asked the Prime Minister (1) if she will update the list of wars and military conflicts and the estimate of the numbers who have lost their lives as a result of such conflicts, which she undertook to place in the Library in 1982, Official Report, 28 June 1982, column 219;(2) what information she has as to how many military conflicts have taken place in the world since 1956 involving specifically the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the Warsaw pact, the United States of America, the United Kingdom and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, stating the estimated loss of life in each conflict.

In my answer of 28 June 1982 to the right hon. Member I drew on information provided as a result of academic research and official estimates. I regret that updated material is not readily available in the forms requested and could now only be provided at disproportionate cost.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list all Government measures passed, since taking office in 1979, to help the unemployed and to alleviate unemployment; and if she will also evaluate the overall cost of these measures.

Since 1979 we have introduced a range of measures to help the unemployed, and to provide training for both employed and unemployed people. We have also modified and improved a number of measures which were in place when we came to office. The measures are: community programme; enterprise allowance scheme; job release scheme; job clubs; job search scheme; job splitting scheme; job start allowance; restart programme; new workers scheme; part time job release scheme; young workers scheme; Community Industry; voluntary projects programme; YTS; job training scheme; training for enterprise; wider opportunities training programme; training grants for employers; Open Tech programme; access to information technology; career development loans.Expenditure on our employment and training measures in cash terms from 1979 to the end of this financial year will be in the region of £13 billion. Our current range of employment, enterprise and training measures is described in the recently published booklet "Action for Jobs".

asked the Prime Minister if she will seek to negotiate a new formal agreement between the United Kingdom and the United States of America as to the circumstances in which United Kingdom military facilities may be used by the United States; and if she will make a statement.

No. The Government are satisfied with the existing understandings which, as recent events have demonstrated, work well.

asked the Prime Minister if she will answer the letter she has received from Sefton Asbestos Fibre Experts concerning the advice she gave it to contact a small firms centre; and if she will make a statement about the functioning of the small firms centres.

My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Employment is writing to the hon. Member.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in discussions with representatives of the United States Government prior to the recent attack upon Libya, it was made clear that one of the main objectives was the elimination of Colonel Gaddafi and his headquarters.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to him on 24 April at column 421.

asked the Prime Minister at what precise time on what date she gave her formal agreement to President Reagan for the use of air bases in the United Kingdom for the attack on Libya; whether she at any time prior to giving her formal agreement indicated her provisional approval; and if she will make a statement.

I have nothing further to add to my statement in the House on 15 April and my speech in the debate on 16 April.

asked the Prime Minister what proportion of those who are appointed by Her Majesty's Government to public bodies are from ethnic minorities.

I regret that this information is not available and could only be collected at disproportionate cost. Ministers appoint people from all sections of the community to public bodies on the basis of their ability to contribute to the work of those bodies. Departments do not keep records of the ethnic origins of those appointed to public bodies.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what are the criteria he uses for appointment to the post of justice of the peace within the Duchy of Lancaster.

Acting on the advice of my advisory committees, I seek to appoint as magistrates those who are personally suitable in character, integrity and sensitivity and who are generally recognised as such by those among whom they live and work. They should be capable of comprehending and adopting a balanced approach to evidence and argument. Subject to these considerations, I also aim to appoint magistrates such that the bench as a whole broadly reflects the make-up of the local community.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give the figures of coal stocks for each of the last five years up to the most recent date, specifying the stock levels in each area of the National Coal Board.

The national figures for undistributed coal stocks over the last five years are:

	million tonnes
1980–81	20·9
1981–82	24·9
1982–83	25·0
1983–84	21·0
1984–85	19·0

More detailed figures are a matter for the National Coal Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what assessment he has made of the implications of the current level of production of North sea gas, the fall in oil prices and the availability of cheap foreign coal for (a) the ability of the National Coal Board to meet its target for financial break-even and (b) for the board's investment programme; and if he will make a statement.

It is still too early to judge the likely extent and duration of the recent sharp deline in oil prices which together with imported coal and other fuels have increased the competitive pressure on the National Coal Board. It is therefore too soon to assess the implications for the NCB's target of break-even next year and for the Board's longer tem investment programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the annual production figures for each of the last five years of opencast coal mining; whether he will now take steps to curtail the output of opencast coal; and if he will make a statement.

Annual production figures for opencast coal mining over the past five years have been:

	million tonnes
1980–81	15·3
1981–82	14·3
1982–83	14·7
1983–84	13·8
1984–85	13·6

The output for 1985–86 is 14·1 m.t. (provisional only).The level of future opencast coal production is for the NCB to determine in the light of market requirements and the acceptability of individual projects as determined by the planning system.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many requests have been received from African Governments for assistance to national family planning projects since August 1984; what are the countries concerned; and how many such requests have been granted.

We have received and approved requests from the Governments of Malawi, Nigeria and Zimbabwe (two specific requests).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the European Community Development Council on 17 April.

