asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Commonwealth Development Corporation has been authorised to extend its area of operations; and if he will make a statement.

I have decided to give approval to CDC undertaking activities in India. This is subject to consultation between CDC and my Department on the scale and content of CDC's intended investment programme in that country.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much was spent per pupil at primary schools in England in each year since 1978–79; and what are the comparable figures for primary schools in Staffordshire.

The information is as follows:

Net Institutional Expenditure per Primary Pupil. £(1984–85 prices) (1)
	England	Staffordshire
1978–79	650	655
1979–80	655	655
1980–81	700	710
1981–82	725	745
1982–83	740	760
1983–84	760	790
1984–85	765	775

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will introduce legislation to prohibit the offering of writing essays and theses for students for payment; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to introduce such legislation. It is for the institutions that award degrees and other qualifications to satisfy themselves that the essays and theses they assess are the work of the students concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the latest available figures for the rate of drop out for students on first degree courses at universities, for each year of the course, and give the comparable figures for 1965.

The most recently available information was given in my reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton North-East (Mrs. Short) on 9 December 1985 at columns 449–50.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list those local education authorities which have refused to co-operate in the introduction of the general certificate of secondary education.

No local education authority has made representations to the Department to this effect.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science with reference to his answer of 20 January, Official Report, columns 66–68, publishing a table comprising two measures of student support in the United Kingdom and elsewhere for 1982, if he will publish a table relating to the years 1983, 1984 and 1985; and if he will make a statement.

Figures for the United Kingdom for 1983 are as follows, but are not yet available for 1984 and 1985. No further information is available yet for other countries.

United Kingdom
Student support averaged over all students 1983	Student support as a percenage of GNP 1983
1,459*	0·25
†921	—
* Based on full-time home students.
† Based on full-time and part-time home students.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consultations he has had with the Professional Association of Teachers about the steps he is taking to amend the teachers' superannuation scheme to provide for equality of benefits and contributions for male and female teachers, as announced on 17 March, Official Report, columns 3–4.

None. Consultation has taken place within the teachers' superannuation working party, on which PAT is not represented. Union representation in the working party is a matter for the teachers' panel and PAT may wish to approach it on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will ask Her Majesty's inspectors to investigate the implications for educational efficiency of the current shortage of nursery and infant teachers in the London borough of Newham; and if he will make a statement.

The Government are aware that some local education authorities have had difficulties recently in recruiting enough teachers to meet the particular needs of nursery and infant pupils. An expansion of the primary training system was begun in 1982 in anticipation of the upturn in the total primary population due this year, and we have sought to encourage more of those new students to specialise in the teaching of younger pupils. Recent information suggests that the supply of such specialists should now be increasing nationally although I accept that in some areas additional local initiatives may be necessary in order to boost supply.The programme of work of Her Majesty's inspectorate is for it to determine, taking into account its own judgments about national and local inspection needs, its responsibility to advise the holder of my office, and others, on the health of theeducation system generally, and the many calls upon its manpower and time. I do not seek directly to intervene in the drawing up of the inspection programme. I have, however, brought the hon. Member's concerns to the attention of the senior chief inspector.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will ask Her Majesty's inspectors to conduct an investigation into the implications for educational standards and efficiency at Nelson junior school, Newham, of the current shortage of teachers; and if he will make a statement.

I have received a complaint under sections 68 and 99 of the Education Act 1944 about staffing problems at the school. This is being followed up in the normal way by the Department. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as the investigations are completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to increase the London allowance for teachers; and if he will make a statement.

London allowances are negotiated in the Burnham committees. To date, no claim has been made in either the primary and secondary or the further education committee for an increase in London allowances with effect from 1 April 1985. I have no power to change the London allowance for teachers other than as may be agreed in the Burnham committees.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to reinstate primary teacher training at the North-East London polytechnic; and if he will make a statement.

The allocations of intakes to initial teacher training courses at public sector institutions for 1987–89 are being reviewed by the Department. My right hon. Friend has no plans to allocate places to institutions which no longer admit students to initial teacher training and which have given no indication that they wish to do so. He has received no proposals from North-East London polytechnic.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his policy towards the release of information, if asked for, which is supplied by local education authorities concerning school closures upon which his decision is required.

My right hon. Friend's policy on this matter is set out in paragraph 15 of administrative memorandum 4/84, a copy of which is available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make it his practice to give reasons for his decision regarding the closure of schools.

