asked the Secretary of State for Wales what further proposals he has for improving transport infrastructure in Wales in general and in Clwyd in particular.

My proposals for the motorway and trunk road network in Wales, including Clwyd, are in set out in "Roads in Wales 1985"—a copy of which is in the Library of the House—and I have also published a consultation document "Roads for Wales, the 1990's and beyond". I shall also continue to encourage and assist where appropriate those bodies responsible for the provision of other elements of the transport infrastructure in Wales.

Is the Minister aware of my early-day motions on British Rail management, Nos. 2 to 5 inclusive, and Nos. 7 to 16 inclusive, which illustrate merely some of the horrors being perpetrated on the people of Wrexham following the singling of the line between Wrexham and Chester? As the Minister did not take my advice that he should try to stop British Rail from singling the line, now that the evidence of incompetence and dreadful services is before his eyes, will he encourage British Rail to reinstate double track as soon as possible?

I had noticed the early-day motions tabled by the hon. Gentleman, which appear to be rather more regular than the services that they describe. I must emphasise to the hon. Gentleman that the Wrexham-Chester line is an operational matter for British Rail. I understand that British Rail remains firmly of the view that when the singling work is complete this, together with other measures—for example, new signalling at Chester, automatic level crossings and new rolling stock—will greatly improve the services.

Bearing in mind the tremendous increase in traffic that has been occasioned by the A55, and particularly the traffic going along the A5 on Anglesey, will my hon. Friend look carefully at the possibility of a bypass around Holyhead and instruct a survey to be undertaken? Will he also accelerate the provision of bypasses around the five villages on Anglesey?

I am aware of the pressure that my hon. Friend is bringing on my Department about traffic on Anglesey, and particularly on the A5. We have been studying the situation in various villages on Anglesey and we shall look at the Holyhead position as well.

Will the Minister convey to the Secretary of State our best wishes for a speedy recovery and return to the House? As the Cabinet has been considering grave transport matters, particularly airports, and as no Welsh Office Minister has been in Cabinet, is this a reflection on the Welsh Office, or of the indifference of the Prime Minister towards Wales in general?

I shall gladly convey the hon. Gentleman's good wishes to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, and I am pleased to tell the House that he is making a good recovery. As to Wales's interest in airports, I assure him and the House that the interests of Wales have not been neglected in any way.

During the last Welsh Grand Committee my hon. Friend said that the Mold bypass was scheduled for the latter end of the orginal time band, in other words, no later than December 1988, but my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State said that it was planned for the early part of the new band, in other words, soon after January 1988. Will my hon. Friend confirm that the Mold bypass will be started during 1988? Will it be started early or late that year?

The timing of the Mold bypass was discussed in the last Welsh Grand Committee, and I have nothing to add to what I said about it then. I assure my hon. Friend that we shall use our best endeavours to make sure that the bypass is started on time.

May I express my good wishes to the Secretary of State, and express the wish that he will make a speedy recovery? Does the Minister appreciate that, far from improving the transport infrastructure in Wales, British Rail has proposals completely to decimate the rail-freight netword in south Wales. Therefore will he intercede with British Rail management to prevent that ill-conceived plan coming to fruition?

Although that is a matter for British Rail, I assure the hon. Gentleman that British Rail does not intend to decimate the freight service. Indeed, it is quite the reverse—British Rail wishes to strengthen the service. Although one can be critical of British Rail's activities in Wales, one must not neglect the fact that it is to invest some £55 million in improving Welsh services during the next four years.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many planning appeals have been made to his Department during the last year for which figures are available.

In 1985 my Department received 912 planning appeals, 239 enforcement appeals and 11 other miscellaneous appeals.

Is the Minister aware of the grave misgivings in many parts of Wales, particularly in Gwynedd, at the way in which the Welsh Office upholds appeals about second homes in sensitive areas? As, in a project for 700 second homes in the village of Morfa Bychan, which will become a town as large as Porthmadog if the project is implemented, an application going back to 1964 is now in dispute, will he give an assurance that the Welsh Office—in view of its acceptance of the local infrastructure plan and its designation of an SSSI on that exact spot in 1971—will stand up with the local community against such an outrageous development?

