asked the Attorney-General what work is being carried out on the Middlesex Guildhall building in Parliament square; whether it is intended to reopen it as a Crown court; and if he will make a statement.

The interior of the Middlesex Guildhall is being adapted in order to increase the number of courtrooms from six to seven and to improve the facilities available to the courts' users. The work is expected to be completed by the end of 1987 and it will reopen as a Crown court thereafter.

asked the Attorney-General on how many occasions draft Bills contained in reports of the Law Commission have been prepared by parliamentary counsel; and if he will make a statement.

All clauses and draft Bills included in reports by the Law Commission are prepared by parliamentary counsel. There have been 81 such reports to date.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met the Confederation of British Industry to discuss the current level of inflation.

My right hon. Friend last saw the CBI at the NEDC meeting on 5 March, but inflation was not discussed. With the current downward trend it is understandable that the CBI has not asked for such a discussion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received seeking special tax allowances or relief for individuals who work in United Kingdom enterprises which compete successfully with foreign goods or services.

We have received representations on a wide range of issues in recent weeks. I have noted my hon. Friend's interest in this particular suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will express the value of personal tax allowances to a single person, married couple and two wage earners tax unit at each of the marginal rates of tax.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the scheme for the direct payment of value added tax by the buyers as opposed to the vendors of gold was introduced; if Johnson Matthey Bankers and the Bank of England have participated continuously and jointly in the scheme since its inception; and if he will make a statement.

The scheme was introduced on 1 November 1983. The Commissioners of Customs and Excise advise me that Johnson Matthey Bankers Ltd. was issued with a letter of authority to use the scheme from its inception. However, to disclose the extent of a company's use of the scheme would be a breach of the commissioners' normal principle of confidentiality governing the affairs of an individual taxpayer.As a central bank it is not appropriate for the Bank of England to be a member of the scheme.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will express the percentage shares of tax paid for each year since 1977–78 by the following income groups: the top 10 per cent., 10 to 20 per cent., 20 to 30 per cent., 30 to 40 per cent., 40 to 50 per cent., 50 to 60 per cent., 60 to 70 per cent., 70 to 80 per cent., 80 to 90 per cent. and bottom 10 per cent., respectively;(2) if he will express, in percentage terms, changes in the combined effect of tax and national insurance contributions in 1978–79, and the latest available date, taking 1956–57 tax year as the base for those on two-thirds average earnings, average earnings, twice, five and 10 times average earnings.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will detail the value of mortgage interest relief at the latest available date, giving the average relief per mortgagor, the numbers claiming relief, the total value of relief and the total number of taxpayers per income range for those with incomes under £3,000, £3,000 to £5,000, £5,000 to £7,500, £7,500 to £10,000, £10,000 to £15,000, £15,000 to £20,000, £20,000 to £25,000 and above £25,000.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the United Kingdom is implementing the Court of Justice judgment in the Gaston Schloh case (85/82).

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the provisions for extended relief from value added tax on bad debts arrangements introduced by the Finance Act 1985 will be brought into operation; and whether they will apply to any existing receiverships.

A Treasury commencement order has been made and Value Added Tax (Bad Debt Relief) Regulations are being laid today before the House to bring the provisions of section 32 of the Finance Act 1985 into operation from 1 April next. The legal provisions will apply only where the debtor becomes insolvent on or after 1 April. Customs and Excise will, however, allow relief as an extra-statutory class concession where, on that date, the debtor is already in receivership provided that the receiver is able to issue a certificate that the assets of the company would be insufficient, on liquidation, to cover the payment of a dividend to the ordinary unsecured creditors. Concessionary relief will also be allowed in similar circumstances in Northern Ireland pending the introduction of equivalent legislation for the Province.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he proposes to take any action within the ambit of his responsibility by meeting the appropriate trade unions and organisations to discuss the threatened industrial dispute in the North sea oil industry.

I understand that this matter is still under discussion between the employers and trade unions concerned. It would be inappropriate for me to intervene.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the oil companies and contractors involved onshore and offshore in North sea gas and oil exploration.

The latest published list of United Kingdom offshore licensees is given in appendix 2 of the annual report for the year 1984–85 published in accordance with the Continental Shelf Act 1964. I will write to the hon. Member with the information requested on onshore licensees. There is no list available of the many thousands of contractors involved in United Kingdom onshore and offshore oil and gas operations.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many times he has met the United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association (UKOOA) from the beginning of 1985 to the present time.

My right hon. Friend and I frequently meet representatives of UKOOA both formally and informally, and will continue to do so, to discuss the many matters of mutual interest.

asked the Secretary of State of Energy what consultations his Department has had with operators in the North sea in relation to current health and safety practices.

As required under legislation, my Department is holding formal consultations with North sea operators, on a number of matters including first aid, safety representatives and safety committees, reporting of accidents and various training guidance notes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much the Nature Conservancy Council and the Countryside Commission have spent in cash and real terms on land management agreement payments to farmers for each year since 1980.