My right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development represented the United Kingdom. Discussion at the Council centred on the immediate and longer-term prospects for Africa. The Commission reported on the rehabilitation plan for countries affected by famine in 1985 which had been approved by the Council last November; and was commended for the speed with which the programme was being carried out and the high degree of consultation with member states. The Council welcomed a Commission initiative for a coordinated and systematic approach to the problems of environmental degradation in Africa, and invited the Commission to consider with member states how it should be put into effect; and discussed the European Community's approach to the forthcoming Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Africa.The Council considered the need for reforms in the Community's food aid programme to make it more responsive to emergencies and to increase its effectiveness as an instrument of development. The Commission was asked to bring forward proposals for changes to the relevant Community regulations as soon as possible.The Council reviewed briefly recent progress in applying food strategies in four African countries; in programming the resources available under the third Lomé convention; in promoting the trade of aid recipient countries; and in giving effect to its previous conclusions on the role of women in development.

asked the Attorney-General (1) what proposals the Lord Chancellor's office has prepared to abolish the use of civil juries in personal injuries cases in the High Court of Northern Ireland; and when he intends to publish them;(2) if the Lord Chancellor's office has had any consultations with the Executive Council of the Bar in Northern Ireland in relation to the continued use of civil juries in personal injury cases in Northern Ireland;(3) if the Lord Chancellor's office has had any consultations with the Law Society for Northern Ireland in relation to the continued use of civil juries in personal injury cases in Northern Ireland;

Detailed representations have been received from all of the organisations mentioned in these questions except the Institute of Directors, but no proposals have yet been drawn up and it is too early to say if and when publication will take place.

asked the Attorney-General what estimate he has made of the proportion of the adult population which now qualifies for civil legal aid.

It is estimated that approximately 70 per cent. of households fall within the qualifying limits for civil legal aid.

asked the Attorney-General whether any action is being or has been taken against Mr. Brian Gentleman following disclosures of his contact with the Czech military attaché and the suggestion that he passed to him classified information.

I understand that the matters to which the hon. Member refers are the subject of an investigation by the Metropolitan police who will submit a report to the Director of Public Prosecutions when their enquiries have been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will compare the cost of 100 actifed tablets with the cost of the alternative prescription of 100 actidil tablets and 100 sudafed tablets; if he will state the net cost to the Government, after taking into account the two prescription charges paid; and what was the net cost of supplying actifed in the 12 months leading up to the introduction of the limited list.

The current manufacturers' prices are as follows:

	£
100 Actifed tablets	4·86
100 Actidil tablets	4·70
100 Sudafed tablets	4·40

Where the patient is not exempt from prescription charges, the cost to the National Health Service of any item prescribed, exclusive of the dispensing and administrative costs, is offset by £2·20 from 1 April 1986. In the year 1984–85 the cost of actifed tablets to the NHS, net of income from prescription charges, was £373,600.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what study he has made of the rule imposing an abatement of unemployment benefit suffered by men between the ages of 60 and 65 years who are made redundant during that time but have small levels of income from occupational pensions; and what would be the cost to the Exchequer of abolishing the rule.

The abatement provision applies to occupational pensioners aged 60 or over who have their unemployment benefit reduced by 10p for each 10p of their occupational pension in excess of £35 a week, whether they have been made redundant or taken early retirement and whether these events took place before or after the claimant reached age 60. The Department has not carried out any specific studies into the effect of this rule.It is estimated that the cost of abolishing the rule would be around £41 million in the first full year, although this would reduce to about £28 million in a year. The higher cost in the first year is because there are many occupational pensioners who have not claimed unemployment benefit from April 1981 onwards, because it would have been extinguished, but who could claim and get up to a year's benefit if abatement ceased to apply.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if his Department has received a report of the work of the Voluntary Licensing Authority for Human In Vitro Fertilisation and Embryology; and if he will make a statement.

My Department has noted with interest the first annual report of this body, which has been set up by the Medical Research Council and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consideration his Department has given to Mrs. Ursula Keeble's report entitled "Provision of Aids and Adaptations for Hospital Patients Discharged into their Own Home", a copy of which has been sent to him; if there is any action he will be taking arising from the report; and if he will make a statement.

The report bears on complex issues which are currently under consideration within the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the number of judicial reviews in which his Department has been involved since 1 March 1974; and on how many occasions the court of final recourse has found against him.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on his policy towards the provision of National Health Service and other chiropody services for amputees; and if he will specify how his policy applies to each different category of amputee.

Handicapped people, including amputees of whatever category, are recognised as one of the priority groups for receiving National Health Service chiropody treatment.For war pensioners, when NHS chiropody services cannot be provided, the Department meets the cost of private treatment for any foot condition that results from the disablement for which the war pension is being paid. Under these arrangements, leg amputees can receive private treatment for their remaining foot because of the abnormal stress and strain to which it is subjected. Arm amputations do not of themselves entitle war pensioners to private chiropody but this policy is being reviewed.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current annual cost of his Department's pest advisory service; how many people are working within it; what are their professional qualifications; and if he will give its role and responsibilities.

