asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the latest estimate of the cost of the proposed east London river crossing, indicating the individual figures for (a) the bridge over the Thames, (b) other structures, (c) road construction, (d) land and property acquisition and preparation and supervision.

The estimates given to the hon. Member last July are currently being updated. I shall let him have the revised figures as soon as these are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he intends to seek to introduce a standardised air service agreement, to be used as the basis for future negotiations on air services; and if he will make a statement.

No. I shall continue to take account of all the circumstances when preparing a draft to present to the other party when negotiating a bilateral air services agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if any research has been conducted into evacuation times from narrow bodied, single aisle aircraft; and if he will make a statement.(2) if any research has been conducted into evacuation times from narrow bodied aircraft with different combinations of exits unavailable; and if he will make a statement.(3) if any research has been conducted into the effect on passenger evacuation times of seating and partition layouts in narrow bodied, single aisle aircraft; and if he will make a statement.

Civil aviation safety is the statutory responsibility of the Civil Aviation Authority. I understand from the CAA that evacuation times from narrow body single-aisle aircraft have been researched by British and American manufacturers and summarised by the Aerospace Industries Association of America. Further work has been carried out in the United States of America based upon tests and accident data, including the effects of different combinations of exits being unavailable. Research into the effects of seating and partition layouts, including aisle widths, has been based upon the results of aircraft airworthiness testing and accident data analysis. The authority is currently considering research into the effects of galley layouts and partitions following the accident at Manchester last August.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce legislation requiring milk floats to be fitted with alarms that emit an audible warning when the vehicle reverses.

Regulations were made last year to permit the use of audible reversing alarms on all goods vehicles over 2 tonnes gross weight. This includes milk floats. I believe it is best that individual operators should decide whether to fit alarms to their vehicles, bearing in mind patterns of operation.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 1 May to the hon. Member for Leicester, East, if he will now take steps to collect and maintain information on the number of driving licences lost, stolen or withdrawn on other than medical grounds; and if he will make a statement.

No. It would not be cost-effective to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the review of his policy on the control of disturbance from aircraft noise at night at Heathrow and Gatwick airports, announced in the White Paper on "Airports Policy" (Cmnd. 9542).

The report of the further research referred to in the White Paper — "DR Report 8513: Noise Disturbance at Night near Heathrow and Gatwick Airports: 1984 Check Study''—is now available. I have today initiated the consultation process to which the White Paper also referred. The consultant's present report follows on from a major research programme into the relationship between aircraft noise and sleep disturbance.One of the findings of the report states that our night restrictions policy has resulted in reduced noise exposure and broadly reduced night noise disturbance. That report, of course, forms only one part of the review. The other important component is consultation on all aspects of our night restrictions policy. The views of all those with a direct interest in the operation of aircraft at night at Heathrow and Gatwick — primarily the industry and those it operations affect—are essential.I am anxious, however, to hear all views to enable me to determine whether the present balance of interests is right or whether it needs updating. I would, therefore, like those whom I am formally consulting to let me have their comments by 15 July.These comments will be carefully examined and will be taken into account in deciding whether any changes to the current night restrictions policy are appropriate.I have placed a copy of the study report in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what account he took of the programme for the completion of the north terminal at Gatwick in setting the external financing limit for the British Airports Authority for 1986–87.

The British Airports Authority's external financing limit of £15 million for 1986–87 was decided last September. It took account of the authority's forecasts of its capital requirements and internal resources, and was thought sufficient to allow the authority to complete Gatwick north terminal in summer 1987, and make good progress on other major projects. The authority has since reduced its forecasts of internal resources and as a result has decided to delay the opening of the Gatwick north terminal. It is for the authority to order its investment priorities. The authority still expects the new terminal to be completed in time for the 1988 summer season.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of times, in each of the last five years, that his Department has acquired the main residence of an individual by a compulsory purchase order, the number of cases, in each of the last five years, referred to the Lands Tribunal and the average length of time taken to complete an acquisition.

[pursuant to his replies, 25 March 1986, c. 418, and 1 May, c. 483]: The following paragraph was omitted from the substantive answer.The Department's records do not differentiate between main and other residences. The average time taken to complete an acquisition could be calculated only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many hospitals in Wales, which do not at present have in-house facilities to dispense spectacles, will have such facilities available by 1 July.

The proposals for the future dispensing of glasses in the hospital eye service have been the subject of a consultation exercise. The response is still being considered and it is too early to confirm the detailed arrangements which will be made for dispensing.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many orthopaedic surgeons are employed by each of the health authorities in Wales who carry out hip replacement operations; and how many operations were carried out by each surgeon annually for the past five years.

The following table shows, for each district health authority in Wales, the number of orthopaedic surgeons who carried out hip replacement operations in 1984.

Health Authority	Number of orthopaedic surgeons (including locums)*
Clwyd	6
East Dyfed	4
Pembrokeshire	3
Gwent	5
Gwynedd	3

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will provide information showing the current ratio of radiotherapy units to patients in each part of Wales; if he will make a statement on the present level of care offered to cancer patients in Wales in general.

