asked the Minister for the Arts whether the Liverpool philharmonic hall will be transferred to the Merseyside Residuary Body on 1 April.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment will soon lay before this House a property order which will include a provision transferring the hall to the Merseyside Residuary Body on 1 April. The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society is currently establishing a charitable trust which could subsequently be responsible for the hall. I am sure that the Residuary Body will wish to consult with the trust and other interested parties before deciding on final arrangements for the ownership and management of the hall.We took the decision to transfer the hall to the Residuary Body in the light of the Arts Council committing itself to provide an additional grant of £137,500 to the Society. This will enable the society in 1986–87 to pay rent to the Residuary Body for the use of the hall. The Residuary Body will meet the balance of the running costs of the hall, recovering those costs through the districts, until such time as final decisions are taken on the ownership and management of the hall. I hope that the longer term future of he hall will be secured with continuing financial assistance from the Arts Council, the five district councils and, wherever possible, the private sector.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Boundary Commission for Scotland intends to conduct any interim reviews of Parliamentary constituencies.

The Boundary Commission for Scotland has informed me that it intends to conduct an interim review of 14 parliamentary constituencies under section 2(3) of the House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Act 1949. The constituencies are as follows:

• Dumbarton CC and Stirling CC
• East Lothian CC, and Roxburgh and Berwickshire CC
• Hamilton BC and East Kilbride CC
• Ayr CC and Cunninghame South CC
• Clackmannan CC, and Perth and Kinross CC
• Edinburgh South BC and Midlothian CC
• Strathkelvin and Bearsden CC, and Clydebank and Milngavie CC.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the number of staff-in-post in central Government Departments at 1 January.

At 1 January 1986 there were 596,506 staff in post—497,895 non-industrials and 98,611 industrials.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table indicating the expenditure levels forecast for each district health authority in Wales for the coming financial year, together with comparable expenditure for each of the preceeding five years.

The following table provides the actual outturn expenditure on hospitals and community health services by health authorities in Wales for the years 1981–82 to 1984–85. The figures for 1985–86 and 1986–87 are provisional forecasts of outturn since they do not take account of all of the income which might be generated locally. Nordo they reflect possible movements in balances. Furthermore, the figures for 1986–87 do not take account of a further £13 million which will be allocated for.centrally funded developments during the course of the year. It is therefore not possible to make a direct comparison between the provisional figures given for 1986–87 and those given for the preceeding years.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many letters his Department received during 1985 concerning the status of the Welsh language; and if he will make a statement.

This information can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to arrange for the first report of the Welsh cancer registry, entitled "Cancer Registration in Wales 1974–1978," to be republished in a form which analyses the data in espect of wards and enumeration districts.

There are no plans to republish the first report of the Welsh cancer registry in the form requested.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many women in Wales were diagnosed during 1985 to be suffering from breast cancer; and how many died from breast cancer during 1985.

The latest available information is given in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made by his Department in improving services for cancer patients in northern Wales.

A departmental working party was appointed to report to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on regional services in North Wales, including services for cancer patients. Its recommendations are presently being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to give the Welsh Development Agency greater scope for assisting rural areas by way of grants and other measures along the lines of those presently available to Mid-Wales Development; and if he will make a statement.

I have no plans to extend Mid-Wales development grant beyond its present scope, but my officials, the Welsh Development Agency and Mid-Wales Development are considering further programmes to help job creation and business activity in the rural areas and I hope to announce details within the next few weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many people were employed in Wales, by county, part-time and full-time, male, female, and under 25 years of age, at the latest available date; and how these figures compare with the comparable figures in 1982 and 1979.

Information for the date requested is not available. However, information for the Welsh counties and Wales is given in the table. These are employees of all ages, an analysis by age not being available. The figures relate to June 1978 and September 1981, the latest dates for which data are available. Comparisons between these two dates will be affected by seasonal factors.

asked the Prime Minister if she will pay an official visit to Fordyce in the Banff and Buchan district area.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will review Her Majesty's Government's policies towards caring for the carers; and whether she will make a statement.

