asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy, when considering appeals against planning decisions relative to the provisions of small community-based homes for mentally handicapped people, to take into account the objectives of the all-Wales strategy for mentally handicapped people.

Each appeal is decided on its planning merits and with all material considerations being taken into account.Full weight is given to the all Wales strategy for mentally handicapped people in considering planning appeals for which it is a material consideration. I take this opportunity to underline the advice given in development control policy note 15 that homes for the mentally handicapped should be part of the community and should allow the occupants to enjoy normal community life, so far as their handicaps permit.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy, when considering appeals against planning decisions relative to the provision of small community-based homes for mentally handicapped people not to withhold planning consent for such residential units involving the provisions of support services if planning consent could be given, or already exists, for residential purposes for non-handicapped people.

Each planning appeal is considered on its merits. The Secretary of State and his inspectors have regard to all material considerations when considering appeals.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to remove the requirement for a change of use certificate to be issued for a residential house or flat if the occupiers of such premises are to be mentally handicapped persons requiring support services; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for the Environment are reviewing the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1972 and have before them a report produced by a sub-group of the Department of the Environment's property advisory group. One of the sub-group's recommendations is the creation of a new residential use class which would provide for the special type of use of a house by a group of not more than 10 people living together and enjoying the services of non-resident and resident supervisory or domestic staff. The report has been the subject of widespread consultation and the responses are now being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many young people in Wales took (a) general certificate of education O-levels, (b) certificate of secondary education examinations and (c) both sets of examinations in 1985; and of these groups what is his best estimate of the number who did not return to school in the September term.

It is provisionally estimated that in the academic year 1984–85, 31,400 school leavers had attempted at least one GCE O-level examination, 31,300 had attempted a CSE examination and 24,300 had attempted one examination of each type.Comparable data estimates for pupils who left school in their minimum school leaving age year were 17,800, 22,700 and 16,100, respectively.

asked the secretary of State for Wales how many young people in Wales at (a) the minimum school leaving age, (b) one year above and (c) two years above minimum school leaving age left school in 1985; and of these groups what is his best estimate of the number who (a) were eligible to leave at the end of the Easter term and (b) did leave at the end of the Easter term.

It is provisionally estimated that 44,300 pupils left maintained and independent schools in Wales in 1984–85. Of these, 29,400 left in the year of attaining the minimum school leaving age, 6,100 left one year beyond the minimum school leaving age and 7,400 left two years beyond the minimum school leaving age.It is estimated that about 18,000 of those attaining the minimum school leaving age in 1984–85 were eligible to leave at the end of the spring term, and that about 3,000 did so. Pupils over the minimum school leaving age may leave at any time.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the number of fishing vessels laid up, the number of new vessels introduced, the number fishing and the number of fishermen employed in the English fishing industry for each of the years 1976 to 1985.

Not all the information requested is available. The following are the details on the English and Welsh fishing fleet for which information is available:

	Vessels laid up*	New vessels†	Total number of vessels	Number of fishermen‡
				Regularly employed	Partially employed
1976	—	74	3,832	8,730	4,149
1977	—	35	4,080	8,172	4,498
1978	—	37	4,146	8,064	4,755
1979	—	21	4,405	8,377	4,558
1980	—	9	4,047	8,455	5,135
1981	—	31	4,637	8,450	5,922
1982	—	28	4,228	8,258	5,465
1983	—	28	4,676	8,022	5,355
1984	39	29	5,067	8,142	4,571
1985	65	28	n/a	n/a	n/a

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the annual sum devoted to the promotion of fish as a food for each year from 1980 to 1985.

The information requested is as follows:

	£ million
1980–81	0·273
1981–82	0·310
1982–83	0·669
1983–84	1·059
1984–85	2·784
1985–86	5·267

These figures represent funds allocated for fish promotion by the Sea Fish Industry Authority and its predecessors and include part of the Government's contribution towards the seafish industry development programme which commenced in 1984.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the impact of recent currency revaluations in the European monetary system on the costs of the common agricultural policy and on the 1986 price proposals of the EEC Commission.

The realignment of the European monetary system on 6 April did not give rise to any changes to the agricultural conversion rates ("green rates") used in the CAP. Support prices to farmers have, as a result, been unaffected. The Commission services have suggested that the effect of the realignment will be to increase expenditure by 333 mecu in 1986 as a result of the changes in parities and effects on trade including the introduction of monetary compensatory amounts for France and the Irish Republic. The realignment provides increased scope for devaluations in green rates. Such devaluations would add to the cost of the CAP.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the proportion of output of cereals produced in 1985 on holdings with 50 hectares or more of cereals.

Information on the proportion of cereal output produced in 1985 by holdings with 50 hectares or more of cereals is not readily available and could be extracted only at disproportionate cost. The proportion of the area of cereals accounted for by holdings with 50 hectares or more of cereals is shown in table 4 of the White Paper on the "annual review of agriculture 1986" (Cmnd. 9708).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research work he is funding or intending to fund on the incidence of skeletal abnormalities in wild salmon and trout.

There are at present no plans to include such work in the programme of research funded by Fisheries Departments.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, assuming similar weather patterns in 1986 to 1985, what estimate he has made of the effect, in volume and value terms, by commodity, of the latest common agricultural policy price fixing on surpluses.

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

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information is available to him concerning the salmon conservation policies of the Norwegian Government, with particular reference to drift netting and the use of monofilament nets; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 April 1986, c. 41]: I understand that the Norwegian Government recently announced their intention to prohibit the use of monofilament materials in salmon fishing gear from 1988 and to prohibit drift netting for salmon in Norwegian waters from 1989. Other forms of netting will continue to be permitted.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate was made by the Commission of the savings to common agricultural policy costs in 1986 of transferring to member states one quarter of the costs of surplus food storage and of reducing the interest payments made to member states for their interim financing of such storage costs, respectively.