The remit of the Department's pest control advisory service is outlined in Health Notice HN(76)186. This service is provided, in the main, by two officers—one a fellow of the Institution of Medical Laboratory Technology and the other a qualified environmental health officer—as part of their duties in the Hotel and Dietetics Services Branch. It is not possible to separately identify the cost of the pest control advisory service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people have taken part in the training courses run by his Department's pest control advisory service; and how many people per National Health Service hospital this represents.

Since 1979, 384 officers from 155 health authorities in England have attended these training courses. With possible changes in the circumstances of these officers and in the number of hospitals, it is not possible to draw a meaningful ratio of trained staff per hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to provide central monitoring of the level of pest infestation and the expenditure on methods to prevent it within the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement.

There are no plans to provide central monitoring of pest infestation within the National Health Service. It is the responsibility of health authorities to establish effective procedures for monitoring their premises calling upon professional advice as necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what figures are available on the level of expenditure on pest control in the National Health Service;

I regret that this information is not collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will instruct all general managers to identify a person in their authority to take responsibility for pest control and to take steps to ensure that the appointed person takes the training course run by his Department's pest advisory control service.

These matters are being considered in the context of the revised guidance on food hygiene and pest control in the National Health Service, which is at present in preparation.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what evidence he has regarding the incidence of severe pest infestation in hospitals; and what was the source of the evidence.

The latest information available on the incidence of Pharaoh's ants in National Health Service Hospitals in England indicated that 11·6 per cent. of hospitals surveyed were infested. These figures are taken from: Edwards J. P. and Baker L. F., 1981, "Distribution and importance of the Pharaoh's ant Monomorium pharonis (L) in National Health Service Hospitals in England", Journal of Hospital Infection 2, 249–254. There is no information on the prevalence of other pest species in National Health Service hospitals, but I am aware of the concern expressed by the British Pest Control Association in its publication "Hospitals Can Damage Your Health" published last year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many surveys of pest infestation in hospitals have been carried out by his Department's pest advisory service either alone or in conjunction with other agencies; what was the nature of the surveys; what were the findings and the recommendations; and if he will place the surveys in the Library;(2) how many hospitals have been visited in the last year by members of his Department's pest control advisory service; if the advisory service makes unsolicited visits; and if he will make a statement.

Since 1976, the Department's pest control advisers have carried out 73 surveys at the request of individual health authorities, including 20 visits in the past year. The findings and recommendations relate to the needs of individual hospitals and I do not therefore consider it appropriate to place them in the Library. Unsolicited visits are not made.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list for each area authority in the country the waiting time for admission for each medical and surgical specialty since 1979.

I am sorry I cannot give the hon. Member the information he seeks. The numbers in the central data sample are too small for reliable estimates to be made below regional level.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many people have been awarded payments for industrial disease in the National Health Service in each of the last five years; what is the incidence per thousand workers; and how this compares with the incidence in non Crown premises;(2) how many industrial accidents have occurred in National Health Service hospitals in each of the last five years; what is the rate per thousand workers; and how this compares with the rate in non Crown premises.

I regret this information is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his answer, Official Report, column 28, 21 April, how many community psychiatric nurses are employed in England and Wales; how this figure compares with the figures for each of the past seven years; and if he will make a statement.

I regret that I cannot give the hon. Member the information he seeks for the earlier years: prior to 1981 the occupation coding systems did not enable these staff to be identified. Figures for 30 September 1984 are the latest centrally available to this level of detail. Corresponding figures for Wales are also shown in the table:

Community psychiatric nursing staff
	Whole-time equivalents*
At 30 September	England	Wales
1981	1,080	80
1982	1,240	80
1983	1,430	140
1984	1,880	140

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to privatise the supply of spectacles by National Health Service hospitals; and if he will make a statement.

At present hospital eye service (HES) patients may choose to buy the spectacles they need on the private market, or to have National Health Service glasses and pay the statutory charges. Interested bodies are being consulted about proposed arrangements for these patients when the current range of NHS frames and lenses ceases to be available on 1 July. It is proposed that, in general, these patients will be able to obtain their spectacles either at the hospital at the full economic cost or on the private market. Vouchers to provide them with basic spectacles to meet their clinical needs will be available to those who at present benefit from arrangements for exemption or remission of NHS charges. Patients requiring particularly expensive complex lenses will continue to be able to receive them through the HES for payment of a NHS charge.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to remove the current entitlement to free National Health Service spectacles for children and low income groups; and if he will make a statement.

When the voucher scheme is introduced on 1 July all children and others at present entitled to free supply of National Health Service spectacles will instead receive a voucher.The range of vouchers will be set at levels intended to allow basic spectacles suitable to a patient's clinical need to be purchased from the much wider choice available on the private market.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many young people are currently on the volunteer programme; what proportion of the supplementary benefit rate for a single young person the allowance paid to the volunteers represents; and how much the allowance is.