The Government attach great importance to promoting measures which enhance and support the capacity and well-bing of carers, and this aspect is borne in mind in the development of all relevant policies. Apart from encouraging those providing health and personal social services to take account of the needs of informal carers in their planning and provision of services and making grants to carers' organisations, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services has launched an initiative, "Helping the Community to Care" which is designed to explore and improve the quality of support given to carers by statutory and voluntary bodies.

asked the Prime Minister what further steps Her Majesty's Government intend taking to improve the economic well-being of Wales.

The Government will maintain their efforts to rebuild a sound and competitive economy, giving priority to the control of inflation, encouraging enterprise and seeking to keep wage increases to a level that will enable economic growth to be translated into increased employment, while improving the infrastructure and encouraging the development of business in Wales.

asked the Prime Minister if she has any plans to meet the chairmen of nationalised industries to discuss the financing of the nationalised industries; and if she will make a statement.

I met the chairmen of the nationalised industries last November. The capital requirements and financing of the nationalised industries for 1986–87 to 1988–89 can be found in part five of the public expenditure White Paper published last month (Cmnd. 9702-11).

asked the Prime Minister if she will make it her policy to increase the resources available to improve services for disabled people; and if she will make a statement.

The Government have made it clear in guidance issued to health and local authorities, who are the main statutory providers of services for disabled people, that services for the most vulnerable groups in the community, including disabled people, should have priority. It is for individual health and local authorities to determine local priorities in light of their statutory responsibilities and local circumstances.However, although it is not practicable to calculate the total amount spent on services for disabled people, overall expenditure on a number of services which particularly benefit them has substantially increased in real terms over recent years. For example, on the basis of 1984–85 prices, there was an 85 per cent. cost terms increase in local authority expenditure in England on homes for mentally handicapped adults between 1978–79 and 1984–85 and an increase of 39 per cent. over the same period in local authority expenditure in England on aids for disabled people.With regard to social security benefits, total expenditure on all cash benefits for long term sick and disabled people in 1985–86 will be over £5 billion. This represents an increase in real terms of over 50 per cent. since 1978–79, of which some £380 million is due to real improvements in the average value of benefits paid.

asked the Prime Minister if any of the cases of fraud not prosecuted because of the difficulty of obtaining evidence to which she referred in her interview with CBI News involve public money, including Bank of England money.

Certain fraud investigations have been hindered by difficulties in obtaining evidence, in particular evidence from abroad. It is, however, hoped that these difficulties will be overcome and that the cases will be brought to trial. I am aware of four such cases, currently under investigation, in which the misappropriation of public money is involved.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 25 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 25 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 25 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 25 February

asked the Prime Minister she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 25 February.

This morning I had meetings with minsterial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in this House I shall be having further meetings later today.

asked the Prime Minister what is the longest period of time between her giving a holding answer to a priority written question and her giving the substantive answer over the last 12 months.

Records show that the longest such period was 10 working days, although this was an exceptional case involving the compilation of detailed statistical tables. It is my normal practice to answer all priority written questions on the day for which they are tabled, but if it is ever necessary to put in a holding reply, to answer as soon as practicable thereafter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what studies his Department has made of the implications for crime prevention of changes in the price of domestic security devices; and if he will make a statement.

None. However, we are aware that cost may well be a factor in influencing whether or not the public fit domestic security devices. The extent to which this is generally the case is currently being investigated by the Home Office crime prevention unit in the Surrey constabulary area with the assistance of the chief constable.Moreover, the Home Office standing conference on crime prevention, through its working group on residential burglary, is seeking to devise a low-cost security package to protect residential dwellings which might be purchased by those living in particularly vulnerable areas such as the inner city.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were detained under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1985 for periods in excess of 96 hours; how many persons so detained were charged with any offence; how many persons so detained were convicted of an offence; of which offences they were convicted; and how many persons were so convicted on the basis of evidence obtained by virtue of their detention in excess of 96 hours.

I shall reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what will be his policy regarding permission given to inmates of open prisons to obtain, through the relevant governors, lists of telephone numbers of doctors or solicitors when payphones are introduced at the end of April.

The present arrangements by which inmates are provided with names and addresses of solicitors will be extended to cover telephone numbers. Inmates wanting the telephone numbers of doctors will be required to apply to the governor, who may obtain the information for them unless he suspects an improper motive.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has had about the potential danger arising from the unrestricted sale of crossbows; and if he will make a statement.

