asked the Prime Minister if she had formed any view as to whether the Solicitor-General's opinion about the material inaccuracy of the then Secretary of State for Defence's letter to the European consortium should be brought into the public domain, before a copy of the Solicitor-General's letter to the then Secretary of State for Defence was received in her office; and if she will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 17 November at columns 49–50.

asked the Prime Minister what plans she has to visit Dartmouth.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 27 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 27 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 27 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 27 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 27 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 27 November.

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.

asked the Prime Minister whether information was passed from Her Majesty's Government sources to Israeli sources concerning the presence of Mr. Mordechai Vanunu within the United Kingdom.

No.

asked the Prime Minister if she will refer to the Security Commission the matters published in the magazine Lobster by Robin Ramsey and Stephen Dorrell in April in respect of action taken by the security services against Her Majesty's Government in 1974 to 1976.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) how much has been expended by Her Majesty's Government on research into the improvement of insulation during the past five years for which records are available;(2) what are his proposals for the provision of resources for research into the improvement of insulation during the years 1987 and 1988, respectively.

The Department of Energy and the Department of the Environment have expended approximately £0·76 million per annum on average over the past five years for research, development and demonstration of the performance of thermal insulation for buildings in their complementary programmes. They expect to expend about £0·62 million in each of the financial years 1986–87 and 1987–88. Records which are available do not separate research from development and demonstration, nor in some cases is the performance of thermal insulation separately identified from other energy efficiency measures.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) how much has been expended by Her Majesty's Government on research into the improvement of double glazing methods during the past five years for which records are available;(2) what are his proposals for the provisions of resources for research into the improvement of double glazing methods during the years 1987 and 1988, respectively.

The Department of Energy and the Department of the Environment have expended approximately £0·12 million per annum on average over the past five years for research, development and demonstration of the performance of double glazing in their complementary programmes. They expect to expend about £0·27 million per annum in each of the financial years 1986–87 and 1987–88. Records which are available do not separate research from development and demonstration, nor in some cases is the performance of double glazing separately identified from other energy efficiency measures.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his policy towards the recommendation of the Severn Tidal Power Group in connection with the proposed Severn barrage to the effect that a decision should be made by private Bill rather than by public inquiry.

The further work on the Severn barrage announced in July this year is aimed to reduce uncertainty to the point where it will be possible to make decisions on whether or not to plan for construction. No decision has therefore been made to follow any specific procedural path and a main objective of the work will be to consider further the legal, administrative, organisational and procedural options of a Severn barrage project, and discuss with all interested parties their implications.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy to what factors he attributes the difference in profitability between the South of Scotland Electricity Board and the Central Electricity Generating Board.

Profitability for the electricity industry in Scotland is most appropriately measured on a joint basis because the two Scottish electricity boards collaborate closely in operating the generation and transmission system in a single merit order, sharing the costs through a joint generation agreement. Comparisons with the electricity industry in England and Wales are best made with that industry as a whole since, unlike the Scottish boards, the CEGB is responsible for generation and transmission but not distribution. In 1985–86 the Scottish boards made a return on average net assets employed measured on a current cost basis of 2·93 per cent. compared with 2·65 per cent. for the electricity industry in England and Wales. Among the factors leading to the higher profitability in Scottish boards were the higher proportion of nuclear power and the availability of hydroelectric power on the Scottish system.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what will be the total spending of his Department on press and public relations in the current year; and what it was in 1979–80 and each intervening year.

[pursuant to his reply, 19 November 1986, c. 232]: Expenditure by my Department on press and public relations in each of the years beginning 1979–80 was:

	£ thousand
1979–80	595
1980–81	796
1981–82	736
1982–83	674
1983–84	913
1984–85	7,450
1985–86	12,257
1986–871	14,200
1Anticipated.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what volume of low-level nuclear waste has arisen from the reprocessing of imported Magnox spent nuclear fuel from Italy and Japan since such imports began.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 November 1986, c. 352]: It is estimated that the following quantities of solid low-level radioactive waste are attributable to the reprocessing of spent Magnox nuclear fuel from Italy and Japan since that business commenced until September 1986:

	Cubic metres
Italy	8,200
Japan	4,000

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will list for each year since 1979 the number of persons notified to Her Majesty's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate by (a) the Central Electricity Generating Board and (b) the South of Scotland Electricity Board as power station operators, supervisors and managers, and the number of individual appointments prevented by the inspectorate in each year;(2) if he will describe the duties of persons notified to Her Majesty's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate as power station operators, supervisors and managers, specifying which duties of operators and supervisors are not located within the main control room of a power station; and if he will make a statement;(3) if he will describe the responsibilities of Her Majesty's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate in relation to the training and standards of competence of power station management and staff, specifying which persons at a power station are subject to such responsibilities; and if he will make a statement;(4) if he will list for each nuclear power station in England and Wales the current number of persons notified to Her Majesty's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate as power station operators, supervisors and managers showing each rank or grade separately.

[pursuant to his reply, 17 November 1986, c. 19–20]: The booklet "The Work of HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate" published by the Health and Safety Executive, a copy of which is in the Library of the House, outlines the inspectorate's responsibilities. Under the conditions of a nuclear licence, a licensee must appoint suitably qualified persons, known as duly authorised persons, to perform certain functions at a nuclear power station. These functions include station manager, departmental heads, shift charge engineers, assistant charge engineers, assistant engineers (operations), health physicists, assistant health physicists and instrument engineers. Typically at a nuclear power station there would be about 40 persons so appointed. Some, for instance station managers, departmental heads, and health physicists, would normally work outside the control room. The minimum qualification for a duly authorised person is at least a higher national certificate or equivalent in a subject relevant to the duties. I am advised that many have degrees or equivalent engineering qualifications such as membership of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, or are chartered engineers. No person is permitted to act as an appointed person if Her Majesty's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate considers that person unfit; but there has been no recent case where Her Majesty's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate has had to use this power of objection. It is not possible except at disproportionate cost to list the number of duly authorised persons notified since 1979 to Her Majesty's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate by operators.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he next proposes to have discussions with the European Community Council of Ministers about alternative sources of energy.

[pursuant to his reply, 24 November 1986, c. 11]: I should like to report the outcome of the meeting of the European Communities Council of Energy Ministers on 26 November.I took the chair on behalf of the United Kingdom Presidency and my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy represented the United Kingdom.Council adopted a major new commitment to the benefits of energy efficiency. To bring this home to consumers, Ministers agreed to publicise the need for greater energy efficiency within member states. They also agreed, on the basis of policies apprioprate to each member state, to promote successful technologies, exchange information and to examine new sources of private finance for energy efficient investment.A resolution was agreed establishing a Community approach to the development of new and renewable sources of energy. At the request of the Presidency, the Commission agreed to call a major meeting of chief scientists in the new year to exchange information. This would establish a firm basis for further work on how best to encourage the economic exploitation of these sources of energy, which were likely to be of growing importance, despite current low oil prices.Council reviewed progress with the programme of work outlined in the Commission's June framework communication on nuclear health and safety. It noted that the Commission will shortly bring forward detailed proposals for action under the Euratom treaty, drawing on the lessons learnt at Chernobyl. Ministers stressed that the continuing use and development of nuclear power required the highest standards of safety and environmental protection. It was agreed that the Commission would report progress regularly to the Energy Council. Council also noted the important measures agreed and under consideration by the International Atomic Energy Agency, and that the agency remained the appropriate forum for carrying forward international action.Ministers held a first exchange on a wide-ranging Commission discussion paper on possible ways of improving energy efficiency in transport. Council noted that the transport sector remained almost totally dependent on oil products and that increases in oil consumption in the sector were a matter of concern. The Commission agreed to examine the options for savings and reduced oil dependence identified in discussion.Council discussed the effects of low oil prices on other fuels and possible implications for the Community's recently adopted energy objectives for 1995. It noted that there were clearly a number of far-reaching implications for all sources of energy from prolonged low oil prices. The Commission is to consider these further.Ministers considered recent developments in the oil market. They noted that the market remained volatile and that the Commission would continue to monitor developments in oil trade and consumption as well as in the refining industry.Lastly, Council considered extending the Communtiy system of labels showing the energy consumption of electrical appliances. It was not possible to resolve a technical disagreement and this is to be considered further.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will state, following the meetings in Vienna on 25 August, relating to the Chernobyl disaster, how many additional deaths due to cancer it is estimated will occur in Europe over the next 70 years; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.Estimates of radiation doses and consequences are not yet available for the whole of Europe.Estimates for the European Community have been made by the National Radiological Protection Board. Based on the dose-risk relationship currently accepted internationally, the number of cancer deaths in the Community over the next 70 years that might be attributable to Chernobyl is in the region of 1,000. On the same basis, some 50,000 cancer deaths would be attributable to natural sources of radiation out of the total of about 50 million cancer deaths from all causes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions there have been in each of the last five years for defects under road traffic regulations covering heavy goods vehicles and coaches; and what was the average penalty imposed.

No reliable information is available for specific types of vehicles. The available information on findings of guilt for offences involving a vehicle or part in dangerous or defective condition is published annually in "Offences relating to motor vehicles, England and Wales, Supplementary tables" (tables 5, 6, 8 and 12 of the issue of 1985), copies of which are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases were being considered but were unresolved by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board on 1 January in each of the last five years or on such other day as may be expedient having regard to the records kept.

The numbers of unresolved cases before the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board at the end of each financial year for the last five years were:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the county chief probation officers in Wales are Welsh speaking.

Information on the linguistic abilities of chief probation officers is not held centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average annual cost of keeping an adult male in prison.

The estimated average annual cost of keeping an adult male in prison in England and Wales in the financial year 1985–86, the latest year for which figures are available, was £13,520.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if different treatment is accorded to men and women under the Immigration Act 1971 and the British Nationality Act 1981.

There are a limited number of provisions of the Immigration Act 1971 and the British Nationality Act 1981 which treat the sexes differently.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long on average the sponsor of an applicant for entry clearance as a fiancée or spouse has to wait for an interview, where appropriate, from the time of interview of the applicant; and if there are any differences dependent upon the location of the sponsor.

Waiting times depend upon the number of staff available to conduct interviews, which varies between different parts of the country and times of the year. Records are not kept in a way that would enable an average figure to be obtained.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the effect of the new visa regulations on the rate of immigration from the Indian sub-continent.

The new visa requirements are an administrative arrangement which moves the decision on the claim to admission by visitors and students from ports of entry to our missions abroad. The criteria for admission are not changed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what items were removed from the studio of the artist Stephen Boggs by officers of the counterfeit currency squad on 31 October.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that a summons was served on Mr. Boggs on 24 November; the matter is, therefore, sub judice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will issue guidelines to local authorities about procedures for dealing with holiday voters; and how the general public will be informed.

Guidance was issued to electoral registration officers on 18 November. A copy of the circular (numbered RPA 303) is in the Library. Publicity campaigns will be mounted before the next local government elections on 7 May, and when the date of the next general election is known, publicity will include advertisements in the press, announcements on the radio and an information leaflet.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) why he has not sought to extend protocol 1 of the European convention on human rights to the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man;(2) if he will now consider seeking to extend protocol 1 of the European convention on human rights to the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

A declaration extending protocol 1 to the Channel Islands and Isle of Man was not made in 1971. The islands are now being consulted about its extension to them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether all those remand prisoners in Leeds prison wishing to receive a daily visit are provided the facilities for such a visit; and if he will make a statement.