I regret that statistics of the age of volunteers participating in the opportunities for volunteering scheme are not available. It is a condition of the scheme that any out-of-pocket expenses and allowances paid by local voluntary projects to volunteers must be such that they do not affect entitlement to social security benefits. The supplementary benefit disregard is £4 a week.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what criteria have to be satisfied before an organisation is eligible to administer a scheme under the volunteer programme; and how many such organisations are running programmes;(2) how many representations he has received about the present limits of the volunteer programme; and if he has any plans to extend the scope of it.

Grants under the opportunities for volunteering scheme may be made by 16 national voluntary organizations—15 "specialist" organisations and a consortium led by the Volunteer Centre and the National Council for Voluntary Organisations—which act as agents for an agreed range of local voluntary projects enabling unemployed people to participate in voluntary work in the health and personal social services. About 700 such projects are current at any time.The scheme was relaunched with some changes at the beginning of April following a review in which those concerned were consulted. The changes have been generally welcomed and we have no plans to consider further changes before some experience of the new arrangements has been gained.I have placed a copy of the Notes for Applicants for Grants 1986–87, which outlines the scheme, in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cases of acquired immune deficiency syndrome have been reported (a) in Birmingham and (b) in the rest of the west midlands region from January 1980 to the most recent date for which this information is available.

Up to the end of March 1986, 328 cases of acquired immune deficiency syndrome had been reported to the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre. These may be broken down into geographical areas as follows:

	Number
Thames Regions	264
Wessex and S. Western	21
Other Regions: Midlands and the North	29
Wales	6
Scotland	6
N. Ireland	2

It is not possible to provide a more detailed breakdown of the location of these cases without endangering patient confidentiality.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many extra young people aged (a) 16 years, (b) 17 years and (c) 18 years he estimates were eligible for supplementary benefit in 1985 and are eligible in 1986 following the decision of the Tribunal of Commissioners R(F) 2/85.

A total of approximately 52,000 young people left school at Easter 1985 but the number who had exams to take and who might have been eligible to claim supplementary benefit following Commissioners' decision R(F) 2/85 is unknown. However, 24,859 young people successfully claimed benefit and 8,164 of these still had exams to take. No breakdown by age is available. There are no figures yet available for 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on the incidence of violent attacks on community nurses.

I regret that data are not held centrally about the incidence of violent attacks on National Health Service staff in hospitals or in the community. The Government are concerned about the increase of violence towards NHS staff and a working party of the Health Services Advisory Committee is currently looking at this issue. They are conducting a survey in a sample of health districts and a full report is expected in the summer. Regional health authorities have, meanwhile, been asked to review the problem and the measures they are taking to combat it.Much is already being done to improve staff safety and security. In addition to the existing health authorities' safety codes which are being continually reviewed, all health authorities were asked to develop security strategies and all have done so. A security manual published by the National Association of Health Authorities which provides detailed advice on all aspects of security was commended to health authorities in 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he plans any changes in policy in the light of the report "Diet, Nutrition and Health" produced by the Board of Science and Education of the British Medical Association, a copy of which has been sent to him; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. McCrindle) on 25 March at columns 458–9.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he received the report of the Social Security Advisory Committee in connection with his proposals for changes to students' benefit entitlement; whether he intends to proceed with his proposals; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 24 April 1986, c. 244]: The report was reviewed towards the end of last month. We are considering the committee's views, along with those of the local authority associations, and will make an announcement in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what discussions he has had in the last month with the National Advisory Body and the University Grants Committee about the future of higher education.

Since the beginning of January my right hon. Friend has written one letter to NAB and has attended one meeting of the NAB committee. He has also written jointly to the chairmen of the UGC, the NAB board and the Welsh Advisory Board, about student numbers in 1987–88. He has had no other correspondence or meetings with the UGC.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent representations he has received about the state of buildings in schools.

The state of school buildings was discussed at the February meeting of NEDC which my right hon. Friend attended. Representations on the subject have also been made to my right hon. Friend and me by hon. Members and others.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received on the availability of nursery education.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to extend the discretion of heads and governing bodies of schools with regard to financing.

As part of its provisions for improving the management of schools, the Education Bill currently before Parliament will give governing bodies and head teachers significant powers in respect of finance.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much was provided from public funds for the Voluntary Licencing Authority for Human In-Vitro Fertilisation and Embryology during 1985–86; and what are the estimated funds for 1986–87.

I cannot at present give a precise answer. The Voluntary Licensing Authority for Human In-Vitro Fertilisation and Embryology was set up jointly by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG). I understand from the MRC that the total cost of the authority in 1985–86 was £82,000; and that the total cost for 1986–87 is estimated to be £79,000. The RCOG has agreed to pay a share of these costs, as yet undetermined.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to how many local education authorities in England are using their powers under the Education Act 1980 to restrict free school meals to those children whose parents receive supplementary benefit or family income supplement.

In October 1985, there were 30 authorities restricting the provision of free school meals to those pupils whose parents were in receipt of supplementary benefit or family income supplement.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the number of judicial reviews in which his Department has been involved since 1 March 1974; and on how many occasions the court of final recourse has found against him.

