asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what a scale 1 teacher was paid on 1 May of each year since 1974, at outturn and at current prices.

The table shows the salary (excluding all allowances) of teachers in maintained and primary and secondary schools at point 13 of scale 1 on 1 May of each year since 1974 in cash prices and in 1986 prices (adjusted by reference to the RPI).

1 May	Cash prices	Constant prices*
	£ per annum	£ per annum
1974	2,553	9,159
1975	3,744	10,745
1976	4,056	10,088
1977	4,239	9,005
1978	4,662	9,195
1979	5,082	9,086
1980	6,228	9,134
1981	7,317	9,603
1982	7,755	9,296
1983	8,142	9,412
1984	8,556	9,409
1985	9,147	9,400
1986	9,804	9,804
* RPI-adjusted to April 1986 level.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what would be the estimated cost of providing an educational maintenance allowance of £27 at 1985–86 prices for all pupils remaining in schools or colleges for one year after the school leaving age, for one week, 38 weeks, 40 weeks, 46 weeks and 52 weeks, after deducting child benefit and existing educational maintenance allowances; and if he will give projections on the same basis for each of the next three years.

The estimated cost, based on provisional 1985–86 pupil and student numbers and projected numbers for the following three years, would be as follows:

£ million
	Weeks
	1	38	40	46	52
1985–86	6	230	243	283	322
1986–87	6	222	235	273	312
1987–88	6	229	242	281	320
1988–89	6	219	231	269	307

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the average grant paid to a mature student in full-time higher education for the last year for which a figure is available.

The mandatory awards regulations do not define a mature student. However, from their mid-20s, students may, in addition to a full grant, receive certain supplementary allowances, including an older students allowance and an allowance for dependants. In the academic year 1984–85 the average allowance paid to students in these categories was £530 and £1,355, respectively. This was in addition to a grant (for students not living with their parents) of £2,100 (London rate) of £1,775 (elsewhere rate).

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of gross domestic product has been spent on the education budget in 1984–85 and 1985–86.

Total public expenditure on education in the United Kingdom was 5·1 per cent. of gross domestic product in 1984–85. Final figures for 1985–86 are not yet available, but on the basis of estimates published in the public expenditure White Paper and the financial statement and Budget report, outturn for public expenditure on education in that year represents 4·8 per cent. of gross domestic product.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much the Government will be spending in the current year on research into the causes of schizophrenia; if he has any plans to increase this amount; and if he will make a statement.

The Medical Research Council (MRC), which receives its grant-in-aid through the Department, is the main Government agency for the promotion of medical research in the United Kingdom. I understand that in the financial year 1985–86, the latest year for which information is available, the MRC spent £525,000 on projects exclusively on research into schizophrenia and a further £1,573,000 on projects which have schizophrenia as a minor component. The MRC is always willing to consider soundly based scientific proposals in competition with other applications.Research work relevant to schizophrenia is also being conducted in universities and medical schools, financed from the block grant to universities allocated for teaching and research on advice from the University Grams Committee. Figures are not available.I would also refer the right. hon. Member to my reply of 1 July at c.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy that all bidders for the airborne early warning radar system will be subject to identical deadlines in all respects; and if he will make a statement.

This is already our policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has extended the deadline for the testing of airborne early warning radar systems in operational environmental conditions beyond 3 September; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how much is being spent currently by his Department on military bands and musical training in the armed forces.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Thomas) on 24 March at c. 395.Costs of musical training in the armed forces cannot be separately identified.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will provide details of the provisions for employee shareholdings to be made for the chairman and senior and area management of British Gas under privatisation.

I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's announcement on 18 June at columns 537–39. The chairman and management of British Gas will be eligible for the Government share offers on the same basis as other staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will discuss with the gas and electricity boards measures to prevent disconnection of a consumer when the contents of a pre-payment meter have been stolen.

The code of practice on disconnections ensures that disconnection is used only as a last resort; the options that are examined before disconnection is pursued are shown in this code. The British Gas Corporation and the electricity supply industry consider individually each case of theft from a meter. Where they are satisfied that the theft was the work of a third party, unconnected with the household, they may waive the obligation on the consumer to make good the losses.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will discuss with the chairman of British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. the implications for standards of quality and safety of the proposed closure of Northern Engineering International Nuclear Systems, Gateshead, and the consequential transfer to other suppliers of 11 of a 15-module order for the thermal oxide reprocessing plant at Sellafield, currently in production; and if he will make a statement.

