asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will publish in the Official Report the area in square feet of the Scottish Office in Whitehall;(2) if he will publish in the

The area of my Department's Whitehall office is 25,192 sq ft gross and at 1 April 1986 43 people were based there.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell), Official Report, 27 February, column 664, how he intends to consult students whose student unions are not affiliated to the National Union of Students on the recommendations of the Scottish Tertiary Education Advisory Committee for the future funding of Scottish universities.

Student unions which are not affiliated to the National Union of Students, or which for other reasons wished to respond independently to the open invitation from my right hon. Friend the member for Ayr in his statement of 9 December 1985, at column 460, were free to do so. A number did respond by 27 March, but further comments could still be considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotlnd what is the proposed budget for the Scottish Development Agency in each year from 1986–87 to 1988–89.

For information on the agency's proposed budget for 1986–87 I refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave the hon. Member for Glasgow, Shettleston (Mr. Marshall) on 20 March 1986, at columns 141–42. Decisions have not yet been taken on the agency's budget for 1987–88 and 1988–89. Information on the overall net provision for the agency and the Highlands and Islands Development Board is contained in the Scottish Office's commentary on the Scotland programme of the 1986 public expenditure White Paper, Cmnd. 9702.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the validation of the cases of leukaemia in 0 to 24-year-olds occurring in Scotland between 1968 and 1981 is now complete; and if he will make a statement.

The validation of the Scottish figures given to the Black inquiry, appointed to investigate the possible raised incidence of cancer in west Cumbria, has now been completed. Validation was undertaken by teams of haematologists who reviewed the available notes, slides and other information on every known case of leukaemia in 0 to 24-year-olds in Scotland between 1968 and 1981. The results, which show virtually no change from the information given to the Black inquiry, are shown in the tables.My principal concern now is to put these figures in the context of a study of leukaemia clusters throughout Scotland being undertaken by the information services division of the Common Services Agency. This study, which is I believe the first of its kind, will use small area data to identify clusters. It should allow us to establish where and when clusters of leukaemia occur. The results of this new study, which will be published, will also be submitted to the Committee on the Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment.

asked the Attorney-General if cheques made out in the Welsh language by residents of Wales, payable to the county court or to the Lord Chancellor finance branch, are accepted by the Lord Chancellor's Department and by the courts in Wales.

Yes, subject to the normal checks required for confirmation to the collecting bank.

asked the Attorney-General if he will state the circumstances in which the arguments on which a judgment on appeal is based in the Court of Appeal (Civil Division) are recorded.

The Association of Shorthand Writers Ltd. records all proceedings before the Court of Appeal (Civil Division), including the submissions of counsel.

asked the Attorney-General if he will state the circumstances in which a transcript of the relevant proceedings of a judgment on appeal in the Court of Appeal (Civil Division) may be made available to the parties concerned.

Transcripts of the judgments given by the Court of Appeal (Civil Division) and of any orders made as to costs are held by the Supreme Court library and are available for public inspection free of charge. Transcripts of any part of the proceedings before the Court of Appeal (Civil Division) may be purchased by the parties from the Association of Shorthand Writers Ltd. on payment of the appropriate fee.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if, for each of the 39 motorway construction contracts announced by his Department for 1986–87, he will specify the total cost involved; and if he will also give the cumulative cost to public funds of the whole programme.

The information requested for each of the 39 contracts is set out in the table. The total cost of the 39 contracts is estimated at about £89 million. That includes six reserve schemes (numbers 34–39) estimated to cost about £6 million, which will proceed in 1986–87 if funds are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the proper number of pilots required in the Southampton and Isle of Wight district.

It is not for me to make such estimates. The most recent returns available for the Pilotage commission show a "proper or agreed number" of 56·46 on 31 December 1984 for the Isle of Wight pilotage district, which includes Southampton.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the proper number of pilots required in the United Kingdom.

The number of pilots required is at present a matter for the pilotage authorities. Following the proposed reorganisation of pilotage, the numbers required will be for the harbour authorities to decide in the light of decisions on future pilotage requirements. It is not for me to make estimates of commercial demand.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for the publication of a White Paper on marine pilotage.

It is too early to say whether there should be a White Paper before I bring forward new legislative proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many people were employed in the traffic commissioners' offices in each of the last five years.

