asked the Prime Minister if she has any plans to make an official visit to Long Lawford near Rugby

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make it the policy of Her Majesty's Government to seek to promote the preservation of tropical forests through the co-ordination of aid policies in the form of incentives to projects for viable agriculture and forestry schemes in rain forest zones, with trade policies for the encouragement of commerce in sustainably produced tropical hardwoods; and if she will make a statement.

The Government's commitment to the wise use and replenishment of the world's tropical forests was confirmed by my right hon. Friend the Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Raison), then Minister for Overseas Development, on 19 May, at column 18. We already support forest management projects in rain forest zones through the aid programme and are ready to consider further proposals. The Government have also given their support to the Food and Agriculture Organisation's tropical forestry action plan.The Government ratified the international tropical timber agreement in 1984 and are a member of the related Tropical Timber Organisation, which was established in 1986. One of the principal functions of this organisation is to encourage trade in tropical hardwoods on the basis of sustainable and renewable resources.

asked the Prime Minister what response she has made to the proposal of Sir Henry Plumb, a member of the European Parliament, for a world food conference to consider the food surpluses of the developed world against the background of famine in the developing world.

We very much share the concerns expressed by Sir Henry Plumb and we have already taken initiatives in the appropriate organisations. But famine prevention and agricultural surpluses are separate issues and must therefore be tackled separately.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 30 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 30 October.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 30 October.

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 he having further meetings later today.

asked the Prime Minister what recent discussions she or her Ministers have had with Eurotunnel plc on the structure of the company; and if it remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government not to invest directly in the consortium.

Neither I nor any other Ministers have had discussions with Eurotunnel plc about the structure of the company. As I made clear to the House on Tuesday, no Government money will be involved in the project.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and science what plans he has to educate children as to the possible health hazards of (a) promiscuity and (b) homosexuality, with specific reference to acquired immune deficiency syndrome; and if he will make a statement.

The Government have made it clear, in their recent draft circular on sex education at school and in the booklet "Children at School and problems related to AIDS", circulated under cover of "Administrative Memorandum 2/86", that schools should see it as part of their task to warn pupils of the health risks of promiscuous sexual behaviour, whether heterosexual or homosexual, and should provide factual information about the AIDS virus (HIV) and modes of transmission of infection.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on Government policy on single sex school education.

The Government wish to preserve existing opportunities for parents to opt for single sex schools where the demand warrants it and where the schools are educationally effective.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science to what extent cuts in expenditure have affected Rothampsted experimental research station; and whether further cuts are contemplated.

Rothampsted experimental station (RES) is a grant-aided institute of the Agricultural and Food Research Council (AFRC). I understand from the AFRC that reductions in funding have resulted in the termination, deferment and curtailment of some work at RES. This includes work on the regulation of plant processes, soil properties and composition, soil fertility and plant nutrition, crops and their environment, yield variation and aerobiology, pests of non-cereal arable crops and soil management and cultivation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on his recent discussion with a delegation of Liverpool parents about the problems facing the education system in that city.

I met members of the Liverpool Association of Parent Governors and Representatives on 27 October. They expressed concern about aspects of school provision in Liverpool. Following the meeting I undertook to write to the association about a number of the points raised by the members.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the level of Government funding of the adult basic literacy unit for the current and three previous financial years; and what is the estimated contribution for 1987–88.

The adult literacy and basic skills unit (ALBSU) is jointly funded by the DES and the Welsh Office. The information requested is as follows:

Financial year	DES grant £	Welsh Office grant £	Total grant £
1983–84	1,439,267	38,160	1,477,427
1984–85	1,361,937	51,843	1,413,780
1985–86	1,638,000	Nil	1,638,000
11986–87	2,052,000	118,000	2,170,000
11987–88	2,052,000	123,000	2,175,000
1 Estimated contributions.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what funding has been given in each of the last three years to the National Institute for Adult and Continuing Education for local development projects for the unemployed.

The funding was £119,206 in the financial year 1984–85 (the first year of the REPLAN programme), £528,671 in 1985–86, and (on present plans) up to £583,000 in the current financial year. These figures include contributions from the Welsh Office and the Manpower Services Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the future of the Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education.

I am of course aware of the views expressed in the third report from the Education, Science and Arts Committee (House of Commons 40–1) and the Government will offer a full response to this report in due course. I do not propose to anticipate that in any detailed way, but I do wish to make plain my confidence in the council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education. The council was established only after the fullest consultation with all the major interest groups and there was similar wide consultation about the basis for its scrutiny of teacher training programmes. I believe that the council is contributing substantially to the improvement of initial teacher training. It is carrying out that important task effectively and with tact and consideration. It has my full confidence. In due course the council will complete its remit. I will then review the position, but meantime I propose no change in its terms of reference or the criteria to which it is working.

asked the Attorney-General under what powers prosecutions in magistrates courts in London were conducted under the title of the Crown Prosecution Service before 1 October.

