asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what guidelines he has issued to the Royal Ulster Constabulary concerning the use of entrapment in the detection or prevention of crime; and if he will make a statement.

The Secretary of State has not issued guidance to the RUC concerning entrapment. However paragraph 1.92 of the Home Office "Consolidated Circular on Crime and Kindred Matters" which has been issued to the RUC provides guidance to the effect that no members of a police force should counsel, incite or procure the commission of a crime. A copy of the consolidated circular is in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is now in a position to make a statement on the Nugee report on the management of privately-owned blocks of flats.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on Tuesday, 8 April at columns 26–28 by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment to my hon. Friend the Member for Westminster North (Mr. Wheeler).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish the results of the survey commissioned by his Department of local authorities on houses in multiple occupation; whether he will place a copy in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

A summary of the results of the postal survey of local authorities in England and Wales about houses in multiple occupation was given on 20 February at a seminar held by the Institution of Environmental Health Officers. A full report on that survey will be published in May by HMSO, and a copy will be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from the Head Teachers' Association on the new general certificate of secondary education.

My right hon. Friend has received representations from both the National Association of Head Teachers and the Secondary Heads Association about the preparations for, and funding of, the GCSE. I held meetings with both associations recently to discuss these issues. At their request, my right hon. Friend is to have a further meeting with the National Association of Head Teachers; he has also written to the Secondary Heads Association inviting further comment.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the Lancashire county council education expenditure at outturn and constant prices in each year from 1979–80 to 1986–87; and what was the original bid received by his Department for each respective year.

I assume that the hon. Member is concerned with capital expenditure. On that basis the information required is as follows:

Lancashire County Council Prescribed capital expenditure on education
£ 000s
	Cash		Constant prices† (at 1984–85 prices)
	Bid	Expenditure	Bid	Expenditure
1979–80	*	8,195	*	12,483
1980–81	*	11,836	*	15,179
1981–82	*	14,234	*	16,599
1982–83	*	13,939	*	15,189
1983–84	*	16,785	*	17,505
1984–85	13,646	12,180	13,646	12,180
1985–86	20,050	n/a	19,095	n/a
1986–87	21,653	n/a	19,734	n/a
* Cash bids were not required in these years.
† Cash figures revalued to 1984–85 prices using the Gross Domestic Product (Market Prices) Deflator.
n/a Outturn figures not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase the capacity for young offenders in non-prison environments in Yorkshire and Humberside.

In the medium term, there are schemes to provide small numbers of additional places at Her Majesty's detention centre New Hall and Her Majesty's youth custody centres Northallerton and Wetherby. In the longer term the major redevelopment programme at Her Majesty's prison Leeds, including the construction of some 450 new places, will enable us to provide further discrete remand centre accommodation for young offenders.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the additional cost of funding the new responsibilities that have been passed to (a) Middlesex, (b) north-east London, (c) south-east London, (d) south-west London, (e) the west midlands, (f) Merseyside, (g) Greater Manchester, (h) south Yorkshire, (i) west Yorkshire and (j) Northumbria probation services following the abolition of the Greater London council and the six metropolitan counties.

No new responsibilities have been passed to the probation committees in outer London and the metropolitan counties following the abolition of the Greater London council and the metropolitan county councils. The duty to defray the expenses of those committees now rest with the outer London borough councils and the metropolitan district councils.The hon. Member may have in mind the need to make new arrangements for the provision of support services previously provided by the authorities which have been abolished. Any changes in the costs of support services after abolition cannot be measured, because the full cost of such services to those authorities is not known.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of South Wales on the incident at Pontypridd on 19 April when Steffan Webb was injured by a vehicle carrying the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales, the hon. Member for Conwy (Mr. Roberts); and if he will make a statement.

I understand from the chief constable that, as my hon. Friend the Member for Conwy (Mr. Roberts) was leaving the Polytechnic of Wales at Pontypridd last Saturday afternoon an incident occurred involving the vehicle in which he was travelling as a result of which a demonstrater, Mr. Webb, was reportedly injured. Any complaint made will of course be fully investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) pursuant to the answer of 18 April, Official Report, column 512, what procedures are used to review the immigration status of Libyan trainee engineers and pilots studying in the United Kingdom; what factors are currently being taken into account in such reviews; and if she will make a statement;(2) if he will list the criteria used in deciding to allow Libyan trainee engineers and pilots to enter the United Kingdom; what time limit and other conditions were attached to their stay; and if he will make a statement.

