asked the Secretary of State for Wales if, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Ynys Môn of 28 April, Official Report, column 287, he will publish the reports of the departmental working party on regional services to north Wales and of the Welsh medical committee advisory group on cancer services.

A consultation paper incorporating the findings and recommendations of the departmental working party on regional services to north Wales is in preparation and expected to be issued shortly. The report of the Welsh Medical Committee Advisory Group on cancer services was only recently received and is presently being studied.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if there has been nuclear radiation from the Chernobyl catastrophe in the Ukraine, registered in South Glamorgan; and if he will make a statement.

In South Glamorgan levels of radioactivity detected were low, and even at their peak remained well below that which could prove a threat to public health. We are continuing to monitor the situation.

asked the Attorney-General, what are his latest figures for fraud prosecution under the fraud investigation group procedures; and if he will make a statement.

The latest information available from the Director of Public Prosecutions relates to the first quarter of 1986. During that period 26 trials on indictment (involving 66 defendants) handled by the fraud divisions of his Department were completed. Pleas of guilty or convictions were obtained in 24 cases. The outcome of those cases when analysed in terms of defendants was as follows:

	Number
Pleaded guilty	35
Convicted	21
Acquitted	9
Nolle prosequi entered	1

Of the 26 cases, six were formerly designated as FIG cases, but FIG methods are increasing employed even when a case is not formally so designated. The total sum at risk exceeded £44 million. The average length of the trial in contested cases was 12 days.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans Her Majesty's Government have to provide additional resources to the ASIAN Development Bank.

Negotiations were concluded in Manila on 28–29 April for a fourth replenishment of the Bank's concessional Asian Development Fund. The replenishment will total United States $3·6 billion, for commitment during the four years 1987 to 1990. Subject to parliamentary approval in due course, Britain's share of the total will be £95·08 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will arrange for an exhibition to be mounted in the Upper Waiting Hall by Crown Agents stamps.

I understand that arrangements have already been made for such an exhibition to be mounted on 3 to 6 June.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place a copy of his Department's draft report, entitled "A Report into the Circumstances attending the loss of MV 'Derbyshire'" which foundered about 9 September 1980 in position approximately 25° 30' north, 130° 30' east with the loss of 44 lives, dated July 1985, in the Library.

The document to which the hon. Member refers was an early draft of the Department's report into the loss of MV Derbyshire, which was circulated only to interested parties for their comments. The draft was subsequently revised in the light of comments received and of further information which became available. A copy of the final report was placed in the Library on 21 March. It would not be appropriate to place the earlier version in the Library as well.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the cost of the recent road works at (a) Aldwych and (b) the south end of Westminster bridge.

Since these schemes are the responsibility of respectively the City of Westminster and the London borough of Lambeth, I regret I cannot give my right hon. Friend the answers.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what grants he makes available for the construction of bus shelters; and if he will make a statement.

No grants are available from central Government specifically for this purpose. The provision of bus shelters is a matter for local authorities and the bus operators concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has decided to amend the regulations governing tyre tread depth; and if he will make a statement.

On 25 February I held a meeting with the organisations most concerned to discuss the information set out in the Department's consultation paper about the enforcement and road safety implications of the 1983 regulations on tyre tread depth. In the light of this information and the opinions expressed at the meeting I have concluded that the present regulations can be enforced without undue difficulty and that the changes proposed by the tyre industry and others would impose a substantial cost to road users without any significant benefit to road safety. I therefore see no reason to amend the regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he has for intakes to courses at initial teacher training in the public sector of higher education in England; and if he will make a statement.