It is the Secretary of State's policy to give his reason whenever he rejects proposals made under sections 12 to 15 of the Education Act 1980. It is not his practice to give reasons for approving proposals, but it is implicit in such a decision that he has concluded that the case put forward by the proposers outweighs that made out by objectors. He has no plans to change these arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average annual cost to his Department of an assisted places secondary school place for the academic year 1985–86; and how this compares with the average annual capitation for a maintained sector secondary school place.

The estimated average cost of an assisted place in the academic year 1985–86 is £1,600. The latest available figure for the average net expenditure per maintained secondary school pupil relates to the 1984–85 financial year, and is £1,273.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assessment has been made with regard to the costs and employment consequences of the possible amalgamation of the Royal Greenwich Observatory and the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh on the Blackford Hill site in Edinburgh; whether further analysis on the merits of this proposal are planned; and if he will make a statement.

The Science and Engineering Research Council is investigating in detail the merits and practicalities of moving the Royal Greenwich Observatory from its existing site at Herstmonceux to the Royal Observatory Edinburgh site at Blackford Hill, along with similar detailed studies of the implications of moving it to the campuses of Cambridge or Manchester universities. These studies will include a consideration of the costs and employment consequences.The council has already stated that the move must be self-financing over five years and each of the three options is expected to meet this criterion. The council expects to resolve the issue at its meeting in June.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of staff employed by (a) the Agricultural and Food Research Council, (b) the Economic and Social Research Council, (c) the Medical Research Council, (d) the Natural Environment Research Council and (e) the Science and Engineering Council in 1979 and 1985, respectively.

The information requested is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the recent discussions between the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Pudsey (Mr. Shaw), and members of the Carmarthen district council, following the escalation of the original estimated costs, on the financial support given by his Department to the construction of an emergency control centre by that council.

I met members of Carmarthen district council on 3 March to discuss the construction of an emergency centre at Carmarthen, which has been delayed by a continuing series of demonstrations. I welcomed their determination to fulfil their statutory civil defence duties in the face of very difficult circumstances. Civil defence grant aid at the normal rate of 75 per cent. will be paid on the capital costs of the construction of the centre and on the cost of the security measures that have been necessary to ensure that the work can be completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many criminal injuries have been recorded relating to teachers in maintained schools in England and Wales in each of the years of the most recent five-yearly period for which statistics are available;(2) how many convictions have been secured before the courts in England and Wales relating to criminal injuries to teachers in maintained schools in England and Wales, in each of the years in the most recent five-yearly period for which figures are available.

Information in the form requested is not collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what items of hardware to enhance the Metropolitan police C department computer it is proposed to purchase over the next year; at what estimated cost; and to what purpose they will be put.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that he is presently negotiating with suppliers for the supply of equipment for the specialist operations (previously 'C') department computer to maintain the operational reliability of the system and to allow some additional terminals to be connected to it. He is not prepared to give an estimate of costs while negotiations are continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) why he has not yet replied to the letter of 6 November 1985 from the hon. Member for Woolwich on behalf of Mr. Alan Parker, currently in Her Majesty's prison, Maidstone; and when he now expects to provide a substantive reply;(2) in what circumstances inmates of Her Majesty's prisons are allowed to have their photopgraphs taken at their own expense; and why such facilities have been denied Mr. Alan Parker at Her Majesty's prison, Maidstone.

Present policy is not to allow applications by inmates to have their photographs taken to send outside prison, save in exceptional compassionate circumstances, for example where a relative is unable to visit because of infirmity, disability or residence overseas. We have recently commenced a review of this policy but it is too early to say what the outcome will be.My noble Friend has written to the hon. Member about the case of Mr. Alan Parker.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date he intends to lay a Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order before Parliament.

The date is not yet settled, but we hope to lay the order soon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if there are any proposals to relax the current requirements at the Dagenham fire station that staffing levels should be maintained on all occasions.

None of which I am aware.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the audit review of the London Fire Brigade covered matters such as fire-fighter staffing, fire appliances and fire stations.

I understand that the audit of the London fire brigade concentrated on staffing arrangements at divisional and brigade headquarters.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the terms of any review and the composition of any review body, currently or recently set up, to conduct a review of firefighters, fire appliances and fire stations in the London Fire Brigade.

My right hon. Friend has not appointed and does not know of any such review, apart from that of the Audit Commission. The brigade will undergo the usual annual inspection by Her Majesty's inspectorate of fire services, which will advise on aspects of effectiveness and efficiency.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he is making to inform the public of the tribunal established under the Interception of Communications Act; and why his Department's information section refuses to answer questions over the telephone from members of the public about telephone tapping.