[pursuant to his reply, 1 May 1986, c. 476]: The Commission has estimated that the reductions agreed by the Council in payments for intervention storage and financing will reduce Community expenditure by 208 mecu and 92 mecu respectively in 1986.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate has been made by the Commission of the cost of the European Economic Community's agricultural activities in 1986 in consequence of the 1986 price review; what was the figure for 1985; and what is the level of expenditure permitted under the strict budgetary controls agreed in December 1984, disregarding the factor of any allowances which can be made under this agreement for exceptional or aberrant circumstances.

[pursuant to his reply, 1 May 1986, c. 476]: The Commission has estimated that in 1986 expenditure relating to agricultural support, for which there is provision of 21,012 mecu in the budget, will be reduced by 320 mecu as a result of the prices agreement. Also the Council at the same time agreed economy measures which should save 300 mecu on the funding of intervention stocks. The Commission has stated, however, that these savings will be outweighed by the effects of currency changes and that a supplementary budget will therefore be required, although it is unclear what extra level of provision will be sought. Guarantee section expenditure in 1985, excluding fisheries, was 19,728 mecu. The maximum level of expenditure in 1986 indicated by the financial guideline, including provision for Spain and Portugal, is 21,186 mecu.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate has been made of the additional cost to United Kingdom national expenditure of the parts of the 1986 farm price review package which permit national Governments to make extra provision for small cereal producers and for beneficiaries of the milk outgoers scheme and which oblige national Governments to pay a share of the costs of surplus storage and to reduce the interest payments on moneys provided by the Intervention Board for such storage, respectively.

[pursuant to his reply, 1 May 1986, c. 476]: The aid for small cereal producers agreed as part of the 1986 farm price package will be fully funded from the Community budget. It is too early to say whether any national topping up of the Community payments under the Community milk quota buy-up scheme will be necessary.The decision to reduce Community reimbursement of financing and technical costs of intervention storage is expected to be broadly neutral in terms of United Kingdom Exchequer expenditure, as the reduction in United Kingdom receipts will be offset by lower contributions to the Community budget.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the latest figure for recruitment during the previous six months to the Territorial Army of people under 25 years (a) nationally and (b) on Merseyside; and what were the comparable figures for the last three years.

During the six months ending 31 March 1986 there were 10,301 recruits to the Territorial Army, nationally, under the age of 25 years. The corresponding figure for Merseyside was 438.The comparable figures for the last three financial/training years are as follows:

Year	Nationally	Merseyside
1983–84	15,344	879
1984–85	18,455	845
1985–86	17,476	685

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many animals of what types have been used to test the effects of plastic bullet impacts; and what was the fate of these animals.

I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 21 February 1984 at column 501. Tests were carried out at the Chemical Defence Establishment, Porton Down, prior to the introduction into service of rubber and plastic baton rounds to ensure that the rules governing their use were such as to minimise the risk of injury. Since then further work has been undertaken to improve the medical knowledge and treatment of non-penetrating injuries, including those caused by plastic baton rounds and similar projectiles. In the five-year period from 1980 to 1984, 172 animals were used in this work, the species involved being mainly sheep and pigs. All animals used are deeply anaesthetised and most are painlessly killed while still under anaesthetic.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence from what suppliers his Department procures plastic bullets for the use of the Army and British police forces.

The Ministry of Defence procures plastic baton rounds from various commercial sources within the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many plastic bullets were fired by the Army in Northern Ireland in 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1985.

No separate statistics for the Army are available for the period before March 1981. Since March 1981 the numbers of plastic baton rounds fired by the Army were as follows:

	Rounds
1981*	9,836
1982	154
1983	116
1984	265
1985	266
* March to December.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether there has been any change in the kinetic energy figures for standard baton rounds since the answer of 21 January 1977, Official Report, columns 329–30; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the weight, material, dimensions and muzzle velocity fired from ARWEN 37; and what are their kinetic energy levels at five yards, 15 yds, 25 yds and 50 yds.

The Ministry of Defence has no requirement for the ARWEN 37 anti-riot system, and the information requested is therefore not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce the placing of orders for tanks for the Army; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to my reply on 11 February 1986, at column 767. I wrote to the hon. Member on the subject on 25 April 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what consultation the Government will be undertaking prior to final consideration of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation force goal of modernising the United States' binary nerve gas weapons.

Consultation on this force goal is taking place collectively within NATO in accordance with normal Alliance procedures. As I said in the House on 28 April, at column 665, this force goal has been considered by military representatives at NATO; it has not yet been considered by the NATO ambassadors or by NATO Ministers.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why he is not prepared to place his Department's total 1986–87 small arms ammunition requirement with Royal Ordnance Small Arms Ltd.

The Department is at present in negotiation with Royal Ordnance plc over our unplaced small arms ammunition orders for 1986–87.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the final percentage of small arms ammunition purchased abroad in 1985–86.

It would not be appropriate to disclose the final, percentage because, taken together with other published information, it would indicate our total small arms ammunition requirements. I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 4 March 1986 at column 127.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether Her Majesty's Government have anything to add to the statement made in the House by Mr. James Ramsden, the then Secretary of State for War, on 17 December 1963 concerning the circumstances of the court martial of Major Cory and the subsequent events up to the hearing of his appeal by the court martial appeal court.