This is a commercial matter for BNFL.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the amount of aid given by Her Majesty's Government to Guyana in each of the past five years.

Gross British official aid to Guyana was as follows:

	£'000
1981	2,475
1982	1,724
1983	1,555
1984	419
1985	354

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial and other assistance the United Kingdom is providing to Afghan refugees in Pakistan.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, East (Mr. Moynihan) on 21 April at column 35.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the cost of the emergency relief Her Majesty's Government have provided to Jamaica to assist in the repair of damage caused by recent floods; if he is proposing any long-term rehabilitation schemes to follow the immediate assistance; and if he will make a statement.

The total cost of the emergency relief is expected to be around £300,000. In response to a request from the Jamaican Government, we have also provided 150 tonnes of Bailey bridging and associated material under an additional £250,000 programme aid loan. The bridging has already been shipped. We have no current plans for assisting with long-term rehabilitation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the 150 tonnes of Bailey bridging materials Her Majesty's Government are providing to replace bridges destroyed by the recent floods in Jamaica to arrive.

The Bailey bridging materials are expected to arrive in Jamaica on 27 July.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how much has been spent in Wales on the technical and vocational education initiative and community programme vocational education schemes in each year since their inception.

I am advised by the Manpower Services Commission that expenditure under the technical and vocational education initiative for the financial years 1983–84, 1984–85 and 1985–86 was £1,449,568, £2,375.573 and £3,105,377, respectively.The CPVE is administered by the Joint Board for Pre-Vocational Education and figures for the Board's expenditure in Wales are not separately available. The Welsh Office contributes to the grant paid by the Department of Education and Science to the joint board for the development of the CPVE. For the financial years 1983–84, 1984–85 and 1985–86 the contribution was £48,000, £41,000 and £57,000, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how much money has been spent on provision for Welsh-medium instruction of the technical and vocational education initiative and community programme vocational education schemes in Wales in each year since their inception.

It is not possible separately to identify expenditure on provision for Welsh medium teaching under the TVEI and CPVE schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the'tender price accepted for the building of the new offices of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive at Coleraine; and what has been the final cost for the completion of the building.

A fluctuating price tender of £492,918.91 was accepted by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive on 24 October 1984 for the construction of a new office building at Coleraine. The building reached practical completion on 20 June 1986. The estimated final cost is £534,250.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the nature of the legislation on housing which the chief executive of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive announced on 20 June soon to be introduced.

The chief executive of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive was referring to the Government's previously announced intention to introduce legislation on homelessness for Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the discussion by the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference of the voting rights of Irish citizens in Northern Ireland.

Before the meeting of the Intergovernmental Conference on 17 June, the Irish Government put forward proposals concerning the voting rights of certain Northern Ireland residents in some Northern Ireland elections. The position of those voters (both British and Irish citizens) who may vote at parliamentary and European elections but not at local government or Northern Ireland Assembly elections, was subsequently discussed at that meeting. The United Kingdom representatives confirmed the Government's view that the provisions governing the franchise for parliamentary elections throughout the United Kingdom should also be applied to local government elections in Northern Ireland, as they are in Great Britain, and to elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly; and they stated their intention of taking appropriate legislative action.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the discussion by the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference of the treatment of the Irish language in Northern Ireland.

The Irish Government put forward proposals concerning the position of the Irish language in Northern Ireland at the conference on 10 January. At its meeting on 17 June the United Kingdom Government described current administrative practice, and indicated as areas for possible future development the provision of dual language street names where the local community so desires; ascertaining more precisely the number of Irish speakers in Northern Ireland; and financial support for Irish language-related cultural activities.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the discussion of flags and emblems by the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference.

The Irish Government put forward proposals relating to flags and emblems at the conference on 10 January. At its meeting on 11 March the United Kingdom Government described the public order legislation for Great Britain before Parliament; explained the desirability of bringing Northern Ireland public order legislation so far as possible into line with that for Great Britain; and indicated that the question of flags and emblems would be considered in the context of the extension, as appropriate, by Order in Council, of this legislation to Northern Ireland. That remains the position.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what current discussions are taking place between his Department and British Shipbuilders about contracts for (a) new merchant vessels and (b) merchant vessel refits.