Radiotherapy is provided for Welsh patients at two centres in South Wales where the ratio of units to potential patients is approximately 1:1,000,000. As patients from North Wales are treated at a number of units in England it is not possible to provide this information in respect of North Wales. The level of service identified for South Wales above is in accordance with accepted norms.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table indicating the average length of time cancer patients have to wait before receiving radiotherapy treatment in Wales; and if he is satisfied with the present situation in Wales.

During 1985, the latest period for which statistical information is available, the average length of time cancer patients waited before receiving radiotherapy treatment in Wales was 15·1 days for first treatment at Velindre hospital and 5·4 days for first treatment at Singleton hospital.Information on patients from Wales who receive treatment at units in England is not held centrally.The Welsh medical committee advisory group on cancer services has recently presented its report on cancer services in Wales and this is presently being studied.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales which circulars, regular reports or regular forms requiring information, that are sent by the Welsh Office to local authorities in Wales, are printed in a bilingual format.

There are 35 bilingual forms or other documents which are regularly sent by the Welsh Office to local authorities in Wales.Details of these are shown in the following list:

Reference Number	Title Description
N1	Ffurflen Ystadegol Ysgolion Meithrin Nursery School Statistical Return
N2	Nursery Schools

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with the progress that has been made in relation to integration of those with special education needs into ordinary schools and colleges; and if he will make a statement.

It was envisaged by the Warnock committee that full implementation of its recommendations on integration would take at least until the end of this century. Nevertheless, all Welsh local education authorities are now implementing the provisions of the Education Act 1981, although progress will vary between authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many children in Wales assessed as needing special education were awaiting day places and boarding places at special schools at January 1986, or the latest date at which the information is available.

There were 295 awaiting places at January 1985.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing how many full-time peripatetic teachers were working for each local education authority in Wales at January 1986, the number shared with other authorities and the number of part-time peripatetic remedial teachers.

Information in respect of peripatetic remedial teachers is not yet available for January 1986. However, the numbers in January 1985 are as follows. None of these teachers was shared with another authority.

	Full-time	Part-time
Clwyd	36	29
Dyfed	26	—
Gwent	—	24
Gwynedd	10	—
Mid Glamorgan	78	37
Powys	33	—
South Glamorgan	8	—
West Glamorgan	47	28

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing how many children in secondary schools in Wales are recognised by the relevant local education authority as being handicapped; of these how many attend designated special classes or units on a full-time/part-time basis; and how many did not attend designated special classes at January 1986, or the latest date for which the information is available.

Information in the form requested is not available. Figures to be published shortly in "Statistics of Education in Wales" indicate that the number of pupils who were receiving special education in ordinary or special classes in maintained secondary and primary schools in Wales under the provisions of the Education Act 1981 totalled 6,400.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many handicapped pupils registered in January 1986 with local education authorities in Wales as having a need for special education are attending special schools outside Wales.

Information for January 1986 is not yet available. At January 1985, 103 were doing so.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will issue guidelines to local education authorities in Wales to ensure that education facilities for mentally handicapped children give due regard to the home language of such children.

It is for local education authorities to consider the pattern of education in their area and to determine placements for mentally handicapped children which best suit their educational needs.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing the number of overseas students enrolled in full-time, part-time and sandwich courses in each of the colleges of further education in Wales as of November 1985.

Information for November 1985 is not available. Figures for November 1984 are as follows:

Number of overseas students
	Number
North East Wales Institute of Higher Education	136
Llandrillo Technical College	22
College of Librarianship, Wales	49
Trinity College	22
Newport College of Further Education	10
Gwent College of Higher Education	41
Crosskeys College	13
Ystrad Mynach College of Further Education	14
Polytechnic of Wales	303
South Glamorgan Institute of Higher Education	60
Rumney College	58
Barry College of Further Education	54
West Glamorgan Institute of Higher Education	122
Neath College	31
Others*	15
* There were eight colleges each with fewer than ten overseas students.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of children remained at (a) maintained schools, (b) independent schools and (c) further education establishments in the academic years 1981–82 to 1984–85 in each local education authority in England, and in England as a whole at 16 years and 17 years.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State gave him on 21 January 1986, at columns 157–64, for information for the academic years 1979–80 and 1984–85. My hon. Friend will write to the hon. Member with figures for the remaining years on the same basis. Figures for pupils at independent schools cannot be given because information about their local education authority of normal residence is not collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will undertake a fundamental review of the role of physical education within the primary and secondary school curriculum.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied that existing provisions for university and college students are adequate to ensure that no student who can benefit from such education will be deprived of the opportunity for financial reasons.

There are now more students in higher education than ever before and the percentage of young people involved is the highest ever. Moreover, our awards system is more generous than those of other developed countries: no other country provides mandatory grant support at a similar level or devotes as high a proportion of its gross national product to student support as we do.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to ensure that the minimum weekly grant income for subsistence purposes of a student aged 18 years and over following a full-time course in education is at least £23·60 per week, and for students aged 16 and 17 years at least £180·20 per week.