Particulars are only readily available for the period since 1 January 1982. Since that date I have been involved in 33 applications for judicial review. In 11 of these the court has granted relief to the applicants, and in three I have submitted to judgment. The total of 33 includes five cases in which the court has granted leave, but the substantive hearing has not yet taken place. Particulars for the period from 1 March 1974 to 31 December 1981 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the current level of funding for the Natural history museum.

In the financial year 1986–87, the provision made in Supply Estimates for the British Museum (Natural History) is £17·2 million. This sum includes estimated expenditure on its behalf of £5·4 million by the Property Services Agency.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Caithness and Sutherland, Official Report, 17 April, column 437, he will specify the advantages which he anticipates will result from the bringing together of the breeding and marketing of Plant Breeding Institute varieties; and what precise contributions to the future single organisation is envisaged from research funded by his Department.

On the first part of the question, one major advantage will be that receipts from sales will be available directly to finance further breeding work. On the second part, I cannot yet say. This will depend on the form of the privatisation, if it proceeds.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his reply of 25 March, Official Report, column 400, when he expects to publish the draft series of statement of broadly agreed objectives for different subjects taught in schools.

My reply of 25 March to the hon. Member—column 400—made clear that we intend to issue in the near future a draft of the next statement in this series, the first of which "Science 5–16" was published in March 1985. Further statements will follow in due course, and after appropriate consultations.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in the Official Report, for each local education authority, his Department's education capital expenditure allocation at outturn and at constant prices in each year from 1981–82 to 1986–87; and what were the original bids received by his Department for each year.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if any guidance is to be given to local education authorities and schools about closer co-operation with the police; and if he will make a statement.

The police have a valuable contribution to make in our schools on road safety, crime prevention, law and order and in explaining their role. Most schools welcome the police but some do not and I greatly deprecate this. It means that their pupils are deprived of the help and advice which the police can offer them and a valuable opportunity is being lost for developing a better understanding between young people and the police.A discussion document on effective co-operation between the schools and police has been prepared jointly by the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Society of Education Officers. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department and I welcome this initiative. Copies are being sent today to all local education authorities in England for distribution to individual schools and separate arrangements are being made for Welsh schools. Copies are also being sent to independent schools. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department is arranging for distribution to all police forces in England and Wales.I am arranging for a copy to be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many pits have been closed in Wales since March 1985; how many jobs have been lost as a consequence and how many alternative jobs have been provided within the communities affected; and if he will make a statement detailing the Government's plans to secure alternative employment for redundant miners.

Since March 1985, nine pits in Wales have been closed. The overall South Wales coalfield manpower has fallen by 6,094 as a result of these closures and other rationalisations. In the two counties principally affected, Mid Glamorgan and Gwent, 321 projects promising 8,553 jobs have accepted offers of regional assistance or been allocated Government factories during 1985–86.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the progress towards the implementation of the GCSE examination in comprehensive schools 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.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the latest figure for the number of hospital beds available in National Health Service hospitals in Mid-Glamorgan and Wales, respectively.

In the year ending December 1984, the latest date for which there are figures the average number of daily available beds in Mid Glamorgan was 4,750. The corresponding figure for Wales was 22,310. The figures for 1985 will be available in a few weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has received any representations regarding the privatisation of the Welsh water authority; and if he will make a statement.

I have received 15 letters following the publication of the Government's proposals for the privatisation of water authorities in England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many grants for specifically educational purposes were made by his Department during the last year for which figures are available.

Three hundred and thirty two such grants were made in the financial year 1985–86.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what new plans he has to deal with patient waiting lists in Mid-Glamorgan and other areas of Wales.

The management of waiting lists rests with health authorities. I have called in expert consultants and established a Welsh Office catalyst team to cooperate with health authorities in targeting the main problems and following through measures to reduce waiting times. A workshop to identify problem areas was held on 9 April and another to review progress will be held in the autumn. Authorities, including Mid Glamorgan, have taken steps to attack the lists giving most concern.

Jones asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many people are unemployed in Wales, and in Clwyd, including school leavers; and what percentage increase there has been since May 1979.

The unadjusted March 1986 unemployment figures for Wales and Clwyd are 184,247 and 24,847 respectively. Unadjusted figures for 1979 were produced on a different basis and cannot properly be compared.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to expand and develop the ports at New Quay and Aberystwyth; and if he will make a statement.

Substantial support has already been given to harbour development at Aberystwyth, and I am prepared to consider any further proposals Ceredigion district council, as local harbour authority, may put to me for development either at Aberystwyth or at New Quay.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the connection between the return rate after surgery and waiting lists in Wales as disclosed in the report of Mr. John Yates of the health services management centre, Birmingham University.

The number of repeat appointments patients are given for out-patient clinics is one of the factors that will be examined in the coming months by Welsh health authorities and the Welsh Office team which has been established to concert action to reduce waiting lists and waiting times.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the recent meeting with representatives of all health authorities in Wales regarding waiting lists.