The Nature Conservancy Council has paid the following amounts under management agreements with owners and occupiers of sites of special scientific interest:

	Amounts paid £	Expressed in 1980–81 prices £
1980–81	*39,018	39,018
1981–82	*60,550	54,994
1982–83	243,000	206,207
1983–84	361,000	293,238
1984–85	1,145,000	889,929
* Amounts paid under nature reserve agreements are not readily available for these years and are excluded. Such amounts are usually small but one payment in 1981–82 under a nature reserve agreement amounted to £278,734.

It is not possible to identify separately payments made to farmers. The Countryside Commission does not make payments direct to farmers under management agreements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the average cost in inner city areas per unit of accommodation of (a) housing management and (b) housing repairs and maintenance for local authority housing.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the Liverpool city council and the chairman of the Merseyside Residuary Body on the future of Croxteth hall and country park; and if he will make a statement.

My noble Friend the Minister of State has had discussions with representatives of Liverpool city council about the future management arrangements for Croxteth. These are not matters for the chairman of the Merseyside Residuary Body.It is disappointing that the city council, to which the estate was originally given and which has received an allowance for it in its RSG settlement for 1986–87, has not yet made known its intentions for the continuing and proper management of this important local amenity and so end the uncertainty of the staff.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will visit the Croxteth hall and country park in Liverpool before making a property order under the Local Government Act 1985.

The property order transferring the Croxteth estate to Liverpool city council has already been made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to secure the full adoption of the facilities of Croxteth hall and country park as required under section 7(2) of the Local Government Act 1985; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the report under section 7(2) of the Local Government Act 1985, which was laid before the House on 25 February. This describes the steps taken by my right hon. Friend, including the provison of extra resources to the successor authorities and the Countryside Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will be replying to the letter of 11 February 1986 from the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby with reference to Croxteth hall and country park, Liverpool.

A reply was sent on 5 March.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the representations he has received about the future of the Croxteth hall and country park in Liverpool; what discussions he has had with representatives of the local community; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to my replies of 28 October 1985, at column 368, and of 11 February 1986, at column 400.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the 10 local authorities, in order, providing the greatest level of support for the voluntary sector.

The 10 local authorities, in order, providing the greatest level of support for the voluntary sector are as follows:

	£ thousand
GLC	29,663
Islington	13,348
Kent	11,775
Birmingham	11,413
Lancashire	9,450
Hackney	9,175
Southwark	8,777
Lambeth	8,398
Surrey	7,549
Avon	7,196

The figures provided are for 1984–85 and include amounts paid in grants, fees and rate relief. These figures are available from "Charity Statistics 1984–85" compiled and published by the Charities Aid Foundation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received any representations following the recent chemical leak at Belvedere.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the total sums allocated by the Government to the urban aid programme for the years 1979 to 1985.

Resource allocations, in cash, for the urban programme were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if any application has been received from the London borough of Camden for supplementary grant under the 1985–86 homes insulation grant programme; and if he will make a statement.

No application has been received from the London borough of Camden for an additional allocation under the homes insulation scheme. Local authorities were informed in DOE circular 7/85, issued in March 1985, that in addition to an initial allocation which had been made to individual local authorities, a reserve of £7 million had been established from which further allocations would be made in accordance with demand. Authorities were asked to apply in time to maintain their flow of approvals and to avoid their having to impose a moratorium on approvals. Many local authorities have applied for such additional allocations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce legislation to establish a new authority for the Norfolk Broads.

Yes. The Government intend to introduce a Bill to set up a new statutory authority, with powers for the comprehensive management of the Broads, at the earliest practicable opportunity.This is a nationally important area for landscape, nature conservation and recreation. We are convinced that if the steady decline of its ecology is to be reversed, the arrangements for managing the land and water resources of this unique area must be put on a durable statutory basis. The Government have therefore decided to give priority to legislation to this end, following advice to the local authorities wishing to promote such legislation that it is not suitable for introduction as a private Bill.Subject to parliamentary approval of the Bill, the new authority will take over the existing powers of the present non-statutory Broads authority, and powers to control navigation over most of the Broads rivers system on 1 April 1988.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received a copy of the Yorkshire water authority's report on the Leeds water emergency inquiry; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply 6 March 1986, c. 279]: I have received a copy of the report by the committee of inquiry on the Leeds water emergency of last December, which was published on 27 February 1986. The board of the Yorkshire water authority met on that day to consider the report and agreed an eleven-point action programme in accordance with the report's recommendations. I welcome the comprehensive and frank nature of the report which commends the way the burst main was repaired and the measures taken by the authority, with assistance from others, to minimise loss of water supplies to consumers, but reveals shortcomings in maintenance and in emergency procedures. The chairman of the Yorkshire water authority has assured me that the lessons emerging from this incident will be fully learnt and applied.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many young people in Wales who have followed Manpower Services Commission YTSs, as a percentage of the total number each year since their inception, have found full-time employment.