Our view on the general use of occupancy conditions has not changed. As the hon. Gentleman is aware, all planning appeals go to the Secretary of State's inspectors, who take the decision. They have not been given any recent or fresh instructions. It is open to local authorities to purchase homes which they fear may be used for secondary purposes. In that event, they may use their in-year receipts, and it is always open to them to come to the Secretary of State with proposals if their in-year receipts have already been utilised. We have a recent example of a local authority where that has been done. The Morfa Bychan case is a matter for the local planning authority, Dwyfor district council, not for my right hon. Friend.

As my right hon. Friend will know, this week his Department is holding a public inquiry into two planning appeals for Tongwynlais in my constituency. What provisions are possible for last minute representations, in view of the present postal strike in Cardiff in south Wales?

Obviously I cannot comment on individual cases. However, if my hon. Friend is aware of people wishing to make such representations, and can get them to send their representations to the Welsh Office, we shall ensure that they are delivered to the inspector. Where planning appeals have not come to the Welsh Office because they have been affected by the postal dispute, we shall make arrangements for them to be taken into account.

Is the Minister aware of the ground rules for these appeals, that inspectors, in deciding these appeals, are influenced by his Department, and that there have been many decisions within the Principality which have been resented by the community, including in Wrexham, where appeals have been allowed for supermarkets on completely unsuitable sites and for cramped housing in areas where it should not have been built? Will the Minister see whether he can pay more attention to the expressed wishes of the community in deciding appeals when they come before him?

The Government regard the right of appeal as extremely valuable in the planning process. The inspectors must take into account all material and relevant factors, including the wishes of the local community. The Secretary of State relies on the inspectors' reports.

asked the Secretary of State of Wales when he will next meet the chairman of the National Coal Board to discuss opencast mining in Wales.

No meeting has been arranged at present.

Will my hon. Friend seek a meeting to dissuade the NCB from again applying to start opencast mining at Pont Einion Northop, on high-quality land in an attractive rural area? Will he take the opportunity to remind the chairman of the NCB that the last application was rejected on the gound that need had not been demonstrated? Does my hon. Friend agree that one would be hard put to prove that need now that coal stocks are higher and oil prices have collapsed?

It is for the NCB to decide whether there has been sufficient change in circumstances since the earlier decision on the Pont Einion site to warrant its making a fresh application. I cannot comment on the merits of the case, because the matter may eventually come before my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for decision. The procedure on applications for opencast mining has changed since March 1984. Such applications are now dealt with as part of the normal planning procedures.

Will the hon. Gentleman be careful in handling the applications, especially in view of the sensitivity in many areas of south Wales about opencast mining? Will the hon. Gentleman take care in granting applications by the NCB, in the face of often strong local opposition?

I am well aware of that position. That was part of the purpose of changing the procedure, to which I referred in my previous reply. The Housing and Planning Bill provides for a simplification of the opencast procedures by abolishing the need for ministerial authorisation. Planning permission will still be required. We shall ensure that any proposals that come before us for decision are publicised and that full opportunity is given for representations to be made by interested persons. That is, in any event, our current practice.

Will the hon. Gentleman do all that he can to encourage the NCB to become involved in deep mining, which is labour intensive, instead of opencast mining, which tends to be capital intensive and is highly destructive of the environment and the community in south Wales?

Again I must stress that that is a matter for the NCB. Obviously opencast coal is not only cheaper but has a much lower ash and chlorine content than deep-mined coal, but the health of many deep mines depends on opencast coal for blending to provide an acceptable product for customers. Opencast mining and deep mining are complementary rather than competitive.

We look to the Under-Secretary of State to assist the House, especially with the position in Wales as described by hon. Members. Does the hon. Gentleman know that in my constituency, in the Ewloe area, there is widespread condemnation of proposals to undertake opencast mining close to a primary school and housing development? The hon. Gentleman said that deep mining and opencast mining are complementary. Will he therefore tell the chairman of the NCB that, if the Bersham colliery in north-east Wales closes, the economy of north-east Wales will rock on its heels following the Courtaulds closure? Will the hon. Gentleman assure the House that, in spite of the steep drop in oil prices, there will be no new proposals for pit closures throughout the south Wales coalfields? I remind the hon. Gentleman that one in four men in the Welsh valleys is unemployed? That is far too high.