The facts of this case have been studied as fully as possible after a period of 25 years. There is no reason to suppose that Major Cory is anything other than totally innocent of the charges made against him. This was demonstrated at the time by the quashing of his conviction by the courts martial appeal court on the grounds that there had been a miscarriage of justice.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he first reached the conclusion that the military assessment and intelligence evidence provided to Her Majesty's Government by the United States Administration justified the use of United Kingdom bases for the launching of an attack on Libya; and if he will make a statement.

The background to the decision, and my right hon. Friend's participation in it, to allow the use of bases in the United Kingdom for the operation against Libya on the night of 14–15 April was set out in statements and answers to the House by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 15 April at columns 729–39 and 16 April at columns 875–81.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list his Department's 5·56 mm., 7·62 mm. and 9·00 mm. small arms ammunition requirement for 1986–87.

I have nothing to add to my answer of 4 March at column 127.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of 7·62 mm. small arms ammunition his Department intends to purchase from Royal Ordnance Small Arms Limited.

This will depend upon a range of considerations, not the least of which is the value for money on offer.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he wishes to retain in the United Kingdom a strategic capacity in 5·56 mm, 7·62 mm and 9·00 mm small arms ammunition.

There are at present no plans to relinquish indigenous manufacturing capability for small arms ammunition natures.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will name the British companies which are currently supplying the British armed forces with small arms.

The following British companies are currently supplying the British armed forces with small arms:

• RO plc
• Accuracy International
• Hull Cartridge Company

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the British companies which are currently producing a 5·56 mm and 7·62 mm small arms ammunition for the British armed forces.

Royal Ordnance plc is the only British company at present manufacturing these natures.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of his Department's small arms ammunition requirement he intends to place overseas in 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89 and 1989–90.

As I stated in the House on 30 January at columns 1180–81 it is our policy to increase the proportion of the ammunition programme put to competition. This does not, however, imply an intention to place orders overseas rather than in the United Kingdom. The volume of orders awarded to overseas companies will be decided in the light of the relative merits of the tenders received.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what supportive measures his Department proposes to allow British small arms ammunition manufacturers to compete in countries from which his Department purchases small arms ammunition but do not allow British small arms ammunition manufacturers to compete.

We are prepared to discuss particular problems drawn to our attention by British small arms manufacturers. It is, however, for other countries to determine for themselves the source from which they purchase their small arms.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he intends to publish the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1986".

I intend to publish this year's "Statement on the Defence Estimates" on Monday 12 May.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how he will satisfy himself that foreigners do not exceed their quota of 15 per cent. of Royal Ordnance shares by way of holding companies.

[pursuant to his reply, 28 April 1986, c. 332]: Any quota established would be embodied in the company's articles of association. At flotation, measures would be in force to enable strict vetting of share applications to be applied. Thereafter I am satisfied that the provisions of the Companies Act and the company's articles of association would apply to protect the quota.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the name of the consultants preparing the sale of the royal ordnance factories; and what safeguards he has asked for relating to the sale of royal ordnance factories to non-British shareholders.

[pursuant to his reply, 28 April 1986, c. 332]: The consultants engaged on the privatisation of Royal Ordnance plc are as follows:

• Lazard Brothers and Company Ltd.—Merchant bank advisers to royal ordnance.
• Cazenove and Company/Kleinwort Grieveson and Company—joint brokers to royal ordnance.
• Coward Chance—Solicitors to royal ordnance.
• Coopers and Lybrand—reporting accountants to the MOD and RO.
• Grandfield Rork Collins Financial—financial public relations consultants to the Ministry of Defence and royal ordnance.
• N. M. Rothschild and Sons Ltd.—Merchant bank advisers to Her Majesty's Government.
• Hoare Govett Ltd.—Brokers to the Ministry of Defence.
• Herbert Smith and Co.—Solicitors to the Ministry of Defence.
• Greenaway Harrison Ltd.—Printers.

The Government have given an undertaking that Royal Ordnance will not be allowed to fall under foreign control. It is envisaged that this will be achieved by amending the articles of association appropriately before flotation to limit the proportion of shares held by foreigners and by creating a special share held by the Government to ensure that the position is not changed. No final decisions have, however, yet been taken on the precise mechanics.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the royal ordnance factories which (a) have and (b) have not been offered guaranteed contracts in 1986–87.

[pursuant to his reply, 28 April 1986, c. 332]: The following royal ordnance factories have been offered contracts since 1 April 1986: Chorley, Blackburn, Patricroft, Enfield, Radway Green, Westcott, Bridgwater and Bishopton.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the sizes, numbers and names of foreign manufacturers who have supplied small arms ammunition to the United Kingdom in 1986–87 to date.

[pursuant to his reply, 30 April 1986, c. 422]: Deliveries to the MOD from foreign manufacturers since 1 April 1986 have been as follows:

Manufacturers	Size	Number supplied (millions)
Greek Powder & Cartridge Company	·50 inch	0·7
FFV Sweden	9 mm	2

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to curtail the placement of small arms and ammunition contracts abroad.

[pursuant to his reply, 30 April 1986, c. 422]: Procurement of small arms and ammunition is conducted within our general policy of purchasing from overseas only when the advantages of cost, performance and time scale outweigh the longer term benefits of procuring the British alternative: no additional curtailments are planned. In accordance with this policy, it has been decided that competition for the prime contractor for the second production order for SA-80, the dominant element of our future small arms programme, will be confined to United Kingdom companies.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the change in real terms in expenditure on (a) universities, (b) polytechnics and (c) other institutions of higher education in each year since 1979; and what are the projected changes in real terms for 1986–87 and each successive year for which figures are available.