On 9 April a workshop was held by the Department assisted by management consultants. It concluded that during the next six months health authorities should develop and implement action plans for the reduction of waiting lists and these should include the setting of measurable targets, the mechanism for involving the medical profession more closely, and improving information systems on waiting lists and the needs of patients on them. A Welsh Office team will assist authorities and monitor progress. A further workshop is being arranged for the autumn to review progress and any problems encountered.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what objectives are set for managers in the National Health Service in Wales; what monitoring is undertaken to ascertain if those objectives are attained; and what action is taken in the event of objectives not being attained.

The objectives of NHS general management in Wales are set out in the Department's circular WHC(84)15 which is available in the Library. It is for each individual health authority to determine specific objectives for unit and district general managers. The Department also monitors authorities' performance through a formal annual review process and by regular meetings with health authority chairmen and general managers. Action in cases where objectives are not attained would naturally vary in the circumstances of the case. General manager appointments have been made for a fixed term initially of three to five years, but with the option for either party to terminate the contract at the end of either the first or second year subject to six months' notice.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has yet received the two reports into the adequacy of cancer facilities in north Wales and throughout Wales referred to in his letter to the hon. Member for Ynys Môn of 5 November 1985; and when he expects to be able to make a statement.

The reports of the departmental working party on regional services to north Wales and of the Welsh Medical Committee Advisory Group on Cancer Services have now been received. These are presently being studied and a consultation paper is being prepared.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many complaints he has received concerning shortages of books and equipment in Welsh schools; and if he will make a statement.

Over the last six months the Department has received 118 letters in which such complaints have been made. I regret that there should be grounds for such complaints in an area where expenditure levels reflect the education authorities' assessments of priorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make arrangements for the secondment to full-time teaching in schools of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools in Wales.

My right hon. Friend has no plans at present to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report the names of each of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools in Wales, together with the date of their appointment.

The information requested is given in the following table:

Names	Date of appointment to present grade
Chief Inspector
I. R. Lloyd	9 August 1982
Staff Inspectors
P. C. Webb	5 November 1970
R. Thomas	1 January 1975
M. J. F. Wynn	1 January 1977
P. Thomas	1 October 1982
R. L. James	1 September 1984
S. J. Adams	1 January 1985
Dr. T. A. Parry	1 February 1986
Inspectors
G. Warren	5 November 1970
N. B. Evans	1 September 1971
G. D. Jones	1 February 1971
M. W. Stone	1 February 1971
O. E. Jones	1 April 1971
Miss D. Selleck	1 September 1972
W. R. Jenkins	1 January 1973
T. G. Prosser	1 September 1973
A. Higgins	1 September 1974
H. W. Davies	1 January 1975
J. Nicholas	1 January 1975
Miss P. A. Nicholas	3 February 1975
I. M. Lewis	1 September 1975
I. G. Morgan	1 October 1975
A. H. Jones	1 January 1976
G. O. Roberts	2 October 1978
B. Wigley	1 November 1978
P. B. Walker	1 January 1979
M. J. Law	1 January 1979
G. Thomas	1 September 1979
J. M. Laugharne	1 September 1979
R. Taylor	1 September 1979
R. G. Davies	5 September 1979
Mrs. L. Gainsbury	1 September 1979
C. Abbott	1 September 1983
Dr. J. R. N. Evans	1 September 1983
Mrs. R. James	1 September 1983
A. Morgan	1 September 1983
Mrs. V. Scott	1 September 1983
Miss L. Thomas	1 September 1983
Mrs. G. Briwnant Jones	1 September 1984
A. G. George	1 September 1984
J. Griffiths	1 September 1984
M. John	1 September 1984
J. R. Lewis	1 September 1984
D. G. H. Rees	1 September 1984
Mrs. I. Thomas	1 September 1984
W. E. L. Williams	1 September 1984

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to increase the size of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools in Wales.

I have at present no plans to increase the complement.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will arrange for the two of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools in Wales who do not possess a specific degree or diploma in education to attend an appropriate course of training leading to an appropriate qualification;(2) if he will make arrangements for those five of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools in Wales who have had no school teaching experience to gain that experience.

No. These inspectors were appointed on the basis of experience in other aspects of education which it is considered necessary to have within the inspectorate.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report the number of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools in Wales who have been appointed with specific responsibility for subject areas, separately distinguishing those subject areas.

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Schools are recruited on the basis of successful experience as teachers or lecturers. None is appointed solely on the basis of subject expertise and all have subject, territorial and phase responsibilities. In the specialism of its members Her Majesty's Inspectorate covers most of the subjects offered in schools and colleges.Subject areas for which there is a first point of contact are identified in the Directory of HM Inspectors in England and Wales. I will place a copy of the directory in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will arrange for Her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools in Wales to be seconded on a full-time basis to industry.

My right hon. Friend has no plans at present to do so. I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 15 April 1986, at column 349.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will withdraw paragraph 7 of Welsh Office circular 11/83.

