborough and Horncastle	Hertfordshire
CC	Hertford and Stortford CC
Grantham CC	South West Hertfordshire CC
	Stevenage CC
Oxfordshire	Welwyn Hatfield CC
Banbury CC	West Hertfordshire CC
Oxford West and Abingdon
CC	Surrey
Wantage CC	Esher BC
Witney CC	Guildford CC
	Mole Valley CC
Cheshire	North West Surrey CC
Halton CC	South West Surrey CC
Warrington South BC	Woking CC
Cleveland	West Sussex
Stockton North BC	Arundel CC
	Chichester CC
Cumbria	Crawley BC
Barrow and Furness CC	Horsham CC
Westmorland and Lonsdale	Mid Sussex CC
CC	Shoreham CC
	Worthing BC
Durham
Bishop Auckland CC	Wiltshire
City of Durham CC	Salisbury CC
Easington CC	Westbury CC
Wales—Counties and Constituencies
Dyfed	Caerphilly CC
Carmarthen CC	Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney
Ceredigian and Pembroke	CC
North CC	Ogmore CC
Llanelli CC	Pontypridd CC
Pembroke CC	Rhondda CC
Gwent	Powys
Blaenau Gwent CC	Brecon and Radnor CC
Monmouth CC
Newport East CC	West Glamorgan
Newport West CC	Aberavon CC
Torfaen CC	Gower CC
	Neath CC
Mid Glamorgan	Swansea East BC
Bridgend CC	Swansea West BC

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate the number of riding hats imported into the United Kingdom in each of the last 10 years, showing the country of origin; what proposals he has for controlling the standards of such imported hats; and if he will make a statement.

Information relating to imports of riding hats is not separately identified in the overseas trade statistics.Under the general safety duty proposed in the White Paper on the Safety of Goods (Cmnd. 9302) supplies of consumer goods (whether home produced or imported) will be required to ensure that their goods are safe in accordance with sound modern standards. It is proposed that the Secretary of State has the power to approve published standards as satisfying the general safety duty. British standard 6473 for riding hats appears to be suitable for this purpose. It is also proposed that trading standards officers should have power to seize or suspend unsafe goods at the point of entry into this country. The Government intend to introduce legislation to give effect to the measure proposed in the White Paper as soon as the parliamentary timetable permits.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of British tractor requirements are fulfilled by imports from overseas countries; and what percentage of these are from Czechoslovakia.

In 1984, the last complete year for which data is available, imports are estimated to have accounted for 78 per cent. of the United Kingdom market for complete tractors in value terms. Two per cent. of these imports were from Czechoslovakia. In the first three quarters of 1985, the corresponding figures were 66 per cent. and 3·5 per cent. respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what priority he attaches to the preservation of the present terms and conditions of employment, including pension rights, of the work force at the Barrow and Birkenhead shipyards, following the proposed privatisation; and if he will make a statement.

This is a matter for negotiation between the employers and employees. The sale of a business does not affect existing employment contracts. British Shipbuilders has however made clear that it wishes the purchasers of its warship yards to provide pension rights to company employees broadly similar to those available prior to sale.

	1984	Per Cent.	1985	Per Cent.
Premises Visited	4,573		5,144
Full Compliance with Code	470	10·2	656	12·8
Compliance with the key requirements	618	13·5	831	16·9
Staff Awareness of Code	1,635	35·75	2,257	43·9
Use of Agreed Sizes	1,606	35·1	2,233	43·4

In the light of these surveys, the Department is considering whether further action is called for. The introduction of legislation to require wine to be sold by the glass only in a range of prescribed standard sizes is one of the options under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his policy in relation to the treatment in the accounts of companies of off-balance sheet finance and window dressing.

In December, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales published a technical release dealing with the accounting issues raised by off-balance-sheet finance and window-dressing, I support the approach taken by the institute, and indeed my Department's support is recorded in the technical release.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list major United Kingdom investments in the United States of America in trade and industry over the past 10 years, together with an estimate of their value.

The available information is given in table 3.1 of Business Monitor MA4 (Overseas Transactions) 1983. A list showing major United Kingdom direct investments individually cannot be provided, as this would break the confidentiality rules under which the data are collected. Information for 1984 will become available in the spring.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) when he last met the local authority body on trading standards on matters in connection with the sales of wine in marked or lined glasses;(2) what were the results of the two surveys which observed the extent to which the voluntary code of practice was working on the sales of wine by the glass;(3) if, in view of the non-co-operation of the licensed trade in observing his code of conduct on the sales of wine in marked or lined glasses, he will now introduce legislation for the sale of standard quantities of wine; and if he will make a statement.

