asked the Secretary of State for Transport for how many days traffic along the A45 in the vicinity of Bury St. Edmunds has been subject to delays as a result of the closure of various lanes; how many yards of each carriageway have been or are now affected; what is the value of the work that so far has been carried out and that still remains to be done; how many man-hours have been spent in each week since this contract was let; and why so many red and white cones are frequently scattered across the highway.

Current maintenance work on this stretch of the A45 has resulted in lane or carriageway closures on 40 days so far. These have not always involved significant delays for traffic. The total length of carriageway affected by the contract is 8 km (8,720 yds) but the maximum length affected at any one time has been 2 km (2,180 yds). The total cost is £160,000, of which £90,000 remains to be spent before the contract ends in September. The work has involved approximately 450 man-hours per week. Scattering of traffic cones is generally caused by drivers straying from their lanes. The contractor repositions displaced cones on a regular basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total sum spent on the repair and maintenance of roads nationally, for the years 1979–80 to 1985–86, inclusive, in actual prices and in real terms.

Return of actual expenditure on highway maintenance are submitted by individual highway authorities to the Department in relation to their area as a whole. Prior to April 1986 the highway authority for Bradford was West Yorkshire metropolitan county council. I regret I cannot give details of maintenance expenditure within Bradford for this period.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will state the current average cost of constructing tunnelled roads as opposed to surface bypasses, taking into account the loss of land involved in construction of bypasses.

I regret that this information is not available. Tunnelling costs vary widely depending on geological and other local factors and there is no meaningful average cost. As a general rule, taking account of land and other costs, " "cut and cover" tunnel will be significantly more expensive than a surface scheme and a bored tunnel will be the most costly.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has had on the proposed change of the new car registration date; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Wells (Mr. Heathcoat-Amory) on 19 May in column 23.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the implications of the availability of direct air links from Inverness to Heathrow for the international trading potential and prospects of indigenous industry in the Highlands; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend and I are taking these matters into account in our consideration of the Civil Aviation Authority's recent advice on air traffic distribution in the London area, on which he intends to make an announcement in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to set up his proposed review of the Woolwich ferry; who will conduct it; what evidence it will invite; and when it is expected to be published.

We are finalising details with the London borough of Greenwich who manages the ferry operation for us. We shall be appointing consultants to examine all aspects of the ferry and workshops operation with a view to reporting to us by the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent on maintenance on the M3 Surrey stretch of motorway each year since its operation; and how often and for how long maintenance work has necessitated introduction of a contraflow system.

Total amounts spent on major works of maintenance on the M3 in Surrey have been as follows:

	£
1980–81	10,474
1981–82	1,301,000
1982–83	1,387,347
1983–84	1,319,658
1984–85	2,591,314
1985–86	1,696,225

Expenditure was also incurred on certain less important works and routine maintenance. The total amounts cannot readily be identified.The period for which contra flow systems have operated have been as follows:

	Weeks
1981–82	10
1982–83	14
1983–84	12
1984–85	12 and 11
1985–86	29

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to commence the public consultation phase in respect of the proposed Hereford north-south bypass for the A49.

It is too early in the study timetable to be precise, but probably during the first quarter of 1987.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Property Services Agency concerning its application for planning permission for building second homes on land currently owned by it in Gwynedd; and if he will make a statement.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what advantages to the Welsh economy he envisages from participation in the strategic defence initiative.

Contracts awarded to Welsh companies as a result of participation in the SDI research programme will provide direct stimulus to the Welsh economy, strengthen the technological base and assist the retention and growth of technical and scientific expertise in Wales to the benefit of other high-tech industries based in the Principality.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list in the Official Report the number of representations he had before he decided to issue his circular on housing for senior management in Wales; and how many of these representations were from (a) local authorities, (b) other bodies and (c) individuals; and how many in each category were in favour and how many against.

Of the 27 bodies consulted on the draft circular, 22 responded. A further 12 representations were received. Some of the respondents qualified their support or opposition, but in broad terms the numbers in favour and against were as follows:

	Local authorities	Other bodies	Individuals
In favour	—	14	2
Against	7	11	—
Total	7	25	2

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy that, apart from any other compensation that may be payable, he will pay compensation of lost subsidy to those sheep farmers whose lambs will not qualify for subsidy when sold due to the ban on marketing if they would have qualified for subsidy had the ban not been imposed.