The staff complements for the 11 traffic area offices covering Great Britain for each of the last five years were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the accident on the Central line underground on Tuesday 4 March as a consequence of preparation work for the new Hackney-M11 link road; and what arrangements are in hand to ensure that such accidents do not occur during the road construction phase.

Boreholes were being sunk to obtain soils information needed for the redesign of the proposed Green Man interchange announced last October. A drilling rod penetrated the lining of an Underground tunnel damaging two trains and causing slight injuries to the driver of the first. This most unfortunate incident resulted from an error in setting out the boreholes. The question of liability is being discussed with our consulting engineers and the contractor. Drilling will not restart adjacent to the tunnels until London Regional Transport is satisfied that it will be safe. Similar arrangements would also apply to any works during the road construction phase.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to the London boroughs which in their 1986–87 budgets have no plans or estimates to use powers under section 59 of the London Regional Transport Act 1984 to fund improved access facilities for the disabled at stations in their area.

I do not have this information, as it is a matter between the boroughs and the Railways Board what use is made of these powers. I understand that the board is exploring with London boroughs various possibilities for improving passenger facilities and I welcome this.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of flights from United Kingdom airports during (i) 1984 and (ii) 1985 were delayed (a) between two and four hours, (b) between four and eight hours, (c) between eight and 12 hours and (d) in excess of 12 hours; and if comparative statistics are maintained as to the delays attributable to each airline operating from the United Kingdom.

Information in the form requested is not available. In 1985, however, the departure pattern was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to review the existing legislative framework for air travellers who have experienced flight delays to obtain compensation; and if he will make a statement.

There are no plans to introduce specific statutory compensation for flight delays. Most airlines nevertheless offer compensation of some form to passengers suffering substantial delays.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the emergency procedures to be followed in the event of an accident involving a train or road vehicle carrying nuclear waste.

National regulations require anyone transporting radioactive materials, including nuclear waste, to make appropriate arrangements to give specialist assistance to the civil emergency services in the event of any accident.The police can also obtain emergency advice through the national arrangements for incidents involving radioactivity (NAIR) scheme which is co-ordinated by the National Radiological Protection Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if adequate supplies of MOT certificates are now available from the Goods Vehicle Centre in Swansea; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. Supplies of MOT certificates are available from the Goods Vehicle Centre in Swansea. Garages should apply by first-class post in the normal way.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if any further progress has been made towards developing a tamper-proof mechanism on fuel-injection equipment for heavy goods vehicles.

No. At present it still does not seem possible to overcome the practical problems for preventing tampering whilst at the same time permitting bona fide adjustments to be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the number of staff employed by (a) the British Airports Authority and (b) the Civil Aviation Authority in 1979 and 1985.

The British Airports Authority employed 7,298 staff in the year ended 31 March 1979, and 6,959 in the year ended 31 March 1985. The numbers of staff employed by the Civil Aviation Authority in the same periods were 7,471 and 6,824 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has received in relation to the British Nuclear Fuels report of the panel of investigation under the chairmanship of Mr. Donoghue on transport of flasks between Sellafield and CEGB power stations; what action he has taken as a result; and if he will make a statement.

This report, which records an internal meeting between BNFL and CEGB in 1983, has been copied to my Department. I understand that the recommendations made in it to minimise the contamination of fuel flasks have been implemented. My Department is being kept aware of the current situation.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what action he proposes to take to enable the House to express a view on the special report from the Trade and Industry Committee concerning the conduct as a witness before that Committee of Mr. Alan Bristow; and if he will make a statement.

None. The hon. Gentleman should however note that, further to its special report on Tuesday, the Trade and Industry Committee has now received a copy of a letter in which Mr. A. E. Bristow gives the answers to the questions put to him by that Committee (Votes and Proceedings for Wednesday 9 April, page 483.).

asked the Lord Privy Seal, pursuant to the answer of 20 March to the hon. Member for Leicester, East, Official Report, column 294, if he will initiate discussions about the installation of a House of Commons postmark facility under secure arrangements, at the south-west mechanised letter office; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 26 March 1986, c. 495]: I have asked that this matter be referred to the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee of the Services Committee.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement about the cost to public funds in bringing Abdul Haq to the United Kingdom as an official guest of Her Majesty's Government.

