asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to relax regulations in relation to bees.

No. These regulations were introduced to protect bee health in the United Kingdom. Relaxation of them, particularly of the import controls, could be potentially more damaging to our bee population than the effects of recent had weather.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether there is risk to human health when adjurants are mixed with pesticides.

The pesticides safety precautions scheme (PSPS) requires manufacturers of substances which arc intended to be added to pesticides to submit them for pre-marketing scrutiny on the grounds that their properties may be of a nature that alters, to an unacceptable degree, the characteristics of the pesticide formulations to which they are added. This might he by facilitating absorption through human skin or by altering the uptake by crops and fate as residues in food. Clearance is not given if there is evidence of risk to human health from the recommended uses.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out the value and amount of food crops destroyed on his instigation arising from the effects of radiation following the Chernobyl disaster.

Extensive monitoring carried out by my Department has shown levels of radiation following the Chernobyl disaster to be well below those at which any action would need to be considered. We have not therefore instructed any food crops to he destroyed.

asked the hon. Member for Wokingham, as representing the Church Commissioners, how many (a) written and (b) oral questions the Church Commissioners have answered in each of the past 10 Sessions and in the current Session to date.

The Commissioners do not have a comprehensive record for the whole of the period in question. However, since 1979, they have answered the following number of questions:

Session	Oral	Written
1979–80	5	3
1980–81	1	1
1981–82	5	16
1982–83	9	8
1983–84	21	28
1984–85	17	19
1985-	26	31

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the Minister of State's reply to the hon. Member for Nottingham, South (Mr. Brandon-Bravo) on 14 May, Official Report, column 481, what is his Department's estimate of the number of existing jobs in established firms likely to be displaced or threatened by the inward investment decisions notified to the Invest in Britain Bureau in the years 1980 to 1985.

My Department has no estimate of the number of jobs that may have been displaced or threatened as a result of inward investment decisions. However, it places great emphasis on minimising the effects of inward investments on established firms. Failure to attract many of these investors to the United Kingdom could have had a significant effect on British industry placing a large number of jobs in jeopardy.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps have been taken to establish and appoint members to a committee to review the allocation of spectrum for defence purposes as recommended in the Merriman report for the independent review of the radio spectrum 30–960 MHz Cmnd. 9000.

Further to my reply of 5 March 1985, at columns 448–49, the allocation of spectrum for defence purposes will be systematically reviewed on a continuing basis by an independent committee, reporting jointly to my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Defence and for Trade and Industry. The frequency band 470 MHz–3400 MHz will be the subject of the first stage of the review. The chairman of the defence spectrum review committee for this first stage will be Sir Kenneth Corfield. There will be two other members, Major-General Archibald Birtwistle and Mr. David Withers. It is hoped that the committee will be able to commence its work immediately and will complete the first stage in about 18 months. The first stage of the defence spectrum will run concurrently with a more general review of the allocations within the same frequency range. A joint report covering both reviews will be published.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from ScotRail that he should make a grant under section 56 of the Transport Act 1968 to enable a rail bridge across the Dornoch firth and re-routed line to be constructed when the Dornoch firth road crossing is begun; and what reply he has sent.

I have nothing to add to the reply which the hon. Member has had today from my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Transport.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities about grant-aid to national performing arts companies for 1986–87; and if he will make a statement.

Last year, in response to joint representations from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Scottish Arts Council, my right hon. and learned Friend provided £600,000 as continuing support for their arrangements for funding the Scottish national companies.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received from Lothian regional council about the number of projects approved under the 1986–87 urban aid programme; and if he will make a statement.

Lothian regional council wrote to the Scottish Development Department on 10 June expressing disappointment at the number of projects approved under the urban programme for a start in 1986–87. Th council has also written to all Members of Parliament in Lothian urging that they press the Secretary of State to reconsider the decisions on the council's applications. A meeting between officials is likely to take place in early July.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the latest estimated completion date for Edinburgh's outer city bypass; and if he will make a statement.

This project is the responsibility of Lothian regional council. I understand that, subject to completion of the necessary planning and other statutory procedures, the council hopes to complete work on the remaining sections of the bypass by the end of the decade.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses it is estimated will be constructed or improved as a result of the scheme whereby local authorities can transfer funds from Block B to the Housing Corporation.

It is for local authorities which wish to take advantage of the option to transfer resources from their non-HRA allocations to the Housing Corporation to seek the agreement of the Scottish Development Department. Any such applications will be carefully considered. I cannot predict how many authorities will seek to transfer funds or on what scale.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he proposes to take to provide financial assistance to roads authorities to maintain and upgrade specific rural roads essential to the development of forestry.

I shall take such work into account in determining capital allocations, if authorities include it in their roads and transport capital programmes. Financial assistance may be available under the provisions of the Industrial Development Act 1982, where the proposed work is located within an assisted area.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any plans to seek to increase the protection afforded to ancient monuments and historic sites which are exposed to Forestry Commission or other private forestry plantation programmes; and if he will make a statement.

The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 affords protection to ancient monuments of national importance through the process of scheduling. My right hon. and learned Friend can see no need to increase this statutory protection. In addition, the Forestry Commission has for many years liaised closely with officials over forestry developments which might have implications for archaeology, and my right hon. and learned Friend is aware that foresters in both the public and private sectors are conscious of the potential impact of afforestation on the archaeological heritage. My right hon. and learned Friend is, however, concerned to see that there should be the most appropriate machinery for consultation and appropriate action in present conditions to minimise inadvertent damage to ancient monuments. Officials are in active discussion with Forestry Commission staff to this end.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the level of funding of the Countryside Commission for Scotland in 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85 and 1985–86; and what level of funding is planned for 1986–87.

The level of funding made available to the Countryside Commission for Scotland has been as follows:

	£ million
1982–83	4·1
1983–84	4·4
1984–85	4·5
1985–86	4·7

Provision has been made in the Supply Estimates for funding of just over £5 million in respect of the commission's planned expenditure in 1986–87.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many sites of special scientific interest have been designated to date in Scotland; and what percentage of the land area of Scotland they comprise.

I am advised by the Nature Conservancy Council that as of 30 April 1986 there were 1,083 sites of special scientific interest covering 8 per cent. of land within Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has yet agreed a new financial target and performance aims for the Scottish electricity boards.

Cost reduction performance aims for the Scottish electricity boards were agreed for the three-years period to March 1986. After consultation with the boards I have decided to extend the period of the aims to March 1987, making appropriate adjustments to reflect the further costs reduction which can be expected in the additional year. The revised aim for generation and transmission activities is for the boards jointly to reduce controllable unit costs in real terms by 4·2 per cent. over the four-year period 1 April 1983 to 31 March 1987. Over the same period the South of Scotland Electricity Board will aim to reduce its controllable unit costs of distribution in real terms by 10 per cent. and similarly the North of Scotland Hydro Electric Board will seek to reduce this element of its costs by 5·5 per cent.The joint financial target agreed with the boards for the period 1 April 1983 to 31 March 1986 was to make an average return of 1·75 per cent. on net assets valued on a current cost basis. The average return achieved by the boards was 2·23 per cent. I have now agreed a one year joint financial target with the boards of 2·7 per cent. for the financial year 1986–87.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what detailed case has been put to him by British Rail in support of the request for special funding to enable a rail bridge across the Dornoch firth and rerouted line to be constructed when the Dornoch firth road crossing is begun; and what reply he has sent.

None. I under that British Rail has been considering the case for a rail crossing of the Dornoch firth and has had discussions with the Scottish Office and various interested bodies. It has concluded that it cannot make a financial case for funding the scheme wholly themselves; nor can it show that sufficient additional funding would be available from other sources. Accordingly, the Railways Board is not proceeding with its proposal.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what are the comparable figures for capital spending on the national roads programme expressed in real terms for 1979–80 and 1986–87; and what percentage increase this represents.

The figures are as follows:

	£ million cash	Real terms*
1979–80	402	611
1986–87	813	741†

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if the Government have any independent forecasts of traffic in order to validate their assessment of the effects of the Channel tunnel.

As part of its assessment of the four competing Channel fixed link schemes, the Government carried out independent appraisals of the promoters' traffic forecasts. These are not to be published, for the reasons set out in the Government White Paper, Cmnd. 9735.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many people are now employed by British Rail on railway operating duties; and how this compares with 1978.

The following information is provided in "Transport Statistics in Great Britain 1974–84" (table 3.8):

British Rail: Staff at end of year
Thousands
	1978	1984
Salaried:
Administrative, technical and clerical	50·6	38·4
Police	1·8	1·7
All salaried	52·3	40·1
Wage Earning:
Drivers	19·9	21·1
Other footplate staff	6·3
Guards and other train staff	12·6	11·0
Signalling staff	9·6	7·5
Staff employed in stations, yards and depots	26·9	20·2
Staff employed in carriage and wagon examination	2·2	1·3
Permanent way and signal telecommunications staff	27·9	26·1
Workshop staff (excluding BREL)	21·2	18·6
Miscellaneous wages staff	3·1	2·4
All wage earning	129·9	108·1
British Rail Engineering Ltd.	35·6	25·4
All	217·8	173·6

Alternative breakdowns of this information are a management matter for the British Railways Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if, pursuant to the answer of 17 March, Official Report, column 26, he will now provide a breakdown by region of British Rail's punctuality for both express and non-express services for the financial year 1985–86.

I understand from British Rail that the information requested is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what information he receives from British Rail on train punctuality as a matter of course (a) on full journeys and (b) relating to intermediate stations; what is the frequency with which this information is supplied; and what other information his Department has requested on train punctuality from British Rail in the last 12 months.

My right hon. Friend receives quarterly reports from the British Railways Board on train punctuality for full journeys, by region; and by class—that is whether express or not. He receives no information relating to intermediate stations. In future the Railways Board will also be providing information on a sector basis to permit monitoring against the sector-wide standards set. Any additional information requested during the last 12 months has been on a purely ad hoc basis as available.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if, when he next meets the chairman of British Rail, he will raise with him the standard of train punctuality in the London Midland region.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from the Consumer Association on train punctuality on the London Midland region; and what action he intends to take.

None, though I am aware of comments the association has made.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what conclusions he has reached following his consultations on the draft circular "Housing for Senior Management."

The consultations revealed considerable support for my view that a pool of houses attractive to and suitable for senior management is an important inducement for business men and industrialists considering investment in Wales and that where such a pool does not exist permission for some new sites should be made available. There was a division of opinion on the degree of need for new sites but it was generally felt that where they were needed they should be on the outskirts of towns and villages rather than in the open countryside. I continue to believe that an adequate pool of suitable houses does not exist everywhere it is needed in Wales and that there must be such a pool of houses or sites for new houses in each locality which seeks to attract incoming business or industry. I accept that this need varies from place to place and that it ought not to be met in the open countryside. I have concluded that the best way to ensure that the need is properly assessed and met is for each local planning authority to review its policies on the control of development with the object of introducing sufficient flexibility into its strategy on developments in and adjoining towns and villages to permit additional sites for single new houses or low density groups of houses so as to ensure that there is the pool of houses and sites for houses necessary for the encouragement of new commerce and industry. I am therefore asking authorities to undertake this review, to discuss it with representatives of industry, business, house builders and land owners, and to report the results to me by 30 November 1986.It was a criticism of the draft circular that it appeared to suggest that permission for new houses given in response to the policy of providing for the needs of senior management should be related expressly to the needs of individuals or of specific groups of people and that this was a significant departure from the generally accepted policy that planning decisions should be related to the use of land rather than the identity of characteristics of the user. I make it clear that this is not my intention. The need is for incoming senior managers to be able to make their choice of house from a range of suitable property and my object is to ensure that enough houses or sites are likely to be available to meet their needs.I have today issued a circular indicating my view of the general policy requirement and asking for the local reviews to be carried out. The circular also asks for care to be exercised to ensure that existing attractive residential areas are not spoilt by insensitive infilling.A copy of the circular has been placed in the Library. I have also arranged for a copy to be sent to my hon. Friend and to all other right hon. and hon. Members representing constituencies in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many applications for the revocation of planning permissions under section 45 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 have been made to him in each year since 1979; and how many of these have been approved, how many rejected and how many are pending.

Since 1979 one revocation order has been submitted to the Secretary of State for confirmation pursuant to section 45. This was submitted in 1982 and was confirmed in 1983. In addition the Secretary of State has issued directions under section 46 of the Act requiring five revocation orders to be submitted to him for confirmation. Details are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what objectives are set for managers in the National Health Service in Wales; what monitoring there is to measure achievement against objectives; and what action is taken consequent to that monitoring.

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply of 28 April 1986, at column 287.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what study he is making of the essential maintenance needs of rural schools in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

None. As owners of the schools it is for the local education authorities to identify essential maintenance needs.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to meet members of the National Farmers Union and the Farmers Union of Wales to discuss the possibility of designation of the whole of Wales as a less favoured area within the common agricultural policy; and if he will make a statement.

I have no plans to meet the National Farmers Union or the Farmers Union of Wales to discuss the less-favoured areas in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many sites of special scientific interest have been designated to date in Wales; and what percentage of the land area of the Principality they comprise.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report a table for each of the health authorities in Wales showing the numbers of in, out and day patients treated against each authority's financial allocation in the latest year for which complete figures are available.

The information given in the following table relates to the financial year 1984–85.

At 30 April there were 647 sites of special scientific interest in Wales, covering some 8 per cent. of the Principality.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will receive a deputation from University college, Swansea, led by the right hon. Member from Swansea, West, to discuss the particular problems posed for the college and for the city of Swansea by the recently announced cuts in funding for the college.

Responsibility for funding the colleges of the University of Wales rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science and the University Grants Committee. University college, Swansea will have opportunities for discussing with the UGC any problems which it faces following the announcement of its recurrent grant allocation for 1986–87. I do not believe it would be appropriate for me to hold separate discussions about the allocations of recurrent grant with the colleges of the University of Wales.

asked the Paymaster General what is his estimate of the average annual rate of growth of employment in firms registered under the Industrial Common Ownership Act 1976 during the period November 1976 to 31 March 1986.

The certification of co-operative and common ownership enterprises under the Industrial Common Ownership Act 1976 ceased on 21 November 1981 when the financial provisions of the Act expired. Certification was for the purpose of identifying potential recipients of loans under the Act. No information is available on growth of employment in those enterprises certified under the Act between 1976 and 1981.

asked the Paymaster General if he will provide an estimate of the number of people who are currently employed in worker co-operatives in the United Kingdom.

It is estimated that there are around 12,000 people currently employed in worker co-operatives in the United Kingdom.

asked the Paymaster General what is his estimate of the number of jobs that have been created in worker co-operatives in the United Kingdom since the passing of the Industrial Common Ownership Act 1976.

I regret that there is no sufficient data available on worker co-operatives to make an assessment of job creation over the period in question. However, in 1980 there were 305 worker co-operatives employing 5,342 people compared to around 1,400 co-operatives employing about 12,000 people currently.

asked the Paymaster General what information he has as to the survival rate of (a) new start worker co-operatives and (b) traditional forms of small business new starts.

(a) No information is available on new start worker co-operatives, but the Co-operative Development Agency estimates that in any one year 90 per cent. of the total stock of worker co-operatives will survive.

asked the Paymaster General what is the percentage of YTS trainees who obtain full-time employment (a) nationally and (b) in the West Hertfordshire constituency.

The Manpower Services Commission conducts a monthly follow-up survey of all young people leaving YTS. The latest results, covering those who left YTS between 1 April and 31 December 1985. show that 53 per cent. were in full-time work some three months after leaving YTS. A further 4 per cent. were in part-time work.Information about YTS leavers in the West Hertfordshire constituency is not available. However, latest results for the Dacorum local authority district, which forms a significant proportion of the constituency, show that 71 per cent. of YTS leavers were in full-time work and a further 3 per cent. were in part-time work.

asked the Paymaster General what technical and vocational initiative proposals he has approved for the West Hertfordshire constituency.

No proposal for a technical and vocational education initiative project has been approved for the West Hertfordshire constituency.

asked the Paymaster General how many (a) officials and (b) Ministers from his Department gave evidence to Commons Select Committees in each of the Sessions (i) 1983–84 and (ii) 1984–85.

In the 1983–84 Session two different Ministers and four different officials gave evidence; in 1984–85, four different Ministers and 14 different officials did so.

asked the Paymaster General what plans he has for the employment of young people in Yorkshire.

Employment prospects for young people in Yorkshire depend on a sustained improvement in the performance of industry, business and the economy as a whole. Our economic policies are designed to create the conditions for that improvement and we are making substantial progress. We also need levels of pay which ensure the competitiveness of our industry.In 1986–87 two-year YTS will provide 37,940 places in Yorkshire and Humberside region, with a further 8,715 continuation places being provided for young people who entered training last year. The job prospects of those completing YTS and those ineligible for training will be further enhanced by the new workers scheme.Those young people who have been unemployed for some time will be able to benefit from temporary employment under the community programme. At April 1986, 26,150 places were available in Yorkshire and Humberside region and the target is to increase this figure to 28,900 places by October this year. Our other employment measures will also directly or indirectly benefit young people.

asked the Paymaster General what consultations he has had with Civil Service unions about trade unions and firms approaching named civil servants in his Department on official business.

There has to date been no consultation with Civil Service unions within my Department on this issue. Nor has there been any request from these unions for such discussions. I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. and learned Friend's previous reply on this subject during the statement on business deregulation on 22 May 1986, at column 549.

asked the Paymaster General what was the number of unemployed claimants for the latest available year (a) nationally and (b) in Bradford, West.

The following information is in the Library. On 8 May 1986 the numbers of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom and the Bradford, West parliamentary constituency were 3,270,892 and 8,703 respectively.

asked the Paymaster General when the factors used to calculate the monthly inflation index were last reviewed.

The method of compilation of the general index of retail prices is reviewed from time to time by the Retail Prices Index Advisory Committee, which last reported in 1977. My right hon. and noble Friend expects to receive shortly a report from this committee and will he ready to consider making changes to the present methodolgy in the light of its recommendations.The "weights" used to combine the price movements of the various components of the index are revised as a matter of routine at the beginning of each year and data sources are changed when necessary to take account of changing circumstances.

asked the Attorney-General on which dates in September and October 1984 Mr. A. T. Hoolahan QC sat on the north-eastern circuit as a deputy high court judge.

Mr. Hoolahan sat as a deputy High Court judge on the north-eastern circuit on all working days between 8 and 16 October 1984 inclusive. There is no record of his sitting at all in September 1984 in this capacity.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on representations made by Her Majesty's Government to the United States Administration on their decision to breach the terms of Salt 2.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish (Mr. Bennett) on 12 June at column 286.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government have raised the plight of Baptist Christians in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the treatment of one of its members, Serafima Yudinsteva, with the Soviet authorities in the context of the Helsinki final act.

We take every suitable opportunity to raise with the Soviet authorities human rights issues, including freedom of religion and belief, both bilaterally and within the CSCE framework. But it is not possible, on any one occasion, to raise more than a few of the many hundreds of cases brought to our attention. I shall bear the hon. Member's point in mind when considering future representations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) officials and (b) Ministers from his Department gave evidence to Commons Select Committees in each of the Sessions (i) 1983–84 and (ii) 1984–85.

The following table gives the number of appearances of officials and Ministers from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Overseas Development Agency before House of Commons Select Committees in each of the parliamentary Sessions 1983–84 and 1984–85.

	1983–84	1984–85
Ministers	9	3
Officials	27	46

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the early payment of non value added tax own resources to the European Community in June.

In accordance with article 10(2) of Council Regulation 2891/77, the Commission has again invited member states to advance the payment of own resources other than VAT in respect of agricultural, sugar and isoglucose levies and customs duties collected by the Government on its behalf.In accordance with this request, the Government propose to make an advance payment of some £118 million on 20 June. This will be financed initially by a repayable advance from the contingencies fund, pending parliamentary approval of the estimate presented to the House on 17 June. The payment of levies and duties on the due date of 20 June will be reduced by the amount of the advance. There will therefore be no net addition to public expenditure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Ynys Môn of 3 June, Official Report, column 470–1, what customs and excise duty reliefs are presently available in United Kingdom freeports; if he will make an order exempting supplies made within the United Kingdom freeports from domestic value added tax and enabling excise goods to be stored without payment of duty; and if he will make a statement.

Customs duty is not charged on goods imported from third countries which are placed in freeports for storage or for processing prior to exportation from the Community. Unless an excise warehouse has been approved in a freeport, excise duty reliefs are limited to those which may be allowed under the Customs and Excise Acts.The application of domestic VAT in freeports is to be reviewed by Customs and Excise. I shall await the outcome of the review before considering any order exempting the supplies made in freeports from this tax. As to excise duty, excise goods may be stored in freeports without payment of duty in excise warehouses; such warehouses need to be approved under the normal criteria by Customs and Excise.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions have taken place within the European and Financial Council of the European Economic Communities on, and what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards, harmonisation of the structure of excise duties on alcoholic drinks; and if he will take steps to publicise these proposals in the United Kingdom.

[pursuant to his reply, 16 June 1986]: The Council of Ministers last discussed the harmonisation of the structure of the excise duties on alcoholic drinks in 1981. The Government consider that the proposed directives would need some amendment before they were acceptable to the United Kingdom. The draft directives have been subject to parliamentary scrutiny and relevant trade interests have been widely consulted. No further special publicity measures are considered necessary.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions have taken place within the Economic and Financial Council of the European Economic Communities on, and what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards, a proposal concerning the harmonisation of the structure of excise on mineral oils; and if he will take steps to publicise it in the United Kingdom.

[pursuant to his reply, 16 June 1986]: A proposal for a directive was issued by the Commission in 1973 but has never been discussed by the Council of Ministers. The Government consider that the draft would require a number of changes to bring it up to date and to make it acceptable to the United Kingdom. The proposal has been the subject of parliamentary scrutiny and of extensive discussion with trade interests in the past. No further special publicity measures are considered necessary.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions have taken place within the Economic and Financial Council of the European Economic Communities on, and what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards, proposals for a Council decision providing for a stand-still ensuring no introduction of new excise duties which give rise to border formalities; and if he will take steps to publicise them in the United Kingdom.

[pursuant to his reply, 16 June 1986]: The Government consider that this proposal is closely linked to the general question of indirect tax approximation which is currently under consideration in the Council of Economic and Finance Ministers. The Government's view is that it would not be appropriate for the Council to take a decision on this draft directive until its position on the wider issue had been settled.The process of parliamentary scrutiny has begun; the proposal has stimulated a number of representations from interested trade bodies. No special publicity measures are considered necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total value of current Ministry of Defence contracts with Royal Ordnance plc.

It is not our practice on commercial sensitivity grounds to reveal the total value of our business with individual contractors. I should like to take this opportunity to inform the House that, although substantial progress has been made in the process of transforming Royal Ordnance into a fully fledged commercial entity, it has not been possible to take this far enough and to have in place all the features necessary to provide the basis for a successful flotation this summer. Privatisation remains the Government's objective and further consideration will be given to the means of achieving this.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate of the number of jobs that will be created by the Trident programme in Scotland.

The Ministry of Defence employs some 4,500 civilians at Rosyth, Coulport and Faslane in support of strategic systems. Cancellation of the Trident project would put these jobs at risk. During the peak years of the Trident programme over 2,000 construction jobs will be created on the Clyde; and equipment purchases for Trident will create around 25,000 direct and indirect job opportunities in the United Kingdom as a whole, of which Scotland will take a share.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the awarding of defence contracts is used as an adjunct of regional industrial aid.

The primary objective of defence procurement is to satisfy the essential requirements of the services and in a way that secures best value for money for the taxpayer. Close links are maintained with the Department of Trade and Industry on the regional implications of equipment programmes.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the deployment exercises of the 501st Tactical Missile Wing at Greenham Common.

We do not give details of training exercises conducted by nuclear missile units.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how long Her Majesty's Government envisage it would take to transport sufficient quantity of binary chemical weapons to Europe from the United States of America in a time of crisis.

Detailed arrangements would he a matter for the United States, but timing would be of course largely depend on the priority of the task in the light of the circumstances prevailing at the time.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if any consultations have taken place between the United States and the United Kingdom on a draft plan for the deployment of United States binary munitions in the United Kingdom in a time of crisis.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby (Mr. Wareing) on 3 June, at columns 428–29.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what study his Department has made of the strategic options available to him in the event of Soviet use of battlefield chemical weapons; and if he will make a statement.

The essence of NATO's strategy of deterrence and flexible response is that NATO maintains a range of possible responses to aggression in any form against any NATO country. There would therefore be a range of possible responses to the use of chemical weapons against NATO by the Soviet Union.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the operation of the security forces in Northern Ireland.

Military operations are being carried out, in support of the Royal Ulster Constabulary's fight against terrorism, by the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force. The Army element currently comprises 10 Regular battalions and 9 battalions of the Ulster Defence Regiment. A major contribution is also being made by various support elements, including the Royal Engineers.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has had any recent discussions with other Northern Atlantic Treaty Organisation Defence Ministers about President Reagan's decision to abrogate the Salt 2 treaty.

I keep in close touch with my NATO colleagues on a wide variety of issues, and we are agreed on the importance of compliance with existing treaties. The Government hope that the Soviet Union will respond constructively to United States concerns over their compliance record and that both sides will continue to observe the SALT 2 agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the implications for United Kingdom defence policy of the decision of the United States Government to cease abiding by Salt 2.

The search for balanced and verifiable arms control agreements forms a central element of the Government's security policy, but they can only contribute to international stability if all sides have confidence that they are being complied with. We have welcomed the President's decision to dismantle two Poseidon submarines in order to stay within SALT limits now. We hope that the Soviet Union will respond constructively to United States concerns over its compliance record, and that both sides will continue to observe the agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the future role of the armed forces in the south Atlantic.

The garrison in the Falklands reflects the continuing need for a military presence sufficient to deter aggression and to defend the islands against attack.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has had any recent discussions with General Electric Company Avionics about the Nimrod airborne early warning programme; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. and learned Member for Montgomery (Mr. Carlile).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the placing of orders for type 23 frigates.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce orders for further type 23 frigates; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement on the number of frigates to be ordered by his Department in 1986–87.

Negotiations with Swan Hunter Shipbuilders for the second type 23 frigate are continuing. "Best and final" offers from the four firms competing for follow-on frigates are currently being evaluated. No decisions have yet been taken on the size and timing of orders.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what action he intends to take regarding the number of officers leaving the services.

I refer the hon. Member to paragraph 513 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1986, Volume One" (Cmnd. 9763–1).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received concerning the repeal of section 10 of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received about the operation of section 10 of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947.

Representations continue to be received from the categories of people referred to in the reply from my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence Procurement to the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) on 20 February 1986, at column 326. In addition, a few representations have been received from currently serving members of the armed forces.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will now take steps to seek to repeal section 10 of the Crown Proceedings Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to complete his review of section 10 of the Crown Proceedings Act; and whether he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make a statement on his review of the working of section 10 of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947 as it affects his Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress is being made towards the completion of the latest review of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947; what is the envisaged time scale towards its completion; and if he has any interim proposals regarding the future of section 10 of the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his policy in relation to section 10 of the Crown Proceedings Act.

Our review of section 10 of the Crown Proceedings Act is well advanced and, while I cannot set a firm date for its completion, we are getting on with it as quickly as possible. This is a complex and difficult subject and I would not want to prejudge the outcome by making any interim proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received on the question of Mr. Jim Smith and Aish and company in the light of the report on the subject by the Committee of Public Accounts.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the progress made towards assisting British participation in strategic defence initiative research.

Following signature on 6 December 1985 of the US/UK Memorandum of Understanding on United Kingdom participation in the United States SDI research programme, a United Kingdom SDI participation office was set up in the Ministry of Defence with as its main task the provision of assistance to British firms and research organisations seeking involvement in the programme.To this end, the SDI PO, working closely with the British embassy, Washington, and the United States SDI organisation in the United States Department of Defence, has built up and is now further developing a detailed knowledge of the content and direction of the United States research programme; is helping to identify bidding opportunities for British firms and research organisations; and is advising them on the terms anc conditions for United Kingdom participation set out in the MoU and supporting administrative arrangements. Large-scale briefings on these matters were given in mid-February and mid-March to a total of some 200 British firms and research organisations, and a further briefing was given in late March in Washington DC to a large audience of United States and United Kingdom industrialists and United States contracting officials. More specialised briefings are given to individual firms and research organisations, both UK and US, virtually every day.Written guidelines on participation have now been circulated to British firms and research organisations; and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.Negotiations are at a very advanced stage between the United States and United Kingdom Governments on a US-funded European architecture study. Other business arrangements are in various stages of negotiation, across a broad spectrum of research topics.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the total value of the strategic defence initiative orders won by United Kingdom firms.

US$1·2 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects that the first decision on the modernisation of individual battlefield nuclear systems will be made.

I cannot add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Central (Mr. Caborn) on 20 January at columns 90–91 and to the communiquè of the NATO Nuclear Planning Group meeting of 21 March, a copy of which is in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on progress regarding the proposed new survey of noise nuisance experienced by residents living near RAF Cottesmore.

Arrangements have been made for a team from the RAF Institute of Community and Occupational Medicine to take further noise tests from 23 to 27 June at sites which have been carefully selected in conjunction with the chief environmental health officers of Rutland district council and South Kesteven district council. Monitoring equipment is already in place at the villages of Cottesmore and Ashwell.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his recent proposals to publicise the Government's defence policy.

The Government will take as many opportunities as they can to explain the good sense and responsibility of their defence policies and to expose the naivity and irresponsibility of some alternatives being proposed to it.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his assessment of the number of SS24 and SS25 intercontinental ballistic missiles deployed by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

Our assessment is that so far some 70 SS25 ICBMs are deployed in the Soviet Union. Deployment of the SSX24 has not yet begun.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many missiles were delivered to Greenham common on 9 and 21 May; and if he will make a statement.

I cannot add to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member on 9 June at column 60.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if RAF Brawdy was on armed alert at any time during or immediately after the United States air force attack on Libya.

Following the United States action against specific terrorist-related targets in Libya on 14 and 15 April, all Ministry of Defence establishments in Great Britain including RAF Brawdy were placed on an increased security alert state.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what projects have been either partly or wholly financed by his Department since 1979 which have resulted in work being placed in Avon's aerospace factories; and what were the sums involved.

The detailed information requested is not available. However, among the major aerospace contractors which have factories in Avon are British Aerospace and Rolls-Royce. A prime responsibility of the Bristol division of British Aerospace is ship-launched missile systems including the Seawolf ship self-defence anti-missile system, the Sea Dart long range anti-aircraft missile system and the Sea Skua anti-ship missile. The Bristol division of Rolls-Royce numbers among its products the engines for the Tornado and Harrier aircraft. Both divisions were paid over £100 million by my Department in 1984–85.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will specify the whereabouts of the land owned and leased by his Department and the land over which his Department has rights in Wales.

The following are the main locations which the Ministry of Defence owns, leases or has rights over in Wales:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library a copy of any technical reports produced by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, the Central Electricity Generating Board, the South of Scotland Electricity Board or British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. which conclude in favour of reprocessing spent Magnox nuclear fuel on the ground of environmental safety; and if he will make a statement.

No technical reports specifically addressing the environmental safety of reprocessing spent Magnox fuel are available. My Department commissioned report DOE/RW/83.086 which reviews the environmental aspects of reprocessing oxide fuel. A copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to the answer from the hon. Member for Mitcham and Mordern (Mrs. Rumbold) on 19 May to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury, he will publish any economic models used by his Department in forecasting or assessing local government expenditure, spending targets, or rate limits, during the last two full financial years.

A description of the economic model referred to in my answer of 19 May has now been published in the journal "Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 1986, volume 4, pages 145–153." I have today placed an offprint of this article in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to establish a system of spot checks at sales outlets for water fittings and pipes to ensure that such products comply with British Safety Standards; and if he will make a statement.

No. I have no proposal to place an additional burden of inspection on sales outlets for water fittings and pipes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to confer upon water authorities the power of entry to domestic and commercial premises to carry out inspections designed to ensure that water fittings and pipes in use are suitable for low pressure systems; and if he will make a statement.

No. Water authorities have powers of entry on to premises to examine water pipes and fittings to ensure that water they supply is not wasted, misused, unduly consumed or contaminated before use. It is for the consumer to assure himself that his pipes and fittings are suitable for his purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to place a statutory requirement on water authorities to use only pipes and fittings made to British Safety Standards; and if he will make a statement.

No. Water authorities have procurement policies formulated to secure best value for money. I am advised that wherever practicable water authorities purchase pipes and fittings manufactured to British Standard or equivalent specification.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what checks are carried out to ensure that water fittings on sale in the United Kingdom conform to British Safety Standards.

It is for the purchaser to assure himself that water fittings offered for sale are of an adequate standard. However water undertakers have powers to enter premises and check whether such fittings are adequate to comply with any byelaws made by them to prevent the waste, misuse, undue consumption or contamination of water. Undertakers also have powers to alter, repair or replace defective fittings at the consumer's expense.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total level of assistance administered by his Department including urban programme funds, derelict land grant and so on, which has been spent in the Calderdale metropolitan borough area in each year since 1974.

The total level of assistance to the Calderdale Metropolitan Borough area since 1974 through specific grants administered by the Department of the Environment is shown, where available, in the table. The figures exclude assistance through main programmes and related subsidies and grants.

Assistance to Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council
	£
Urban Programme
1974–75	88,130
1975–76	24,355
1976–77	115,695
1977–78	26,910
1978–79	84,817
1979–80	64,797
1981–81	55,485
1981–82	213,300
1982–83	208,329
1983–84	440,324
1984–85	317,814
1985–86	194,553

£
Derelict Land
1978–79	15,300
1979–80	17,000
1980–81	41,222
1981–82	451,694
1982–83	198,256
1983–84	145,055
1984–85	66,140
1985–86	32,233

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many (a) officials and (b) Ministers from his Department gave evidence to Commons Select Committees in each of the Sessions (i) 1983–84 and (ii) 1984–85.

The information is as follows:

Evidence given to Departmental Select Committees by Officials and Ministers from the Department of the Environment, 1983–84 and 1984–85
	Session 1983–84	Session 1984–85
Number of officials*	36	32
Number of Ministers	2	3
* In these figures, each appearance by an official is counted separately. Appearances before non-Departmental Select Committees are excluded.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to meet representatives of Shelter, Shelter Housing Aid Centre and the Campaign for the Homeless and Rootless to discuss Government policy towards the reduction of homelessness; and if he will make a statement.

My hon. Friend the Minister for Housing, Urban Affairs and Construction and I are in contact with these bodies when appropriate, as are my officials. I have no plans at present for a meeting at Ministerial level.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now publish the report by Laurence Gould Consultants Limited on the operation of the financial guidelines for management agreements under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Yes, it has always been our intention to publish this report. We had planned to do so at the same time as we were able to announce our preliminary conclusions on it. This entails a great deal of detailed work and technical consideration. We had made clear before some recent misconceived press comment that we expect to publish the report, and our observations, so we could consult appropriately. In the light, however, of the press comment I have decided it would be right to publish the Gould report forthwith. The Government intend to consult shortly both on the report and on its own preliminary conclusion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give figures to show the level of his Department's funding of the British Geological Survey in each of the past 10 years.