Students on mandatory and full value discretionary awards currently receive, subject to a means test, £53·70 per week in term time. To extend the grant system so that all students over 18 in England and Wales received £230·60 per week and all students aged 16 and 17 received £18·20 would cost in the region of an additional £480 million per annum.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has about the numbers of university lecturers with a doctor's degree in scientific and mathematics subjects leaving their posts and giving as the reason for their decision higher salaries and better promotion prospects in industry; and if he will make a statement.

Information in the form requested is not available. In the year ending 31 December 1984 1,269 staff^* were lost to universities of which retirement and death accounted for 601. Of the remaining 668, 227 had qualifications in pure science (biology and physical sciences), engineering, mathematics and computer science; and 68 left for posts in industry and commerce.In the same year universities recruited 997† staff: of these 401 had qualifications in pure science (biology and physical sciences), engineering, mathematics and computer science; and 85 were recruited from industry and commerce.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he proposes to seek to impose a ban on all contacts between United Kingdom academics using super-computer facilities at United Kingdom universities and their colleagues in the 19 countries embargoed by the United States of America, and identified as such to his officials, in the new regulation for the use in the United Kingdom of super-computers of United States origin: and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the outcome of the review of the Centre for Information on Language Teaching and Research which he-announced on 12 July 1985.

In the light of many constructive responses to the Department's consultation, I have written to the chairman of CILT proposing a framework for its work aimed at strengthening its impact, particularly in the schools sector, and inviting him to take specific action to translate this framework into a programme of work. CILT's governing body has considered these proposals and agreed that they should form the basis of the organisation's future activities. Copies of the exchange of correspondence have been placed in the Library.I am grateful to the chairman and members of the governing body for the time and effort they have given to the work of CILT and to those, bodies which responded to the consultation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has yet reached decisions on the Council for Educational Technology following the review of its activities completed in 1985.

I have written today to the CET and I am placing a copy of my letter and the review in the House of Commons Library.

asked the Paymaster General how many new jobs have been created in Bradford since December 1982 by people becoming self-employed.

I regret that the information requested is not available from the Department's statistics.For areas smaller than regions, the only source of information on the number of persons who are self-employed is the decennial census of population. The 1981 census identified 17,023 such persons resident in Bradford.

asked the Paymaster General what arrangements the Manpower Services Commission has made to monitor and evaluate the restart scheme.

Detailed arrangements for the monitoring and evaluation of the restart programme have yet to be finalised. However, the Manpower Services Commission will be examining:

(a) what help was provided to long-term unemployed people through counselling

(b) the effectiveness of the new restart courses

(c) the effectiveness of the new jobstart allowance (by independent survey).

asked the Paymaster General what criteria will be taken into account in judging the success of the restart scheme.

Criteria that will be taken into account in judging the success of the restart scheme will include the extent to which long-term unemployed people are helped to make progress towards leaving unemployment either directly into jobs (with or without the help of the jobstart allowance) the community programme or self-employment (for example, using the enterprise allowance scheme), or indirectly by attending job clubs or restart courses to help them improve their job search techniques.

asked the Paymaster General if he will introduce legislation to amend section 29 of the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978 so as to entitle members of boards of prison visitors to take time off during working hours to perform their duties as prison visitors; and if he will make a statement.

No. I am afraid that increasing the range of circumstances in which employers are obliged by law to give time off could increase the burdens on employers and have an adverse impact on their ability to provide employment. This small change could give rise to pressure for others and I am not aware of any evidence that such legislation is needed to enable boards of prison visitors to fulfil their duties effectively.

asked the Paymaster General what progress has been made by the working group on the review of vocational qualifications.

The group's report was submitted to my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Employment, and my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Education and Science and for Wales, and to the chairman of the Manpower Services Commission, on 23 April. The report is published today, and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House. We are most grateful to the chairman, Mr. H. G. de Ville, and the members of his group for the speed and thoroughness with which they have discharged their remit. We are now urgently considering their recommendations, and will announce our conclusions as soon as possible.

asked the Attorney-General if he is satisfied that the Law Society receives sufficient funds to administer the legal aid scheme without undue delay.

Yes. The cash limit for legal aid administration for 1986–87 is £24·6 million, an increase of 20 per cent. on the figure for the previous year.

asked the Attorney-General what information he has as to the average time lapse between a solicitor applying for payment in respect of legal aid work undertaken and payment of fees.

Comprehensive information on the time taken to process and pay legal aid bills is not available. However, the Law Society recently undertook a sample survey of bills paid during February 1986 in certain area offices from which the following average figures were derived.

	Weeks
Civil legal aid:
(a) taxed bills	Five
(b) Regulation 100 bills	Six
Green Form Bills	Four
Assistance by way of Representation bills	Nine
Criminal legal aid in Magistrates' Courts bills	Seven

In all cases these figures represent the length of time from receipt of the bill by the Law Society to authorisation of payment by the area office. In the case of civil legal aid taxed bills the figure does not include the length of time taken on taxation.Payment of bills relating to criminal legal aid in the higher courts is the responsibility of the courts and not the Law Society. Well over 90 per cent. of these bills are paid within four weeks of the claim being lodged.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the 1985 annual report and accounts of the Crown Agents for Overseas Governments and Administrations will be published.