Applications for leave to enter or remain are considered individually in accordance with the requirements of the immigration rules. Libyan nationals remain subject to the strict immigration controls announced by my right hon. and learned Friend the then Home Secretary on 1 May 1984 and all applications from them are subject to very close scrutiny. As my hon. Friend will be aware, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport has issued directions which will effectively prevent Libyan trainee engineers and pilots from completing their courses. Their current basis of stay therefore no longer exists and they will be expected to leave. My right hon. Friend will not hesitate to use his powers to curtail their stay or to initiate deportation action in appropriate cases, if they fail to leave voluntarily.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the level of monetary compensatory amounts payable in each EEC country at the present time; and what information he has about extra payments being made by West Germany and other EEC countries to raise the return to their farmers.

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

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to ensure the protection of sea fisheries in the area covered by the Lancashire and Western Sea Fisheries Committee, following that body's decision to lay off its sea fishery officers; and if he will make a statement.

I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing how the United Kingdom production of agricultural products subject to the common agricultural policy price compares with 1970–71 production levels.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received concerning the implications of the Government's proposals for a community charge for students studying at Scottish universities and colleges.

My right hon. and learned Friend has received a number of representations about the implications of the community charge for students, including seven responses from Scottish universities and central institutions to an invitation from the Scottish Education Department to comment on the operational issues involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of (a) current Sunday services and (b) current services after 6 pm on weekdays have been registered as bus routes in Scotland.

This information could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current size of the waiting list for treatment of all kinds of Scottish hospitals; and how this figure compares with those for April 1979 and April 1983.

The available information on cases for hospital in-patient treatment is as follows:

	Number
1979 (31 March)	76,616
1983 (31 March)	96,761
1984 (30 September)	82,937

The increase in existing lists caused by industrial action in 1982 is now being steadily reduced. Lists tend to overstate numbers of patients waiting for treatment, since they include duplicated entries and patients who no longer need treatment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the ratio of National Health Service beds to population in Scotland; and how this compares with the figures for April 1979 and April 1983.

The ratio of National Health Service beds to population, expressed as average available staffed beds per 100,000 population, was 1,112 at 30 September 1984, the most recent date for which the information is available for Scotland as a whole. This compares with 1,106 at 31 March 1983 and 1,135 at 31 March 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many hospitals have been closed in Scotland in each year since 1975; and if he will name them.

The information for the years prior to 1979 is not readily available. Since 1979 a total of 28 hospitals have ben closed and 42 major new hospital developments completed. The names of the hospitals closed are as follows:

asked the Attorney-General whether the findings of the Gwent police investigation into the affairs of the Parrot Corporation referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions have been reviewed; and whether any criminal proceedings are to be commenced.

The Director of Public Prosecutions has received a preliminary police report from the Gwent constabulary about their investigation into the affairs of the Parrot Corporation Limited and has provided advice as the lines of inquiry to be pursued. The director expects to receive a full report within about two months.

asked the Attorney-General which organisations were issued with a copy of the consultation document on personal injury litigation; and if copies are available for organisations wishing to comment on the documents.

The Lord Chancellor's consultation paper on personal injuries litigation, published on 19 February, is the first consultation document to emerge from his current review of civil justice. Organisations which have received the paper directly are the 43 organisations listed. The paper is available on request from the Lord Chancellor's Department.The Law Society

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what studies have been carried out by his Department into the provision of a bypass around the town of Holyhead, giving the dates and results of such studies; and if he will make a statement.

No studies have yet been undertaken into the provision of a bypass for Holyhead but if there is a case for including such a scheme in the future road programme, we will give it careful consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has in mind to help the pig industry in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

No initiatives are planned for the pig industry. An EC scheme providing aid towards the private storage of pigmeat was introduced on 1 April 1986. The June 1985 census figures recorded an increase of 7·9 per cent. over June 1984 in the pig breeding herd in Wales, which now stands at 16,100 head, indicating a return of confidence in this sector.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what account is taken of the level of unemployment, both in absolute terms and relative to other areas of Wales, when selecting areas for inclusion in the business improvement services scheme; and if he will make a statement.

