asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the last time there was a report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate on every primary school on Anglesey.

The information requested is not readily available prior to 1978. Since then one formal inspection report, in respect of Moelfre county primary school, has been issued. Two reports on individual schools and the report of a survey of 22 schools in the Bodedern and Holyhead areas are currently being prepared. Over the same period all primary schools were visited as part of a survey of mathematics in primary schools in Anglesey and various schools will have been visited as part of more general surveys.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the operation of rural development areas.

Rural development areas are those areas to which the Development Commission gives priority and directs most of its resources. They were designated by the Development Commission using criteria laid down by my Department and came into operation in June 1984, replacing the former special investment areas.Within rural development areas, county committees consisting of local authority representatives, rural community councils and other local agencies, draw up rural development programmes. These are made up of a range of economic and social development projects which may extend over several years, together with an outline strategy for five to 10 years ahead. These programmes help the commission to target its resources on projects which make the best contribution to rural development.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to amend planning law so that, in the light of current production levels of certain kinds of agricultural produce, some agricultural land may be made available for other uses.

There is no provision in the Town and Country Planning Acts which specifically prevents agricultural land being developed. Individual development proposals must be considered on their merits, having regard to all material considerations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has about research by bodies, other than the Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive, into the safety of underground disposal of nuclear waste; and if he will make a statement.

My Department commissions research on the long-term safety of underground disposal of nuclear waste and is advised by the independent United Kingdom Radioactive Waste Management Advisory committee on the adequacy of work undertaken by the nuclear industry and other bodies.The United Kingdom also contributes to international research programmes of the Commission of the European Communities, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development/Nuclear Energy Agency and the International Atomic Energy Authority. The results of research funded by my Department are published.An annual report on my Department's research is available from the Department of the Environment publication sales unit, Victoria road, South Ruislip 4HQ 0NZ.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the arrangements for winding up the Basildon development corporation.

My right hon. Friend has considered the point made by my hon. Friend in the rates debate on 25 February at column 846. Nevertheless, he has concluded that it is right to proceed with our previously announced plan. An order under section 41 of the New Towns Act 1981 has been made today, the effect of which will be to transfer the property rights and liabilities of the corporation to the Commission for the New Towns on 1 April 1986, and to dissolve the corporation on 30 June 1986. The Commission for the New Towns will round off the programme of development in the town, and will in particular carry forward a number of important road schemes. The commission will pursue the question of transfer of the corporation's rented housing to the district council and, meanwhile the position of the corporation's tenants will be unaffected by the change from the corporation to the commission.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities currently operate home improvement grant schemes.

I would expect all local authorities to operate home improvement grant schemes. Under part VII of the Housing Act 1974, all authorities are required to approve mandatory grants provided certain qualifying conditions are met, and must therefore operate schemes for approving and giving such grants. Other grants under this legislation are discretionary, and local authorities may approve applications in such circumstances as they see fit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the basis for the claim by the chairman of the Nature Conservancy Council in the latest annual report that, in forestry management in the north of Scotland, planting grant is often not obtained or even sought.

The NCC is aware of only two cases of planting without grant, both in southern Scotland. The chairman has apologised to me for the inaccuracy. A correction has appeared in the NCC publication "Topical Issues" and will be repeated in the next annual report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many (a) churches of the Church of England, (b) religious buildings belonging to other denominations and (c) redundant places of worship are currently listed as buildings of historic interest; and whether he will publish a list by county in the Official Report.

I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of its stock of (a) council houses, and (b) council flats and maisonettes the Greater London council and each London borough has sold since April 1979.

Separate numbers of houses and of flats owned by each authority are not available centrally.For estimates of all completed sales and of sales of flats by each of the authorities, and all sales as a percentage of the total stock, I refer my hon. Friend to the table placed in the Library in response to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Mr. Murphy) on 19 December at column

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many hard-to-let dwellings are owned by Southampton city council.

Numbers of difficult-to-let dwellings in April 1985 were reported in each authority's housing investment programme return, which is available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish, for each local authority in England (a) the percentage by which its expenditure is above or below its grant-related expenditure assessment in 1985–86, (b) the rank order of spending relative to grant-related expenditure in 1985–86 within each authority's class, (c) its percentage above or below its expenditure target in 1985–86, (d) the rank order of spending relative to target in 1985–86 within each authority's class, (e) the cash growth (as a percentage) in net expenditure between 1978–79 and 1985–86, (f) the rank order of percentage growth in net current expenditure between 1978–79 and 1985–86 within each authority's class, (g) the cash growth (as a percentage) in net current expenditure between 1981–82 and 1985–86 and (h) the rank order of percentage growth in net current expenditure between 1981–82 and 1985–86 within each authority's class.

I have today placed in the Library tables which give the information requested.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has reached a decision on proposals submitted to his urban housing renewal unit for schemes in the west midlands.