A leaflet is available from my Department and from the office of the interception of communications tribunal explaining the remedies under the Act and describing the procedure for applying to the tribunal. Copies will be distributed to citizens advice bureaux as soon as possible. I have taken part in a broadcast on the subject. The staff of my Department will so far as possible answer over the telephone general inquiries about the operation of the Act. Applications for investigation by the tribunal must, however, be made in writing. The tribunal's address is PO Box 44, London SE1 OTX (telephone 01–921 1277).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has received or sought, from chief constables in England and Wales and from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to enable him to quantify the effect of the Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol) Act 1985 on violence and crowd disturbances at football matches; and if he will make a statement.

Chief officers of police believe that the Act is helping to maintain order at football grounds, but is is not possible to separate its effect from the other measures taken, including for example the extension of closed circuit television. As my right hon. Friend said in reply to a question following his statement to the House on the Popplewell report on 16 January at column 1232, the number of arrests and ejections from football grounds in the earlier part of the season was much reduced. Together with the football authorities, the Government remain determined to tackle the problem of football hooliganism, and further legislative steps are being taken in the Public Order Bill now before Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state for each police force area in England and Wales the number of persons (a) charged with and (b) convicted of offences.

The available information for persons proceeded against for indictable offences and persons found guilty is published by police force area in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales Supplementary Tables, 1984, Volume 3". Table 3·3(A) for magistrates' courts and table 3·5(A) for the Crown court.

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 (a) how many police officers were deployed at or near the News International plant at Wapping on the night of 6 April and (b) the cost of the police operations at Wapping so far.

I understand from the Commissioner that 1,870 officers were deployed at Wapping on the evening of 6 April. Information regarding the total cost of the police operation to date is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many police officers from Newham stations were on duty in connection with the News International dispute at Wapping on 29 and 30 March;(2) how many police officers were on duty in Newham on the night of 29 March; and what is the normal night-time complement;(3) how many police officers from Newham stations have been on duty at Wapping in connection with the News International dispute each week since the dispute began.

The numbers of officers stationed in the London borough of Newham who have been deployed at the News International plant at Wapping during the period of the current dispute are as follows. More recent figures are not yet available.

Week beginning	Number of Newham officers deployed*
25 January 1986	208
1 February 1986	176
8 February 1986	192
15 February 1986	251
22 February 1986	211
1 March 1986	190
8 March 1986	230
15 March 1986	199
22 March 1986	219
29 March 1986	186
* Expressed as man days.

The numbers of officers from Newham deployed at the News International plant on 29 and 30 March were 34 and 32 respectively.There were 43 officers on duty in Newham on the night of 29 March. The usual deployment is 48.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the freeze on new applications from local authorities for grants under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966, following his Department's letter to local authorities, dated 26 March.

Following a general administrative review of posts funded under section 11, local authorities were informed on 26 March 1986 of my right hon. Friend's intention to introduce revised guidelines for the administration of section 11 grant. A draft circular incorporating the proposed new guidelines has been sent to the local authority associations and to some other bodies for comment. The substantial number of applications which were current on 24 March will continue to be considered under the existing guidelines, but my right hon. Friend has decided that, unless there are exceptional pressing circumstances, all new applications must be considered in accordance with the new guidelines, which we hope will be in place by the early autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) pursuant to his reply of 27 March, for each year listed, how many successful civil actions against the Metropolitan police resulted in damages being awarded by the courts;(2) pursuant to his reply of 27 March how many police officers were involved in the successful civil actions against the Commissioner in each of the years listed;(3) pursuant to his reply of 27 March, how many of the 817 cases for damages against the Metropolitan police are still pending; and if he will list them by year.

I will reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average number of days in 1985 spent on remand for prisoners charged with terrorist-type activities.

The only information which is readily available relates to prisoners who are currently in prison custody in England and Wales in category A. It does not cover prisoners who have been released or downgraded.Twenty such prisoners spent periods in prison during 1985 on remand charged with terrorist-type offences and the average of those periods of time was 128 days. Some of the prisoners were first remanded in custody prior to 1 January 1985 and others remained in custody awaiting trial after 31 December 1985.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were transferred from (a) England and Wales to Northern Ireland and (b) Northern Ireland to England and Wales in 1985; and under which section of the Criminal Justice Act 1961 such transfers were carried out.