The hon. Gentleman has asked a number of questions. I think I have said sufficient to show that opencast mining is complementary rather than necessarily an alternative. The hon. Gentleman mentioned Bersham colliery. Of course, it is always a matter of great concern when a pit has to be closed. If such an agreement is reached on Bersham, the board is confident that it can offer alternative jobs to those wishing to remain in the industry. There are generous redundancy terms for those who choose to leave. It is too soon to judge the longer-term effect of the current movement in oil prices, but lower oil prices obviously emphasise the need for the NCB to be competitive and make every effort to improve productivity.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what provision he has made in the current financial year for improvement of the housing stock and a reduction in the backlog of renovation grants.

Housing allocations for this year total £141·3 million, which is an increase of almost 30 per cent. over last year. Within this total we have made specially targeted supplements of £53 million for improvement of the housing stock and reduction of the grants backlog.

Does that welcome and generous announcement not show that the Welsh Office is more than playing its part in providing better housing for Wales and that it is now a matter for the local authorities to complement it?

I agree entirely with my hon. Friend. It is now important that local authorities fully spend the allocations which have been made available to them, as it will strengthen their case when we decide resources next year.

Does the Minister agree that it is not only proper to compare this year against last year, but to compare the current allocation with the actual need of our housing stock in the Principality? Given that, is the Minister seriously telling the House that his expert's advice to him is that our housing stock is staying about the same, is it, as people tell us, declining into obsolescence?

We are this year in the process of embarking on the biggest and most extensive house condition survey ever undertaken by the Welsh Office. We shall consider the results of that. I should also point out that the figure of spending of allocations this year compares with the equivalent figure in 1978–79, which was only £51 million at 1986–87 prices. Therefore, I think that it is a favourable improvement.

In future consideration of this matter, will my hon. Friend and his right hon. Friend take account of the age of the Welsh housing stock? Does my hon. Friend anticipate a reduction in the great backlog in the various housing authority areas?

That is specifically why we have decided to target certain parts of this year's allocation on the backlog of home improvement grants. Local authorities are aware of that.

Will the Minister explain to the House and to his hon. Friend the Member for Ynys Môn (Mr. Best) the reason for the very low level of capital allocation for that authority, which stands as low as £29 per head for 1984–85?

The hon. Gentleman should know that we have also made available to Ynys Môn a special allocation to tackle the backlog, and it is aware of that.

Will the Minister realise that during the seven-year period of office of this Government the housing problem throughout Wales has got dramatically worse? When will the Government launch a real major housing drive to build the new dwellings that are required to tackle the massive problem of the huge stock of pre-1919 dwellings which lack even basic amenities? Surely, with this period of heavy unemployment, now is the time for action.

That comes well from the hon. Gentleman. When the Labour party was in power between 1974 and 1979 it spent a mere £57 million on restoring the older housing stock, whereas we have spent £275 million. The Labour party also talks much about the public sector. It spent £86 million in Wales, while we have spent £208 million in the public sector. Therefore, our record stands comparison.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the percentage of the working population residing in assisted areas qualifying for regional development grant in Wales (a) March 1984 and (b) March 1986.

Almost 90 per cent of the economically active population of Wales reside in an assisted area. Those residing in areas qualifying for regional development grant were 79·6 per cent. in March 1984 and 38·2 per cent. in March 1986 because of the Government's decision to focus that particular scheme on the areas of greatest need.

Is the Minister not ashamed of himself? The percentages he has just given mean that the Government have reduced the percentage of the working population of Wales who qualify for regional development grant from almost 80 per cent. to 35 per cent. Does that not mean that the Government are using regional policy in a far less effective a way now and are contributing to Wales being one of the poorest regions within the European Economic Community?

I completely disagree with the hon. Gentleman. He underestimates the value of regional selective assistance, which is available throughout the assisted areas. He is also underestimating the activities of the Welsh Development Agency, which has built over 1,100 advance factories in Wales since May 1979. There have been 1,153 offers of regional selective assistance since May 1979, giving 57,000 new jobs and safeguarding 31,000.

Will the Minister note that the anxieties in Wales over the administration and lack of monitoring of grants for selective assistance increased on Friday when it was made clear by the Attorney-General that investigations into fraud in the Parrot Corporation were being extended, and apparently will include members or past members of the WDA? As the Parrot Corporation now has writs issued against it for more than £15 million, and its latest report showed that it had lost £500,000, will the Secretary of State make a full statement to the House and relieve the anxieties of the work force in my constituency in Gwent, who believe that there is something amiss in the administration, structure and relationship of the WDA with the Minister and the Parrot Corporation?