I have today had discussions with representatives of the farming unions in Wales on the question of compensation. Their views will be taken fully into account and I hope to be in a position to make an early statement.

asked the Prime Minister if she will now list the countries whose representatives attend the meetings of the security intelligence secretariat.

It is not the practice to comment on intelligence matters.

asked the Prime Minister what was the total cost to all Government Departments of providing various services at the wedding of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.

The total cost of providing various services was £69,782. This does not include costs incurred by the Ministry of Defence.

asked the Prime Minister what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards zero rating for the purposes of value added tax in the context of the development of the internal market within the European Community; what initiatives Her Majesty's Government plan in this respect during the United Kingdom's Presidency of the Council of Ministers; and if she will make a statement.

The European Commission has put forward a number of proposals aimed at removing barriers to trade within the Community. One of the measures it has suggested is the "approximation" of indirect tax rates throughout the Community. Acceptance of this proposal would undoubtedly raise a whole range of political, economic, social and industrial problems, not just for the United Kingdom but for all member states. A major issue for the Government would he the future of the zero rate. But we do not believe that out zero rate is incompatible with the development of the internal market. We would therefore maintain that any tax measures which the Council considered were necessary for the completion of the internal market should permit the continuation of the zero rate.The Economic and Finance Council, at its meeting on 16 June, concluded that it could not take decisions on questions concerning tax rates and rate structures until the Commission had provided further details, which Lord Cockfield has now promised for April 1987. In the meantime the Council agree to continue work under the United Kingdom Presidency on certain existing technical proposals affecting frontier formalities and the structure and mechanisms of value added tax and the main excise duties.

asked the Prime Minister if she will give details of each official visit she has made to the north-west of England since 1 March.

I have made no official visit to the north-west since 1 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will give the number of times she has visited (a) the United States of America and (b) each of the European Community nations, since May 1979.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) on 10 December 1985 at columns 575–577; the reference to a visit to Germany in November 1985 was a clerical error, however, and should be deleted. Since that date, I have made no visits to the United States, and have visited France, Italy and the Netherlands on one occasion each.

asked the Prime Minister, further to her answers of 17 June, Official Report, columns 512–13, and 23 June, Official Report, columns 49–50, if any right hon. or hon. Members were present at any of the meetings referred to other than as listed.

The meeting of 12 February with Birmingham councillors to discuss the city's Olympic bid was also attended by my hon. Friend the Minister for Sport. It is not for me to answer for those present at meetings other than members of the Government.

asked the Prime Minister if she will state the public expenditure of each Department of State, in actual real and 1979= 100 terms for 1978–79, 1984–85 and 1985–86 in league order.

The following figures have been derived from tables 2.1 and 2.2 of 1986 the public expenditure white Paper, Cmnd. 9702:

Table 1. Departmental spending
£ billion
Department	1978–79	1984–85	1985–86
DHSS-Social Security	16·4	38·1	41·2
Defence	7·5	17·2	18·2
DHSS-Health and Personal Social Services	7·4	15·8	16·7
Education and Science	7·8	14·0	14·5
Scotland	3·7	7·0	7·4
Home Office	2·0	5·0	5·3
Transport	2·7	4·6	4·6
Northern Ireland	2·1	4·0	4·3
DOE-Other Environmental Services	2·2	4·0	3·9
Employment	1·1	3·1	3·3
Wales	1·5	2·6	2·8
DOE-Housing	3·6	3·2	2·7
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food	0·8	2·1	2·5
Trade and Industry	2·4	2·1	2·0
Foreign and Commonwealth Office	1·0	1·8	1·9
Chancellor's Departments	1·1	1·7	1·8
Other Departments	0·8	1·2	1·3
Energy	0·5	2·6	1·0
European Community	0·8	0·9	0·8
Arts and Libraries	0·3	0·7	0·7

asked the Prime Minister if she will allow time for consultation and a full discussion of any recommendations of the review team on the future of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, before any changes are implemented.

The review team is conducting a number of discussions. These have included meetings with Office of Population Censuses and Surveys trade union side representatives at London, Southport and Titchileld. I shall consider what further discussions or consultations are appropriate when the review team has made its recommendations.

asked the Prime Minister if, in the light of the current machinery of the Government review of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, she will make a statement about the continued existence of the social survey division of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.

No. The review is still in progress.

asked the Prime Minister whether the version of the text of the new code of conduct for European firms operating in South Africa agreed on 19 November 1985 which was issued by other EEC Governments contained the same misquotation as the version issued by Her Majesty's Government; on what date Her Majesty's Government first discovered this error; which Departments issued the document containing the misquotation; what steps have been taken to trace the incorrect copies and to replace them with corrected versions; whether any copies containing the misquotation have been issued to companies trading in South Africa; and if she will make a statement.