As explained in my letter of 17 March to the hon. Member, a copy of which has been placed in the Library, the reply which I gave to his question on 27 January at column 193, was, unfortunately, incorrect in one respect. The correct information is that five prisoners were transferred from England and Wales to Northern Ireland in 1985, two of them on more than one occasion. Four of these seven transfers were under section 26 of the Criminal Justice Act 1961 (permanent transfer); one was under section 27 (temporary transfer); and two were under section 29 (transfer for judicial purposes). One prisoner (not none, as stated in the previous reply) was transferred from Northern Ireland to England and Wales under section 27, his transfer having been authorised in 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will detail the pay rises for both police officers and prison officers over the last five years.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the ratio of prison officers to prisoners at each penal establishment over the last five years.

The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the present conditions in Her Majesty's prisons.

While many training establishments provide reasonable conditions and a full regime, the quality of life in local prisons and some remand centres is less satisfactory, and the Government are giving them priority. The current prison building programme, the largest this century, will provide 11,700 new places by the early 1990s in existing and new establishments. Additionally, we are undertaking extensive modernisation and refurbishment at about 100 establishments, including almost all the Victorian prisons. Some of the work has already been completed and has made a significant impact.Since 1979, the number of prison officers has been increased by 18 per cent., compared with a rise of about 10 per cent. in inmate numbers, and further expansion of the prison service is planned. We have to ensure effective use of the resources which we already have and we are studying prison officer attendance systems and court escorting to see whether efficiency can be improved.Both regimes and physical conditions will benefit substantially from this programme of work over the next few years. The Government are committed to the goal of eliminating overcrowding and will keep the building programme under review in the light of long-term projections of the prison population.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department at what time the Metropolitan police were informed of the stabbing incident near the junction of Terrace road and Pelly road, Plaistow E13 on 30 March; and at what time police officers arrived at the scene.

I understand from the Commissioner that a 999 call was received at Scotland Yard at 3.9 am on 30 March. On the arrival of police officers at the scene, there was no trace of the informant or of any victim. As there was no incident to investigate, the time of arrival was not recorded. An injured man was later interviewed by police officers at Newham general hospital but declined to provide any explanation of his injuries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will detail and make available the recent plans his Department has drawn up concerning the formation of civil defence groups in the event of a nuclear war.

It is the responsibility of local authorities to make plans for the protection of the population in their area in the event of war. The Government's advice to them is set out in "Emergency Planning Guidance to Local Authorities", a copy of which is in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the value of furniture (a) exported and (b) imported in constant terms in each of the years 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980 and 1985, respectively.

The information requested is not available prior to 1963. Information for the remaining years is as follows:

Trade in Furniture* at Constant (1980) Prices
OTS basis £ million
	Exports	Imports
1965	58	n/a
1970	74	49
1975	161	155
1980	239	283
1985	249	474
* SITC(R2) Division 82.
n/a=not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to give further publicity to the provisions in the Insolvency Act 1985 relating to the disqualification and personal liability of directors.

I am issuing a leaflet which will explain to directors the implications for them of the new disqualification and personal liability provisions which will come into force on 28 April. I have arranged for copies of the leaflet to be placed in the Library and copies will also be obtainable from insolvency service branch 2. room 124, 2.14 Bunhill row, London EC1Y 8LL.My Department will be sending all practitioners who are known to undertake insolvency work regularly guidance notes to assist them to carry out their reporting duties under chapter 1 of part II of the Insolvency Act 1985. Any insolvency office holder who has not received a copy of the guidance notes by 28 April should apply for a copy from Insolvency Service, room 609, 6th Floor, Companies House, 55/71 City road, London EC1Y 1BV.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is satisfied with the level of trade between the United Kingdom and South Korea; and if he will make a statement.

Bilateral trade betwen the United Kingdom and the republic of Korea reached £728 million in 1985, having risen by 110 per cent. in volume since 1980. I hope to see our exports grow rapidly to offset the continuing imbalance in the republic of Korea's favour, and am encouraging British industry to seize the considerable opportunities offered by that market.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if there are any plans to increase trade between the United Kingdom and North Korea; and if he will make a statement.

The United Kingdom has no governmental trade links with North Korea. Some British companies do business with that market, but the level of trade remains small.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from Comitextil, the European textile industry's committee, on fears for the future of the multi-fibre arrangement and the danger of a fresh surge of cheap textile imports from Third-world producers as a result of increased restrictions by the United States of America; and if he will make a statement.

I receive regular representations from the British Textile Confederation on all aspects of the multi-fibre arrangement. The BTC represents the United Kingdom industry in Comitextil and from time to time brings its collective views to my attention.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the figures of textile imports to and exports from the United Kingdom for the last financial years and for 1984–85, giving separate figures where available for cotton and wool textiles, carpets and carpet fibres.