Earlier today, on a visit to Coventry, I had the opportunity to visit the Hillfields estate. I was also able to announce my right hon. Friend's favourite response to a proposal for a scheme on the Hillfields estate which the city council has worked up in close consultation with my Department's urban housing renewal unit. We hope to reach agreement with the council on further schemes in due course.The council has already introduced responsive locally based management arrangements on the estate, and is seeking to deliver a comprehensive housing service and to involve the residents in day-to-day decisions which affect their lives. The proposal agreed with the unit will be a major further step in the process of improving the quality of life on this rundown estate.The Hillfields estate consists of 644 dwellings in ten tower blocks. Coventry city council has submitted a bid for resources from the unit's targeted housing investment programme allocation to replace defective heating systems, improve insulation, and provide extra lifts. I have agreed in principle to an additional HIP allocation of up to £779,000 for this programme in 1986–87. The estate will also benefit from a community refurbishment scheme, the aim of which is to enable unemployed people drawn mainly from the estate to work on improvements to the environment and communal areas. The scheme will provide up to 70 jobs, and will be funded by the Government's community programme, subject to the agreement of the Manpower Services Commission's area board, and my Department's urban programme. Resources of the order of £999,000 will be involved, including some £320,000 of urban programme funding, which I am pleased to approve in principle.I warmly welcome the development of this package, and the close co-operation between the council and my Department's regional office and the staff and consultants of the urban housing renewal unit, which has made them possible.

asked the Attorney-General, whether he will institute proceedings against the proprietor and editor of The Sun under section 4 of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1976 in relation to the publication of a photograph of an alleged rape victim on 10 March.

The prohibitions contained in section 4(1) of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1976 only apply to publications and broadcasts which take place after a person is accused of a rape offence. No person has yet been accused of the offence to which the report and photograph published in The Sun on 10 March refers and accordingly no offence is disclosed.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to receive the Central Electricity Generating Board's board of inquiry report on the site incident at Hinckley Point power station on 29 November 1985; and if he will publish this.

I understand that the CEGB intends to publish the main conclusions of its inquiry shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what discussions he has had with the chairman of the National Coal Board about the redeployment of men from Bates colliery.

I understand from the chairman of the National Coal Board that all men wishing to continue working in the industry will be able to transfer from Bates to other collieries in the north-east. Reports that deputies at Bates would not be offered an equivalent job on transfer are completely untrue.I understand that almost half the NACODS members at the pit have expressed a preference for redundancy and the remaining 48 who prefer transfer to equivalent jobs have been given details of 85 jobs which are available at pits in the area.

asked the Prime Minister, pursuant to the reply of 27 February, Official Report, columns 668–9, when she expects a legislative opportunity to become available to implement the Government's intentions to extend compulsory competition and separate accounting to a wider range of local authority purposes; and if she will make a statement.

I cannot anticipate the contents of future years' legislative programmes. However, the continuing low level of voluntary exposure of local authority services to competition reinforces this Government's determination to introduce appropriate legislation as soon as possible.

asked the hon. Member for Berwick upon Tweed as representing the House of Commons Commission, how many (a) Clerks and (b) Officers of the House are in post; and how this compares with each of the past 30 years.

The table gives the information requested, as at five-yearly intervals. Clerks of the House are of course also Officers of the House and therefore the numbers in the second column include those in the first column.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether, in the light of the proceedings taking place in the European Commission of Human Rights regarding privileged correspondence between solicitors and their inmate clients, he will issue guidance to solicitors on how letters covered by rule 37A(1) should be marked so as to distinguish them from mail liable to be opened and read pursuant to rule 33;(2) what steps he is taking to protect from examination correspondence between an inmate and his solicitor regarding an adjudication in respect of which the inmate has a right to consult a solicitor; and if he will make a statement of the basis of application of prison rule 37A(1) to such correspondence.

Prison rule 37A(1) protects correspondence between a prisoner and his legal adviser in connection with legal proceedings to which the prisoner is party from being read or stopped, unless the governor has reason to suppose that it contains matter not relating to the proceedings. This protection is extended by standing order 5B 35 to correspondence between a prisoner and his legal adviser about an adjudication. Neither the prison rule nor the standing order prevents correspondence from being opened and examined—for example, to check for illicit material.The examination of legal correspondence is the subject of a case under the European convention on human rights. My right hon. Friend will want to consider the app j 1–9arrangements for the examination of such correspondence, including the points raised in these questions, in the light of the outcome of that case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were diagnosed as suffering from terminal illness, while serving sentences in prisons in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, respectively, during each of the past five years for which records are available; in each such year, how many of such prisoners were discharged by reason of their terminal illness; and how many of such persons who were released and not released, respectively, were young offenders.

In 1985 in England and Wales eight people were released early from their sentences by exercise of the royal prerogative of mercy on the compassionate grounds that they were fatally ill. One was a young offender. In the preceding four years the figures were: 1980, seven (including one young offender released from borstal); 1981, four; 1982, three; 1983, five; and 1984, two (including one young offender). The other information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.Information regarding other parts of the United Kingdom should be sought from my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to whom reports of the diagnosis of terminally ill inmates in prisons and in young offenders' institutions, respectively, are made; and when and by whom they are made.

Prison standing orders require the medical officer of an establishment to submit a report if he is of the opinion that the illness of any prisoner is likely to terminate fatally within a brief period; that the risk of further crime is past; that the prisoner is in a fit state to be moved; and that there is reason to believe that he has relatives or friends who will be able and willing to take care of him if he is released. The report is submitted to the director of prison medical services, with a copy to the criminal department, so that consideration may be given to the prisoner's early release.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date he was informed of the terminal illness of Kevin Capenhurst, an inmate of the Glen Parva young offenders' centre, and by whom.