The hon. Gentleman is right to say that the police are investigating the circumstances of the original investment in the Parrot Corporation. It is, as he understands, a matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions. I have no intention of making comments that might prejudice that matter.

Does my hon. Friend accept that resources should be concentrated on the areas of highest unemployment, such as the Holyhead travel-to-work area? Can he assure the House that the welcome initiative of enterprise in rural areas that was announced recently will be able to assist the small business sector in gaining finance and developing, which is so critical to overcoming unemployment in areas such as Anglesey?

I am grateful to my hon. Friend. Of course, assisted area status has helped many parts of Wales, including Ynys Môn, which my hon. Friend represents. Unemployment was a significant factor in the review, but account was taken, too, of many other factors, such as the likely relative need for current and future employment. Account was also taken of long-term unemployment, occupational and other structures, economic activity rates and so on. The rural enterprise package will help rural areas—in other words, areas outside centres of population of 10,000 people or more.

My hon. Friend the Member for Torfaen (Mr. Abse) made an important request for a full statement. When will the Minister make the statement for which my hon. Friend has been asking for many months?

I understand that, in addition to the Public Accounts Committee, the Select Committee on Welsh Affairs will consider the affairs of the Welsh Development Agency. While police investigations are continuing and the matter is still with the Director of Public Prosecutions, it would not be advisable for me to make any further comment.

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

The hon. Gentleman should raise his point of order after Question Time.

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I raise this point of order in my capacity as Chairman of the Select Committee on Welsh Affairs. Earlier this afternoon, the Minister, I am sure inadvertently, said that the Select Committee on Welsh Affairs was undertaking an investigation into the Welsh Development Agency. It is not so doing. Even if it were, can you confirm, Mr. Speaker, that this would in no way prejudice the Minister's making a statement about the Parrot Corporation?

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. I am happy to confirm that it is the Welsh Grand Committee, rather than the Select Committee which is to discuss the Welsh Development Agency.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will pay an official visit to Rhondda.

My right hon. Friend had intended to visit the Rhondda last Friday, but had to cancel his engagement. I undertook the visit on his behalf.

I commiserate with the Secretary of State on his unfortunate illness. At the same time, I welcome back my hon. Friend the Member for Neath (Mr. Colman) after his recent illness.

I join the hon. Gentleman in welcoming the hon. Member for Neath (Mr. Coleman) back to the Chamber after his recent illness.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the increase in medical staff serving the National Health Service in Wales since 1979.

There was a 13·2 per cent. increase in total whole-time equivalent HNS medical staff in Wales between 1979 and 1985. The whole-time equivalent increased from 2,001 to 2,266 over the period.

I should have liked my hon. Friend to give a clearer answer than that slightly jargonised one. Nevertheless, does not those figures give the lie to those who say that the Government are trying to run down and abolish the Health Service? Could he give the figure for centrally-funded operations for heart disease, which is, after all, one of the most dangerous aspects for the Health Service in Wales?

I entirely agree with my hon. Friend's latter sentiments. South Glamorgan district health authority has been provided with funds to achieve a target of 600 cardiac operations a year, and in 1985 605 such operations were performed. In addition, a new cardiac unit capable of carrying out 1,100 operations a year is being planned and will be funded by the Welsh Office.

Is the Minister aware of the crisis in Bangor with the lack of psychiatric beds in Ysbyty Gwynedd hospital and a lack of staff to serve them? Is he aware that, compared with the standard 0·5 beds per 1,000 population, which should give 80 beds, there are now only 40, and that, to bring that up to a more acceptable level of 46, there would have to be 10 extra staff? Will he ensure that the resources are available to recruit those staff?

There are new beds in Gwynnedd precisely for that purpose. The management of psychiatric beds is a matter for the health authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the latest unadjusted figures for unemployment in (a) Newport, (b) Gwent and (c) Wales; what were the equivalent figures in May 1979; and what was the percentage increase in each case.

The unadjusted March 1986 figures of unemployment for Newport, Gwent and Wales are, respectively, 10,047; 30,219; and 184,247. Unadjusted figures for 1979 were produced on a different basis and cannot properly be compared with this year's figures.