The areas in Wales in which the provisions of the business improvement services scheme apply are the steel closure areas defined, by the Council of the European Communities, in Council regulation (EEC) No. 216/84 of 18 January 1984. The criteria used to select steel closure areas were: the number of jobs in the steel industry; the industrial employment dependent on the steel industry; major job losses in the steel industry in recent years; the eligibility of the zone concerned for a national regional aid scheme; the social and economic situation in the region assessed on the basis of per capita gross domestic product and structural unemployment.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what is the cost to public funds of subsidising guaranteed interest profits earned by the banks on loans to United Kingdom companies to back export sales where the deals are insured by the Export Credits Guarantee Department; and if he will make a statement;(2) what is the current level of lending by banks under the scheme insured by the Export Credits Guarantee Department;

The cost to Her Majesty's Government of paying the interest margin over London interbank offer rate to the banks under the fixed rate export finance scheme depends on the level of the margin at any time and the amount of finance outstanding. In 1985–86, the cost was approximately £105 million (1984–85, £113 million). The level of lending under these schemes is currently £10·5 billion. The current level of the margin over LIBOR for sterling loans is ⅞ per cent. for the first 12 years of the credit and 1 per cent. thereafter. For foreign currency loans, the margins range from ⅜ per cent. for loans repayable within four years from signature to ⅞ per cent. for loans repayable over more than 14 years.The Government have notified the banks of their intention to review the remuneration received by them for providing fixed rate export finance. Detailed discussions with the banking associations will commence within the next month and are expected to lead to reduced margins payable on future business. A statement will be made at the appropriate time to report the outcome of these negotiations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action has been taken by the European Economic Commission to ensure that Article 92 of the Treaty of Rome is complied with in the light of information passed to the Commission about breaches of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development consensus on interest rates for export credit; what communication has been received by his Department from the European Economic Commission in this respect; what were the contents of that communication; and what action is proposed in response to it.

The Commission recently inquired through the United Kingdom representative in Brussels about the United Kingdom's practice in this area. The information requested has been provided.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which British companies have failed to respond under the European economic Community code of conduct for companies with interests in South Africa: and what action he proposes to take to persuade them to do so.

This information is published in annex D to the Department's analysis and summary of companies' reports under the EC code, which was placed in the Library of the House prior to the Easter recess. We will remain in touch with the companies concerned and take every opportunity to urge them to reconsider their attitude and to report under the code. In the light of such efforts in the past, I am very pleased that the number of non-reporting companies has been steadily reduced; only three companies declined to submit returns in the last reporting period, compared with 10 a year earlier.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when officials of the Export Credits Guarantee Department became aware of irregularities in the open account dealings by the directors of Ultraleisure; when it was realised that the credit limits approved by the Export Credit Guarantee Department for this company were inappropriate to its export turnover; and why no action was taken.

Certain aspects of the involvement of this company with the Export Credits Guarantee Department are the subject of police investigation. In these circumstances it would be inappropriate for me to give the information requested.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what communication, by telephone or otherwise, there has been between his officials and Mr. Robert Stapleton, a director of Ultraleisure and currently resident in Spain.

I am not aware of any such communication since Mr. Stapleton has been resident in Spain.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) why a decision was made on 20 November 1981 by a senior official of the Export Credit Guarantee Department to approve an 8·5 per cent. interest rate for financing Ultraleisure's export contracts to another European Economic Community country when this rate was in contravention of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development consensus rate; and when the relevant letter of commitment was issued by the bank involved;(2) why the decision to approve an 8·5 per cent. interest rate for finance for Ultraleisure's export contracts was specifically made in respect of Ultraleisure's newly-formed Swiss subsidiary; and when was the last occasion on which this type of arrangement was permitted.

This decision was made in accordance with ECGD's current policy at the time. The export contract in question was with a buyer in a non-EC country. Since the end of 1983, the Department has not supported OECD consensus rates of interest to finance any exports where it is known that their final destination is another EC country.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has made to the United States Department of Commerce about the operation in the United Kingdom of the United States export licence system governing advanced systems; what evidence he has of this system being enforced in the United Kingdom by inspections by the United States authorities; if any co-operation is being offered by the United Kingdom authorities in this regard; and if he will make a statement.

The Government have firmly put on record their objections of principle to the extra territorial claims implicit in the new US distribution licence regulations, both bilaterally and through the European Community. The US authorities have sought the Government's agreement to US officials visiting a number of British companies in connection with the regulations. My officials have been in touch with the companies concerned but no such visits have yet been approved. The Government are considering whether to agree to the proposed visits and if so on what terms.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the cost of his Department's hoax advertisement published in national newspapers on 1 April; and if he will indicate what purpose it served; and if he will make a statement.