I understand that the case of Kevin Capenhurst was brought to the attention of the then Home Secretary on 20 August 1985.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects reconviction rates for youth custody trainees to become available.

A special study is planned of the reconviction rates of those given youth custody and results are expected to become available during 1987.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Metropolitan Police have any intention of testing the AMAC-1 riot control vehicle.

I understand that there are no present plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of cases in the last five years of which he is aware in which disciplinary proceedings against a serving police officer led, wholly or partially, to the deprivation of pension rights.

Power to require the forfeiture of pension rights is not available in disciplinary proceedings, but arises from the Police Pensions Regulations 1973, as amended. Outside the Metropolitan police, forfeiture of pension is at the discretion of the police authority, and there are no central records of the number of occasions on which the power has been used. However, except in cases of treason, or of offences under the Official Secrets Act involving a sentence of 10 years imprisonment or more, the police authority may not award forfeiture of pension unless a certificate has been issued by the Secretary of State to the effect that the offence committed in connection with the person's service as a member of a police force has either been gravely injurious to the interests of the state, or was liable to lead to serious loss of confidence in the public service. The number of such certificates issued in the past five years is as follows:

	Number
1981	—
1982	—
1983	2
1984	—
1985	1

In the Metropolitan police area the Secretary of State, as police authority, determines the extent as well as the principle of forfeiture. The number of awards of forfeiture of pension, in whole or in part, in the past five years is as follows:

	Number
1981	4
1982	1
1983	2
1984	—
1985	2

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the hospitals attached to prisons for which he is responsible; whether he will give the dates on which they were last inspected in respect of food hygiene; and whether the person responsible for any such inspection was a qualified environmental health officer.

There are in-patient facilities at all prison establishments except Castington, Gringley, Morton Hall and Shrewsbury. Food is supplied from the prison kitchen. The serving and associated hygiene arrangements in the inpatient areas are inspected annually by catering managers qualified to undertake hygiene inspections in accordance with the requirements of the Food Hygiene (General) Regulations 1970. Random checks are also carried out by suitably qualified departmental safety officers and by a qualified environmental health officer of the Department of Health and Social Security. In addition, the prison medical officer carries out a twice-yearly inspection of all aspects of an establishment in the interests of the health and hygiene of the inmates and staff.Information as to when each facility was last inspected is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present state of development of the computer-aided facial recognition system (Wisard); for what purposes he envisages its use; whether he will publish the results of any feasibility study being conducted; and if he will make a statement.

Wisard is a commercially available system for recognising images and is not specifically a facial recognition system. The Home Office scientific research and development branch is, however, considering commissioning a feasibility study to assess whether it could be used for recognising faces. This proposal is still at an early stage and decisions have not yet been taken as to whether the results of any trials should be published.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a water cannon from the Greenwich holding centre was present at an eviction carried out by Metropolitan police officers in Effra parade, Brixton, on 26 March 1984; and whether police on that occasion were equipped with CS gas, plastic bullets, or firearms.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that none of the police officers deployed at the scene was equipped with CS gas, plastic baton rounds, or firearms. No water cannon were present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will indicate the nature and purpose of the closed circuit television equipment being purchased under a £500,000 contract with Philips Business Systems by the Metropolitan police; and where the equipment will be used.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the contract is for a computerised control system for use with the existing closed circuit television cameras which monitor traffic in London. The new control equipment will be sited in Metropolitan police operations rooms at New Scotland Yard and in the traffic control room at county hall.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to seek to reduce the time spent by remand prisoners awaiting trial.

Field trials are in progress to prepare for statutory time limits on periods in custody awaiting trial; we are seeking to improve case management in the magistrates courts; and my right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor has provided more resources for the Crown court.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to announce to whom he has awarded the experimental community radio licences.

My right hon. Friend shall make an announcement when he has completed his consideration of the recommendations made by the advisory panel on community radio.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the representations he has received from the hon. Member for Uxbridge concerning the entitlement of Mr. Mazooz Abdul Karim Rashid to remain in the United Kingdom; what investigations his Department have undertaken into this matter; and if he will make a statement.

It is not normal practice to disclose information about a person's immigration status, nor would it be appropriate to publish my hon. Friend's representations in this case, but I shall reply to his letter of 16 January shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to seek to prevent the premature retirement of Metropolitan police officers; what effect such retirement has had upon effective and efficient policing; and, if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 19 February, c. 178]: The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that he has set in hand a review to identify the most common reasons for premature retirement from the force. It is not possible to quantify their effect on police effectiveness.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the retirement of police officers from the Metropolitan police; what is the average length of service of a police officer of the rank of sergeant or below, and how many are serving with a length of service of (a) two years, (b) between two and three years (c) between three and four years (d) between four and five years (e) between five and 10 years (f) between 10 and 15 years (g) between 15 and 20 years (h) over 20 years.