British Shipbuilders keeps my Department in close touch about possible contracts. Details are commercially confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what account has been taken by Her Majesty's Government in estimating the net number of jobs at risk from the possible imposition of sanctions against South Africa, of any offsetting job gains resulting from the manufacture in the United Kingdom of goods previously imported and the investment in the United Kingdom of capital previously exported to South Africa; and if he will make a statement;(2) what method of calculation has been used to arrive at a figure of 120,000 job losses in the United Kingdom if full economic sanctions were applied to South Africa.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if any contingency plans exist for alternative sources of supplies of strategically important minerals currently supplied by South Africa; and if he will make a statement.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he intends to take in respect of pre-1984 Telecommunications Act licences which will cease to be valid on 5 August.

I shall be making an order under the 1984 Act which will have the effect of extending their validity by up to a further three years depending on the licence involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many motorway and trunk road cross-over accidents have occurred in the past five years involving the rupture or crossing of safety barriers; and what form of construction was used for those road barriers.

The most recent figures available are given in the table.

Year	Motorways	'A' Road Dual Carriageways*
1980	28	32
1981	38	26
1982	21	43
1983	40	52
1984	29	56
* Includes both trunk and non-trunk roads, because separate statistics are not collected for these categories of roads.

National statistics on the types of barriers involved in cross-over accidents are not collected. For motorways the barrier would almost certainly have been a steel safety fence or either the tensioned corrugated beam or untensioned open box beam type, as these designs are used most widely. For dual carriageways it is reasonable to assume that in most cases the barriers would have been of the types mentioned above.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has received the annual report and accounts of the Air Travel Reserve Fund Agency for 1985–86.

Yes. The agency's final report is published today and copies are available in the Library. In acknowledging the report I would like to pay tribute to the work undertaken on behalf of holidaymakers by the chairman Sir Kenneth Selby, the members of the agency and their few executive staff. The history of the agency included in the report is itself testimony to the agency's efforts over the past 11 years.I have read with interest the important points which Sir Kenneth has made in the report and I am sure that the trustees of the new Air Travel Trust, and the independent committee which advises them, will consider the report carefully. The committee will benefit from the expertise of members who were also members of the agency, and their presence will ensure an element of continuity with the experience of the agency.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Forestry Commission has completed the sale of the Catholic chapel at Biddlestone, near Harbottle, Northumberland; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.Contracts for the sale of the chapel have been exchanged, but the sale is not yet completed.

asked the Prime Minister what representations Her Majesty's Government have received about the accuracy of the volume of the official history of the war entitled "The SOE in Scandinavia"; what response has been made; and if she will make a statement.

I am aware of no such representations.

asked the Prime Minister, pursuant to her reply to the hon. Member for East Lothian on 30 June, if she will now provide the information requested concerning estimates of the possible scale of the financial, material and human costs of an accident at a British nuclear installation of similar magnitude to that which began at Chernobyl on 26 April; and if she will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to my previous answer on 30 June at column 412.

asked the Prime Minister, pursuant to her reply to the hon. Member for East Lothian on Monday 30 June, if she will specify the fundamental differences between the nuclear steam supply system in the reactor at Chernobyl and those reactors operating in the United Kingdom.

The Chernobyl design involves cooling the nuclear fuel by boiling water. The water and fuel are contained in pressure tubes running through the reactor core. The steam from the boiling water goes directly to the turbine generators in a direct cycle system.BNFL's and generating boards power reactors operate at much lower pressures and moderator temperatures and are cooled by carbon dioxide gas. This gas heats separate boilers to produce the steam, and this steam, which is never in contact with the nuclear fuel, drives the turbine generators.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service in what circumstances he collects information on the political adherence of civil servants.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

Items accepted since I January 1986
Item	Conditions	Allocation
Collar Chain of a K.CMG	Unconditional	Imperial War Museum
Chattels at Hagley Hall	In situ	Birmingham District Council
Sir Arthur Bryant Correspondence	Conditional	Imperial War Museum
Items Awaiting Allocation
Portrait by Sir Thomas Lawrence	Unconditional—wish expressed to remain in situ	9 April 1986
Archives from the Dukes of Portland and Newcastle	Unconditional—wish expressed that they remain at Nottingham University Library, Bodleian Library Oxford, Nottinghamshire Record Library, Hampshire Record Library	14 March 1986
9 Paintings by Ben Nicholson	Unconditional	12 February 1986
Hans Arp Bronze Sculpture	Unconditional—wish expressed to go to Tate	12 March 1986

A press notice will be issued on 4 July 1986 to publicise this information.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have recently made to the Government of Guyans concerning human rights; and if he will make a statement.