Commencing in the latter part of 1985, the Director of Public Prosecutions began to establish a network of local offices in the Metropolitan police and Surrey constabulary areas. They were grouped in three areas (inner London, outer London north and outer London South-Surrey) corresponding with the proposed areas for the Crown Prosecution Service. Although such offices may sometimes have been referred to as the Crown Prosecution Service, they in fact constituted part of the Department of the Director of Public Prosecutions and each area was headed by an assistant director of public prosecutions; the discharge of their duties was governed by the Prosecution of Offence Act 1979 and the regulations made thereunder. Section 4 of the Act empowers the director to assume responsibility for any prosecutions irrespective of who may have instituted the proceedings.

asked the Attorney-General if he will call on the Director of Public Prosecutions to investigate the circumstances surrounding the firing of a loaded pistol in the council chamber of the London borough of Hackney on 22 October.

No. The director has neither the facilities nor the powers necessary for the investigation of alleged crime. That is the function of the police, and I understand that an inquiry is in progress.

asked the Attorney-General what action he proposes to take on the representations he has received concerning alleged interference with witnesses in the cases of Hamilton v. BBC and Howarth v. BBC.

I have received no representations of the nature mentioned in the question. The position is as stated in my reply to the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Campbell-Savours) on 29 October 1986.

asked the Attorney-General if he will institute proceedings under the Race Relations Act against the Daily Express, Daily Mail, and the Sun in the light of material published by them between 14 and 17 October regarding the introduction of the new visa system for visitors from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria and Ghana; and if he will make a statement.

Although my consent is required for the institution of proceedings under section 5A of the Public Order Act 1936, the investigation of any such alleged offences is, as with any other alleged criminal offence, a function of the police and not the Director of Public Prosecutions or myself. If the hon. Member considers that an offence may have been committed, the proper course is for him to refer the matter to the police so that if, after proper investigation, it is appropriate, a report may be submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service with a view to obtaining my consent for proceedings.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland how many police reports were made on the death of Mr. William McCrae in April 1985; by whom; and on which dates.

I am unable to provide this information. Reports submitted to the procurator fiscal by the police or any other investigating body or individual are confidential.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if he will place in the Library a copy of (a) the pathologist's report and (b) the police reports into the death of Mr. William McCrae, a solicitor, in April 1985.

No. Such reports are confidential.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland on whose authority the decision was taken not to hold a fatal accident inquiry into the death of Mr William McCrae in April 1985; and when that decision was taken.

The decision not to hold a fatal accident inquiry was taken on 24 June 1985 on the authority of the Lord Advocate as required in terms of the Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths Inquiry (Scotland) Act 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state (a) how many women on Durham H wing have been diagnosed as suffering from amenorrhoea during the past 24 months and (b) how many women on Durham H wing have undergone hysterectomies within the last 24 months.

I am advised by the Director of Prison Medical Services that he would consider it a breach of medical confidentially to publish sensitive medical information relating to patients in a particular establishment or unit because of the risk of identification of individual patients. If the hon. Member is concerned about a particular case or cases and will write to me I will endeavour to assist her.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the ages of the women who have been detained in Durham H wing during the past 24 months.

The ages on reception of the women who have been detained in Durham H wing during the past 24 months are as follows:

Age on reception	Number
18	1
19	4
20	4
21	3
22	3
23	7
24	2
25	2
26	5
27	1
28	2
29	2
30	2
31	6
32	2
33	3
34	1
35	3
36	3
37	1
38	1
39	2
40	1
43	1
46	1
51	2
53	2
53	2
54	1
56	2
57	1
63	1

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women have been detained in Durham H wing during the past 24 months.

Including the present population, 72.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners at Durham prison have relatives living within a 50-mile radius of the prison.

This information is not held separately and could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many strip searches were carried out in Durham prison H wing within the last 12 months on (a) all prisoners and (b) category A prisoners; and what unlawful materials were found as a result of these searches.

Strip searching is a routine security measure, and establishments are not required to record all such searches. However, Durham has, exceptionally, begun to keep records of strip searches in respect of category A female inmates. These, together with earlier records of cell changes and cell searches (which would normally involve a strip search), indicate that during the 12 months ending 30 September there were 53 strip searches of category A female prisoners in Durham.I understand that records covering the same period show that a quantity of cannabis was found on one occasion during a strip search of a non-category A prisoner. But the justification for strip searching lies not only in the fact that staff do discover items (such as drugs, syringes, plastic knives sharpened into daggers, and scissors) which they would not otherwise find, but in the deterrent effect which such searching undoubtedly has.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to be able to announce the timetable for tendering for the Independent Television franchises due to end in 1989.

As my right hon. Friend made clear in announcing the Government's initial response to the Peacock committee's report, we are anxious that the option for change in the arrangements for the award of Independent Television contracts should remain open. This would not be the case if the IBA arranges new contracts to take effect from the beginning of 1990 for the maximum of eight years permitted under present law. Accordingly, my right hon. Friend has been considering with the IBA possible alternative arrangements under which contracts would be awarded for a shorter period. He hopes to be able to announce his conclusions before too long.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration his Department has given to separating the Teletext service, and subscription user group facilities, from the Independent Television programme franchises after 1989.

We shall be looking at these matters, amongst others, in our consideration of the report of the Committee on Financing the BBC.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of those who were admitted as visitors in 1985 from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria and Ghana; how many of these stayed on without permission; and what was the percentage involved.

In 1985 the number of passengers who were admitted as visitors from these countries was:

	Number
India	169,000
Pakistan	81,100

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the appointment of the last deputy chairman of the Independent Broadcasting Authority expired; and when he intends to appoint a replacement.