[pursuant to his reply, 19 February, c. 178]: Under the Police Pensions Regulations 1973, an officer is entitled to receive an ordinary pension on retiring after 25 years' service and a full pension on retiring after 30 years' service. The maximum age of retirement for officers to the Metropolitan police up to and including the rank of chief superintendent is 55. The average length of service in the force of Metropolitan police officers currently serving in the rank of sergeant or constable is 10 years nine months. The table shows the percentage of sergeants and constables in the Metropolitan police who have the lengths of service in that force which are specified in the question.

Length of service of constables and sergeants in the Metropolitan police*
Length of service	Percentage of constables	Percentage of sergeants
Under two years	12·7	0·2
Two years and under three	6·0	0·4
Three years and under four	9·5	0·6
Four years and under five	9·9	1·5
Five years and under 10	26·3	28·0
10 years and under 15	11·9	23·4
15 years and under 21	8·9	22·5
20 years and over	14·8	23·4
* This table does not take account of service in other police forties.

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

[pursuant to his reply, 25 February, c. 485]: In 1985, 64 persons were detained under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act for periods in excess of 96 hours. Of those, 38 persons were charged with an offence. No further action is to be taken in respect of three of those persons; one person has been convicted of an offence of withholding information under section 11 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; and the other 34 are either standing trial or still awaiting trial. The person who was convicted of withholding information made a statement after he had been detained for more than 144 hours, but this was not used in court because he pleaded guilty to the charge.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science by how much he estimates the cost of scientific equipment has on average moved ahead of the current rate of inflation; and whether the allocation to the University Grants Committee and Advisory Board for Research Councils will be increased to cover the difference.

The Advisory Board for the Research Councils estimates that the increasing sophistication of scientific equipment and materials adds an average 10 per cent. a year to their cost over and above average inflation. The allocation of funds for distribution on the advice of the University Grants Committee and the Advisory Board for the Research Councils will be reviewed during the year as part of the annual public expenditure survey. I cannot yet say what the outcome will be. However, the Government's science budget has actually increased in real terms—by 6 per cent. between 1981–82 and 1985–86 measured against average inflation—and on present plans will broadly maintain its value to the end of the decade. The Government's expenditure plans also provide in addition to the £4 million a year for this purpose in the current year, for a further £30 million over the three years 1986–87 to 1988–89 to increase the amount available for the improvement of equipment in selected centres of research in the universities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, how many university centres are being funded by £34 million provided for equipping them to the highest attainable standards; and if he will list the centres involved.

The following 19 research groups have so far been chosen to receive funds from the £34 million provided for the improvement of equipment in selected centres of research.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what account was taken when deciding to reduce Government funding of the University Grants Committee by 2 per cent. per annum of the trends in outgoings in the scientific sector.

My right hon. Friend takes all relevant factors into account in considering the future funding of the universities. The suggested reduction in funding of 2 per cent. a year is a planning hypothesis adopted not by my right hon. Friend but by the University Grants Committee to give it some flexibility in allocating resources between institutions and some room for manoeuvre in relation to future levels of inflation. The Government's expenditure plans for 1986–87 to 1988–89 provide for a reduction in funding for the universities of about 1 per cent. a year compared with expected inflation over the same period.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many women teachers were employed in secondary education in September 1965, September 1975 and September 1985; and what proportion of the overall number of teachers these figures represent.

The information available on the numbers and percentages of women teachers in maintained secondary* education in England and Wales is as follows:

	Year	Numbers†	Per cent.‡
1965
	Full-time║	59,000	41

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consultations he has had with representatives of colleges or academies of music concerning any change in the current functions of each institution; with what purpose; and if he will make a statement.

As I explained in my reply to my right hon. Friend the Member for Chelmsford (Mr. St. John-Stevas) on 24 February at columns 430–431, I have met the heads of the music colleges as part of consultations with a number of leading figures in the musical world about the training of talented musicians. In the course of these discussions proposals from the Royal Academy of Music for its future academic development and other possible proposals have been raised.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what he estimates the effect to be upon the quality of research and teaching in the United Kingdom university system of university teachers leaving their posts to teach in other countries.

Some movement of academic staff between nations is desirable. However, there is some evidence that there has recently been a disproportionate movement away from the United Kingdom of staff in certain disciplines. My right hon. Friend has expressed concern about this and is seeking further information about its extent and implications.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many university teachers in the United Kingdom have taken university teaching posts abroad in the past five years; and in what specialities.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to the comparative university salaries of a university lecturer with a Ph.D with seven years' experience, in the European Economic Community, the United States of America, Canada and Australia, respectively.

This information is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to how many of the leading industrial states have progressively increased expenditure on civil research over the past five years; and what is the comparative position of the United Kingdom expressed in real terms.

I have been asked to reply.The available information from international sources relates to gross expenditure, civil and defence, on research and development and is given in the table below.

	Gross R and D expenditure at 1983 purchasing power parties ($ billion)	Percentage increase in gross R and D expenditure in real terms 1979 to 1983
United States	88·3	18
Japan	33·5	44
Germany	18·1	10
France	13·1	17
United Kingdom	12·6	3
Italy	5·9	45
Canada	4·7	32

asked the Paymaster General when next he expects to meet the Trades Union Congress to discuss industrial relations.