This advertisement was placed in The Times and Guardian at a cost of £18,000. It was one of a number of energy efficiency advertisements scheduled to appear in April and May. The advertisement was designed to gain public interest and jolt inertia.Advertisements placed in these publications on April 1 are always likely to attract special attention and be closely read and the Department saw an opportunity to get extra value for its advertising spend. The advertisement attracted a significantly higher number of requests for energy efficiency information than is obtained on average in response to the Department's normal press advertisement.

asked the Prime Minister what representations she has received concerning the rating of Scottish sports clubs and how this compares with the treatment of equivalent premises in England and Wales; and if she will make a statement.

I have received a small number of such representations in recent months, but a considerably larger number—over 70—have been received by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland. The fact that the valuation and rating systems in Great Britain can lead to differences between clubs in Scotland and England and Wales of the kind mentioned in the representations is one of the reasons why the Government are getting on with the very difficult task of reforming local taxation. We intend to bring into effect as soon as possible our proposals in the Green Paper "Paying for Local Government" (Cmnd. 9714). The paper explains the advantage we see in moving in time to a common non-domestic rate poundages in all areas, and suggests that it may be desirable to harmonise valuation procedures to provide for a common standard. Responses to the Green Paper on its Scottish aspects have been asked for by 31 July. All will be carefully considered. A further announcement of the Government's intentions will be made in due course.

asked the Prime Minister (1) if Her Majesty's Government have any plans to curtail the stay of all those Libyan trainee engineers and pilots currently studying in the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement;

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport has issued directions to all operators of aircraft registered or operating in the United Kingdom and to managers of certain aerodromes, which will prevent Libyan aviation engineering trainees from having access to aircraft except as passengers, and which will prevent Libyan pilot trainees from making solo flights. The effect of these measures will be that such trainees will be unable to complete their courses or obtain qualifications.In that event their current basis of stay will no longer exist and they will be expected to leave. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department will hot hesitate to use his powers to curtail their stay or initiate deportation action in approproate cases, if they fail to leave voluntarily.

asked the Prime Minister when she intends to answer the letter of 27 March from the hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood, about her policy towards pictures in newspapers of naked and partially naked women in sexually provocative poses; and if she will make a statement.

I shall reply to the hon. Lady shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the current scales and the scales for the previous three financial years for subsistence allowances for diplomats recalled for consultation to London.

Members of Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service recalled for consultation to London are eligible to receive the standard rate subsistence allowance for each complete 24 hour period. The rates are fixed nationally by Her Majesty's Treasury and apply to all civil servants.The current rates by category are:

	Subsistence classification
	1	2	3
With effect from 1 August 1985	£	£	£
Inner London	67·20	48·75	42·10
Elsewhere	56·30	40·70	31·85

The previous three years rates were:

	Subsistence classification
	1	2	3
With effect from 1 August 1984	£	£	£
Inner London	61·20	44·90	38·40
Elsewhere	50·65	36·75	29·15
With effect from 1 August 1983
Inner London	56·30	40·75	34·80
Elsewhere	48·10	34·15	27·20

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now seek to re-establish diplomatic relations with Argentina; and if he will make a statement.

As I told the hon. Member for Fife, Central (Mr. Hamilton) on 9 April at column 164, we wish to move towards more normal relations with Argentina. We have taken numerous steps to achieve this.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what applications have been made to develop a service area complex on the Al2 near Brentwood; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that Brentwood district council has recently received two such applications for planning permission, one in respect of each carriageway of the Al2. The Department will be formally notifying the council of its response to the applications after considering any implications for the free and safe flow of trunk road traffic.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has yet received the report of the consultants on the linking of the M65 and M1-M61 motorways in Lancashire.

Yes. I shall make a further announcement when it has been considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the earliest time in the morning at which scheduled aircraft are permitted to land at Heathrow; how many have arrived earlier in the last three months for which figures are readily available; and for what reasons.