Information is not available on this basis. Until October 1985 the only information available came from a 15 per cent. sample survey of leavers between July and September 1984. This showed that three months after leaving, 49 per cent. had entered full-time employment. Since July 1985 a monthly 100 per cent. follow-up is carried out, the first survey results being available in October 1985. The results were as follows:

Month of leaving	Percentage in a full-time job
April and May 1985	43
April to June 1985	43
April to July 1985	45
April to August 1985	47
April to September 1985	46

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many of the long-term unemployed people who

Table 1
Local Domestic Tax Bill in First Year of Transition: Wales
Number of adults in household (1)	Existing average rate bill (2) £	Community charge (£50) per adult) (3) £	Reduced rate bill* (4) £	Total local domestic tax bill (col. 3 and 4) (5) £	Percentage change from existing rate bill (6) per cent.
1	202	50	104	154	-24
2	202	100	104	204	1
3	202	150	104	254	26
4	202	200	104	304	50
* 49 per cent. reduction in average rate bills.

Table 2.
Local Domestic Tax Bill had Rates been completely replaced by the Community Charge: Wales
Number of adults in household (1)	Existing average rate bill (2) £	Community charge (£105 per adult) (3) £	Percentage change from existing rate bill (4) per cent.
1	202	105	-48
2	202	210	4
3	202	315	56
4	202	420	108

Available information relates to Wales as a whole and is contained in the MSC's second community programme follow-up survey, of November 1985, which covered entrants to the scheme between April and June 1983. This indicated that 21 per cent. of participants in Wales left to go straight into full-time employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what percentage increase in domestic rates, on average, a household of (a) one adult, (b) two adults, (c) three adults and (d) four adults in Wales would face if the recommendations of the Green Paper "Paying For Local Government" were implemented;(2) what percentage increase in domestic rates, on average, a household of

Had the transition to the proposed new system of local government finance begun in 1984–85 each adult would have been assumed to pay a community charge of £50. The yield from the charge would have been used to cut domestic rate bills by about half or approximately £100 per domestic hereditament.Had the community charge replaced domestic rates entirely in 1984–85 the average charge per adult would have been £105.The impact of the changes on households of different size, at the Wales level, is shown in tables 1 and 2. The effect of the changes in Gwynedd alone is shown in tables 3 and 4.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he supports the European Commission proposal to introduce the switching between the European Commission member states of multi-fibre arrangement quotas.

I consider that it is necessary to introduce some greater degree of flexibility between the quotas of individual member states than in the past, taking into account the pressure for such flexibility from developing countries and the need to move towards the creation of an internal market.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the contribution to the British economy of foreign-owned British companies in terms of investment and the provision of employment; and if he will make a statement.

The contribution is significant. Available statistics relate to manufacturing industry only. The most recent figures are for 1982. Foreign-owned enterprises were only 2·27 per cent. of all enterprises, yet their capital expenditure represented 24·7 per cent. of the total and they provided 14·7 per cent. of total employment. Capital expenditure per employee in foreign-owned companies was nearly double that in United Kingdom-owned companies. These figures clearly illustrate the important role played by foreign-owned companies in our economy. The Government will continue to encourage beneficial inward investment into the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the five-year economic and industrial trade agreement recently concluded with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics includes provision for the export of fissile materials.

The UK/USSR economic and industrial co-operation programme for the years 1986 to 1990 includes a reference to the enrichment of raw uranium in the USSR for British customers. This involves the temporary export of nuclear materials under licence. Both the enriched product and depleted remainder are returned to the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the report of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on postal franking machines is to be published; and if he will make a statement.