I have no plans at present to meet the Trades Union Congress to discuss industrial relations.

asked the Paymaster General if he has any plans to increase the number of industrial tribunals; and if he will make a statement.

I have no plans to increase the number of industrial tribunals.

asked the Paymaster General if he will state the latest unemployment figures by ward and postal area for Sunderland.

The following information is in the Library. Figures are given showing the numbers of unemployed claimants as at 6 February 1986 in the wards of the Sunderland local authority district. Unemployment figures by postal area for this date are not available.

	Number
Bishopwearmouth	1,173
Castletown	782
Central	839
Colliery	718
Deptford and Pallion	1,456
Downhill	1,432

asked the Paymaster General if he will list the total number of new jobs which have become vacant or available in the Wolverhampton area during the last three months, and the specific areas of industry or commerce in which they have arisen.

The information is not available as requested. However, data are collected on the number of vacancies notified to jobcentres. The following table gives the numbers of vacancies notified to the Wolverhampton jobcentre between 8 November 1985 and 7 February 1986, analysed according to the 1980 standard industrial classification.We estimate that nationally only about one third of all vacancies are notified to jobcentres.

Notified vacancies—Wolverhampton jobcentre 8 November 1985 to 7 February 1986
Standard Industrial Classification 1980	Notified vacancies
Agriculture, forestry and fishing	4
Coal extraction	0
Mineral oil and natural gas extraction	0
Mineral oil processing	1
Nuclear fuel production	0
Gas, electricity and water	8
Extraction of other minerals and ores	0
Metal manufacture	15
Manufacture of non-metallic products	3
Chemical industry	5
Production of man-made fibres	0
Manufacture of metal goods	70
Mechanical engineering	54
Manufacture of office machinery and data processing equipment	1
Electrical and electronic engineering	15
Manufacture of motor vehicles	8
Shipbuilding and repairing	0
Manufacture of aerospace and other transport equipment	14
Instrument engineering	3
Food, drink and tobacco	8
Textiles	1
Leather, footwear and clothing	29
Timber and furniture	22
Paper, printing, publishing	6
Other manufacturing	9
Construction	53
Wholesale distribution	39
Retail distribution	309
Hotel and catering	99
Repair of consumer goods and vehicles	14

asked the Paymaster General how many people resident in the west midlands have withdrawn claims from his Department's offices during the last seven years without listing a new employment post when signing off.

My Department does not ask benefit claimants why they cease to sign as unemployed.

asked the Paymaster General how many cases of legal proceedings have been instituted by fraud officers employed by his Department in the west midlands during the last seven years.

Information for the west midlands area is not separately available and no information is held for any period before February 1982. Between February 1982 and December 1985, the total number of legal proceedings instituted by my Department's midlands region against people suspected of making fraudulent claims to benefit was 1,999 but this figure does not distinguish between different parts of the region.

asked the Paymaster General if he will list the average price used in compiling the retail price index of (a) a pint of ordinary bitter, 1037 original gravity, and (b) of a standard measure, one sixth of a gill, of a typical blended Scotch whisky in the years 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980 and 1985, respectively.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Commissioners of Irish Lights have registered with the Fair Employment Agency in respect of employment of staff employment procedures; and if he will make a statement.

The Commissioners of Irish Lights have not signed the Fair Employment Agency's declaration of principle and intent and are not on the agency's register of equal opportunity employers. I have no information on the commissioners' employment procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the schools in Northern Ireland which have been notified of teaching staff reductions in the school year 1986–87; how many posts will be lost at each of the schools; and if he will make a statement.

I shall write to my hon. Friend when the 1986–87 staffing allocations for Northern Ireland schools are finalised.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will review the current provision of travel grants to third level students from or in Northern Ireland particularly those from the western area; and if he will make a statement.

A review of the new arrangements was carried out in 1985. It revealed that the majority of students gained under the flat rate arrangements, and that a relatively small number lost. There are no plans to carry out a further review at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement detailing how the Department of Economic Development calculated its figures for the cost per job in (a) Enterprise Ulster and (b) Action for Community Employment.

The gross cost per job in Action for Community Employment and Enterprise Ulster is calculated on the expenditure incurred in each programme by the Department of Economic Development.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement detailing the recommendations in respect of Enterprise Ulster made in the report "Intervention Measures in the Labour Market—An Efficiency Scrutiny", published in January 1985 and outlining what consideration he has given to the content of this report.

The relevant information is contained in pages 4 to 8 of the report, a copy of which will be placed in the Library.The board of Enterprise Ulster has already implemented some of the report's recommendations, and those dealing with the relationship between Enterprise Ulster and the Action for Community Employment scheme are being taken into consideration in the present review of Enterprise Ulster.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement detailing the findings and recommendations in respect of Enterprise Ulster contained in the Deloitte, Haskins and Sells study published by the Department of Economic Development, "Report on the Effectiveness and Value for Money of Enterprise Ulster", and outlining what consideration he has given to the content of this report.

I am making arrangements for copies of the report on this study to be placed in the Library.The recommendations in the report are being taken into consideration in determining the outcome of the present review of Enterprise Ulster.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received about Enterprise Ulster from the Confederation of British Industry, the Northern Committee of Irish Confederation of Trades Unions, and the Manpower Council; and if he will make a statement.