Since January 1985 we have received 22 letters about crossbows from hon. Members and 19 from members of the public. I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Plymouth, Drake (Miss Fookes) on 3 February, at column 5.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, pursuant to his answer of 18 February, Official Report, columns 124–25, he will give the same information regarding arrests at Wapping, and police deployment on Saturday 22 February, for the period 18 to 24 February.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that a further 62 arrests were made in the period up to 2 pm on 24 February. 135 officers were deployed on 22 February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any special civil defence precaution and protection are envisaged for nuclear dumps run by NIREX; and if he will make a statement.

The Government advocate an all hazards approach by civil defence planners, but no special civil defence plans in support of NIREX waste disposal sites are considered necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what capital expenditure has been incurred by his Department since 1979 on the construction or adaptation of sub-regional headquarters and zone headquarters;(2) what current expenditure has been incurred by his Department since 1979 on the maintenance of sub-regional headquarters and zone headquarters.

The information is not kept in the form requested. I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he decided to close the former subregion 61 emergency headquarters at Dover.

The headquarters at Dover, which served as a communications centre, could not be refurbished at an economic cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action the Government intend to seek to encourage the development of schemes for reparation between victim and offender.

We have been observing the development of such schemes with great interest and are providing funding for four experimental projects. As a contribution to public debate and to help in reaching a view on the place of reparation in the criminal justice system, we have prepared a consultative document which is published today. I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library and in the Vote Office. The document describes existing experimental schemes and the issues of principle and practice which they raise and invites views on these and on the adequacy of the courts' existing powers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what countries whose citizens do not require visas to enter Britain impose visa requirements on British citizens.

I have been asked to reply.I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Epping Forest (Sir Biggs-Davison) on 21 November 1985 at columns

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what specific projects his Department has provided finance for which will improve the development prospects of Tanzania; and what are the sums of money involved.

Our largest project in Tanzania is the Songea-Makambako road. This was completed last year at a total cost of £90 million and is to be followed by the establishment of a post-construction maintenance unit (£2·8 million). Other major projects under way are the southern regions health project (£9·4 million) covering the Mbeya referral hospital, and the provision of medical specialists and rural health centres; a rural development project in Lindi-Mtwara (£2·8 million); and grain stores (£4·7 million). In addition, we are involved in other smaller rural development projects (in pest control, the clove industry, land surveys and dairy production in West Kilimangaro) and in a hospital in Zanzibar. We support with technical co-operation science departments in universities in Tanzania, English language teaching and the Tanzania Harbour Authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all the directions, concerning proposed local plans, that have been issued by his Department since May 1979, give the date, to local authorities under section 14(3) of Town and Country Planning Act 1971.

One direction has been issued by my Department under section 14(3) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971. This was given on 28 January 1986 to the London borough of Southwark in respect of the north Southwark local plan. A direction under section 14(3A) of the Act was given to Berwick-upon-Tweed borough council on 20 February 1985 in respect of the Berwick-upon-Tweed town local plan.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to introduce measures to ensure that national park authorities sell all the land they own, apart from that required for information centres, car parks and other such purposes.

No. We believe that national park authorities should pursue their responsibilities where possible without holding land themselves. However, we recognise that there may be good reason, in some circumstances, for them to retain land in their ownership.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report in respect of each local authority in partnership programme and in respect of each other designated district the amount of unused land in the ownership of the Property Services Agency.

The information is not readily available; but the PSA's policy is to retain only that land for which it has a use. Surplus land is disposed of as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the voluntary bodies that will receive the total of £1·388 million allocation to Lambeth for voluntary groups following the abolition of the Greater London council; and how much grant each body will receive.

The Secretary of State has accepted the following projects as eligible for transitional grant support in the London borough of Lambeth, and for the maximum amounts specified. However, it is for Lambeth council to decide which of these organisations should receive support under the transitional grant scheme, and the precise sum to be allocated to each, up to the allocation limit of £1,388 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his proposals for the future of the Greater London council's seaside and country homes after the abolition of the council; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Havant (Mr. Lloyd) on 20 February, at columns 334–35.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to lay before the House his report under section 7(2) of the Local Government Act 1985.

My right hon. Friend has today laid his report and arranged for copies to be available in the Vote Office.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the practice of his Department's urban housing renewal units regarding notification to the local authority's elected members if they are to visit housing estates in their areas.

The Department's letters to chief executives of local authorities offering a visit by the urban housing renewal unit made it clear that the unit would be glad to meet with elected members if they so wish. It is for the local authorities to decide on the extent to which elected members should be involved in the unit's visits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now formally notify Portsmouth city council of its entitlement to submit a bid for urban aid; and if he will make a statement.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement as to his policy towards the placing of new caravan sites (a) in areas of outstanding natural beauty, (b) in areas of great landscape value and (c) along the heritage coastline; and what advice he has issued to the Camping and Caravanning Club with regard to consultations with local authorities before the issuing of licences in areas as above.

New caravan sites are subject to the requirements of the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 which prohibits the issue of a licence unless the site has the benefit of planning permission. Schedule 1 to the Act, however, sets out circumstances in which a site licence is not required and there is no statutory requirement to consult the local planning authority in such cases. No specific advice has been given to the Camping and Caravanning Club on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review the provisions of the Camping and Caravanning Act 1980 in the light of the granting of licences by the Camping and Caravanning Club without prior consultation with local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

The Camping and Caravanning Club is authorised by a certificate of exemption granted under paragraph 12 of schedule 1 to the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960, to approve sites for use by not more than five caravans at a time without the need for a site licence. This was reviewed in 1980 following a public consultation exercise, and the Government proposed that legislation should be introduced eventually to require exempted organisations to notify the local planning authority prior to approval of such sites.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library a copy of the London Residuary Body's review of the Greater London council's technical and professional services required by paragraph 8, schedule 13 of the Local Government Act 1985.

The London Residuary Body's report was received today and I am arranging for a copy to be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current use of each of the second world war citadels sited at Dollis hill, station Z Harrow, Curzon street house, W1, Faraday building, EC4, Montague house, SW1, Broad Sanctuary, SW1, South Kensington, Horseferry road, and Horseguards Parade (Admiralty citadel).

Of the nine second world war citadels, only five remain on the Government estate and are sued for various operational purposes in conjunction with the Government buildings of which they now form part.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if the Government have submitted their report to the Paris commission outlining the measures being taken to meet the commission's 1984 recommendation that the best available technology should be taken into account in minimising radioactive discharges to the marine environment from nuclear reprocessing plants.

A report by the United Kingdom was submitted to the Paris commission on 24 February 1986. I have placed copies in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Radio Chemical Inspectorate will be associated with the Health and Safety Executive's safety audit of Sellafield.

Yes. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food have today asked their inspectors to collaborate with the Health and Safety Executive and to report to them on the adequacy and effectiveness of arrangements and procedures relating to releases of radioactivity from the British Nuclear Fuels Sellafield site.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, further to his reply of 20 February, Official Report, column 340, he will give further details of the financing of the additional resources he has announced for the National Heritage Memorial Fund.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, this will be financed by an increase of £9·5 million in the cash limit for Class VIII, Vote 4 from £70·42 million to £79·92 million, and from £1·0 million savings within that Vote. The cash limit for the DOE-NTI cash block is being reduced by £10·962 million, from £115·53million to £126·492 million, £1·462 million of which is being used to offset the additional capital allocation to Bradford city council as I announced in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Bradford, North (Mr. Lawler) on 7 February, at column 264.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will re-issue more of the milk quota under the outgoers scheme in England and Wales.

I announced in July last year that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I aimed to make further allocations of quota to three categories of producer in 1986–87. I am glad to say that it will now be possible to enable these allocations to be made, ahead of schedule, in 1985–86.The first group of producers we are helping comprises those whose development awards represented a high proportion of their total quota. These producers were particularly hard-hit by the 35 per cent. cutback on those awards. They will now have sufficient quota restored to them to ensure that they have at least 90 per cent. of the total quota which they would have had if there had been no cutback.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has yet reached a decision on his Department's future funding of the Soil Survey of England and Wales.

In January 1985 I announced, in accordance with the advice of the Priorities Board, that, while the Ministry's commission with the Soil Survey would be unchanged in 1985–86, it would be set at half its current level in 1986–87. This early notification was intended to give the Soil Survey and the Agricultural and Food Research Council an opportunity to explore the possibility of alternative sources of income for future years. The Soil Survey has responded positively to the challenge of securing funds through a wider range of commercial contracts and the Priorities Board has now given further consideration to the funding of the Soil Survey beyond 1986–87. In accordance with the board's recommendations, I have decided that the Ministry should continue to commission work with the Soil Survey at levels of £650,000 in 1987–88 and £500,000 in 1988–89. The needs of my Department beyond this period will be reviewed at the appropriate time and the Priorities Board will again be consulted.

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.

[pursuant to her reply, 24 February 1986, c. 426]: We are awaiting the outcome of the consultations for which clause 12 of the Agriculture Bill provides before deciding on detailed arrangements.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he intends to submit a programme to the EEC Commission in order to seek to attract funds for the development of fishing resources of the Falkland Islands; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his policy towards the maintenance of the existing terms and conditions of employment of the work force at the Birkenhead and Barrow warship yards, including pension arrangements, following the proposed privatisation of those yards; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Thurnham) on 24 February, at column 419.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what is his policy towards the involvement of employees in the privatisation of the Barrow and Birkenhead warship yards;(2) what priority he proposes to attach to local employee and local community participation in considering the employee consortium's buy-out proposals for the Barrow and Birkenhead warship yards; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what criteria other than price he intends to apply when judging rival bids for the Barrow and Birkenhead warship yards next week.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to attach a high priority to regional control and management and investment in the north-west when he considers bids for Barrow and Birkenhead warship yards; and if he will make a statement.

The Government have made it clear that they welcome bids from all interested parties who have the necessary skill, finance and commercial attributes to make a success of the business. Commercial considerations of this sort will be paramount in the assessment of bids for Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Limited.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether nuclear waste dumps established by NIREX would be eligible for regional aid if located in the appropriate areas.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the regulation of individuals under the Financial Services Bill.

I have received from the Marketing of Investment Board organising committee and the Securities and Investment Board a joint proposal that the Financial Services Bill should be amended so as to provide additional powers to maintain a comprehensive register of individuals employed in investment businesses, in order to allow for the registration of all those involved in selling life assurance and unit trusts. The board and the committee have today published their joint proposal and I would very much welcome within the next month the views of interested parties on its proposals. At this stage, I would hope that such representations would concentrate on the proposal to provide additional powers under the Bill, rather than on the details of the particular registration scheme outlined in the proposal.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will make a statement on his Department's support for community service projects in Northern Ireland; and whether he has any plans to extend or develop his Department's work in this area;(2) if he will estimate how many people have been involved in community service schemes supported by his Department in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 20 February 1986 at column 266. My Department will continue to give support, within available resources, for the wide range of projects through which people in Northern Ireland are able to provide service to the community.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many strip searches were made of female prisoners in Her Majesty's prison, Armagh, in January; if he will give the number of persons involved and the number of times each person was searched; whether any prison contraband, smuggled item or illegal correspondence was discovered in any search, indicating which items; in how many cases prisoners refused to be searched and had to be restrained while the search was being conducted; and if he will indicate the reasons for the search, namely, making an appearance at Armagh courthouse on remand, attending trial, inter-prison visit or other reasons.

During January 1986, a total of 49 searches was carried out on 27 prisoners; eight prisoners were searched once, 16 were searched twice, and three prisoners were searched on three occasions. No prohibited article was found during these searches, and no prisoner refused to be searched. Searches were carried out in the following circumstances:

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what changes have been made in the operational and other procedures of the Ulster Defence Regiment and the Royal Ulster Constabulary in the terms of paragraph 8 of the joint communiqué of the third meeting of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Council at the level of Heads of Government, Cmnd. 9657.

[pursuant to his reply, 13 February 1986, c. 523]: The Chief Constable and the General Officer Commanding are committed to the principle that under the rule of law the armed forces, which include the Ulster Defence Regiment, operate only in support of the civil power. They are moving as fast as operational deployments and manpower constraints will allow to ensuring that, save in the most exceptional circumstances, there will be a Royal Ulster Constabulary presence with all army patrols engaged on duties which are likely to bring them into direct contact with members of the public.A working party established by the Chief Constable has for sometime been engaged on the preparation of a code of conduct for the Royal Ulster Constabulary; it aims to complete this work as soon as possible.A leaflet providing guidance on complaints against the conduct of members of Her Majesty's Forces in Northern Ireland has recently been made available to members of the public. It explains in simple language the procedure for making such a complaint and how that complaint will be dealt with.

asked the Paymaster General what was the number and percentage of registered unemployed in Reading in April 1979 and the latest date for which figures are available, showing in both cases those who have been unemployed for over a year; and whether he will also publish the national average unemployment numbers and percentages for the same dates.

The following information is in the Library. The table shows the total number of unemployed claimants and the unemployment rate for the Reading travel-to-work area in January 1986, together with the number of claimants who have been unemployed for over one year at the same date. Comparable figures for April 1979 are not available because of changes in the way figures are collected. However, the table also shows the numbers of unemployed registrants and the unemployment rate for the former Reading travel-to-work area in April 1979. The table also shows the numbers of unemployed claimants, adjusted for discontinuities, in the United Kingdom at April 1979 and January 1986. These are seasonally adjusted and exclude school-leavers.

asked the Paymaster General how many jobs are estimated by his Department to be available in the Reading area.

On 3 January 1986 there were 1,025 unfilled vacancies at the Reading jobcentre and 145 unfilled vacancies at the careers office. These figures cannot be added together because some vacancies are notified to both careers offices and jobcentres.Morever, they are not a complete record of all vacancies available in the area.

asked the Paymaster General how many unemployed persons in Reading are currently registered at jobcentres and careers offices.

The information in respect of registrants at jobcentres is not available, because statistics of those registered at jobcentres do not distinguish those unemployed registrants from employed people seeking a change of employment. However, on 3 January 1986 there were 358 unemployed persons registered at the Reading careers office.

asked the Paymaster General how many unemployed persons in Portsmouth are currently registered at jobcentres and careers offices.

The information in respect of registrants at jobcentres is not available, because statistics of those registered at jobcentres do not distinguish those unemployed registrants from employed people seeking a change of employment. However, on 3 January 1986 there were 441 unemployed persons registered at the Portsmouth careers office.

asked the Paymaster General how many jobs are estimated by his Department to be available in the Portsmouth, South area.

Information on the total number of jobs available in the Portsmouth, South constituency is not available. However, the number of vacancies at jobcentres and careers offices is collected. On 3 January 1986 there were 197 unfilled vacancies at the Portsmouth jobcentre and 20 unfilled vacancies at the Portsmouth careers office.

asked the Paymaster General if he will list the extent to which levels of pay have risen in manufacturing industry in the west midlands each year since 1981; and if he will list the number of people on short-time working contracts in December of each year during the same period and the number of hours of overtime worked per week in the same month.

The available information is as follows:

asked the Paymaster General what further expenditure he is considering for schemes aimed at providing work for the long-term unemployed in the Wolverhampton area.

Our expenditure plans are set out in the White Paper "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1986–87 to 1988–89" (Cmnd. 9702).

asked the Paymaster General whether he is satisfied with progress in setting up the two-year YTS.

Progress in setting up two-year YTS has been excellent. The new programme will begin on 1 April, but already some 86 per cent. of the required places are definitely or likely to be provided. Around 86 per cent. of basic places have been found, and also 84 per cent. of premium places, which are designed to help young people and parts of the country with special needs. Our aim is to provide high quality training for young people of all abilities and circumstances, and the record shows we are well on the way to achieving that.

asked the Paymaster General if he will provide further information on the state of compliance by employers with wages orders.

The best guide of the state of compliance is the number of workers found to be underpaid as a proportion of the workers whose pay is covered by all checks conducted by wages inspectors. The provisional figure for 1985 is 5·6 per cent.In attempting to recall that statistic in order to refute the impression given by the hon. Member for Manchester, Blackley (Mr. Eastham) and other hon. Members, during the Second Reading debate on the Wages Bill on 11 February, at column 874, of widespread underpayment of workers covered by wages orders, I regret that I gave the figure of 8 per cent., which was inaccurate.

asked the Paymaster General how many notifiable accidents and deaths, respectively, were recorded over the most recent annual period for which figures are available in the operation, respectively, of coal fired, oil fired and nuclear power stations; and how many were notified in respect of coal-mining operations.

[pursuant to his reply, 24 February 1986]: Information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.For the electricity industry as a whole, in 1984, there were 11 deaths and 89 major injuries reported to the Health and Safety Executive arising as a result of or in connection with work activities.Comparable figures for the coal mining industry were 19 deaths and 273 major injuries.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what are the estimated costs of widening the two-lane motorway between Popham and Bar End into a three-lane motorway.

The cost of widening the Popham to Easton Lane section of the M3 to dual three-lane carriageways is estimated at about £24 million at current prices. This figure excludes the cost of delays to traffic. The Easton Lane to Bar End section has already been constructed to dual three-lane carriageway standard.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the traffic density forecasts he used when deciding to construct the Popham to Bar End section of the M3 to dual two-lane standards, as distinct from the three-lane standard of the rest of the motorway.

At the time of the decision to construct the Popham to Easton Lane, Winchester section of the M3 as a dual two-lane motorway, the traffic flow was forecast to be up to about 43,000 vehicles per average August 16-hour day for the design year 1995. This is well within the current design capacity for a dual two-lane motorway.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how much money was saved by constructing a two-lane motorway rather than a three-lane motorway on the M3 between Popham and Bar End, Winchester.

On the basis of national average rates at 1983 price levels it is estimated that to have constructed the 10 miles of the M3 from Popham to Easton Lane as a dual three-lane motorway would have cost an additional £18 million. The Easton Lane to Bar End section of the M3 has been constructed to dual three-lane standard.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what stage his Department has reached in the development of a national computerised database of trunk road conditions; and if he will indicate the nature of the information which will be retained.

A three-year project to develop a computer database began on 1 January 1986. It relates to trunk roads including motorways.When completed the system will hold data in relation to location, layout, construction, condition, traffic, accidents, classification and bridges.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any estimate of the number of vehicles in use on public roads without insurance cover.

In 1984, the most recent year for which figures are available, there were 194,378 findings of guilt by magistrates' courts in England and Wales for using a motor vehicle without having insurance covering personal injury to third parties as required by law. I am not aware of any reliable estimate of the number of vehicles actually being used without insurance.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to make plans to avoid heavy traffic congestion in Oadby when the Leicester southern district distributor road stage 3 is completed; and if he will now put in hand work on the eastern district distributor road.

The Department will consult the county on the design and construction of the junctions where the proposed county road schemes joint trunk road A6 in Oadby. Non-trunk roads are the responsibility of Leicestershire county council as highway authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration he has given to the mandatory display of insurance discs on car windscreens; and what representations he has received to that effect.

The use of windscreens discs to provide evidence of insurance is suggested from time to time and has been most recently by the RAC. But, for the reasons I gave in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Derby, North (Mr. Knight) on 29 January, at column 520, I have yet to be convinced of the value of such a system.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether there have been any studies undertaken to show that the artificial lighting of roads does or does not improve driver comfort at night.

No such studies have been undertaken.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how current traffic flows on the M25 compare with pre-construction estimates; and if he will make a statement.(2) if he will specify those sections of the M25 where traffic flows exceed 50,000 vehicles per day, and their direction.

The information requested is set out in the table. Current flows for those sections listed relate to traffic counts taken in December 1985. The results of traffic counts on other sections will be available by the summer. The measured flows are the total numbers of vehicles travelling in both directions. There is no significant difference between the numbers travelling clockwise and anti-clockwise. In no case does a directional flow exceed 50,000 vehicles per day.The design flow for the dual three-lane sections of the M25 was 85,000 vehicles per day. The design flow for any road is less than its maximum capacity.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport which of the 30 fog blackspots on the M25 recently identified are currently lit; how many of the remainder he plans to have lit; and if he will list them.

The following fog-prone sites on the M25 are lit:

• River Roding crossing
• River Lee crossing
• Junction 5 area
• Between Junctions 13 and 14
• The "Paddocks" area
• Junction 23 area
• Junction 7 area
• Between Junctions 29 and 30
• Junction 25 area
• Between Junctions 30 and 31
• Junction 28 slip roads.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport which stretches of the M25 opened in 1985 and due to be opened in 1986 will be lit.

Lighting has been, or will be, provided on the sections of the M25 between junctions 14 and 15 and on junctions 3, 6, 11, 15, 21, 21A and the remainder of junction 23.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the total number of miles of the M25 currently lit and the number of miles unlit.