The report is published today.The commission found that the market shares of Pitney Bowes and Roneo Alcatel constituted a monopoly situation in relation to the supply, maintenance and repair of postal franking machines. Despite entry into the market by other suppliers in recent years, the two companies still jointly retained 81 per cent. by volume of the market for new machines and 93 per cent. of the maintenance market.The commission also found that Pitney Bowes, the dominant supplier of the two companies and the price leader, was enjoying comfortable profits, and that price competition from other companies in the market was affected by its market leadership. Prices of postal franking machines has stayed well ahead of those for office machines generally and of the retail prices index and, in the commission's view, were higher than they needed to be or would be in conditions of more effective competition. The commission judged that the practice of Roneo Alcatel and Pitney Bowes of failing to provide customers with price lists also helped to restrain price competition and to focus it on selected discounts for the more insistent bargainers.The commission noted that the Post Office imposes strict conditions on the design, use and maintenance of postal franking machines in order to protect its revenues from fraud or machine malfunction. However, the commission found that these conditions had the effect of preventing distribution through independent dealers as an alternative to direct selling by the machine suppliers, the development of any alternative maintenance services and a market for second-hand equipment.The commission concluded that the pricing policies and certain other practices of Roneo Alcatel and Pitney Bowes taken together with certain Post Office regulations and practices have the effect of inhibiting competition.The commission rejected as a remedy measures to regulate the companies' prices which, it concluded, might harm the smaller competitors and newer entrants to the market. Instead, it suggested that the Post Office be invited to change certain of its requirements; that assurances be sought from Roneo Alcatel and Pitney Bowes to remedy the uncompetitive practices identified in the report; and to open the market to approved dealers and maintenance organisations.I accept the findings of this report. I am consequently asking the Director General of Fair Trading to hold discussions with the Post Office with a view to securing changes in its present regulations and practices to provide for some authorisation of independent maintenance sources and dealers in both new and second-hand machines and for relaxation of inspection specifications. I am also asking him to seek appropriate undertakings from Pitney Bowes plc and Roneo Alcatel to remedy the uncompetitive practice identified in the report and to open the market to authorised dealers and maintenance operators: notably on the provision of price lists; the supply of spare parts to third party suppliers and maintainers of machines; the maintenance requirements imposed on those buying and leasing machines; and on the ability of the leasing companies of machines to dispose of machines otherwise than by return to the original suppliers.The commission drew attention to the need for the management of the two companies to maintain vigilance to prevent sales malpractices on the part of their salesmen. I attach great importance to such vigilance, and trust that if any such malpractices occur in the future the managements will take appropriate action against any of their staff who permit or use such tactics.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the current situation in the tin market.

The Government regret that the protracted negotiations between the International Tin Council and its bank and broker creditors have now broken down, without reaching agreement to resolve the tin crisis.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will itemise in cash and real terms Government payments to farmers for conservation and amenity proposals for each year since 1979.

It is not possible to isolate all those payments made by agricultural departments to farmers which are of benefit to the conservation and enhancement of the natural beauty and amenity of the countryside.Certain elements can, however, be identified. Farm capital grant expenditure in the United Kingdom on stone walls, shelter belts, hedges, waste disposal and bracken control amounted to £4,974,121 in 1985. This does not cover all the expenditure under the capital grants schemes which could be regarded as being environmentally beneficial.In addition, farmers participating in the Broads grazing marshes conservation scheme received payments totalling £418,348·95 in 1985. Half of this sum was funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the remainder by the Countryside Commission.Payments have also been made under other schemes which have a range of objectives. The conservation element of this expenditure cannot, however, be separatley identified.I cannot, of course, comment on the payments which may have been made to farmers for conservation works by other Government Departments, local authorities or grant-in-aid bodies.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will made a statement on the recent visit to Liverpool by the Minister of State, the right hon. Member for Suffolk, Coastal (Mr. Gummer).

I visited Liverpool, at the invitation of the United Kingdom Seed Crushing and Oil Processing Association, to see its long-established edible oil industry. I was pleased to note the substantial investment in modernising this industry which has recently taken place in order to help secure its future.

asked the Prime Minister what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to improve the co-ordination of Government spending on research and development.

Steps to improve the co-ordination of Government spending on research and development are regularly considered by the Chief Scientific Adviser, Cabinet Office, by departmental chief scientists and, as appropriate, by Ministers.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on co-ordination between the Department of the Environment and the Department of Energy on Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the disposal of nuclear waste.

Policy on civil radioactive waste management is a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment, Scotland and Wales. They do, however, consult closely with the Secretary of State for Energy in view of his responsibilities for the nuclear and electricity generating industries, which generates much of the waste and which are responsible for dealing with their wastes in accordance with the Government's stated policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what extent representatives of

Places and Name of WEU Organisation	New Posts (A-Grade)	Responsibilities	Starting Salaries (net monthly) £	Post filled or vacant
London:
Secretariat-General	A6	Head Political Affairs Division	2,369	Filled (Italy)
	A3/4	Head General Policy and Research Section	1,533 to 1,763	Filled (United Kingdom)
	A2/3	General Policy and Research	1,242 to 1,533	Vacant
	A4	Public Relations	1,763	Vacant
Paris:
Agency I	1 Hors Grade	Director	3,145	Filled (Italy)
	5 Officials (A2 to A6)	Research/Study	1,242 to 2,369	All filled*

Representatives of the Christian churches and of any other religions professed by the residents of Hong Kong's closed camps may visit freely and may hold religious services for those who wish them. Whilst no formal restrictions are imposed upon these visits, proselytising is firmly discouraged by the Hong Kong Government, who are responsible for the management of the camps.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment Her Majesty's Government made of the current situation in South Africa before deciding to call upon the Government of South Africa to lift the state of emergency prevailing in certain magisterial districts of the Republic; and if he will make a statement.

We are glad that President Botha has felt able to announce the lifting of the state of emergency, a step for which we had called together with out partners in Europe and the Commonwealth. We believe this should help to reduce tension and encourage prospects for dialogue. We shall continue to follow developments in South Africa closely.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what new posts have been created within the Secretariat-General of the Western European Union and within other organs of the Western European Union since the Rome declaration of October 1984; what responsibilities and salaries these posts carry; which of them have been filled and by whom; by what means new staff are being recruited; and what steps are being taken to keep (a) Parliament and (b) the Assembly of the Western European Union, informed of such developments occurring in the course of the Western European Union reinvigoration process.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 February 1986, c. 242]: We are now able to supply the following information:

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many strip searches were made of female prisoners in Her Majesty's prison, Armagh, in February; 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 February 1986, a total of 29 searches were carried out on 18 prisoners; eight prisoners were searched once, nine were searched twice, and one prisoner was 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:

Number of searches
First admission or remand or whilst awaiting trial	3
First admission on sentence or on final discharge	21
Attending Armagh Remand Court	Nil
Attending other remand courts	2
Bail Court appearances	1
Appeal Court appearances	1
Visits to outside hospital	1
Total	29

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the provision of cervical smear tests in each health area in Northern Ireland.

Cervical smears are tested at three centres in Northern Ireland. Some of the smears taken in the Western board area are tested at the Altnagelvin hospital laboratory. The remainder and all smears taken in the Northern, Southern and Eastern board areas are processed by the Eastern board. Most routine screening smears for cervical cancer are tested at the Belfast city hospital laboratory. The remaining screening smears, together with diagnostic smears, are processed at the Royal Victoria hospital laboratory.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement explaining the reasons for the delay in re-starting smear tests in Northen Ireland and outlining what measures aimed at improving provisions of such tests have been taken during this delay.

An eight-week moratorium was applied from the beginning of 1986—not on the testing of smears but on the taking of routine screening smears. The testing of cervical smears taken up to the end of December 1985 has not ceased at any time. The moratorium on taking of routine smears has been extended to the end of April as the Eastern board was unable, during the original eight-week period, to reduce the backlog to a manageable level. Additional funds have been made available to cover the cost of overtime working and for the recruitment of extra laboratory staff to process smears.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement outlining what financial, technical, medical staff, clerical, publicity and other resources are to be given to the provision of smear tests in Northern Ireland, indicating how these commitments compare with provision prior to the suspension of tests.

Arrangements are being made to provide additional laboratory accommodation in the Northern, Southern and Eastern board areas. Funds have already been allocated for additional consultants who will be involved in processing cervical screening smears. Extra medical laboratory scientific staff have been recruited. A further £50,000 has been provided for improvements to the service in the coming financial years.Work is continuing to assess the full financial, computer and staffing implications of having in place by 1988 a comprehensive computerised call and recall system, together with adequate staffing and laboratory back-up, for cervical cancer screening. Additional health education and publicity will be provided as necessary to ensure maximum use of the expanded service, which should about double the present capacity.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many women are presently on the waiting list for smear tests in Northern Ireland.

On 28 February there were 9,500 women in Northern Ireland waiting for the results of of tests on smears already taken. No list is kept of women waiting to have smears taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate how long it will take to work through the backlog of smear tests which has built up before and during the suspension, and outlining what special measures are being taken to facilitate the processing of the backlog of cases.

It is estimated that the current backlog of smears awaiting testing should be cleared by the end of April. Additional laboratory staff are being recruited to enable the service to deal with a greater number of smears.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish in the Official Report a table giving the amount in 1985 of compensation payment made under the Criminal Damage (Compensation) (Northern Ireland) Order 1977 and earlier legislation.

The amount of compensation paid in 1985 was £16,807,617.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the estimated cost of the Royal Ulster Constabulary in the financial year 1985–86, giving separately figures for (a) salary and benefits, (b) transport and communication, (c) new construction, (d) other costs, (e) total gross expenditure and (f) total net expenditure after deduction of receipts.

The estimated cost of the Royal Ulster Constabulary in the financial year 1985–86 is set out in the table:

1 April 1985 to 31 March 1986
	£ million
A. Salary and benefits	237·7
B. Transport and communications	14·6
C. New construction	8·4

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has on the extent of intimidation of members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and their families, particularly from loyalists hostile to the Anglo-Irish agreement; and how such intimidation is being countered.

Since the Anglo-Irish agreement was signed in November, 17 cases of intimidation of members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve living in predominantly Protestant areas have been recorded.In areas where intimidation has taken place, the police have increased their level of patrolling to provide vulnerable members of the force and their families with protection and reassurance. In addition, a special headquarters unit has been set up to monitor the situation and to assist the personnel involved in every way possible, including removal to new homes.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of the number of prisoners in prison in Northern Ireland as at 31 December 1984 and 1985, detailing the numbers by sex, in prison and in young offenders centres separately.

On 30 December 1984 and 29 December 1985 there were 2,038 and 1,861 prisoners, respectively, in Northern Ireland prison establishments. These figures include remand prisoners.