So far I have only received representations from the Manpower Council and I will take into consideration their views and any others received from those organisations before making a decision on the future role of Enterprise Ulster.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he intends to make the order which would enable Enterprise Ulster to undertake new work after 1 April.

I have no plans to legislate for Enterprise Ulster, pending the completion of the present review of the organisation. If the outcome of this review is a decision to extend the life of Enterprise Ulster, the order will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has reached a decision on the new safeguarded area of land at Stansted airport; and if he will make a statement.

The White Paper on airports policy, Cmnd. 9542, made it clear that, in view of the decision that a second runway should not be constructed, the area at Stansted airport proposed for safeguarding against incompatible development was too large; and that a smaller area should be identified which might be required for construction of a second terminal if this proved to be justified at some time in the future. We have now agreed the extent of the land which is to be safeguarded for this purpose. This amounts to 327 hectares, of which the BAA already owns 60 per cent., compared with the 1,000 hectares for which safeguarding had originally been sought. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment proposes to issue shortly a direction to Uttlesford district council and Essex county council safeguarding the area of land which has been identified. A map showing the new safeguarded area can be viewed at the airport.I have written to the BAA asking it to dispose of any landholdings which do not fall within the new safeguarded area, giving priority to farmland.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has received a request from Lancashire and Greater Manchester county councils for grant-aid under section 56 of the Transport Act 1968 towards electrification of the Manchester-Blackpool North railway line; and if he will make a statement.

I considered such an application last year, but announced on 17 January my conclusion that electrification of the route from Manchester to Blackpool would not be cost-effective. Instead, British Rail proposes to introduce new diesel 'sprinter' units, and I am confident these will produce real improvements for passengers virtually equivalent to the benefits of electrification, at substantially less cost to taxpayers and ratepayers. Electrification would have cost £13 million more net but the trains would have been only one minute faster over this route.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total cost of the electrification of the Manchester-Blackpool North railway line.

It is estimated that electrification of the Manchester-Blackpool line would cost £23 million. The alternative of diesel sprinter units providing an almost equivalent service leaves the taxpayers and ratepayers £13 million better off.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has about the trend in the standard of train punctuality during the past 12 months.

Information for the financial year 1985–86 is not yet available. I understand, however, from British Rail that punctuality so far has been slightly worse than in the preceding year. Taking the network as a whole, the board's own targets have been achieved for non-express trains, but not for express services.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about the 1985 Transport Users' Consultative Committee report for northeast England, with particular reference to the trend in train punctuality in 1985 as compared with 1984.

I have not received any such representations.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to introduce lighting on the 46 miles of the A1 from its junction with the M18 to the Dishforth roundabout; and if he will make a statement.

There are no plans at present to install lighting on the unlit lengths of A1 between M18 and Dishforth. I will keep the matter under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to provide centre safety barriers on the 31 miles of the A1 from its junction with the M18 to the Dishforth roundabout; and if he will make a statement.

Safety barriers will be provided as part of the improvements planned for the A1 between Bramham crossroads and Dishforth.The provision of barriers on the section between the M18 and Bramham crossroads will be kept under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those who have made representations to his Department in response to the consultation announced on 25 July 1985 about goods vehicle operator licensing; and how many of these seek further strengthening of the environmental provisions.

Responses were received from the following bodies, 20 of which sought a strengthening of the environmental provisions:

• Convention of Scottish Local Authorities
• Peak District National Park
• The Chiltern Society
• The Wall's Meat Company Limited
• Council on Tribunals
• Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
• SPD Group
• Nursling and Rownhams Parish Council
• Council for the Protection of Rural England
• Chobham Parish Council
• British Gas
• Freight Transport Association
• The Chobham Society
• Transport and General Workers Union
• The National Farmers' Union
• Cleanaway Limited
• Road Haulage Association
• Borough of Darlington
• The Magistrates' Association
• Dairy Trade Federation
• Leicestershire County Council
• Surrey County Council
• The National Trust
• Civic Trust
• Association of Metropolitan Authorities
• Food Manufacturers Federation Inc.
• J D Atcherley Esq, on behalf of Chobham Residents
• Association of District Councils
• Hales Containers Limited forwarded by National Association of Waste Disposal Contractors
• The National Association of Local Councils
• Co-operative Union Limited
• Transport 2000
• Chemical Industries Association Limited
• British Retailers Association
• Surrey Heath Borough Council
• Exeter Civil Society
• The Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what stage has been reached in the review of the working of the environmental provisions in goods vehicle operator licensing introduced in the Transport Act 1982, which was announced on 25 July 1985.

We are considering the views expressed about these provisions. A statement will be made in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether the review of the working of the environmental provisions in goods vehicle operator licensing will take into account the judgment of the transport tribunal in the case of Surrey Heath borough council v. N.F. T. Distribution Ltd. (No. W.17) issued on 7 February; and whether, in the light of observations made by the transport tribunal, he plans to take steps to change the relevant primary and secondary legislation.

Important issues were raised by the transport tribunal in its judgment on this case and I shall be considering these in the course in the current review of the legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will issue revised guidance to licensing authorities to reflect the judgment of the transport tribunal issued on 7 February in the case of Surrey Heath borough council v. N.F.T. Distribution Ltd.