I have no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what facilities exist or are planned within Welsh National Health Service hospitals for laser treatment of kidney stones; how many kidney stone patients are treated by laser or surgery in Welsh hospitals in a year; how many such patients are currently on the waiting list; what is the average waiting time; and what are the corresponding figures for treatment, waiting lists and waiting time for each hospital or health authority area in Wales.

The information is not readily available and I will write to the right hon. Gentleman as soon as I am in a position to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when his Department will have the figures for 1985 pertaining to the median waiting time and the maximum waiting time before admission to Singleton and Velinare hospitals for a cervical carcinoma.

The information requested will be available later this year, when all the relevant returns for 1985 have been received and when the information contained in these returns has been validated.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make it his policy not to permit the continuance of quarrying at the Navan Fort site.

Navan Fort is an ancient monument in the ownership of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland and there are no proposals to quarry within the precincts of the fort.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when a decision will be announced about future quarrying on the Navan Fort site.

The report of the public inquiry into the planning application to continue quarrying on land adjacent to Navan fort has been received and a decision will be made when the report has been considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement outlining what representations he has received on the future of the Navan Fort site.

A planning application was lodged with the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland in November 1984 for permission to continue quarrying on land adjacent to Navan Fort in Co Armagh and to erect plant and buildings. Over 300 representations and objections to the proposal were received and these were examined by the Planning Appeals Commission at a public inquiry. The commission's report has now been received and is being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to respond to the request by the Falklands legislature for the declaration of a 200-mile fishing zone.

During her visit to the Falkland Islands from 23 to 28 February my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State explained to councillors and others our view that the most effective way of controlling the south-west Atlantic fishery and conserving fish stocks is to work for a multilaterally-based conservation and management regime under FAO auspices.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations with Guatemala following the election of President Cerezo.

We hope the election of President Cerezo and the return to democratic government in Guatemala will facilitate a resumption of official relations, for which we have always been ready.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has, for each of the last 10 years, as to the amount of financial support received by the Irish Republican Army and Sinn Fein from NORAID in the United States; and what steps he proposes to take to staunch this flow of funds.

NORAID members claim that they have raised more than $3 million in the last 15 years. It is illegal in the United Kingdom to give money to the Provisional IRA. United States law is a matter for the United States authorities.The United States Government's total opposition to organisations involved directly or indirectly in terrorism in Northern ireland is beyond doubt. It takes active steps to arrest and prosecute those engaged in the export of arms to the terrorists.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has about the latest figures relating to the number of murders and crimes of violence per head of population in the United States of America, for each of the last five years; and if he has available to him the relevant figures for each individual state.

The information requested is not readily available, but I will write to my hon. Friend and arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, when he met his European Economic Community colleagues on 14 April, he was aware that President Reagan had sought the agreement of the Prime Minsiter for the use of United States bases in the United Kingdom to launch an attack on targets in Libya; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. I was present in No. 10 when the initial message from President Reagan was received. I played a full part in the consultations which followed. These included a visit to London, and a number of other European capitals, by General Walters. In consequence, at the meeting of European Community Foreign Ministers on 14 April, I was aware, as were indeed others with whom the United States had been in touch, that United States military action against Libya was an early possibility. I was, of course, also aware both of President Reagan's request for an agreement on the use of United States aircraft from bases in the United Kingdom and of the response which had beer given to that request. Like others, however, I had no confirmation that the President had taken the final decision to go ahead, and specifically on the night of 14–15 April, until I returned to London after the meeting.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received about trade sanctions taken against the United Kingdom by Arab countries following the United States air raid on Libya.

I am not aware of any such trade sanctions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the action taken by the Libyan Government in respect of the Libyans permitted to leave the United Kingdom following the killing of WPC Fletcher in April 1984, particularly Dr. Omar Sodani, Ali Abuzich, Matouk Matouk and Abdul Ghadir Baghdadi.

We cannot confirm that any action has been taken by the Libyan authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on his recent meeting with Paul Nitze, the United States negotiator on the strategic arms reduction talks, regarding the SALT 2 treaty; and what advice Her Majesty's Government are giving the United States Government on staying within the SALT 2 agreement.

The Prime Minister and my right hon. and learned Friend had separate meetings on 23 April with Ambassador Nitze. Their discussions covered a wide range of arms control issues, Soviet non-compliance with current agreements, and the need for all parties to adhere to the SALT 2 agreement and ABM treaty. They confirmed that the Government's attitude last July, when the Prime Minister welcomed the President's decision to continue to abide by the SALT 2 constraints, remained unchanged.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent consultations he has had with other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries on the ratification of the additional Geneva convention protocols.

The question of ratification of the additional protocols to the Geneva conventions was most recently discussed with NATO partners at a meeting on 18 April.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Government hope to introduce legislation for the ratification of the additional Geneva convention protocols which they signed on 12 December 1977.

Consultations with our North Atlantic Treaty Organisation partners are continuing, and I am not yet able to state when we would be in a position to proceed with the additional protocols.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government's support has been sought for the Nicaraguan proposal to Honduras for the setting up of a border commission to monitor border violations; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy not to approve any proposal for the use of part of the site of special scientific interest at Norrich More as the location for assembling pipes for the North Sea oil industry; what advice he has received on this matter from the Nature Conservancy Council; and if he will make a statement.