None. We have regularly made clear at the United Nations and in other international human rights bodies our concern that human rights should be respected in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the two international covenants on human rights, to which Guyana is a party. The Guyanese Government are well aware of our views.

asked the Minister for the Arts whether he will specify the allocations made to public institutions in the United Kingdom during the half-year ended 30 June of individual works of art and museum objects preeminent for national, scientific, historic and artistic interest which have been accepted in satisfaction of capital transfer tax, together with information, where applicable, as to the conditions or wishes expressed in the matter of allocation by testators and executors; and whether he will list the works of art and museum objects which are still awaiting allocation, with the respective dates of their acceptance in satisfaction of capital transfer tax.

[pursuant to his reply, 3 July 1986]: The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's relations with Guyana.

We enjoy good relations with Guyana and are represented by a high commissioner resident in Georgetown.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, when he visits South Africa, he will make it his policy to refrain from meeting any person who has given support to the practice of murder by the placing of burning tyres around the neck of a living human being; and if he will make a statement.

We have consistently condemned the use of violence on all sides in South Africa. My right hon. and learned Friend's visit, on behalf of the Twelve member states of the European Community, is a further effort to promote the dialogue and the suspension of violence that are so urgently needed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much money was allocated in 1985–86 for research on verification of a comprehensive test ban treaty.

I have been asked to reply.The most important verification technology is seismology. Government expenditure on unclassified work in this area during 1985–86 was £1·5 million. The Government also undertake classified work in related areas, details of which cannot be revealed on grounds of national security.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many psychopathically disordered patients were resident in the four English special hospitals at the time of the implementation of the Mental Health Act 1983; how many patients since that time have been discharged from hospital by the mental health tribunals; and of those cases discharged by the mental health tribunals, how many are known to have subsequently offended by committing an offence similar in nature and equal or worse in degree compared to their index (admission) offences.

Information is not available in precisely the form requested. At the end of 1983 there were 411 patients suffering from psychopathic disorder in special hospitals in England, of whom 339 were subject to the special restrictions set out in section 41 of the Mental Health Act 1983. Two restricted patients admitted to special hospitals by reason of psychopathic disorder were discharged by a mental health review tribunal between the coming into force of the Act on 30 September 1983 and the end of 1983; 24 were so discharged in 1984; and the provisional figure for 1985 is 12. Of these 38 patients, four are known to have committed subsequently a serious offence of a similar nature to their index offence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convicted prisoners in the last five consecutive years for which figures are available have been transferred to the four English special hospitals for treatment of their psychopathic disorder; of these cases, what was the average time, to the nearest month, which

Number of persons accepted for settlement in the United Kingdom, 1980 to 1985
Nationality	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985
Pakistan	9,080	8,970	7,750	6,440	5,510	6,680
India	7,930	6.590	5,410	5,380	5,140	5,500
Bangladesh	5,210	5,810	7,020	4,870	4,180	5,330
Barbados	100	80	60	40	50	60
Guyana	240	220	180	190	190	200
Jamaica	590	440	320	310	290	350
Trinidad and Tobago	150	150	150	120	150	160

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the crime prevention initiatives taken since May 1979.

The number of such prisoners and the average time between their conviction and transfer are as follows:

	Prisoners	Months
1981	10	24
1982	6	27
1983	7	24
1984	13	31
1985	*19	21
* Provisional.

Information about how many of these prisoners remained in hospital after the end of their sentence is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (I) if he will grant limited entry into the United Kingdom for amateur sportsmen from the Indian sub-continent who are kabbadi players;(2) why he is insisting on work permits to be presented by amateur kabbadi players from the Indian sub-continent coming to Britain every summer.