Table A sets out, for the years 1979–80 to 1984–85, information on the public expenditure concerned. The expenditure figures are at 1984–85 prices, calculated using the GDP deflator.For universities, the grant figures include recurrent and capital grants made by the University Grants Committee and the Computer Board to universities in Great Britain, together with the grants made by the Department of Education and Science to the Open University. The recurrent and capital figures for polytechnics are for local education authority expenditure on polytechnics in England. The recurrent and capital figures for other major establishments are for local authority expenditure in England; these figures include spending on non-advanced further education provided in the institutions concerned. The grant figure for grant-aided colleges is for DES grant to colleges in England. In each case information on public expenditure on student tuition fees is also included. The fees totals shown relate only to home students.Table B shows provisional outturn figures at 1984–85 prices for universities and grant-aided colleges for 1985–86; the corresponding figures for polytechnics and other major establishments are not yet available. The table also shows available information for 1986–87 and future years; local authority expenditure is excluded because it cannot readilly be split between polytechnics and other institutions and because decisions for 1987–88 and 1988–89 remain to be taken.

Expenditure in Further and Higher Education
Table A	£ million at 1984–85 prices
	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85
(a) Universities
Grants	1,337	1,426	1,338	1,487	1,473	1,451
Fees	248	271	304	175	169	170
Total	1,585	1,697	1,642	1,662	1,642	1,621
(b) Polytechnics
Recurrent and Capital	443	445	425	486	470	475
Fees	97	110	129	74	78	78
Total	540	555	554	560	548	553
(c) Other Major Establishments
Recurrent and Capital	1.087	1,146	1,154	1,215	1,248	1,277
Fees	137	147	148	103	108	103
Total	1,224	1,293	1,302	1,318	1,356	1,380
(d) Grant Aided Colleges
Grants	93	100	94	98	98	94
Fees	25	21	25	13	12	14
Total	118	121	119	111	110	108

Table B	£ million at 1984–85 prices
	1985–86	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89
(a) Universities
Grants	1,417	1,410	1,391	1,380
Fees	167	—	—	—
Total	1,584	—	—	—
(b) Grant Aided Colleges
Grants	93	88	90	91
Fees	15	—	—	—
Total	108	—	—	—

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will detail the present surpluses on the teachers' pension fund; and if he will make a statement.

There is no teachers' superannuation fund and consequently there are no cash surpluses. Teachers' and employers' contributions are paid into the Consolidated Fund and benefits are paid out of money voted by Parliament. An account is maintained of receipts and payments. The balance in the account and any excess of receipts over payments each year are deemed to be invested in Government securities and interest added accordingly to the account. The Government Actuary values the account every five years. If he considers it insufficient to meet accrued liabilities, he may set a supplementary contribution rate, payable by the employers over and above normal contributions by employers and employees. The present supplementary rate is 1·75 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list by education authority the schools in each authority which have been closed and are currently awaiting disposal, indicating where appropriate the use to which the buildings or the land are to be put.

This information is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will seek to make the Grange Hill anti-drug abuse video "Just Say No" available for screening in all schools.

This is an admirable and timely initiative on the part of the BBC and I am sure that it will be very successful: indeed the success already of the associated pop record is a sure indication that this is so. The choice of material to be used in schools is a matter for the schools themselves and their local education authorities, but I am sure that they would want to consider this material along with the other good offerings which are available in the field.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the 30 local authorities in England which are restricting the provision of free school meals to those pupils whose parents are in receipt of supplementary benefit or family income supplement.

The LEAs which, at October 1985, restricted the provision of free school meals to children of families claiming supplementary benefit or family income supplement are as follows:

• Bromley
• Enfield
• Hounslow
• Kingston upon Thames
• Merton
• Redbridge Sutton
• Solihull
• Trafford
• Wakefield
• Isles of Scilly
• Bedfordshire
• Berkshire
• Buckinghamshire
• Cheshire*
• Cornwall
• Dorset
• Essex
• Gloucestershire
• Kent
• Lincolnshire
• Norfolk
• Northumberland
• Shropshire
• Staffordshire
• Suffolk
• Surrey
• Warwickshire
• West Sussex†
• Wiltshire

* Discretion exercised for primary pupils only.† Discretion exercised for special school pupils on 1979 Income Scales only.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to reply to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Maryhill about correspondence from Margaret Reilly and David G. Sutherland, which his Department acknowledged on 19 March.

I wrote to the hon. Member today.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will publish in the Official Report the list of targets in Libya bombed by planes stationed in Britain, the objective in each case and the degree of success achieved.

The Pentagon has issued a full list of the targets selected for attack in the operation against Libya. The five targets were:

1. The Aziziyah barracks in Tripoli

2. The Al Jamahiriyah barracks in Benghazi

3. The Sidi Balal port facility

4. Tripoli military airfield

5. Benina military airfield

F111s from bases in the United Kingdom attacked those targets in the Tripoli area. The objective was to strike clearly defined targets demonstrably involved in the conduct and support of terrorist activities. We understand that this was broadly achieved.

asked the Prime Minister if she will specify the numbers and types of all American aircraft used from United Kingdom bases in connection with the United States raid on Libya.

As has been said on previous occasions, the type of aircraft, other than tankers, deployed from United Kingdom bases for this purpose was the F111. The detailed operational arrangements were for the United States within the strict criteria set down for the selection of targets.

asked the Prime Minister what is the latest estimate of the number of terrorists killed during the United States attack on Libya from United Kingdom bases.