The information requested for financial years cannot be provided within acceptable cost limits. Information for calendar years is as follows:-

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when a proposal to allow a free market in insurance was last considered by the Council of Ministers; and what was the decision then taken by the Council.

A number of directives in the insurance field have already been approved by the Council of Ministers, the most recent being the tourist assistance directive approved on 10 December 1984. Generally, the effect of these directives has been to create a free market for reinsurance and freedom of establishment for both life and non-life insurers. Proposals for a non-life insurance services directive have been submitted by the Commission to the Council of Ministers, and were last considered on 10 December 1984. The Council agreed that discussion of the directive should be energetically pursued with the aim of reaching an early agreement, but discussion was subsequently suspended pending the outcome of the four insurance cases brought by the Commission before the European Court of Justice.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what representations he has received from the banking institutions regarding the insurance salesmen registration proposals; what response he has made; and if he will make a statement;(2) what representations he has received from the building societies regarding the insurance salesmen resgistration proposals; what reponse he has made; and if he will make a statement;(3) what representations he has received from insurance companies regarding the insurance salesmen registration proposals; what response he has made; and if he will make a statement.

I have received 31 representations, including those from building societies, banking institutions and insurance companies, in response to my request for comments on proposals by the Marketing Of Investment Board Organising Committee and the Securities and Investments Board contained in their document "The Financial Services Bill and the regulation of individuals". I am considering these representations and will make a statement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, when he next meets the chairman of the Post Office, he will raise the matter of the Post Office's continued use or old county boundary names in postal addresses.

No, this is an operational question for the Post Office board.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to abolish the arrangements whereby the Export Credits Guarantee Department requires that an organisation using its services undertakes to use those services for the totality of its export credit insurance; and if he will make a statement.

Under its comprehensive facilities, ECGD does not necessarily require an exporter to insure all his business as a pre-condition of obtaining its cover and support. The Department looks for a reasonable spread of business which presents an insurable proposition and is willing to consider insuring only a proportion of an exporter's total transactions. The range of business required to be covered is settled in individual negotiations between exporters and the ECGD when policies are taken out. For project business and for sales of capital goods on extended credit, the Department is prepared to insure individual transactions subject to it having cover available and the terms and conditions proposed being acceptable.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he is taking to review the intellectual property system in the United Kingdom.

I intend to lay before the House tomorrow a White Paper "Intellectual Property and Innovation". This will set out the Government's response to the recommendations made by Sir Robin Nicholson in the Green Paper "Intellectual Property Rights and Innovation" (Cmnd 9117) published in 1983. It will also outline our proposals for the reform of copyright law.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what account he is taking of the ownership of J. C. Bamford by Transmission and Engineering Services BV, Netherlands, in his consideration of that company's bid for Land Rover.

I shall consider each offer on its merits, in the light of the BL board's recommendations and the considerations outlined in my statements to the House.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if, in the light of the recent reduction in petrol prices, he as any plans to bring forward proposals to reduce hon. Members' mileage allowances; and if he will make a statement.

In accordance with the resolution of the House of 20 July 1984, the rates of hon. Members' car mileage allowance are calculated with effect from 1 April on the basis of the Royal Automobile Club's schedule of estimated vehicle running costs which is published in or around April each year.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what consultations he intends pursuing before extending a security fence around the Palace of Westminister.

Following the recommendations by the security authorities of both Houses for further railings around the perimeter of the Palace of Westminster, the Property Services Agency has been preparing design proposals. These will be considered shortly by the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee. The Property Services Agency will also be consulting the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission, the Royal Fine Arts Commission and the Westminister City Council. In the light of the views expressed, the House of Commons (Services) Committee will then make recommendations before any final decisions are taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many motor vehicles have been stolen from the grounds of the Royal Victoria hospital, Belfast, in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

The information requested is as follows:

	Number
1983	37
1984	49
1985	114

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of the vehicles stolen from the Royal Victoria hospital, Belfast, over the past three years belonged to staff employed there.

The information requested is as follows:

	Number
1983	19
1984	27
1985	54

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take steps immediately to introduce more effective security measures at the Royal Victoria hospital, Belfast, to ensure that all vehicles entering the hospital grounds are checked on entering and leaving in a proper manner.

Security arrangements at the Royal Victoria hospital are essentially a matter for the Eastern Health and Social Services Board. The board is currently reviewing security at the hospital and steps will be taken to improve existing arrangements where this is considered necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has as to which district councils in Northern Ireland are now functioning normally; which are not, and to what extent; and if he will make a statement.