Unconvicted prisoners are normally allowed a visit of at least 15 minutes every day except Sunday. However, because of a large increase in the size of the unconvicted population at Leeds and the consequent pressure on available visiting facilities, visits at Leeds were restricted to alternate weekdays, with all inmates entitled to a visit on Saturdays. The position is being kept under review. The conversion of Hull prison to a local prison has provided some relief, but continuing growth in the unconvicted population has not made it possible to permit resumption of the normal visiting entitlement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the latest available figures, how many (a) young prisoners and (b) juveniles are held in (i) Leeds and (ii) Hull prisons.

The information is given in the table.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on the latest available figures, how many prisoners at Leeds prison are serving sentences of more than five years.

It is estimated that about 75 prisoners in Leeds prison on 30 September 1986 were serving sentences of over five year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he intends to take to inform members of the Prison Service about the contents of the Home Office publication "Fresh Start".

Copies of the "Fresh Start" publication, together with copies of a letter which has been sent to the Prison Officers Association about the proposed new working arrangements, the management structure and pay and conditions of service, were sent to governors of Prison Service establishments on 21 November with instructions that every member of staff should receive a copy of each.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council on 24 November.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs chaired the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 24 November. I represented the United Kingdom.The Council agreed that the Community should sign the new protocol of the multi-fibre arrangement, which was negotiated in July and which extends the arrangement until 31 July 1991. The Commission also reported to the Council on the renegotiation of bilateral agreements under the arrangement with 26 countries, which will be put to the Council for decision at a later date. Details of the restraint levels negotiated have been placed in the Library of the House.Ministers reviewed the negotiations between the Community and the United States on the trade effects of enlargement and discussed recent trade measures taken by Canada against imports from the EC.The Council adopted the generalised scheme of preferences for 1987 which provides preferential access for developing country imports into the Community and approved a negotiating mandate for an EC-Czechoslovakia trade agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the decisions taken by the Foreign Affairs Council since he assumed its presidency.

I refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave to my hon. Friends the Members for Leeds, North-West (Dr. Hampson) on 23 July, at column 256, for Rochford (Dr. Clark) on 22 October, at column 167, for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley) today; and to the statement by my right hon. and learned Friend, on 28 October, at column 913.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the tripartite agreement of 1925 between His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, the Irish Free State and the Government of Northern Ireland, formerly deposited with the League of Nations, is no's deposited with the United Nations Organisation.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria are used by Her Majesty's Government in deciding whether to recognise Governments.

It is our policy to recognise states rather than Governments.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy not to give recognition to any provisional Government set up by the Contras in Nicaragua.

The question of recognition does not arise since, as explained in my earlier answer to the hon. Member, it is our policy to recognise states rather than Governments.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the United States Government urging them not to pursue the setting up of a provincial Government based on the Nicaraguan Contras.

As already explained in my earlier answers to the hon. Member, it is our policy to recognise states rather than Governments. We continue to advocate a political solution to the problems of central America on the basis of the Contadora objectives. We ensure that the United States is fully aware of our views.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has about the extent of involvement of British companies in Iran; and what advice he gives to British companies about trading in or with Iran.

I have been asked to reply.My Department does not keep lists of exporters to any market. Iran remains a important market for British firms and advice on commercial practices and economic conditions in Iran is available from BOTB to assist exporters interested in that market.

asked the Attorney-General (1) if he will ask the Director of Public Prosecutions to investigate allegations published in the magazine Lobster in April concerning covert operations by the security services against Her Majesty's Government in 1974 to 1976 with a view to prosecuting those responsible;(2) if he will prosecute Mr. Colin Wallace, former senior information officer, Psychops, Army Headquarters, Northern Ireland for revealing details of secret service operations against Her Majesty's Government in the period 1974 to 1979 in the magazine,

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many data processing staff are in post within his Department; and how many of those are trainees.

My Department had the following numbers of staff in the data processing grades in post on 17 November 1986:

	Numbers
Senior Data Processors	43
Data Processors	110
Trainee Data Processors	8

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the actions taken in the last 12 months against the illegal Radio Caroline station; and if he will make a statement.

Between 8 August and 13 December 1985 my Department chartered a vessel to keep observation on the ships from which the unlicensed marine broadcasting stations Radio Laser and Radio Caroline operated. The radio investigation service officers on board reported to the police any vessels seen supplying the ships for further investigation. Prosecutions under the Marine, etc. Broadcasting (Offences) Act 1967 are brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions, to whom my Department continues to report evidence of possible offences under the Act. I understand that as a result two people have been prosecuted and convicted and a number of prosecutions are pending.My Department has also pursued with other European countries efforts to fulfil our international obligation to prevent broadcasting from ships outside national territories. The Government remain seriously concerned about unlicensed marine broadcasters who use radio frequencies allocated for other, legitimate purposes, and whose powerful transmissions can and do cause interference to other radio users.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assistance he is offering the Securities and Exchange Commission with its investigations into Cambria and General Investment Trust; and if he will make a statement.

I am ready to offer the commission such assistance, within the terms of the memorandum of understanding with my Department, as it may request and as I can reasonably provide. However, as the hon. Member may have seen, the company has stated that it intends to co-operate with the commission in its investigation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which sections of the Financial Services Act he next intends to bring into effect.

On 26 November the Financial Services Act 1986 (Commencement No. 2) Order was made, which brings further provisions into force today. Apart from the citation of the Act, those provisions are exclusively concerned with the disclosure of information obtained under certain provisions of the Companies Act 1985 and the Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1986, together with consequential repeals.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the leaders of political parties in Northern Ireland during the past two months in relation to the progress of the Anglo-Irish Agreement; and what have been the effects of those discussions.

I have met the hon. Member for Foyle (Mr. Hume) as the leader of the SDLP, and the leader of the alliance party in this connection in the last two months. In addition, I have met a considerable number of supporters of all the major parties, I regret, however, that the leaders of the two Unionist parties have so far felt unable to talk to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will promote a campaign within the Province in support of the Anglo-Irish Agreement.

I am most anxious that the benefits for everybody in Northern Ireland that can flow from the Anglo-Irish Agreement are better understood and to remove misunderstandings and misrepresentations about it and we seek to take every opportunity to do this.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will announce the date when he proposes to publish his conclusions on the use classes order.

We are considering the responses to the consultation paper which we published in June setting out our proposals to modernise the order. We are not yet ready to make any announcement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to table amendments to the general development order.

We intend to lay a revised general development order, which will consolidate, simplify and further amend the current order, later this Session, following consultations with the local authority associations and others.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the steps Her Majesty's Government have taken in the last three years to prevent, reduce or eliminate pollution of the North sea from atmospheric sources whose origins lie within the United Kingdom.

My Department is currently reassessing information on the input to the North sea of heavy metals and pesticides, although there is no clear evidence that current emission levels pose an environmental threat to the North sea. The Government's aim, set in 1984, to reduce by 30 per cent. United Kingdom emissions of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides by the end of the 1990s would reduce the deposition of these pollutants. This aim is reinforced by the Government's recent authorisation to retro-fit three 2000 MW power stations and decision to equip all new coal-fired power stations with flue gas desulphurisation equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the research Her Majesty's Government have commissioned or completed to examine the effects on the North sea of organic synthetic compounds discharged or dumped into that sea from the United Kingdom within the last three years.

Within the past three years my Department has commissioned the following research relevant to the effects of synthetic substances in the North sea:

the masses of list I and list II substances discharged to tidal waters in the United Kingdom (October 1983). These included DDT, Lindane, HCH, PCB's and the Drins.

an update of the estimates in 1986 for the five major estuaries bordering the North sea.

a survey of pentacholorophenol and other pesticides in river and estuarial waters.

a survey of rivers and estuaries for eulans, mitins, synthetic pyrethroids, chlorinated benzenes, chlorinated ethanes and others and triozines.

the effects and distribution of organo-tin compounds in coastal waters.

asked the Secretary of State For the Environment if he will list any new binding regulations on black and grey list substances adopted by the United Kingdom since the close of the international conference on the protection of the North sea in Bremen, 31 October to 1 November 1984 (a) within the framework of existing/new national legislation, (b) within the framework of the European Economic Community and (c) within the framework of the Paris commission.

Since the close of the international conference on the protection of the North sea in Bremen, 31 October to 1 November 1984, the United Kingdom has adopted the following binding regulations on black and grey list substances:Within the framework of existing national legislation, controls over discharges to coastal and estuarial waters—which previously covered only black list substances—have been extended to include all substances including those on the grey list.Within the framework of the European Community, quality standards for discharges of three black list substances, DDT, pentachlorophenol and carbon tetrachloride have been agreed (86/280/EEC). In addition the EC directive (85/467/EEC) has been adopted concerning the reduction of specific uses of PCB's and PCT's and the prohibition of use in new equipment. The Government have also laid down national standards based on environmental quality objectives for six grey list substances—lead, chromium, zinc, arsenic, copper and nickel.Within the framework of the Paris Commission, three decisions repeat and extend the provisions of the EC directives on discharges of cadmium and mercury (83/513/EEC and 84/156/EEC) to Paris convention waters, and on the marketing and use of PCB's.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what new preventive measures Her Majesty's Government have taken during the last three years to maintain the quality of the North sea.

I refer the hon. Member to the information given in response to other questions. In addition, as part of its continuing policy of co-operation with the other North sea littoral states to maintain a healthy North sea environment the Government are to host the international North sea conference in London in November 1987.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy on establishing a joint international environmental data base with other North sea countries.

The United Kingdom contributes fully to the data bases being set up and developed within the context of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea and of the joint monitoring programme of the Oslo and Paris commissions. These data bases cover the area of the North sea.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all research during the past three years which Her Majesty's Government have conducted aimed at developing the joint monitoring programme of both the Oslo and Paris commissions.

The United Kingdom Government participated fully in the joint monitoring programme of the Oslo and Paris commissions and has not had to sponsor research to enable it to do so. It has carried out research for the wider activities of the joint monitoring group such as the assessment of inputs to the sea, into trend monitoring and into sediment monitoring.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in what ways Her Majesty's Government have co-operated in the last three years with other coastal states around the North sea in long range surveillance of airborne pollutants entering the sea.

The United Kingdom is playing a full part in the atmospheric working group of the Paris commission which is charged among other things with encouraging co-operation in monitoring and the exchange of research information. Six monitoring sites in the United Kingdom currently contribute to the European measurement and evaluation programme under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe convention on long range transboundary air pollution.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what improvements Her Majesty's Government have made in pollution monitoring programmes around that part of the United Kingdom coastline bordering the North sea in the last three years.

The monitoring of estuarial and coastal waters is the responsibility of water authorities and river pollution boards, and the quantity and quality of monitoring is steadily improving. A major survey of the quality of bathing waters is in progress. My Department has assisted by the development of better methods of analysis and research into the use of organisms as indicators of pollution. It has also sponsored surveys of list I and list II substances in estuarial waters for compounds not generally monitored by water authorities.In addition, I am advised that the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, has made a number of improvements to its own monitoring programmes. These include the further refinement of monitoring carried out at offshore sea disposal sites; the near completion of a baseline survey of metals in seawater; the establishment of extensive monitoring for tributyl tin compounds in coastal and estuarine waters; the extension of the scope of monitoring for hydrocarbons; and the initiation of research to facilitate fish disease monitoring.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what new measures Her Majesty's Government have introduced in the last three years to prevent, reduce or regulate waste from production and consumption facilities entering the North sea.

I refer the hon. Member to the information given in response to his other questions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list any cases in the last three years where types of waste previously discharged into the North sea were, when found or thought to be harmful, disposed of in a different manner.

Detailed information of the type requested is not held centrally, but information on discharges to rivers and estuaries are publicly available from the registers of discharges held by water authorities. However, some examples of where reductions in discharges to the North sea have been made during the past three years are listed below:

mercury from chloralkali plants, due to the use of mercury-free technology

oil from refineries, due to a combination of better effluent treatment and industrial restructuring

pesticides from manufacturing plants by greater recycling of effluent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will detail year by year the amount of money spent in 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86 on research improving knowledge of the fate of pollutants in the North sea.

Most of the research undertaken by the Government on the fate of pollutants entering the sea is directed at the maritime environment in general rather than the North sea in particular. However, it is estimated that the following sums have been spent in each of the last five years on research specifically directed at the North sea:

Estimated Research Expenditure of fate of pollutants in the North Sea
	£000
1981–82	390
1982–83	570
1983–84	680
1984–85	680
1985–86	800

These estimates include research sponsored by my Department and by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. In addition, the Secretary of State for Scotland has spent over £100,000 a year in each of the years specified, primarily in connection with the effects of the offshore oil industry on the North sea.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list any new emission and environmental quality standards laid down by Her Majesty's Government within the last three years to preserve and restore rivers and estuaries discharging into the North sea.

The United Kingdom Government do not set emission standards. They are set by water authorities on a case by case basis and on the basis of quality objectives. Details of the quality standards issued in the past three years are given in answer to a previous question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all new objectives, of which he is aware, established within the last three years set to control discharges to coastal areas of the North sea of (i) list I materials and (ii) list II materials.

The Government have laid down national quality standards for a range of environmental quality objectives for all surface waters in the United Kingdom affected by discharges of lead, chromium, zinc, arsenic, copper and nickel. In accordance with the environmental quality objective approach, it is for the regional water authorities to set emission standards to ensure that the national quality standards are met. Within the European Community limit values and quality standards have recently been agreed for discharges of DDT, pentachlorophenol and carbon tetrachloride.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what objectives Her Majesty's Government have set within the last three years to control the coastal discharge into the North sea of (i) list 1 materials and (ii) list 11 materials; and what specific time limits have been set in each case.

The information on environmental quality objectives has been given in answer to a previous question. All discharges to coastal and estuarial waters will require at least deemed consent as from November 1987 and it is planned that all deemed consents shall be reviewed within the next five-year period—with priority being given to discharges of list I and II substances. For list I substances, quality standards must be met within a time scale laid down in the relevant directive. For list II substances water authorities must draw up plans for the reduction of pollution, which incorporate time scales, for those areas where quality standards are not met.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all the chemical compounds which, within the last three years, have been banned from marketing, production or use in the United Kingdom as a consequence of their possible harmful effects on marine, freshwater or marine eco-systems.

The objective of United Kingdom policy in protecting the aquatic environment is to ensure that concentrations of chemical substances do not reach unacceptable levels. Bans or restrictions on the manufacture, marketing or use are among the tools which are used in meeting this objective. Where restrictions on the marketing and use of chemical compounds are considered necessary to protect the aquatic environment, the United Kingdom prefers to work through international agencies.In the last three years measures have been taken under an EC directive and a Paris commission decision further to restrict the marketing and use of PCBs and PCTs. Restrictions have also been introduced nationally on the supply of organotin-based antifouling paints and the Government are pressing for similar action in the European Economic Community.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all private, corporate or Governmental sources of PCBs presently being discharged into fresh water, estuaries or marine eco-systems feeding the North sea.

I know of no point sources of discharge of PCBs to the aquatic environment in the United Kingdom. Under an EC directive (85/474/EEC) controlling the marketing and use of PCBs, these substances are now banned from new use throughout the EC member states and those countries within the Paris Commission. The appropriate United Kingdom regulation came into force on June 30 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the extent to which, within the framework of existing UK legislation, when uniform emission standards or environmental quality objectives are adopted, the best available technical means have to be, nationally or through international agreement, taken into account.

The policy in the United Kingdom is to use the environmental quality objective approach. This approach does not always require the use of the best available technical means to reduce pollution. Under the daughter directives stemming from the directive on the control of discharges of certain substances into the aquatic environment, the use of best technical means available has to be taken into account for all new discharges. Water authorities are required to consult with my Department in such cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what incentives Her Majesty's Government provide to industry aimed at preventing or reducing the discharge of hazardous substances into the aqueous environment.

The United Kingdom observes the "polluter pays" principle and therefore does not give specific incentives to industry to reduce discharges of dangerous substances to the aquatic environment. However, where expenditure on pollution control is part of a wider scheme, already attracting some form of industrial grant, it is of course included.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will detail the amount of money spent in 1983–84, 1984–85 and 1985–86 on research and development projects designed to produce low or non-waste and low emission or emission-free technologies.

The Department spent £5·7 million £5·5 million and £5·8 million in the respective years on reseach and development on waste and emission treatment technologies to reduce wastes and emissions released to the environment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps Her Majesty's Government have taken within the last three years to bring closer together the uniform standards adopted by a number of European nations and the United Kingdom's environmental quality objectives.

It was agreed at the Bremen North sea conference that both the environmental quality objective and the uniform standards approaches to the control of discharges can be effective and sufficient measures to protect the marine environment. Since that time, the efficacy of the two approaches has been considered within the Paris Commission and will be considered again at next year's London conference on the North sea. The topic is also likely to be reconsidered with the European Commission's fourth environmental action programme. The Government are currently considering their response to the suggestions made by the House of Lords Select Committee on European Committees concerning the unification of the two approaches.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the studies commissioned or completed for Her Majesty's Government in the last three years which compare the environmental quality objective approach to water quality management with the uniform emmission standard approach.

The Department has sponsored one such study. It is mainly concerned with the implementation of the cadmium directive (1983/513/EEC) in England and Wales. The findings of the report are currently being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much waste has been exported from the United Kingdom to Belgium in the last three years to be incinerated at sea.

There is no requirement for the Department of the Environment to be informed about exports of waste, but it is believed that there have been no exports of waste in the last three years from the United Kingdom to Belgium for incineration at sea.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he plans to introduce legislation preventing the inclusion of political conditions in local government contracts; and if he will make a statement.

Appropriate provisions will be included in the Local Government Bill to be introduced this Session.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be able to issue a decision on the application for development permission at Tillingham hall, Essex.

The inspector's report of the inquiry into these proposals was received recently and is being carefully studied. The decision letter will be issued as soon as this consideration has been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the outcome of consultations in England and Wales on the Green Paper, "Paying for Local Government".

There have been 1,217 responses received in England and 120 in Wales during the consultation period which closed on 31 October. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I are considering these urgently, but I can confirm that the Government remain determined to undertake a thorough reform of local government finance in England and Wales as a matter of priority, and to propose legislation as soon as practicable. I shall make a further statement in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps his Department is taking to monitor levels of radioactive caesium in imported misletoe over the Christmas period.

I have taken expert advice about this matter. My advisors conclude that even a prolonged period of standing under such mistletoe would not be harmful. It would not, however, be wise to eat imported—or home grown—mistletoe.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will be receiving the advice of the Nature Conservancy Council under section 24 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, about the protection of United Kingdom native species.

I have now received recommendations from the NCC following a detailed review that it has undertaken of whether any animal or plant should be added to or removed from the list of those animals fully protected by schedule 5, or those plants fully protected by schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. I have placed a copy of the NCC's report in the Library. Details of the recommendations have been circulated to local authorities and other interested bodies. Representations and other comments should be lodged by 31 January 1987 at the latest.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Council of Environment Ministers meeting on 24 November.

I chaired the Council of Environment Ministers on 24 November. My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State led the United Kingdom delegation. This was a successful meeting at which agreement was reached on a number of important issues. In particular three directives which have been before the Council for a considerable time were agreed.As my hon. Friend the Member for Eltham (Mr. Bottomley) was able to report to a Committee of the House yesterday, useful improvements on the Commission's proposals for revised standards for noise from new motorcycles were negotiated. We can now give our formal agreement to an amendment strengthening the provisions of directive 78/1015/EEC. The detailed elements are as follows. European standards for replacement silencers will form a further provision of this new directive.The Council was able to agree a common position on the proposal for a directive on the prevention of environmental pollution by asbestos. The directive aims to prevent asbestos emissions from various sources endangering public health in the Community and contaminating the environment. Member states will be required to ensure that asbestos emissions into the air, asbestos discharges into water and asbestos waste are as far as possible reduced at source or prevented.The Council also agreed a directive strengthening the provisions of the existing directive 75/439/EEC on the disposal of waste oils. The principal new features are Community emissions limits for combustion installations above 3MW, national controls for combustion in installations below this threshold and a maximum permissible limit for PCBs of 50ppm in regenerated waste oils or in waste oils used as fuel. It was, however, agreed that PCB levels should, wherever possible, be kept below this figure.The Council formally adopted directives on animal experimentation and the Community water quality information system.Following discussion of the implications of recent Rhine pollution incidents, the Council adopted a resolution inviting the Commission to review present Community preventive and remedial measures, including the extent of their implementation, and if necessary to present appropriate proposals; and also inviting the Commission to examine the possibility of negotiating bilateral or multilateral agreements with European third countries on the extension of directive 82/501/EEC on major industrial accident hazards and of decision 81/971/EEC on the Community's information system for the control and reduction of pollution caused by hydrocarbons discharged at sea.An interim resolution welcoming the Commission's proposals for a fourth environmental action programme and commending it for further study was also agreed.There was a wide ranging discussion on the primordial importance of protecting the public and the environment from harm from nuclear radiation. The Council agreed to consider proposals which the Commission expects to put forward soon.The Presidency presented a compromise for the large combustion plant directive that promised new acid-free standards for future large combustion plans, and staged reductions in SO2 emissions. The United Kingdom was able to support this. The Council then discussed draft conclusions on the basis for further action, prepared by the Presidency with the assistance of the Commission; unfortunately, a number of member states were unable to agree, and no formal decisions could therefore be reached.Useful progress was made in discussion on diesel particulates from cars and gaseous emissions from large vehicles. It was also agreed that the Commission would shortly bring forward proposals on harmonisation of speed limits in the Community, and on powers for member states to control the scale of leaded regular petrol.On the control of chlorofluorocarbons, the Council agreed that the framework of the Community's policy was basically sound, but would keep it under review, recognising that modifications, such as a limit on production, might be required in the light of advancing scientific and technical knowledge.The Council made some further progress on the draft directive on the sulphur content of gas oil, but was unable to reach final agreement.The United Kingdom called for Community action on lead in paint, and on antifouling paints containing organotin, and the Commission agreed to consider bringing forward proposals early next year. The United Kingdom also tabled a paper urging upon member states the principals of openness concerning environmental pollution recommended by the tenth report of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution and accepted by the Government in its response to that report.

Category of motorcycle	Maximum Permissible Sound Level in dB (to be a revised test procedure)
	Stage I	Stage II
Under 80 cc	77	75
80–175 cc	79	77
Over 175 cc	82	80
Dates of entry into force of stages I and II
1. Motorcycles under 80 cc or over 175 cc
	Stage I	Stage II
New type approvals	1 October 1988	1 October 1993
All new vehicles	1 October 1990	1 October 1995

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to announce further additional funding in respect of pay restructuring for the University College of Wales; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend announced on 6 November at column 490 that he would be willing to provide some further additional funding for academic pay restructuring in the universities if structural improvements could be agreed at a cost that could be afforded, and that he would be initiating discussions to that end. These discussions have only recently begun: it is not yet possible to say how long they will take or what the outcome will be.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice his Department issues to institutions of higher education about the classification of United Kingdom nationals who study abroad for more than three years as home students for fees purposes.

A student who is a national of a member state of the European Community (including the United Kingdom) is eligible to have his fees for a course designated for mandatory awards purposes in the United Kingdom paid for him by the United Kingdom Government if he has been ordinarily resident in the area of the Community—other than wholly or mainly for the purposes of receiving full-time education—for the relevant three-year period before his course begins, provided he has not previously followed a course equivalent to a designated course, whether in the United Kingdom or elsewhere. A student who has pursued such a course but who meets the residence qualification is eligible to pay the home rate of fee for himself, as is a student who meets the residence qualification who wishes to attend a non-designated course.The position of the student who has spent all or part of the relevant qualifying period outside the area of the Community, whether for study or for any other purpose, will depend either on whether he remained ordinarily resident in the area of the Community, for example as he might do if his absence abroad was purely temporary, or on whether he can be treated as being ordinarily resident in the Community because he was absent only because he, his spouse or his parent was temporarily employed outside the Community.Guidance on the interpretation of the ordinary residence requirement has been given to institutions with the various regulations made under the Education (Fees & Awards) Act 1983, copies of which are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will state his policy with the regard to the closure of surplus schools, together with the criteria he applies in deciding when a school is and is likely to remain surplus to requirements.

My right hon. Friend expects proposals made under the 1980 Education Act to cease to maintain schools to be based on a careful evaluation of their educational and financial merits. In deciding whether to approve such proposals he would take into account the expected demand for places, and he would wish to be satisfied that the new arrangements offered an education better suited to the needs of pupils of all abilities than would be offered by those they replace. These criteria will be elaborated and further explained in the forthcoming Circular "Providing for Quality" which has been issued for comment in draft form.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consideration is given to likely changes in demand for secondary education over the next decade when reaching decisions on closure applications.

The forecast demand for places at a school is one of the factors which my right hon. Friend weighs carefully in considering proposals made under the 1980 Education Act to cease to maintain the school.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will reconsider his decision to withhold polytechnic status from the Essex Institute of Education; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has made no decisions about further polytechnic designations, on which he awaits advice from the National Advisory Body for Public Sector Higher Eduction.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a detailed statement on the Government's pilot teacher appraisal scheme.

My right hon. Friend yesterday invited six local education authorities to form a consortium to pilot teacher appraisal in their schools. The six are:

• Croydon
• Cumbria
• Newcastle
• Salford
• Somerset
• Suffolk

The project is to be funded through the education support grant arrangements and a steering group is being established which will involve representatives of the Secretary of State, local education authorities and the teachers' unions.It is hoped that the pilot work can begin in January.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report the percentage of children in each local education authority who achieve five or more O-levels within the grades A—C.

[pursuant to his reply, 24 November 1986, c. 36]: Data on leavers from maintained schools is as follows.Percentage of leavers from maintained schools with five or more higher grade passes at GCE O-level or CSE.

Average of academic years 1982–83, 1983–84 and 1984–85
	Percentage
Barking	10·5
Barnet	39·6
Bexley	27·3
Brent	19·4
Bromley	30·3
Croydon	25·3
Ealing	21·2
Enfield	22·7
Haringey	15·5
Harrow	36·2
Havering	26·2
Hillingdon	23·5
Hounslow	20·2
Kingston-upon-Thames	33·4
Merton	27·5
Newham	10·4
Redbridge	24·2
Richmond-upon-Thames	26·0
Sutton	34·1
Waltham Forest	14·9
Birmingham	18·6
Coventry	20·2
Dudley	22·7
Berkshire	27·0
Buckinghamshire	32·0
Cambridgeshire	25·9
Cheshire	25·6
Cleveland	24·6
Cornwall	24·4
Cumbria	22·9
Derbyshire	22·5
Devon	23·6
Dorset	28·9
Durham	19·5
East Sussex	27·9
Essex	25·2
Gloucestershire	27·0
Hampshire	25·5
Hereford and Worcester	24·6
Hertfordshire	29·9
Humberside	22·1
Isle of Wight	21·5
Kent	27·1
Lancashire	24·1
Leicestershire	23·0
Lincolnshire	23·5
Norfolk	21·6
North Yorkshire	32·0
Northamptonshire	21·0
Northumberland	26·8
Nottinghamshire	19·5
Oxfordshire	28·8
Shropshire	26·9
Somerset	21·8
Staffordshire	22·4
Suffolk	22·5
Surrey	32·6
Warwickshire	27·4
West Sussex	32·3
Wiltshire	24·4
Sandwell	13·1
Solihull	27·7
Walsall	19·9
Wolverhampton	16·9
Knowsley	13·1
Liverpool	18·5
St· Helens	25·1
Sefton	30·2
Wirral	25·1

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report the percentage of children in each local education authority who achieve five or more A-levels within grades A—C.