The 1985 report and accounts are being published tomorrow and copies have been laid before the House. I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has yet determined which Ministers will attend the special session on the critical economic situation in Africa of the General Assembly from 27 to 31 May; and for how long.

[pursuant to his reply, 30 April 1986, c. 421]: The Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary plans to attend the United Nations special session on Africa on 28 May. I shall lead the British delegation for the remainder of the time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in Wandsworth and Featherstone prisons, respectively, were disciplined for (a) assaults on prison officers and (b) assaults on other prisoners in each of the last five years.

I shall reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is considering the publication of a Green paper on local radio.

My right hon. and learned Friend the then Home Secretary announced last year that he proposed to publish a Green Paper this summer identifying the broadcasting policy issues raised by the forthcoming experiment in community radio, including the possible implications for existing local radio services, and inviting comments on a range of possible responses. When that announcement was made it was envisaged that the experimental community radio stations would by then have been operating for some months. It has since become increasingly clear, partly because of the significance community radio is likely to have for the existing framework for the provision and regulation of radio broadcasting, that it would make good sense for the Green Paper to look not only at community radio, but also at the future of radio services as a whole of which community radio may form a significant part. It has also become clear that if experience of the experiments is to inform the consultative process, then a later date of publication would be needed, and this will also allow reference to be made to the report of the Peacock committee, publication of which is expected in the summer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement as to what steps he is taking to seek to increase the penalties for those found guilty of offences involving dog fighting.

The Government share the public abhorrence of all acts of cruelty against domestic and captive animals. The sentence to be imposed in any particular case is a matter for the court concerned and not one in which it would be proper for the Government to intervene. We keep under review the maximum level of the penalties provided for offences under the present law, and are looking at the matter again in the context of a Bill proposed by my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Greenway).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the cost of policing the demonstrations and pickets at the News International plant, Wapping.

I shall reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers have been injured as a result of incidents in and around the News International plant, Wapping; and what measures have been taken to give protection to police officers assigned to these duties.

Three hundred and four, up to 4 May. The usual protective equipment has been available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the impact on crime prevention and detection in London of the recent need to send additional police officers into the Wapping area.

The need for officers to be deployed in this way is regrettable and must have an effect on the service which the police are able to provide elsewhere. I understand from the Commissioner that the precise effect on other crime duties is unlikely to be quantifiable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers have had to be taken away from their normal duties elsewhere in London to provide support to the local division at Wapping.

I understand that over 350,000 police man hours have been spent at or near the News International plant in connection with the industrial dispute there, but information distinguishing those officers who would otherwise have been on duty elsewhere is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The total number of officers involved in the police operation at Wapping has varied from day to day. On Saturdays (the day on which the largest demonstrations have taken place each week) this has ranged from 268 officers (on 8 February) to 1,870 officers (on 5 April). I understand from the Commissioner that 1,744 officers were deployed at the most recent demonstration on 3 May; of these 1,665 officers were from outside the Newham district.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many burglaries of local pharmacies involving the theft of drugs have taken place in each of the last five years.

This information is not collected centrally on a regular basis. However, information collected in 1981 from 26 police forces in England and Wales suggested that there were nearly 600 burglaries in pharmacies recorded in these forces involving the loss of controlled drugs ("Reducing Burglary: a Study of Chemists' Shops" — Crime Prevention Unit—Paper 1).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what special advice on security is issued by his Department or chief officers of police to the owners or operators of local pharmacies.

The requirements for security of drugs controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act are contained in the Misuse of Drugs (Safe Custody) Regulations 1973. No specific guidance on security is issued by the Home Office or the police to persons conducting retail pharmacy businesses, but police crime prevention officers and chemist inspecting officers regularly give advice during their visits to pharmacies. In assessing the adequacy of their security arrangements, retail pharmacists are also urged to take account of the recommendations of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs in its report of 1983 on the security of controlled drugs. If the hon. Member has a specific case causing him concern, I should be pleased to look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received about possible changes to the provisions of the Financial Services Bill relating to self-regulating organisations, or to rules made by a designated agency; and if he will make a statement.

I have received a large number of representations, in particular about these provisions of the Financial Services Bill. In response to these representations it is the Government's intention to bring forward at Report stage amendments to give effect to the following changes.The first change concerns the liability of self-regulating organisations to suit for damages. I have sympathy with a number of the concerns expressed. The organisations might be reluctant to take the necessary disciplinary action against their members if there was a prospect of facing a number of large claims for damages which would be costly and time-consuming to defend. Similar problems could arise when applicants for membership were rejected. I am equally concerned that individuals might be reluctant to serve on the governing bodies of self-regulating organisations or to be employed by them if they too could be sued.The Government have therefore decided to provide immmunity from actions for damages for self-regulating organisations recognised under the Financial Services Bill. This would be modelled broadly on the immunity which the Bill already confers on the designated agency and on the stock exchange in its capacity as competent authority for listing.The immunity would apply to recognised self-regulating organisations, to the members of their governing bodies and to their officers and servants. They would not be liable for damages for anything done or omitted in the discharge of the functions of the recognised self-regulating organisation, unless they could be shown to have acted in bad faith.However, this does not remove all legal remedies, but only the right to claim damages. The right to sue for a declaration setting out the position on any legal issue in dispute or for an injunction restraining an illegal act or requiring the self-regulating organisation to act lawfully will remain.Although these provisions will limit the right of action through the courts, other remedies will be available. An investor who has suffered loss as a result of a business breaching the rules will be able to sue the business, or claim on the compensation arrangements required to be set up by the Financial Services Bill. A business which claims to have been dealt with unfairly by the self-regulating organisation will be able to invoke its appeal procedure, and if deprived of members it will also be able to apply for direct authorisation from the designated agency.The second change would give the Secretary of State a power, which he could transfer to a designated agency, to alter the rules of a recognised self-regulating organisation. The power would allow the designated agency to act swiftly, but allow its decision to be challenged by the self-regulating organisation concerned in a way which other decisions under the Bill cannot be. The designated agency would be able to exercise its powers if at any time it believes that an organisation's rules