Of the 26 district councils, eight are functioning normally. The remaining 18 district councils are continuing to suspend or adjourn council meetings. There is no indication that this action has affected the delivery of essential services. The Government are monitoring the situation closely and will take such action as is necessary to ensure that essential services are maintained.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if, in the light of the disruption of certain district councils, he will take steps to ensure that payments in support of voluntary bodies concerned with social welfare are continued; and if he will make a statement:

The Government are aware of the problems faced by a number of voluntary bodies. While payments to these bodies are a matter for the district councils concerned, the Government are keeping the situation under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many formal complaints have been made about incidents of police use of plastic baton rounds in 1985 and the current year to date; in how many cases the complaint has been upheld; and in how many cases disciplinary action has been taken against the officers involved.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish in the Official Report the number of persons who were initially detained under other Acts and were subsequently charged under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts in 1985, by each quarter.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was (a) the average number of days spend on remand for both scheduled and non-scheduled offences together in 1985, (b) the total number of persons remanded in custody before trial for both scheduled and non-scheduled offences together in 1985, and (c) the number of bail applications refused for (i) scheduled, (ii) non-scheduled and (iii) both offences together in 1985.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the figures for 1985 of the number of persons proceeded against for scheduled offences in Northern Ireland; how many persons pleaded guilty to the principal offence; and how many persons in such contested cases were found not guilty of the principal offence.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list, by location, those parades in Northern Ireland during the Easter adjournment which (a) took place in contravention of a ban and (b) took place without the necessary statutory notice being served on the police; at which of these parades firearms were seen to be in the possession of civilians; how many plastic bullets were fired by the Royal Ulster Constabulary at each of these parades; and if he will identify which of these parades were Loyalist and which Republican.

I shall reply to the right hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many legally held firearms were stolen in Northern Ireland during 1985 from the Special Constabulary, giving a breakdown of weapons stolen.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what criteria are used to establish which Ministers in his Department take part in radio and television programmes relating to current Government policy towards the Anglo-Irish agreement; and how many Ministers in his Department have taken part in such programmes in the last three weeks and how frequently.

[pursuant to his reply, 10 April 1986]: In the three weeks ended 8 April 1986 Northern Ireland Office Ministers gave 37 television or radio interviews related directly or indirectly to the Anglo-Irish agreement. Requests to take part in such programmes are considered on their merits.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hillsborough (Mr. Flannery) of 9 April, he will list the countries in respect of which he is (a) willing and (b) unwilling to answer parliamentary questions about the numbers of soldiers or officers at present receiving training in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

A list of those countries whose nationals receive military training in the United Kingdom was given in my reply to the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick) on 27 March.We do not normally reveal the details of the numbers of trainees or types of courses offered to individual countries as these details are regarded as confidential between ourselves and the recipient Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by what means he proposes to obtain the ratification by the Parliament of the United Kingdom of those titles of the "Single European Act", Cmnd. 9758, not named in clause 1 of the European Communities (Amendment) Bill.

The authority to ratify a treaty is vested in my right hon. and learned Friend as the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. In accordance with the practice known as the "Ponsonby rule", the Single European Act has been laid before Parliament in the form of a Command Paper (Cmnd. 9758). The House will have a full opportunity to debate the Single European Act as a whole when considering the European Communities (Amendment) Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the question of the peaceful reunification of Korea was discussed at his recent meeting with President Chun; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. Reunification was amongst the subjects discussed during the recent visit of President Chun Doo Hwan. We hope that the dialogue between the Koreans will resume soon following the suspension of contacts by North Korea earlier this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the present policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the peaceful re-unification of Korea.

Our policy is to support progress towards reunification by means of direct dialogue between the Koreans.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Government of South Korea on their record on human rights.

The recent visit of President Chun Doo Hwan has provided opportunities to express our support for progress in the development of personal freedoms in the Republic of Korea.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government had any observers at the team spirit manoeuvres in South Korea.

Our Defence attaché at Seoul observes the team spirit exercises as part of the normal duties of such an appointment.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government have any plans to recognise the Government of North Korea; and if he will make a statement.

We have no plans to recognise North Korea.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will list in the Official Report those countries whose Governments are not recognised by Her Majesty's Government;(2) if he will list the countries with which Her Majesty's Government do not maintain diplomatic relations.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Renton) gave to the right hon. Member for Strangford (Mr. Taylor) on 19 June 1985 at column 151.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will respond to the representations made by the Hong Kong Legislative Council before the Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order is laid before Parliament.

The representations made by the Hong Kong Legislative Council are being given careful consideration. The timing of the announcement of eventual decisions will involve several factors, among them the programme for the order, which will depend on the parliamentary timetable. This has yet to be arranged through the usual channels.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Soviet Embassy concerning the case of Irina Ratushinskaya, currently being held in a Soviet labour camp.