Abdul Haq was responsible for his own travel costs; Her Majesty's Government arranged his accommodation and programme in the United Kingdom.

asked the Prime Minister to which Department of state the board of directors of British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. is answerable.

The board of British Nuclear Fuels plc is answerable to the Secretary of State for Energy, who holds all the shares in the company with the exception of one held by the Treasury Solicitor as his nominee.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list in the Official Report all the uses to which plutonium is put.

Most of the plutonium produced in the United Kingdom is held in store for fast reactor use. Other uses include the fuelling of the prototype fast reactor at Dounreay and research into fast reactor and thermal reactor fuel. Plutonium is also produced as necessary by the military reactors at Calder Hall and Chapelcross, operated by BNFL, for defence purposes.

asked the Prime Minister if any plutonium produced by the reprocessing of spent fuel from any British civil reactor has ever been used in nuclear weapons programmes; and if she will make a statement.

No plutonium produced in civil reactors, in this country has been transferred to defence use or exported for such use during the period of this administration.

asked the Prime Minister what changes have been made in the composition of the United Kingdom delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

I have appointed the hon. Member for Isle of Wight (Mr. Ross) a Representative in place of the hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber (Sir R. Johnston). I have appointed the Lord Mackie of Benshie in the place of the hon. Member for Isle of Wight, who was previously a Substitute Member.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 15 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 15 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 15 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 15 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 15 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 15 April.

This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in this House I shall be having further meetings later today.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate last carried out a full survey of Wylfa and Trawsfynydd nuclear power stations.

The Nuclear Installations Inspectorate surveys the operation of nuclear power stations by a regular system of inspections, visits and meetings. The most recent for Wylfa was from 13 to 21 March, and for Trawsfynydd from 25 to 28 February 1986. Biennial reactor inspections took place at Wylfa reactor No 1. during July-September 1985 and at reactor No 2. during May-July 1984, and Trawsfynydd reactor No 1. during December 1985-February 1986 and reactor No 2. during October 1984-January 1985.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why the EEC Commission has agreed to sell butter to the Soviet Union at 10p per pound; how much butter was involved in the most recent sale; and why Her Majesty's Government agreed to the regulation which made such sales to the Soviet Union possible.

The Community currently has over 1 million tonnes of butter in store, of which about half is more than 18 months old. These stocks place a considerable financial burden on the Community and depress the world butter market.The Government have consistently taken the lead in arguing for measures to curb surplus production and bring supply and demand into better balance. But while surpluses continue to exist, the problem of their disposal remains.Several schemes already provide for butter to be sold at a reduced price within the Community. But there is a limit to the amount which can be sold in this way without disrupting sales of fresh butter and leading to a further growth in intervention stocks.Against this background, the most economical way of disposing of stocks is often to sell them on the world market. That is why we recently supported the introduction of a regulation enabling butter at least 18 months old to be sold to the USSR, Mongolia, India and Pakistan.The terms of this regulation provide for the price to be determined by competitive tender. In the first round of applications the Commission considered that the prices offered were too low and proposed the rejection of all bids. But in the second round (which closed on 8 April) the Commission considered that the prices were the best that could be realised given the state of the market. It therefore proposed that bids for 100,000 tonnes for sale to the USSR (including 11,000 tonnes from United Kingdom stocks) should be accepted. A majority of member states supported this decision, but the United Kingdom abstained. When account is taken of transport and other costs, including a margin for the trade, the price to the Soviet authorities will be about 13p per pound.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from farmers about the proposed Agricultural Development and Advisory Service charges for statutory work in connection with milk and dairies regulations.

[pursuant to his reply, 14 April 1986]: I have received a number of representations from and on behalf of dairy farmers opposed to the introduction of charges for the work done by our officials in connection with the enforcement of milk and dairies regulations. I recognise the concern that has been expressed, but I consider that charging is appropriate where the producer derives benefit from the work. It is clear that this applies in the case of milk where the high quality and reputation of the product helps to maintain consumption and thus benefits producer returns.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if there are any proposals to abolish compulsory dairy inspections for farmers whose milk falls into category A and B of the Milk Marketing Board total bacteriological count.