	Males	Females
30 December 1984
Prison Population	1,842	28
YOC Population	161	7
29 December 1985
Prison Population	1,651	31
YOC Population	177	2

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects the number of persons proceeded against for offences in relation to the taking of motor vehicles without their owner's consent in 1985 to become available.

The number of persons proceeded against for the unauthorised taking of motor vehicles in Northern Ireland in 1985 was 615.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many vehicles were recovered in each police division in Northern Ireland in 1985.

[pursuant to his reply, 28 February 1986, c. 728]: The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will place in the Library a copy of his letter of 14 October 1985 to the chairman of the Committee of the National Advisory Body for Public Sector Higher Education.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what evidence he has received about the condition of the clocks at the Royal Greenwich Observatory on which the Greenwich time signal is based; what is the estimated remaining life of the clocks; and what is the likely cost of their replacement.

It is estimated that the six atomic clocks at the Royal Greenwich Observatory will fail within the next three years. To replace them would cost about £40,000 per clock, and to maintain the independent time scale would cost about £100,000 per annum in manpower and equipment. The need for an independent atomic time service is greatly reduced by the availability of the international atomic time scale by satellite, and the observatory proposes to obtain reference to precise time by this means in future. This will involve about £40,000 in capital equipment, and about £20,000 per annum running costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are his plans for the continuation of the Greenwich time signal in the event of the failure of the clocks at the Royal Greenwich Observatory on which it depends.

The need for the Royal Greenwich Observatory to maintain an independent atomic time scale has been greatly reduced by the availability of the international atomic time scale (UTC) via the Navstar—global positioning system (GPS) satellite service. When the clocks fail, the Observatory will continue to assist in the provision of the familiar "six-pips" Greenwich time signal by reference to the UTC.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what implications the judgment of the European Court of Justice in the Marshall case has for the future of the teacher superannuation scheme; and if he will make a statement.

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made clear on 3 March, at columns 52–53, the judgment of the European Court of Justice in the case of Miss Helen Marshall was concerned with the age at which she must leave work rather than with eligibility for retirement pension. There are therefore no implications for the teachers' superannuation scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science on what date he intends to announce his response to recommendations of the inquiry into high energy particle physics in the United Kingdom chaired by Sir John Kendrew.

I cannot add further to my replies of 4 and 21 February at columns 114 and 355–56, to my hon. Friend the Member for Solihull (Mr. Taylor).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Vietnamese refugees with close relatives living in the United Kingdom were granted admission to the United Kingdom in the last 12 months for which figures are available prior to the change in criteria applied to all refugees, stipulating that normally only the spouse and minor children will be admitted.

In the 12 months from May 1980 to April 1981, 1,230 dependants were accepted for admission and 390 were refused. These figures include a small number of Laotians and Kampucheans.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has of the potential number of relatives of Vietnamese refugees settled here who might wish to enter the United Kingdom for family reunification purposes.

It is not possible to make a reliable estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many grandparents of Vietnamese refugees settled in the United Kingdom have applied, or in respect of whom application has been made, for family reunification in the last 12 months for which figures are available; how many have been granted admission; and if he will make a statement;(2) how many spouses of Vietnamese refugees settled in the United Kingdom have applied, or in respect of whom application has been made, for family reunification in the last 12 months for which figures are available; how many have been granted admission; and if he will make a statement;(3) how many parents of Vietnamese refugees settled in the United Kingdom have applied, or in respect of whom application has been made, for family reunification in the last 12 months for which figures are available; how many have been granted admission; and if he will make a statement;

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Vietnamese persons who have close relatives living in the United Kingdom have applied, or in respect of whom application has been made, for family reunification in the period of the last 12 months for which figures are available; how many have been allowed to come to the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

In 1985 applications in respect of about 950 persons were received. In the same period applications (not necessarily relating to the same cases) were accepted in respect of 230 family members and refused of 600. These figures include a small number of Laotions and Kampucheans.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has recived seeking the introduction of regulations to control the ownership and use of crossbows; and if he will make a statement.

Since January 1985 we have received 43 letters about crossbows from hon. Members, 31 from members of the public and one from the Association of District Councils. I 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 (1) what steps have been taken to inform holders of data bases of the requirement to register under the Data Protection Act;(2) what steps have been taken to public the procedure by which holders of data bases should register under the Data Protection Act.

The Data Protection Registrar commissioned a national advertising campaign about the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1984 at the end of last year, and a further campaign is to be launched shortly aimed at reminding those affected by the Act that they must register their data holdings by 11 May. In addition, the Registrar and members of his staff have given many talks to business organisations and others about the Act's provisions. The Registrar has issued a number of booklets about the requirements of the Act which are available free of charge.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps have been taken to inform associations, clubs and societies of any circumstances under which they might be required to register data bases under the Data Protection Act.