The Government have no information yet on measures taken by other EC Governments to implement the revised EC code of conduct for European companies with interests in South Africa. Following discovery earlier this year of a misquotation of the text of the 1977 code in a footnote to the revised code issued by the EC Presidency last November, informal guidance on the new code to which reports due after 30 June will relate was issued on 20 June to United Kingdom companies falling within its scope. A White Paper will be issued in due course.

asked the Prime Minister what was the cost to public funds of flying by Nimrod aircraft petrol filters to Virgin Atlantic Challenger on 29 June; and if she will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.The petrol filters were dropped by an RAF Nimrod in the course of an operational training sortie which had already been planned. RAF equipment used for the drop was recovered and has been returned for re-use. The delivery of the filters involved no extra costs to public funds.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps have been taken to ensure that exports to Iran of (a) petroleum and petroleum products, (b) artificial resins and plastic materials, (c) miscellaneous chemical products, (d) miscellaneous rubber products, (e) iron and steel products, (f) office machine and automatic data processing equipment (g) telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing equipment, (h) miscellaneous transport equipment, (i) professional scientific and controlling instruments, (j) electrical machinery and (k) road vehicles, have not contributed in any way to maintaining internal repression or continuing the war with Iraq.

Many of these items are subject to export licensing control. In granting licences regard is paid to the possible use of goods for the purposes of internal repression and licence applications for supplies of defence equipment to Iran and Iraq are subject to the following guidelines:

(i) We should maintain our consistent refusal to supply any lethal equipment to either side;

(ii) Subject to that overriding consideration, we should attempt to fulfil existing contracts and obligations;

(iii) We should not approve orders for any defence equipment which, in our view, would significantly enhance the capability of either side to prolong or exacerbate the conflict;

(iv) In line with this policy, we should continue to scrutinise rigorously all applications for export licences for the supply of defence equipment to Iran and Iraq.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the latest estimate of the total value of purchases of goods and services made by the state industrial sector; and what proportion of that total was supplied by the private sector.

The nationalised industries for which this Department is responsible — the British Steel Corporation, the Post Office and British Shipbuilders—estimate that their purchases of raw materials, goods and services amount to just less than £4,000 million a year. I regret that within this total it is not possible to identify purchases from the private sector.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what, from the latest available statistics, was the incidence of purchase of blank audio tapes in the United Kingdom, broken down by age group.

Official statistics on sales of audio tapes by age groups are not available. The following is from industry sources.The most recent survey, carried out by National Opinion Polls on behalf of the Tape Manufacturers' Group gives the following breakdown of acquisitions, that is, purchases plus gifts, of blank audio cassette tapes by age group. The survey was carried out in late January/ early February of this year.

Acquisitions of Blank Audio Cassette Tapes
Age	Percent. Share
15–19	26
20–24	17
25–34	22
35–44	16
45–54	9
55–64	6
65 and over	3

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will review the regulation affecting the installation, preconnection inspection and designation of the maintenance contractors of single line call routeing apparatus; and if he will make a statement.

The Director General of Telecommunications is currently seeking comments on changes that might be made to the branch systems general licence. No decisions on changes will be taken before the director general's advice is to hand.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legslation to oblige telephone companies to provide itemised bills for all telephone subscribers.

No. I understand, however, that the Director General of Telecommunications is pressing BT for progress in this area, although it cannot be fully achieved until BT has all the necessary technology in place. My hon. Friend may be aware that Mercury Comunications Ltd. has already announced that it is able to offer this service to its customers.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he has any plans to seek to extend existing consumer protection legislation to contracts for the purchase of time-share properties; and what consultations he has had on this matter and with whom;(2) whether he has any plans to seek to introduce a licensing system for those selling time-share properties; and if he will make a statement;(3) whether he has received any representations concerning the sales techniques adopted by those selling time-share properties, with particular reference to the activities of British companies in Spain and other overseas holiday resorts.

My Department has received nine complaints about the sales techniques used by some firms to sell time shares. One of these complaints was about a property abroad and this was in Spain, but there was no indication whether the company concerned was British.Broadly speaking, existing legislation in the United Kingdom applies to contracts for time share purchases in the same way as it applies to other contracts. I have no plans at present to amend legislation because of the way in which timesharing contracts are marketed or to introduce a licensing system for firms engaged in such marketing.I would strongly advise all those considering buying time shares, whether in this country or abroad, to think very carefully and to take independent legal advice before committing themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will now state what action he proposes to take on the flammability of upholstered furniture, and, in particular, the replacement of standard polyurethane foam in upholstery combinations where it poses an unacceptable safety hazard.