The deputy chairman resigned on 7 October 1985. We hope to appoint a replacement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to introduce a national scheme of tape recorded interviews between police and suspects; and if he will give a date for its commencement.

Yes. We have circulated to police forces and other interested parties a draft code of practice on tape recording of interviews by police officers in police stations with persons suspected of criminal offences. After considering comments, we intend to lay the code before Parliament early next year for approval, in accordance with section 60 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.Tape recording is already under way on a trial basis in areas of several forces. So far some 34 police forces have been allocated funds for the current financial year to prepare interview rooms for use for tape recording. Further funds will be allocated to extend and complete coverage over a five-year period up to 1991.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many new teaching posts have been agreed for the London borough of Brent under section 11 of the Local Government Act; and if he will give details.

Approval in principle was given on 14 August for grant under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966 to be paid on 177 posts which Brent intended to establish. These included teaching posts in schools, a programme director, two assistants and five tutors for in-service training. Our understanding was that the aim of these posts was to tackle under-achievement among pupils of Commonwealth origin. Since then, allegations have been made that the council intends to use the posts in ways that go beyond this. I have, therefore, sought further information from Brent. No grant will be paid unless I am satisfied that the posts meet our usual criteria.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Securicor staff are retained by the Home Office on security work at ports of entry; what is the nature of their duties; and what has been the total annual cost in each of the past five years.

Securicor Limited is contracted to the Home Office to provide staff who act as orderlies for passengers under examination by an immigration officer and for the purpose of guarding and escorting persons detained under the Immigration Act 1971.There are 37 Securicor posts at ports of entry. These are covered by shift work, some for 24 hours per day, so the actual number of personnel employed is greater. The cost of the service is a matter of contract, which it would not be right for me to disclose.

asked the Paymaster General what action is being taken to discourage the promotion of tourism to South Africa.

Following the recent Commonwealth review meeting in London, the British Government decided to put a "voluntary ban" on the promotion of tourism to South Africa. I would like to explain the reasons for this and what it means for the travel trade and the public.Over the years Britain, along with our Commonwealth and EC partners, has adopted a number of restrictive measures against South Africa. These measures have been designed to impress upon the South African Government the compelling need to dismantle the system of apartheid and to erect the structures of democracy and racial justice in South Africa. The Commonwealth review meeting came to the conclusion that, regrettably, there had not been adequate progress towards the abolition of apartheid, and that further measures were necessary.In Britain we live in a free society and it would not be right for us to take powers to restrict freedom of travel. In introducing what therefore has to be a voluntary measure, the Government are seeking the co-operation of all those involved that they will not promote South Africa in this country as a tourist destination, that is to say as a destination for leisure travel. It is not intended that those who decide to visit South Africa, for whatever reason, should be prevented from doing so.I am therefore appealing directly to those in Britain involved in the travel business — travel agents, tour operators and carriers—not to promote South Africa as a tourist destination. I also appeal to the media to refrain from carrying advertisements or other material which promotes South Africa as a tourist destination. My right hon. and noble Friend will be asking ABTA and representatives of the advertising industry to bring the Government's policy to the attention of their members.I very much hope that those involved will refrain from promoting tourism to South Africa, as a demonstration of the strong opposition in Britain to the principles and practice of apartheid. The decision whether to refrain from promoting tourism to South Africa is one for the individuals, companies and organisations concerned to take.Meanwhile, if the South African Government were to take those steps for which we and our partners have called, in order to establish a process of dialogue across racial lines, we have made clear, in the Commonwealth communiqué, that we stand ready to review the situation and if appropriate to rescind the measures we have adopted.

asked the Paymaster General what is the average earnings in the hotel and catering industry; and how this compares with the average for all other sectors of the economy.

The latest available information on average weekly earnings is that for April 1985 and relates to full-time adult employees working a full week. Information on the average earnings in the hotel and catering industry and all other sectors of the economy is published in table X2 of the report, "New Earnings Survey 1985", part B, a copy of which is available in the Library.

asked the Paymaster General what proportion of hotel and restaurant employers visited by the Wages Inspectorate were underpaying workers during the past year; what was the average pay for waitresses during the past year; and what was the average pay for female kitchen staff last year.

No estimates of the proportion of employers paying workers less than the wages councils' minimum rates have been made. However, Wages Inspectorate statistics for 1985 show that 37·3 per cent. of establishments covered by the Licensed Residential Establishment and Licensed Restaurant Wages Council which were visited by wages inspectors were found to have underpaid one or more workers. This figure is not representative of all establishments covered by wages councils because the Wages Inspectorate tends to concentrate on the firms more likely to be underpaying.The latest available information on gross average earnings for waitresses and female kitchen staff is that for April 1985 and is published in table 9 of part A of "New Earnings Survey 1985", a copy of which is available in the Library.

asked the Paymaster General what progress has been made in the eight inner city pilot projects; and if he will make a statement.

The eight inner city task forces have made considerable progress in drawing up, and now starting to implement, plans to achieve the objectives of the inner cities initiative. The task forces are ensuring that existing Government resources are targeted more effectively on their areas, and are also looking for new ways of encouraging employment and enterprise. Already some 34 projects involving about £1·3 million of the inner cities initiative budget have been approved for support. There have also been major projects financed by, for example, the Department of Environment, the Home Office and the Manpower Services Commission under other mainstream programmes in the task force areas as part of our extra attention to those areas.We are addressing a number of further particular issues:

asked the Paymaster General how much has been spent on the Action for Jobs advertising campaign, nationally arid regionally; how he expects to assess its effects; and what effects he expects it to have.

So far about £6·5 million has been spent on Action for Jobs advertising. This represents less than 0·01 per cent. of the total expenditure of £3 billion this year on more than 30 employment, enterprise and training measures described in the Action for Jobs booklet. Since this is a national campaign, no regional breakdown is available.The purpose of the campaign is to increase awareness of the wide range of opportunities on offer and to encourage people to pick up the Action for Jobs booklet. We are monitoring closely the effectiveness of the campaign.

asked the Paymaster General on what date he now expects the Open College (College of the Air) to (a) begin enrolling students and (b) start broadcasting; and if he will make a statement.

The Open College (the agreed name for what was initially known as the College of the Air) will begin operations (including broadcasting) in September 1987. The detailed arrangements for enrolling students, including timing, are still under consideration. These and other aspects of the college's programme will be announced in due course.

asked the Paymaster General what funds have so far been made available to the Open College (College of the Air), either directly from Government funds or through the Manpower Services Commission; what public funds are anticipated to be required for the Open College for the remainder of this financial year; and what funds have so far been made available from private sources.

While its own staff are being recruited, preparations for the launch of the college are being undertaken by staff of the Manpower Services Commission under the guidance of the college chairman. As yet MSC staff costs represent the only significant element of expenditure on this project. The precise level of expenditure on the college this financial year and in succeeding years will depend on the outcome of the detailed planning and discussions which are now in progress. However, I am pleased to say that the indications so far are that there is substantial private sector interest in sponsoring or otherwise supporting the college's activities.

asked the Paymaster General who determined the level of salary proposed for the chief executive of the Open College (College of the Air).

The chairman of the Open College was advised by independent recruitment consultants that this level of remuneration would need to be offered in order to attract applicants of the required calibre and experience.

asked the Paymaster General how many jobs have been created by the Manpower Services Commission's voluntary projects programme sponsored Instant Muscle programme; and how much each job created has cost the Government.

In 1985 Instant Muscle helped 220 young people into self-employment, jobs or the community programme at a cost of around £980 per job. In the first half of 1986, 270 people have entered employment at a cost of around £611 per job.

asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement on the Manpower Services Commission's voluntary projects programme decision not to increase its funding of Instant Muscle Ltd. of Slough above that of the 1985 level.

The voluntary projects development programme, from which Instant Muscle is funded, has a similar budget in 1986–87 to that for 1985–86. With other approaches to fostering enterprise within the programme proving successful, it is not possible at present to expand one particular approach.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has about the length of time each London borough takes to reply to local searches in the local land charges register and to standard additional inquiries.

My Department does not collect such information, but I understand that the Law Society publishes in its Gazette the names of those authorities taking one month or more to respond to such applications.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the present number of personnel employed by the Property Services Agency in north Yorkshire, and their locations.

The present number of PSA personnel in north Yorkshire is 748 (including 27 non-industrial staff on site control and 447 industrial staff) employed at the following locations:

Location	Non-industrial	Industrial	Total
Area Works Office, York	68	—	68
District Works Office, York	16	21	37
Area District Works Office, Strensall	5	11	16
Area District Works Office, Leconfield	6	22	28
Driffield outstation	1	—	1
District Works Office, Fylingdales	38	121	159
Area District Works Office, Staxton Wold	11	28	39
District Works Office, Disforth	9	16	25
Area District Works Office, RAF Catterick	3	1	4
Area District Works Office, RAF Leeming	8	20	28
Area District Works Office, RAF Topcliffe	5	4	9
Area District Works Office, Linton on Ouse	6	7	13
District Works Office, Harrogate	16	11	27

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total cost of overheads in the running of the Property Services Agency in (a) north Yorkshire and (b) the Leeds area during the last financial year.

Overheads (as per PSA management accounts) for 1985–86 were:

	£ million
(a) North Yorkshire	2·830
(b) Leeds	2·850

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements have been followed in respect of consultation with those concerned in local authorities with the introduction of compulsory tendering in computer services, architectural services, local authority transport, printing and refuse disposal.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby (Mr. Wareing) on 22 October, at cols. 877–78.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any further proposals to revise the cash limit for class 10, vote 2.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the cash limit for class X, vote 2 will be increased by £445,000 from £180,646,000 to £181,091,000 to include the extra resources for the UK2000 initiative I announced on 14 July 1986, at cols. 683–89. The increase will be within the Department's existing public expenditure provision and will not add to the planning total of public expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what financial targets he has set the Ordnance Survey for the four years from 1986–87 to 1989–90; and how these will be achieved.

After discussion with the Treasury, I have set the following targets for Ordnance Survey:

1. To recover not less than 40 per cent. of the total cost of core activities by 1989–90.

2. To maximise revenue on commercial activities and to recover not less than 110 per cent. of total costs of that category.

3. To recover 100 per cent. of the total cost of public sector repayment work at home and overseas.

The Ordnance Survey plan for 1987–90 based on these targets has been approved and a copy has been deposited in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he proposes to make any changes to the 1986–87 cash limit for rate support grants to local authorities in England in respect of education pooling.

My right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Education and Science announced in December 1985 the revised contributions of local authorities to the education pools for 1985–86. The Inner London education authority's contribution was reduced by £31·5 million. The sum has now been refunded to ILEA; the balancing amounts will be recovered from other education authorities early in 1987–88.Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the 1986–87 cash limit for class X vote 6 will therefore be increased by £31,500,000 from £9,246,000,000 to £9,277,500,000. Expenditure on this Vote is not classified as public expenditure and so there are no implications for the Reserve.

asked the Lord Privy Seal for how long the register of bookings for dining rooms and other banqueting facilities in the House of Commons is kept after the period to which it refers.

The register is retained for one year only.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether there are plans for marking the occasion of the next Opening of Parliament with a photograph of the House in session; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. Following a resolution of the Services Committee in June, I understand that arrangements have been made for a photograph of the House in session to be taken between 2.30 and 3 pm on the afternoon of Wednesday 12 November, the day of the State Opening of Parliament. I am informed that the photograph will show the traditional view of the Chamber from a position behind the Serjeant at Arms Chair. It is intended that prints will be offered for sale to Members.The attention of hon. Members will be drawn to these arrangements by notices in the

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list all those companies involved in the flotation of British Gas giving, in each case, the level of fees agreed and the arrangements governing the level of such fees; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson) on 13 June, at column 408, which listed the firms giving advice to my Department on the sale of British Gas. A number of other firms are involved in the detailed preparations for the sale. It is not the Government's practice to publish the fees paid to individual firms on privatisation exercises, as these are commercially confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on progress being made towards the construction of a Mersey barrage.

The Department and the Mersey Barrage Company have combined on an equal sharing basis to fund over £800,000 towards further studies into a Mersey barrage. I exchanged the relevant contract documents with the chairman of the Mersey Barrage Company at a ceremony in Liverpool on Monday 20 October.The principal objective of the studies will be to assess whether there is any overriding impediment to the construction of the barrage and to select a preferred line. The consulting managers appointed by the company are now in process of inviting tenders and letting contracts for the study of these and related topics affecting the estuary.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the recent progress of exploration for oil in Wiltshire.

There have been three recent exploration wells, two drilled in 1985, at Norton Ferris south-west of Warminster and at Netherhampton near Salisbury, and this year at Urchfont near Devizes. The results of the drilling are being evaluated.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action was taken by Her Britannic Majesty's Government's delegation to the recent conference of the International Red Cross at Geneva in connection with the expulsion of the South African Government's delegation.

The United Kingdom delegation emphasised that all states parties to the Geneva conventions had the right to attend the conference. When a vote was forced, the delegation voted against a motion to suspend the South African Government delegation for failing to observe the principles of the Red Cross and humanitarian law by pursuing its apartheid policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many officers were in post in embassies and consulates in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan to deal with the issuing of visas on 15 October.

The number of officers dealing with long and short term visas in these posts on 15 October is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he can estimate the number of children in unemployed families for the latest date possible in Northern Ireland.

The information requested is not available in the form requested. However, on 12 December 1984 the number of children under 16 years in unemployed families receiving supplementary benefit was 76,500.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he proposes to publish the triennial review report of the Police Complaints Board for Northern Ireland.

Under article 11(6) of the Police (Northern Ireland) Order 1977, the Police Complaints Board for Northern Ireland is required to keep under review the working of part II of the order—Complaints Against the Police, and to make to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a report thereon at least once every three years after the coming into force of the article. The third review report of the Police Complaints Board for Northern Ireland has been made to me and as has been the practice with the two previous reports I have arranged for it to be published today and copies to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will state (i) the gross financial resources in real terms available to the British Overseas Trade Board for each year since 1979 and (ii) the projections for the British Overseas Trade Board budget in real terms for the next five years.

The following figures show gross and net expenditure by the British Overseas Trade Board in constant price terms:

£ million (September 1979)
Year	Gross expenditure	Net expenditure
1979–80	25·7	21·2
1980–81	19·8	16·1
1981–82	19·2	15·2
1982–83	20·8	16·3
1983–84	20·5	15·3
1984–85	124·5	118·7
1985–86	24·2	217·1
1986–87	24·7	16·2
1 Expenditure on publicity and promotion was transferred to the BOTB budget from the COI with effect from 1984–85. On a constant price basis the expenditure amounted to £1·5 million in 1984–85.
2 Export Intelligence Service revenue was transferred to the BOTB budget from another DTI budget with effect from 1985–86. On a constant price basis this reduced net expenditure by £0·3 million in 1985–86.

The level of the BOTB budget for the years 1987–88 to 1989–90 is being reviewed as part of the 1986 Public Expenditure Survey which will be completed shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received concerning the efforts of Berger to take over the Ault and Wiborg paint factory at Perivale; and if he will make a statement.

I have received a number of representations from hon. Members and others about this proposed acquisition. They have been drawn to the attention of the Director General of Fair Trading, who is currently examining the proposal.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations his Department has received suggesting technical, commercial and industrial advantage which would arise from a separation of the teletext service and subscription users group facilities from the Independent Television programme companies.

My Department has not received any formal representations on this issue but is aware of the various suggestions which have been put forward concerning the use of teletext and subscription user group facilities.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the recent General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade made in Punta del Este.

Contracting parties to the GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) met at ministerial level in Punta del Este, Uruguay, on 15 to 20 September. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry presided over meetings of European Community Ministers during the conference and I represented the United Kingdom.The contracting parties agreed unanimously to launch the eighth round of multilateral trade negotiations in GATT, to be known as the "Uruguay round". This launch is the result of three years' hard preparatory work. The success of the negotiations is vital to the preservation and strengthening of the world trading system.The negotiations are scheduled to be completed within four years. The agenda will cover trade not only in goods but also in agricultural products and services.The Ministerial declaration, a copy of which has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses, provides for discussion of all matters to which the Government attach importance.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a further statement on the voluntary ban on new investment in South Africa to which Her Majesty's Government agreed at the Commonwealth Heads of Government review meeting in August; and if he is taking any further action in this regard.

The member states of the EC have agreed that the measure will cover new direct investment in the RSA by natural or legal persons resident in any member state. In accordance with this and our undertaking at the Commonwealth Heads of Government review meeting, the British Government are taking action to dissuade United Kingdom firms from making new, direct investments and to ask all the companies concerned to comply fully with this measure.Under the terms of the intergovernmental decision agreed by the member states of the EC, new direct investment includes new acquisitions of share and loan capital of South African companies, and also includes loans and capital injections through inter-company and branch/head office accounts.Financial transactions and hank lending in support of normal trading activity are not included. Also excluded are investments in training, health and social sectors in line with the positive measures agreed in the EC last year and this.I believe that British industry, which has repeatedly supported calls for fundamental social and political reform in South Africa, is ready to play its part in helping to bring this about by non-violent means. Given the extent of existing United Kingdom investment in South Africa, wholehearted co-operation by British companies with the voluntary ban on new investment should have considerable impact.Meanwhile, if the South African Government were to take those steps for which we and our partners have called, in order to establish a process of dialogue across racial lines, we have made clear in the Commonwealth communiqué that we stand ready to review and, if appropriate, to rescind the measures we have adopted.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he intends to take action to prohibit the sale of diplomatic passports, visas and honourary consulships by British-based companies.

[pursuant to his reply, 27 October 1986, c. 34]: If the hon. Member will write to me, I shall consider the matter further.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to spend more money on advertising the availability of cervical cancer screening in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

A Scottish Health Service planning council working group has been reviewing the cervical cytology service in Scotland and will shortly be submitting its report. We shall consider its recomendations very carefully including any views it may express on the need to advertise this service.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost of cervical cancer screening in Scotland in the last financial year.

Figures on the total cost of cervical cancer screening in Scotland are not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many women have been screened for cervical cancer in Scotland in 1986.

356,746 cervical smears were examined in Scotland in 1985, the latest year for which details are available. This figure includes repeat smears and does not represent the total number of women screened, for which figures are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of the island population in Strathclyde were born on the island on which they now live.

I regret that the information is not available in the detail requested. The 1981 census of population asked for country of birth: the results showed that approximately 86 per cent. of the residents of islands in Strathclyde were born in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many patients were accommodated in mental illness hospitals in 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1985.

This information is as follows:

Number of patients resident in menial illness hospitals in Scotland
	Numbers
1980	15,766
1981	16,103
1982	15,678
1983	15,631
1984	15,536

The figures for 1985 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money was spent by each local authority in providing community care for those suffering from mental illness in 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1985.

This information is not held centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many women were admitted to mental illness hospitals in 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1985.

This information is as follows:

Number of women admitted to mental illness hospitals in Scotland
	1st admission	Re-admission	All admissions
1980	5,456	8,804	14,348
1981	5,576	9,072	14,709
1982	5,212	8,182	13,475
1983	5,545	9,239	14,823
1984	5,411	9,402	15,000

The figures for 1985 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received concerning the extent and quality of community care for those patients discharged from mental illness hospitals.

Representations and inquiries are received from time to time on the general subject of community care, but there have been no recent representations relating specifically to the care of persons discharged from hospital following treatment for mental illness.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money was made available by the Government for local authorities to provide for those suffering from mental illness in 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1985.

Rate support grant is not hypothecated to individual services; it is for local authorities to determine priorities within the resources available to them.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money was spent on mental health hospitals in 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1985.

This information is published annually in "Scottish Health Service Costs", copies of which are available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received regarding the community psychiatric nursing service.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many beds were available for geriatric care in (a) public and (b) private sector hospitals in Scotland in each of the years 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1985.

The number of beds available for geriatric care in NHS hospitals as at 30 September in each of the years in question was as follows:

Year	Number of Available Beds
1980	9,767
1981	9,995
1982	10,146

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received about the number of beds available for geriatric care in Scotland.

Only one representation about the number of beds available for geriatric care in Scotland has been received in the last six months.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what funding his Department has provided for the Scottish Institute for Adult and Continuing Education for local development projects for the unemployed in each of the last three years.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the level of funding by his Department for the Scottish adult basic education unit over each of the last three financial years; and what funds his Department is making available for adult basic education in the current year.