The Nature Conservancy Council has strongly recommended that the Secretary of State should call in the relevant application for planning permission in the light of the planning authority's intention to grant permission against the council's advice. My right hon. and learned Friend is at present considering whether to exercise his call-in power.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial assistance his Department gives to charitable organisations providing accommodation for homeless persons.

Assistance is available from the Scottish Development Department to voluntary organisations concerned with homelessness under section 13 of the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977. This is available for innovative projects with a Scottish application, however; local projects providing accommodation would not normally be eligible. In the current year, grant aid is being given under section 13 towards the administrative costs of the Scottish Council for Single Homeless and Scottish Women's Aid and towards Shelter (Scotland's) Young Persons' Housing Project.Assistance is also given under the urban programme to a number of projects for the homeless sponsored by the voluntary sector, including some which provide accommodation. The amount of this assistance cannot readily be quantified.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of local authority financial support for charitable organisations providing accommodation for homeless persons.

This information is not collected centrally. I must refer the hon. Member to the local authorities in which he is interested.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial assistance his Department gives to housing authorities for the continuation of emergency accommodation for homeless persons; and if he will make a statement.

The Government have increased the planned level of capital investment in public sector housing this year to £322 million, an increase of £46 million, or over 16 per cent. above the figure at the beginning of the last financial year. Within the block capital allocations to local authorities the Government do not hypothecate sums for particular purposes and it is for individual authorities to decide on their own priorities within the resources available according to local circumstances and needs. Financial assistance towards current expenditure on hostels and lodging houses is available through housing support grant; in 1986–87 this amounts to £952,711.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the cost in providing bed and breakfast accommodation for homeless persons in Scotland.

The information requested is not available for Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice his Department has given to the new town development corporations to assist district councils in making provision for homeless persons.

The code of guidance on the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977 was issued by my Department to new town development corporations in September 1980. Chapter 7 of the code contains guidance on management policies to facilitate co-operation between development corporations and housing authorities under section 9 of the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many homeless persons there were in Scotland for each year since 1979.

The following table shows the number of applications under the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977 made to local authorities in the year ending 31 March:

Year ending 31 March	Number of applications
1979	16,123
1980	15,466
1981	14,861
1982	15,950
1983	16,521
1984	15,245
1985	17,856

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice his Department has given to regional councils providing social work support for homeless persons in the 16 to 18 year age group.

A code of guidance on the discharge of their functions under the Homeless Persons Act 1977 was issued to both district and regional and islands authorities in September 1980. The points addressed specifically to regional and islands councils concerned matters of practice and provision by social work departments and the need for co-operation with the district council housing departments, both through formal administrative structures and at the level of casework. The code makes no mention of persons in any particular age group, but I have no reason to think that it requires any expansion for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he has given to local authorities on the provision of emergency accommodation for homeless persons in the 16 to 18 year age group.

It is primarily for local authorities to assess what provision is appropriate in their areas, in the light of local circumstances and the level of resources available. However, part 7 of the Scottish Housing Handbook, "Housing for Single People, Shared Accommodation and Hostels" (HMSO, 1984), gives guidance to local authorities on the provsion of accommodation suitable for single people including, in chapter 3, detail design guidance for hostels.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many homeless persons currently live in bed and breakfast accommodation in Scotland.

It is estimated that there were some 500 persons temporarily housed in bed and breakfast or emergency accommodation at 31 December 1985 who applied under the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when last a study of homelessness was undertaken by his Department; what were the findings; and what action he has taken to remedy the problem.

The Scottish Development Department has not carried out such a study, although we do monitor the number of applications under the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977 and detailed statistics are published at intervals. The need for further information, including research, is being kept under review.Homelessness is a serious, but localised, problem. It is for individual housing authorities to decide on their own priorities within the resources available to them.

	Cumbernauld	East Kilbride	Glenrothes	Irvine	Livingston
1974	866	712	122	386	890
1975	738	886	588	1,086	933
1976	416	1,154	443	968	1,672
1977	841	155	455	904	1,277
1978	747	47	385	488	546
1979	453	148	579	574	933
1980	296	261	416	193	682
1981	280	263	539	571	297
1982	320	125	222	115	404
1983	145	374	377	174	321
1984	70	288	220	120	183
1985	278	217	103	158	222

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has as to the emergency

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice his Department has given to regional, island and district councils to achieve a coordinated response to homelessness; and if he will make a statement.

Chapter 7 of the code of guidance on the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977, issued by the Scottish Development Department to local authorities in September 1980, contains detailed guidance on co-operation between housing authorities and regional council social work departments. The code recommends that to facilitate co-operation formal administrative structures for liaison should be set up as proposed in the 1975 report by the Morris Committee, "Housing and Social Work—a Joint Approach". I believe that the arrangements to implement this recommendation are best decided locally; I have no indication that they are not working satisfactorily.