[pursuant to his reply, 24 November 1986, c. 36]: Because of the very small numbers of children achieving five or more A-levels, reliable estimates cannot be produced from the school leavers sample survey.

asked the Paymaster General if he will list those employment and training programmes operated by his Department in which right hon. and hon. Members as employers can participate.

Right hon. and hon. Members as employers can participate in the following employment and training measures:

• YTS
• Community Programme
• Voluntary Projects Programme
• Job Release Scheme
• New Workers Scheme
• National Priority Skills Scheme
• Local Consultancy Grants
• Local Training Grants
• Wider Opportunities Training Programme
• Training for special groups
• Management Development Projects
• Local Collaborative Projects
• Open Tech
• Training for Enterprise
• Job Introduction Scheme
• Adaptation to Premises and Equipment Scheme
• Employment Rehabilitation
• Sheltered Placement Scheme
• Special Aids to Employment
• Personal Reader Service.

However, the rules of some of these measures (particularly YTS and the community programme) specifically debar schemes which would involve participants in political activity or any action in support of a political party.

asked the Paymaster General (1) what cost savings are predicted as a result of the introduction of form UB671A, the availability for work test;(2) what percentage of the people on the unemployment register he estimates will be adversely affected by the use of form UB671A, the availability for work test.

It is not possible to forecast what savings will accrue from the national introduction of the new form which I announced on 28 October. We have not introduced any new rules for entitlement to benefit but have merely changed our procedures to ensure the application of the long-standing legal rules following the recommendations of the Public Accounts Committee. No one entitled to benefit will be adversely affected by the use of the new form at all.

asked the Paymaster General (1) if he will make a statement on the progress made by his Department in the inner city area of Manchester;(2) if he will give details of actions taken by the inner city task force in Manchester;(3) if he will give details of the budget of the Manchester inner city task force; and how much has been spent.

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

asked the Paymaster General if he will list the changes in compiling unemployment figures since 1979 and the date of each change; and what has been the estimated number of people affected.

I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. and learned Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Fife, Central (Mr. Hamilton) on 6 November 1986, at columns 525–26. A full description of all the changes which have affected the published unemployment count was given on page 422 of the October 1986 edition of the Employment Gazette.

asked the Paymaster General (1) whether he has plans to increase the numbers of Manpower Services Commission placements on community transport schemes;(2) whether he has plans to increase the services offered by community transport schemes by greater use of Manpower Services Commission placements.

As part of the development of national initiatives within the community programme Manpower Services Commission officials have had discussion with officials in the Department of Transport about the possibility of an initiative to promote mobility schemes. These might include community transport. No firm proposals have yet been made.

asked the Paymaster General what problems his Department has found with using Manpower Services Commission placements in community transport schemes.

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

asked the Paymaster General what recent representations he has received from Help the Aged, Age Concern, citizens advice bureaux and the Leith insulation project supporting the week of action on cold homes, a national campaign from 21 November to 1 December; and if he will make a statement about the funding of such local projects by the Manpower Services Commission.

No recent representations have been made to my right hon. and learned Friend by the organisations mentioned, although I have been approached by Neighbourhood Energy Action. My Department and the Manpower Services Commission, working with the Department of Energy, have established a national initiative within the community programme to fund energy efficiency work. Under the initiative, over 300 projects are currently employing some 5,300 people.

asked the Paymaster General what is the number of registered disabled people who are unemployed in Dundee and Tayside; and what percentage of the disabled population this represents.

There were 159 unemployed registered disabled people registered for employment at jobcentres and careers offices in Dundee and Tayside on 3 October 1986. Information about the total number of unemployed registered disabled people or the size of the disabled population in the area is not available.

asked the Paymaster General what will be the estimated spending by the Manpower Services Commission on television, radio and newspaper advertising, respectively, and other promotional literature in the current year; and what was the total in 1979–80 and each intervening year.

[pursuant to his reply, 19 November 1986, c. 215]: I regret that the estimates given for the spending of the Manpower Services Commission on advertising and promotional literature in 1986–87 were inaccurate. Planned and committed expenditure is: TV, £15,700,000; press (including radio) £5,350,000; other promotional, £9,758,000. In addition, the MSC's latest and best estimate is that £4,472,000 has yet to be allocated to specific forms of advertising and promotion. The programmes to benefit include the YTS, adult training, restart, the community programme, the enterprise allowance scheme, the jobcentre service, the technical, vocational and education initiative, professional executive recruitment and the skillcentre training agency.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to increase educational opportunities for the unemployed in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

The replan initiative for the adult unemployed was introduced by the Department of Education and Science in 1984 and the Welsh Office extended the programme to Wales in 1985. The programme, which is delivered through a network of field officers in England and Wales, aims to identify the educational needs of the unemployed and to develop educational provision to meet those needs. Expenditure on the replan initiative in Wales is expected to be £87,000 in the current financial year and the provision for 1987–88 is £89,000. In addition, local education authorities in Wales are expected to spend £129,000 under the education support grant arrangements in 1986–87 and £113,600 in 1987–88 to increase educational opportunities for the unemployed.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if a paediatrician cardiologist is permanently available for children needing heart surgery in South Wales; and if he will make a statement.

A paediatric cardiologist is not yet permanently available. Referrals may be made to Bristol and a locum consultant attends the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff. South Glamorgan health authority is seeking to make a permanent appointment for which funds were made available by the Department in April 1986.