Does the Minister recognise that seven years is a milestone in the life of any Government and that throughout that period we have had more or less catastrophic unemployment in Wales? The trend is still upwards and Welsh Office Ministers seem to have no answer to the problem. Therefore, is it not time for them to consider their position, or are they determined to con the people of Wales right to the very end?

We are doing our utmost to help employment in Wales. A few moments ago I referred to the number of advance factories that have been built by the Welsh Development Agency, and it is now embarking on a further programme of factory building involving an outlay of £27 million. I can also safely refer to the special employment measures, which give help to 43,850 people, and there are welcome developments in the hon. Gentleman's constituency. I am always astonished that we never hear about those good developments from the hon. Gentleman.

In that case, will the Minister act on the advice given by the coalfield communities campaign to the Select Committee on Energy last week, when it suggested that a package was needed for coalfield communities similar to that which the Government have put aside for the inner city areas? Will he also tell us how many jobs for ex-miners NCB (Enterprise) Ltd. has produced in south Wales?

The entire purpose of the valleys initiative announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is to focus support on the valleys of south Wales, and, of course, the moneys to be spent under that initiative are additional to the moneys already being spent under the urban programme and other programmes intended to support the valley communities. NCB (Enterprise) Ltd. has £20 million to invest, and I know from my visit to the enterprise train in Cardiff last week that it is doing extremely valuable work.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the latest preparations for the new general certificate of secondary education examination and on the resources that have been made available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with the progress of arrangements for the introduction of the general certificate of secondary education examination in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the extent of preparations for the introduction of the new general certificate of secondary education in Wales.

Preparation for the introduction of the GCSE is well on course in Wales. We have made significant resources available for the special programme of teacher training, and have offered local education authorities funds to supplement the secondary school capitation allowance during the first two years of the new examination courses.

Does my hon. Friend agree that we should not lose sight of the fact that this new examination was generally welcomed as being superior to the existing examinations and therefore of advantage to school children? Accordingly, what reassurances can my hon. Friend give to parents in my constituency and throughout Wales who are gravely concerned that those advantages to their children are being jeopardised, or, at best, severely impaired, as a consequence of the teachers' dispute?

My hon. Friend is right to say that when the GCSE was announced, as long ago as June 1984, it was very much welcomed by all educationists, and there is no doubt that it is superior to the 0-level and CSE examinations. Those who desire to delay the start of the course in September this year and the subsequent examination must think seriously about their motives for doing so. The GCSE has had unprecedented support from the Government—far more financial support than any previous examination and course.

In view of the importance of making it clear beyond peradventure that this examination will be introduced on the stated date and that action by the teachers' unions, which could conceivably damage the examination, cannot possibly postpone it, will my hon. Friend none the less consider giving additional weapons to those teachers who are doing their best to introduce the examination on time by considering whether there should be an increase in the capitation grant, particularly for science subjects?

I assure my hon. Friend that the Government do not regard alteration of the timetable as an option. The additional moneys that have been made available, particularly for books and equipment, to supplement the capitation fees amount to about £2,500 per secondary school per annum over the next two years and to about £18 per GCSE pupil.

Is my hon. Friend aware that numerous teachers, including some headmasters insist that they have no knowledge of these preparations? Does that not suggest a lack of communication between my hon. Friend's Department, the education authorities and the schools? Will he therefore take emergency measures to get this message across?

I do not think that that can be right. In written answers to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Thomas) I have listed the GCSE inset seminars that took place between 20 January and 7 April this year. Notice of the start of the new examination course was given as far back as June 1984, explanatory leaflets were issued in January 1985, national criteria have been published and a great deal of money has been spent on seminars, training materials, inset funding and books.

This is a good examination which is to make a lame start because of a tight-fisted Government. Will the Minister make available additional cash and give more time off to teachers so that they are able to prepare for the examination? There is a morale crisis among teachers and very great worry among parents, who are upset by the shortage of textbooks, equipment and teachers. Headmasters of high schools throughout Wales are anxious and are looking to the Minister for initiatives that will result in additional money and teachers.