The publicity campaigns commissioned by the Data Protection Registrar have been aimed at all data users who might be affected by the Data Protection Act 1984, including associations, clubs and societies. The Registrar has also given guidance to representative bodies in the voluntary sector.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he proposes to issue any guidance to Members of Parliament relating to the implications of the Data Protection Act for the keeping of records on computers relating to their constituents.

No; but the general advice issued by the Data Protection Registrar will, I think, be found helpful to Members, and I understand that an article on the subject, written after consultation with the Registrar, is to appear in The House Magazine.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will report on the progress of the pilot project to test the effectiveness of model byelaws designed to reduce the problem of dogs fouling in public places; and if he will make a statement.

On 2 September byelaws came into force in four local authority areas which make it an offence for a person in charge of a dog in parks, footpaths and other designated areas to fail to remove any faeces deposited by the dog. The local authorities are the London borough of Barking and Dagenham, Gosport borough council, North-West Leicestershire district council and Rochester upon Medway city council. Indications so far are that the level of compliance by dog owners in these areas has been high and in consequence parks and so on are noticeably very much cleaner. Towards the end of this year we shall assess the effectiveness of the scheme overall and whether the byelaws should be offered as models for adoption by other local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans exist for building new prisons; when these establishments will receive their first prisoners; if he proposes to build any new prisons in west Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement.

The new prison building programme consists of 16 projects, of which three have already been completed. The following table indicates when these establishments are expected to receive their first inmates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to control experiments on invertebrates.

We have no present plans to do so. However, the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Bill contains a power to extend control to work on invertebrate animals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special patrol group units were present at the picket outside News International premises at Wapping on 15 February; and how many of the special patrol group officers present were equipped with firearms.

I understand from the Commissioner that eight units of the special patrol group were deployed at Wapping on 15 February. None of the officers was equipped with a firearm.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to the cost to date of policing the industrial dispute at Wapping; and if he will make a statement.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the additional costs incurred by the Metropolitan police in policing the News International dispute at Wapping are estimated at some £200,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to require the owners of businesses involved in industrial disputes whose premises require the attendance of the police there or nearby in connection with, or as a result of, the dispute to meet the full cost of the additional policing necessary; and if he will make a statment.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what rules, instructions and guidelines are applicable to the strip-searching and intimate searching of male prisoners in Her Majesty's prisons; if he will place copies in the Library; and if he will make a statement;(2) what rules, instructions and guidelines are applicable to the strip-searching and intimate searching of female prisoners in Her Majesty's prisons; if he will place copies in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

The following information relates to prison department establishments in England and Wales. Responsibility for establishments in Scotland and Northern Ireland rests with my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Northern Ireland.The rules, instructions and guidelines relevant to these matters relate equally to male and female inmates.General provisions on searching are contained in rule 39 of the Prison Rules 1964 and rule 43 of both the Youth Custody Centre Rules 1983 and Detention Centre Rules 1983, copies of which are available in the Library. These rules make it clear that prisoners (including remand prisoners) are to be searched on reception into a prison department establishment and subsequently as the governor thinks necessary. Standing instructions provide that the search on reception should be a strip search, and other times at which prisoners may be strip searched include before and after court appearances, before and after visits, at the time of cell changes and during wing and cell searches.While an intimate search of a body orifice could be carried out under the provisions of the rules, no such search would be conducted without the consent of the inmate, or otherwise without special authorisation, which would be granted only in the most exceptional circumstances.Detailed instructions on searching are contained in documents whose availability is restricted in the interests of security.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the figures for the authorised establishment of the Merseyside constabulary for each

Merseyside Police
				Population per officer
On 31 December	Authorised establishment	Strength	Population of force area	Based on establishment	Based on strength
1974	4,317	3,852	1,602,700	371	416
1975	4,342	4,059	1,588,400	366	391
1976	4,342	4,259	1,578,000	363	371
1977	4,451	4,238	1,575,500	354	372
1978	4,451	4,285	1,562,000	351	365
1979	4,451	*4,469	1,545,000	347	346
1980	4,452	*4,591	1,532,000	344	334
1981	4,607	*4,647	1,518,000	329	327
1982	4,607	*4,632	1,524,000	331	329
1983	4,607	4,604	1,511,000	328	328
1984	4,607	4,593	1,501,000	326	327
1985	4,607	4,554	1,491,000	324	327
* Including recruitment to posts authorised on a temporary supernumerary basis for special purposes, and 100 supernumerary constable posts authorised in 1979 in anticipation of the substantive increase in establishment approved in March 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list, in order, the 10 largest beneficiaries of Government support to the voluntary sector in the years 1979 to 1985.

I regret that because there is no central record of grant giving by Government Departments which distinguishes grants to particular organisations within grand totals, the information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to increase the fee levels set out in the British Nationality (Fees) Regulations 1984.