Grants offered to the Scottish adult basic education unit for each of the last three years were as follows:

Year	Recurrent Grant	Supplementary Grant
1983–84	£152,000	£7,000
1984–85	£160,650	—
1985–86	£165,500	—

From 1 April 1986 the work of the unit was integrated with that of the Scottish Community Education Council. The aggregate grant to the council for 1986–87 is £542,000, an overall increase of almost 4 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the unit costs at Jordanhill Scottish school of physical education as compared with Dunfermline college; what further costs to public funds will arise following the integration of physical education students at the Cramond site; and what financial appraisals were carried out before he announced his decision on 17 July.

Centrally held unit cost figures for colleges of education are only available for complete institutions; for the 1985–86 financial year the net costs are £3,781 at Jordanhill college of education and £4,796 at Dunfermline college of physical education. I do not expect additional costs to the Exchequer to arise as a direct consequence of the integration of PE students at the Cramond site. The Scottish Education Department examined the financial consequences of various options for the future arrangements for PE training before my right hon. and learned Friend announced his decision on 17 July, in reaching which he had regard also to educational and accommodation factors.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the percentage level of rate support grant made available to Inverclyde district council and Scotland overall in 1980 and at the latest date.

[pursuant to his reply, 29 October 1986]: Rate support grant for Inverclyde was 47·1 per cent. of relevant expenditure, including loan charges in 1980–81 and 27·4 per cent. of budgeted relevant expenditure in 1986–87. The corresponding figures for Scotland are 57·6 per cent. for 1980–81 and 47 per cent. for 1986–87. These figures do not include specific grants which are included in the calculation of aggregate Exchequer grants. The grant figures used for 1986–87 are based on the Rate Support Grant (Scotland) (No. 4) Order 1985. No adjustment has been made for grant penalties, since they will be restored if authorities bring their expenditure down to guideline on outturn.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is satisfied with the types of safety fencing currently used on motorways and other trunk roads, particularly in central reservations; if he has any plans to introduce concrete barriers on motorways on an experimental basis in the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

I am generally satisfied with the types of safety fences used in the central reserves and verges of motorways and trunk roads and have no plans to introduce concrete barriers on an experimental basis. The Department has a programme of research and development of safety fences and barriers of different types, including concrete barriers. Satisfactory results may lead to changes in the future.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out the rules govening the proportion and seating position and seating positions of disabled passengers carried on scheduled flights.

It is the Civil Aviation Authority which is responsible for air safety. There are no rules about the proportion of disabled passengers carried on scheduled flights. However, the CAA issues notices and other guidance to holders of air operators certificates on such matters as cabin crew training and the seating of handicappped and able-bodied passengers in relation to emergencies.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has given any instructions to the Civil Aviation Authority with regard to extended twin-engined aircraft operations, about the guarantees required by the Authority to ensure that data on precautionary and enforced shutdowns is accurate and includes all such shutdowns as required under CAP 513.

The Civil Aviation Authority is statutorily responsible for aviation safety and I do not give it instructions about it. The CAA's civil aviation publication 513 contains guidelines for the approval of extended range operations by United Kingdom-registered twin engined aircraft. Under article 85 of the Air Navigaton Order 1985 all precautionary and enforced shut-downs of engines on such aircraft must be reported to the authority. Civil Aviation publication 382 gives details of this procedure.

Site	Location of contraflow	Start date	Programmed completion date
J14–15	Northbound carriageway	1 October 1986	Mid November 1986
J22–23	Northbound carriageway	6 October 1986	25 November 1986
J27–28	Southbound carriageway	7 September 1986	16 November 1986
J31–33	Both carriageways	Mid October 1986	End of January 1987

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will issue guidelines to motorway contractors asking them to ensure that all motorways keep open at least two lanes during maintenance work; and if he will make a statement.

The Department's standards for traffic management at motorway maintenance sites already ensure that on three-lane motorways at least two lanes in each direction are kept open wherever possible. Reductions to one lane are permitted only as a last resort, and then we try to keep them in off-peak periods. Reductions to one lane are sometimes necessary on two-lane motorways in order to provide a safety zone between the traffic stream and the work site.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list the contracts and the number of personnel working on the M5 between junctions 21 and 23 on Saturday 25 October;(2) if he or one of his Ministerial colleagues will visit the M5 between junctions 21 and 23; and if he will take urgent action to open the M5 to two lanes between these two junctions;(3) if he will review the progress of maintenance work on the M5 between junctions 21 and 23; and who are the consulting engineers for this maintenance contract;(4) on what basis his Department gave permission for the reduction of the M5 to one lane between junctions 21 and 22, and 22 and 23, on Saturday 25 October.

There are three separate maintenance operations currently in progress on the M5 between junctions 21 and 23. The larger works are the replacement of a 2 km length of the wearing surface of the inside lane between junctions 21 and 22. In addition two smaller works are in progress, similarly replacing the wearing course at the approaches to the bridges over the rivers Brue and Huntspill.In the interests of safety to both workmen and road users it is essential in each situation to close two lanes, leaving only one for traffic during working hours. The contractors are instructed, however, to open two lanes to

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many contraflow systems are working between London and Wakefield northbound and southbound; what are their locations; how long they will be operating; and on what estimated dates thay will be terminated.

The information requested is as follows:traffic on ceasing work for the day. I am satisfied that the work, which is being supervised for my Department by Somerset county council, is being properly carried out. It is inevitable that there will be some delays to traffic. The contractors, Messrs Asfare and Roberts and Son, had 12 operatives including drivers working on the site on Saturday 25 October. This work is scheduled for completion by 5 November.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what criteria he used in determining that the present pedestrian crossing on Westminster bridge road opposite Belvedere road requires special approval for its retention;(2) to whom the responsibility for switching on lights at the cycle facility on Westminster bridge road has been transferred following the abolition of the Greater London council;(3) what criteria he used in deciding to instruct the London borough of Lambeth to close the space in the centre island of Westminster bridge road opposite Belvedere road;(4) why he has instructed the traffic control systems unit to remove the cycle signals on Westminster bridge road at its junction with Belvedere road.

All signalled pedestrian crossings in London and elsewhere that are not pelican crossings require my right hon. Friend's approval under the provisions of the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 1981. My right hon. Friend is also responsible for all traffic light signals in London. There is a difficult design problem still to be resolved about the appropriate pedestrian and cycle crossing facilities at the southern end of Westminster bridge, where Lambeth borough council became the highway authority last April. This has to be worked out between my Department, the traffic control systems unit and Lambeth council. The sole consideration in the Department's actions since the original authorisation was given has been to ensure that lives are not put at risk by the present incomplete state of the facility.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will indicate, in respect of the A49 trunk road rebuilding contract currently being executed at Callow hill, Herefordshire, whether there have been any alterations to the specification to that set out in the tender documents against which the contract was let; and whether he anticipates the contract will be completed on the schedule called for in the contract.

There have been no major specification changes. There have been two minor changes to the method of working as set out in the tender documents:

(i) The rolled asphalt roadbase is being laid in three layers instead of two as originally specified. This enables earlier protection of the road sub-base to be provided.

(ii) The sequence of stockpiling excavated material has been modified to better suit the contractor's programme.

Both these variations have been agreed with the contractor with no increase in contractual cost. We cannot at this stage preclude the possibility of delay. No formal extension of contract has been granted so far.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport why he will not earmark specific funds for the construction of a bypass of Uttoxeter in the near future.

It is for Staffordshire county council, as the local highway authority, to make a bid for capital funding of a bypass of Uttoxeter when it is ready to proceed with a scheme. At that stage it would be considered for support along with other schemes as part of the annual transportation policies and programme process. As I indicated in my reply on 24 October, Staffordshire county council is not yet in a position to make such a bid.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will ban flights to the United Kingdom by Syrian Arab Airlines.

Flights of Syrian Arab Airlines have currently been discontinued. The Government are considering whether any further formal steps should be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what further information he has received about the prospects for a rail link to Manchester international airport; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the parties concerned with the proposed rail link have recently made considerable progress on a possible cost-sharing arrangement, but I have yet to see exactly what is proposed.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his practice to place a copy of the current working timetable of London Underground Ltd. and London Buses Ltd. in the Library.

No. A wide range of current timetables for particular travel needs are issued by London Underground Ltd. and London Buses Ltd. and are readily available from bus and Underground stations. It is a matter for the Library to decide which of these it should acquire.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will place in the Library copies of the consultative papers he sent out to interested parties in the course of his discussions with the banking industry on the Leigh-Pemberton Committee's report, together with a list of the persons and institutions to which each of those papers was sent;(2) what consultations he had with interested parties before he published in his White Paper on Banking Supervision, Cmnd. 9695, the proposal that only institutions with £5 million paid up equity be allowed to use the word bank as part of their name; and if he will list the persons and institutions to whom he addressed requests for comment on this point.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the hon. Member for Stafford (Mr. Cash) on 19 July 1985, col. 289. The consultative papers in question were sent to all institutions at that time authorised to take deposits under the Banking Act 1979; to major United Kingdom accounting firms; to a number of United Kingdom Government Departments and supervisory authorities in other countries; and to the following bodies:

• The British Bankers Association
• The Committee of London Clearing Bankers
• The Committee of Scottish Clearing Bankers
• The Finance Houses Association
• The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
• The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland
• The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Scotland
• The National Association of Security Dealers and Investment Managers
• The Registry of Friendly Societies
• The Securities and Investments Board
• The Stock Exchange

The Bank of England also invited representations from any other interested individuals, institutions or representative bodies. All institutions were invited to comment on all matters in the consultative papers. Copies of the consultative papers were placed in the House Library at the time they were issued. The proposal that only institutions with £5 million paid-up equity capital be allowed to use the word "bank" as part of their name was made in the light of representations received following the issue of the consultative papers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a list of the currently authorised deposit factors that fall outside the £5 million limit in paid-up equity which he now proposes to apply before allowing the use of the word "bank" as part of their name.

The Government intend to bring forward as soon as practicable legislation to implement the proposals in the White Paper "Banking Supervision" (Cmnd. 9695), but I will write to my hon. Friend after the Bill is published.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to include a forecast of the level of unemployment in 1987–88 in his next Budget.