A will and a commitment are needed by all concerned to go ahead with the start of this examination course. I was glad to hear the hon. Gentleman commend it. We have spent £45,000 on seminars for teacher preparation and we are to spend an additional £15,000 on further seminars. A sum of £150,000, to be spent on training materials, is under consideration. Inset funding has received £427,000, at a rate of grant of 90 per cent. I have already given details of the amount of money to be spent on books and materials during the next two years. I am entitled to repeat that that kind of financial commitment represents unprecedented expenditure on a course of this kind.

asked the hon. Member for Wokingham, as representing the Church Commissioners, what amount and proportion of the Church Commissioners' total revenue derives from income arising from its assets; and what total amounts and proportion of expenditure goes in support of stipends and pensions.

From total revenue of some £140·7 million in 1985, £93·5 million, or 66·5 per cent., arose from their own assets, the remainder from parish giving and other local sources. From total expenditure of £138 million, £112 million, or 81·2 per cent., was spent on clergy stipends and pensions.

Notwithstanding the welcome increase in recent years in parish contributions towards stipends, does my hon. Friend agree that his answer underlines the simple fact that the improvement of clergy stipends and pensions depends greatly upon the Church's income from its assets? Therefore, it is in the interests of everybody that the Church should be encouraged to invest in land and property, the stock markets, and in all other ways.

That is true. It is immensely important that the investment portfolio should be well managed and that we should have a buoyant agriculture. Like many similar institutions, the Church benefits enormously when inflation is under control.

Should we not pay attention not so much to the Church Commissioners' portfolio, as to the amount that the laity gives? Is it not a matter of concern that as soon as a clergyman has children the family becomes eligible for family income supplement, and that those children are the largest single group to claim help under the assisted places scheme?

I cannot accept the hon. Gentleman's premise without first inquiring into the matter. However, I agree that there is a continuing duty to increase the laity's giving. That point is given constant attention by the joint committee charged with that task.

asked the hon. Member for Wokingham, as representing the Church Commissioners, what is the total raised towards clergy stipends in Easter offerings; and if he will make a statement.

The answer is approximately £200,000 a year or, on average, £25 per incumbent.

Is my hon. Friend aware that on Easter Sunday I found in my place, just as I have every year of my life, a short note from the church warden saying that the ancient custom of the church is that Easter offerings shall be given as a personal offering to the incumbent? Is it not clear from what my hon. Friend has already said that that is not happening, and that Easter offerings are taxed? Will he join me in tackling our right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on that point and the Church Commissioners, in order to restore that true and traditional custom to its rightful place in the church?

I cannot answer for the tax side of the question, except to say that I have noticed that successive Chancellors of the Exchequer of all political parties have sought to find a method of identifying the source of income so that it need not be taxed. It was the General Synod's decision that the sums raised should be included in the central augmentation, and that is the authority under which we proceed.

asked the hon. Member for Wokingham, as representing the Church Commissioners, what was the average stipend for a clergyman on 1 January; how that compares with 1 January 1981 and 1 January 1976; if he will evaluate the benefits in kind, including housing, for each period; and if he will make a statement on the future funding of clergy stipends.

The estimated average stipend of an incumbent on 1 January was £7,197 compared with £5,185 in 1981 and £2,534 in 1976. The equivalent figures for the housing "benefit in kind" are £3,800, £2,800 and £1,700.

I welcome the substantial increase in the clergy stipends and I am pleased to note that stipends are ahead of inflation. Will my hon. Friend note the concern felt by parents, who are deterring their sons from going forward to the Advisory Council for the Church's Ministry as potential ordinants because they consider it to be a not necessarily financially worthwhile career? Will he do all in his power to publicise the new stipends and the fact that the housing part of the stipends is so high?

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for paying tribute to what has been done. Compared with 1985, there has been an increase in the stipend of 7·2 per cent., compared with inflation of 4·2 per cent. I am sure that my hon. Friend's question and my answer will help to publicise the issue. I am also sure that my hon. Friend will agree that a man offers himself for service primarily because of his vocation. The financial reward comes a long way behind that.

asked the right hon. Member for Taunton, as representing the Public Accounts Commission, what economy, efficiency and effectiveness examinations of the use of resources by the National Audit Office have been carried out to date by its auditor.

It is for the newly-appointed auditors of the National Audit Office, who come from the private sector, to decide whether to carry out such examinations. No reports of any such audits have, however, as yet been made to the commission.