My Department is today writing to the institutions concerned, and to their governing and validating bodies, to inform them of my provisional decisions about the allocation to institutions of the overall target numbers of students to be admitted to courses of initial teacher training in the public sector beginning in 1987–89. I shall make final decisions after considering any representations that I may receive.The overall target numbers are closely in line with those which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I announced on 26 March 1985 following advice from the Advisory Committee on the Supply and Education of Teachers. These targets take account of forecast demand for teachers into the 1990s, the acknowledged need for some further modest improvement in the pupil-teacher ratio and the gradual increase in total pupil numbers which is expected to feed through from primary into secondary schools by the end of the decade. They allow for a substantial expansion of intakes to primary training—targets for England increase from 7,020 in 1985 to 8,615 in 1989. For secondary training the targets are raised from 3,930 to 4,545; these numbers exceed the likely short-term needs of schools will maintain the capacity of training institutions to expand to meet future increase in demand for secondary teachers. The total numbers provisionally allocated to each institution for 1987–89 are set out in the table.My basic aim has been to allocate the overall numbers to institutions in the way most likely to foster the further development of a high-quality, cost-effective and resilient system of initial teacher training capable of responding flexibly to changing demands into the 1990s. For the training of primary teachers I have sought to ensure that all teacher training establishments offering Bachelor of Education courses should be able to provide a minimum of two years' subject study at a level appropriate to higher education across a range of curricular specialisms. I have given particular attention to the need to provide for an increase in training for teaching pupils in the early years of primary education and to the need for more attention to mathematics and science as subject specialisms within primary BEd courses. For training for secondary teaching I have concluded that the system would be strengthened by ensuring that all subject intakes should be of 15 or more. I have also sought to ensure the reinforcement of subject strength by grouping intakes to related secondary subjects together within the same institutions. I have had particular regard to institutions' capacity to recruit to those secondary subjects such as mathematics, science, and CDT for which recruitment has always been difficult, to new courses in these subjects intended to widen the pool of recruitment and to proposals for courses which utilise skills in ethnic minority languages.The result is some shift in the balance of provision between institutions and courses in the interests of strengthening the system of training as a whole, taking account of the capabilities of individual institutions in the light of the planning criteria notified to them. As a result intakes to courses of initial teacher training will remain steady or increase at 50 out of 54 institutions as set out in the table. The allocations also provide for the ending of intakes to courses of initial teacher training from 1987 at two institutions, Humberside CHE and Portsmouth polytechnic, and for an expansion of secondary and cessation of primary intakes at one, the College of St. Mark and St. John.I have been particularly concerned to foster the academic strength of institutions so that future teachers will be fitted to meet the increasing demands for more rigorous and effective teaching in schools. I have invited all institutions in the public sector to look particularly carefully at the further development of their existing strengths through closer academic integration with other advanced further education, within their own institution or outside. Where these associations involve universities they present valuable scope for extending and strengthening transbinary academic cooperation between the university and public sectors. Progress to this end will be reviewed in two to three years' time. I have invited five small institutions (Bishop Grosseteste college, Charlotte Mason college, North Riding college, Rolle college and Westminster college) to enter into closer academic association with more broadly based higher education institutions; their 1988 and 1989 intakes will be reviewed in the light of progress with those associations. I have also asked two other small institutions, Bretton Hall and La Sainte Union college, to examine the scope for closer academic association with another institution. In the case of Hertfordshire CHE, I will review its 1988 and 1989 intakes in the light of progress towards academic integration as part of their intended merger with Hatfield polytechnic.I believe that this allocation of target numbers will help to develop a stronger, more robust and effective system of initial teacher training, with greater academic strength and more resilience to meet the challenges facing education in the 1990s.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the cost per student on full-time first degree courses in universities and public sector institutions, respectively, of those studying (a) medicine, (b) physics, (c) mathematics, (d) engineering, (e) English, (f) modern languages and (g) social studies at the latest available date.

The available information including research costs funded through the institutions is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the proportion of under-fives in nursery education in the United Kingdom: and what information he has about the equivalent figures for France, Japan and the United States of America.

There is no standard definition of "nursery education". The forms of pre-school provision vary between and within countries, as does practice in the age and times of year at which children are admitted to compulsory education. The table shows the latest available comparative information on all forms of grouped provision for young children. Rates for both three and four, and three to five-year-olds are shown, as in the other countries compulsory schooling starts at age six.