Some increases in fees will be necessary in order to meet the forecast costs of dealing with citizenship applications from 1 April 1986. The revised fee levels are as set out:

	Present Fees £	New Fees £
Registration (adult or minor)	55	60
Naturalisation on grounds of marriage	55	60
All other naturalisations	160	170

These fee levels include an application fee, which is payable for all applications and which will remain at £10. Other fees payable to the Home Office, for renouncing citizenship and for copy certificates and other documents will also remain at £10. The fee for administering the oath of allegiance, which is payable to the person administering the oath, will be increased from £2 to £3 in order to bring it in line with fees for analogous work under the Commissioners for Oaths (Fees) Order 1984.The existing arrangements for joint applicants will be unchanged: husbands and wives applying together for

The information is as follows:naturalisation will continue to pay the single fee, as will minor children of the same parent applying together for registration.The fee levels have been set to provide sufficient income from the applications we expect to deal with next year to meet their forecast costs, after allowing for the cost of unsuccessful applications. These forecasts are summarised in the nationality fees budget income and expenditure account for the year ending 31 March 1987, a copy of which I have placed in the Library.Regulations amending the British Nationality (Fees) Regulations 1984 are being laid before Parliament today with the intention that the new fee levels should come into operation on 1 April 1986. These will be the first changes in citizenship fees for two years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of South Yorkshire as to the number of people prosecuted in the last 12 months for which figures are available for the alleged illegal sale or renting of firearms.

[pursuant to his reply, 14 February 1986, c. 565]: The chief constable of South Yorkshire informs me that there is an outstanding case in which one person has been charged with offences under section 3(1) of the Firearms Act 1968 and a second person has been charged with offences under section 3(2) of the Act. There have been no other prosecutions under section 3(1) or (2) in the last 12 months.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in view of the current level of demand for development, assistance, if he will make an immediate allocation to the Highlands and Islands Development Board of £1 million in the current financial year.

No. The board has reallocated its resources to meet the demand.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the Orange Order requesting the use of Edinburgh's Holyrood park for a demonstration and rally on 28 June 1986; and if he will make a statement.

In a letter dated 11 April 1985 the Loyal Orange Institution of Scotland sought permission to hold a demonstration in Holyrood park to commemorate the 296th anniversary of the battle of the Boyne. In line with the current policy for the use by organisation of the royal park for such purposes, the application was refused. I have received no further representations on the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what response has been made by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board to the report on the board by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission which was published last autumn; and if he will make a statement.

I have received the initial response of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board to the report of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission published on 3 October 1985. It gives the board's comments on the commission's findings and describes the action it is taking to meet the recommendations. Copies of the board's response have been placed in the Library of the House.I welcome the commission's findings that the board is not pursuing any course of conduct against the public interest and that the board does its job well, striking an appropriate balance between its requirements to supply electricity efficiently and economically and its environmental and social obligations. The commission found that the board's investment appraisal procedures are basically sound, that its financial and management accounting and information systems are sound and well run and that the management and operation of the board's generating function are of a high standard.Nevertheless, the commission noted a number of areas where improvements in the board's performance should be made. These included cost and stock control and the way in which control is exercised within a delegated management structure. The board has undertaken to improve its efforts to control and reduce costs and has accepted many of the recommendations on delegation. In some cases the board is re-examining existing procedures in the light of the commission's findings.I particularly welcome the board's positive and constructive approach to the priority issues identified by the commission. The board has confirmed its commitment to the refurbishment of the distribution system and to the development of an assessment system for allocating resources within the refurbishment programme. It has indicated that the management services function is to be strengthened; that a system of cost reduction targets to be set and monitored by the board is being instituted; that the development and introduction of management information systems designed to improve monitoring will continue; and that standard guidelines for investment appraisal and project management procedures will be drawn up.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Government will press for an extension of the integrated development programme for the Western Isles.

The European Commission has informed us that it does not intend to propose a full extension of the integrated development programme (IDP) beyond May 1987. The Government agree that, in the light of progress already made, there is no need for a full-scale extension of the IDP. But we have asked the Commission to give some attention now to how some of the loose ends can best be tied up so that the IDP's significant achievements can be consolidated.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the number of people prosecuted for driving untaxed motor vehicles in each of the last three years.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Devon, North (Mr. Speller) on 10 December 1985. The number of prosecutions so far in 1985–86 is 149,000 and the number of out-of-court settlements is 109,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many people applied each year since 1980 for Ministry of Transport driving instruction tests; and if he will list the pass/fail rate.

The qualifying examination for the Department of Transport's register of approved driving instructors is made up of both written and practical parts. In May 1985 the practical test was split into two constituent parts of driving ability and instruction ability, taken separately.The following figures represent attempts made; records do not distinguish between first and subsequent attempts by the same person.

Written
Year	Attempts	Pass rate per cent.
1980	4,821	71·3
1981	5,265	75·0
1982	5,894	47·5
1983	6,285	49·9
1984	8,308	52·1
1985	8,313	61·1

Practical
Year	Attempts	Pass rate per cent.
1980	4,697	48·6
1981	5,419	45·7