	United Kingdom Export-Import Ratios*			United Kingdom Relative Export Prices†
	USA	EC(10)	FR Germany	USA	EC(10)	FR Germany
1970	86	131	81	69	89	86
1971	114	119	72	72	89	87
1972	122	101	60	77	87	84
1973	110	88	50	76	80	75
1974	89	85	47	76	79	75
1975	87	88	57	77	82	79
1976	92	91	58	70	80	75

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what effect the exchange rate has had on the United Kingdom balance of trade in manufactures since the first quarter of 1979; and if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing exports of manufacturers as a percentage of imports for trade with the United States, the European Economic Community and West Germany together with the relative export prices in each case for each year since 1970 and the current year to date.

The balance of trade in manufactures depends upon many factors in addition to sterling exchange rates. The depreciation in the latter since 1979 has had a positive effect on the balance.The statistical information requested is in the following table.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if in conducting his review of monopolies and mergers policy, he will consider whether companies mounting takeover bids should be prohibited from offering for public sale subsidiaries of their targets.

In assessing whether a merger or merger proposal should be referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission for further investigation the Director General of Fair Trading and, subsequently, my right hon. Friend, take into account all aspects of the merger, including any future plans of the parties such as disposals. Each case is considered individually, on its own merits, and there is no presumption that such proposals are objectionable.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will make a statement outlining the further restrictions which were placed on the import of agricultural products from the United States of America to Spain and Portugal in consequence of the Accession of Spain and Portugal to the European Economic Community; and what estimate he has made of the value of the trade affected by these restrictions;(2) if either Her Majesty's Government or the European Economic Community Commission sought the opinion of the general agreement on tariffs and trade on whether the imposing of quotas on oilseed imports to Portugal from the United States of America and the requirement that Portugal purchases 15·5 per cent. of its grain from the European Economic Community, in consequence of the Accession of Portugal to the European Economic Community, were consistent with the terms and obligations of that Agreement prior to the imposition; and if he will make a statement.

The accession to the Community of Spain and Portugal will lead, over a transitional period, to the progressive adoption by both countries of the Community's common customs tariff and the common agricultural policy. As a result, restrictions imposed by Spain and Portugal on trade with countries outside the Community will be reduced in some cases and increased in others. The details are set out in the Treaty of Accession, a copy of which is in the Library.The GATT permits such adjustments where they arise out of the formation or enlargement of a customs union provided that the resulting protection is not on the whole higher or more restrictive than before. The GATT also provides for the negotiation of compensation to trading partners when this condition is not met.The Community is fully satisfied that the enlargement arrangements comply with GATT commitments. The Community was not required to seek the opinion of the GATT secretariat. The GATT provides procedures which should be used for the investigation and settlement of any disputes which arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the outcome of his recent talks with United States Trade Ministers.

I discussed a wide range of trade issues with members of the United States Administration, including objectives for the new GATT round and the current dispute between the Economic Community and United States over the enlargement of the European Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the European Economic Community is seeking to negotiate compensation to the United States of America in respect of the loss of trade rights and injury to the United States of America stemming from the levies placed on corn and sorghum imports from the United States of America to Spain in consequence of Spain's accession to the European Economic Community; and if he will make a statement.

The Community began negotiations with the United States in Geneva on 2 May to establish, in accordance with the provisions of the general agreement on tariffs and trade, what compensation if any is due. Meanwhile, the United States Administration have complained about some aspects of enlargement and threatened to take unilateral action not in accordance with GATT procedures against Community exports. The Community is seeking to dissuade the Administration from any such action. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry reinforced this message in Washington last week and made it clear that the Community would have to respond in kind to any United States action.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements have been made by the Export Credits Guarantee Department with the London and Scottish clearing banks, as represented by the Export and Shipbuilding Finance Committee, concerning the past operation of the comprehensive bank guarantee (open account) scheme and in particular, deficit payments and interest subsidies payable to the banks under the scheme.

Under the comprehensive bank guarantee (open account) scheme, a bank makes advances against an exporter's own promissory notes to finance his exports made on an open account or similar basis. Repayment by the exporter of those advances is guaranteed by the Export Credits Guarantee Department. No interest subsidies are payable to the bank under this scheme.As my right hon. Friend the then Minister of Trade announced on 24 October last, at column 200, the scheme is being phased out by 31 October 1987. This decision was reached after consulting users and other interested parties, including the clearing banks.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he proposes to take to ensure that the owners of computers already installed in the United Kingdom continue to receive the hardware and software support for which the suppliers contracted, in cases where the Government of the supplier country is seeking to attach conditions to the provision of such support; and if he will make a statement.

My Department is willing to take up such cases with supplier country authorities as necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list in full and place in the Library the conditions which the United States Government is seeking to impose in return for supplying a supercomputer to London university; and if he will make a statement.

I see no need to place in the Library a copy of proposals relating to a commercial contract.

asked the Prime Minister if she plans to visit Greenock and Port Glasgow in the near future.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister what plans she has to update the Attlee-Truman agreements on United States bases in Britain.

None. The Government are satisfied with the existing understandings which, as recent events have demonstrated, work well.

asked the Prime Minister whether the 1984 European Economic Community intergovernmental agreement was registered with the United Nations secretariat under article 102 of the United Nations Charter; and if he will make a statement.

No. The responsibility for registering the 1984 intergovernmental agreement with the United Nations lies with the Council Secretariat.

asked the Prime Minister what is her estimate of the amount of money collected for the Irish Republican Army in the United States during the Reagan Administration.

I have nothing to add to the answer my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Christchurch (Mr. Adley) on 28 April at column 291.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list those Government measures of particular help for small businesses since 1979.

Measures introduced since 1979 to help small firms include the business expansion scheme which increases the supply of finance for investment in unquoted companies, the loan guarantee scheme which has recently been extended for a further three years and the enterprise allowance scheme which assists unemployed people to start up their own business and has been extended to provide 86,000 places in 1986–87 and 100,000 in each of the following two years. In addition, we have just launched a small firms merit award for research and technology (SMART) as a pilot scheme to stimulate innovation in small firms.The Manpower Services Commission provides a range of small business training courses at a cost of £20 million in 1986–87.Advice and counselling services have been greatly extended through the Government's small firms service and development of local enterprise agencies which now number more than 300. Under the local enterprise agency grant scheme, £2·5 million is available in 1986–87 to support such agencies in England.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list those Government measures of particular help to small business which are the subject of current legislation or are planned.

The Finance Bill will include a number of tax changes helping small firms, including the indefinite extension and improvement of the business expansion scheme and more favourable tax arrangements for recipients of the enterprise allowance. Also the Department of Trade and Industry has announced that later this year it will introduce an advisory service to help small and medium sized firms to improve their marketing.

asked the Prime Minister if the Government are considering the formation of a formal multinational counter-terrorist unit both at an intelligence and commando level.

We are not considering the formation of such a unit. We believe the most effective and practical way in which to counter international terrorism is through closer co-operation between Governments and their police forces and security authorities. Considerable progress has been made recently to this end both with our European Community partners and with other like-minded countries.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a response on behalf of Her Majesty's Government to the initiative by the president of the Western European Union Assembly for a European Group to co-ordinate the fight against terrorism.

I welcome the interest shown by the president of the Western European Union Assembly in combating the scourge of terrorism. As my hon. Friend will know, the actions of European Governments against terrorism are being co-ordinated amongst the Twelve. This forum includes all WEU member states and ensures the widest possible co-ordination of the European response to the terrorist outrage.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government will pay compensation to the families of British citizens allegedly killed in the middle east in reprisal for the American attack on Libya.

I regret that this is not possible. It has never been the practice of the British Government to make such payments. The murder of British citizens by terrorists is a matter of very deep regret, but we will not be deterred by threats of reprisals from our efforts to combat terrorism.

asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied with the co-ordination of the policies of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and the Secretary of State for Scotland in respect of the different interpretation of European Economic Community seed certification standards in England and Scotland.

There is no difference within Great Britain in the interpretation of EEC seed regulations and the departmental certifying authorities north and south of the border work to a common set of statutory prescribed standards.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 8 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 8 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 8 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 8 May.

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

asked the Prime Minister which Minister is responsible for the health aspects of ionising radiations.

General responsibility for the health of the population in England rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services. The Secretary of State for the Environment and Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food have specific responsibilities for air, water and food. In discharging these responsibilities, they receive medical advice from the Government's Chief Medical Officer. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, all responsibilities rest with the appropriate Secretary of State.

asked the Prime Minister if, pursuant to the reply of 6 May to the hon. Member for Stockton North, she will specify the precise documentary forms in which the emergency plans and procedures for dealing with the threat from nuclear fallout exist; and if she will make a statement.