All the licensing authorities are aware of the transport tribunal judgment and I am sure they will have regard to it in dealing with similar cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when the additional conditions imposed by the transport tribunal on the licence held by N.F.T. Distribution Ltd. for authorised vehicles at its Chobham depot will take effect.

The decision of the transport tribunal takes effect from the date it was made, 5 February 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was his reply to the Government of the United States of America in response to their recent representations about charges imposed on United States airlines for the use of Heathrow airport.

My officials met a delegation from the United States of America recently to discuss amongst other things the concerns expressed by their Government to Her Majesty's Government about the proposals for regulating airport charges set out in the Airports Bill. The delegation's main concern was that the Bill should provide adequate means for ensuring that the United Kingdom could fulfil its international obligations. My officials were able to explain how the measures in the Bill would do so: attention was drawn specifically to clause 27 of the Bill.The United States Government also expressed a general concern about consultation between the British Airports Authority and its airlines, and about the level of charges at Heathrow airport. Although these are matters for the BAA and the airlines, information was provided to correct a number of misunderstandings about these two aspects: in particular about the nature and extent of the consultations which had been conducted and the considerably and progressively reduced level of charges now paid by the United States airlines and other long-haul airlines at Heathrow.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many people were killed, and how many injured, on the roads on Sunday 9 March.

Road accident reports are collated monthly by police forces before being checked and passed on magnetic tape to the Department of Transport. Full information covering all of Great Britain for March will not be available before August.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is yet in a position to announce a decision on a preferred route for the northern relief route to relieve the M6 through the west midlands conurbation; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he can now announce his decision on the preferred route for the northern relief route for the west midlands conurbation.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he is yet in a position to announce a preferred route for the north Birmingham relief road; and if he will make a statement.

I am pleased to be able to announce that we have now chosen the route for this very important scheme. Alternative routes were taken to public consultation in 1984.We have selected the green chasewater and yellow route options, with some local variations. The new road will predominantly follow the existing A5, A38 and A446. It will avoid creating a major new corridor through this sensitive part of the west midlands. It will be an attractive route for north-west/south-east through traffic, as well as helping to stimulate industry in southern Staffordshire.The decision ends the uncertainty and brings closer the urgently needed relief to the M6. We now intend to press on with the new road as quickly as possible and expect to publish draft orders in early 1988.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a further statement about the privatisation of British Airways.

The Government's aim remains to privatise British Airways as soon as possible.The Government are currently engaged in important negotiations with the United States Government about United Kingdom—United States air services and the competition law that applies to them.The north Atlantic market is of great importance to all the British airlines which serve it, accounting, for example, for about 23 per cent. of British Airways' total revenue and about 36 per cent. of British Caledonian's total revenue. It is most important for all British airlines, not least British Airways, that we secure an agreement with the United States Government which either enables them to compete on fair and equal terms for all the traffic between our two countries or, failing that, safeguards our vital interests. Without such an agreement the ability of our airlines to maintain or improve their competitive position would be severely undermined. I made our position perfectly clear during my recent visit to the United States. I am hopeful that it will be possible to negotiate acceptable arrangements before the present ones expire this summer, but before we proceed with the privatisation of British Airways we must clarify with the United States Government the air services arrangements which govern a large part of the company's business.During my visit to the United States of America, I also set out our continuing concern to resolve the serious dispute between our two Governments with regard to the application of United States anti-trust laws to international civil aviation. My officials are in discussion with the United States Departments concerned, but no solution of the problems has yet been found. Until the United States authorities rectify the situation, it is for British Airways and other British airlines to decide how best to deal with the implications of United States anti-trust laws, subject only to such restrictions as Her Majesty's Government may consider it necessary to impose to protect the trading interests of the United Kingdom. The seriousness of the Government's concern is amply demonstrated by the fact that four years after the collapse of Laker Airways, anti-trust litigation arising from it has not yet been concluded. The company has consistently denied any liability in this litigation, which in the view of Her Majesty's Government should not have been brought.

asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in which counties in England and Wales pesticide registration authorities require products for home and garden use to be packed in child-restraint packages and rodenticides to be used only in tamper-proof bait stations; and what proposals are presently being considered by his Department under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 to control packaging on a nationwide basis.

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

asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether progress is being made in permitting greater flexibility in the transfer and acquisition of milk quotas.

[pursuant to the reply, 5 March, c. 198]: Since the milk quota system was first introduced, my right hon. Friend and I have been seeking greater flexibility to allow the industry to develop efficiently. After consulting the industry I have concluded that it would be helpful to make greater use of the existing provision in the Community rules under which purchasers of milk may reallocate quota. Within this context there is room for a limited arrangement under which producers may agree to reallocate quota between themselves for up to one quota year.I am pleased to say that the Dairy Produce Quotas Regulations 1986 which I am laying before the House include provision for such temporary reallocations to be registered by the purchasers of milk (the milk marketing boards). This facility will be available to producers for the new quota year starting on 1 April. This provision in the regulations is in addition to those which I announced in my reply of 6 March to my hon. Friend the Member for Dorset, North (Mr. Baker).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of the total tonnage of food exported to third countries by the European Economic Commission was sent to East Europe, including the Soviet Union, in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and what were the comparable percentages in each of the previous 10 years.

