asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received in relation to an application to fell match poplars at Blunham in Bedfordshire and return the land to horticultural use.

My right hon. Friend has received only one representation regarding this application, and this was from the owner of the plantation. However, the Forestry Commission is still involved in consultations on the matter with the Mid-Bedfordshire district council and under the normal procedures for dealing with disputed felling licence application it may yet seek my views before giving a decision on the application.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether any study has been made by his Department as to how the different types of farmers have benefited from the existing system of support.

Information about grants and subsidies received by farm businesses, according to type of farming, is collected as part of the farm management survey. The most recent published information is contained in "Farm Incomes in England 1983–84", copies of which are available in the Library of the House. Information relating to 1984–85 for the United Kingdom is expected to be published in a few weeks time.The total effect of farmers of the existing system of support could be assessed only by making hypothetical assumptions about the alternative policy which might otherwise have obtained.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when his Department will respond to the Farm Animal Welfare Council report; and if he will make a statement.

The recommendations in the Farm Animal Welfare Council's report on the welfare of livestock when slaughtered by religious methods are under consideration in the light of representations received. We fully recognise the importance attached to both the report and the Government's response.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from farmers in the Greater Manchester county area about the exceptional weather aid scheme; and if he will make a statement.

I have received four letters from hon. Members asking me to extend payments under the exceptional weather aid scheme to farmers in the Greater Manchester area. While I sympathise with all farmers who suffered as a result of last year's bad weather but did not qualify for assistance under the scheme, we had to direct the limited resources available to those areas which were most seriously affected. There was inevitably some element of rough justice, but I believe that in broad terms we have achieved our objective of helping those most in need.Those farmers in Greater Manchester who fall within the less favoured areas will qualify for hill livestock compensatory allowances which will be paid at increased rates for 1986, as I announced on 28 November 1985.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the cost of plant breeding rights and national list testing in England; and if he will distinguish therein between administrative and operational costs.

My Ministry incurs expenditure on these systems both internally and in relation to work performed on its behalf by the National Institute of Agricultural Botany and other bodies. In the financial year 1985–86, internal expenditure, mainly attributable to administration, is estimated at £0·3 million. Payments to NIAB, which account for the bulk of the operational expenditure, are estimated at £0·5 million for plant breeders rights and £1·3 million for national listing. My Ministry also incurs expenditure in respect of plant breeders rights and national listing in Northern Ireland and in respect of the former in Scotland.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any proposals concerning damage to sheep farming enterprises by dogs.

The loss of sheep and other livestock killed by dogs is a matter of concern to the Government. Livestock worrying is an offence under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953, and the maximum fine on the owner or handler of a dog found worrying livestock on agricultural land was raised in 1984 to £400. The Animals Act 1971 makes the keeper of a dog which kills or injures livestock responsible for the damage and liable to a claim for compensation, and under the same legislation farmers may shoot a dog if there is no other way of preventing it attacking their stock.The problem of worrying is well understood, and I do not believe there are grounds for an inquiry. However, I am aware that the legislation must be supplemented by a vigorous campaign of education, publicity and advice. My Department is contributing to this by continuing its successful publicity campaign launched in 1984.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Council of Agriculture Ministers meeting held in Brussels on 24 and 25 February; and if he will make a statement.

The Council had an initial discussion of the Commission's proposals on agricultural prices and related measures for 1986/87. I pointed to the increasingly serious problems confronting the common agricultural policy and the need for firm measures to deal with them. In general I commended the Commission's determination to place the main emphasis on action through price, but I expressed concern about the proposal to exceed the financial guideline for agricultural expenditure. I made clear my very strong objections in particular to those aspects of the proposals which would differentiate the level of support under the policy to the disadvantage of larger farmers.The Council adopted, subject to the opinion of the European Parliament, three measures to improve agriculture in particular disadvantaged areas. One of the areas benefiting will be the islands off the northern and western coasts of Scotland (except the Western Isles, which have already been the subject of a similar measure). Provision is made for expenditure on the Scottish measure of 62·5 million ecu over five years, to which the Community will contribute 25 million ecu. This covers improvement of farm structures and infrastructure, improvements in farm houses, assistance for farm tourism and craft industries and management payments for farmers undertaking environmental agreements.The Council reached an agreement in principle, with Belgium dissenting, on measures enabling starch and sugar to be made available at preferential prices for use in a range of industrial products. The intention is, on the one hand, to encourage these products to be manufactured within the Community rather than outside and, on the other, to ensure reasonable terms of competition between sugar and starch. I obtained an assurance that the arrangements for starch could be extended to certain food products, provided they met the agreed criteria.

asked the Secretary of State of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the benefit of lignite development for Northern Ireland and of the time scale on which these will accrue.

Lignite development in Northern Ireland offers the possibility of significantly reduced electricity generation cost and the creation of new employment in mining and in the construction of power stations. The first lignite fired power station should come into use in the early to mid-1990s.

asked the Secretary of State of State for Northern Ireland if he has received the Commissioners' report on the public inquiry held on 22 May 1985 at Downpatrick into objections to the Down development plan; and when he expects to publish it and his own decisions.

The report of the Planning Appeals Commission was received on 19 December 1985 and is under consideration by the Department of the Environment. It is likely that a statement on the plan together with the commissioner's report will be published by the end of April 1986.

asked the Secretary of State of State for Northern Ireland if he will state the cost of plant breeding rights and national list testing in Northern Ireland; and if he will distinguish therein between administrative and operational costs.