Information and advice on the response to nuclear emergencies in peacetime and in war is contained in the "Emergency Planning Guidance to Local Authorities", a copy of which is in the Library. Information is also issued by the Health and Safety Executive in its booklet "Emergency Plans for Civil Nuclear Installations".More detailed plans and procedures are formulated and held at local level.

asked the Prime Minister if she will take steps to make available to members of the public a document containing the Government's advice as to the precautions and protective measures to be taken when the threat of nuclear fallout, whether from civil or military sources, is imminent or present; and if she will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is preparing general public information material about civil defence which will be issued later this year. As to peacetime incidents, the Government will give detailed advice in response to any specific incident that may occur, and I refer the hon. Gentleman to the Secretary of State for the Environment's statement on 6 May at column 21.

asked the Prime Minister who will be responsible for vetting and monitoring academic end users of the proposed London university super-computer; and if she will make a statement.

The question of conditions governing access to United States super-computers to be used for academic research in the United Kingdom is to be discussed with the United States authorities.

asked the Prime Minister when she expects to receive the Top Salaries Review Body report; and if she will make a statement.

I have received the report of Top Salaries Review Body. An announcement will be made in due course.

asked the Prime Minister why, pursuant to her reply to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith), Official Report, 18 April, column 525, on plutonium use, Her Majesty's Government's policy in answering such questions has altered since 4 February 1983.

[pursuant to the answer, 6 May 1986, c. 3]: It is the convention that Ministers are answerable in Parliament only for matters falling within the period of responsibility of the Administration of which they are members.

asked the Prime Minister if she will describe the role of each Department concerned in the United Kingdom nuclear weapons programme.

[pursuant to the answer, 6 May 1986, c. 3]: The Ministry of Defence is concerned with the research and development, procurement, production, deployment, safety and maintenance of nuclear weapons. The Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are jointly responsible for the nuclear element of British defence policy. Additionally, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, in consultation with the Ministry of Defence, is responsible for arms control issues, including those concerning nuclear weapons. Other Departments are indirectly involved in the course of fulfilling their normal administrative functions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking regularly to monitor radioactivity levels in the light of the Chernobyl incident; what steps he has taken to inform and protect the public in the present situation; and if he will make a statement.

In addition to the continuous regular monitoring which is carried out by the National Radiological Protection Board, the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, the nuclear site operators and the regulatory bodies, additional monitoring has been taking place in Scotland of milk samples from the following locations, ranging from the south of Scotland to Shetland. Monitoring began on 3 May and is now taking place at:

• Aberdeen
• Campbeltown
• Castle Douglas
• Cumnock
• Dalbeattie
• Dumfries (two locations)
• Edinburgh
• Fenwick
• Glasgow
• Grantown-on-Spey
• Mauchline
• Nairn
• Orkney
• Shetland
• Stornoway
• Stranraer

Monitoring of the deposition of radioactive materials on grass, to estimate possible uptake by cattle, is being carried out in the south-west of Scotland, in four districts in the Dumfries and Galloway region and at Chapelcross. Samples are also being taken at Nairn and at Dounreay.Analysis of water sampled over the weekend from reservoirs near Dumfries, in the Highland region and at Milngavie, indicated extremely low levels of iodine-131, within the range of 2–9 becquerels per litre. These are less than 1 per cent. of the level of 2,400 becquerels per litre at which action needs to be considered. At the request of the Scottish Office, all water authorities have sent further samples for analysis from a variety of sources used for public water supplies—reservoirs, lochs and rivers. The results from the first 15 of these again all show radioactivity levels well below 1 per cent. of the trigger levels. All but two are less than 4 becquerels per litre, with the other two less than 15. This confirms the advice previously given that water from such sources is safe to drink.Air sampling is being carried out at the nuclear establishments at Dounreay, Chapelcross, Torness, and Hunterston, and also at Rosyth, Peterhead power station and Lerwick.Scottish office officials have also been in regular touch with officials of the National Radiological Protection Board and MAFF and other Departments have had access to the results of all monitoring carried ou by the board in England and Scotland.Samples are being taken of vegetables grown in Scotland to ascertain radioactivity levels. My hon. Friend the Minister with responsibility for local government and the environment issued a statement on Friday, 2 May in which he drew attention to the monitoring of milk. He advised the public that milk supplies were safe to drink, but that information would be given if any abnormal radiation levels were detected: on Monday 5 May a further statement was issued by the Minister that, while radiation levels had risen during the weekend, the advice given on safety of milk remained valid.Further statements reinforcing and amplifying this advice were given on 6 and 7 May. My hon. Friend also emphasised, in his statement of 5 May that water supplies from mains, springs, wells and streams had been affected to an insignificant extent.The latest monitoring results available indicate that radioactivity levels of Iodine 131 in milk from samples analysed on 6 May ranged from 1 becquerel per litre in Shetland to 225 becquerel per litres in the Dalbeattie area. First results for samples analysed on 7 May ranged from 3 becquerel-litre in Shetland to 120 becquerel-litre in the Stranraer area.Iodine 131 in analysis of rainwater samples indicate a strong downward trend in radioactivity levels in precipitation, which will be reflected in levels in public supplies in due course. The trend in concentration of Iodine 131 in air and grass samples has also shown a strong downward trend over the last few days.Port environmental health officers have been advised that any consignments of fresh products (including vegetables, fruit, fish from Russian or Polish coastal waters and dairy products) exported from Russia or Poland on or after 26 April should be held for testing.The Scottish Office arranged comprehensive briefings for the press on Tuesday 6 May and Wednesday 7 May, and has established a public information line at St. Andrew's House. The number of telephone inquiries has been running at the rate of about 100 an hour since the public information room opened on Tuesday 6 May. This service will be kept in operation as long as the demand requires.Results of monitoring to date indicate that radioactivity in rainwater is falling, but the advice given by the NRPB on 5 May that fresh rainwater should not be drunk continuously should be followed for the present. This does not apply to water supplied from other sources.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, in his statement to the House on 6 May, set out the overall effects the radioactivity from Chernobyl on the United Kingdom and the measures taken in response to them. So far as Scotland is concerned, the general pattern as regards deposition of radioactivity has been similar to that in the northern parts of England and we do not expect the radioactive cloud to constitute a risk to the health of individuals. Monitoring will continue and the results be made available to the public and the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how he proposes to monitor the use made by licensing authorities of their powers under part II of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 in relation to the disposal in esturial waters of asbestos-contaminated material: and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to him on 14 April, at columns 262–63.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on recent developments in the promotion of woodlands and broadleaf trees.