Great Britain universities: student unit costs 1983–84 academic year
Subject	Net institutional recurrent unit cost
	£
Clinical medicine	8,080
Physical sciences	6,410
Mathematics	4,150
Engineering	5,630
Arts (including English and modern languages)	3,750
Social studies	3,630

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set out in real terms the movement

Universities
	Lecturer (maximum)		Senior Lecturer/Reader (maximum)		Professor (average)
	Salary (£) ║	Index¶;	Salary (£)	Index	Salary (£)	Index
1 October 1970	17,126	100·0	22,058	100·0	28,118	100·0
1 October 1974	16,172	94·4	19,739	89·5	23,970	85·2
1 October 1979	15,697	91·7	18,811	85·3	22,543	79·9
1 April 1985*	15,700	91·7	18,625	84·4	22,346	79·5

Public Sector Institutions
	Lecturer Grade II (maximum)*		Senior Lecturer (maximum)†		Reader (maximum)		Academic Posts Above Reader (maximum)‡
	Salary (£) ║	lndex¶;	Salary (£)	Index	Salary (£)	Index	Salary (£)	Index
1 April 1970	13,084	100·0	14,812	100·0	18,396	100·0	n/a	n/a
24 May 1974●	15,554	118·9	18,807	127·0	22,340	121·4	n/a	n/a
1 April 1979	12,479	95·4	14,406	97·3	16,825	91·5	19,606	100·0
1 December 1985■	12,774	97·6	14,846	100·2	17,386	94·5	19,944	101·7
* Under the Burnham arrangements lecturers grade II are the lowest category of lecturer who may be employed to teach advanced work. Only lecturers teaching advanced work have been included in these figures so as to make them comparable with university lecturers.
† Maximum for senior lecturer teaching a significant proportion of advanced work.
‡ Professors in public sector institutions are paid according to the salary scale for academic posts above reader. This scale was introduced as a result of the Houghton report and did not come into operation until 1975. It is not possible therefore to give comparisons before the 1979–85 period.
║ Derived by multiplying the cash salary at each date by the increase in the retail prices index from that date to 1 April 1985 for both universities and public sector institutions.
¶; This indicates the movement of salaries in real terms compared to the base year of 1970 (and 1 April 1979 for academic posts above reader in the case of public sector institutions).
● Date of Houghton award.
■ The 1985 pay settlement was staged, with an increase of 5 per cent, from 1 April 1985 and 2 per cent, from 1 December 1985 for all scales.
* Salary incremental date changed from 1 October to 1 April in 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set out in tabular form the percentage of total public expenditure and the percentage of gross domestic product spent on higher education in the United Kingdom in every year from 1970 to the latest available date and provide comparable figures for France, West Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada and the United States of America.

The following table shows such data that are available and can be provided without disproportionate cost.

Country	Year	Current expenditure on higher education as a percentage of:
		Gross national product	Current public expenditure
France	11970	0·54	..
	11975	0·44	..
	21980	0·63	..
West Germany	1970	0·46	1·38
	1975	0·72	1·65
	1980	0·62	1·43
Italy	1970	0·33	1·52

Information in the precise form requested is not available. Movements of the maximum points of the relevant salary scales, (and of the average salaries of university professors) are as follows:

Country	Year	Current expenditure on higher education as a percentage of:
		Gross national product	Current public expenditure
	1975	0·55	1·68
	1979	0·40	0·97
Japan3	1970	0·37	41·88
	1975	0·40	41·63
	1980	0·44	41·47
	1982	0·41	41·38
Canada	1970	2·08	45·61
	1975	2·02	44·64
	1980	1·95	44·39
	1981	1·94	44·25
United States of America	1970	1·65	8·38
	1975	1·89	9·69
	1977	1·75	9·03
United Kingdom	51971	1·07	3·13
	1975	1·15	3·14
	1980	11·l	2·83
	1982	1·09	2·63
	1983	1·07	2·57
.. not available
1 Ministries of Education and Universities only
2 Metropolitan France
3 From 1975, excludes public subsidies to private education

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what arrangements he makes for appeals against changes to areas of prime responsibility under the terms of section 12(1)(d) of the Education Act 1980; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 12 May, at column 319. Parents may express a preference for any school with which the local education authority must comply unless certain specified reliefs apply. If any parent is unhappy with the authority's decision he may appeal to a local independent appeals committee set up under section 7 of and in accordance with schedule 2 to the 1980 Act. The decision of such an appeal committee is binding on the LEA.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pupils attended Carryduff primary school in each of the past 10 years.

The information is as follows:

Year	Number
January
1977	362
1978	365
1979	340
1980	316
1981	316
1982	299
1983	296
1984	301
1985	317
1986	346

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the names of those district councils which are (a) now holding regular business meetings and (b) still not performing their normal business duties.