I last met the Local Authorities Co-ordinating Body on Trading Standards to discuss sales of wine by the glass, and other matters, on 17 January.The main results of the surveys carried out in 1984 and 1985 by local authorities to ascertain levels of compliance with the trade's voluntary code of practice for sales of wine by the glass showed some slight improvement and were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the manufacturing trade balance of the United Kingdom with the 10 members of the European Economic Community in 1985, stating value of exports, imports and the balance for each country, if possible on a balance of payments basis.

Statistics of United Kingdom trade with individual countries are not available on a balance of payments basis. Figures on the overseas trade statistics basis are in the table.For comparison, both OTS and BOP figures are given for United Kingdom trade with the European Community as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he first became aware of the letter from Hill Samuel & Co., dated 14 February, concerning a time limit on offers to purchase Leyland Vehicles Land Rover and Freight Rover.

I first became aware of the letter on 19 February.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether there was any prior consultation between Her Majesty's Government on the one hand and British Leyland and Hill Samuel & Co. on the other concerning the setting of a time limit for the receipt of offers to purchase Leyland Vehicles Land Rover and Freight Rover.

There was prior consultation about the time frame in which parties should be asked to indicate firm intentions to make offers, but not about the precise date by which these should be requested.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he first saw the letter of 14 February regarding deadlines for the sale of British Leyland.

I first saw the text on which this letter is based on 19 February, after I answered the private notice question from the right hon. Member for Monklands, East (Mr. Smith).

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when discussions on the possible sale of Leyland Vehicles to General Motors commenced; who is carrying out the negotiations on behalf of Leyland Vehicles; who negotiated the assurances regarding employment and import content which he has given to the House; at what stage of the negotiations he expects the relevant trade unions to be consulted; and what role General Motors World Truck is playing in the talks.

The Government made a preliminary approach to General Motors in mid-1984 to establish whether, in principle, they would be interested in exploring with BL the possibility of a joint approach to the problems of the United Kingdom commercial vehicle industry. Following detailed studies carried out by the two companies, it was agreed in the autumn of 1985 that substantive talks should begin directed at the possible acquisition by General Motors of various parts of Land Rover-Leyland.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what he expects to be the effect of completing the European internal market on (a) the structure of British industry, (b) the level of unemployment in the United Kingdom, (c) the level of British exports to the European Economic Community, (d) the level of British imports from the European Economic Community, (e) the United Kingdom's balance of payments and (f) the rate of growth of the British economy.

Progress towards completing the internal market will be one of a number of factors influencing the development of the British economy. In general, removing barriers to trade within the Community should further increase our trade with other member states and reduce costs to business. It should therefore help to stimulate increased efficiency in the use of resources and accordingly encourage growth of the economy.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to ban the pot plant commonly known as Jade in view of its known poisonous properties.

No. The National Poisons Centre advises me that house plants are not a significant health hazard and that it is very rare for children swallowing them to suffer serious or lasting harm.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultations, and with whom, took place on the design of the national accreditation mark; and whether the advice of the National Accreditation Council was sought before the mark was adopted.

The design of the national accreditation mark was chosen by the Department of Trade and Industry following consultations with the Lord Chamberlain's Office and on the basis of advice received from the Department's legal advisers. The National Accreditation Council was informed of the choice before the mark was publicised, but its advice was not formally sought.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will impose new safety conditions under which paraquat is exported to third world countries; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 20 February, c. 269]: The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations last year adopted an international code of practice on the distribution and use of pesticides. I regard this as an effective means of drawing the attention of both industry and governments to the measures needed to assure the safety of pesticide users.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what financial and other support he is giving to British manufacturers wishing to further commercial relations in Turkey.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 February, c. 357]: Official export services, including ECGD cover and other financial assistance schemes, are available to British firms wishing to do business with Turkey. I hope that commercial relations will be strengthened following contacts between British and Turkish businessmen during the Turkish Prime Minister's visit and by the fothcoming visit by the Under-Secretary of State for the Treasury and Foreign Trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about progress on Turkish fabric manufacturers' recent commercial initiatives aimed at redressing the balance of textiles trades between Turkey and EEC countries; and what plans he has for developing these initiatives.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 February, c. 357]: I welcome the recent voluntary restraint agreement on textiles between Turkey and the European Community. The level of imports of the products subject to restraint will be monitored carefully. I hope that this agreement can be extended to cover sensitive clothing products in a comprehensive agreement. Discussions on such an extension are continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on steps being taken by the Thames water authority to employ all employees of the Greater London council currently concerned with the Thames barrier, land drainage, and other services which the authority will operate from 1 April next.