Estimated expenditure by the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland on plant breeders rights in 1985–86 is £128,000, of which administrative expenses are £16,000; for national list testing the figures are £107,000 and £17,000 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State of State for Northern Ireland what are the respective numbers of students at St. Mary's college of education and Stranmillis college of education; what is the respective funding of each college; and what is the respective funding of each student union.

The information is as follows:

	St. Mary's	Stranmillis
		£
Student Numbers 1985–86 (Academic Year)	563	566
Recurrent Funding 1985–86 (Financial Year)	£2,245,000	£2,842,000

The level of student union funding is a matter for local determination between a union and its institution within the totality of the institution's recurrent financial position.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if he will review the guidelines issued to the police on the subject of entrapment; and if he will make a statement.

The Lord Advocate has not issued guidelines to the police on this subject, but a Scottish Office circular issued in 1969 to chief constables makes it absolutely clear that no member of a police force should counsel, incite or procure the commission of a crime. The 1977 High Court judgment in Cook v. Skinner gives further guidance. These sources should be sufficient to enable the police to distinguish clearly between entrapment and legitimate crime detection operations.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland when the Lord Advocate last met members of the Scottish Law Commission to discuss reform of the law in relation to public order.

In the course of a recent meeting with the chairman of the Scottish Law Commission my noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate discussed the commission's work on the law of mobbing and rioting. Subsequently the chairman has written to the Lord Advocate advising him that the Commission has decided not to publish a report for the time being. I am arranging for a copy of the letter to be placed in the Library.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland how many prosecutions there have been in Scotland in 1986 for driving offences that do not include alcohol or parking.

for Scotland: Statistics in respect of motor vehicle offences for 1986 are not yet available.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland which procurators fiscal offices are presently under establishment.

Following a recent resignation there is one legal assistant vacancy at the procurator fiscal's office, Linlithgow. Dumbarton and Edinburgh is each short of an officer at the executive officer grade; Dundee, Falkirk and Kilmarnock are each short of one clerical or secretarial grade, and Hamilton is short of two.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if he will make a statement about the transfer of certain types of summary case from a sheriff court to the district courts in Glasgow.

Glasgow has four district courts presided over by stipendiary magistrates, who have the full summary criminal jurisdiction of sheriffs. It is the policy of the procurator fiscal to make full use of these courts and thereby to relieve some of the pressures on the sheriff court which will continue to be fully utilised.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland how many prosecutions have taken place under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in each year since its enactment.

Separate statistics in relation to such prosecutions are not available.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if he will ask the Scottish Law Commission to review legislation relating to the operation of industrial tribunals in Scotland in the light of recent cases involving miners.

No. Neither I nor my noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate has any ministerial responsibilities for employment law and it would therefore not be appropriate for the Lord Advocate to refer this matter to the Scottish Law Commission. Responsibility for employment law rests with my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Employment.

asked the Lord Privy Seal (1) how many Bills introduced under Standing Order No. 15 were rejected on a Division in each separate Session of Parliament from May 1979 to November 1985;(2) how many Bills were introduced under Standing Order No. 15 in each separate Session of Parliament from May 1979 until November 1985.

There follows a list of the number of motions for leave to bring in Bills under the ten-minute rule—Standing Order No. 15–negatived on Division and agreed to.

Session	Negatived on Division	Agreed to
1979–80	11	63
1980–81	15	33
1981–82	6	50
1982–83	4	30
1983–84	6	66
1984–85	13	43

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many Bills were introduced under Standing Order No. 15 by Labour hon. Members have been enacted in each Session of Parliament from May 1979 to November 1985.

One-in Session 1982–83, Solvent Abuse (Scotland) Act, introduced by the hon. Member for Glasgow, Shettleston (Mr. Marshall).

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many Bills introduced by Her Majesty's Government received a Second Reading in each Session of Parliament from May 1979 to November 1985.

Information of this sort may be obtained from the Return of Public Bills, published sessionally as a House of Commons paper.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the reply given by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State to the hon. 'Member for Normanton (Mr. O'Brien) on 29 November 1985, whether he has, as an exception to the policy in circular 26/85, approved any applications by local authorities for the payment of Exchequer contribution in respect of grants for disabled council tenants.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Wales and I are aware of the special needs of disabled people and recognise that it may be necessary for adaptation to their homes to be carried out quickly to meet those needs. We have therefore decided to make a general exception to the policy in circular 26/85 (Welsh Office 54/85) as regards home improvement grants for the adaptation of local authority dwellings by disabled council tenants.It will no longer be necessary for local authorities to refer individual applications to the Departments for the payment of Exchequer contribution in respect of grants under part VII of the Housing Act 1974, given by a local authority which contributes all or part of the tenant's share of the cost. In future, Exchequer contribution will be payable in the usual way in respect of such cases. The Departments are informing local authorities of this decision.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the acreage of land shown in the derelict land register in respect of each of the parliamentary authorities listed in his answer to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Rooker) on 28 January, Official Report, column 470.

My Department does not maintain a register of derelict land. Registers of unused and underused publicly-owned land were set up under part X of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980. On 20 February the amount of land shown on these registers as owned by the authorities listed in the answer of 28 January was as follows:

	Local Authority	Amount of registered land (acres)
1	Leeds	1,264
2	Kingston-upon-Hull	892
3	Sunderland	845
4	Manchester	646
5	Liverpool	503
6	Bradford	489
7	Sheffield	480
8	Wakefield	471
9	Gateshead	460
10	Rotherham	445
11	Preston	434
12	Rochdale	433
13	Coventry	421
14	Barnsley	410
15	Kirklees	389
16	Dudley	359
17	North Tyneside	344
18	Nottingham	281
19	Greater London Council	268
20	Calderdale	263
21	Tameside	247
22	Leicester	242
23	Oldham	235
24	Salford	217
25	Burnley	212
26	Birmingham	210
27	Hillingdon	197
28	Walsall	196
29	Wolverhampton	195
30	Newcastle-upon-Tyne	173
31	Sandwell	169
32	Wirral	167
33	Derby	133
34	Norwich	177
35	Rochester-upon-Medway	80
36	Newham	65
37	Greenwich	46
38	Lambeth	44
39	Southwark	40
40	Easington	33
41	Haringey	33
42	Brent	27
43	Tower Hamlets	24
44	Lewisham	11
45	Islington	10
46	Hackney	7
47	Hammersmith and Fulham	2

	Local Authority	Amount of registered land (acres)
48	Camden	0
49	Wandsworth	0
50	Westminster, City of	0

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the total acreage of land owned or leased as water catchment areas by the Yorkshire water authority;(2) if he will identify the various areas by name, the specified acreage of each site, and the geographical position of water catchment areas owned or rented by the Yorkshire water authority.

This information is not held centrally. I suggest that the right hon. Member approaches the Yorkshire water authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many fishing associations have permission to fish within the Yorkshire water authority area; and if he will identify them by name and total numbers involved.

This information is not available within my Department. I suggest that the right hon. Member approaches the Yorkshire water authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report in respect of each local authority area participating in the partnership programme and each other designated district the number of local authority dwellings which have been empty for more than 12 months and the amount of derelict land shown in the derelict land register.

Following are the numbers of local authority dwellings vacant for more than a year and the amounts of local authority land in the registers of unused and underused land:

	Local authority dwellings vacant more than a year at 1 April 1985	Local authority owned land on the land register
	Number	Acres
Partnership areas
Gateshead	385	460
Newcastle upon Tyne	277	173
Hackney	1,319	7
Islington	547	10
Lambeth	460	44
Birmingham	261	210
Manchester	1,505	646
Salford	465	217
Liverpool	3,588	503
Programme authorities
Middlesbrough	52	623
North Tyneside	317	344
South Tyneside	40	67
Sunderland	814	845
Kingston upon Hull	16	892
Sheffield	637	480
Bradford	710	489

	Local authority dwellings vacant more than a year at 1 April 1985	Local authority owned land on the land register
	Number	Acres
Leeds	417	1,264
Leicester	138	242
Nottingham	31	281
Brent	319	27
Hammersmith and Fulham	150	2
Tower Hamlets	790	24
Wandsworth	687	0
Coventry	296	421
Sandwell	350	169
Wolverhampton	338	195
Bolton	0	461
Oldham	479	235
Rochdale	160	433
Blackburn	82	828
Knowsley	283	440
Wirral	3	167
Other designated districts
Hartlepool	64	123
Langbaurgh	8	279
Barnsley	102	410
Doncaster	138	408
Rotherham	160	445
Ealing	55	45
Greenwich	137	46
Haringey	335	33
Lewisham	690	10
Newham	672	65
Southwark	1,581	40
Walsall	65	196
Wigan	53	477
Burnley	284	212
St. Helens	19	177
Sefton	5	340

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about the future of the Southwark law project when its urban aid grant expires in 1987.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment received representations last summer from the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) and one of his constituents about the future funding of the Southwark law project. They were both informed that it is for the London borough of Southwark to decide how best to replace the urban programme funding when its time expires in 1987.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what safeguards the London Docklands Development Corporation has to seek to prevent the manipulation of the affordable homes schemes to secure the benefits of the scheme for persons not so entitled; and if he will make a statement.

The LDDC has recently reviewed the operation of its "affordable housing policy" and taken steps to prevent the abuse of the priority arrangements for local tenants. Priority is given to local authority tenants living within the docklands boroughs, who can provide evidence of tenancy and who have been on the electoral roll at their council address for 12 months. After six weeks on the market, the builder may then take reservations from open market purchasers.All purchasers of affordable homes (that is priced at £40,000 or less) are now required by covenant to pay the LDDC on resale a proportion of the difference between the affordable selling price and the open market selling price at the time of the original reservation. The proportion to be paid declines in stages over a five-year period.Purchasers are also required to sign a declaration to the effect that they will take occupation of the dwelling being purchased. LDDC has publicised these new arrangements within the local communities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the exposure to radiation each year which is experienced, respectively, by a person living five miles from a nuclear power station and a person using a colour television set in the family home for four hours a day.

The National Radiological Protection Board advises me that direct exposure from a television set operating four hours a day will be above 5 nanoSieverts per year. There will be no direct radiation exposure five miles away from an operating advanced gas-cooled nuclear reactor and exposure to authorised discharges will be about 1 microsievert per year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all accidents at Sellafield, Windscale, Drigg and associated sites involving release of radiation which have been notified to the Irish Government for the purpose of their monitoring of possible radiological consequences, since 1956; and if he will make a statement.

With the exception of the Windscale fire of 1957 there have been no accidents at any of these sites which would have necessitated such monitoring. Since 1977 the Irish Government have been furnished by the Health and Safety Executive with regular quarterly statements of incidents at nuclear installations in Britain, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.In addition, my Department has informed the Irish Government of all incidents which have resulted in the release of significant quantities of radioactivity.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council dwellings have been sold in Reading since April 1979; what proportion this represents of the April 1979 housing stock; and how many council dwellings remain in council ownership.

Estimates of sales of council dwellings from April 1979 to September 1985 and of the stock owned by the local authority at 1 April 1985 are given in the table which was laid in the Library in response to a question from the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Mr. Murphy) on 19 December, at column 259. Sales reported by Reading represent 16·2 per cent. of its April 1979 stock.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what urban aid was given to Reading in 1978 and in each subsequent year.

For the years from 1978–79 to 1985–86 inclusive, Reading borough councils estimated expenditure under the traditional urban programme totalled £1,772,845, of which 75 per cent. is being met by central Government.The yearly breakdown is:

Year	Amount £
1978–79	8,122
1979–80	22,111
1980–81	62,188
1981–82	208,852
1982–83	236,908
1983–84	349,317
1984–85	*581,182
1985–86	*304,165

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to his answer of 17 February, Official Report, column 35, he will place in the Library the information available to the London Docklands Development Corporation on the terms of the planning permission granted to News International prior to the existence of the London Docklands Development Corporation.

[pursuant to his reply, 20 February 1986, c. 340]: I have today placed the information requested in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to make a scheme under the provisions of section 59(3) of the Local Government Act 1985; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has now made the scheme promised in the announcement made by my noble Friend the Minister of Planning and Regional Affairs on 13 November 1985, at columns 379–87, in another place. Full details of the scheme — the Government Reorganisation (Reduction of Redundancy Payment Cases) Scheme 1986 — are being published with guidance notes in a joint circular (DOES/86: SDD6/86: W013/86) issued today. The circular, issued by my Department, and the Scottish and Welsh Offices, is addressed to all local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales, and to the residuary bodies which were established under the Local Government Act 1985 to wind up the affairs of the GLC and the six metropolitan county councils. I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library.The scheme implements the decisions which were summarised in the announcement made on 13 November and communicated to the main interested parties at that time. It is designed to stimulate the creation of additional job opportunities for GLC and MCC employees by encouraging local authorities at large to allow some of their own employees to retire early and to fill the vacancies so created by recruiting GLC or MCC employees who might otherwise be left redundant at abolition.The Government hope that authorities will make full use of the scheme, thereby retaining the experience and expertise of such officers in local government and minimising redundancies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list those rivers and watercourses or areas of still water where the levels of mercury are such as to present a hazard to the public;(2) which stretches of rivers and watercourses in England contain levels of mercury which are

[pursuant to his reply, 23 January 1986, c. 297]: The quality standard for mercury in fresh water required by EC directives 82/176/EEC and 84/156/EEC is an average annual concentration of 1 ug/1 total mercury. Apart from areas immediately downstream of discharge points, where the standard is not required to be complied with, it is known to be exceeded at only two places (in both cases by more than a factor of two).

(a) In the Trent Mersey canal at Northwich. The quality standard is not met because of the very limited dilution available, although the discharge of mercury is well within the limit values for emissions laid down in the directive.

(b) In the River Rother at Stavely. When new treatment plant is commissioned later this year it is anticipated that the quality standard will be met.

At neither of these sites, nor any other affected by major discharges of mercury, is water abstracted for public supply, or is there known to be any hazard to the public.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will make a statement on her intentions in respect of (a) education vouchers, (b) reintroduction of direct grant schools or status and (c) expansion of the assisted places scheme.

The Government continue to consider all possibilities for improving school education.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those district health authorities in Wales which currently screen all symptomless women aged 50 years and older for breast cancer as a matter of routine; at what cycle of frequency such screening takes place; and what are the future plans for his Department for developing these services.

No district health authorities in Wales routinely screen women for breast cancer at present.An expert working group on breast cancer screening was appointed in July 1985 under the chairmanship of Professor Sir Patrick Forrest to consider the situation in the United Kingdom. It has produced an interim report, a copy of which has been placed in the Library. The report concluded that there was a clinical case for providing mammographic facilities and screening for symptomless women aged 50 and over, together with the necessary back-up services. This will be considered in detail in the final report, which will set out policy options, their costs and benefits and the overall implications for the NHS. The final report is expected later this year.

Percentage of school leavers aged 18 and over intending to enter full-time further education
Type of education	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84
Degree and teacher training courses	48	49	44	45	43
Other full-time further and higher education	18	19	21	21	24
All further and higher education	66	68	65	65	66

Comparable information for school leavers in 1984–85 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many acres of Forestry Commission land in Wales were sold last year; what were the corresponding figures for the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Sales records are maintained by financial years to 31 March. In the period from 1 April 1985 the Forestry Commission has sold 2,143 hectares of land in Wales. Figures for the previous 10 years are as follows:

Year to 31 March	Land sold (Hectares)
1976	316
1977	200
1978	507
1979	221
1980	396
1981	361
1982	1,743
1983	1,450
1984	3,347
1985	3,522

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to sell off to private buyers all the land held by the Forestry Commission in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Member for Ayr on 8 November 1984, at columns 6–7, setting out the Government's policy on disposals by the Forestry Commission. As in all other areas of Government activity, policy is kept under regular review.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what was the actual dose level in rad rem on

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of Welsh students concluding secondary education in July 1985 at the age of 18 years progressed to (a) university courses, (b) polytechnic courses and (c) any further education courses; and if he will give comparable figures for each year from 1980.

The information is not available in the form requested. Estimates from a sample of leavers from maintained and independent schools in Wales indicate intentions of entry into full-time further education as follows:mSv calculated to have been received by the one individual worker who at Sellafield in February was exposed in one incident to the equivalent of one year's permissible dose;(2) what criteria were applied by the Health and Safety Executive or the Nuclear Industries Inspectorate in their assessment that one individual worker at Sellafield had received in February the equivalent in one incident of one year's permissible radiation dose;(3) what method was applied by the Health and Safety Executive or the Nuclear Industries Inspectorate in their assessment that one individual worker at Sellafield had received in February 1986 the equivalent in one incident of one year's permissible radiation dose.

Final assessment of the dose level must await the results of biological monitoring. The present assessment of intake is, I am advised by the Nuclear Industries Inspectorate and British Nuclear Fuels, based on measurements of the plutonium alpha activity on a personal air sampler worn by the individual concerned, as interpreted by ICRP published data relating intake to consequential doses, and the statutory dose limits in the Ionising Radiation Regulations 1985. If the assessment is confirmed, it is estimated that the worker received an intake which will commit him to a dose of about 50 rem (500 mSv) to his bone surfaces, which is equivalent to the current statutory dose limit for one year set by the regulations. This dose would be delivered at a rate of about 1 rem (10 mSv) per annum.

asked the Paymaster General how many officers in his Department, including local offices, deal totally or mainly with issues relating to the employment of disabled people; and how this figure compares to the corresponding figures five years ago.

There are currently around 1,440 officers in the Department of Employment group dealing totally or mainly with issues relating to the employment of disabled people. The corresponding figure five years ago was around 1,820, but since then there have been a number of important changes in the way this work is organised. In particular other mainstream employment service staff have been given responsibility for helping disabled people whose needs are similar to other job seekers; and thus many of them individually spend part of their time on such work.

asked the Paymaster General if he will list the help being provided by his Department for the young unemployed in West Hertfordshire.

Available information is as follows:

(1) 424 places offering YTS training are available in the Dacorum local authority district.

(2) 217 people are taking part in the community programme in the Hemel Hempstead area.

(3) In the Hemel Hempstead area 49 young people are being supported under the young workers scheme. young people from west Hertfordshire will also be able to benefit from employment and training measures in neighbouring areas.

asked the Paymaster General if he will list the places in Manchester he visited on 10 February; and which Members of Parliament were advised of the details of this visit in advance.

On 10 February I began my visit to Manchester at the regional office of the Manpower Services Commission for a meeting with members of the city action team. I then had discussions with the leader of Manchester city council, Councillor Stringer, and then visited the Moss Side link programme. My visit ended with the churches work scheme in Moss Side.The right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton (Mr. Kaufman), and the hon. Members for Manchester, Central (Mr. Litherland), and for Stretford (Mr. Lloyd) were all informed of my visit in advance, and the hon. Member for Manchester, Central was also given details of my programme.

asked the Paymaster General why he chose the title Moss Side-Lloyd street for the area of Manchester involved in the recent announcement of inner cities; how much of this area he expects to lie outside the Stretford constituency; what information he provided to hon. Members about this project; to which hon. Members and when.

We identified the area in Manchester we had in mind for the pilot initiative in these general terms because we based our choice on the 1981 census wards of Moss Side and Lloyd street. A significant part of these wards lies outside Stretford constituency. however, I will take final decisions on the precise boundaries of this and the other pilot areas only after further local consultation.I wrote to the hon. members most concerned with details of the initiative on 6 February. I apologise for the fact that due to an oversight I did not write to the hon. Member until 17 February.

asked the Paymaster General how many jobs are currently being provided in Reading by YTS and other schemes for which his Department is responsible; and how this compares with the number of jobs provided in or near April 1979.

Some 3,200 people are currently supported by our employment and training measures in Reading. Because of the basis on which local statistics are collected, an unknown proportion may fall in areas outside the local authority district. I regret that we do not hold local figures for 1979.

asked the Paymaster General what reductions have been achieved so far in the totals of longterm unemployed in each of the nine pilot areas in which the job start scheme is operating.

Analysis of unemployment by duration are available only on a quarterly basis. The last count was undertaken on 9 January, only three days after the pilot schemes had begun. The analysis of the next count, undertaken on 10 April, is expected in late May.For monitoring purposes, however, we have collected information on the numbers of people leaving the unemployment count after being contacted by the Manpower Services Commission under the initiative. The details for each of the nine pilot areas after the first six weeks of the scheme are as follows:

	Number
Dundee	86
Billingham	42
Preston	87
Huddersfield	62
Stoke-on-Trent	163
Port Talbot & Neath	57
Plymouth	66
Crawley and Horsham	111
Ealing	75
	749

These figures include those who left the count any time after receiving letters from the MSC inviting them to in-depth counselling interviews, either before or after their interviews. It is not possible yet to say what proportion of these people would have left without the help of the scheme.

asked the Paymaster General how many persons aged 18 to 25 years are presently engaged in the community industry scheme in the borough of Knowsley; and what change in numbers there has been over the past year.

The community industry scheme is for disadvantaged young people aged 17 to 19 years of age. The Kirkby and Knowsley units both recruit from within the Metropolitan borough of Knowsley. In January 1986 it employed 141 young people aged 18 years and over. The corresponding figure for January 1985 was 161.

asked the hon. Member for Wokingham, as representing the Church Commissioners, if he will place in the Library a copy of any submissions the Church Commissioners made to the House of Bishops' working party on the break-up of clergy marriages and any papers they have subsequently prepared following the publication of the working party's report.

The commissioners did not make formal submissions to the working party, nor have they prepared papers subsequently. As I explained in my answer to the hon. Member on 22 April 1985, representatives of the commissioners attended all the meetings of the working party and offered information and advice as and when required. l have arranged to place in the Library a copy of a note concerning the application of the Church Commissioners' funds prepared by the Church Commissioners official solicitor and submitted by the Third Church Estates Commissioner, a member of the working party.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the issues raised about radiation illness at Coulport by the hon. Member for Greenock and Port Glasgow in the debates on the Royal Navy on 6 February, Official Report, column 517, and which he undertook to investigate, Official Report, column 532.

No illness caused by radiation is known to have occurred at Coulport. The Health and Safety Executive is investigating a recent suggestion that certain health problems at the depot might be associated with radiation; however, their investigation is not yet complete. I shall write to the hon. Gentleman very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the estimate for (a) apprentice intake and (b) the number of apprentices in training at Rosyth dockyard for 1986–87 and 1987–88.

The estimate for apprentice entry at Rosyth dockyard in 1986–87 is 144. Following entry of this number, and allowing for those completing training, there should be some 649 apprentices under training at Rosyth in the latter part of 1986–87; this would be the highest level since 1981–82.The number of apprentices to be trained in future years, which would include decisions on the 1987–88 level of intake and the number then under training, will be a matter for discussion between the dockyard commercial operator and this Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he proposes to review the procedures relating to the use of firearms by the police; and if he will make a statement.

I am aware of and understand the public concern about the use of firearms by the police in recent months. I have therefore set in hand a thorough review of the relevant procedures. A working group, under Home Office chairmanship, will look at such matters as the selection and training of police officers in the use of firearms, the procedures for authorisation to issue firearms for particular operations, the existing instructions and guidelines regarding issue and use, and the choice of weapons and ammunition. The review of policy in these areas will involve representatives of police forces and appropriate staff associations. I am also in touch with the chairman of the independent Police Complaints Authority, who has sent me some general observations in advance of the conclusion of the authority's work on recent incidents involving firearms. In order not to prejudice any criminal or disciplinary proceedings which are pending, or could arise, from those incidents the authority cannot at this stage publish a report on these matters, but it intends to do so.I am concerned that the review should work quickly but also take account of as wide a range of opinion as possible. To that end I would invite police authorities and any other bodies, organisations or individuals to submit their views in writing to the Home Office by 31 March 1986.When the review is completed I shall advise the House of its conclusions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the future of the Independent Broadcasting Authority levies.

In consultation with the Treasury and the IBA, my Department has reviewed the arrangements in the Broadcasting Act 1981 for additional payments by independent television and radio programme contractors (the levies). The review was initiated because of the Government's concern that the high marginal tax rate arising from those arrangements taken together with corporation tax might be a disincentive to efficiency. I have placed in the Library a copy of the report containing the outcome of the review. In considering its recommendations we have also taken account of the 29th Report from the Committee of Public Accounts 1984–85. A Treasury Minute published today sets out the decisions which the Government have now taken. As explained in that minute, we have decided to take an early legislative opportunity to modify the levy provisions along the lanes recommended by the review, so that the profits base on which the ITV levy would continue to be calculated includes profits from provision of programmes outside the United Kingdom. This will enable the marginal tax rate to be reduced, so as to encourage efficiency within the ITV companies. However, in order to preserve an incentive to exports, we shall propose a rate of levy on overseas profits at about half the standard rate.The opportunity will also be taken to include in our legislative proposals a number of minor modifications to the levy arrangements identified by the review. These will include arrangements to permit any balance of the "free slice" of profits (the proportion of profits which attracts a nil rate of levy) which is not utilised against domestic profits to be carried across to overseas profits; and the minimum level of free slice, as now expressed in cash terms, will be reviewed from time to time. It is also proposed to make changes to the provisions governing refunds to the companies from the Consolidated Fund in the case of overpayment; to extend the provisions containing reserve powers to prescribe a company's minimum levy bill in the event of excessive expenditure; and to permit companies to offset trading losses which are relevant for levy purposes against leviable profits in future years to the end of their contracts. After careful consideration, however, we have concluded that it would not be right for this latter provision to have retrospective effect, as contemplated in the review; and by the same token we are not persuaded of the need to modify the accounting arrangements governing preliminary expenditure in the way recommended.We also propose to implement the recommendation in relation to the radio levy by reducing the rate of levy to zero. The IBA has since concluded that it would not be practicable to make formal arrangements for the additional sums accruing to those companies who would otherwise have paid levy to be redistributed, and the Government accepts that view.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in the light of the nature of the research reported in "Behavioural Processes 1983," volume 8, pages 277–287, carried out at University College, Swansea, on mice restrained in perspex tubes, he will revoke the licences issued under the Cruelty to Animals Act to the experimenters concerned; and if he will make a statement.

No. I am satisfied that these experiments were lawfully carried out and properly conducted in accordance with the terms and conditions of the licences of those responsible for the work.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many animals have been subjected to experiments in Scottish laboratories in each of the past 10 years; and how many of these animals have been deprived of their sight, in one eye or both; where these experiments were conducted; what species of animals were used as experimental subjects; and if he will make a statement.

The only information which could be provided in the time available is the number of experiments on living animals commenced at registered places in Scotland in the years 1982–84, which were 257,000 in 1982, 262,000 in 1983 and 254,000 in 1984. Experiments involving the deprivation of sight are not separately identified in the information collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether vehicle registration numbers of any employees or agents of News International currently employed at Wapping, or National Graphical Association or Society for Graphic and Allied Trades members who are currently in dispute with News International, have been placed in the stolen or suspect vehicle index of the police national computer; and whether there are plans to do so.

No vehicle registration numbers of persons involved in the News International dispute are held on the police national computer by virtue of having been used during that dispute, nor are there any plans to hold such information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what records will be kept by the police when personal data is disclosed to them via the non-disclosure provisions of the Data Protection Act; and what written statement will be sent to the data user by the police to show that the disclosure of personal date was by that route.

A working party of the Association of Chief Police Officers is currently considering this and other aspects of the Data Protection Act as it applies to police records with a view to issuing guidance to forces before the provisions of the Act come into force.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the replacement strategy and plans for the police national computer and the Metropolitan "C" department computer.

The police national computer mainframe hardware will have completed 10 years of continuous service by 1988, but final decisions have not yet been taken as to its replacement. The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that he has no immediate plans to replace the Metropolitan police "C" department computer, but that he intends to renew some items of hardware to ensure that the system remains fully operational.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the commissioner of police for the Thames Valley as to how many uniformed police were employed in Reading in 1978 and the latest year for which figures are available.

I understand from the chief constable that the total strength of Reading division in the Thames Valley police, including both uniformed officers and CID, was 464 on 31 December 1985, compared with 362 on 31 December 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision is being made for (a) full-time and (b) part-time interpreters and in which languages in the immigration service at Heathrow airport terminal 4.

The provision of interpretation facilities by the immigration service is currently under review. Until that review is completed, terminal 4 will draw on the pool of eight full-time interpreters at terminal 3, who speak Bengali, Farsi, Gujerati, Hindi, Marathi, Punjabi and Urdu, supplemented by the employment of hourly-paid interpreters in those and other languages, as necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the establishment (a) requested by the staff side and (b) given for immigration officers by grade at London Heathrow terminal 4.

The approved allocation is for 96 immigration officers and 16 chief immigration officers. This compares with a complement of 100 immigration officers and 16 chief immigration officers suggested by the Immigration Service Union and the Society of Civil and Public Servants (Immigration Branch).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to seek to modify the existing arrangements and agreements concerning the pay and conditions of the fire service.

These are matters for negotiation between representatives of fire authorities and their employees, on the National Joint Council for Local Authorities' Fire Brigades, on which my right hon. Friend is not represented.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement concerning the termination of Mr. James Anderson's appointment as governor of Her Majesty's prison, Styal.

Mr. Anderson's transfer from Her Majesty's prison Styal to Her Majesty's Youth Custody Centre, Hindley was one of a series of routine governor-grade moves made for operational and career reasons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations the prison department has received from prison staff employed at Her Majesty's prison, Styal, (luring the period of Mr. James Anderson's employment there as governor; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Anderson has held regular meetings with the local branch of the Prison Officers' Association while governor of Styal prison and youth custody centre. The national executive committee of the Prison Officers' Association has also, on two recent occasions, raised matters covering Styal with headquarters and regional officials.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young offenders are currently detained in the Glen Parva young offenders centre; what are their ages; and what is the average and maximum period during which such offenders are kept in that centre.

Information about the time spent in a particular establishment on remand or under sentence is not recorded centrally. The population of Glen Parva youth custody centre on 31 December 1985 is given by age in the table. The information available shows the average length of sentence of these 434 young offenders to be about 14 months. The longest sentence being served was 5 years detention under section 53(2) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933. Remission, parole and time served on remand would reduce the time served under sentence.

Population of Glen Parva yought custody centre on 31 December 1985: by age
Age	Number
15	13
16	50
17	81
18	90
19	89
20	97

Age	Number
21	14
Total	434

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to the estimated rate of recidivism among inmates released from the Glen Parva young offenders centre.

Reconviction rates for youth custody trainees are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff are employed at the Glen Parva young offenders centre; what are their categories; and what is the total monthly cost of such staffing.

The total number of staff employed by the Home Office at the Glen Parva youth custody centre and remand centre as at 1 February 1986 was 342, consisting of 253½ prison officer grades, 10 governor grades, 26½ administration grades, two doctors, five psychologists, 14 instructors, two chaplains, six other non-industrial grades and 23 industrial grades. The average monthly salary cost (including overtime, other allowances, and national insurance but excluding accommodation costs) for the current financial year is £420,145.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total weekly cost and what is the average cost per offender of feeding the inmates at the Glen Parva young offenders centre.

It is estimated that in the financial year 1984–85 the average total weekly cost and the average weekly cost per inmate of feeding the inmates at Glen Parva youth custody centre and remand centre were £6,630 and £10·50 respectively. These figures cover, as well as the cost of the food itself, all other costs, including staff costs, associated with feeding the inmates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current routine at the Glen Parva young offenders centre if an inmate wishes to see the doctor; and in what respects that routine has changed since the beginning of 1985.

If an inmate at Glan Parva youth custody centre wishes to see the medical officer he is given an opportunity to do so. Screening procedures were introduced at the centre in October 1984 to enable inmates reporting sick but not seeking to see the medical officer to be assessed by a hospital officer for treatment involving non-prescription medicines.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated cost of keeping an inmate at the Glen Parva young offenders centre in the hospital unit of that centre.

The average weekly cost of keeping a person in Glen Parva youth custody centre and remand centre during the financial year 1984–85 was £234. Information is not available on the cost of keeping a person in particular locations within an establishment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Interception of Communications Act 1985 will be brought into force; and if he will make a statement.

The provisions of the Interception of Communications Act will come into force on 10 April 1986.The following have accepted appointment as members of the tribunal under section 7 and schedule 2 to the Act:The Right hon. The Lord Fraser of Tullybelton—PresidentSir Cecil Clothier KCB QC—Vice-PresidentMr. David Calcutt QCMr. Ivor Guild CBE WSMr. Peter Scott QCThe right hon. Lord Justice Lloyd has been appointed commissioner under section 8 of the Act. The right hon. The Lord Bridge of Harwich, who has been judicial monitor of interception arrangements since 1982, will relinquish this appointment when Lord Justice Lloyd takes up his duties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice has been offered to chief constables and police authorities on the establishment of schemes of lay visitors to police stations.

Guidelines for the establishment and organisation of lay visitor schemes have today been issued to chief constables and police authorities in England and Wales. These are based on the procedures devised for the pilot schemes, and have been revised in the light of experience of lay-visiting to date. The guidelines are intended to commend the principle of lay visiting, and to provide a basis for those considering the establishment of schemes, but I have made it clear that they are open to local modification as circumstances demand. I shall welcome an assessment of the guidelines in the light of experience, so that further modifications can be considered where necessary.

Inner London Teachers' Salary rates at 1 April and 1 November 1985, and 1 April and 1 November 1986 if (i) the formal offer of 12 September 1985, (ii) the informal offer of 14 October 1985 or (iii) the agreement of 24 January 1986 were implemented; and the salary at present actually received.
	(a)	(b)	(c)	(d)	(e)	(f)	(g)	(h)
Category	New Entrant Graduate	Top of Scale 1	Mid-point Scale 2	Bottom Scale 3	Top of Scale 2	Top of Scale 3	Head Group 2	Head Group 12
Current Salary	7,290	9,594	9,042	8,772	10,635	12,069	12,111	21,744
(i) With implementation of improvements offered in Burnham Committee on 12 September
1 April 1985	7,770	10,074	9,522	9,252	11,115	12,620	12,664	22,779
1 November 1985	8,073	10,494	9,882	9,603	11,211	12,732	12,775	22,986
1 April 1986	8,073	10,494	9,882	9,603	11,547	13,125	12,775	22,986
1 November 1986	8,316	10,812	10,161	10,494	11,547	13,125	14,064	25,401
OR (ii) With implementation of informal offer of 14 October
1 April 1985	7,721	10,184	9,594	9,306	11,297	12,830	12,875	23,173
1 November 1985	7,975	10,184	9,889	9,594	11,297	12,830	12,875	23,173
1 April 1986	8,014	10,236	9,939	9,642	11,355	12,896	12,941	23,297
1 November 1986	8,275	10,236	10,235	9,939	11,355	12,896	12,941	23,297
OR (iii) With implementation of agreement of 24 January
1 April 1985	7,721	10,184	9,594	9,306	11,297	12,830	12,875	23,173

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table to show the salary at 1 April 1985, 1 November 1985, 1 April 1986 and 1 November 1986 for teachers in inner London (a) entering the profession as new graduates, (b) at the top of scale 1, (c) at the mid-point of scale 2, (d) at the bottom of scale 3, (e) at the top of scale 2, (f) at the top of scale 3 and for heads in inner London, (g) of group primary schools and (h) of group 12 secondary schools, if (i) the formal offer of 12 September 1985, (ii) the informal offer of 14 October 1985 or (iii) the agreement of 24 January 1986 were implemented; and, for each of the categories specified, what is the salary at present actually received.

The table shows the current salary rates of teachers in inner London, in the categories listed, and what they would have received under the formal offer of 12 September 1985, the informal offer of 14 October 1985 and the provisional agreement of 24 January—so far as this can be determined from the terms of the offers made.The current salary rated were set on 1 April 1984 and include inner London weighting of £1,038 but exclude other allowances. The rates assume normal incremental progression but do not take account of additional promotions that would be unlocked in the case of the 12 September offer. Nor do they take account of any pay increase from 1 April 1986, which has yet to be negotiated.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will list in the Official Report for each local education authority in England for pupils of secondary age (a) the amount spent within that local education authority on assisted places, (b) the numbers of assisted places pupils, (c) the average expenditure per assisted places pupil, (d) the percentage of the local education authority secondary school budget represented

School Year 1983–84
LEA	Number of assisted pupils at school in area	Average expenditure per assisted pupil (£)	Assisted places expenditure as per cent. of LEA secondary budget†
Barking	Nil	Nil	Nil
Barnet	70	1,730	0·5
Bexley	Nil	Nil	Nil
Brent	Nil	Nil	Nil
Bromley	124	1,239	0·6
Croydon	269	1,215	1·2
Ealing	80	1,270	0·5
Enfield	Nil	Nil	Nil
Haringey	26	2,052	0·2
Harrow	55	*2,226	*0·8
Havering	Nil	Nil	Nil
Hillingdon	17	1,419	0·1
Hounslow	Nil	Nil	Nil
Kingsotn upon Thames	65	1,387	0·9
Merton	82	1,491	0·9
Newham	Nil	Nil	Nil
Redbridge	96	1,300	0·6
Richmond-upon-Thames	177	1,302	2·9
Sutton	38	1,161	0·3
Waltham Forest	65	1,625	0·5
Inner London	1,330	1,492	0·8
Birmingham	221	1,229	0·3
Coventry	105	1,294	0·5
Dudley	Nil	Nil	Nil
Sandwell	Nil	Nil	Nil
Solihull	Nil	Nil	Nil
Walsall	Nil	Nil	Nil
Wolverhampton	134	1,442	0·7
Knowsley	Nil	Nil	Nil
Liverpool	316	1,344	0·9
St. Helens	Nil	Nil	Nil
Sefton	257	1,221	1·2
Wirral	367	1,029	1·3
Bolton	227	1,021	1·0

As regards parts (a) and (e), I refer the hon. Member to the replies given to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) on 10 December 1985 — at col. 568—and the hon. Member for Caernarfon (Mr. Wigley) on 4 February 1986—at col. 11.7—respectively. The rest of the information requested is as follows: