asked the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the working of the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984.

The working of those provisions of the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984 which have been brought into force has been satisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to the cost and the number of police man hours involved in the arrangements for, and policing of, the mass lobby of the House of Commons which took place on Tuesday 8 July.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that policing the mass lobby of the House of Commons on 8 July involved 196·5 police man hours. No overtime was necessary and no additional costs were incurred by the Metropolitan police on the event.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of incidents of racial harassment and threat reported to N division of the Metropolitan police at Highbury vale and Holloway in the current year.

Twenty.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of racially oriented crime have been reported in 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985 and each month of the current year in N division of the Metropolitan police.

The numbers of reported racial incidents in N division are as follows:

	Number
1982	31
1983	34
1984	71
1985	73
1986
January	8
February	5
March	11
April	10
May	10
June	10

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement concerning the reasons for the recent actions of the chairman of the firearms steering group with regard to the possession of part 5 weapons by part I firearms certificate holders.

I understand that the Chief Constable of Merseyside has circulated to other chief officers of police, for their information, a copy of the judgment of the Court of Appeal in the case of R v Clarke, in which the court dismissed an appeal against conviction under section 5(1)(a) of the Firearms Act 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received about the need for a new magistrates' courthouse in Basildon.

None. We are expecting to hear shortly from Essex county council which is responsible in consultation with the Magistrates' Courts Committee, for providing the new magistrates' courthouse.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the operation of those new police authorities formed in those areas covered by the recently abolished metropolitan counties.

The police joint authorities established by the Local Government Act 1985 took up their responsibilities as police authorities under the Police Act 1964 on 1 April and are discharging their functions in accordance with the establishment and support services schemes which my right hon. Friend has approved for each for 1986–87.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what role is being played by specialist units of the Metropolitan police in investigations into the conduct of Mr. John Stalker of the Greater Manchester police.

The conduct of the investigation into allegations against Mr. John Stalker is entirely a matter for the Chief Constable of West Yorkshire acting under the supervision of the Police Complaints Authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many police officers received hospital treatment following leakage of ethyl mercaptan from a container being transported between Fawley and Reigate on 10 July; and how many police officers in England and Wales have received hospital treatment after inhaling toxic substances being transported by road in the last 12 months for which figures are available;(2) how many fire officers have received hospital treatment after inhaling toxic substances being transported by road in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

I understand that four police officers received hospital treatment as a result of this incident. Information is not centrally available about the numbers of police or fire officers who have received hospital treatment as a result of similar incidents.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the change in real terms between 1979 and 1986 in (a) the cost of a firearms certificate, (b) the revenue derived from firearms certificates and (c) the cost of administering the firearms certificate system; how many certificates were issued in 1979 and in the last period of 12 months for which figures are available, respectively; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 7 July 1986, c. 62]: The information is as follows:

(i) Cost of a firearms certificate1
	1979 £	21986 £	3Change in real terms per cent.
Issue	16	25	-9·5
Renewal	13	20	-10·9

(ii) Estimated revenue and cost of the firearms certificate system11
	41979–80 £ million	51985–86 £ million	3Change in real terms per cent.
Cost	1·8	2·2	-27·2
Revenue	1·1	1·5	-17·1

(iii) Firearms certificates issued1
	1979	1985
Number of certificates on issue6	169,590	160,385
1 All figures are in respect of certificates issued under section 1 of the Firearms Act 1968 in England and Wales.
2 The fees given are those which apply currently. New fee levels are due to be introduced with effect from 1 October.
3 As measured by changes in the retail price index.
4 Estimated figures based on a sample survey of police forces.
5 Estimated figures based on procedures recommended in the 1984 working party report on the administration of the Firearms Act 1968.
6 In 1985 the numbers of firearm certificates issued and renewed were 11,663 and 44,212 respectively. Equivalent figures are not available for 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial and other assistance the United Kingdom is providing for Sri Lankan refugees in India.

Under the joint funding scheme we have provided £7,557 to Christian Aid for vocational training of Sri Lankan refugees in the Mandapam refugee camp at Madurai in Tamil Nadu.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what is the annual management fee now paid to Appledore for running Gibraltar dockyard;(2) if he will list all the payments that have been made to Appledore for running Gibraltar dockyard since it took over its management.

Publication of such information is a matter for Gibraltar Shiprepair Limited—GSL—and its owner the Gibraltar Government. Appledore's management agreement with GSL became effective on 1 January 1985.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the profit and loss account for Gibraltar dockyard since Appledore took over.

The 1984 Accounts of Gibraltar Shiprepair Limited — GSL—have been published by GSL. I shall seek to make a copy of these accounts available to the House of Commons Library. The publication of GSL's accounts for 1985 is a matter for GSL and its owner, the Gibraltar Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date he anticipates that the draft regulations concerning the safety of domestic plugs and sockets will come into effect.

We intend to submit the draft Plug and Socket Regulations to Parliament early next Session. The general provisions of the new regulations will apply as soon as parliamentary approval is obtained. This includes meeting the requirements of the relevant safety standards for all products within the scope of the new regulations, except that 13-amp plugs will not have to conform to certain amendments to BS 1363 until six months later. A further period of grace will be allowed for manufacturers to adapt to the mandatory approval scheme for 13-amp plugs. This scheme will come into force 12 months from the date the regulations are made.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures he intends to introduce to assist small manufacturers with the cost of complying with the proposed plug and socket safety regulations.

No such assistance is necessary. These regulations will formalise safety practices already observed by most manufacturers in the United Kingdom. The only additional cost would be that of gaining the mandatory approval which will be required by the new regulations, for 13-amp plugs only. This would be insignificant.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures he intends to take to ensure that the proposed plug and socket safety regulations are effectively applied to imported goods.

The proposed new regulations will apply to imports as well as to home manufactures. In addition, the Consumer Safety (Amendment) Act 1986 gives enforcement agencies new and more effective powers to identify unsafe imported consumer goods and prevent them from reaching the shops.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the extent of Export Credits Guarantee Department cover for exports to South Africa in each of the years 1974 to 1979; if such cover is still available; and if he will make a statement.

The ECGD has historically insured a substantial proportion of United Kingdom exports to South Africa, but it has been the policy of successive Administrations not to disclose details of exposure on individual markets as such action could be detrimental to ECGD's commercial interests. Cover remains available within ceilings on individual contract values and overall exposure.As with all markets, ECGD maintains a continuous review of developments, but no changes in cover arrangements for South Africa are proposed.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what changes have taken place in the policy of his Department on trade with South Africa since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

My Department's policy on nonmilitary trade with South Africa remains fundamentally unchanged. We continue to believe that civil trade with other countries, including South Africa, should be determined by commercial considerations, not by the character of the Government of those countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many trade missions to South Africa took place in each of the years 1974 to 1979; and what was their cost to public funds.

The number of outward missions financially supported by the British Overseas Trade Board —BOTB—that visited South Africa in each of the years 1974–9, and their cost to BOTB was:

	Missions	Cost £
1974	17	72,000
1975	15	79,200
1976	17	72,000
1977	17	67,550
1978	12	52,725
1979	14	67,620

I have no information on the number or cost of United Kingdom trade missions that visited South Africa without BOTB support in the above period.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he plans to make a statement on the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the proposed merger of the General Electric Company and Plessey.

The Monopolies and Mergers Commission are due to report to my right hon. Friend by 19 July. My right hon. Friend will make an announcement on the report as soon as is practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in establishing a soft loan facility to assist United Kingdom companies pursuing project business in Indonesia.

I am pleased to announce that a concessional loan facility for Indonesia has now been finalised. It will support contracts for United Kingdom exports, against identified projects, to a value of some £140 million over the next three years. This was agreed in a memorandum of understanding which was signed between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of the Republic of Indonesia in Jakarta on 16 July 1986. I very much hope that valuable contracts currently being negotiated by United Kingdom companies in relation to agreed projects can soon be finalised, and thereby bring real economic benefits to both our countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give an explanation for the delay between 1952 and February 1985 in reporting the release of radioactive iodine 131 from the plutonium reprocessing plant at Windscale.

Operations at Windscale in 1952 were conducted for defence purposes by the then Ministry of Supply. I am advised by British Nuclear Fuels that the report of this incident, which came to light in February 1985, shows that the levels of radioactive iodine released in the spring and summer of 1952 were such that any health risk would have been small. As regards the reasons why this information was not made public at the lime, I cannot, of course, answer for the actions of a previous Administration.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has on the volume of uranium and uranium by-products released into the atmosphere by the processes of coal-burning power stations; what is the resulting level of radiation; and how these compare with the level of emissions from nuclear power stations in the United Kingdom.

The National Radiological Protection Board and the Central Electricity Generating Board have estimated that radioactive emissions to the atmosphere from United Kingdom coal-fired power stations clue to uranium, thorium and potassium amount to about 100 giga-bacquerels pergigawatt-year of electricity generated. The collective committed effective dose equivalent for the United Kingdom population from United Kingdom coal-fired power stations in 1983–84 — which supplied 21·3 gigawatt-years of electricity — was about 100 mansieverts. The atmospheric emissions from nuclear power stations — which supplied 4·6 gigawatt-years—gave a collective dose of about 10 mansieverts. For comparison, the annual collective dose from the natural background is 100,000 mansieverts. The radiation dose from all normal operations of the nuclear industry, including fuel reprocessing, amounts to only about one part in a thousand of the natural background.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy on how many occasions nuclear materials (a) produced for, or (b) assigned to, military purposes have been transferred to civil use for each year since 1956; and if he will state whether each transfer was (i) permanent, or (ii) a loan, and, for each instance, the nuclear material involved, the chemical form it was in when it was transferred, the physical form it was in when transferred, the site it was transferred to, the purpose for which it was destined and the quantity involved in each sub-category above, respectively.

This information could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

*EEC: Percentages of total net electricity production for each energy source
	Conventional thermal		Nuclear		Hydro		Total
	1984	1985	1984	1985	1984	1985	1984	1985
Europe	60·36	56·96	26·42	30·70	13·02	12·16	99·80	99·82
France	19·56	15·80	58·67	64·82	21·77	17·38	100·0	100·0
Italy	68·74	69·86	3·81	3·80	25·89	24·90	98·44	98·56
Netherlands	94·22	93·93	5·78	6·07	—	—	100·0	100·0
Belgium	46·65	37·20	50·84	60·34	2·54	2·46	100·0	100·0
Luxembourg	48·96	46·48	—	—	51·04	53·52	100·0	100·0
United Kingdom	79·86	78·16	17·89	19·37	2·25	2·47	100·0	100·0
Ireland	90·64	89·94	—	—	9·36	10·06	100·0	100·0
Denmark	99·61	99·77	—	—	0·39	0·23	100·0	100·0
Greece	87·64	89·12	—	—	12·36	10·88	100·0	100·0
Spain	51·75	50·67	19·33	22·17	28·92	27·16	100·0	100·0
Portugal	48·15	42·08	—	—	51·85	57·92	100·0	100·0
West Germany	71·49	64·40	23·62	31·09	4·89	4·51	100·0	100·0
* Total percentage does not add to 100 per cent. due to the exclusion of the geothermal production value of Italy (0·19 per cent. and 0·17 per cent. of total European net production in 1984 and 1985 respectively).

asked the Secretary of State for Energy to what extent in his studies of the energy potential of barrages across major estuaries he has included consideration of the likely impact of such barrages on wading birds, and, in particular, the redshank; and if he will make a statement.

The Severn tidal power group has included in its recent report a preliminary examination of the environmental impact of a tidal barrage in the Severn estuary. This report has now been published and copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Before a decision is taken on the construction of a barrage in any estuary in the United Kingdom, a full environmental study on that estuary would be necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what assurances he has received from the British Gas Corporation about the future quality of service to domestic gas consumers; and if he will make a statement.

I have received a letter from Sir Denis Rooke, the text of which is as follows:Dear Peter

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has as to the percentage of electricity generated in each European Community state by coal, nuclear, oil, hydro, wind or other sources providing more than 1 per cent. of national electricity output.

Information about electricity generation in the Community is contained in the European Commission's regular publications, "Eurostat Statistical Yearbook" and "Energy Monthly Statistics". Copies are available in the Library of the House.The latest available information, based on these sources, is summarised in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has yet decided his response to the Scottish Tertiary Education Advisory Council's report on a future strategy for higher education in Scotland, published on Monday 9 December 1985; and if he will make a statement.

I have considered the advisory council's report with very great care, in the light of the views expressed during public consultations earlier this year, and have reached the following decisions.The council notes that population trends will be of crucial importance to higher education policy-making for the 1990s and has no doubt about the basic demographic projections. I acknowledge its endorsement of the high variant of the projections published by the Scottish Education Department in November 1985 as a reasonable assessment of future demand for higher education, but accept that the projections should be regularly reviewed. I understand the concern expressed by the council and others about the possible effects of population trends on the supply of qualified manpower. The council's proposals in this regard require a response by higher education institutions as well as Government.The Government note the council's recommendation that all reasonable steps should be taken to encourage greater participation in higher education, particularly from groups where participation is low. The Government stand by the principle of access to higher education for all those who have the motivation, maturity and intellectual competence to benefit from it; and its projections allow for a rise in participation. The report recognises that curriculum reforms at school level have a role to play in this. It is to be hoped that a stable settlement of salaries and conditions within the teaching profession will soon allow us to reap the full benefit of the advances which are being made.I share the Council's view that recognition of the national certificate is a means by which access to higher education can be extended. The Government's commitment to the national certificate is firm and I ask those who are responsible for setting entry standards to higher education to heed the council's comments. I also urge higher education institutions and validating bodies to respond to the recommendation that formal arrangements for credit transfer should be extended, and to consider what can be done to reduce non-completion rates. This may require a careful examination of course content, methods of assessment and quality of teaching.The council acknowledges the role of continuing education in maintaining the supply of qualified manpower and in updating skills. Its emphasis on post- experience vocational education and the development of multi-institutional links to build on individual institutions' strengths is welcome. I accept the need for a focus for continuing education in the Scottish Education Department and have taken action accordingly. Responsibility for the co-ordination of continuing education policy is now focused in the division with general responsibility for vocational education. As a first step in the direction proposed by the council we have also established a Scottish scheme for professional, industrial and commercial updating—PICKUP— on a pilot basis in the current year. This was announced by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of Slate responsible for industry and education on Tuesday 8 July 1986.The taxpayer cannot however be expected to meet the costs of higher education for mature entrants or for those engaged in professional updating to the extent that is appropriate for young initial entrants, and the Government agree that more employers should meet the cost of fees. It is entirely appropriate that they should also provide support through sponsorship, as the council suggests, and in other ways. However, employers' responsibilities do not end there. If the higher education system is to respond to future economic requirements, industry, commerce and the professions must state their requirements; and the Government welcome the recommendation that they should co-operate more fully with higher education institutions in course design and delivery. Co-operation is a two-way process. Although there is some concern in academic circles about higher education becoming too closely linked with the short-term needs of industry and commerce, the Government share the council's belief that improved responsiveness to such needs is not incompatible with preserving a broadly based system.An adequate response will require a sufficient supply of manpower with the qualifications to meet Future technological challenges. The council acknowledges the steps which the Government have taken in this regard through its "Switch to Technology" programmes in the universities and the Scottish central institutions. I have already assured the central institutions that the additional resources provided under "Switch" will be consolidated in their recurrent grant baselines after 1987–88.The "Switch" programmes constitute substantial new investment in the higher education system; if that investment is to be repaid, an adequate supply of school leavers qualified for entry to technological courses is essential. The council recognises this and the Government will continue their efforts to bring this about. Reforms of the school curriculum in Scotland which aim to give all pupils the opportunity to study mathematics and science and to introduce more pupils to computing and other skills will proceed, and priority will continue to be given to the training of teachers of mathematics and physics. We are taking steps to improve technology teaching in schools by introducing new degree courses for prospective technology teachers. The first intakes to these new courses will be in Autumn 1987.Curricular reforms must, however, be supported by changes in emphasis in the guidance given to school pupils. The careers advisory service has a most important role arid my hon. Friend has already announced the decision to reinforce the advice which is available through the appointment in Scotland of a schools-engineering co-ordinator, who will be attached to the Scottish Council (Development and Industry) and funded by my Department. It will be the co-ordinator's task to work with others in improving the presentation of engineering and technology as a possible future career. The aim will be to create among schoolchildren, their parents and schools a greater awareness and understanding of the opportunities which such a career can offer. Emphasis will be given to providing encouragement for girls to enter technological careers.Higher education institutions must also be able to recruit academic staff with the necessary technological qualifications. I have noted what the council has to say in that regard. However, industry has a part to play in alleviating some of the difficulties which arise. Staff exchanges with higher education institutions could ease pressure in key areas and my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State responsible for industry and education wrote earlier this year to a number of companies in Scotland to seek their support for such cooperation. Some have responded positively and I hope that all will give close attention to the council's remarks.It is my belief that responsiveness to economic needs is not incompatible with preserving a broadly based tradition in higher education. Consultations have shown that there is wide support for the recommendation that a full range of academic subjects should continue to be offered in Scotland's higher education system. The strength of that support is acknowledged. The Government reaffirm the value which they attach to the arts and humanities as well as to technological and related disciplines. However, the council does not propose that every educational establishment must offer every possible academic course; the preservation of a broadly based tradition need not preclude rationalisation. Nor should it mean that specialisation by institutions, where appropriate, is to be discouraged. Attention must be paid to this if resources are to be released for desirable developments.The council recommends the provision of additional funding for applied research in the central institutions and for research in education in the colleges of education. The Government note that it does not suggest that the central institutions should match the universities in fundamental research. However, if the findings of research are to be transferred effectively into industrial products and processes, support for the applied and developmental stages may be required. Industry should itself contribute significantly to this, but there is no doubt a place for funding by Government. I am therefore prepared to consider whether resources can be found from within the Scottish block for some additional applied research funding for the central institutions on a selective basis; but that will depend on other priorities and there can be no guarantee that money will be found. I shall also consider whether resources can be found to provide funding for a more secure foundation for educational research in the colleges of education.The council envisages no radical change in the structure of higher education in Scotland. I welcome its support for the central institutions for their responsiveness to the requirements of employers, and I welcome also its encouragement of informal links and cooperation among institutions. I have paid much attention to the differing opinions about the recommendation that there should be a feasibility study of a Scottish Institute of Technology —SIT. There is a sharp division of opinion not only among the central institutions at large, but also among those particular establishments which would be directly involved if a SIT were established. The principals of those establishments have collectively made it clear to me that their support for a SIT would be virtually conditional on its being given university status. Like the council, I do not regard university status for individual central institutions or groups of them to be a practical proposition in planning for the 1990s. Given the relative lack of enthusiasm for the SIT proposal among its potential members, I have therefore decided to reject the council's recommendation of a feasibility study. I am, however, prepared to consider, in consultation with the central institutions, what steps might be taken within the resources available to improve publicity for them collectively.I am announcing separately today my decisions on the council's recommendations on the college of education sector and on future arrangements for the planning and funding of higher education in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total acreage within the Highland region over which there is some form of presumption in favour of conservation; if he will give a breakdown of the type and acreage of respective conservation classification relevant within this total; and if he will express the total as a percentage of the total acreage within the Highland region.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 15 May, Official Report, column 506, to the hon. Member for Ross, Cromarty and Skye, if he will indicate (a) on what date he received formal advice that the proposed pipeline assembly yard at Tain, Ross-shire, would affect indirectly a substantially greater part of the site of special scientific interest than the 0·24 per cent. directly affected, (b) from what source he received such advice and (c) to what extent in considering such advice, he took into account the findings of the independent appraisal carried out into the matter by Dr. John Smith; and if he will make a statement.

Highland regional council's notification of the planning application, received on 7 April, enclosed an objection by the Nature Conservancy Council indicating that consequences could be expected well beyond the immediate development area. My right hon. and learned Friend also noted the report prepared by Dr. John Smith at the request of Land and Marine Engineering Ltd., the applicant for planning permission; and a letter dated 17 April from the Nature Conservancy Council stating that it considered the report inadequate.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 15 May, Official Report, columns 506–7, if he will indicate, of those letters of objection received by him via Highland regional council to the proposed pipeline assembly yard at Tain, Ross-shire, how many respectively (a) referred to the site of special scientific interest designated area, (b) referred to other issues, and (c) and, of those falling within category (b) above, how many of these issues have now been resolved; and if he will make a statement.

The planning application was notified to my right hon. and learned Friend under procedures which apply where a planning authority propose to grant planning permission for a development affecting a site of special scientific interest, against the advice of the Nature Conservancy Council. His subsequent decision to call in the application was based on his consideration of the views expressed about the effects of the proposed development on the nature conservation interest. In reaching that decision it was not necessary for him to consider other grounds of objection in detail.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is yet in a position to announce the details of the public inquiry into the proposed pipeline assembly yard at Tain, Ross-shire, with particular reference to (a) the commencing date, (b) the anticipated length of time it will take, (c) the number of objectors to be heard and (d) the identity of the objectors to be heard; and if he will make a statement.

Arrangements arc being made to hold the public local inquiry in Tain commencing on 23 September 1986. It is anticipated that the inquiry may continue until 26 September. No other details are known at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his reply of 15 May, Official Report, column 506, to the hon. Member for Ross, Cromarty and Skye, if he will express in acres (a) the total area of the Morrich More, (b) the area of the site of special scientific interest which forms part of the current planning application lodged by Land and Marine Engineering Ltd. and (c) if he will express (b) above as a percentage of (a) above.

Following is the information:

(a) The Morrich More has no exact boundaries, but the area of the site of special scientific interest is 7,074 acres;

(b) 17 acres;

(c) 0·24 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will state in acres the total area of land within the Highland region taken up for urban category development; and if he will express this total as a percentage of the total area of the Highland region;(2) what is the total area of developed industrial land currently under economic activity within the Highland region; and if he will express that area as a percentage of the total area within the Highland region.

This information is not held centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make available additional funding for the Scottish Development Agency for the reclamation for industrial use of land at East Sands, Leith; and if he will make a statement.

There are no proposals currently before the agency for the reclamation of land at East Sands, Leith. In any event I understand that there are other sites in the area which are more readily available should there be a proven demand for industrial land.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether a report has been received from Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland on children in prison; and if he will make a statement.

Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland has submitted his report to me. I have today placed copies of the report in the Library, of the House together with my response to the recommendation he has made; and I am sending a copy to the Chairman of the Select Committee on Scottish Affairs; to the chairman of the Scottish all-party penal affairs group and to other interested bodies. Copies may also be purchased from the Scottish Home and Health Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether reports have been received from Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland on Low Moss prison, Shotts prison and Castle Huntly institution; and if he will make a statement.

I have received reports by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland on his inspections of Low Moss prison, Shotts prison and Castle Huntly institution. I have today placed copies of the reports in the Library, of the House together with my responses, and I am sending a copy to the members in whose constituencies the establishments are located; to the Chairman of the Select Committee on Scottish Affairs and the Scottish all-party penal affairs group and to other interested bodies. Copies may also be purchased from the Scottish Home and Health Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing, for the United Kingdom, the amount spent on education as a proportion of the gross domestic product for each year since 1970–71, together with the amounts spent on (a) nursery, (b) primary and secondary and (c) higher education, expressed as a proportion of the gross domestic product for each year.

The readily available information is shown in the following table for selected years. Additional information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many (a) teachers, (b) lecturers and (c) non-teaching staff were employed in Hertfordshire in the public sector education system in each of the most recent 10 years for which he has information.

The figures requested for teachers and lecturers are as follows. Information on the numbers of non-teaching staff is not available centrally.

Hertfordshire
Year (January)	*Teachers	† Lecturers
		Full-time	Part-time
1977	10,219	1,780	—
1978	10,077	1,804	—
1979	10,215	1,830	—
1980	10,195	1,803	—
1981	9,889	1,783	—
1982	9,734	1,673	402
1983	9,467	1,724	402

Average Salaries of All Teachers in Maintained Nusery, Primary, and Secondary Schools in England and Wales (Excluding Allowances): April 1974–April 1986*
Year†	(I) £ Cash Prices	(II) £ Constant (April 1986) Prices	(III) Percentage difference in real salary from an April 1979 base	(IV) £ Extra cash as compared with April 1979 (All figures at April 1986 prices)	(V) RPI‡ April 1974 = 100
April 1974	3,080	11,180	+ 15	+ 1,490	100
April 1975	3,790	11,310	+ 17	+ 1,620	121·7
April 1976	4,180	10,490	+ 8	+ 800	144·7
April 1977	4,410	9,420	-3	-270	169·9
April 1978	4,900	9,700	0	+ 10	183·4
April 1979	5,390	9,690	0	0	201·9
April 1980	7,380	10,900	+ 12	+ 1,210	245·8
April 1981	8,030	10,590	+ 9	+ 900	275·4
April 1982	8,620	10,390	+ 7	+ 700	301·3

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the number of children in Hertfordshire who have taken O-levels or CSEs; in what subjects; and how many have achieved higher grade O-levels or CSE passes in the last five years.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for St. Albans (Mr. Lilley) on 7 July, at columns 45–48.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will review the policy of a three-mile limit on free school bus services; and if he will make a statement.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to section 39(2)(c) and section 55 of the Education Act 1944. The Government are not satisfied with the present law on home to school transport. We do not consider that there is an agreed basis on which the law could be amended, but we are continuing to study the situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table setting out the average salaries of school teachers over the period 1974 to 1986 in cash and constant prices, showing each year's average salary in constant prices in terms comparable to 1979.

The following table sets out this information. The comparison with 1979 is given both as a percentage difference, and as a cash difference at April 1986 prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to the number of children who have taken (a) O-levels and (b) the CSE examination in each of the last 10 years, indicating the subjects taken and passed, in each of the following areas: (a) the borough of Gosport, (b) the borough of Fareham and (c) the county of Hampshire.

[pursuant to his reply, 16 June 1986]: Information is not available centrally for areas smaller

Leavers from maintained schools in Hampshire
(Thousands)
	Academic Year
	1975–76	1976–77	1977–78	1978–79
Total leavers	19·83	20·17	21·81	23·19
Number attempting O-level in
English	7·28	7·75	8·84	9·53
Mathematics	4·85	4·99	5·62	6·19
A science	6·13	6·11	6·89	7·49
A modern language	3·55	3·10	3·59	3·89
Number gaining O-level grades A-C in
English	5·25	5·86	6·63	6·97
Mathematics	3·45	3·53	4·21	4·69
A science	4·14	4·15	4·75	5·09
A modern language	2·22	1·98	2·72	2·31
English and mathematics	2·79	3·02	3·60	3·87
Mathematics and science	2·64	2·72	3·20	3·52
English, mathematics and science	2·30	2·41	2·86	3·10
English, mathematics and a modern language	1·53	1·37	1·63	1·70
English, mathematics, science and a modern language	1·27	1·17	1·34	1·45
Any subject	7·53	7·82	8·70	9·46
Number attempting O-level or CSE in
English	16·05	16·44	17·85	19·53
Mathematics	14·43	15·36	17·07	18·59
A science	14·42	14·48	15·77	17·31
A modern language	6·35	6·30	7·49	7·90
Number gaining O-level or CSE higher grades in
English	6·14	6·75	7·38	7·59
Mathematics	4·31	4·71	5·30	5·87
A science	5·16	5·07	5·74	6·40
A modern language	2·51	2·21	2·57	2·59
English and mathematics	3·43	3·79	4·31	4·64
Mathematics and science	3·23	3·49	4·03	4·37
English, mathematics and science	2·73	2·92	3·43	3·71
English, mathematics and a modern language	1·70	1·68	1·82	2·07
English, mathematics, science and a modern language	1·37	1·40	1·48	1·69

asked the Prime Minister if she has any plans to visit Bournemouth.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if she has any plans to make an official visit to Cannock and Burntwood.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if she has any plans to make an official visit to Harborough Magna, near Rugby.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister what estimate she has made of the effect on the level of unemployment of raising the standard rate of income tax by four pence in the pound.

Following long established practice of both Labour and Conservative Administrations the Government do not publish their projections of employment or unemployment, nor the effect of individual policy measures on them.

asked the Prime Minister what information she has about the average selling price of feed wheat in 1985, as to its cost in real terms in 1970, 1979 and 1984, as to the cost of a 100 horse power tractor in 1985, and as to the cost of such a tractor in real terms in 1970, 1979 and 1984.

The average selling price of feed wheat in 1985 was £106·8 per tonne ex-farm. Developments in feed wheat prices in real terms, after adjusting by the retail prices index, are shown in the table for the years requested. Also shown are indices of tractor prices, adjusted by the RPI. These are compiled from manufacturers' list prices and relate to wheeled tractors of all sizes: generally the prices paid by purchasers will be lower than list price due to discounting, the extent of which has become substantial in recent years and varies between transactions. It should also be noted that price comparisons over time are particularly difficult because of continuing changes in the technical specification of tractors.

asked the Prime Minister, pursuant to her reply to the hon. Member for Kensington on 3 June, Official Report. column 433, what would be the additional costs in terms of revenue forgone if, instead of making all income other than the credits taxable, each individual, counting husbands and wives separately, were allowed a non-transferable low income tax exemption, similar to age allowance, of (a) £15, (b) £20 and (c) £25 per week.

I shall reply to my hon. Friend shortly.

asked the Prime Minister if, when she next meets the chairman of the Football Association and the President of the Football League, she will discuss with them the lessons for the Government's objective of reducing the level of violence at football matches in the United Kingdom of experience of the conduct of British football supporters in Mexico for the World Cup; and if she will make a statement.

These matters were discussed at my meeting yesterday with representatives of the football authorities, including the chairman of the Football Association and the new president of the Football League. We reviewed progress with our joint efforts to combat football spectator violence by British fans at home and abroad. The good behaviour of British fans in Mexico, together with the marked reduction in domestic incidents last season, gives cause for optimism. But we agreed that careful planning and preparation remained vital; that we will continue vigorously to combat hooliganism, through the effective partnership between the Government and the football authorities.

asked the Prime Minister what information Her Majesty's Government have about the conduct of British football supporters whilst attending the World Cup tournament in Mexico; and if she will make a statement.

I have received reports on the conduct of British football supporters in Mexico from my hon. Friend the Minister with responsibility for Sport, who attended the tournament from 8 to 15 June, and from Her Majesty's ambassador in Mexico. It seems clear that British supporters behaved well. Seven thousand to 9,000 attended the tournament, over four to six weeks; there were 31 arrests, mostly for minor offences against local byelaws. All but two were released quickly from custody. Clearly the careful planning and preparation by the Government, police and football authorities before and at the tournament were effective, as was the policing by the Mexican authorities. I pay tribute to the positive attitude of the British fans in Mexico, and to the efforts of the Mexican Government and police, of the football authorities and of the staff of Her Majesty's ambassador in Mexico.

asked the Prime Minister if she will give details of recent exchanges between the State President of South Africa and herself.

I correspond from time to time with many Heads of Government. It is not normal diplomatic practice to reveal details of such exchanges.

asked the Prime Minister what representations have been received from the Faroes Government about the activities of the Sea Shepherd recently involving the Faroese fishery protection vessel Olvur Halgi; what action is being taken; and if she will make a statement.

No representations have been received from the Faroese or Danish authorities.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on her recent meeting with Mr. Brian Mulroney, the Prime Minister of Canada.

I had a good and useful meeting with Mr. Mulroney on 13 July in Montreal. We discussed several matters, including Canada's contribution to the international fund for Ireland. Mr. Mulroney committed C$10 million over the next 10 years. In addition we had a preliminary discussion of the issues which may arise at the Commonwealth meeting on South Africa in August.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 17 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 17 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 17 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 17 July.

This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in this House I shall be having further meetings later today, including one with President Mubarak of Egypt.

asked the Paymaster General why house prices are not included in the figures used to measure the rate of inflation.

House prices are included in the components which make up the retail prices index. They are taken into the calculation of owner-occupiers' housing costs which are based on mortgage interest payments.

asked the Paymaster General when rebates from the redundancy fund will be abolished; and if he will make a statement.

The proposal to abolish the payment of employer's rebates for all but the smallest firms—those with fewer than 10 employees — is contained in the Wages Bill which is currently under consideration in another place. It is expected to come into effect on 1 August or upon Royal Assent of the Bill, whichever is the later.

asked the Paymaster General how much financial assistance has been given to firms on Merseyside by way of rebates from the redundancy fund in each of the past three years.

I regret that the information requested is not available.

asked the Paymaster General if he will introduce some flexibility into the proposed cut-off date for rebate arrangements under the redundancy fund.

No. The Government do not believe that it would be right to treat some employers differently from others. The precise cut-off arrangements, which will apply to all employers, are specified in schedule 6 to the Wages Bill currently before Parliament.

asked the Paymaster General what representations he has received from Bibby Edible Oils Ltd. concerning rebates from the redundancy fund; what reply he has sent; and if he will make a statement.

The managing director of Bibby Edible Oils Ltd. wrote to the Secretary of State on 10 June. A full reply was sent to his letter on 4 July, confirming that following enactment of the Wages Bill rebates will only be available to employers with more than nine employees if the redundancies took place before August 1986.

asked the Paymaster General what was the amount of finance allocated to the Manpower Services Commission and the amount spent for each year since its inception.

My Department gives a grant in aid to the Manpower Services Commission to carry out its functions; contributions are also made by the industry department for Scotland and the Welsh Office in respect of the proportion of costs specifically identified with services in Scotland and Wales. The figures in the following table include those contributions:

	Allocation	Expenditure
	£	£
1974–75	105,395,000	96,004,201
1975–76	278,236,000	249,262,721
1976–77	410,911,000	366,748,991
1977–78	466,836,000	432,451,262

asked the Paymaster General if he will list in the Official Report the amount of assistance given to firms on Merseyside from the European social fund in each of the past three years.

The European Commission allocated the following amounts from the European social fund to private firms on Merseyside:

	£
1986	241,084
1985	355,607

Separate figures for Merseyside relating to 1984 are not available.

asked the Paymaster General what recent advice has been received from the Advisory Committee on Safety at Nuclear Installations—ACSNI—following the accident at Chernobyl; and if he will make a statement on his Department's reactions to this advice.

Very few technical details on the Chernobyl accident have been released by the Russians so far. The Advisory Committee on the Safety of Nuclear Installations is, therefore, not in a position to make any sensible assessment or give any useful advice at this stage. The ACSNI is continuing to take a close interest in the matter.

asked the Paymaster General what role was played by the Health and Safety Executive in making safe a container of ethyl mercaptan parked off the M23 at Reigate on 11 July; and what time elapsed between the executive being alerted to the danger and its attendance on the scene.

Responsibility for making safe the container lay primarily with the transport operator, with the police and fire services dealing with the immediate emergency arrangements needed. HSE inspectors attended at the request of the police. They gave technical assistnace to the police investigation into the circumstances which led to the incident. Inspectors were on site in under three hours.

asked the Paymaster General how many wages council inspectors are currently in post in the northern region; and how many he proposes to retain in post in 1987.

Currently there are seven outdoor inspectors in post in the northern division of the Wages Inspectorate. It is planned to reduce the number of posts to five in 1987.

asked the Paymaster General how many establishments in the northern region come within the scope of wages councils; and how many prosecutions there have been under wages council legislation since 1979.

At January 1986 there were 20,876 establishments on the register of the northern division of the Wages Inspectorate. Since 1979, six employers in that division have been prosecuted for offences under wages council legislation.

asked the Paymaster General what information he has as to which countries in western Europe and north America which have a quota system for the employment of handicapped persons as to the level of the quota as a percentage of the work force and the penalties imposed on companies in both the private and public sector which do not reach the quota.

Comprehensive information is not readily available in the form requested. I understand, however that within the European Community, Belgium, Eire, France, Greece, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands have some form of quota scheme and that there is no quota scheme in Denmark. I also understand that neither Canada nor the United States of America has a quota scheme.Summaries of the quota arrangements in those countries listed above as having quota schemes, except Greece, were published in 1979 in the Manpower Services Commission's discussion document on the quota scheme, a copy of which is in the Library. It was confirmed in 1981 that the position remained substantially unchanged, but we have no more up-to-date information. Information from Greece in 1981 showed that a proportion of posts in certain occupations in the public sector are reserved for disabled people.

asked the Paymaster General what is the latest estimate of the unemployment rate of handicapped persons in the United Kingdom; what is the latest unemployment rate for the United Kingdom; and if he will provide comparable figures for each year from 1979 to the present.

The information is not available in the precise form requested.The available information on those unemployed affected by ill health or disability is from the labour force survey in Great Britain for the years 1984 and 1985 only:

Percentage of economically active population of working age* unemployed and actively seeking work
	Spring 1984	Spring 1985
Persons limited by† health problems or disabilities	21·6	23·4
All persons	11·2	10·7
* 16–64 years for men, 16–59 years for women.
† Those limited by health problems or disablement as to the kind of paid work they could do.

asked the Paymaster General what percentage of the European social fund and the European regional fund came to the United Kingdom for each year from 1973 to the present.

The percentage of the European Social Fund —ESF—and European Regional Development Fund—ERDF—allocated to the United Kingdom from 1973 to the present is as follows:

Year	Per cent. ESF	Per cent. ERDF
1973	31·5	—
1974	24·5	—
1975	29·6	28·7
1976	24·4	28·4
1977	37·1	28·9
1978	19·7	26·7
1979	25·4	27·1
1980	23·3	24·3
1981	24·9	21·7
1982	29·4	24·1
1983	29·8	21·7
1984	32	27·5
1985	23·7	26·4
1986	16·4	—

The United Kingdom first benefitted from the ERDF in 1975 and figures are not available for 1986.

asked the Paymaster General how many prosecutions there have been in the north-west region under wages council legislation in 1979 and each subsequent year.

No employers were prosecuted in 1979 for offences under wages council legislation in the northwest region. There were two prosecutions in 1980, on in 1981 and none in subsequent years.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has for providing and marketing additional service areas on the motorway network.

The general policy is to provide new motorway service areas where they are required at strategic locations and at approximately 30-mile intervals on motorways yet to be completed and on existing motorways where there is a gap in services provision.The planned programme and the manner of marketing are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what steps he is taking to ensure that privately registered cars and vans which have been involved in serious accidents, but which are only subject to third party insurance and therefore not recorded under the serious damage repair procedure at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre, Swansea are not then recycled illegally;(2) what procedures are adopted by the police to ensure that privately registered cars and vans which have been involved in serious road accidents, but which are only subject to third party insurance, and therefore not recorded under the serious damage repair procedure at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre, Swansea, are not then recycled illegally.

Arrangements already exist under which insurance companies and the police notify the Department of seriously damaged vehicles including some third party cases. However, I am aware of the difficulties in this area and officials will shortly be undertaking a review of the situation in consultation with the insurers, the police and other interests.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on repairs to the Al9 road with particular reference to the contents of the reports commissioned by his Department dealing with the contracts for the construction of the road.

The investigation into the defects of the A19 Teesside diversion and subsequent negotiations with the consultants and contractor have been completed. Settlements have now been reached.Copies of the reports of the independent investigations by Maunsell and Partners and Cleveland county council have been placed in the Library of the House. The reports cover three areas of concern: the viaduct, the stage I carriageway and the stage II carriageway.The viaduct is the most complicated problem and the difficulties lie in failure of the bearings of the main span to function fully to specification; some weaknesses in the support to the bearings of two of the main spans, weaknesses in the cross-bracing between the various beams in the main spans.The cost of putting these right amounts to £200,000 and the report by Maunsell and Partners states that responsibility cannot be pinpointed precisely. The investigations report that at all times the road and bridge have been completely safe for use by traffic.The stage I carriageway investigations found that the problems in the road were caused by a change in traffic flows and axle weights, particularly of heavy goods vehicles and no blame could be attached to either the consultant or the contractor.The stage II carriageway independent investigations found that the surface had cracked and was showing signs of deformation. However, an appraisal of the report

Due to open to traffic (Financial year)	Road name	Scheme	Mileages	Estimated Cost
				£ million
		Barthomley
1987–88	A52	Link—M6	3·4	6·82
		Chester
		Southern
		Bypass—
1989–90	A483	Welsh Border	2·5	6·8
		Chester
1990–91	A41	Improvement	1·8	13·7
		Nantwich
1991–92	A52	Bypass	3·5	4·1
		Macclesfield
1991–92	A523	Relief Road	3·3	19·1

The following small schemes are included in the regional improvement programme.

Due to open (financial year)	Estimated cost £ million
1987–88 A5 Barbridge Bypass	0·60
1988–89 A550 Ledsham Station Diversion	1·00

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria as regards current access time to the motorway network he uses in assessing the demand for new motorways in England.

Such criteria are not used.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give a breakdown by classification of road of the total new mileage and planned cost of new motorways and trunk roads to be constructed in Cheshire in each of the next five years.

There are five schemes, representing 14·5 miles of new road valued at some £50 million in the national trunk road programme. They are:In addition the Department is considering small improvement schemes on A41 at Mitton Green, Macefen and No Mans Heath and on A52 at Basford Bridge, expenditure on which could fall within the next five years.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give a breakdown by classification of road of the total new mileage and cost of new motorways and trunk roads constructed in Cheshire in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Six new schemes have been constructed in Cheshire as part of the national trunk road programme, worth some £25 million. These are:

	Road name	Scheme	Mileage	Cost
				£ million
Opened to traffic
1981	M56	Hapsford East of Stoak	3·0	5·4
1981	M56	Stoak Interchange	2·2	*4·8
1981	M56	West of Stoak-Powey Lane	2·2	*6·7
1984	A51	Tarvin South West Bypass	2·1	1·8
To be opened
1986	A54	Kelsall Bypass	2·2	3·7
1986	A49/A51	Tarporley Bypass	3·1	3·0
* Estimated cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Leicester, East of 30 June, how many registration marks have been transferred in each of the past 10 years to date; how much revenue has been collected therefrom in each of the periods; and if he will make a statement.

The information requested is as follows:

Year	Number of registration marks transferred	Fee revenue £ million
1985–86	56,352	4·5
1984–85	47,747	3·9
1983–84	44,773	3·5
1982–83	37,550	2·1
1981–82	29,822	1·5
1980–81	30,564	1·5
1979–80	30,404	1·5
1978–79	26,034	1·3
1977–78	22,425	1·1
1976–77	50,352	0·1