The United States made clear its intention was to attack clearly defined targets related to terrorism. The United States Government have stated that all five targets were successfully attacked. Aircraft from bases in Britain were involved in attacks in the Tripoli area only. We do not have a detailed breakdown of the casualties incurred.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will write to each United States Senator who voted against the extradition of alleged Irish Republican Army terrorists, urging them to drop their opposition to the measures before Congress as part of the worldwide campaign against terrorism.

My views on this matter are well known in the United States.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what arrangements are currently made for disposing of waste from the reprocessing of nuclear fuel from overseas; if any plans exist to extend these facilities either on the same or at a different site; and if he will make a statement.

Since 1976 BNFL's contracts for the reprocessing of overseas spent fuel have contained options for the return of wastes. 'The Government intend that reprocessing contracts with overseas customers should continue to contain such options, that the options should be exercised and that the wastes should be returned. It is already planned to return all high level wastes as soon as practicable after vitrification, but in respect of some of the less radioactive wastes there may be other options worthy of study—for example, whether it would be sensible to substitute an equivalent quantity, in radiological terms, of higher level wastes.Low level waste which has already arisen under BNFL's pre-1976 contracts has been disposed of at Drigg: high level waste and intermediate level waste is in storage pending further processing before final disposal in the United Kingdom. Wastes arising in future under these contracts will similarly be disposed of in accordance with our national waste strategy. All wastes arising under the pre-1976 overseas contracts will represent no more than 10 per cent. of total wastes arising in the United Kingdom by 2000. No facilities in addition to those needed for the disposal of United Kingdom waste should be required.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will publish in the Official Report the names of all persons working full-time for National Coal Board (Enterprise) Ltd.; and what are their qualifications.

This is a matter for the management of the company.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any plans to seek to change the name of the National Coal Board to British Coal; and if he will make a statement.

In due course, when a convenient opportunity occurs, my right hon. Friend intends to introduce legislation to bring the statutory name of the National Coal Board into line with its new trading name of British Coal.

asked the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, how many House of Commons Staff are transported from London solely for the purpose of Scottish Grand Committee meetings in Edinburgh; and what is the cost of this.

Seven staff, comprising one Clerk, one Doorkeeper and five staff of the Department of the Official Report, normally attend Scottish Grand Committee meetings in Edinburgh. In the case of the meeting on 20 January 1986, the cost of travel, subsistence and staff travelling time/overtime amounted to £2,250.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the additional cost of transporting Ministers and Members of Parliament to Edinburgh solely for the purpose of meetings of the Scottish Grand Committee.

It is difficult to establish with certainty, the additional cost to the public purse of transporting Members of Parliament to Edinburgh solely for the purpose of meetings of the Scottish Grand Committee. Such costs may be included, but not separately identified, in Members' routine car allowance claims and rail and air warrant costs relating to weekend visits to their constituencies and homes in Scotland.

asked the hon. Member for Wokingham, as representing the Church Commissioners, of he will list those companies in which the Church Commissioners invest which operate in Australian mining.

The Commissioners invest in the following companies which operate in Australian mining:

• Boral
• Broken Hill Proprietary
• CSR
• Comalco
• MIM
• Western Mining
• Exxon
• Newmont Mining
• British Petroleum
• Costain
• Shell Transport and Trading

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the impact on local authority housing waiting lists of the rehousing of some National Health Service staff as a result of the implementation of his Department's circular HC(85)19.

Circular HC(85)19, issued by DHSS, concerns the rationalisation of the National Health Service's residential accommodation and disposal of empty property. Anyone required to move will be offered suitable alternative accommodation. There should therefore be no impact on local authority waiting lists. I refer to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services' answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Erith and Crayford (Mr. Evennett) on April 25 at column 263.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what statutory and other Government financial controls on the activities of water authorities will cease to apply when such authorities are privatised; and if he will make a statement.

The statutory framework for the privatised water authorities will be set by the legislation which the Government intend to introduce at the earliest opportunity. The Government's intention is to turn the water authorities into water service public limited companies (WSPLCs) which will be subject to the provisions of the Companies Acts. As with other privatised bodies, the water authorities will not after privatisation be subject to the financial controls which apply to public sector bodies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the current status of discussions relating to the housing owned by each of the development corporations, indicating the degree of tenant involvement in the discussions.

Housing is currently owned by development corporations in Milton Keynes, Peterborough, Runcorn, Telford and Warrington and by the Commission for the New Towns in Basildon. As my hon. Friend the Member for Surbiton (Mr. Tracey) said in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for The Wrekin (Mr. Hawksley) on 25 March, at column 426, the Government are prepared to consider not only transfers to the relevant district councils but also other alternatives which corporations and the commission may wish to put forward. It is now for the these bodies to consider what proposals to submit, but my hon. Friend made clear that one important factor to which we would give weight in assessing these is the views of the tenants.

asked the Seceretary of State for the Environment if there are any plans to re-classify nuclear fuel element cladding, currently defined as intermediate level waste in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give a detailed indication of the estimated costs involved in the decommissioning of a nuclear waste dump; and if he will make a statement.

There is no intention to decommission a radioactive waste disposal facility.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied that the Anglian water authority is in compliance with section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in respect of its proposals for extending fishing and recreational activities at Pitsford Reservoir and Rutland water, both sites of special scientific interest notified under the Wildlife and Countryside Acts 1981 to 1985; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that one of the water authority's activities on Pitsford reservoir is defined as a potentially damaging operation under the terms of the notification as a site of special scientific interest. This and the water authority's other proposals are currently the subject of discussions between the authority and the Nature Conservancy Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the cost of the London Docklands Development Corporation's current poster campaign depicting Mr. Ken Livingstone.

LDDC's poster campaign depicting Mr. Ken Livingstone cost £5,475.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the answer of 21 April, Official Report, column 65,concerning meetings between his officials and the London Residuary Body, if he will give the date and the agenda for the most recent meeting for which records are available centrally.

The most recent such meeting was held on 23 April to discuss matters relevant to the London Residuary Body's functions under the Local Government Act 1985.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the payments made by the London Residuary Body, and to which bodies, since 1 April.

Payments, except for those regulated by orders or directions made by my right hon. Friend, are a matter for the London Residuary Body. Appropriate information on payments made by the LRB will be included in its statement of accounts, which will be published in due course. No orders or directions have been made by my right hon. Friend since 1 April.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will direct the London Residuary Body under section 65 of the Local Government Act 1985 to place copies of its minutes in the Library.

No. I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to him on 11 April at column 210 and on 17 April at column 477.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the earliest date upon which hon. Members can expect to receive a report from the London Residuary Body on its affairs following the abolition of the Greater London council.

Residuary bodies have been asked to prepare their first annual reports for the part year from their establishment to 31 March 1986. It is too early to be precise about timing, but we would not expect to receive the first annual report of the London Residuary Body before September. My right hon. Friend will thereafter lay the annual reports in both Houses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing (a) the percentage increase in domestic water rates for each year since 1979 for each English regional water authority and the overall average, (b) the cumulative percentage increase since 1979 for each English water authority and the overall average and (c) the average domestic water rates bill per household for each year since 1979 for each English regional water authority and the overall average.

English water authorities average household bills and percentage increases Combined all services, £ cash

Water authority

1979–80

1980–81

Percentage

1981–82

Percentage

1982–83

Percentage

1983–84

Percentage

1984–85

Percentage

1985–86

Percentage

Change 1979–80 to 1985–86 (percentage)

NorthWest

37·90

46·80

23·5

54·69

16·9

59·86

9·7

63·16

5·5

68·25

8·1

77·57

13·7

104·67

Northumbrian

33·94

41·95

23·6

49·19

17·3

56·86

16·0

64·52

13·5

75·22

16·6

80·38

6·9

136·83

Severn Trent

40·51

48·99

20·9

56·78

15·9

62·44

7·4

64·63

3·5

67·88

5·0

76·16

12·2

88·00

Yorkshire

39·36

49·04

24·6

57·21

16·7

65·30

14·1

68·78

5·3

72·64

5·6

82·30

13·3

109·10

Anglian

48·83

63·01

29·0

75·08

19·2

82·66

11·9

87·80

6·2

93·96

7·0

105·98

12·8

117·04

Thames

38·62

47·82

23·8

54·47

13·9

60·77

13·5

66·74

9·8

73·41

7·6

80·75

10·0

109·09

Southern

43·80

56·60

29·2

67·00

18·4

74·40

11·0

78·36

5·3

82·30

5·0

91·72

11·4

109·41

Wessex

57·22

65·44

14·4

72·87

11·4

78·49

7·5

81·56

3·9

85·59

4·9

95·35

11·4

66·64

South West

54·57

66·72

22·3

75·22

12·7

81·24

8·6

87·96

8·3

93·48

6·3

104·59

11·9

91·66

English averages

41·47

51·37

23·9

59·47

15·8

66·01

11·0

70·92

7·4

75·73

6·8

84·56

11·7

103·91

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has reached a decision on the proposals submitted to his urban housing renewal unit by the London borough of Waltham Forest; and if he will make a statement.

I am pleased to announce my right hon. Friend's favourable response to two proposals for schemes in Waltham Forest. These schemes, on the Beaumont road and Chingford hall estates, have been worked up by the London borough of Waltham Forest in close consultation with the Department's urban housing renewal unit and Greater London housing division.On both estates, the council has already opened local management offices and has introduced local repairs teams. These arrangements will be enhanced as part of the agreed schemes. On the Beaumont road estate, the All Saints tower, a 20-storey block of 120 flats, will benefit from the refurbishment of the entrance lobby and the installaton of a video-film entry-system which will be supported by door porters to control access to the block. This will make a positive contribution to security for the residents. I have agreed in principle to a targeted housing investment programme allocation of £176,500 for these works.I look forward to seeing these proposals being put into effect for the benefit of all the residents of the estate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has reached a decision on proposals submitted to his urban housing renewal unit by the London borough of Greenwich; and if he will make a statement.

I am pleased to announce my right hon. Friend's favourable response to a proposal for a scheme on the Barnfield estate in Greenwich which has been worked up in close consultation with my Department's urban housing renewal unit and Greater London housing division.

The information requested is shown in the table.The council is proposing to open a local management office on the estate, employing six staff, which will look after the day-to-day management of the estate including repairs and maintenance. Localised management is an essential element in measures designed to uplift an estate both in supporting other improvements which are made and in sustaining the benefits of these improvements.The council has submitted a bid for resources from the unit's targeted housing investment programme allocation for works to improve security on the estate including the provision of entry-phones and security works to doors and windows, I have agreed in principle to an additional HIP allocation of £1,182,800 to cover these works and the establishment of a local estate office. The council is also undertaking a five-year programme of capital repairs to the 568 dwellings on the estate.I look forward to seeing these proposals being put into effect for the benefit of all the residents of the estate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has reached a decision on any of the proposals submitted to his urban housing renewal unit by the metropolitan borough of Bolton; and if he will make a statement.