We regularly make clear to the Soviet authorities our concern for human rights and that those imprisoned for their political or religious beliefs should be released. The case of Irina Ratushinskaya was raised by my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind) then Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, during his talks with Deputy Foreign Minister Kornienko last year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the European Economic Community is committed to implementation of the United Kingdom's budgetary abatement in full, whether or not any supplementary budget is agreed.

The European Community is under an obligation, under the new own resources decision, which has treaty status, to implement the United Kingdom budgetary abatement in full. On the basis of estimates of the United Kingdom's entitlement, provision for the abatement is made in the Community budget for the year following that for which the abatement is due. We are this year already receiving an abatement of £830 million in respect of 1985. A correction to the main abatement falls to be made if outturn figures differ from the earlier estimates.On the basis of the outturn figures for 1985, the Commission has calculated that an additional sum is due to the United Kingdom. The revenue correction through which our abatement is made is written into the Community budget. The Commission has said that it will make provision for the additional abatement at the earliest opportunity, that is, in the supplementary budget it plans to bring forward shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has anything to add to the reply given to the hon. Member for Northampton, North on 14 February, Official Report, column 589, relating to representations to the Soviet Government about Soviet dissidents.

I regret that, due to an error, the list was incomplete. Representations were also made to the Soviet Union on behalf of Valeri Barinov and Alexandr Kholmiansky. The number of Jewish cases given in the final sentence is correct for the list as amended.

asked the Attorney-General when he expects to receive the report from the Director of Public Prosecutions about the allegations relating to honours for Alan Bristow over Westlands.

The Metropolitan police will submit a report to the Director of Public Prosecutions at the conclusion of their inquiry. It is too soon to say how long the inquiry will take.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of the schools in Wales have been modified or adapted since the passing of the Education Act 1981 in order to assist handicapped pupils.

This information is not collected by the Department.

	Numbers*
	At Primary and Secondary schools‡	At Special schools║	Total	Total numbers as a percentage of all pupils in maintained primary, secondary and special schools†
Clwyd	315	910	1,225	1·7
Dyfed	41	443	484	0·9
Gwent	933	732	1,665	2·2
Gwynedd	591	345	936	2·3
Mid Glamorgan	2,762	1,144	3,906	4·0
Powys	62	165	227	1·2
South Glamorgan	494	667	1,161	1·8
West Glamorgan	1,497	455	1,952	3·1
* Numbers relate to children for whom the authorities are maintaining or will be maintaining a statement and who receive special education at schools within or outside the Authority.
† Numbers expressed as a percentage of all pupils educated at schools within the Authority.
‡ Including children awaiting placements in special schools.
║ Including special units.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the number of children whose education is governed by statements under the provision of the Education Act 1981 as a proportion of the total school population of each local education authority in Wales.

The latest information relating to January 1985, is listed in the following table:

Children subject to statements receiving special education
	Numbers*	Numbers as a percentage of all pupils in all schools Numbers†
Clwyd	1,289	1·8
Dyfed	497	0·9
Gwent	1,722	2·2
Gwynedd	969	2·3
Mid Glamorgan	3,988	4·0
Powys	232	1·2
South Glamorgan	1,170	1·7
West Glamorgan	1,968	3·1
* Numbers relate to children for whom the authorities are maintaining or will be maintaining a statement and who received special education at maintained or independent schools within or outside the authority, or at home.
† The numbers include those awaiting placement in special schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his policy towards the provision of a first-year entry for initial teacher training at Cartrefle

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the number and proportion of children whose education is governed by statements under the provision of the Education Act 1981 (a) in maintained primary and secondary schools, (b) in special schools, in each local education authority in Wales.

The available information as at January 1985, is listed in the following table:-college in September, in the light of the current deliberations of the Welsh Advisory Body for Further and Higher Education.

In September 1986 the North-East Wales institute of higher education has a target of 85 primary and 25 secondary students for the first year of initial teacher training. Students entering these courses are assured of being able to complete their course of study. A decision on the intake in 1987 will be taken as soon as possible in the light of further advice from the Wales Advisory Body.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he received a report on the loss of a small radioactive phial from University college, Swansea, in November 1985; and if he will make a statement on the circumstances which led to the loss and on the steps taken to ensure no recurrence.