I will reply to the right hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, pursuant to the answer of 12 March, Official Report, column 494, he will give details of the potentially suitable projects for funding under the aid and trade provision, which have been agreed in principle with the Chinese Government.

Five projects are being negotiated for potential funding under the £300 million soft loan facility for China. These involve a power station, a tractor factory, a seamless steel tube mill, a fibre optic transmission equipment facility, and two specialised container ships.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has as to the degree of concentration of (a) total turnover, (b) research and development expenditure and (c) contracts with Her Majesty's Government, among each of the top 10 electronic firms in the United Kingdom.

I will reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many firms represented the upper half of retail sales in the United Kingdom in 1985.

No estimate is yet available for 1985. The final estimate for 1984 is that the largest 107 individual companies accounted for one half of retail sales in Great Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what were the assets net of short-term liabilities and long-term borrowing for self-administered pension funds in the United Kingdom in (a) 1984 and (b) 1985; and what were the absolute and percentage shares of their source of funds divided between (i) private sector funds, (ii) local authority funds and (iii) other public sector funds.

The latest information relating to the net assets of pension funds is for 1984 and is published in table 11 of Business Monitor MQ5, second quarter 1985. The latest information on the income and expenditure of pension funds is for 1983 and is published in table 8 of Business Monitor MQ5 third quarter 1984. Information relating to the net assets for 1985 and income and expenditure for 1984 and 1985 will be published later this year. Copies of Busines Monitor MQ5 are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the share of the top 10 pension funds in the assets of United Kingdom pension funds in: (a) 1984 and (b) 1985.

The available information relates to 1984. It is estimated that the top 10 pension funds accounted for about one-quarter of total net assets at the end of December 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 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.

[pursuant to his reply, 4 July 1986]: The majority of United Kingdom imports from South Africa are accounted for by raw materials and agricultural products not available in the United Kingdom. Of the remainder it is not possible to determine what—if any—proportion would subsequently come to be manufactured in the United Kingdom.There is no reason to suppose that United Kingdom capital withdrawn from South Africa would necessarily be invested in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 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.

[pursuant to his reply, 4 July 1986]: The figure of around 120,000 job equivalents involved in exports of goods and services to South Africa is a broad estimate based on the aggregate level of trade with that country together with an assumption about the relationship between output and employment.

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.

[pursuant to his reply, 4 July 1986]: The Government are aware that certain minerals of importance to British industry are largely imported from

Cumulative change in total employment since 1979
Thousand
	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985
United Kingdom	-69	-1,052	-1,481	-1,773	-1,310	-979
Rest of EC 9*	+699	+370	-146	-686	-737	n/a

asked the Paymaster General what is his latest estimate of the reduction in registered unemployment as a consequence of equalising the age of entitlement to state pension at 60 years.

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

asked the Paymaster General if he will publish a table of the estimated average hours worked by each category of part-time workers to illustrate the full-time equivalent level of the employed labour force for each quarter.

Information is not available in the exact form requested.The regularly published employed labour force series does not identify number of hours worked.The labour force survey (LFS) provides information on a different basis but allows the above analysis. Preliminary LFS results for the spring of 1985 are presented in the following table:

Average number of hours usually worked* per week workers by part-time†
Great Britain
	Hours
Employees working part-time	17·4
Self employed working part-time	14·6
Employees and self employedj working part-time	17·1
* Including overtime, excluding meal-breaks.
† The definition of part-time is based on the respondent's own assessment, not on the number of hours worked.
‡ Includes those who did not state if they were employees or self employed.

asked the Paymaster General if he will publish a table to show the change in the size of the employed labour force between 1979 and each subsequent year separately for the United Kingdom and for all other countries in the European Economic Community combined.

The information requested is given in the following table:

asked the Paymaster General if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing the size of the employed labour force in 1979 in each country in the then European Community and in each subsequent year up to 1985.