I am pleased to announce my right hon. Friend's favourable response to a scheme in Bolton which the metropolitan borough council has worked up in close consultation with my Depertment's urban housing renewal unit and our north-west regional office.The estate which will benefit from today's decision is the Oldhams estate. This estate consists of 722 dwellings in a mixture of low-rise flats and houses.The council is proposing to open a local management office on the estate to be responsible for day-to-day management and general liaison with the tenants, on the lines of the arrangements which my Department's priority estates project team is already developing on another estate in Bolton. I regard the establishment of local management as an essential part of any package of measures to uplift rundown estates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the Ordnance Survey trading accounts.

On 24 January 1984, my right hon. Friend, the then Secretary of State for the Environment, said that from 1984–85, Ordnance Survey would publish trading accounts in addition to its normal vote accounts. Unfortunately, National Audit Office examination of the 1984–85 trading accounts has drawn attention to deficiencies, primarily in record keeping, which preclude certification and publication for both 1984–85 and 1985–86. There is no suggestion of any loss or impropriety in these accounts and OS is making every effort to ensure that trading accounts for 1986–87 can be audited and published. The difficulties affecting the trading accounts did not affect the Ordnance Survey appropriation accounts which the Comptroller and Auditor General certified in October 1985.

asked the Attorney-General whether he has any plans to implement the recommendations of the Booth report on changes in matrimonial law.

In November 1985 the Lord Chancellor's Department invited the views of interested persons and bodies on the detailed recommendations made in the Booth report, and, in particular, on those recommendations which would not require primary legislation. The Government hope to announce their decision concerning those recommendations later this year, in the light of the views received.

asked the Attorney-General what is his policy as regards requests by officers in the Director of Public Prosecution's Department to seek level transfer to other Civil Service Departments.

Although I have statutory responsibility for the superintendence of the director, day-to-day management of his Department is a matter for him as its permanent head. I understand that any requests for transfer are considered on their merits. While the director naturally endeavours to meet the wishes of individual members of staff, agreement to any transfers must depend on whether the Director of Public Prosecutions Department is able to spare the skills of the staff concerned at that time.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will make a statement on the proposed curtailment of sittings of courts in Wales and Chester, whether the same policy prevails elsewhere; and what changes of policy have taken place since the original policy was announced.

Following a reappraisal, earlier provisional proposals to cancel sittings by assistant recorders and deputy registrars on the Wales and Chester circuit have been withdrawn. Allowing for additional full-time appointments which have been made, the overall number of sitting days there is expected to be maintained. The Lord Chancellor's general policy throughout England and Wales is to sustain the greatest practicable number of court sitting days to deal with the significant increase in case loads which has taken place and to keep down delays.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Soviet authorities for permission for an international inspection team of scientists to visit the site of the nuclear power plant disaster in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; and if he will make a statement.

We have already informed the Soviet authorities that if they require advice on the accident and its consequences United Kingdom experts are ready to provide it.The setting up of any international team of scientists would most appropriately be a task for the International Atomic Energy Agency. We understand that the Director-General has already offered the agency's assistance. United Kingdom experts could make a useful contributions to such a group.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the United Kingdom has received its value added tax abatement in respect of payments into the European Community Budget in 1985.

The European Community 1986 budget provides for an automatic abatement of the United Kingdom's VAT payments for 1,400 mecu (£900 million) in respect of 1985. As VAT contributions are made monthly and the abatement is made by reducing these contributions in equal monthly amounts, 580 mecu (£375 million) of this abatement has already been made available, and a further 820 mecu will be made available between now and the end of the year. The Commission has also said that it will be proposing as part of a supplementary budget this year an additional correction to our 1985 abatement to cover the difference between the estimate of the amount owing to us, and the actual amount.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the names of suppliers of reconditioned cookers, paid by his Department's offices on behalf of claimants, in the Newcastle area over the past three years, together with the total sums paid to each supplier over the same period.

I regret this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the cost to his Department of issuing a leaflet to every young person sitting general certificate of education or certificate of secondary education examinations explaining the conditions under which they may claim supplementary benefit, in the light of the decision of the tribunal of commissioners R(F)2/85.

It is not usual to issue leaflets which provide full details of complex conditions of entitlement. However, the basic cost of a leaflet for young people sitting examinations would be some £40,000 plus distribution costs which would be relatively high since there is no mechanism for such a distribution.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement as to when a young person who is 16 years old after 1 February but attends school in the current term just to take examinations is entitled to supplementary benefit, following the decision of the tribunal of commissioners R(F)2/85 and circular S51/85.

Such a decision is a matter for the independent adjudicating authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what will be the saving to the social security budget of increasing supplementary benefit by 1·1 per cent. instead of 1·2 per cent. in July 1986 in (a) 1986–87 and (b) a full year.

If the main supplementary benefit scale rates were to be increased by 1·2 per cent. this July instead of by £1·1 per cent., the additional cost of the uprating in 1986–87 would be £7 million, equivalent to £11 million in a full year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what guidelines his Department gives to National Health Service planning staff to enable them to take account of population trends and local expansion envisaged within local structure plans: and what provision exists to enable planning staff to forecast health care requirements in conjunction with local councils.

The Department has supplied regional health authorities with population projections produced by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys for each of their districts, covering the period 1981 to 2001, but has issued no guidelines on their use. It is for regional and district health authorities to decide what use to make of these projections and of other data, including local structure plans, in discharging their planning responsibilities. In producing their plans district health authorities work closely with local authorities through joint consultative committees.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of claimants in receipt of (a) sickness benefit, (b) invalidity benefit and pension, (c) industrial disablement benefit, (d) non-contributory invalidity pension-housewives non-contributory invalidity pension or severe disablement allowance for the latest available year at (a) Bloomsbury, (b) Finsbury Park, (c) Highgate, (d) Hoxton and (e) Stoke Newington Department of Health and Social Security area offices.