[pursuant to his reply, 14 April 1986]: No. I do not consider that it would be appropriate to rely solely on the results of the total bacterial count testing done by the Milk Marketing Board. These results do not necessarily demonstrate compliance with the milk and dairies regulations. This can be checked only by inspecting the farm concerned; however, the board's results may help us to direct this enforcement effort more effectively, and thus more economically.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how widespread is the practice of dumping asbestos or asbestos-contaminated material in United Kingdom estuarial waters; how such dumping is monitored and regulated; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 14 April 1986]: Asbestos or asbestos-contaminated material originating on land is not currently disposed of at sea in United Kingdom waters. However, some harbour dredgings may contain very small quantities of saturated asbestos along with other contaminants. Disposal of such material at sea is governed by part II of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 and, in considering whether approval should be given for such disposal, the appropriate licensing authority is required to have regard to the need to protect the marine environment, the living resources it supports, and human health; to prevent interference with legitimate uses of the sea; and to have regard to the practical availability of alternative methods of disposal. Staff of the appropriate authority would monitor any sea disposal of such material in the usual way.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from chief constables on the practice of police forces with regard to checks as to whether or not those people issued with hackney carriage licences have a criminal record and on the passing of such information to licensing authorities.

No. Guidance to the police on the disclosure of criminal records in exceptional cases does not provide for disclosure for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for reports from the appropriate chief constables as to the numbers of police per head of population in (a) Solihull, (b) Birmingham, (c) Coventry, (d) Wolverhampton, (e) Manchester and (f) Bury.

I understand from the chief constables concerned that the population per police officer in these areas is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recommendations he has received from the Association of Chief Police Officers with regard to the operation of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964.

None, since I wrote to the hon. Member on 13 June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to introduce legislation to increase the powers of sentencing available to the courts; and if he will make a statement.

The Government's proposals are set out in the recently published White Paper "Criminal Justice: Plans for Legislation" (Cmnd. 9658).

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 how much money it has provided, in each year since 1980, to facilitate the payment of rewards offered by private institutions such as insurance companies, banks, and so on; how many individual cases were concerned; whether, in any individual cases, more than £5,000 from public funds was offered or provided; and if he will make a statement.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that the number of rewards from private sources which were facilitated by the metropolitan police in each year from 1981 to 1985 was as follows:1981, 46; 1982, 48; 1983, 71; 1984, 61; and 1985, 75.These did not involve the payment of any money from police funds. Comparable information for 1980 is not readily available. There has been no case since 1980 in which the Metropolitan police have offered or provided a reward from public funds of over £5,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for naturalisation he has (a) received and (b) decided upon in each year since 1983; and how many in the latter category were (i) granted and (ii) refused.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, after the elapse of a period of time when he refused an application for naturalisation, he is prepared to consider a new naturalisation application from the individual concerned.

Yes, but unless the circumstances have changed the outcome is unlikely to be different.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received to date on the Shops Bill [Lords].

We have received 20,736 representations in favour of our proposals and 47,354 representations against since the debate on the Auld report in the House of Commons in May last year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will institute an inquiry into the interference in the private affairs of Dr. Adrian Tibbitts by security service personnel, including a named individual, as alleged in the letter of 22 November 1984 from Dr. Tibbitts to his predecessor; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of travel allowances for representatives from each prison establishment to travel to regional offices on 25 March to collect a package concerning copies of a statement by him on the same day.

This cost could be separately identified only at disproportionate expense.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what funding is provided directly or indirectly by his Department to support the work of parish councils in England; and if he will give estimates of such funding under suitable headings.

At present, no parish council receives any direct funding from my Department in 1986–87. However, money from my Department granted to district councils or organisations such as the Sports Council, the Development Commission or English Heritage may ultimately reach parish councils. Information on such indirect funding is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will lay in the Library a copy of the standard letter and proforma circulated to local housing authorities by his Department's urban housing renewal unit inviting bids for additional housing investment programme allocations in 1986–87, for projects drawn up in consultation with his Department's urban housing renewal unit; and if he will publish his Department's procedure for the assessment and approval of such bids.

I have today placed in the Library a copy of the letter and the proforma which local authorities have been asked to complete in respect of bids for additional housing investment programme allocations for schemes submitted to the urban housing renewal unit. Each bid is being considered on its merits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the Royal Institute of British Architects about his newly imposed rules for architects commissioned by Government Departments and the Housing Corporation, requiring professional indemnity insurance cover of £250,000 to be extended over a period of six years.