In the light of the right hon. Gentleman's announcement to the Taunton Conservative Association at the weekend, I express appreciation of what the right hon. Gentleman did in his capacity as Chairman of the 1922 Committee in making facilities available for Back Benchers, and of what he did as Chairman of the Treasury Committee in increasing Parliament's effectiveness on policy matters. Has he had an opportunity to consider the case of Jim Smith, which I raised with him? Has he reflected on the use of whistle blowers and deep throats in saving the public purse vast sums of money?

I do not know whether I am in order, but I must express my appreciation of the hon. Gentleman's generous comments, and I am grateful to hon. Members for their kindness.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the National Audit Office used its resources with great efficiency and effectiveness when last November it examined the proposal to set up a joint services defence school of music? Is he further aware that as a result the Public Accounts Committee also did excellent work and produced a report, which led the Government to reconsider whether the Royal Military School of Music, which produces the finest military bands in the world, should remain at Kneller Hall, Twickenham?

I am glad to have the opportunity to associate myself with the tribute that my hon. Friend has rightly paid to the admirable work by the Comptroller and Auditor General. In my opinion, for what it is worth, the whole business of efficiency in Government and the sensible spending of money is markedly assisted by the competence of those who work in the National Audit Office under his leadership. If we please my hon. Friend with his passion for music, I am doubly content.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on the arrangements authorised by the Catering Sub-Committee of the House of Commons (Services) Committee for the supply of goods to the Refreshment Department without charge and in connection with publicity within the House for the suppliers.

The Catering Sub-Committee has not laid down any general policy on this matter. But I understand that the recent display of English apples in the Members' Cafeteria and Tea Room was specifically approved by the Chairman of the Sub-Committee in response to an initiative by the Apple and Pear Development Council.

Will my right hon. Friend convey the thanks of hon. Members to the Apple and Pear Development Council for the excellent free apples and pears provided a fortnight ago? Will he encourage the council to provide more English apples such as Cox's Orange Pippins and Worcester Pearmains as a means of promoting the vigour and health of Members, of keeping the doctor away and of aiding a most important British industry?

I shall certainly convey those thanks to the admirable Apple and Pear Development Council, and draw my hon. Friend's comments to the attention of the Catering Sub-Committee.

Does the Leader of the House not find it unacceptable that in the Restaurants hon. Members can still purchase real turtle soup and frogs' legs? Will he instruct the Catering Sub-Committee to stop purchasing such obscene products?

I would not normally buy those products at that price, but I shall convey those comments to the Chairman of the Catering Sub-Committee.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what consideration he has now given to the case of Jim Smith, pursuant to his answer, Official Report, 25 March, column 879.

I confirmed in my letter of 16 April 1986 to the hon. Member that I had asked my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Defence Procurement to write to him about the issues raised on 25 March. He has now done so. The hon. Member has already approached Her Majesty's Treasury about its policy for payment of compensation and has received a reply.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that that ridiculous letter arrived half an hour ago? As an independent member of the public, what does the Lord Privy Seal think should be done to protect the interests of whistle blowers and deep throats who have saved the Treasury a great deal of money by their actions?

The hon. Gentleman will appreciate that Ministers with departmental responsibilities for these matters can more appropriately answer that question. The hon. Gentleman will also appreciate that in the Easter and May Day Adjournment debate I said that I would contact my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence which I have done.

Is the Leader of the House aware that it is now 12 months since I raised this matter, and I have repeatedly raised it. Is he aware that in the past 12 months I have driven much information on this matter into the Public Accounts Committee? That Committee may be about to report on those matters. Does the right hon. Gentleman accept that it is the only Committee in the House which is equipped to establish the truth of what happened in the case of the Aish company and Mr. Jim Smith?

Earlier this afternoon I had the advantage of listening to the exchanges between the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) and my right hon. Friend the Member for Taunton (Sir E. du Cann) on the work of the Public Accounts Committee in this respect. I shall take account of what the hon. Gentleman has said, and I am sure that hon. Members in all parts of the House will be interested in the findings of the Public Accounts Committee, whatever they are.

Does my right hon. Friend agree that if the Government were less secretive the House would be able to do its job a great deal better? What steps will he take to ensure that we can have a freedom of information Act?