Bloomsbury local office deals only with claims for supplementary benefit. The number of claimants in receipt of sickness and invalidity benefit-pension and severe disablement allowance as at 8 April 1986, and in receipt of industrial disablement benefit as at 11 February 1986 (the latest dates for which information is available) at (a) Finsbury Park, (b) Highgate, (c) Hoxton and (d) Stoke Newington social security offices is as follows:

	Sickness and invalidity benefits pension	Severe disablement allowance	Industrial disablement benefit
Finsbury Park	1,867	216	177
Highgate	2,085	359	330
Hoxton	1,495	250	195
Stoke Newington	1,839	168	115

Separate records are not kept of the number of claimants in receipt of sickness and invalidity benefit-pension.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the number of claimant couples with children in receipt of (a) unemployment benefit only, (b) supplementary benefit only and (c) unemployment benefit and supplementary benefit for the latest available year at (a) Bloomsbury, (b) Finsbury Park, (c) Highgate, (d) Hoxton and (e) Stoke Newington Department of Health and Social Security area offices; (2) what is the number of claimants excluding pensioner claimants and claimants with dependent children, in receipt of (a) unemployment benefit only, (b) supplementary benefit only and (c) unemployment benefit and supplementary benefit for the latest available year at Bloomsbury, Finsbury Park, Highgate, Hoxton, and Stoke Newington area offices of his Department.

I regret that this information is not available centrally, Statistics are not kept routinely so that the information requested could be obtained only by a special exercise which would be disproportionately expensive.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list for each district health authority, the National Health Service residential accommodation which is empty, and the number of beds unused in each case.

I regret that this information is not held centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, how many people are currently in nursing homes and residental care and receiving supplementary benefit; and what number and proportion of these also claim the attendance allowance.

In December 1983, the latest available date, there were 26,427 supplementary benefit claimants in residential care and nursing homes. It is estimated that about 11,000 of these people (about 43 per cent.) were in receipt of attendance allowance.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the names and areas of all private residential nursing homes into which there has been an inquiry in each year from 1979 to 1986; and what was the outcome in each case.

Responsibility for registering and inspecting these homes rests where it properly belongs with local authorities, and the Registered Homes Act 1984, which came into operation on 1 January 1985, improved and strengthened their powers. No information is held centrally about authorities which instituted inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, if he will give the names and areas of all private residential nursing homes which have been subject to a registered homes tribunal hearing for each year from 1979 to 1986; and what was the outcome in each case.

Registered homes tribunals have been constituted only since 1 January 1985 when the Registered Homes Act 1984 was brought into force. Decisions of the tribunals are deposited quarterly in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many (a) claimants and (b) dependants are currently drawing long-term national insurance benefits.

The latest figures available are as follows:

Benefit	Number in receipt (thousands)	Date
Retirement Pension
(i)	9,562	30 September 1985
(ii)	157	30 September 1985
Widow's Pension
(i)	292	30 September 1985
(ii)	—
Widowed Mother's Allowance
(i)	62	30 September 1985
(ii)	93	30 September 1985
Widowed Mother's Allowance (Personal)
(i)	31	30 September 1985
(ii)	—

Galashiels ILO
	Claimants under pensionable age not required to register for work	Claimants under pensionable age required to register for work	Claimants over pensionable age
(a). Single payments
Number of awards	2,001	2,581	569

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many of the responses to the consultation on statutory maternity allowance supported the proposals for payment of maternity allowance by employers; and how many opposed it.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action has been taken on the Standing Medical Advisory Committee report, "Control of the Cancer Hazard due to Asbestos to the General Population".

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

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of (a) single payments and (b) urgent needs payments, weekly and one-off, paid to claimants who are (i) under pensionable age and are not required to register for work, (ii) persons under pensionable age required to register for work and (iii) persons over pensionable age; and what is the average rate per 1,000 claimants, the average payment made to claimants, and the number of claimants with dependent children in each of the categories (i), (ii) and (iii) for the Galashiels ILO for the latest year for which figures are available.

The following table sets out the information available on (a) single payments and (b) urgent need payments made by Galashiels office during the year ended April 1986 for the categories of claimants specified. Information about payments made to claimants with dependent children is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, what is the number of claimants in receipt of (a) unemployment benefit only, (b) supplementary benefit only and (c) unemployment and supplementary benefits at Galashiels ILO for the latest year for which figures are available.

The number of claimants in receipt of unemployment benefit only from Galashiels unemployment benefit office at the last count on 10 April 1986 was 938. The number of claimants in receipt of either supplementary benefit only or unemployment benefit and supplementary benefit from Galashiels ILO at the last count on 11 February 1986 was 1941. I regret that information on the breakdown between the two is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, what is the number of claimant couples with children in receipt of (a) unemployment benefit only, (b) supplementary benefit only and (c) unemployment and supplementary benefit for the Galashiels ILO for the latest year for which figures are available.

I regret that this information is not available centrally. Statistics are not kept routinely so that the information requested could be obtained only by a special exercise which would be disproportionately expensive.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, what is the number of claimants in receipt of (a) sick benefit, (b) invalidity benefit/pension, (c) industrial disablement benefit and (d) non-contributory invalidity pension, housewives' non-contributory invalidity pension or severe disablement allowance for the latest available year for Galashiels ILO.