The loss of the radioactive source was first reported to the Department on 22 November 1985. Following our request for more detailed information of the circumstances of the loss, a full and confidential report by the chairman of the university's health and safety committee was received on 13 March 1986 and this is currently being given urgent consideration. I will write to the right hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the subjects for which draft general certificate of secondary education syllabuses have been submitted by the Welsh Joint Education Council to the Secondary Examinations Council.

I am informed by the Secondary Examinations Council that draft GCSE syllabuses have been submitted by the WJEC in the following subjects:

• Art & Design (6)
• Classical Subjects (3)
• Computer Studies (1)
• French (1)
• Home Economics (4)
• Physics (1)
• Welsh-First Language (1)
• Biology (2)
• CDT (3)
• Economics (1)
• Geography (2)
• Mathematics (1)
• Religious Studies (1)
• Welsh Literature (1)
• Business Studies (1)
• Chemistry (1)
• English Language (1)
• History (1)
• Music (1)
• Sciences (3)
• Welsh-Foundation (1)

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the subjects for which syllabuses submitted by the Welsh Joint Education Council have been approved by the Secondary Examinations Council.

I am informed by the Secondary Examinations Council that it has approved GCSE syllabuses from the WJEC in the following subjects:

• Art & Design
• Classical Subjects
• English Language
• Mathematics
• Welsh (First Language)
• Biology
• Computer Studies
• Geography
• Religious Studies
• CDT
• Economics
• Home Economics
• Sciences

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the subjects whose general certificate of secondary education syallabuses have been received in schools in Wales.

The substantial progress which has been made with GCSE syllabus approval has enabled the WJEC to begin their distribution to local education authorities for onward transmission to secondary schools. Syllabuses, in final form, have already been sent to local education authorities in geography, music, biology, economics, English, history, Latin, classical civilisation, rural science, and physical education. The urgency of this task is fully appreciated by the WJEC and the local education authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the subjects for which draft general certificate of secondary education syllabuses are still to be submitted by the Welsh Joint Education Council to the Secondary Examinations Councils.

I am informed by the Secondary Examinations Council that it expects shortly to receive draft GCSE syllabuses from the WJEC in the following subjects:

• English Literature
• Sciences
• Welsh-Extended

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has of the cost per pupil per subject for books and equipment needed for the teaching of the new courses involved in preparing for the general certificate of secondary education.

It is for local education authorities to provide resources for the delivery of the curriculum in their schools, including a provision for GCSE courses. The Government have undertaken to supplement secondary school capitation allowances during the first GCSE courses through the education support grant mechanism.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list by local education authority the names of subjects for which training sessions have been held in Wales together with the number of teachers attending each session;(2) if he will list the number of training sessions for the implementation of the general certificate of secondary education which have been held in each local education authority in Wales.

The following details have been provided by the WJEC who have informed me that attendance levels at seminars held to date have been variable:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of the Government's estimate of newly created job opportunities in Wales is based on statistical projections; and how accurate such projections have been since 1979.

The Government do not make estimates of newly created job opportunities; the available statistics enable estimates to be made of the net change in the number of people in work but not the underlying gross numbers of jobs created or lost.

asked the Paymaster General what study he has made of the geographical balance in the distribution of local enterprise agencies.

From the records my Department holds on local enterprise agencies, we are aware of their geographical spread throughout the country. These records show the following distribution in the number of local enterprise agencies:

	Number
South West	25
South East	60
London	38
Midlands	31
North West	57
North East	22
Yorkshire and Humberside	18
Scotland	35
Wales	12
Northern Ireland	34

asked the Paymaster General how business failures in England and Wales in 1985 compare with the figures for 1984; and how this compares with the record of the United Kingdom's major European competitors.

Estimates of the number of business failures in England and Wales in 1985 are not yet available. There are severe difficulties in the way of making meaningful comparisons of such estimates between countries.

asked the Paymaster General how many injuries or fatalities involving young people employed on the YTS have been reported in the last year for which figures are available.

Information is not available in the precise form requested as separate details of employed and non-employed trainees are not held. Following are the details of accidents to YTS trainees for the period 1 January 1985 to 31 December 1985, the latest available date.

Accidents* and injuries for the period 1 January 1985 to 31 December 1985
	Number
Fatalities	†4
Major injuries	‡201
Minor injuries	1,885
Total	2,090
* MSC accident figures for the YTS have been compiled on a similar basis to those prepared by the Health and Safety Executive on employed persons. However, the Commission's figures will include a number of accidents during scheme time and accidents to trainees in educational establishments which may not have been reportable to the Health and Safety Executive had the individuals been employed.
† This figure includes one road traffic accident.
‡ Major injuries are classified according to the severity criteria laid down in the Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1980 (NADOR).