Whether sportsmen require work permits depends on the terms of their engagement. I have considered the question of the admission of kabbadi players and have decided that they may be admitted without work permits unless the immigration officer is not satisfied that they meet the requirements of the immigration rules as visitors.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the latest figures for permanent settlement in the United Kingdom from (a) the West Indies, (b) Pakistan, (c) India and (d) Bangladesh; and how they compare with the comparable figures for settlement in each of the past five years.

The numbers of persons accepted for settlement in the United Kingdom, by nationality, are published annually in Command Paper "Control of Immigration: Statistics, United Kingdom". The following table gives the figures for the nationalities requested where they are separately identified in the published statistics.

Among the many crime prevention initiatives taken since May 1979 are the following:

• —the establishment of the Home Office crime prevention unit to undertake research, formulate policy, monitor implementation and to provide advice;
• —the expansion of the Home Office crime prevention centre at Stafford which trains police officers in crime prevention matters;
• —the formation of the ministerial group on crime prevention to carry forward the crime prevention strategy and to review the arrangements within and outside of Government of the co-ordination, development and implementation of initiatives;
• —the holding of two national seminars at No. 10 Downing street;
• —encouraging the expansion of neighbourhood watch and similar schemes;
• —raising the profile of crime prevention in the community at large by way of conferences and seminars;
• —stimulating crime prevention activities and initiatives now being carried forward by non-Government bodies;
• —encouraging the production of British standards on the security of buildings and vehicle security;
• —the dissemination of crime prevention advice and guidance: through leaflet, poster, press, radio and television publicity campaigns;
• —the provision of funds for crime prevention measures under the urban programme and through the urban housing renewal unit;
• —the approval of some 5,000 places for crime prevention projects under the communty programme;
• —the dissemination of information about good practice in police and local authority crime prevention schemes;
• —the setting up of working groups, to report to the Home Office standing conference on crime prevention, on residential burglary, car security, commercial robbery, shop theft and the prevention of violence associated with licensed premises;
• —the production of revised guidelines for crime prevention panels;
• —the establishment of five local demonstration projects to stimulate a multi-agency involvement in tackling crime problems of particular concern to communities in specific locations;
• —urging local authorities, commerce, voluntary groups, industry, trade unions and all other sectors of the community to identify and act upon the crime prevention potential within their fields of activity.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what means have been employed to ascertain the demand for bilingual passport application forms.

The two passport offices serving Wales have sought to record requests for forms in Welsh and receipt of forms completed in Welsh. Since 1980 they have recorded three requests for such forms and receipt of two forms completed in Welsh.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and the chief constable of the West Midlands police as to the number of people who have been escorted to police custody for behaviour or offences warranting detention in a mental hospital or psychiatric institution under section 136 of the Mental Health Act; and what proportion of them were, after consultation in police custody with a psychiatrist or social worker (a) committed to one of the above establishments and (b) sent home.

Statistics of persons detained by the police under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 are not maintained locally or centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. 1 would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for St Helens, South (Mr. Bermingham) on 19 May at c. 13.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many mother and baby units there are in each prison accommodating female prisoners.

The Prison Department has three mother and baby units — at Holloway, Styal and Askham Grange.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Afghan refugees have been granted asylum in the United Kingdom.

The information requested was published in tables 2 and 3 of Home Office statistical bulletin No. 12/86, "Refugee Statistics, United Kingdom, 1985" on 1 May 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average weekly dose by volume per capita of each of the main categories of drugs given in (a) each prison for male prisoners and (b) each prison for female offenders, during the last year for which figures are available.

Medicines administered to prisoner patients are not statistically recorded by volume. Information on the use of medicines in prison service establishments, including information about the use of certain categories of medicines, is published annually in the report on the work of the Prison Department, copies of which are in the Library. The most recently published report is that for 1984–85 (Cmnd. 9699).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will amend the immigration rules to prevent men who come here as visitors and who then advertise for a bride being allowed to settle in the United Kingdom on the basis of marriage.

No. The immigration rules already prevent marriage being used in this way as a device to obtain settlement. One of the requirements of the existing rules is that the Secretary of State must be satisfied that the marriage was not entered into primarily to obtain settlement here. A man who entered this country as a visitor and advertised for a bride would be most unlikely to be able to satisfy that requirement of the rules if he then applied to remain permanently on the basis of the marriage.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the average period of time taken to make review board decisions in the case of prisoners serving life sentences in Scotland (a) from 1979 until 1984 and (b) from 1984 onwards; and if he will make a statement.