This is a matter for the Thames water authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the Irish Government regarding the effect of radioactive discharges; what action he has taken following these; and if he will make a statement.

At the request of the Irish Government, a meeting of officials took place on 14 February. Information about discharges from Sellafield, including the recent incidents, was supplied and consideration was given to improving procedures for notifying the Irish Government of such incidents.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what accidents have been reported at the Sellafield plant so far in the current year; what has been the radioactive discharge or leak involved; what effect he estimates this will have on levels of radioactivity in the south west of Scotland; and what action he proposes to take.

Three incidents involving radioactivity have been reported to the Secretary of State this year. One involved the discharge of about 500 kg of uranium to the sea; one involved a very small quantity of plutonium vapour entering the atmosphere and the third resulted in no discharge to the environment. Present indications are that levels of radioactivity in the south-west of Scotland have not been affected.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to his reply of 11 February to the hon. Member for Harlow (Mr. Hayes), Official Report, columns 397–8, he will list the assets so far identified for sale in order to create the new charitable trust for London.

This will be a matter for the London Residuary Body to consider.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department or the Sports Council provides grant-in-aid for Action on Smoking and Health; and whether any donations have been made to this organisation.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what grants have been allocated by his Department to Wolverhampton borough council during the last four years for housing improvement projects; and what spending constraints have been imposed on the council during the same period.

The Department does not allocate grants to local authorities for housing improvements. They are given by local authorities as part of their capital expenditure programmes on housing. Each year the Secretary of State determines for individual authorities a housing investment programme allocation for capital expenditure on housing. Authorities may spend up to the allocation specified and supplement it by using the prescribed proportion of capital receipts. The Secretary of State does not specify how the available resources should be spent; it is for each authority to determine its own priorities within its housing strategy as a whole.Allocations and expenditure by Wolverhampton borough council over the last four financial years are as follows:

Financial year	HIP allocation	*Expenditure	Expenditure on home improvement grants
	£ million	£ million	£ million
1982–83	16·649	16·603	3·635
1983–84	14·603	22·392	4·862
1984–85	12·211	25·938	4–731
1985–86	9·958	†15·239	†4·300

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money has been set aside by his Department since 1981 for grants for projects in deprived inner city areas; and whether he will take steps to encourage inner city councils to submit claims for the £100 million set aside by his Department which has so far not been claimed.

A wide range of programmes sponsored by my Department and by other Departments support projects in deprived inner city areas. The allocations for the urban programme for each of the years 1981–82 to 1985–86 were £215 million, £270 million, £348 million, £348 million and £338 million. It is not the case that £100 million of these resources remains unclaimed. Resources are reallocated during the year within the urban programme itself, and to other programmes within the urban block—derelict land grant and urban development corporations—to achieve the most effective pattern of capital expenditure in the inner cities. £87 million of resources were reallocated in this way over the last three years. Only £14 million, or some 1·5 per cent. of a total resource provision of £1,034 million was unspent over the same period.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what tonnage of butter was stored at the EEC intervention store at Kirk Sandall each year since 1978; at what annual running cost; at what price per tonne; and if he will make a statement.

The following is the information for the years in which stocks have been held.

1 January	Tonnes	Value at then current purchase price (£ per tonne)
1979	700	1,458·48
1983	110	2,110·65
1984	1,230	2,159·90
1985	2,230	1,929·58
1986	2,750	1,890·35

Storage costs at individual stores are not given on grounds of commercial confidentiality, but the average annual cost is £71·76 per tonne.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what will be the length of agreements made between his Department and farmers proposed for environmentally sensitive areas; whether the payments will fully take into account inflation on a yearly basis; and if he will make a statement.

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

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing how many boardings by the United Kingdom fishery protection seaborne vessels took place on each day in January; in which area; and what was the nationality of the vessel boarded.

The number of boardings by United Kingdom fishery protection seaborne vessels for each day in January 1986, by ICES area and nationality of vessels boarded, are as follows: