asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the levels of students' allowances for Scottish students in the academic year 1986–87.

The main rates of allowances for students on degree and equivalent courses will be increased by 2 per cent. and by a further £36 for students who live away from the parental home. They will be:

	£
(a) for students living in the parental home	1,390
(b) for students living away from home and attending an establishment outside London	1,846
(c) for students living away from home and attending an establishment in London	2,191

The parental contribution scale will be adjusted upwards in line with earnings.Allowances for mature students will be increased by 2 per cent. plus £40 per annum.Allowances for special equipment for students attending certain courses will be discontinued.Students in receipt of grants will continue to be eligible for reimbursement of travelling expenses in excess of £50 already included in the main rates.Certain other changes will be announced in a supplement to the Scottish Education Department's "Guide to Students' Allowances, 1986–87".The arrangements for the financial support of Scottish-domiciled students will, in addition, be included in the wide ranging review of students' awards which my right

In-patients with mental handicap resident al 31 December each year in:
	1977	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985
(a) Lennox castle hospital	1,393	1,341	1,314	1,259	1,205	1,115	1,094
(b) The Royal Scottish national hospital	1,239	1,140	1,119	1,084	1,063	1,030	974
(c) Other mental handicap hospitals	7,018	6,670	6,518	6,474	6,153	5,963	*
(d) Mental illness hospitals and psychiatric units	1,020	869	853	821	855	825	*
* Figures not yet available.

In the period since 1985 the number of in-patients has been reduced to around 1,000 at Lennox castle and 900 at the Royal Scottish national hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many places there are in group homes and hostels for those suffering from mental illness and mental handicap, respectively, in Scotland.

Provision for this client group by local authorities and voluntary bodies is mainly in the form of staffed accommodation, but it is estimated that in 1985 there were 112 places for the mentally ill and 17 for the hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science announced today. The Scottish Education Department will he fully involved in that review and the particular circumstances relating to students in higher education in Scotland will be fully taken into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the progress towards meeting the SHAPE priorities laid down in 1980 with regard to the support of mentally handicapped patients in the community; and if he will make a statement.

The report on the SHAPE priorities (Scottish Health Authorities Priorities for the Eighties) was addressed primarily to the authorities responsible for the health services in Scotland, whereas the responsibility for providing facilities for the support of the mentally handicapped in the community rests mainly with local authorities. So far as increasing the provision in the community for this group is concerned, there has been substantial progress in the 'period from March 1979 to March 1985 and various supported accommodation and day care facilities have been established, including 350 units of special needs housing provided by housing associations, an increase of 377 places in staffed homes provided by local authorities and voluntary bodies and the provision of some 300 places in unregistered homes provided by voluntary bodies. Day centre provision for the mentally handicapped has increased by some 2,190 places in the same period. It is for local authorities to determine whether still greater priority should he given to further developments in their own areas in relation to the services for which they are responsible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many in-patients there are in Lennox castle hospital, the Royal Scottish national hospital and in other National Health Service hospitals in Scotland as a consequence of mental handicap at the latest convenient date; and what were the comparable figures five and 10 years ago.

This information is as follows:mentally handicapped in local authority or registered group homes. There were in addition some 370 places for the mentally ill and 310 for the mentally handicapped group homes and other premises known to local authorities where the amount of social work involvement was not considered sufficient to require registration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent studies have been done at Lennox castle hospital and the Royal Scottish national hospital to establish if there are any in-patients who on the Wessex scale of competence would be able to respond to training programmes designed to allow their discharge to a group home or hostel; and if he will make a statement on the results.

Surveys of all in-patients using the Wessex scale of competence were carried out in Lennox castle hospital in December 1984 and in the Royal Scottish national hospital in February 1984. These showed that 10 per cent. of the patients in Lennox castle hospital and 36 per cent. of the patients at the Royal Scottish national hospital had the basic skills to enable them to live independently. I have indicated in a separate reply to the hon. Member that progress has been made in providing facilities in the community to enable mentally handicapped persons who are capable of doing so to live independently.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been spent in each health board area by the boards and local authority on jointly planned and financed projects to create community facilities to support mentally ill and mentally handicapped patients in each of the last five years.

This information is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps were taken by his Department to act on the letter from the chairman of the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland dated 10 September 1985 addressed to the then Secretary of State for Scotland which expressed grave concern about conditions at the Royal Scottish national hospital.

Following the receipt of the letter referred to by the hon. Member, senior officials of the Scottish Home and Health Department visited the Royal Scottish national hospital on 8 November 1985 and had a lengthy meeting at the hospital with the chairman of Forth Valley health board and his advisers to discuss what could be done quickly to bring about improvements to the buildings and to raise the staffing levels at the hospital. In recognition of the health board's swift response to their earlier criticism, the chairman of the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland wrote to the chairman of Forth Valley health board earlier this year following a regular annual visit to the Royal Scottish national hospital to say that the commission had been enormously impressed at the improvements which had taken place in the hospital since its last visit in February 1985, and much encouraged that problems of leadership and inter-professional co-operation had within a very short period of time largely disappeared. The commission noted that the response of the health board had been immediate and most beneficial to the welfare of the patients.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has had any representations from the Royal College of Psychiatrists about conditions in the Royal Scottish national hospital and the decision to withdraw training rights from that hospital; and if he will make a statement.

I have had no such representations from the Royal College of Psychiatrists. I understand that the decision by the college to withdraw training recognition was based on the limited opportunity available to registrars to practise in-patient, out-patient and community psychiatric care because of the amount of time they were spending on general medical care of the patients in the hospital. The health board is taking steps to remedy the position.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if his Department has given any guidance to the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland as to the policy of making unannounced visits to hospitals; and whether that policy is still being followed.

Yes, though the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland is an independent body and it must answer for how it carries out its statutory duties. I understand that the commission and health boards have agreed arrangements about notifying the commission's intention to undertake visits to hospitals. It makes unannounced visits when this is felt to be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to publish the reports issued from time to time on hospitals by the Scottish Hospital Advisory Service and the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland.

The individual reports prepared by these two bodies on their respective visits to hospitals are primarily for the benefit of the hospitals themselves and the health boards in whose areas they are situated, and I have no plans to arrange for their publication. However, general reports on the work of both bodies are now published annually. A report by the director of the Scottish Hospital Advisory Service is included in the annual report by the Chief Medical Officer of the Scottish Home and Health Department; and since last year the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland has been required to present an annual report to Parliament. Copies of both reports are available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the patient-staff ratios for Lennox castle, the Royal Scottish national hospital and for hospitals dealing with the problems of the mentally handicapped in Scotland as a whole at the latest convenient date.

At 31 March 1985, the ratio of average whole-time equivalent staff numbers per 100 patients in these hospitals was as follows:

	Numbers
Lennox castle hospital	78·2
The Royal Scottish national hospital	90·2
All Scottish mental handicap hospitals	93·5

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the number of violent incidents in mental illness hospitals in Scotland in each of the past 10 years; and if he will make a statement on the trend revealed by these figures.

Althought a record is kept by the hospital authorities of all incidents involving violence of any degree to patients or staff, this information is not collated centrally. Apart from any other investigations carried out locally into such incidents, the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland has a duty to inquire into any case where it appears to it that there has been any ill treatment of a person who may be suffering from a mental disorder.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he has any plans to introduce further legislation to control asbestos pollution in Scotland; and if he will make a statement;(2) what representations he has received asking him to introduce legislation to control asbestos pollution; and if he will make a statement.

Eight representations on the need for further controls over asbestos in the environment have been received over the last two years.The emission of asbestos is controlled under the Health and Safety (Emissions into the Atmosphere) Regulations 1983. The handling and disposal of asbestos waste is controlled under the Control of Pollution (Special Waste) Regulations 1980 and the Control of Pollution (Licensing of Waste Disposal) (Scotland) Regulations 1977, which are under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if Her Majesty's Government have any plans to finance safe asbestos removal programmes in Scotland.

No. The Government are opposed to wholesale asbestos replacement programmes since it is often preferable to leave asbestos materials undisturbed because they are already, or can easily be, securely protected.Where asbestos treatment or removal is justified, expenditure for this purpose is a matter for local authorities and health boards which are best placed to identify any problems and to determine their own spending priorities. Nevertheless, my right hon. and learned Friend pays particular attention to any special needs brought to his attention in determining the resources to be made available to these authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many patients are at present in the state hospital, Carstairs, whose transfer to an ordinary National Health Service hospital has been approved; and if he will give the names of the hospitals to which transfers have been approved and the number of patients concerned for each such hospital.

There are at present 15 patients in the State hospital whose transfer to an ordinary mental hospital has been approved. These patients are awaiting transfer to the following hospitals:

Hospital	Number of patients
Ailsa hospital, Ayr	2
Ayrshire central hospital, Irvine	1
Dykebar hospital, Paisley	3
Gartnavel Royal hospital, Glasgow	2
Gogarburn hospital, Edinburgh	3
Kirklands hospital, Bothwell	1
Lynebank hospital, Dunfermline	1
Merchiston hospital, Johnstone	1
Ravenscraig hospital, Greenock	1

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the total number of crimes recorded by the police in Scotland during the second six months of 1985, the number of crimes recorded in each category and the clear-up rates in total and by category.

The number of crimes recorded, by category, during the second half of 1985 is as set out. Information on clear-up rates is not available for periods of less than a year, as it is collected in an annual return for the year as a whole. Clear-up figures for 1985 will be published shortly.

Crimes Recorded, by Category: Scotland July to December 1985
	Number
Non-sexual Crimes of Violence	7,969
Crimes of Indecency	2,781
Crimes of Dishonesty	174,754
Fire-raising, Vandalism etc.	40,243
Other Crimes	10,303
Total Crimes	236,050

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his proposals for a road bridge over the Dornoch firth.

It is my intention to proceed with plans to construct a road bridge over the Dornoch firth. Subject to the availability of finance and the satisfactory completion of statutory procedures, construction of the approach roads is planned to begin in financial year 1987–88, with construction of the bridge structure to follow in 1988–89. My Department will be holding a design-and-build competition for the bridge, the first stage of which will be to issue an invitation at the beginning of July to selected competitors for the submission of design proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what measures will be taken to ensure that funds allocated specifically for the general certificate of secondary education are used exclusively for that purpose; and if he will make a statement.

So far some £90 million is being targeted in support of the introduction of the GCSE. The Government are supporting expenditure of £40 million on books and equipment, £20 million in this current year and £10 million in each of the next two years, and have also committed some £10 million towards the in-service training of GCSE teachers. Moreover, local authorities have planned for an allocation to the GCSE of some £40 million in this current year.Of the £40 million expenditure on books and equipment for the GCSE, £35 million is to be supported by education support grant: under the education support grant regulations, local authorities have to secure from their auditors a certificate that expenditure was incurred on the activities for which approval was given. The allocation of £5 million being made available for the provision of scientific and technological equipment is a matter being considered by my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Employment in conjunction with the Manpower Services Commission.As to the funds for training, local authorities are required to certify that teachers have been released to attend GCSE training courses in order to qualify for grant under the in-service teacher training grants scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers were employed by local education authorities in England in January; and what is his estimate of the pupil-teacher ratio.

In January 1986 local education authorities in England employed the full-time equivalent of 402,900 teachers for service in nursery, primary and secondary schools. On the basis of estimated pupil numbers, the overall ratio of pupils to teachers is now at its best ever level of 17.6:1. This is a significant improvement on the 1979 ratio of 18.9:1.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will give the numbers of children in England and Wales who have taken A-levels in each year over the last 10 years, the number of subjects taken and the number of passes; and if he will give corresponding details for Hertfordshire;(2) if he will give the numbers of children in Hertfordshire who have taken O-levels in each year over the last 10 years, the number of subjects and the number of passes;(3) if he will give the numbers of children in Hertfordshire who have taken the certificate of secondary education each year over the last 10 years, the number of subjects taken and the number of passes;(4) if he will give the numbers of children in England and Wales who have taken the certificate of secondary education each year over the last 10 years, the number of subjects taken and the number of passes;(5) if he will list the number of children in England and Wales who, on reaching school leaving age, have not taken certificate of secondary education or O-level exams, over the last 10 years; and if he will list corresponding details for Hertfordshire;(6) if he will list the numbers of children in England and Wales who have taken O-levels in each year over the last 10 years, the number of subjects taken and the number of passes.

The information requested is shown in the following tables:

TABLE A
Leavers from maintained schools GCE A-level attempts and achievements
(Thousands)
Academic year	Number attempting A-level	Number of subjects attempted	Number of subjects passed
England
1974–75	88·06	248·93	182·02
1975–76	91·87	262·75	194·75
1976–77	98·46	281·38	204·44
1977–78	99·54	289·06	213·62
1978–79	99·75	291·80	215·17
1979–80	102·12	302·06	221·35
1980–81	105·99	313·14	231·34
1981–82	114·99	340·32	248·09
1982–83	119·67	351·78	257·64
1983–84	116·14	343·47	252·63
1984–85	109·29	327·37	243·33
Hertfordshire
1974–75	2·85	7·66	5·79
1975–76	3·04	7·85	5·80
1976–77	3·43	9·04	6·33
1977–78	3·43	9·39	7·01
1978–79	3·33	9·07	6·68
1979–80	2·77	7·45	5·51
1980–81	3·27	8·80	6·44
1981–82	3·78	10·14	7·19
1982–83	3·69	10·10	7·62
1983–84	3·59	10·04	7·95
1984–85	3·36	8·94	6·56

TABLE B
Leavers from maintained schools GCE O-level attempts and achievements
(Thousands)
Academic year	Number attempting O-level	Number of subjects attempted	Number of subjects passed grades A—C	Number of subjects passed any grade
England
1974–75	280·03	1,453·59	950·68	1,147·56
1975–76	301·29	1,543·27	986·08	1,247·27
1976–77	342·89	1,710·04	1,076·31	1,368·67
1977–78	358·06	1,788·05	1,121·47	1,442·47
1978–79	377·24	1,870·66	1,162·23	1,507·03
1979–80	391·85	1,934·49	1,209·32	1,565·57
1980–81	388·71	1,931·90	1,221·09	1,567·10
1981–82	412·56	2,060·76	1,312·16	1,674·74
1982–83	438·00	2,160·18	1,373·29	1,757·03
1983–84	445·15	2,171·06	1,369·54	1,757·57
1984–85	446·58	2,177·05	1,346·71	1,759·77
Hertfordshire
1974–75	8·10	42·99	29·17	34·59
1975–76	8·33	45·29	29·44	36·45
1976–77	9·82	53·12	34·28	42·87
1977–78	10·43	56·00	35·59	45·43
1978–79	9·76	55·09	35·37	45·33
1979–80	10·19	55·22	33·28	43·99
1980–81	10·25	57·12	35·34	45·97
1981–82	11·16	63·42	40·34	51·36
1982–83	11·66	65·04	41·36	53·55
1983–84	10·81	60·40	39·54	50·07
1984–85	11·11	60·00	37·84	48·77

TABLE C
Leavers from maintained schools CSE attempts and achievements
(Thousands)
Academic year	Number attempting CSE	Number of subjects attempted	Number of subjects passed grade 1	Number of subjects passed and grade
England
1974–75	419·58	1,968·73	257·75	1,793·42
1975–76	449·27	2,139·15	290·11	1,959·69
1976–77	494·62	2,407·12	330·97	2,211·77
1977–78	514·32	2,552·59	343·34	2,349·93
1978–79	534·84	2,691·44	358·25	2,478·74
1979–80	552·61	2,793·02	359·04	2,576·86
1980–81	547·70	2,820·06	365·48	2,617·31
1981–82	566·42	2,951·85	389·97	2,746·56
1982–83	587·95	3,086·12	420·20	2,877·71
1983–84	582·54	3,036·68	426·85	2,830·38
1984–85	569·43	2,956·58	427·64	2,767·97
Hertfordshire
1974–75	10·18	46·23	6·00	40·92
1975–76	9·93	45·40	7·57	41·26
1976–77	12·14	57·79	9·98	52·49
1977–78	12·25	57·38	9·45	52·67
1978–79	11·71	53·69	9·13	48·53
1979–80	12·56	60·84	9·52	56·10
1980–81	12·74	60·57	9·81	55·08
1981–82	12·88	62·05	9·93	55·78
1982–83	13·74	66·84	10·84	61·29
1983–84	12·83	62·36	10·21	56·45
1984–85	13·10	64·38	10·43	59·14

TABLE D
Leavers from maintained schools
(Thousands)
Academic year	Number of leavers who did not attempt a GCE O level or CSE examination		Total number of leavers
	England	Hertfordshire	England	Hertfordshire
1974–75	112·37	1·42	608·84	13·52
1975–76	101·82	1·18	624·73	12·75
1976–77	96·51	0·96	665·13	14·79
1977–78	95·01	1·08	682·20	15·11
1978–79	86·40	1·02	693·84	14·22
1979–80	82·51	1·06	706·11	15·10
1980–81	75·96	1·05	689·89	15·13
1981–82	72·79	0·76	706·69	15·36
1982–83	66·90	1·00	721·81	16·36
1983–84	64·12	0·77	708·60	15·13
1984–85	63·10	1·15	690·99	15·49

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received about the continuing need for small village schools in rural areas in the light of paragraphs 272–75 of the White Paper "Better Schools", dealing with minimum size of school; and if he will make a statement.

The White Paper "Better Schools" offered guidance on the minimum size of schools as a basis for discussion with the partners in the education service. In subsequent discussions the question of small rural primary schools has been raised on a number of occasions. The White Paper makes it clear that in isolated communities it is often right to retain a small village school; and education support grant has been made available for pilot projects to examine educationally and cost effective ways improving the quality and range of the curriculum in such schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he can give details of funding made to the Warwickshire county council for educational purposes during 1984–85; and what will the amount be in 1985–86.

Government specific grants to Warwickshire county council to support expenditurere on education totalled £8·6 million in 1984–85. This figure is based on outturn information supplied by the authority. Outturn information is not yet available for 1985–86, but the equivalent figure is estimated to be some £9·1 million. Both these figures include the grant paid to support the authority's expenditure on mandatory student awards, which was £7·5 million in 1984–85 and 0·7 million in 1985–86.In addition to specific grant, Warwickshire receives rate support grant. This is paid in respect of all its services and it is not possible to identify a particular element as being for educational purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what guidance Her Majesty's inspectors are giving to schools and local education authorities relating to the teaching of occultism; and if he will make a statement.

Her Majesty's inspectors have issued no guidance relating to the teaching of occultism. If during their visits to schools they come across teaching which they consider in some way detrimental to the children concerned, they will draw it to the attention of the headteacher and, if considered serious enough to warrant it, of the local education authority. I urge parents to do the same and, if necessary, to complain to my right hon. Friend, who will have the matter investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has about the proportion of teachers who are members of the National Union of Teachers in (a) primary and nursery schools, (b) secondary schools and (c) all schools.

Information in respect of (a) and (b) above is not available. In December 1984–January 1985 it is estimated that about 45 per cent.^* of teachers in all maintained schools in England and Wales were members of the NUT.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate he has of the percentage rise in the fees for students studying for PhDs on a part-time basis for the next academic year, and of the effect this will have on completion rates.

The level of fee to be charged to part-time students is a matter for individual universities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what account was taken, in arriving at the new formula for community funding through the University Grants Committee, of the additional costs borne by universities in the north-east for (a) heating and (b) travel to London.

None.

	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85	1985–86
Expenditure on the assisted places scheme (£ million financial year)	3·022	8·691	14·995	22·152	29·569
Percentage of pupils* from other than publicly maintained schools (all intakes)	32·3	33·5	32·1	31·3	30·6
* Information about the siblings of assisted pupils is not collected.

As to

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what progress has been made towards the privatisation of British Gas; and if he is able to announce further details.

Since my statement to the House about gas privatisation last May, the Gas Bill has received its Third Reading and is nearing Report stage in another place. I am now able to give the House further details of the basis on which, subject to passage of the legislation, the Government intend to sell the equity in British Gas plc in the autumn.The new company's balance sheet will contain both debt and equity. This is in line with normal commercial practice. After careful consideration, the Government have decided that the debt element should be fixed at £2·5 billion. This will ensure a properly balanced capital structure while leaving the company full opportunity for business development and growth.The Gas Bill provides the necessary powers for the Government to assume responsibility for the existing British Gas Corporation 3 per cent. guaranteed stock, which relates to liabilities incurred during nationalisation in 1948. This will be transferred to the national loans fund, which will then assume liability for the service and redemption of the stock. There will be no compensatory payment into the NLF to balance this liability, which will

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give, for each year for which statistics are available, and to the latest available date, such information that he has as to (a) the cost of the assisted places scheme, (b) the proportion of successful candidates who were already receiving their schooling in the independent section, or who had brothers and sisters receiving such education, (c) the average income of families who have used the assisted places scheme, and (d) what are the ages of transfer of the pupils who have moved from the state sector using the assisted places scheme.

[pursuant to his reply, 16 June 1986, c. 383]: The information requested at (a) and (b) is as follows:therefore be met from the Consolidated Fund as authorised by the money resolution passed by the House on 10 December 1985.The gas levy, which is a tax on gas supply from offshore fields not subject to petroleum revenue tax, will decline over time in importance as the proportion of total supply from these fields reduces. The Government have decided that, as provided for in the Bill, the levy will continue at its present rate of 4p per therm.The value of X in the regulatory formula relates to the onshore component in the maximum price chargeable to tariff consumers. It is important that X should be set so as to provide a continuing incentive for the company to contain onshore costs directly within its control and to ensure that consumers participate in the benefits of cost containment. After careful examination, I have decided that the appropriate value for the initial five-year period of the regulatory formula will he two. This will ensure that the element of the charge to tariff customers covering the delivery of gas is held at a level 2 per cent. below the rate of inflation, while the gas itself will be charged at prices under long-term contracts which are influenced by movements in oil prices, exchange rates and other factors. The formula will set a demanding discipline for the company to meet while leaving opportunities for a profit-oriented management to work for still better performance. The regime will be kept under scrutiny by the Director-General of OFGAS.It is our intention that British Gas employees, past and present, should have every encouragement to take a stake in the new company and the Government will be offering suitably attractive terms. Most employees will be eligible for free shares worth around £70 plus £2 for each year of service. In addition, the Government will provide two free shares for each share purchased by an employee, up to a maximum of £300 of free shares for £150 purchased. It will also be open to employees to purchase up to £2,000 worth of shares at a discount of 10 per cent. For British Gas pensioners there will be a free offer worth around £75. Both pensioners and employees will be able to apply on a priority basis for additional shares. The free and matching offers for employees will be available to all in continuous employment from 1 May 1986 who are contracted to work at least 16 hours a week.The British Gas offer for sale will bring within reach of everyone the chance to share in the fortunes of a major and successful enterprise. Details of the special arrangements for share purchase we shall be making available to small investors will be announced at a later stage. These will include arrangements for domestic gas customers who register their interest in advance to purchase a guaranteed allotment of a certain number of shares.The provisions I have announced today mark a further step towards realising a historic opportunity which will be good not only for gas consumers and all who work in the industry, but for the millions of members of the public who will be able to own shares.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Bedfordshire. North (Sir T. Skeet), 12 May, Official Report, column 334, if he will list all those organisations and individuals who have made representations to his Department advocating the increased use of nuclear power in the United Kingdom in the period since 1 April.

My Department receives widespread representations in favour of cheaper electricity from organisations and individuals ranging from large industrial users to small domestic consumers. The Government believe that safe nuclear power has an essential contribution to make in the provision of electricity economically.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the total capacity of the generating stations for England and Wales; what is the capacity in each of the 12 area boards in England and Wales; and what is the maximum recorded demand for electricity in England and Wales and for each of the 12 area boards.

The CEGB and the Electricity Council advise that the figures are as follows:1.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any plans to reduce the gas levy.

I refer to the reply given today by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Hannam).

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will consider providing funds for research in the United Kingdom into all aspects of the environmental effects of electromagnetic fields;(2) what information he has as to research studies investigating the possibilities of adverse effects on human health arising from residence in close proximity to high voltage overhead power cables.

Information on research into possible effects on human health from high voltage overhead power lines has been published in the medical and electrical press and in conference reports. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received an annual report from the Central Electricity Generating Board on its own research and worldwide monitoring programme in this field. The board's programme has been subject to independent review by its epidemiology advisory committee and by my right hon. Friend's Advisory Council on Research and Development. I am advised that the research has given no reason to suppose that electric or magnetic fields or air-ions as normally encountered by people living or working near power transmission plant in the United Kingdom are harmful to health. The Government see no need to fund an increase in the programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any plans to restrict the erection of high voltage overhead power cables near to occupied dwellings.

The Government have no plans to introduce new restrictions on the erection of high voltage overhead power lines near to occupied dwellings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now publish the report by the Police Complaints Authority on access by police officers to information stored on the police national computer and if he will make a statement.

The report was published yesterday. It contains recommendations designed to strengthen the control of access by police officers to information stored on the police national computer. My Department will draw the report to the attention of all chief officers of police. In addition, its recommendations are being studied by the Police National Computer Board to determine what further action is required, in consultation with the Association of Chief Police Officers and with Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, to ensure that misuse of the computer facility does not occur again.I take this opportunity to record my thanks to the Police Complaints Authority for its valuable examination of this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for prison governors to wear uniform; and if he will make a statement.

This issue was raised in the report of the "Review of Management Structure in Prison Service Establishments", on which I hope to announce my intentions shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received regarding the victim support scheme.

I have received representations from the parliamentary all-party penal affairs group and, through hon. Members, from a number of local victims support schemes seeking increased central Government funding for victims support. The National Association of Victims Support Schemes has also submitted comments on the White Paper "Criminal Justice: Plans for Legislation". The extent of Government support for local schemes was described in the reply given by my hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Mr. Mellor) on 24 April, at column 188. In addition, substantial help is given to the National Association of Victims Support Schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received advocating the introduction of day prisons; and whether he will make a statement.

The parliamenary all-party penal affairs group has recently re-affirmed support for a system of intermittent custody. Most of the organisations which have commented on the Government's decision, announced in the recent White Paper on "Criminal Justice", not to introduce such a system have supported the Government's line.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his Department's present discussions with the Prison Officers Association.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Westminster, North (Mr. Wheeler) on 14 May, at columns 464–66. I understand that the national executive committee of the Prison Officers' Association is arranging to ballot the association's members and will be recommending the calling-off of the industrial action: the ballot is likely to take place around the beginning of July and the result should he known about a week later.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now take steps to deport Roberte Fiore and four other Italian nationals who have been convicted of terrorist offences in Italy; and if he will make a statement.

I am continuing to keep these cases under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people under the age of 21 years are on remand in Hull prison.

On 17 June 1986 there were 131 untried prisoners aged under 21 in Her Majesty's prison and remand centre, Hull.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the case of Mr. Norman William Davis, a prisoner detained at Featherstone prison, was considered by the local review committee; when the views of the judiciary were requested and received by his Department; when the case was referred to the Parole Board by his Department; when the case was considered by the Parole Board; when the recommendation of the Parole Board was received by his Department; and when he expects to take a decision on its recommendation.

The information requested is as follows:

• Date of local review committee consideration:
• 18 December 1984.
• Date papers sent to judiciary:
• 18 December 1985.
• Date papers received back from judiciary:
• 14 January 1986.
• Date papers sent to the Parole Board:
• 21 May 1986.
• Date case considered by the Parole Board:
• 4 June 1986.
• Date recommendation received from Parole Board:
• 17 June 1986.

I would expect to consider the board's recommendation within the next fortnight.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, pursuant to his answer of 12 June to the hon. Member for Dewsbury (Mr. Whitfield) Official Report, column 270 in which it was stated that the guidelines on immigration cases appear to be working satisfactorily, he will inquire into why the immigration service breached these guidelines on 13 June by informing Mr. Shahed Saleem at Ringway airport that he must return to Pakistan by 15 June, although at the time of this instruction Mr. Saleem's case was still under consideration by his Department and no decision on it had been communicated to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton.

The right hon. Member expressed his first interest in this case on the evening of 10 May, the day of the passenger's arrival. He asked that Mr. Saleem, who had not at that stage been refused entry, should be interviewed quickly, but that if further inquiries were needed these should be conducted at Manchester airport. The case was transferred to Manchester airport and the passenger was refused entry on 13 June. The chief immigration officer at Manchester was aware of the right hon. Member's earlier interest, but assumed, mistakenly, that this was confined to the initial delay in interviewing Mr. Saleem. Removal directions were accordingly set for 15 June. These were cancelled when the right hon. Member confirmed that he wished to make representations on the case. The chief immigration officer should have realised from the right hon. Member's earlier intervention that representations were likely to be submitted in the event of refusal of entry.The action taken was not in my view a breach of the guidelines, but directions should not have been set without a check first being made about the right hon. Gentleman's possible wish to make representations, given his earlier involvement in the case.

asked the Paymaster General how many enterprise agencies now operate in Great Britain.

There are currently 314 local enterprise agencies throughout Great Britain, of which 249 are approved under the terms of the 1982 Finance Act, which allows business sector sponsors tax relief on their contributions to such bodies.

asked the Paymaster General what representations he has received in the last three months concerning job safety.

Ministers in this Department have received 42 letters from industrialists, trades unions and members of the public concerning job safety over the last three months. On 8 May my right hon. and learned Friend met the Health and Safety Commission to discuss Crown immunity.

asked the Paymaster General what representations he has received from religious organisations which find that their members, for reasons of conscience, are unable to complete courses administered by the construction industry training board for the joint industry board for the electrical contracting industry.

I have recently received a number of representations from members of religious organisations who feel that individuals with their beliefs cannot, in conscience, register as apprentices with the joint industry board for the electrical contracting industry. I have asked the chairman of the Manpower Services Commission to draw the matter to the attention of the construction industry training board and the joint industry board to see whether a solution can be found which satisfies all parties concerned.

asked the Paymaster General whether he will bring forward legislation to enable trainees, who for reasons of conscience, are unable to obtain grants or complete training schemes initiated by the Manpower Services Commission, to obtain some form of exemption in the pursuit of the relevant qualifications.

No. I am concerned, however, that neither trainees' freedom to undertake training, nor financial support for training, should be restricted for these reasons. I have asked the chairman of the Manpower Services Commission to look carefully at the small number of cases recently drawn to my attention where trainees have reported difficulties.

asked the Paymaster General if fixed charges for energy supplies and water services are included when compiling the retail prices index; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. Practically all goods and services on which households spend their money are covered by the retail prices index, including both fixed and unit charges for energy and other services.

asked the Paymaster General if Her Majesty's Government will now ratify International Labour Organisation convention 159 on the rehabilitation of disabled people; and if he will make a statement.

In a White Paper (Cmnd. No. 9417) laid before Parliament on Friday 21 December 1984, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment announced the Government's decision not to ratify convention 159. The White Paper gave clear reasons why the Government were unable to proceed with ratification and the position remains unchanged.

asked the Paymaster General, further to the answer to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 19 May, Official Report, column 48, if he will state the last occasion when his Department issued instructions specifying members of a specific occupation or profession who were not to be advised on their entitlement to benefit.

It has not in the past been necessary to refer to specific occupational groups in connection with the standing instruction to which I referred in my reply to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher). The miner's position is unique in that a decision on the timing of their claim could effect not only benefit entitlement but also entitlement to payment under the redundant mineworkers payments scheme. Their position was further complicated by the possible loss of national insurance contributions during the industrial dispute which ended in March 1985. It was particularly important, therefore, that this group of potential claimants were not misdirected.

asked the Paymaster General how many persons have died from asbestos-related diseases in Scotland in each of the last five years.

The following tables gives the numbers of death certificates which mention the asbestos-related diseases asbestosis mesothelioma. Some deaths involving mesothelioma may not be related to asbestos. The most recent figures are for 1984.

Death certificates mentioning asbestos-related diseases
	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984
Scotland
Asbestosis without mesothelioma	13	18	10	13	9
Asbestosis with mesothelioma	1	3	3	2	2
Mesothelioma without asbestosis	52	53	50	44	54
Total	66	74	63	59	65

In addition, studies have shown that workers heavily exposed to asbestos in the past now suffer a significantly higher incidence of lung cancer than the general population. There are, however, no figures of the total numbers of asbsetos-related deaths from this disease.

asked the Paymaster General what plans he has to extend the technical and vocational education initiative courses to all secondary schools in England; and if he will make a statement.

The Government are considering the wider application of the lessons emerging from the technical and vocational education initiative.The Government's objective is that all young people should have the opportunity of following a more relevant and practical curriculum.

asked the Prime Minister (1) what has been the rate of indictable offences per 1,000 population per annum in each of the last five years (a) in Great Britain and (b) in Northern Ireland; to what the difference is attributed; and if she will make a statement;(2) what has been the rate of car thefts per 1,000 vehicles per annum in each of the last five years

Comparisons of recorded crime in different parts of the United Kingdom can only be approximate because of differences in law and recording practice. Such figures as are available are given in the following table. It is not possible to attribute differences in recorded crime between Great Britain and Northern Ireland to any single cause. In Scotland the classification and recording practices are appreciably different, and few valid comparisons can be made.

asked the Prime Minister if, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Leicester, East of 4 June, she will take steps to ensure the compilation and maintenace of a central list of local authorities which have declared a nuclear-free zone in their area; and if she will make a statement.

Since we do not recognise the validity of so-called nuclear-free zones, the Government do not consider that it would be appropriate to require local authorities to provide information of this kind, nor that the expense involved would be justified.

asked the Prime Minister if, in the light of its participation in the international expert meeting on legislation and equalisation of opportunities for disabled persons held in Vienna between 2 and 6 June, Her Majesty's Government will make a contribution to the United Nations trust fund for the decade of disabled persons; and if she will make a statement.

We support the general aims of the United Nations world programme of action concerning disabled persons. However, it is not our intention to contribute to the voluntary fund for the United Nations decade of disabled persons. We prefer to support specific projects of benefit to the disabled directly through our bilateral aid programme.

asked the Prime Minister if she will take steps to ensure that the respective versions of the new code of conduct for European companies operating in South Africa currently being circulated by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department of Trade and Industry correspond exactly in their wording, with particular reference to the revised definition of minimum wage levels recently agreed by EEC Ministers; if she will make it the practice of Her Majesty's Government to use the version issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as the basis of its policy towards South Africa; what steps Her Majesty's Government propose to take to implement the code in the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement.

All Government Departments are implementing the code as agreed by EC Foreign Ministers on 19 November 1985, a copy of which was deposited in the Library of the House. The Government are encouraging British companies with interests in South Africa to comply fully with the provisions of the revised code.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland what is the policy of his Department concerning the prosecution of cases of sexual offences where the complainers are children and there are no other witnesses available to give evidence.

The policy, as reflected in departmental regulations, is to treat all offences against young children, especially those at continuing risk, as matters of especial concern. Procurators Fiscal are directed to prosecute such offences without delay in the sheriff court or High Court.Provided sufficient evidence in law is available, the public interest will usually require that such cases be prosecuted unless there are very good reasons for not so doing. Examples of such reasons might be that the accused person is himself a child, in which case his referral to the Reporter to the Children's Panel will be considered as an alternative to prosecution, and the possibility that the ordeal for the child of giving evidence would outweigh any advantage to be gained from a prosecution.There is no minimum legal age limit for children as witnesses, but Procurators Fiscal must satisfy themselves that children are able to give credible and comprehensive evidence, and understand the obligation to speak the truth. Procurators Fiscal are advised to interview chidren themselves, if in doubt, on these questions. Provided at least two children satisfying these requirements are available to give evidence, a prosecution call take place. If individual children speak to similar conduct by the accused, albeit on different occasions, the rule in HMA v. Moorov may he applied to create a sufficiency of evidence.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland how many cases his Department has considered in each of the past seven years of allegations of sexual offences against children; and in how many such cases a decision has been taken not to proceed on the grounds that no prosecution witness would be available other than the child concerned.

The information is not held centrally and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to collect and publish regular information concerning (a) the number of housing units disposed of by local authorities to private developers for refurbishment or redevelopment, (b) the number of housing units made available under such schemes (i) for fair rent. (ii) for sale under a low cost home ownership scheme and (iii) for sale at market value, (c) the number of housing units made available under such schemes which have subsequently been let to or purchased by (1) former tenants of the properties, (2) council tenants on the local authority's transfer list, (3) households on the local authority's waiting list and (4) homeless households; and (d) where the units refurbished or redeveloped are for sale, the resale price of the properties.

Information will be collected quarterly, as from the current quarter, about the number of local authority dwellings sold to private developers or to housing associations for refurbishment and resale. Arrangements for publication have not yet been decided. I am considering whether regular information might also be collected about the subsequent use of such dwellings and, if appropriate, I shall consult the local authority associations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what research has been conducted by his Department into what existing local authority tenants would prefer their homes to be managed or owned by (a) housing associations, (b) building societies and (c) non-profit making trusts.

As the preferences of tenants are bound to depend on the circumstances of a particular case, the primary need is for full consultation with the tenants concerned before any proposed scheme receives approval. At Thamesmead, tenants expressed a clear preference in a referendum for ownership and management by a non-profit distributing company controlled by the residents, as opposed to a trust controlled by the local authority. My Department is also carrying out research on the attitudes of tenants and owners who live in different types of co-operatives.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information his Department has about the instance where local authority tenants have initiated a proposal that their landlord (a) delegate the management of their homes or (b) dispose of the ownership of their homes to (i) a housing association, (ii) a building society, (iii) a private trust or (iv) a private developer; and whether he can provide information on what results have arisen from any such proposal.

Many local authority tenants are dissatisfied with the management of their homes, and would welcome either improved management by the local authority, or transfer of the ownership or management to them or to another body. The urban housing renewal unit in my Department is discussing with local authorities a wide range of options for their difficult-to-manage estates. However, it is the responsibility of local authorities to draw up specific proposals in consultation with their tenants.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what research his Department has conducted concerning (a) the inclination, (b) the capacity and (c) the experience of building societies to take over (i) the management and (ii) the ownership of local authority rented housing stock;(2) what research his Department has conducted concerning

The building societies have been examining how best they might use the new powers proposed in the Building Societies Bill and how they might be able to co-operate with the public sector in the improvement and better management of housing estates, while looking after the interests of their savers. We shall want to discuss the societies' ideas with local authorities and with housing associations. A study being carried out for my Department by the Centre for Housing Research at Glasgow university will collect information about the respective attitudes of local authority and housing association tenants to a wide range of housing management practices.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many gipsies are estimated to be resorting to or residing in each of the countries in England; and when these estimates were made;(2) whether he will list those local authorities which have caravan sites deemed to be adequate under the Caravan Sites Act 1968 and which do not;(3) what information he has as to how many separate caravan sites have been provided in each county; and how many pitches are accommodated on those sites.

At the January 1986 count of caravans conducted by district and London borough councils in England, a total of 10,592 gipsy caravans were recorded. The tables are placed in the House of Commons Library and contain detailed breakdowns by region, county and district. They record the numbers of caravans on authorised private gipsy sites in each authority's area, as well as on sites provided by the authorities themselves. A list of those local authority sites is also in the Library. The question whether individual sites are adequate at any given time is dependent on the circumstances at that time and in that place.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which local authorities are designated under the Caravan Sites Act 1968.

The following local authority areas have been designated:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will name those local authorities in respect of which his Department has had to use, or threatened the use of, his powers under section 9 of the Caravan Sites Act 1968; if he will give the relevant dates of such actions; and whether his directions were complied with.

Discussions have taken place with a number of authorities about their gipsy site provision. All such discussions are with the knowledge that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has powers to direct. In no case has it yet been found necessary for the Secretary of State to issue directions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the percentage of each consignment of typical spent thermal oxide nuclear fuel imported represented by (a) depleted uranium, (b) plutonium and (c) nuclear waste products.

Fully irradiated thermal oxide fuel consists of approximately 96 per cent. uranium, 1 per cent. plutonium and 3 per cent. fission products and other actinides. It contains no depleted uranium.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will increase the amount of money available for all aspects of radioactive waste management research; and if he will increase the proportion of the budget that is allocated to geological studies in this respect.

My Department is only one of the funding bodies in the United Kingdom supporting research on radioactive waste management. The nuclear industry and UK NIREX Ltd. fund research in support of their waste management operations. From a stable overall research budget, my Department will be increasing the proportion allocated to disposal of wastes in order to fulfil its regulatory function in respect of proposals from UK NIREX Ltd. for solid waste disposal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to increase the amount of research on nuclear waste disposal and its environmental consequences which the United Kingdom contributes to international research projects on this issue.

The United Kingdom, through my Department, is an active participant in several international research projects related to radioactive waste management. Recent years have seen a steady increase in the United Kingdom contribution to the Commission of the European Communities, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and other multilateral projects. This trend is expected to continue.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he plans to increase the length of time for which funds are allocated for radioactive waste research.

Contracts for research related to radioactive waste are let for whatever time is needed to meet the research objectives. Most contracts are for one or two years, but some cover research for up to five years when necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he plans to initiate any geological fieldwork studies to complement any theoretical evidence that he may have concerning the effects of the geological environment on radio-nucleide dispersal.

My Department has commissioned a three-year programme of geological and geochemical fieldwork studies related to movement of natural and man-made radioactivity in geological media. These studies will complement the research carried out by UK Nirex Ltd, and research in other countries. They are primarily concerned with observation of long-term processes and with testing the prediction methods used in assessing the safety of geological disposal of radioactive waste.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to commission any geological studies on the siting and construction of radioactive waste repositories.

It is the responsibility of UK Nirex Ltd. to commission geological studies on the siting and construction of repositories for low and intermediate-level radioactive waste. My Department has a substantial research programme to support its policy and regulatory responsibilities, part of which is concerned with the safety of geological disposal radioactive wastes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to publish his Department's response to the remainder of the Environment Committee's report on radioactive waste.

As soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider the provision of special assistance to the London Co-operative Enterprise Board Limited to enable it to process outstanding applications from groups wishing to create their own employment by setting up worker co-operative enterprises.

This is a matter for the London boroughs, from which the board has sought support.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the peace convoy and other similar groups with a nomadic habit of life have been included in the official estimates of the numbers of gipsies resorting to or residing in each county.

The official estimates relate to the numbers of gipsy caravans and are provided twice-yearly by district and London borough councils. Caravans belonging to individuals whom the authorities accept as of the nomadic habit of life referred to in the Caravan Sites Act 1968 should normally be included. Groups such as the peace convoy would not normally be included.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to complete his review of the 14,000 expenditure limit for repairs to property under the Housing Defects Act 1984.

My hon. Friend the Minister for Housing, Urban Affairs and Construction announced on 3 June the Government's proposals for revising the expenditure limit for repairs under the housing defects legislation. My Department is currently consulting local authority associations and other interested bodies on those proposals, with a view to bringing new limits into force by the end of August.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps his Department is taking to deal with the problem in inner city areas of obtaining insurance cover for business premises.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Paymaster General is collating information from the

	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984
Domestic	0·30	0·28	0·29	0·26	0·26	0·22	0·21	0·20	0·20	0·16
Commercial/public services	0·24	0·24	0·24	0·23	0·24	0·20	0·18	0·17	0·14	0·14
Power stations	2·82	2·69	2·74	2·81	3·10	2·87	2·71	2·62	2·53	2·50
Refineries	0·26	0·28	0·27	0·29	0·29	0·28	0·22	0·21	0·16	0·15
Agriculture	0·03	0·03	0·03	0·03	0·03	0·02	0·02	0·02	0·01	0·01
Other industry	1·40	1·39	1·34	1·33	1·34	1·03	0·83	0·74	0·61	0·52
Rail transport	0·02	0·02	0·01	0·02	0·01	0·01	0·01	0·01	0·01	0·01
Road transport	0·05	0·05	0·05	0·05	0·06	0·04	0·05	0·05	0·04	0·04
All consumers	5·13	4·98	4·98	5·02	5·34	4·67	4·22	4·01	3·69	3·54

Figures for 1985 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report for each water authority for each year since 1979, the lengths of class 3 (poor) and 4 (bad) rivers, in kilometres.

The lengths of class 3 (poor) and 4 (bad) rivers are published each year by the water authorities in their annual reports, and collectively by the Water Authorities Association. My Department also publishes this information as part of its statistical publication, the "Digest of Environmental Protection and Water Statistics," as additional table F12, the latest version of which is reproduced.

River and canal water quality: bad and poor quality river length by water authority area: 1978–79—1984–85 England and Wales
	River length classed as of bad or poor quality (km)	All classified river length (km)	Per cent. of all river length classed as of bad or poor quality
Anglian
1978–79	575	4,356	13·2
1979–80	424	4,351	9·7
1980–81	543	4,439	12·2
1981–82	514	4,441	11·6
1982–83	455	4,441	10·2
1983–84	467	4,446	10·5
1984–85	426	4,446	9·6

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the figures for total sulphur dioxide emissions in the United Kingdom for each of the past 10 years; and if he will break down each yearly figure by the following sources (a) power stations, (b) refineries, (c) other industrial sources, (d) transport, (e) agriculture, (f) commercial and public services and (g) domestic.

The information requested is published annually in my Department's "Digest of Environmental Protection and Water Statistics", a copy of which is in the Library. The figures for 1975 to 1984 are as follows:

	River length classed as of bad or poor quality (km)	All classified river length (km)	Per cent. of all river length classed as of bad or poor quality
North West
1978–79	866	5,625	15·4
1979–80	877	5,656	15·5
1980–81	895	5,656	15·8
1981–82	876	5,656	15·5
1982–83	882	5,656	15·6
1983–84	1,141	5,900	19·3
1984–85	1,180	5,900	20·0
Northumbrian
1978–79	125	1,500	8·3
1979–80	123	1,500	8·2
1980–81	114	1,500	7·6
1981–82	105	1,500	7·0
1982–83	97	1,500	6·5
1983–84	90	1,500	6·0
1984–85	90	1,500	6·0
Severn-Trent
1978–79	697	6,198	11·2
1979–80	675	6,192	10·9
1980–81	617	6,190	10·0
1981–82	565	6,202	9·1
1982–83	511	6,202	8·2
1983–84	497	6,202	8·0
1984–85	496	6,202	8·0
South West
1978–79	137	2,640	5·2

	River length classed as of bad or poor quality (km)	All classified river length (km)	Per cent. of all river length classed as of bad or poor quality
1979–80	158	2,716	5·8
1980–81	156	2,722	5·7
1981–82	130	2,722	4·8
1982–83	178	2,722	6·5
1983–84	132	2,620	5·0
1984–85	177	2,631	6·7
Southern
1978–79	118	1,921	6·1
1979–80	97	2,061	4·7
1980–81	93	2,016	4·6
1981–82	78	2,011	3·9
1982–83	68	2,011	3·4
1983–84	112	2,010	5·6
1984–85	83	2,010	4·1
Thames
1978–79	290	2,408	12·0
1979–80	356	2,408	14·8
1980–81	370	2,408	15·4
1981–82	184	2,408	7·6
1982–83	125	2,408	5·2
1983–84	210	2,418	8·7
1984–85	159	2,418	6·6
Welsh
1978–79	358	4,781	7·5
1979–80	358	4,781	7·5
1980–81	337	4,781	7·0
1981–82	332	4,781	6·9
1982–83	326	4,781	6·8
1983–84	299	4,781	6·3
1984–85	309	4,781	6·5
Wessex
1978–79	97	1,955	5·0
1979–80	97	1,955	5·0
1980–81	114	2,094	5·4
1981–82	106	2,094	5·1
1982–83	95	2,011	4·7
1983–84	95	2,011	4·7
1984–85	88	2,011	4·4
Yorkshire
1978–79	787	6,031	13·0
1979–80	772	6,031	12·8
1980–81	760	6,031	12·6
1981–82	708	6,031	11·7
1982–83	690	6,031	11·4
1983–84	772	6,033	12·0
1984–85	769	6,033	12·7
England and Wales
1978–79	4,070	37,415	10·9
1979–80	3,937	37,651	10·5
1980–81	3,999	37,837	10·6
1981–82	3,598	37,846	9·5
1982–83	3,427	37,763	9·1
1983–84	3,765	37,921	9·9
1984–85	3,777	37,932	10·0

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will require the Greater Manchester residuary body under schedule 13(10) to the Local Government Act 1985 to furnish him with information relating to the circumstances in which the loss of keys to a cabinet has led to a failure to provide information to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton in relation to a constituent's claim for compensation; and if he will make a statement.

I shall write to the right hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many jobs have been created within Northern Ireland in each of the past 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

The information is not available in the exact form requested. However, the numbers of jobs promoted by the various industrial development agencies in Northern Ireland in each of the past 10 years were as follows:

	Department of Commerce/ Industrial Development Board	Local Enterprise Development Unit	Totals
1976	2,904	774	3,678
1977	4,647	1,226	5,873
1978	6,413	1,221	7,634
1979	5,472	1,330	6,802
1980	5,545	1,185	6,730
1981	2,576	1,169	3,745
1982	3,420	2,206	5,626
1983	2,658	3,419	6,077
1984	5,189	3,721	8,910
1985	3,966	3,907	7,873