Heathrow airport is open to scheduled traffic at all times. Statutory limitations, however, are imposed which include quotas for the number and type of movements that may take place during specified periods at night. Full details of these limitations were set out in the then Department of Trade's press notice "Aircraft Noise at Heathrow and Gatwick" of 29 April 1981, a copy of which is in the Library. These limitations are strictly applied: as the quotas cover seasonable periods there is sufficient flexibility to ensure that they are not exceeded. Within the limitations, airlines are free to use the airport to meet their needs, and variations in the pattern of movements are possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish estimates of (a) value added tax, (b) domestic rates and (c) other indirect taxes paid by those on (i) 75 per cent., (ii) 100 per cent. and (iii) 150 per cent. of average earnings in 1986–87 and each of the previous eight

75 per cent. of average earnings
	Single £ per week	Married (one working) £ per week	Married (both working) £ per week	Married (one working) with two children £ per week
1978–79
VAT	1·74	1·58	2·03	1·71
Domestic rates	2·30	2·31	2·64	2·30
Other indirect taxes	5·92	7·04	8·51	6·83
1979–80
VAT	3·30	2·94	3·62	3·28
Domestic rates	2·73	2·74	3·13	2·74
Other indirect taxes	6·71	7·89	9·50	7·73
1980–81
VAT	4·06	3·68	4·46	4·01
Domestic rates	3·56	3·54	4·01	3·54
Other indirect taxes	7·93	9·22	11·13	9·12
1981–82
VAT	4·51	4·02	4·83	4·45
Domestic rates	4·39	4·38	4·97	4·38
Other indirect taxes	9·18	10·75	12·96	10·77
1982–83
VAT	4·65	4·14	5·03	4·63
Domestic rates	4·81	4·82	5·50	4·81
Other indirect taxes	9·49	11·20	13·69	11·23
1983–84
VAT	5·02	4·50	5·49	5·04
Domestic rates	4·87	4·89	5·57	4·89
Other indirect taxes	10·38	12·22	15·00	12·26

100 per cent. of average earnings
	Single £ per week	Married (one working) £ per week	Married (both working) £ per week	Married (one working) with two children £ per week
1978–79
VAT	2·42	2·30	2·83	2·43
Domestic rates	2·72	2·60	2·85	2·67
Other indirect taxes	7·54	8·28	10·04	8·07
1979–80
VAT	4·63	4·32	5·11	4·54
Domestic rates	3·24	3·10	3·38	3·18
Other indirect taxes	8·64	9·40	11·27	9·25
1980–81
VAT	5·70	5·37	6·27	5·56
Domestic rates	4·25	4·03	4·34	4·14
Other indirect taxes	10·21	11·02	13·15	10·89
1981–82
VAT	6·37	5·94	6·88	6·20
Domestic rates	5·24	4·98	5·37	5·11
Other indirect taxes	11·83	12·83	15·28	12·80
1982–83
VAT	6·57	6·13	7·14	6·43
Domestic rates	5·72	5·47	5·93	5·61

Estimates for the years 1978–79 to 1983–84 are in the following table. Estimates for 1984–85 to 1986–87 were included in the reply given to the hon. Member on 26 March 1986, Official Report, columns 530–36.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect of recent currency revaluations in the European Monetary System on the 1986 budget approved by the EEC Council.

The impact on the EC budget of the EMS realignment on 6 April is a highly complicated calculation affected by numerous variables and uncertainties. Only the Commission is in a position to make a detailed assessment. The Commission services have suggested that agricultural expenditure, at current green rates may increase by up to 333 million ecu in 1986 as a result of the realignment. No estimate has been made by the Commission of the effect on other areas of expenditure or on own resources revenues.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the letters dated 4 December, 6 March and 11 April from the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth referring to Wilfred Aspinwall of the Managerial Professional and Staff liaison group.

My office has no record of receiving either of my hon. Friend's letters of 4 December or 6 March. I received his letter of 11 April on 14 April.I understand he offered on 23 April to send copies of the two earlier letters to the Treasury's correspondence unit. Once we have all three letters, he will receive a prompt reply.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the use of forward cover in respect of Government orders placed abroad, in the light of volatile movements in the currency markets.

Government Department may reduce their exposure to exchange risk in relation to future payments or receipts by using forward markets where this is practicable. This is subject to the rules set out in section N (paragraphs 110 to 114) of Government Accounting, a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the revenue gained from (a) capital transfer tax and (b) capital gains tax for each year since 1979 and the total gained in revenue for both these taxes over this period of time, in real and cash terms.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 April 1986, c. 38]: Estimates of liabilities to capital transfer tax on transfers, and capital gains tax on disposals, in each year are as follows:

Year of transfer/disposal	Capital transfer tax	Capital gains tax	Total
	£ million	£ million	at current prices £ million	at 1985–86 prices† £ million
1978–79	380	480	860	1,630
1979–80	530	580	1,110	1,800
1980–81	520	670	1,190	1,620
1981–82	630	680	1,310	1,620
1982–83	620	690	1,310	1,520
1983–84	750	*820	1,570	1,740
1984–85	*820	*990	1,810	1,920
1985–86	*910	*1,110	2,020	2,020
* Provisional estimates.
† The conversion to 1985–86 prices uses the GDP deflator.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many nuclear weapons tests British Governments have conducted since the signing of the partial test ban treaty in 1963.

The relevant treaty signed in 1963 was the limited test ban treaty. Since its signing, the United Kingdom has conducted 16 nuclear weapons tests. These were carried out in collaboration with the United States and the conditions of the treaty were honoured in full.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied with the working efficiency and capability of the United Kingdom's nuclear weapons capacity.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the state of repair of the water tank, the property of his Department, at Walker drive, South Queensferry; and if he will make a statement.

I shall answer shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the cost to the United Kingdom taxpayer of providing the equivalent defence capability were the United States of America to withdraw all United States personnel and equipment from its bases within the United Kingdom.

The cost would be enormous. I regret that an actual estimate on the basis requested by my hon. Friend could be provided only at disroportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many nuclear tests were undertaken by the United Kingdom in each year since 1980; and how many similar tests were undertaken by the United States of America, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, France and China.

The United Kingdom has undertaken a total of nine nuclear tests since 1 January 1980—all in co-operation with the United States. They comprised three in 1980, one in each of 1981, 1982, 1983, two in 1984 and one in 1985. Details of tests carried out by other countries should be sought from them.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people in Burnley were receiving board and lodging allowances at the latest date for which figures are available; and how many were under 25 years of age.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to claims from people in ordinary board and lodging accommodation and hostels. The latest available information relates to the period 29 April 1985 to 28 July 1985 when some 600 claims, including 260 from those aged 25 and under, were assessed or reassessed by the local office in Burnley under the revised boarder rules.This special count was not maintained beyond that period.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the current staff levels at his Department's Burnley offices; and what were comparable figures at yearly intervals since 1979.

The complement for Burnley intergrated local office at April for the years 1979–85 is set out in the table. Figures for staff actually in post at these times are not now available.

Year	Complement
1979	240
1980	235
1981	228
1982	214
1983	194
1984	195
1985	203

The complement for April 1986 is yet to be established. On 1 April 1986 there were 208·5 staff in post.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his policy on the provision of residential accommodation for National Health Service staff.

The NHS estate in England includes over 100,000 units of residential accommodation for staff. This includes thousands of individual houses, flats and other accommodation, as well as large nurses' homes, and similar buildings.A study showed that some 20 per cent. of this accommodation was standing empty, and that most health authorities had more accommodation than they needed. I have therefore asked health authorities to re-examine their holdings of residential accommodation and make plans to dispose of property which is surplus to requirements.First, health authorities will be able to dispose of vacant property which is no longer needed. I should emphasis that the resources released will br retained for the benefit of the National Health Service. Land and property sales are expected to total around £130 million this year. All of this is ploughed back into the Health Service. A priority use of these funds will be to improve and modernise nurses' homes and other staff accommodation which is needed.Second, in considering what property they need to retain in the long term, health authorities should provide accommodation, as needed, for certain professional trainees—particularly junior doctors and student nurses and for other staff in appropriate circumstances such as in inner city areas.Third, where staff are living in accommodation that the NHS does not need to retain, they will be given the right to buy at discounted rates. The terms, as for local authority tenants, are very favourable. At present, this means discounts of up to 60 per cent. off market values.Let me emphasise this is not a policy of eviction. The policy of rationalising the health service's holdings of residential accommodation will be so administered that no one who lives in such accommodation will be made homeless as a result. No one will be required to move from their present accommodation as part of this policy without being offered a suitable alternative place to live. Overall the policy will provide accommodation for staff who need it while at the same time releasing resources for the development of the health service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what discussions have taken place between officials of his Department and the relevant United States authorities about Dr. Wurtman's data on the use of aspartame and its alleged side-effects;(2) if he will instruct Her Majesty's Ambassador in Washington to seek to obtain a transcript of the forthcoming Congressional hearing on the procedure followed in the original approval of aspartame for use as a food additive in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement.

In 1983, the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment considered data sent by Dr. Wurtman to the United States of America Food and Drugs Administration. In 1985 it considered the report of the United States Centers for Disease Control's review of suspected adverse reactions to aspartame. Neither of these reviews caused the COT to change its view that aspartame is safe for use in food and drink.I am informed that some further data from Dr. Wurtman have recently been provided to the Food and Drugs Administration. It is too soon for a full evaluation of these to have taken place. The Department's professional staff has well-established arrangements with counterparts in the United States of America and other countries to ensure exchange of scientific informaton on the safety of food additives. Any relevant new informaton would be reviewed by our expert advisers. This would include reports of any Congressional hearings which consider scientific data relevant to the safety of aspartame.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on Government policy on invalidity care allowance following the opinion of the Advocate-General of the European Court that married women should be eligible to receive invalid care allowance.

The judgment of the European Court on the application of the EC Equal Treatment Directive to invalid care allowance is not expected until June. The Advocate-General gave his opinion to the court on 22 April. This opinion is not binding, but we are of course considering the position carefully in the light of it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate how much of the cash compensation for free school meals and free welfare milk included in the family credit payment under his proposals in Cmnd. 9691 is lost through reduced housing benefit entitlement for a married couple with one, two and three children and a lone parent with one, two and three children at gross earnings levels of (a) £60 per week, (b) £70, (c) £80, (d) £90 and (e) £100 and so on until entitlement to family credit is extinguished in each case.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services at what level of gross income entitlement to housing benefit will cease, assuming that family credit is claimed where appropriate under his proposals in Cmnd. 9691 on the same basis as his reply of 24 January to the hon. Member for Dunfermline, East, Official Report, column 345–6.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give a breakdown on the geographical deployment of the additional 5,000 staff which he recently announced.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 April 1986, c. 85]: The increased allocation of local office staff for the 1 April 1987 manpower target announced by my right hon. Friend on 7 March at column 322 will be distributed as follows:

Region	Number
North East	559
Midlands	847
London North	858
London South	1,004
Wales/South West	442
North West	661
Scotland	804
Total	5,175

asked the Paymaster General if he will seek to convene a meeting of fishing vessel owners and employees with a view to agreeing on a decasualisation scheme for the fishing industry.

Table 1 Self employed people*—regional analysis
Thousand
Region		1975	1977	1979	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985
South East	M	522	498	544	568	567	567	647	686
	F	126	116	107	132	148	163	211	216
	T	648	614	651	700	715	730	858	903
East Anglia	M	63	56	64	71	71	72	83	84
	F	15	17	15	16	19	22	26	29
	T	78	73	79	87	90	94	109	113
South West	M	149	128	111	180	170	161	171	190
	F	31	30	35	47	50	52	62	62
	T	180	158	146	227	220	213	233	252
West Midlands	M	135	125	124	136	137	137	151	149
	F	29	32	17	34	37	40	36	37
	T	164	157	141	170	174	177	187	185
East Midlands	M	106	92	99	114	121	127	129	129
	F	27	19	17	30	30	30	38	28
	T	133	111	116	144	151	157	166	157
Yorkshire and Humberside	M	129	126	107	128	129	130	159	163
	F	35	34	27	36	38	39	44	60
	T	164	160	134	164	167	169	203	223
North West	M	157	147	161	166	165	163	183	187

I do not believe it would be helpful to do so. There is no indication that the two sides of the industry are prepared to agree such a scheme.

asked the Paymaster General what is his estimate of the number of trawlermen made redundant in each of the years 1976 to 1984, the average earnings of trawlermen in each of those years, the number of employed trawlermen in each year and the amount paid into the redundancy fund in each of those years on behalf of employed trawlermen.

I regret that the information requested is not available: the various statistics referred to do not distinguish sufficiently between trawlermen and other employees.

asked the Paymaster General if he will list for each region the numbers of self-employed, by industrial and occupational category for men and women for the years 1975 to 1985.

Information is not available in the exact form requested.The regular quarterly self employment series is classified according to region and industry division, for June of certain years. The available information is presented in tables 1 and 2. The series is not classified by occupation or cross-classified by region and industry.The labour force survey provides information on a different basis, but allows an analysis by occupation. The available information, relating to years in which the survey has been carried out since 1981, is given in table 3.