The requirement to which the question refers was introduced in 1984. The RIBA has recently expressed concern both at the duration of insurance cover required and at the default powers of the Secretary of State. Its representations are mow under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much his Department expects to receive for the renting of its premises in Orange street to the London Residuary Body for the period April 1986 until April 1987.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer to him on Friday 11 April 1986, at column 208.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to institute an inquiry into the condition of polar bears in captivity, in the light of the zoo check report written by Mr. Paul V. Horsman, a copy of which has been sent to him by the hon. Member for Plymouth, Drake; and if he will make a statement.

I shall study the report, which I have just received, and write to my hon. Friend in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those submissions from Bradford metropolitan district council for receipt of transitional grant following abolition of West Yorkshire county council which were approved.

The submissions from Bradford metropolitan district council which have been approved for transitional grant, and the amounts approved, are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be in a position to give an estimate of (a) the redundancies and (b) the overall costs of savings arising from the abolition of the Greater London council.

Estimates of initial redundancies will be available shortly. Overall savings will depend on decisions by successors, and any early assessment would be affected by transitional costs. We have no reason to change our estimate that the abolition of the GLC would make possible savings of around £50 million annually from rationalisation alone.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the levels of nitrates and nitrites in the water provided for public consumption within each of the Thames water supply districts; whether the levels conform to European Economic Community directive 80/778; if the authority has applied for any deregulations made under article 9 of the European Economic Community directive 80/778; and if he will make statement.

Nitrate and nitrite levels in all areas supplied by Thames water authority are below the limit specified in EEC directive 80/778 except in those areas mentioned in the reply I gave on 14 March, at column 620, in respect of nitrite. The maximum nitrite level reached in any of those areas is 0·35 mg/l. Applications for derogations for those areas have been forwarded to the European Commission under article 20 of the directive with a recommendation that they be approved for a two-year period.

asked the Secretary of State for The Environment when he expects to complete his consultation round with appropriate authorities over the Town and Country Planning Use Classes Order; and if he will make a statement.

We published the Property Advisory Group sub-group's report on the Town and Country Planning Use Classes Order on 2 December and sought responses from consultees by 3 February. We are carefully considering the large number of responses received. My right hon. Friend is not yet ready to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will obtain copies of the minutes of the Sports Council's recent discussions on tobacco and sports sponsorship; and if he will place them in the Library.

Yes. I have today placed a copy of the relevant extract from these minutes in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish the report of the working party on public access to information held by pollution control authorities.

[pursuant to his reply, 20 December 1985, c. 368]: The report is being published today. I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library of the House.The Government accept the broad thrust of the report and will now consult the various interested parties on detailed implementation.The report recommends:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many occasions, and for what value in each case, the Property Services Agency has recovered excess profits from contractors (a) as a result of information given by employees to his Department and (b) otherwise; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 14 April 1986]: The Property Services Agency does not normally let contracts under which the amount due to the contractor is in any way dependent upon the financial return achieved. I am not aware of any case in which a return of excess profits has been sought.Cases do arise in which overpayments related to the value or amount of work done under a particular contract are recovered from contractors. A very small percentage of such cases originates from information from sources outside the agency, but the detailed information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, further to his reply of 27 March, Official Report. column 612, to the hon. Member for Mid Staffordshire, which interested parties including other Government Departments are engaged in the discussions on the concept of unitising property.

There have been discussions with representatives of: The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors; The Working Party on Unitisation of Property chaired by Mr. R. R. St. Barkshire; The British Property Federation; and the Stock Exchange. In addition a number of other Government Departments have been consulted.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will institute an inquiry into the professional conduct rules of the Law Society to ascertain their compatibility with his Department's competition policy and whether or not such rules are in restraint of trade.

The rules governing advertising by solicitors in England and Wales were the subject of a report by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, published in 1976. This led to the Law Society amending its rules to permit solicitors to advertise their services and charges. The Director General of Fair Trading has a general duty to keep commercial activities under review; he is always prepared to consider complaints about specific practices. In addition, he is undertaking, at the request of my predecessor, a programme of reviews into restrictions in the professions, with a view to establishing whether further relaxations would be justified. This programme includes a review of restrictions on the kind of organisation through which members of professions (including solicitors) may offer their services (for example, restrictions in inter-professional links or mixed partnerships).