The councils for Derry, Down, Fermanagh, Magherafelt, Moyle, Newry and Mourne, Omagh and Strabane are holding regular meetings; Belfast city council has voted to resume normal meetings.The remaining councils which are continuing either to suspend or adjourn council meetings are:

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total number of persons charged under the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act and the Prevention of Terrorism Act in 1984 and 1985 in Northern Ireland; and what was the total number of persons charged under other Acts with terrorist-type offences in Northern Ireland for 1984 and 1985.

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

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the latest position in the dispute with the Prison Officers Association.

Following my statement to the House on 1 May, a series of exploratory talks have been held between Home Office officials and representatives of the Prison Officers Association with the object of securing a simultaneous calling-off of the POA's industrial action and the start of substantive discussions on the agenda for the future set out in my letter of 22 April to the POA general secretary. The talks have now been concluded by a letter from the permanent under-secretary of State at the Home Office to the association's general secretary, which records the clarification offered during the talks in response to a number of questions about my letter raised by the POA.The letter includes clarification of the process through which POA branches will be consulted about changes to existing agreements, in amplification of the formula set out in my letter of 22 April, that is:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what criteria were used in deciding to provide five channels for other passport holders and two for combined United Kingdom and European Community passport holders at terminal 4 arrivals at Heathrow airport;(2) if he will arrange to install a separate channel for United Kingdom residents at terminal 4 arrivals at Heathrow airport; and if he will make a statement.

The clearance of British and Community passengers takes less time than the examination of those of other nationalities. The immigration arrivals control at terminal 4 has 28 desks, of which a maximum of 22 are used for the examination of passengers of other nationalities. There are four gates in front of these 22 desks from which passengers are presented to immigration officers.This ratio of desks was decided on the information available to the Department on the probable proportion of passengers of different nationalities. The controls staffed flexibly and immigration officers can and do switch desks at the discretion of the chief immigration officer on duty with the objective of clearing all passengers in the quickest possible time.The necessary signs for a separate channel for British passengers will be introduced at terminal 4, Heathrow. It would not be practical to allocate a separate channel to passengers of other nationalities who are resident in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures are followed at Heathrow airport when, due to serious flight delays, aircraft arrive at Heathrow airport late at night with large numbers of people seeking re-entry into Britain.

The normal deployment of staff at Heathrow is based on the scheduled times of arrival and departure of flights so that passengers can pass through the controls as rapidly as possible, and resources can be used to the best advantage. When flights are delayed late at night passengers are examined by staff allocated for night duty, augmented by staff on late shift remaining on duty and—or night duty staff from other terminals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why, on 30 April at 10.30 pm, there were only two officers on duty at the passport desks for United Kingdom and European Community passport holders arriving at terminal 4 at Heathrow airport, with a crowd of over 500 people queueing to be admitted.

The late arrival of a flight from Paris at 9.50 pm on 30 April coincided with another flight from Paris, followed shortly after by a flight from New York. The number of officers available for the control was six. When the passengers arrived in the control hall one immigration officer was stationed at the British—European Community channel. The chief immigration officer on duty allocated a second and then a third officer to that channel when it was clear that the majority of passengers were British, or were Community nationals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give an indication of the number by which the population of the United Kingdom has increased since 1956 in consequence of the arrival of new British citizens.

The available information, derived from the labour force survey, suggests that in 1984 about 3 to 3½ million persons resident in Great Britain had been born abroad, about half of whom had British nationality. The number of United Kingdom residents born abroad who were in Great Britain on the night of the decennial census was 1·6 million in 1951, 2·2 million in 1961, 3·0 million in 1971 and 3·4 million in 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to increase police forces in England and Wales, by at least 10,000, over the next two years; and if he will make a statement.

Total manpower, police and civilian, in England and Wales has increased by about 14,000 since May 1979, to 160,627 on 28 February 1986, including a increase of more than 9,000 police officers.In October 1985 my right hon. Friend set work in hand to assess where there are further needs for increases in manpower. These reviews have been completed, and he is now urgently considering their outcome.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will estimate the proportion of a police officer's time spent on administrative duties; what measures are being taken to reduce this; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will undertake a review of form filling required by the police service with a view to its reduction.

Administrative work in police forces is kept under review by both chief officers and Her Majesty's inspectors of constabulary. Chief officers of police are encouraged to release police officers wherever possible from duties which can be more properly and economically carried out by civilians. We are concerned to reduce the administrative load of police officers wherever possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many forms members of the Metropolitan police are required to fill in to order a new police car; what measures he proposes to take to reduce this number; and if he will make a statement.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the ordering of a new car by the Metropolitan police requires the completion of only a single order form—often covering a number of vehicles—by a member of the chief engineer's department. No police officer is involved where an existing vehicle is being replaced. When an additional car is considered to be needed, two further forms have to be completed: an application by the officer making the request. supported by the detailed justification of the case for an increase. I do not consider that this documentation is excessive.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the outcome of his discussions with the EEC Commission on the proposed broadcasting directive; and from what article of the Treaty of Rome the proposed directive stems.

We had a broad exchange of views with the commissioner responsible, Lord Cockfield, on the likely content of the draft directive and the purposes behind it. In presenting its proposal, the European Commission has referred in particular to articles 57(2) and 66 of the Treaty of Rome, but the precise powers under which any directive might be made would be a matter for decision by the Council at the time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to make an announcement on the application for a licence for a community radio station in Hackney; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to questions from my hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr. Latham) and the hon. Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Clay) on 6 May 1986, at columns 19.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the number of days spent on remand by those remanded in custody for terrorist-type offences in 1985 with regard to cases now completed in England and Wales, the number of bail applications and the number that were refused, respectively;(2) what was the average number of days spent on remand by those remanded in custody for terrorist-type offences in England and Wales in 1984 with regard to cases now completed; how many applications for bail were received; and how many were refused.

The only information which is readily available relates to prisoners who are now in prison custody in category A. It does not cover prisoners who have been released or downgraded.The average number of days spent on remand by prisoners first received in custody in 1984 was 303. Eight applications for bail are recorded; all were refused.Of those prisoners first received in custody in 1985 the cases of two have been completed, both spent a total of 399 days on remand; our records show that one made two unsuccessful applications for bail.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will investigate regional variations in the reduction in petrol prices following the general fall in oil prices.

My Department keeps in close touch with developments in oil product prices. Regional variations in petrol prices are now narrowing. Competition matters are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list every leak or accident and discharge of radiation from Sellafield since the plant began to operate.

I have asked the chairman of British Nuclear Fuels plc to write to the hon. Member on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, what is the cost of British Nuclear Fuels proposed advertising compaign to inform the public about the safety and benefit of nuclear power.

BNFL has always held exhibitions and distributed educational material to inform the public about the nuclear power industry and its role in it. I understand that it intends to increase this programme over the coming year in order that the full facts about its operations are explained to the public.

asked the Paymaster General how many new businesses Basildon local enterprise agency has helped start up since its inception.

Local enterprise agencies, such as Basildon local enterprise agency, are clearly making a significant contribution to encouraging small firm formation at the local level. However, the information currently held by my Department on Basildon local enterprise agency does not include details of how many new small businesses the agency has claimed to have helped set up since its inception.

asked the Paymaster General what was the number of small businesses established in the last 12-month period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

There were around 180,000 business start-ups in 1984, based on the number of VAT registrations. Estimates for 1985 are not yet available, but early indications are that there was a broadly similar number of start-ups in 1985.The starting of over 1 million new businesses in the six years to the end of 1985 is encouraging, but there are no grounds for complacency, since the numbers which cease to trade are also high.

asked the Paymaster General if he will consider amending the regulations for the new workers scheme to prevent an employer from substituting a subsidised worker by another at the end of 52 weeks.

We recognise that under any scheme where we have many thousands of employers participating there is the possibility of some employers not retaining an employee beyond the support period of the scheme. However, our experience of the young workers scheme has been that the majority of young people remain with their employer once support under the scheme has ended. We have no reason to think tha the number of young people kept on after a period of new workers scheme support will be significantly different.

asked the Paymaster General what consideration he has given to the proposed amendment to rule (e) of the new workers scheme put forward to him by the Institute of Careers Officers.

A condition of the new workers scheme is that on the day the young person starts employment with the employer making the application for new workers scheme support, he or she must be unable to find a suitable YTS continuation place.As I have advised the Institute of Careers Officers, the new workers scheme is primarily aimed at 18 to 20-yearolds who are no longer eligible for YTS. However, those young people still eligible but who are not able to find a suitable YTS continuation place may be eligible for new workers scheme, because they are no longer able to take advantage of YTS. The careers service has been issued with the rules of the scheme and general guidance. It is for the careers service and jobcentres to determine, dependent on local circumstances, what is or is not suitable for a particular individual.

asked the Paymaster General if he will pubish information available to him from surveys of the total work force which show graduate unemployment rates as compared with the average for the population as a whole in each of the years from 1970 to the latest available date.

The available information derived from censuses of population and labour force surveys is as follows:

asked the Paymaster General what is the maximum amount of earnings a person who works for 15 hours in three working days can earn and still be able to claim unemployment benefit for the other three working days in the week.

Entitlement to unemployment benefit is determined on a daily basis. Benefit is not payable if earnings exceed £2. Earnings on days worked do not affect entitlement on other days in the week unless, in the opinion of the independent adjudicating authorities, they are derived from employment which can be regarded as continuous and from which the earnings exceed £2 on the daily average.

asked the Paymaster General if he will consider extending the community programme for two years; and if he will make a statement.

The period of employment for participants on the community programme is normally limited to one year and I have no present plans to change this arrangement. However, managers, supervisors and other key workers may be retained for over 12 months where there are no suitable replacements from amongst eligible long-term unemployed people.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he intends to take to increase the supply of information to the public concerning radiation levels and future trends in those levels.

As my right hon. and learned Friend said in reply to the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Mr. Foulkes) on 8 May, at columns 217–19, the Scottish Office took early and positive steps to provide information to the public on radioactivity levels in Scotland since the Chernobyl incident. The coverage of the monitoring includes a range of radionuclides, and areas of sampling include radioactivity on grass and in free-range eggs. Information is being made available to the public daily. Monitoring and the publication of results will continue for as long as necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the names of the experts dealing with radiation problems in his Department, indicating their expertise in each case.

The following professional officers in the Scottish Office deal with matters relating to radiation. Their expertise is derived from professional training, from working in the Department and from other relevant experience, which includes work in industry or in other Government Departments.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the highest level of radioactivity expressed in becquerels per litre, found in rainwater in Scotland since the Chernobyl incident; and how this compares with the internationally agreed safety limit.

The highest levels of radioactivity in a sample of collected rainwater in Scotland since the Chernobyl incident were detected on 4 May. They are set out in the table.

Radionuclide	Activity becquerels per litre
Barium 140	1,050
Caesium 134	1,650
Caesium 137	2,650
Iodine 131	9,400
Iodine 132	7,600
Technetium 99	400
Tellurium 132	10,000

The most significant of these readings in radiological terms is that for Iodine-131. An individual drinking only undiluted rainwater at the level of 9,400 becquerels per litre would have reached the internationally recommended lower emergency level, at which authorities should consider the need for action, of 50 millisieverts per year for the thyroid gland in just over 48 hours. The upper emergency level, at which it is recommended internationally that authorities should be banning the drinking of such water, is ten times as high, at 500 millisieverts. The Government issued advice to the public on 5 May that it would be desirable for the next week to avoid drinking fresh rainwater continuously. This advice was withdrawn on 10 May, because activity in rainwater fell very quickly and was by that date at very low levels.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the current situation for research and development funding from his Department.

My Department plans to spend £415 million in 1986–87 on support for research and development.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much of his Department's spending is allocated to research and development.

My Department plans to spend £415 million in 1986–87 on support for research and development. This accounts for 32 per cent. of the total budget of £1,302 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received regarding the proposed change in the anniversary of the motor vehicle registration prefix; and if he will make a statement.

I have received representations from individual manufacturers, including BL, and from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders generally supporting an October changeover; and from the Motor Agents Association and individual motor traders calling for July to be the month of change.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total deficit in trade in manufactures with the EEC and the rest of the world, respectively, over the most recent 12 months for which figures are available.

In the 12 months ending March 1986 there was a deficit with the European Community of £9·2 billion and a surplus with the rest of the world of £5·9 billion.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has had any discussion with British Shipbuilders about the construction of a fleet support King vessel; and if he will make a statement.

British Shipbuilders has kept my right hon. Friend fully informed of the development of the fleet support King design, and of its market potential. While the Royal Navy has no requirement at present for a vessel of this kind, British Shipbuilders is actively seeking overseas possibilities for this design. We will give it every support in its efforts.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met the chairman of the British Steel Corporation to discuss the board's investment programme; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when next he will meet the chairman-elect of the British Steel Corporation to discuss the prospects for the steel industry in Scotland.

My right hon. Friend met Mr. Scholey for a general discussion on 17 March 1986. A further meeting has not been fixed.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has on subsidies offered to the conference trade by Governments in other EC member states.

We have received representations about a subsidy offered by the Dutch Government to their conference industry. We are raising this matter formally with the European Commission. No evidence has been put to us of similar subsidies in other EC member states.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what talks he has had recently with the United States Administration on possible United States sanctions against European Economic Community exports, including Scotch whisky; and whether he will make a statement.

I refer to the reply which I gave on 8 May to my hon. Friend the Member for Southend, East (Mr. Taylor). During his visit to Washington on 27–29 April my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State sought to dissuade the Administration from taking action against Community exports, and made clear that the Community would have to respond to any such action.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has had concerning the A330 and A340 Airbus project.

My right hon. Friend and I have received representations from various quarters, including Airbus Industrie and British Aerospace, that the Government should support the Airbus A330–A340 projects. AI and its industrial partners, including BAe, will be reviewing progress on the projects at a number of meetings over the next few weeks. My Department will be maintaining close contact with them, and our Airbus partner Governments, as the proposals evolve. However, until Airbus Industrie and the industrial partners have completed their detailed studies of the A330–A340 projects and reached their own conclusions, it is premature to expect Governments to reach a view on the projects.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the development of United Kingdom trade with South Korea.

United Kingdom trade with the Republic of Korea is already significant, but I would like to see our exports grow still faster. We are encouraging easier market access and United Kingdom companies must exploit the opportunities.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the cost to United Kingdom exporters of the recent United States of America requirement that certain package consignments to the United States have now to go through a United States customs broker.

It is not possible to quantify the likely cost to the United Kingdom textiles industry of the measures recently introduced by United States Customs which revise United States informal entry procedures for textile imports.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on import penetration of the domestic motor market.

In the first four months of 1986 figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show that import penetration in the domestic car market had fallen to 55·1 per cent. This is the lowest level recorded in a corresponding period for four years and compares with an overall figure of 58·1 per cent. for 1985. The fall in the share of the United Kingdom car market taken by imports this year is due to a more favourable pattern of sourcing adopted by the multinational car companies, a situation which I trust will persist.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the role of BSC (Industry) Ltd. in generating employment in areas affected by steel plant closures.

Yes. BSC (Industry) Ltd. has a commendable record of job creation in steel closure areas; and I applaud the efforts of all concerned. The main function of the company now is to support business opportunity teams, operating in 18 designated areas. The company also converts old industrial buildings into smaller starter workshops. BSC (Industry) Ltd. reports having received over 20,000 inquiries since 1978. Two thousand businesses have been assisted; and these are committed to creating some 50,000 jobs by March 1987.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any plans to allow further negotiations between BL and GM.

The position remains as outlined in my right hon. Friend's statement to the House on 25 March.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the aims and objectives of the Polycad scheme.

The aim of the Polycad scheme has been, at a cost to my Department of £3 million, to enable all students on electrical and electronic engineering degree courses at polytechnics and other colleges to gain hands-on experience in the use of computer aided design (CAD) techniques for the design of silicon integrated circuits. The scheme complements and builds on arrangements made by the University Grants Committee for the provision of equivalent facilities in universities. In helping to equip graduates with the skills needed to promote the application of information technology in United Kingdom industry the scheme represents a significant contribution by my Department in Industry Year to furthering collaboration between education and industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when next he plans to meet the chairman of British Shipbuilders.