Information is not available in the form requested. The initial review of the suitability or otherwise of an indeterminate sentence prisoner for release on life licence is carried out by a local review committee at the penal establishment concerned. Detailed reports and consideration by the local review committee normally take about 3 to 4 months to complete. The time taken to complete other stages of the review process, which under statute has to include consultation with the judiciary and a favourable recommendation from the Parole Board for Scotland before a provisional release date is granted by my right hon. and learned Friend, varies according to the circumstances of the individual case and the number and complexity of cases currently under consideration.A new form of record keeping introduced last year has shown that in recent months the time taken to complete reviews has increased, but steps are being taken to improve the turnover as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the average period of time taken to make review board decisions in the case of those categories of prisoners serving a minimum life sentence of 20 years following legislation introduced in 1984 (a) in Scottish prisons and (b) in Saughton prison, Edinburgh; and if he will make a statement.

Information is not available in the form requested.On 18 December 1984, at columns

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the total European regional development fund moneys for each year since 1979 for Scotland.

Total awards from the European regional development fund for Scotland from 1979 are as follows:

£ million
	Total	Infrastructure	Industry	Non-Quota
1979	37·9	35·9	2·0
1980	27·9	17·1	10·8
1981	70·7	55·3	15·4
1982	71·6	61·7	1·9	8·0
1983	83·5	63·9	19·6
1984	103·2	59·4	33·8	10·0
1985	121·4	*100·4	21·0
Total	516·2	393·7	104·5	18·0
* Including £68·2 million for the Glasgow national programme of community interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many families were placed in bed-and-breakfast type accommodation for homeless people in 1985 in (a) Strathclyde and (b) Scotland.

3,019 households in Scotland who applied during 1985 under the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977 were housed initially in bed-and-breakfast accommodation. Of these, 2,781 were in Strathclyde region.

asked the Paymaster General how many community programme managing agents or sponsors have been excluded from the scheme or had their work curtailed since 1983; and what were the reasons for exclusion.

Information on the number of managing agents and sponsors whose scheme contracts have not been renewed, or which have terminated early, is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Paymaster General what is the rate of unemployment in the south of England, defined as south of a line from Bristol to the Wash; and what is the rate in the rest of the United Kingdom.

On 8 May 1986 the rate of unemployment in the South of England, defined as those counties^* south of a line from Bristol to the Wash, was 10·3 per cent. The corresponding figure for the rest of the United Kingdom was 15·9 per cent.

^* Avon, Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, East Sussex, Essex, Greater London, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Somerset, Suffolk, Surrey, Wiltshire and West Sussex.

asked the Paymaster General what has been the change in numbers and percentage in the size of the civilian employed labour force in the south of England, defined as south of a line from Bristol to the Wash, since 1966 and since 1976, respectively; and what are the comparable figures for the rest of the United Kingdom.

Civilian employed labour force
	Change between June 1966 and June 1985		Change between June 1976 and June 1985
	Numbers	Percentage	Numbers	Percentage
South of England*	544,000	5·3	551,000	5·3
	-1,408,00-
Rest of the United Kingdom	0	-9·6	-973,000	-6·9
* South East. East Anglia and South West regions.

asked the Paymaster General how many unemployed people under 25 years old drawing benefit there have been in the south-east for each of the last 10 years; and what percentage this was of (a) south-east unemployment and (b) United Kingdom unemployment.

The following information is in the Library. The table shows the numbers of unemployed claimants aged under 25 years in the south-east region for April of each year from 1983. The figures relate to unemployed persons claiming unemployment benefit, supplementary benefit or national insurance credits at unemployment benefit offices. Comparisons over the period are affected by the change in the timing of compilation of unemployment statistics in March 1986. Analyses of unemployed claimants are not available before October 1982.

Unemployed Claimants—under 25 years
	South East	Percentage of South East Total	Percentage of United Kingdom Total
April	Number	Per cent.	Per cent.
1983	261,089	35·7	8·2
1984	265,627	36·3	8·5
1985	275,665	35·2	8·4
1986	262,714	33·1	7·9

asked the Paymaster General what is the official definition of part-time employment.

Part-time employment is not defined as such in employment legislation. The criterion most widely used in the Department of Employment's statistics is whether an individual works 30 hours a week or less, excluding overtime, but other definitions are also in use.

asked the Paymaster General what criteria his Department uses to define a strike for the purposes of the statistics of the numbers of working days lost due to industrial disputes.

The statistics relate to stoppages of work in the United Kingdom due to industrial disputes between employers and workers, or between workers and other workers, connected with terms and conditions of employment. No distinction is made between lawful and unlawful stoppages, and both are included in the statistics.

The available information is as follows:Disputes which do not result in a stoppage of work--for example, work-to-rules and go-slows — are not included in the statistics, as their effects are not readily quantifiable. Stoppages involving fewer than 10 workers or lasting less than one day are excluded, unless the total number of working days lost in the dispute is greater than 100.In measuring the number of working days lost, account is taken of the time lost in the basic working week by workers both directly and indirectly involved at the establishments where the dispute occurred; workers indirectly involved are those who are not themselves parties to the dispute but are unable to work as a result of the dispute. Overtime work is not included and neither is weekend working where this is not normal. Allowance is made for public and known annual holidays — for example, factory fortnights.In disputes where an employer dismisses his employees and replaces them with another work force, it is assumed that no further working days are being lost once the new work force is recruited.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report details of money held back from use by local authorities in England for housing purposes through the capital receipts limitation imposed at the present time; and if he will make a statement.

Information about local authorities' accumulated capital receipts is available only in respect of the position on 31 March 1985. At that time, the total spending power theoretically available to authorities in England, from their accumulated housing receipts was £4·1 billion but £1·3 billion of this had been used for purposes such as debt repayment. All accumulated receipts are available over time to permit additional capital expenditure, but the Government have set limits on the rate at which they can be used for this purpose, so as to minimise adverse effects on the public sector borrowing requirement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the bids submitted for housing investment programmes since 1981 and the respective allocation made in each case.

In their housing investment programme submissions local authorities are asked to specify the total programme of capital expenditure they propose to undertake in the relevant year. The figures are therefore intended to cover not only expenditure financed from allocations, but also the very considerable amount of expenditure financed from other sources. Proposed programmes and allocations for the years 1981–82 to 1986–87 have been as follows:

£ million
	Proposed Programmes	Allocations
1981–82	*2,917	1,795
1982–83	†2,968	2,192
1983–84	3,559	2,233
1984–85	4,481	1,853
1985–86	4,868	1,600
1986–87	5,416	1,465
All figures are in cash terms unless otherwise indicated.
* November 1979 prices.
† November 1980 prices.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what appraisal his Department has undertaken to assess how far, and in what respect, housing projects for which urban development grant aid has been provided have helped urgent local housing needs; and what information is available to his Department concerning the proportion of dwellings provided under such projects which have been (a) let, or (b) sold under a low cost home ownership scheme, or (c) sold at open market value to (1) homeless households, (2) households registered on local authority waiting lists, (3) households registered on local authority transfer lists and (4) first-time buyers.

All housing projects which have been supported by urban development grant (UDG) have been approved on the basis that the dwellings concerned would be sold or let under assured tenancies at full market value. Information about the personal circumstances of purchasers is not available at present but some housing projects are included in current research into the impact of UDG.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment according to what criteria his Department assesses whether housing projects submitted by local authorities for urban development grant aid would be economically unviable were such grant aid not made available; and what appraisal his Department has undertaken to evaluate whether, when urban development grant aid has been provided for housing projects, it has in practice proved essential for their execution.

All applications for urban development grant (UDG) receive a detailed development appraisal in order to establish whether the project could

Appraiser	Firm	Period of secondment
D. Barker	Norwich Union Insurance Group	October 1982—April 1983
J Cooper*	Hillier Parker May & Rowden	October 1982—April 1983
P. Hilling	Authur Young McClelland Moores & Co.	October 1982—October 1983

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list any housing projects for which urban development grant aid has been provided where the local authority has clawed back profits from the developer under the terms of grant aid and list in each case (a) the profit allowed to the developer under the terms of the grant before clawback, (b) the profit clawed back by the local authority and (c) the profit retained by the developer.

Almost all offers of urban development grant for housing projects have included conditions requiring grant to be repaid to the local authority if during the period between grant approval and the completion of the project house prices increase more rapidly than building costs. It is not the practice to disclose financial details of individual projects, but clawback conditions are known to have come into operation in five cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list any housing project for which urban development grant aid has been provided where the developers' approved expenses for the project have included (a) the provision of white goods in the dwellings, (b) the establishment of a show house and the running expenses for a sales office and (c) advertising and agent fees for the dwellings; and if he will list in each case the reasons why his Department judged such expenses to merit urban development grant aid.

Urban development grant is not paid in respect of specific items of expenditure but rather to cover the gap between the total costs that the developer will have to incur in order to carry out the project and the estimated value of the completed project. Housing projects invariably involve marketing expenses and some projects have included "White goods" packages. Such expenditure would normally reduce rather than increase the grant requirement because it enables the completed housing to be sold sooner or at a higher price than would otherwise be the case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list those firms from which members of his Department's urban development grant appraisal team have been seconded, the members seconded, and the periods of their secondment;(2) if he will list any former members of his Department's urban development grant appraisal team who to his knowledge have subsequently been employed as consultants by local authorities wishing to submit urban development grant applications.

The following have been or are members of the Department's urban development grant appraisal team whilst on secondment to the Department:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department has received a copy of the recent report by the district auditor to members of Langbaurgh borough council, drawing attention to the financial implications of their decision to dispose of part of the Spencerbeck housing estate to Barratt (Urban Renewal Northern) Ltd for refurbishment for sale with urban development grant aid; and what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that in future before urban development grant aid is approved for such projects, that the short and long term financial implications of the disposal of its housing stock for refurbishment for sale have been fully appraised.

The Department has not received a copy of the auditor's report. It is for local authorities to assess the impact that disposals for sale will have on their housing revenue accounts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of annual expenditure on public buildings and works is spent in the south of England, defined as south of a line from Bristol to the Wash.

Expenditure figures on this basis are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of council house building in (a) England and Wales and (b) Scotland was represented by (i) public direct labour schemes and (ii) private contractors' schemes in the period 1982 to 1984.

In the period 1982 to 1984 it is estimated that for England and Wales the proportion of council house building, measured in current values, carried out by direct labour organisations was about 8 per cent. and by private contractors 92 per cent. For Scotland the corresponding figures were 2 per cent. and 98 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each local authority in England the total amount of rate relief granted under the Government's obligations to provide reimbursement of 90 per cent. of such relief to (a) registered nursing homes and (b) registered rest homes.

Information is not available for particular types of premises receiving rate relief under the Rating (Disabled Persons) Act 1978. Figures are given for the amount of relief for all institutions, and the amount reimbursed to the local authority by my Department, for each local rating authority in England for the latest available year, 1984–85. In some cases the figures are still subject to audit.

	Subsidy to Local Authority (90 per cent.)	Benefit paid by Local Authority (100 per cent.)
Adur	65,079	72,310
Allerdale	55,764	61,960
Alnwick	19,977	22,197
Amber Valley	54,022	60,024
Arun	206,869	229,855
Ashfield	109,900	122,111
Ashford	53,516	59,462
Aylesbury Vale	121,008	134,453
Babergh	60,123	66,803
Barking and Dagenham	167,787	186,430
Barnet	371,374	412,638
Barnsley	168,134	186,816
Barrow in Furness	61,514	68,349
Basildon	43,275	48,083
Basingstoke and Deane	58,740	65,267
Bassetlaw	71,790	79,767
Bath	141,132	156,813
Berwick upon Tweed	15,986	17,762
Beverley	93,646	104,051
Bexley	89,061	98,957
Birmingham	451,353	501,503
Blaby	10,544	11,716
Blackburn	157,738	175,264
Blackpool	181,251	201,390
Blyth Valley	38,567	42,853
Bolsover	29,540	32,822
Bolton	181,633	201,814
Boothferry	33,377	37,086
Boston	23,894	26,549
Bournemouth	398,103	442,337
Bracknell	77,288	85,876
Bradford	501,777	557,530
Braintree	78,425	87,139
Breckland	44,041	48,934
Brent	486,729	540,810
Brentwood	24,710	27,455
Bridgnorth	30,837	34,263