On 24 July 1985 my right hon. Friend the Member for Ayr (Mr. Younger) announced the Government's new policy on broadleaves. This was followed by the introduction of the broadleaved woodland grant scheme by the Forestry Commission on 1 October 1985. More than 800 applications for entry to the scheme have already been approved, and we can expect to see a significant increase in the planting of broadleaves.On 24 March 1986 my right hon. and learned Friend announced revised criteria to be followed by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland in clearing farm land for forestry. From the agricultural point of view, this will mean that substantially more land will be potentially available for tree planting in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the estimated number of jobs which have been created in Scotland as a direct result of the abolition of the fair wages resolution.

There is no information on the number of jobs created in Scotland as a result of the abolition of the fair wages resolution.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report (a) the latest estimates of the number of part-time female and male workers and (b) the estimated proportion of part-time male workers in Scotland being paid less than (i) £3 an hour and (ii) £2 an hour in April 1985.

There were estimated to be 410,000 part-time female employees in employment in December 1985. No comparable estimates are made for part-time male employees, and the latest estimate is 60,000 at the census of employment in September 1981. No detailed information is available on the earnings of part-time male employees.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will publish (a) a table showing the proportion of full-time employees in Scotland who, in the New Earnings Survey 1985, are paid less than £50, £60, £70, £80, £90, £100, £110 and £120 a week, respectively, when overtime earnings are included and (b) a table showing the proportion of full-time employees in the same area who are paid less than £110 and £120 when overtime earnings are excluded, for all males and females, and subdivided into non-manual and manual males and females.

The information requested is given in the tables.

(a) Percentage of employees with earnings, including overtime, less than:
£	per cent.
50	0·2
60	0·9
70	2·9
80	7·1
90	12·8
100	19·6
110	26·8
120	34·4

(b) Percentage of employees with earnings, excluding overtime, less than:
	£110	£120
Males
All	20·7	28·6
Manual	28·9	40·0
Non-manual	9·7	13·1
Females
All	54·5	65·8
Manual	76·7	86·3
Non-manual	47·2	59·0

The information in both tables relates to full-time employees on adult rates in April 1985, whose pay was not affected by absence during the survey pay period.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the number of young workers an Scotland who (a) are currently covered by the YTS, (b) are currently covered by the young workers scheme subsidy and (c) are expected to be covered by the new workers scheme subsidy by the end of 1986.

At the end of March 1986, the latest date for which information is available, there were 31,487 young people in Scotland in training under YTS; currently there are 5,403 covered by the young workers scheme. It is estimated that some 10,000 young workers will be supported under the new workers scheme in Scotland by the end of 1986, but take-up will depend on employers' willingness to participate.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many matrimonial interdicts with powers of arrest attached have been delivered to the eight police forces in Scotland in terms of section 15(4) of the Matrimonial Homes (Family Protection) (Scotland) Act 1981 since its introduction on 1 September 1982 in total, to each force and in each year; and how many of the interdicts with attached powers of arrest have been recalled or terminated by divorce.

The numbers of matrimonial interdicts to which the power of arrest was attached that were notified to police forces in Scotland in the period 1982 to 1985 were as follows:

Force	1982	1983	1984	1985
Central Scotland	13	20	37	30
Dumfries and Galloway	Nil	4	5	7
Fife	2	15	33	34
Grampian	12	17	36	63
Lothian and Borders	15	40	96	154
Northern	8	16	20	34
Strathclyde	38	151	262	410
Tayside	*	*	*	*
* Figures not available for these years; but the number of interdicts currently in force is 147.

The reason for the recall of an interdict is not always given to the police, but available information is as follows:

Force	Number of recalls since 1982
Central Scotland	Twelve (in period from 1984 — earlier details not available): reasons unspecified
Dumfries and Galloway	No recalls notified
Fife	One: reason unspecified
Grampian	Sixteen, of which six were by reason of divorce
Lothian and Borders	Forty-one: reasons unavailable
Northern	Nine, of which two were due to divorce
Strathclyde	Ninty-one in period to 30 April 1986: reasons unavailable
Tayside	Figures not available