[pursuant to his reply, 10 March 1986, c. 358]: The information requested is set out for the main agricultural products in the table below. Percentages based on total tonnages may be unduly influenced by variations in the composition of exports to different destinations.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if any study has been made of the feasibility of the joint Anglo-French exploitation of the Airbus airframe for use as an advanced airborne early warning and communications systems; and if he will make a statement.

No such study has been carried out by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the name, location, including county and map reference, size, purchaser, and price received, in respect of each of those forest estates sold to date by the Forestry Commission throughout Great Britain.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many YTS places are currently taken up by Scottish local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

Local authorities in Scotland at present have approval for 11,499 places under one year YTS, 9,143 of which are currently filled. Scottish local authorities have been major participants in and have contributed greatly to the success of one-year YTS. I am confident that the great majority will support the new two-year YTS which starts on 1 April 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many individuals are currently receiving YTS training in Greenock and Port Glasgow; and how many of these trainees are females.

The information is not available in the precise form requested. However, in the local authority district of Inverclyde, which includes Greenock and Port Glasgow, some 813 individuals, of whom 368 are females, currently receive YTS training.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the introduction to date in the National Health Service in Scotland of a general management system consequent upon the Griffiths report.

All 15 health boards have general managers in post and the Common Services Agency is recruiting one. I expect to receive in April the study which has been commissioned as the basis for deciding how general management can best be developed in units. The Scottish Home and Health Department will undertake consultations between May and mid-July on a draft circular on the development of unit general management. Work is continuing on further aspects of general management within the Scottish Health Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures have been taken to improve the quality of work-related non-advanced further education in Strathclyde and in Scotland as a whole.

Following the publication of the 16-plus action plan in 1983 a major reform of the framework of non-advanced further education and training for those over the age of 16 has led to the introduction throughout Scotland of new modular programmes of study leading to the award of the new SCOTVEC national certificate. Students (including adults wishing to retrain) can take programmes of modules which cover a whole range of vocational and personal skills. The new system enables students to identify the components they require for a chosen job or career, or to complement what they are learning at work, or to change direction and build on to existing qualifications without loss of credit. The modules can be adapted easily and quickly to meet the changing needs of industry and to take account of the impact of new technology. The system allows the development of closer links between education and training schemes, such as YTS, which are designed to prepare young people for working life; YTS trainees can receive the SCOTVEC national certificate for their "off-the-job" training. These recent important developments in Scotland will be enhanced by the introduction of the two-year YTS on 1 April which will include measures to further improve the quality of training of young people on and off the job. Through the Manpower Services Commission the Government also provide a wide range of adult training for employed and unemployed people. All of these measures are available in Strathclyde as elsewhere in Scotland. The Government's initiatives have helped place Scotland in the vanguard of further education and training progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to make an announcement concerning the placing of a contract for a new fisheries protection vessel.

Tenders have been invited for the construction of a fishery protection vessel to replace the FPV Norna which was commissioned in 1959. My right hon. and learned Friend hopes to announce the name of the successful tenderer in June.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects Caledonian. MacBrayne to announce the signing of a contract for the construction of a new passenger ferry.

I am considering a proposal from Caledonian MacBrayne to build a further new passenger ferry. I hope to give it my decision soon, and, if it is favourable, the company will then be free to invite tenders for construction.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what rules, regulations and guidelines are applicable to the strip-searching and intimate scrutiny of female prisoners in Her Majesty's prisons in Scotland; if he will place copies of such documents in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

General provisions regarding the searching of prisoners in prisons in Scotland are contained in rule 14 of the Prison (Scotland) Rules 1952, copies of which are available in the Library.Prison standing orders require strip-searches to be carried out as part of normal admission and discharge procedures; when a prisoner is being transferred to a segregation unit; during routine cell searches and special cell searches where there is reason to believe that contraband or weapons are being concealed; following "open" visits; and on leaving prison to attend a court hearing.The procedures observed in Scottish penal establishments for the strip-searching of female prisoners by female staff are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the latest figures of long-term unemployment in the Greenock travel-to-work area.

The information is available in the House of Commons Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the current level of youth unemployment in Greenock and Port Glasgow.

On 9 January 1986, the latest date for which information is available, the total number of unemployed claimants under the age of 18 in the Greenock and Port Glasgow constituency was 701. In January 1985, the figure was 689.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those projects in the Glasgow area which the Scottish Development Agency is to abandon because of funding difficulties.

[pursuant to his reply, 10 March 1986, c. 372]: Although a number of projects in Glasgow originally planned for 1986–87 are likely to be deferred to future years, the agency does not propose to abandon any projects.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of the further measures intended to open up the internal market within the Community listed in the 1986 presiding action programme have been adopted so far in 1986.

Over 100 measures are identified in the programme as candidates for adoption in 1986, building on action last year to tackle barriers to intra-Community trade. Substantial progress has already been made on a number of them.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what detailed steps he takes to ensure that the British Overseas Trade Board's services are of particular relevance to smaller exporting businesses.