Total employment, EC countries
Thousand
	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985
United Kingdom	25,375	25,306	24,323	23,894	23,602	24,065	24,396
Germany (FR)	26,047	26,328	26,144	25,709	25,331	25,346	n/a
France	21,894	21,916	21,803	21,834	21,729	21,511	n/a
Italy	20,590	20,869	20,925	20,875	20,921	21,015	21,115
Netherlands	4,927	5,081	5,113	5,094	5,041	5,044	n/a
Belgium	3,807	3,797	3,721	3,670	3,632	3,643	n/a
Luxembourg	157	159	159	159	157	158	n/a
Ireland	1,145	1,156	1,146	1,148	1,125	1,110	n/a
Denmark	2,529	2,489	2,455	2,461	2,474	2,532	n/a

n/a =Not Available.

asked the Paymaster General if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the registered number of vacancies by standard industrial classification in the Coventry area at the latest available date and at May 1979.

The following information is in the Library. The following table shows the numbers of unfilled vacancies at jobcentres which cover an area closely corresponding to the Coventry and Hinckley travel-to-work area as at 2 May 1986, analysed according to the 1980 standard industrial classification.I refer the hon. Member to the reply given in the

asked the Paymaster General what is the latest figure for the number of (a) part-time and

The information requested is given in the following table:full-time and

Information about job gains and job losses is not available from the Department's statistics, but an indication of the net changes can be seen by comparing levels of employment at different dates.Within the regularly published employment series the estimates of male employees in employment do not separately identify those in full-time employment. Analyses of full and part-time female employees in employment are not available for the United Kingdom for the dates specified. The following table gives the available information for employees employed in Great Britain and the other areas specified:

Net changes between June 1979 and March 1986 in the numbers of employees in employment in the manufacturing industries
	Net change
	All employees	Male and full-time female employeees
South East	-337,000	-294,000
East Anglia	27,000	-27,000
South West	-75,000	-75,000
West Midlands	-285,000	-258,000
East Midlands	-110,000	-99,000
Yorkshire and Humberside	-204,000	-187,000
North West	-294,000	-272,000
North	-126,000	-119,000
Wales	-110,000	-107,000
Scotland	-176,000	-168,000
Great Britain	-1,744,000	-1,606,000

The Labour Force Survey provides information of a different basis and relating to employees resident in an area, but identifies part-time employees amongst male as well as female employees. The available estimates are presented in the following table:

asked the Paymaster General if he will list the numbers employed in manufacturing industry in (a) June 1979, (b) June 1983 and (c) June 1986, or the most recent figure; and if he will provide the figures for each regional area.

The information is as follows:

Employees in Employment in the Manufacturing Industries
	June 1979	June 1983	March 19861
South East	1,878,000	1,583,000	1,541,000
East Anglia	207,000	173,000	180,000
South West	437,000	362,000	362,000
West Midlands	986,000	714,000	701,000
East Midlands	607,000	490,000	497,000
Yorkshire and Humberside	706,000	519,000	502,000
North West	967,000	706,000	673,000
North	409,000	298,000	283,000
Wales	314,000	212,000	204,000
Scotland	603,000	447,000	427,000
Great Britain	7,114,000	5,505,000	5,370,000
1 The latest date for which an estimate is available.

	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85	1985–86
Civil legal aid (certificates issued)	176,000	190,000	206,000	222,000	233,000
Assistance by way of Representation (bills paid)	57,000	61,000	64,000	67,000	61,000
Criminal legal aid (Magistrates courts) (bills paid)	296,000	323,000	332,000	334,000	371,000
Criminal legal aid (Higher courts) (bills paid)	193,000	193,000	215,000	230,000	233,000
Advice and Assistance (Green form bills paid)	649,000	733,000	832,000	953,000	1,039,000

All applicants for legal aid must demonstrate that they qualify on means grounds, the criteria for which vary slightly between the schemes. For those who qualify on means grounds, advice and assistance is available on any matter, relating to English law. Applicants for civil legal aid have to satisfy a merits test, which means, broadly speaking, that they must have reasonable grounds for taking or defending proceedings. Applicants for criminal legal aid must show that it is in the interest of justice that they should receive legal aid. No changes to these basic criteria are planned at present. However, the Government have recently received a report of the Efficiency Scrutiny of Legal Aid which recommends a number of alterations to these schemes, and this report is under consideration.

asked the Paymaster General on the basis of the second postal follow-up survey of past participants on the community programme, in respect of those long-term unemployed community programme entrants that were in employment at the time of the survey, and for the following three standard eligibility by age groups, 18 to 20 years, 20 to 24 years, and 25 and over years, if he will provide the number and percentage that were (a) male and (i) married and (ii) single, separated, divorced, or widowed and (b) female and (i) married and (ii) single, separated, divorced, or widowed; and for each latter group and subgroup if he will provide the number and percentage that were working full-time or part-time: (I) while on the programme and (II) at the time of the follow-up survey.

Due to the necessity for computer analysis this question cannot be answered immediately. I will, however, reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Attorney-General how many people have received legal aid in each of the last five years; and what criteria will be used to determine eligibility of people who submit claims for legal aid in the future.

Apart from civil legal aid, for which the number of certificates issued is recorded separately, legal aid statistics are kept in the form of the number of legal aid bills paid in each year. The figures for the past five years for each type of legal aid are as follows:

asked the Attorney-General what is the average delay in deciding upon applications for legal aid and for emergency legal aid.

The latest available figures for the length of time taken to issue a civil legal aid certificate are for the financial year 1984–85, when the average time taken was 39 working days. Figures for 1985–86 are not yet available. Separate figures for emergency legal aid applications are not collected, though I understand that the large majority are dealt with within a few days. In appropriate cases, approval can be give over the telephone.

asked the Attorney-General, pursuant to the answer of 26 June, Official Report, column 266, if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the £6,000 travel costs arising from investigations into the affairs of the Peter Cameron Webb syndicate; and if he will make a statement.

The approximate figure of £6,000 as travel costs arising from investigations into the affairs of the Peter Cameron Webb syndicate comprised in part £1,180 in respect of five return air fares to Berne for five officials who visited Switzerland on three separate occasions, and additionally the first class return air fare of £2,246 to New York for leading counsel. Subsistence and hotel claims totalled £1,954. The actual total is therefore £5,380.

asked the Attorney-General what is the average delay between work carried out and payment being made under the 24-hour duty solicitor scheme.

This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Attorney-General what was the shortest and what was the longest time between the issuing of a summons in a claim for damages in a county court and the hearing of that claim in the last year for which figures are available.

Figures are not available for the shortest and longest times between issue of a summons and start of hearing. However, information collected on a sample basis during 1985 as part of the civil justice review indicated that the average time between issue and start of hearing in personal injury cases in county courts was in the region of 18 months.

asked the Attorney-General what was the shortest and what was the longest time between issuing a summons in a claim for damages in the High Court and the hearing of that claim at the latest year for which figures are available.

Figures are not available in this precise form. However, information collected on a sample basis during 1985 for personal injury cases indicated that the shortest time between issue of a writ and start of a hearing in the High Court was approximately seven weeks, and the longest approximately 10 years.

asked the Attorney-General whether his Department has at any time carried out an inquiry into the effect of the introduction into the law of the United Kingdom of no fault liability in respect of road traffic accidents; and if he will make a statement.

The report of the Royal Commission on civil liability and compensation for personal injuiry — Cmnd. 7053 — published in March 1978, considered the establishment of a no-fault system of compensation for motor vehicle injuries. No further inquiry has been undertaken or is warranted at this stage.

asked the Attorney-General (1) if anyone has been made amenable for the murder claimed to have been committed by the Irish Republican Army of John Aiken in Fermanagh on 9 February 1971; and if he will give details;(2) if anyone has been made amenable for the murder claimed to have been committed by the Irish Republican Army of Thomas George Beck in Fermanagh on 9 February 1971; and if he will give details;(3) if anyone has been made amenable for the murder claimed to have been committed by the Irish Republican Army of Henry Edgar in Fermanagh on 9 February 1971; and if he will give details;(4) if anyone has been made amenable for the murder claimed to have been committed by the Irish Republican Army of Malcolm David Henson in Fermanagh on 9 February 1971; and if he will give details;(5) if anyone has been made amenable for the murder claimed to have been committed by the Irish Republican Army of William Allan (Bill) Thomas in Fermanagh on 9 February 1971; and if he will give details;(6) if anyone has been made amenable for the murder claimed to have been committed by the Irish Republican Army of Francis William Robert Philip Veitch in Fermanagh on 3 September 1971; and if he will give details;(7) if anyone has been made amenable for the murder claimed to have been committed by the Irish Republican Army of John Rudman in South Tyrone on 14 September 1971; and if he will give details;(8) if anyone has been made amenable for the murder claimed to have been committed by the Irish Republican Army of David Frank Powell in Fermanagh on 28 October 1971; and if he will give details;(9) if anyone has been made amenable for the murder claimed to have been committed by the Irish Republican Army of Denis Wilson in South Tyrone on 7 December 1971; and if he will give details;(10) if anyone has been made amenable for the murder claimed to have been committed by the Irish Republican Army of Thomas Francis McCann in Fermanagh on 13 February 1972; and if he will give details;(11) if anyone has been made amenable for the murder claimed to have been committed by the Irish Republican Army of Thomas John Fletcher in Fermanagh on 1 March 1972; and if he will give details;(12) if anyone has been made amenable for the murder claimed to have been committed by the Irish Republican Army of William Logan in South Tyrone on 15 March 1972; and if he will give details;(13) if anyone has been made amenable for the murder claimed to have been committed by the Irish Republican Army of Harry Gillespie in South Tyrone on 20 May 1972; and if he will give details;(14) if anyone has been made amenable for the murder claimed to have been committed by the Irish Republican Army of Victor Husband in Fermanagh on 2 June 1972; and if he will give details;(15) if anyone has been made amenable for the Murder claimed to have been committed by the Irish Republican Army of Brian Robertson in Fermanagh on 2 June 1972; and if he will give details;

I have been asked to reply.I shall write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as information on these murders has been obtained from the Royal Ulster Constabulary. I shall also write to the hon. Gentleman about any other similar incidents which may have occurred within his constituency if he tables appropriate questions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what aid he intends to give to the Uganda Government as far as provisions of blankets for the police force is concerned;(2) what aid he intends to give the the Uganda Government as far as provisions of simple medicines for the police force is concerned.

Country	Project	Aid allocation (£ million)
Kenya	Agricultural Development Corporation	3·450
Kenya	Secondary School Science Laboratory	3·830
Nepal	Roads Remedial Works Unit	6·001
Falkland Islands	Port Stanley Hospital	7·000
Kiribati	Betio Fisheries Jetty	2·326
Kenya	Arid and Semi·Arid Land Development Programme	4·370
Kenya	Primary Curriculum Reform and Teacher Education	2·850
Kenya	Support for Kenya and Mombasa Polytechnics	3·792
Nepal	Community Forestry Project	3·448
Yemen Arab Republic	Veterinary Services Project	2·816
Nepal	Pakhribas Agricultural Centre	2·700
Sudan	North Region Irrigation	7·134
Sudan	Western Savannah Project	10·179
Uganda	Uganda Electricity Board	10·800
Pakistan	Aid for the Power Sector	16·000
Bangladesh	Bridging Project	12·092
Falkland Islands	Port Stanley Water Supply	3·173
Bangladesh	Population and Family Health Project	8·000
Zambia	Integrated Rural Development Project Phase II	3·169
Malawi	Landrover Rehabilitation Project	4·250
India	Nagarjunasagar Hydro·Electric Project	9·840
Nepal	Naubise·Mugling Road Rehabilitation Project	7·702
India	Indo-British Fertiliser Education Project (Phase II)	23·400

We are providing vehicles and other equipment for the Uganda police force. We have not been asked for blankets or medicines.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if any of the money sent by Dr. Wilhelminus Blonk, a European Economic Community official of Directorate-General VIII, to South Africa on behalf of the European Economic Community will be given to organisations supporting violence; what was the total sum sent; whether the decision to send the money was made by the Council of Ministers; and if he will make a statement.

As part of a package of measures on South Africa adopted in September 1985, the Council of Ministers agreed to set up a programme of aid intended to improve the social situation, and to finance education and training of the non-white population and of political refugees. The money will be devoted to purely peaceful ends. The budgetary authority agreed to insert provision for commitments of about 10 million ecu—about £6·4 million—in the 1986 budget. No specific proposals have yet been put to member states, and no expenditure has yet taken place.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all bilateral aid projects over £2 million approved by his Department (a) in 1985 and (b) in the first five months of 1986.

In 1985 and so far in 1986 the following individual aid projects worth over £2 million have been approved or agreed; the list excludes aid and trade provision projects, bilateral aid in non-project form, and investments by the Commonwealth Development Corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of all projects approved under the aid and trade provision in (a) 1984, (b) 1985 and (c) the first six months of 1986.

Country	Project	United Kingdom export value £ million	Aid and Trade Provision Allocation £ million
1984
Botswana	Morupule Power Station	4·736	1·343
Colombia	Emergency Bridges	0·540	0·150
Egypt	El Omoum Drain	3·192	0·804
India	BALCO Power Station	130·000	33·066
Indonesia	AIS Submarine Cable	11·673	3·093
Jordan	Aquaba-Amman Power Line	13·568	3·611
Malawi	Rural Telecommunications	1·000	0·217
Malaysia	Sungei Ahning Dam	9·000	2·349
Sri Lanka	Colombo Airport	20·940	5·264
Indonesia	Jabotabek Feasibility Study	0·960	0·960
Malaysia	Ulu Jelai Hydro Feasibility Study	1·850	1·850
Paraguay	Asuncion Sewerage Consultancy	1·020	1·020
Thailand	Mini Hydros: pilot plants	1·500	1·500
1985
Caribbean	BAe 748 aircraft for LIAT	10·336	3·838
Indonesia	Buket Assam Rail Bridges	0·750	0·226
Indonesia	Offshore Supply Vessels	2·156	0·571
Kenya	Sugar Milling Equipment	0·891	0·230
Indonesia	Isolated Diesels	38·400	12·515
Egypt	Maghara Coal Mine	50·035	12·578
Egypt	NW Coast Electrification Abu Qir	0·825	0·825
1986
Mauritius	Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Airport	18·960	6·311
Indonesia	Coal fired Power Station	0·800	0·800

In addition, a number of small technical co-operation projects of less than £0.5 million have been agreed. ATP offers made on a substantial number of further projects have not resulted in agreements with the recipient Governments.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will indicate when he proposes to make a statement on the Waddilove report on compensation for coal mining subsidence.

The following projects supported under the aid and trade provision were agreed with recipient Governments in 1984, 1985 and the first six months of 1986:

The Government response to the Waddilove report will be published as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of Slate for Energy if he has had any discussions recently with British Coal about the future of the Northumberland coalfield.

My right hon. Friend and I have regular discussions with the chairman of the NCB covering a wide range of subjects.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on current negotiations between British Coal and the South of Scotland Electricity Board in relation to the future contractual arrangements for coal to be burned in power stations.

I welcome the fact that an agreement has been reached.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has any plans to meet the chairman of British Coal to discuss the new pricing agreement with the Central Electricity Generating Board; and if he will make a statement.

I meet the chairman of the NCB regularly and discuss a wide range of topics including coal prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what percentage of British energy needs he expects coal to provide in the year 1996.

British coal will make a major contribution to our energy needs well into the next century.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a further statement on his Department's preparations for the privatisation of British Gas.

Since my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's announcement on 18 June in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Hannan) in column 537, the director general designate of OFGAS has been appointed and a new draft authorisation published.The Gas Bill has now started its report stage in another place.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met the chairman of British Gas; and what subjects were discussed.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, West (Mr. Sackville) earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will take steps to establish an alternative energy authority; and if he will make a statement.

The Department of Energy will continue to encourage positively research and development into alternative energy. Our current programmes are far in excess of anything previously achieved.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what recent information he has received on coal imports.

I would refer to my reply earlier today to the hon. Member for Pontefract and Castleford (Mr. Lofthouse).

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has on recent changes in the price of petrol.

Following the rise in petrol prices at the beginning of June, pump prices have now begun to move downwards again.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what arrangements are being made for the publication of the inspector's report following the Sizewell planning inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what arrangements he will make for the publication of the report from the inspector at the Sizewell inquiry.

The report will be published. I will decide on the publication date when I have received it.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what percentage of total electricity is produced in the European Community by light water nuclear reactors.

In 1985 some 27 per cent. of the electricity generated in the Community's 12 member states was produced by light water reactors. This year 35 per cent. of electricity generated in the Community will come from nuclear power stations.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the progress being made by the electricity boards and the Central Electricity Generating Board in implementing their obligations, under the Energy Act 1983, to adopt and support combined heat and power district heating.

The electricity supply industry is seeking to identify economic CHP projects in line with the provisions of the Energy Act 1983 and its other statutory duties. Since 1983 boards have appraised 19 potential CHP projects of which five CHP/district heating schemes remain under active consideration. They are also involved in a number of CHP schemes which predate the Act; they have, in addition, offered specialist advice on request to potential investors in CHP.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met the chairman of the National Coal Board to discuss the future of the industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met the chairman of the National Coal Board; and what was discussed.

I meet the chairman of the National Coal Board regularly to discuss all aspects of the industry, including its future plans.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will detail the capacity in electricity supply in Great Britain; and if he will make a statement.

The CEGB advises me that the declared net capability of its generating stations was 52,726 megawatts sent out at 31 May 1986. The capacity of generating stations in Scotland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received regarding the level of the gas levy.