My right hon. Friend often meets the chairman of British Shipbuilders. He last met Phillip Hares on Thursday 1 May.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the current state of orders for British Shipbuilders.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Dumfermline, East (Mr. Brown) on Tuesday 6 May 1986, which listed current orders won since January 1985.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many bankruptcies there have been in the last 12 months.

The information asked for was published on page 138 of British Business dated 18 April 1986. which is available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the financial assistance available to the domestic power plant industry in seeking overseas orders.

All Government schemes of financial assistance for exporters are available to the power plant industry and it has made considerable use of them. More than a third of the aid and trade provision has been used to support projects in the power sector and my Department is in regular discussion with individual manufacturers about the scope for ATP grant or soft loan assistance for their sales efforts in increasingly competitive overseas markets.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his recent official visit to the United States of America.

I visited Washington and New York between 27 and 30 April. In Washington, I discussed a wide range of trade issues with members of the United States Administration and of Congress. In New York, I paid visits to the British trade development office and to Salomon Brothers; I also attended a lunch with the British American chamber of commerce.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the current state of negotiations in Brussels over the provisions of aid to the shipbuilding industry.

The Commission has only just begun preliminary work on arrangements to replace the fifth directive on aid to shipbuilding. We have asked the Commission to ensure that its proposals for the next regime take account of the various subsidies for shipbuilding in member states. I am assured that the Commission is hard at work along these lines.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the level of manufacturing over the last 12 months.

United Kingdom steel imports: 1984 and 1985*—main products and country of origin
1,000 tonnes
	Belgium/ Luxembourg		France		Federal Republic of Germany		Italy		Netherlands		Spain		Sweden		Other countries		All countries
	1984	1985	1984	1985	1984	1985	1984	1985	1984	1985	1984	1985	1984	1985	1984	1985	1984	1985
Ingots, blooms, billets and slabs	10	8	13	9	73	64	9	7	97	92	9	7	17	13	38	40	266	240
Bars and rods	41	42	73	67	76	80	39	40	30	34	45	32	69	72	98	110	471	476
Heavy sections and sheets piling	44	40	8	9	3	6	4	* *	6	4	23	11	1	1	68	85	156	155
Hot rolled strip	59	93	50	46	396	403	30	29	48	55	1	* *	6	7	74	136	663	769
Uncoated plate	47	40	29	21	52	29	3	10	7	8	8	19	53	49	110	143	308	319
Uncoated sheet	97	96	37	59	147	180	36	47	131	133	10	16	12	15	104	110	572	656
Coated plate and sheet	76	90	37	64	68	86	5	11	12	13	9	12	21	35	33	44	261	355
Tinplate including TFS	10	8	22	28	32	40	5	4	60	66	4	5	* *	* *	24	26	158	176
Cold rolled strip	15	13	19	21	58	61	4	4	1	1	* *	* *	4	5	14	12	115	118
Tubes and pipes	20	15	47	16	85	82	50	60	40	55	2	1	16	17	124	74	385	318
Other	16	14	15	15	27	26	49	31	1	2	28	27	10	10	41	44	187	168
Total	434	460	348	353	1,017	1,055	235	242	432	463	140	130	210	222	727	823	3,543	3,749

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the current situation within the steel industry.

The United Kingdom steel industry, once heavily subsidised and inefficient, is now among the most competitive in Europe. Since 1979 productivity has improved by 94 per cent., a remarkable transformation. Prospects for the future, for both the British Steel Corporation and private sector steel

Provisional data suggest that manufacturing output in the three months to February 1986 (the latest available) was 1 per cent. higher than in 1984. Manufacturing output has shown uninterrupted growth since 1981 and is 11·5 per cent. up on the 1981 first quarter trough. A further 3 per cent. growth is expected this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what tonnage of steel, of what type, and from which countries has been imported into the United Kingdom in each of the last two years.

The information is as follows:companies, depend on their continuing ability to compete and on the market for their products, but I believe that sustained viability and profitability is a realistic ambition.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total value of investment in the special or engineering steel industry in 1984 and in 1985; what is the level proposed for 1986; and what assessment he makes as to the adequacy of the volume of such investment in relation to competition from other European Economic Community member states.

I regret the information sought is not available in the form requested. United Kingdom engineering steels producers will need to take into account competition from other European Community producers in determining their future investment programmes.