There are 44.5 miles currently lit and 62·55 miles unlit.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of Britain's motorways system are currently lit and how many unlit; how many additional miles of motorway are planned to be lit; and if he will make a statement.

384 miles of the English motorway system are lit and 1,101 miles unlit. It is currently planned to light a further 36 miles. The extent of motorway lighting is kept under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether Her Majesty's Government have held discussions with representatives of the Lockheed Aircraft Company about the purchase of any British airport by that company.

No. I met representatives of Lockheed Air Terminal Inc. in November 1985, when they expressed an interest in managing airports and airport terminals, but not in purchasing airports.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, following the announcement by Mr. Gorbachev on 19 December 1985 that the Soviet Union is prepared to allow on-site verification of potential nuclear testing sites, he will forthwith initiate a new series of talks with the Soviet Union on a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty.

No. Our position on re-opening negotiations for a comprehensive test ban treaty remains that outstanding verification problems would have to be resolved first.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent visit to the United Kingdom of the Prime Minister of Turkey.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters were discussed with the Prime Minister of Turkey during his recent visit; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside (Mr. Parry) on 24 February at column 412.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the European Economic Community Council will next discuss South Africa.

South Africa is expected to be one of the topics for discussion at today's meeting of EC Foreign Ministers in the Netherlands.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions have been held in the Foreign Affairs Council concerning the Contadora process or the Caraballeda declaration.

None. However, within the framework of European political co-operation there is regular discussion at appropriate levels of all important issues; including Central America. On 20 January, the twelve member states of the European Community publicly welcomed the impetus given to the Contadora negotiations by the Caraballeda declaration.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made by European Economic Community member states to the United States of America about its policies towards Nicaragua.

The twelve member states of the European Community discuss all-important issues, including central America, with the United States Government which is aware of their views.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what use will be made of the video tape profile and script of the Prime Minister delivered to his Department from the Central Office of Information on 21 February 1986.

No decision has been taken on what further use will be made of this material, which was prepared in connection with the visits of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to south-east Asia and the middle east in 1985.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether any of the structure plans (a) approved by him or (b) currently before him incorporated, when originally submitted, policies seeking to prohibit the disposal or transport of nuclear waste; and what is his general policy towards the use of structure plans as a vehicle for such control of nuclear waste.

A proposed alteration to the Bedfordshire structure plan and a proposed additional policy to the Humberside structure plan, submitted to my right hon. Friend for approval, oppose the disposal of nuclear waste within the boundaries of the two counties. The Bedfordshire alteration also opposes the transportation of nuclear wastes within or through the county.My Department has pointed out to Bedfordshire and Humberside county councils that such policies, if adopted, would conflict with Government policy as set out in the 1982 White Paper "Radioactive Waste Management" regarding the need for suitable disposal facilities for low and intermediate level radioactive wastes. My Department also invited Bedfordshire county council to consider whether the proposed policy to control material transported could be regarded as a measure for the management of traffic and therefore within the functions of the structure plan. My right hon. Friend is presently considering his response. There are no policies in approved structure plans which prohibit the disposal or transport of nuclear waste.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if, when announcing the list of possible sites for the disposal of nuclear waste, he will include a statement detailing, in respect of each site (a) his most recent assessment of public opinion in the areas concerned, (b) his assessment of the regional policy implications of the choice, (c) the implications for development blight in the area and (d) his assessment of the impact on other local industries; and if he will make a statement;(2) what account he is taking in considering the list of nuclear dump sites submitted to him by NIREX on 8 January of

In considering the list of sites my right hon. Friend's main concern was to ensure that NIREX' s proposals were the best way of carrying forward the Government's policy for the management of radioactive waste. Considerations such as those mentioned by the right hon. Member will be suitable for discussion at the public inquiry into NIREX's proposals for development.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, when arranging the list of possible sites for the disposal of nuclear waste, he will also publish a full list of sites considered by NIREX but rejected by either NIREX or him; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, when arranging the list of possible sites for the disposal of nuclear waste, he will make a statement on the effect on the reprocessing of nuclear waste from other countries of the failure to construct such a dump; and if he will make a statement.