I think that that goes much wider than this question. In this respect, I point out to my hon. Friend that earlier in the life of the Government, in all good faith, we mounted a freedom of information Bill which encountered so much ambiguity and anxiety that, in the end, the measure ran into the ground.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will move to refer to the Select Committee on Procedure the present arrangements for private notice questions; and if he will make a statement.

The arrangements for private notice questions are already within the general terms of reference of the Procedure Committee.

Does the Leader of the House agree that the House gives Mr. Speaker far too little guidance as regards which questions should be selected for private notice and which questions should be rejected? It is therefore our fault that Mr. Speaker is often subject to a great deal of controversy when he refuses a private notice question, as in the case of the question concerning Libya on 14 April. Would it not be better if, in the interests of this House and of Mr. Speaker, the Procedure Committee reconsidered the limited guidance we now give and considered whether it could be more extensive and helpful to Mr. Speaker?

No, I do not think that I could agree with that proposition. One of the advantages of the present private notice procedure is, first, that it is private and not subject to contention on the Floor of the House, and, secondly, that Mr. Speaker does have a great deal of discretion.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that private notice question applications are an extremely important facility for hon. Members and that they should not in any way be undermined? Will the right hon. Gentleman also bear in mind that if the Government were more forthcoming in making statements on important items of business, there would be less need for us to put in applications for private notice questions?

I agree entirely with the hon. Gentleman about the importance of private notice questions to hon. Members. I do not think that any analysis of the practice over the lifetime of this Government would suggest that we have made fewer statements than our predecessors.

I support the submission of my hon. Friend the Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick). I am always putting down private notice questions, and they are invariably refused.

Mr. Speaker is a good judge.

Is the Leader of the House aware that I put down a question on the prison officers' dispute—

Order. Please do not say that.

There is a need for the Government to volunteer statements to the House from the Treasury Bench before being pressed to do so by question, private or otherwise.

In respect of private notice questions, I thought it was considered bad form to advertise one's failures. The hon. Gentleman raised the need for more Government statements. I assure him that if that were undertaken, it would not be long before hon. Members, quite properly, would complain that more and more prime time was being taken by Government statements.

The Leader of the House may or may not be right in his general expression of satisfaction with the present handling of applications for private notice questions. We also heard what he said about it within the Procedure Committee's terms of reference. Can he tell us when the Procedure Committee last considered this quite important matter?

Not without notice.

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many people are eligible for a free taxi home from the House of Commons after late night sittings; what was (a) the cost and (b) the numbers involved in each of the past five years; and if he will take steps to extend this facility to right hon. and hon. Members.

Staff of the House and certain other individuals who are on late duty when the House or its Committees continue to sit after 11 pm are eligible to use the late night car service at no cost to themselves. The statistics involving numbers and cost are complex and do not lend themselves to oral answer. I will, however, set out the information in the Official Report. There are no proposals to extend the facility.

Does my right hon. Friend share my concern about the difficulty with which the House is now presented? It cost £56·8 million to run the House of Commons in the last financial year. Hon. Members speak late into the night, so staff have to stay here much longer than is necessary and therefore need a lift home. I am not suggesting that any hon. Member ought to have a free lift home, but surely the best solution would be for the House to stop sitting after 10.30 pm. There would then be no requirement for this taxation without representation and free taxis for many while hon. Members are left standing in the taxi queue.

The House is sitting no later today in any significant sense than in, say, 1980–81. If my hon. Friend wants the House to rise that much earlier, he should note that that can happen only if the most frequent participants in our debate show some continence.

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker, arising from Question Time. On Welsh questions we reached No. 11 slightly after 3.10 pm, when questions to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster started. You managed to call all the hon. Members who had tabled questions for the Chancellor, and also several supplementaries. At 3.18 pm we came to questions to the right lion. Member representing the Public Accounts Committee. Again you managed to call those who wished to ask supplementary questions. At 3.20 pm, you managed to call all the hon. Members who had tabled questions to the Leader of the House, as well as several hon. Members to ask supplementary questions..

I am sorry that I did not manage to call the hon. Gentleman today. I was hoping to do so. The allocation of time for Questions is not a matter for me, but Welsh questions went on for a further three minutes beyond 3.10 pm, and we made up time subsequently.

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. Should not Welsh Members assist English Members in the disestablishment of the Church of England?

That is not a matter for me.