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he will be taking, in the light of the new majority voting procedures under the Single European Act, to encourage the adoption by the Council of measures creating a free market in insurance; and if he will make a statement.

The creation of a free market in insurance in the EEC depends primarily on the adoption by the Council of a liberal non-life insurance services directive. Draft proposals for such a directive have already been put by the Commission to the Council of Ministers. We hope that rapid progress can be made with the directive as soon as the judgments in the four insurance cases brought by the Commission before the ECJ are available. No specific additional steps are called for in the light of the proposed adoption of majority voting procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will now indicate for the Ross and Cinderford travel-to-work area in respect of regional selective assistance the cumulative totals to the latest available date for (a) the number of inquiries received, (b) the number of cases requiring further detailed appraisal, (c) the number of cases withdrawn/ rejected, (d) the number of cases approved, (e) the number of cases still under appraisal, (f) the amount of the total grant approved, (g) the associated project cost, (h) the number of jobs created and (i) the number of jobs safeguarded.

In order not to risk breaches of commercial confidentiality, I cannot give information on the number of cases withdrawn/rejected, the number of cases approved, nor the number of cases still under appraisal. I am pleased to tell my hon. Friend that, from 29 November 1985 to 11 April 1986, 397 initial inquiries about assistance were received in the Cinderford and Ross-on-Wye TTWA. Of these, 54 were taken to the preliminary stages of appraisal by a request for financial projections; these have been received in 27 instances. Regional selective assistance of £1,316,000 has been offered for projects of total cost of £20,180,394 to create and safeguard 736 jobs.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition relating to British Telecom to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

Arrangements have been made for such an exhibition in the Upper Waiting Hall to take place from Monday 28 April to Friday 2 May 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many bankruptcies there have been in Wales in each year from 1979–80 to 1985–86 in firms of (a) up to 20 employees, (b) 20 to 50 employees, (c) 50 to 100 employees and (d) 100 and over employees.

The information requested is not available because no records are kept of the number of employees of individuals, and partnerships declared bankrupt.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to complete his review of the new regional grants scheme; and if he will consider representations about the assisted areas map.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to submit his regional development programme to the European Commission.

I expect the complete United Kingdom regional development programme for 1986–90 to be with the EC Commission by about the end of May l986. Individual sections are, however, being submitted as soon as they are ready in order that applications for European regional development fund assistance can be considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list (a) the budgeted and (b) the actual payments of (i) regional development grants and (ii) regional selective assistance in the financial year 1985–86 for (1) England, (2) Scotland and (3) Wales; and if he will list the English payments by regional areas.

The original budget estimates and provisional outturn figures for regional development grant and regional selective assistance in England, Scotland and Wales in the financial year 1985–86 are provided in table 1. Estimates of the annual spend on each of these schemes are not made in respect of regional areas in England. Provisional outturn figures by region for regional development grant in England are provided at table 2. Similar figures for regional selective assistance are not yet available, but I shall write to the hon. Gentleman with this information as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has received a response to the latest Marketing and Investments Board organising committee proposals on the registration of life assurance and unit trust salesmen from the Consumers Association, the National Consumer Council and the Office of Fair Trading; and if he will place a copy of each in the Library.

I have received representations on the proposals from, among others, the organisations mentioned. The situation remains as set out in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. McCrindle), on 14 April 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if representations were received from the Government of the Republic of Ireland in advance of the proposed parades on Portadown this Easter.

No representations on the details of specific parades and marches have been received from the Irish Government. These involve police operations and are therefore not within the terms of the Anglo-Irish agreement. I am, of course, aware of the views of the Government of the Republic of Ireland on the general issue of parades and marches in Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total annual expenditure on security at the Royal Victoria hospital, Belfast.

The latest information available is for the 1984–85 year in which total expenditure on salaries and wages for security staff at the Royal Victoria hospital, Belfast was approximately £544,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the average annual earnings of personnel employed to provide security at the Royal Victoria hospital, Belfast.

At 31 March 1985 the average annual earnings were £12,463.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report the allowances made for parental contributions to student grants in each year since 1978–79; and if he will show parental contributions as a percentage of the full student grant in each year.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report the average level of mandatory grant available to students in each year since 1978–79 as a percentage of average male earnings in each year.

The information requested is as follows: