asked the Attorney-General what representations Her Majesty's Government have made, directly or through its agenices, to (a) the Australian Government and (b) the Australian security intelligency organisation concerning the publication of the Wright memoirs in Australia.

Her Majesty's Government have asked the Australian Government it they would consider participating in the proceedings before the Supreme Court of New South Wales which I have brought against Heinemann Australia Pty Limited and Peter Wright for an order restraining the publication of Peter Wright's manuscript.

asked the Attorney-General if he will ask the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland to make available to hon. and right hon. Members an abridged version of the report on the Royal Ulster Constabulary by Mr. Colin Sampson, with appropriate deletions on security grounds; and if he will make a statement.

No. I affirm the answer to this House by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 23 October 1986 at column 948 when he said that, as is the usual practice with police reports covering criminal investigations, the report on the Royal Ulster Constabulary by Mr. Colin Sampson will not be published.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list all the official communications he or his officials have had with Brent education authority over the last three months.

My Department is in frequent contact with local education authorities on a range of educational matters. Recent correspondence with Brent education authority has included two requests for it to state the reasons for the continuing suspension from her headship of Miss Maureen McGoldrick. In the light of its replies, my right hon. Friend has asked the authority to give urgent consideration to Miss McGoldrick's reinstatement.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will set out the relationship between the United Kingdom steering committee on local government superannuation and the teachers superannuation working party;(2) how his Department is represented on the United Kingdom steering committee on local government superannuation; and how often his Department consults the steering committee on issues affecting teachers' pensions.

The United Kingdom steering committee on local government superannuation is an ad hoc body established by the Association of County Councils, the Association of District Councils, the Association of Metropolitan Authorities and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to advise those associations on matters related to the superannuation of local authority employees. A representative of the steering committee attends meetings of the teachers superannuation working party. My Department is not represented on UKSC but consults the appropriate parent organizations—ACC and AMA—as a matter of course on proposed changes to the teachers' superannuation regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what criteria are proposed for colleges of advanced education to gain access to the polytechnic central admission system.

In proposing the admission of certain colleges of higher education to the polytechnics central admission system, the Department's criteria are as follows:Eligible colleges would have no access to a clearing house and would be offering

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) for each school which has complied with a notice of complaint issued in 1985, section 71, Education Act 1944, what steps that school took in order to comply with the notice;(2) out of those schools which were served with a notice of complaint in 1985 under section 71 of the Education Act 1944, which have

The information requested is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many universities or polytechnics offer degrees in French; and if any steps are being taken to reduce this number.

Information from the educational counselling and credit transfer information service showed that in 1986–87 37 universities in Great Britain and six polytechnics in England offered degrees in French and French studies. My right hon. Friend is not aware of any steps to reduce this number.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students, of British birth, graduated from a British university with a degree showing fluency in (a) Chinese, (b) Japanese and (c) Arabic in the last year for which figures are available.

In 1985, there were 48 and 93 students with United Kingdom domicile, who obtained a first degree from universities in Great Britain in Chinese languages and studies and in Oriental, Asian and African languages and/or studies, respectively. Separate information for Japanese and Arabic are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what evidence is available to him of the number of students who, in the current academic year, accepted polytechnic places and subsequently chose to go to university when offered lower entry qualifications; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that this information which is the property of the Universities Central Council for Admissions and of the Polytechnics Central Admissions System—is not currently available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects secure facilities for the treatment of mentally ill patients to become available in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

A site option appraisal to determine the most suitable locations for medium secure therapeutic units in Wales has been undertaken, and the necessary public consultation will take place as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what information he has concerning radiation readings for food and livestock in south Wales following the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident;(2) what readings are taken as a matter of course for radiation in food and livestock in the south Wales area.

There has been an ongoing monitoring programme covering agricultural produce throughout the Principality since the Chernobyl accident. Produce tested in south Wales includes milk and milk products, cereals, fruit, vegetables and meat. The results of these tests have been published regularly and copies placed in the Library of the House. In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food undertakes on behalf of the Department an aquatic environment monitoring programme and its report, issued in early October, includes results obtained following the Chernobyl accident. A copy of this report has also been placed in the Library of the House. We have also commenced a more comprehensive terrestrial radioactivity monitoring programme around nuclear establishments throughout England and Wales and the first report of this programme will be issued in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the president of the World Bank; and what was discussed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether representatives of his Department have met the new president of the World Bank.

I had the pleasure of meeting the new president of the World Bank on 20 October, when he made his first official visit to London. Mr. Conable also called on my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Among the subjects discussed were the possibility of a new general capital increase for the bank, the current negotiations about the eighth replenishment of the International Development Association, and the environmental aspects of the bank's development projects and programmes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of aid to African nations is designated for development of transportation systems.

In 1985, 19 per cent.—some £18·7 million —of our project aid for Africa was spent on the transport and communications sector. In addition we financed 87 man-years of expert and volunteer work in the same sector.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had as to the potential future use for aid purposes of surplus foods now in storage in the United Kingdom.

The Government are working for agreement on a substantial reform of the European Community food aid programme; if possible at the Development Council on 11 November. Reforms of the common agricultural policy are under active discussion in the Agriculture Council. We have been prominent in ensuring that the worldwide problem of surplus production is discussed in the new GATT round.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of overseas aid is allocated to sub-Saharan African nations.

In 1985 an estimated total of £510 million was spent in sub-Saharan Africa through both multilateral and bilateral channels. This represented 40 per cent. of total aid expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on co-ordination with other countries to help sub-Saharan African countries with their agricultural development programmes.

We fully support the efforts being made by multilateral development organisations, by other bilateral donors, and by sub-Saharan African countries themselves to co-ordinate more effectively the assistance provided for agricultural development programmes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met officials of the United Nations' Children's Fund; what subjects were discussed; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the then Minister for Overseas Development met the executive director of UNICEF last March and discussed emergency programmes in Africa and the global immunisation campaign. I shall be meeting the deputy executive director, Dr. Richard Jolly, this Wednesday. I agreed on 8 October to contribute £1 million to support programmes in Mozambique and the immunisation programme in Botswana and Lesotho.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to increase aid to the front-line states adjoining South Africa.

We maintain substantial programmes of assistance to Botswana, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, the front-line states adjoining South Africa. British aid to all the countries in the region is kept under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how United Kingdom official aid as a share of gross national product compares with that provided by other member states of the Council of Europe; and if he will specifically list those member states which provide a lower level of aid.

In 1985, in terms of aid as a percentage of GNP, Britain ranked ninth out of the 14 donor countries of the Council of Europe. In absolute terms, we had the third largest programme. Donors providing less aid than Britain as a percentage of GNP were Italy, Switzerland, Ireland, Luxembourg and Spain.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to help relieve the famine in the Sudan; and if he will make a statement.

We have given substantial help to relieve famine in Sudan worth almost £35 million since late 1984. There is enough food in northern Sudan and harvest prospects are encouraging, but many are at risk in the south and we hope food airlifts by the International Committee of the Red Cross, to which we have pledged £250,000, will be resumed. We are ready to do more when conditions permit.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Overseas Development Administration will seek to obtain the vehicles and equipment from the Falkland Islands at present stored at Liverpool freeport and make them available for construction projects in the Third world.

No. We, and recipient Governments, prefer to use competitively procured and fully guaranteed new equipment, because of the rist of incurring extra cost if equipment fails abroad.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in what circumstances he would consider repealing the Flags and Emblems Act; and if he will detail the representations he has received against and in favour of such action.

I am considering, in the context of a review of Public Order Law in Northern Ireland, whether the Act should be repealed.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has any plans to modify the provision contained in the Northern Ireland Estimates for 1986–87 as a consequence of moneys granted by the United States Government; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has no immediate plans to do so. The International Fund for Ireland, through which contributions from the United States of America and other donor nations will be channelled, has yet to be legally constituted. It would then be for the board of the fund once established to decide on the disbursement of fund monies. Implications for Northern Ireland Estimates cannot be determined in the absence of decisions by the board on allocations.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the manpower and running costs of the Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office in 1986–87.

I have reviewed the manpower and running cost requirements for Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office for 1986–87 and I have decided that the manpower target for the NI Departments should be increased from 24,900 to 25,510. The increase reflects, inter alia, needs in the social securtiy field; developments in information technology in NI Departments; the employment measures announced at the time of the Budget; and increased work loads in land registry, vehicle licensing and water leakage control. Taking account of these changes to manpower targets, I have also decided to increase the departmental running cost limit for Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office from £446 million to £446·9 million. The additional running costs will be offset by savings elsewhere in the Northern Ireland block and thus will not lead to any increase in public expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much of the money given to Her Majesty's Government by the United States Congress for expenditure in Northern Ireland has been spent, and on what purpose.

None. Under an agreement (Cmnd 9910) between the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland and United States Governments the money is being held in trust until the international fund is legally established. This will only take place once the agreement establishing the fund (Cmnd 9908) has undergone the necessary parliamentary procedures in London and Dublin and the two Governments have exchanged notifications of its acceptance.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government has any plans to declare a new fishing zone around the Falkland Islands.

I refer the right hon. Member to the statement my right hon. and learned Friend made to the House on 29 October at columns 323–333.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures have been taken or are proposed by Her Majesty's Government to support the United Nations International Year of Peace.

To mark the United Nations International Year of Peace, we have arranged for Sir Brian Urquhart, former Under Secretary-General at the United Nations, to deliver a lecture entitled "Whatever Happened to International Order?" at Chatham house on 12 November.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if any meetings of the tripartite commission for the restitution of monetary gold have taken place since his reply of 12 March, Official Report, column 515.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much of the gold held by the tripartite commission for the restitution of monetary gold has so far been used to meet the expenses of the commission.

The information requested by the hon. Member is not at present available. I will write him as soon as I am in a position to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the statement of 23 October, Official Report, column 1299, if there are any proposals to revise the twin track communiqué of 12 December 1979 to incorporate a declaration coupling any agreement between the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the Warsaw Pact on long-range INF systems with constraints on short-range systems.

The Alliance has always insisted that an agreement on longer-range INF missiles should include appropriate constraints on Soviet shorter-range INF missiles. That remains the objective of the United States in the Geneva negotiations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice he has received from outside Her Majesty's Government concerning Her Majesty's Government's general ability to monitor the maintenance of the ABM treaty in the light of the statement of 23 October, Official Report, column 1295, that detailed matters of ABM treaty interpretation are not matters for Her Majesty's Government.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign arid Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards a negotiated removal of ground-launched cruise missiles without reference to Soviet Srink missiles.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, North (Mr. McNamara).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been received against the removal of ground-launched cruise missiles in any arms control deal along the lines proposed at the Reykjavik summit.

None. We remain in very close contact with our allies about these issues and fully support the United States' efforts at Geneva to pursue the outline agreement on INF reached at Reykjavik.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the implications of the common fisheries policy on the new Falkland Islands fishing limits.

The common fisheries policy does not apply to the Falkland Islands. It has no implications for the Falkland Islands interim conservation and management zone other than by virtue of the Community's competence for external fisheries matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place with representatives of the Soviet Government on the question of fisheries limits around the Falkland Islands, and when.

As my right hon. and learned Friend said in the House on 29 October, the question of south Atlantic fisheries has been raised several times with the Soviet Union in the course of the last six months. He sent a message to the Soviet Foreign Minister explaining our decision to establish the Falkland Islands interim conservation and management zone. This was delivered in Moscow on 29 October.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will state, for each country whose nationals require visas to visit the United Kingdom, and for each year since 1980 (i) how many applications were made for visas, (ii) how many applicants were called for interview, (iii) what is the mean waiting time between receipt of an application and approval or rejection, (iv) how many applications were rejected and (v) what criteria are used in deciding to reject an application.

I have been asked to reply.Information on applications for a visa to visit the United Kingdom for nationals of countries who were required before 15 October 1986 to have such a visa is not available centrally, except in respect of Sri Lankan citizens. Information in Sri Lankan citizens in Sri Lanka granted and refused such a visa is given in the following table for the period since 30 May 1985, when the visa requirement took effect. Information on applications received, applicants called for interview and waiting times is not available centrally. Applications for visas are decided in accordance with the criteria for admission given in the immigration rules (HC 169 as amended).Applications by Sri Lankan citizens in Sri Lanka for a visa to visit the United Kingdom.

	Number of Persons
Period	Applications granted	Applications refused
30 May to December 1985	4,190	260
January to September 1986	4,700	300

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what organisations have made representations in support of the introduction of legislation pursuant to the White Paper on intellectual property and innovation.

About 90 organisations have made representations in support of such legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of profits made in excess of those implied by the financial target have been paid by the Post Office to Her Majesty's Government in each year since 1980.

All post-tax profits earned by the Post Office's postal business in the years since 1980 have been retained within the business but cash surpluses required by the external financing limits set by the Government, although retained within the business's balance sheet, have been loaned to other parts of the public sector. In the years from 1980–81 to 1985–86, cash surpluses totalled £316·5 million compared with aggregate negative external financing limits of £256·8 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken to publicise to retailers the information that certain solvents can be abused in a manner similar to glue.

The Department of Health and Social Security has issued guidelines for shop managers listing the type of product liable to be abused by sniffing, in a manner similar to glue. In addition, Re-Solv, the charity set up by the industry, has issued guidelines to retailers which also list these products. Finally, the Department of Trade and Industry is co-sponsoring a video training film for retailers and their staff which covers the types of product likely to be sniffed. Copies of the two sets of guidelines have been placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if any restrictions will be placed on the export to South Africa of vehicles and equipment at present in Liverpool freeport sold at the forthcoming auction.

Restrictions would only apply in this case in respect of any goods subject to the provisions of the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1985 as amended.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if any restrictions will be placed on the export to Argentina of vehicles and equipment at present in Liverpool freeport and to be sold at the forthcoming auction.

No restrictions are placed on exports to Argentina other than for those goods subject to the provisions of the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1985 as amended.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) where the Government stockpiles of manganese ore, ferromanganese, ferrochrome, vanadium pentoxide and ferrovanadium are located; and what is their present content in metric tonnes by metal content;(2) from whom the materials in Her Majesty's Government's stockpiles of manganese ore, ferromanganese, ferrochrome, vanadium pentoxide and ferrovanadium were purchased; to whom they have been sold; in what quantities; and for how much;(3) what purchases and sales have been made for and from Her Majesty's Government's stockpiles of manganese ore, ferromanganese, ferrochrome, vanadium pentoxide, and ferrovanadium since the establishment of these stockpiles in 1983;(4) whether Her Majesty's Government entered into consultation with

I refer to the answer given to the hon. Member on 7 July 1986 at columns 11 and 12 concerning the Government's policy on the maintenance of supplies of strategic minerals. The situation continues to be closely monitored, in consultation with the companies in those sectors of industry concerned, including the steel industry.The materials included in the stockpile reflect industry's requirements, and were purchased from commercial sources. The Government's intention to dispose of one quarter of the contents of the stockpile, announced on 25 July 1986, has been realised through sale by open tender. It is the Government's policy not to confirm details of the location, content or value of the stockpile given the need to protect its physical security and the commercially sensitive nature of the information concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what import quotas and duties are imposed by Britain on imports of iron ore, manganese ore, ferromanganese, ferrochrome and vanadium pentoxide from (a) Canada, (b) Australia, (c) Sweden, (d) Zimbabwe, (e) the Republic of South Africa, (f) Finland and (g) China.

There are no quantitative restrictions or duties on the import of the named products from Sweden or Finland as members of EFTA. As for imports from the other named countries there are no quantitative restrictions on any of these; there are no duties on imports of iron ore or manganese ore; and there are duties of 4 per cent. on ferro manganese, 8 per cent. on ferrochromium and 5·5 per cent. on vanadium pentoxide, with duty-free quotas applying to imports of ferrochromium and duty-free entry applying to imports of vanadium pentoxide from Zimbabwe and China under the generalised system of preference.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the additional costs which will be required to be borne by the lawn mower manufacturing industry in consequence of the Lawnmowers (Harmonisation of Noise Emission Standards) Regulations 1986; and if he will make a statement.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the present position in respect of the consideration by the reviewing committee on the export of works of art on the Hereford Bye Street Gate sculptures.

The reviewing committee on the export of works of art has determined that the statues meet the "Waverley" criteria of national importance. The application for an export licence is under consideration and a decision will be taken as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will pay an official visit to the northern region to assess the effects of Government regional policies.

My right hon. Friend visited the northeast region two weeks ago and intends to do so again early next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the level of United Kingdom trade with Albania; and what information he has as to how this compares with trade between other member states of the European Economic Community and Albania.

In 1985, United Kingdom exports to Albania totalled £5·3 million, and imports £0·2 million.Comparison with European Community countries is in the following table.

United Kingdom Trade with Albania
OTS basis £ '000
	Exports	Imports
1985	5,252	212

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) whether any of the plutonium separated during the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel in the United Kingdom has at any stage since May 1979 been exported under ownership different from that under which it was produced or imported into the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.(2) if he will detail each occasion since May 1979, on which changes of ownership of plutonium have occurred whilst in storage in any form in the United Kingdom, indicating (i) the date, (ii) the quantity involved, (iii) the original ownership, (iv) any subsequent ownership, (v) the quantity exported, (vi) the date on which exported, (vii) the ownership under which exported, (viii) the country and organisation to which exported and (ix) the chemical and physical form in which exported;(3) if he will publish an inventory of plutonium stock held by the United Kingdom, dealing with countries and organisations which own any plutonium here, and the quantities each own.

Plutonium derived from the reprocessing of civil spent nuclear fuel is allocated between owners by British Nuclear Fuels plc pro rata to the estimated quantities of plutonium in incoming fuel. Since May 1979, all such separated plutonium has been stored or exported under safeguards by BNFL in accordance with the company's contractual agreements with the owners.Details of BNFL's contractual arrangements with individual organisations are commercially confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give the statistics for the number of deaths that have occurred each year for the preceding five years in coal mining and oil drilling operations in the United Kingdom.

Figures for fatalities in the coal industry are contained in the National Coal Board's report and accounts 1985–86, and for oil drilling operations in the "Brown Book" (Development of the oil and gas resources of the United Kingdom 1986), copies of both of which have been placed in the Library of the House. Since those documents were published, there have been a further three fatalities in the oil industry and eight in the coal industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many people are presently employed in the nuclear power industry; how much is invested in the industry; and if he will make a statement.

As I said in my reply to the hon. Member for Walthamstow (Mr. Deakins) on 13 June 1986 at column. 343, about 44,000 are employed directly by BNFL, UKAEA, NNC and in the nuclear-specific work of the generating boards. Well over 100,000 jobs depend directly or indirectly on the industry. During the financial year 1985–86 about £1.100 million was invested in our commercial nuclear installations, most of which was spent with United Kingdom industry. In terms of current orders, BNFL alone has overseas contracts worth in excess of £2·5 billion.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to the answer of 27 October, Official Report, column 8, whether he will publish the companies and communities in which the 2,796 new jobs have been created; and how many of these jobs have been taken by men, women and former employees of British Coal.

This is a matter for British Coal. I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Prime Minister if, pursuant to her reply of 9 May, Official Report, column 266, he will make a statement on the outcome of Her Majesty's Government's review of emergency plans and procedures for implementation in the event of threat from nuclear fallout in the light of the Chernobyl incident; and whether she will publish details of the findings.

The review is not yet complete.

asked the Prime Minister who appoints persons to the Security Commission; for how long they are appointed; how many members consider any individual case; how many persons are now available to serve in any individual case; if any part of the consideration of any individual case is conducted in public; if any part of a Security Commission report or recommendations are made public; what is the Government's policy towards accepting any recommendations made by the Security Commission; and if she will make a statement.

Appointments to the Security Commission are made by the Prime Minister. Members are normally appointed for terms of three years and may be reappointed for a further term or terms. The commission comprises seven members from which a panel of three or four, including the chairman, are chosen to serve on each inquiry. The commission conducts its inquiries in private. Its findings are published as far as this is consistent with the requirements of national security. All recommendations made by the commission in recent years have been accepted by the Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the criteria he employs in order to establish priorities in the trunk road programme.

Available resources are concentrated on those schemes which promise the greatest benefits taking into account strategic, economic, environmental, engineering and safety factors. The timing of trunk road schemes may also, of course, be dependent on other considerations such as the acquisition of land or the need to tie in works with associated local authority road schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those local authorities which currently do not make special provisions for the housing of former service personnel in accordance with the guidance given in Circular 107/1975.

I understand that the majority of local authorities in Scotland have responded favourably to the circular by according some measure of housing priority to service personnel, but the information held by the Scottish Development Department on individual local authority allocation policies is not complete. District councils are responsible for allocation policies for their areas and I refer my hon. Friend directly to the local authorities in which he is interested.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current timetable for the construction of the Ayr road route (A77).

Subject to the satisfactory completion of statutory procedures and the availability of finance, work is expected to start on the trunk road section towards the end of 1989. However, this depends on Strathclyde regional council starting work on its section of the route in 1988–89 as stated in its transport policies and programmes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what plans he has to establish city technology colleges in Scotland; and if he will make a statement;(2) how many city technology centres he proposes to establish in Scotland;(3) whether he is considering any locations within the area of Eastwood, Renfrew and Glasgow district councils for the establishment of city technology colleges; and if he will make a statement.

I believe that provision of broad but soundly based technological and vocational education for young people can be effectively pursued in Scotland through the technical and vocational education initiative. There are no plans at present to supplement the initiative by establishing centres specialising in technology, but we shall keep under review the need for and opportunities of doing so.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received about the presence of alleged Nazi war criminals in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend has received no such representations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the hourly rate of overtime for the various ranks of the Metropolitan police.

Table of overtime rates with effect from 1 September 1986
Rank	Annual basic pay	Overtime rale per hour
		Time + one third	Time + half	Double time
	£	£	£	£
Constable	7,752	4·953	5·572	7·430
	8,289	5·296	5·958	7·944
	9,756	6·233	7·013	9·350
	9.987	6·381	7·179	9·572
	10,317	6·592	7·416	9·888
	10,671	6·818	7·670	10·227
	11,013	7·037	7·916	10·555
	11,355	7·255	8·162	10·883
	11,691	7·470	8·404	11·205
	12,372	7·905	8·893	11·858
	12,936	8·265	9·299	12·398
Sergeant	12,372	7·905	8·893	11·858
	12,936	8·265	9·299	12·398
	13,389	8·555	9·624	12·832
	13,836	8·840	9·945	13·261
	14,193	9·069	10·202	13·603
Inspector	14,958	9·557	10·752	14·336
	15,375	9·824	11·052	14·736
	15,918	10·171	11·442	15·256
	16,407	10·483	11·794	15·725
	16,887	10·790	12·139	16·185
Chief Inspector	16,887	10·790	12·139	16·185
	17,304	11·056	12·438	16·585
	17,748	11·340	12·758	17·010
	18,222	11·643	13·098	17·465
	18,693	11·944	13·437	17·916

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of hours overtime worked in the Metropolitan police in each year since 1979; and what is the average annual income of Metropolitan police officers from overtime.

Information about the number of hours of paid overtime worked each year since 1978–79 is set out in the table. The average income of Metropolitan police officers of ranks eligible for overtime from overtime payments in the financial year 1985–86 was £1,913.

Hours of overtime worked by officers of the Metropolitan Police, 1979–80 to 1985–86
Financial year	Hours
1979–80	8,696,026
1980–81	6,939,249

Under the Police Regulations 1979, police officers of ranks up to and including chief inspector are eligible for overtime. Officers may elect to be paid for the overtime which they work or to take time off in lieu. Pay for duty performed on a rostered rest day cancelled at less than 29 days' notice is at a rate of basic pay plus a half; pay for duty performed on a public holiday is at twice basic pay; and paid overtime worked at any other time is reimbursed at basic pay plus a third. The current hourly rates of police overtime are set out in the table.

Financial year	Hours
1981–82	8,421,719
1982–83	7,144,110
1983–84	7,673,945
1984–85	9,849,618	1(7,462,642)
1985–86	6,509,242
1 The figure in parenthesis excludes the mutual aid provided to other forces as a result of the NUM dispute.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what study he has made of possible financial savings which could be obtained by civilianising police posts; what results he expects from extra police officers being recruited; and how will they be monitored.

My right hon. Friend's announcement on 20 May of decisions on police manpower followed a review of the needs for additional police officers which took into account the scope for civilianisation. That review showed that additional civilian staff should enable at least 650 police officers in provincial forces to be released for operational duties through civilianisation over the next few years, together with 400 in the Metropolitan police.The recruitment of additional civilian staff to replace police officers carrying out duties which do not require the powers and training of a police officer is a cost-effective way of increasing the number of officers available for operational duty.It does not normally lead to financial savings.The results expected from the recruitment of additional police officers will depend on the specific purposes for which they are used. We expect to see an increase in the number of officers on patrol, in crime prevention initiatives such as neighbourhood watch, and on other priority demands. The Department will be keeping in touch with provincial forces, through Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary, and with the Metropolitan police to monitor the results achieved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are his Department's objections to having Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary scrutinise the Metropolitan police.

As explained in the Government's response (Cmnd. 9917) to the 45th report of the Public Accounts Committee on the financial control and accountability of the Metropolitan police, we regard it as essential to maintain the direct relationship between the Home Secretary and the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. We have accepted the recommendation of the Committee that the present arrangements for inspecting the Metropolitan police should be reviewed, and have set up a working party to report on this.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the level of crime in Brixton; and if he will ask the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to revise upwards his allocation of police in Brixton.

This year my right hon. Friend has received letters from the community police consultative group for Lambeth and from four members of the public about crime in Brixton.The deployment of manpower is a matter for the Commissioner. He has given Brixton and the surrounding areas a high priority in recent years in recognition of the special problems there. I understand that the strength of the former 'L' district, which included Brixton division, rose from 835 to 1,056 between June 1981 and September 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) with respect to prisoners serving life sentences for offences other than murder, if he will explain in greater detail than in the statement of 30 November 1983 by his predecessor, the significance he attaches to the demands of retribution and deterrence, and the procedure for consulting the Lord Chief Justice and the trial judge as to the minimum period of detention necessary to satisfy those demands;

I attach great importance to the demands of retribution and general deterrence in all life sentence cases. Life sentences are passed only when grave offences are committed and it would be wrong for any Home Secretary not to have regard to the retributive and deterrent elemens of the sentence in deciding when the prisoner should be considered for release on licence.As indicated in my predecessor's statement of 30 November 1983, I look to the judiciary for advice on the length of detention necessary to satisfy the requirements of retribution and general deterrence in each individual case. The procedure which applies to all life sentence cases, irrespective of whether the life sentence is mandatory or discretionary is that the trial judge, if available, and the Lord Chief Justice are provided with a detailed memorandum on the offence and the prisoner's background, a copy of any letter sent to me by the trial judge after sentence and copies of the latest reports on the prisoner's conduct and progres in prison, and are asked to state their views on the case and on the period of detention necessary to meet the requirements of retribution and general deterrence. Usually, but not always, the views of the judiciary are expressed in terms of length of actual detention.On the basis of the same information that was before the trial judge and the Lord Chief Justice and in the light of their views, the circumstances of the individual case, and having regard to my own wider responsibilities, I decide on the date of the first reference of the case to the local review committee as the first stage of a formal review by the Parole Board. In all cases, I take account of the views of the judiciary. They are not overriding, although I naturally attach great weight to them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will revoke all leave given to Syrian students to permit them to study in the United Kingdom; and if he will refuse further such applications for the time being.

Applications for leave to enter or remain are considered individually in accordance with the immigration rules. Following the breaking off of diplomatic relations with Syria, we are considering whether any further tightening of the immigration control in relation to nationals of that country is necessary in the interests of national security.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for reports from the relevant chief constables as to the cost of the police operation at each of the four sites surveyed by NIREX under special development orders up to 1 October.

I am asking the chief constables to let me have such information as is available and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all those organisations and individuals who have responded to the White Paper on Criminal Justice (Cmnd. 9658) and its associated discussion papers.

The following organisations and individuals responded to some of the proposals in the White Paper and its associated discussion documents:

• Association of British Insurers.
• Association of Chief Officers of Probation.
• Association of Chief Police Officers of England and Wales.
• Association of County Councils.
• Association of Directors of Social Services.
• Association of Magisterial Officers.
• Desmond Banks, Solicitors.
• Banner Jones and Hawkins, Solicitors.
• British Association of Social Workers.
• British Juvenile and Family Courts Society.
• British Psychological Society.
• Cambridgeshire Probation Service.
• Central Council of Probation Committees.
• Chelmsford Magistrates Juvenile Panel.
• Chief Metropolitan Stipendiary Magistrate.
• Cheshire Social Services Department.
• Children's Legal Centre.
• Children's Society.
• Conservative Backbench Home Affairs Committee.
• Contract.
• Council of Circuit Judges.
• Coventry Intermediate Treatment Forum.
• Coventry Reparation Scheme.
• Criminal Bar Association.
• Crypt Association.
• Cumbria Probation Service.
• Cumbria Social Services Department.
• Essex Probation Service.
• F.I.R.M. — Forum for Initiatives in Reparation and Mediation.
• Forum for Intermediate Treatment in the West Midlands.
• Gerard Avenue Project, Coventry.
• Greater Manchester Council Police Committee.
• Greater Manchester Probation Service.
• Duncan Hartley and Co., Solicitors.
• Howard League.
• Inner London Juvenile Court Panel.
• Inner London Probation Service.
• Institute of Chartered Accountants.
• Institute of Trading Standards Administration.
• Chairman of the Interdepartmental Review of Road Traffic Law.
• JUSTICE.
• Justices' Clerks' Society.
• Law Society.
• Law Society of Scotland.
• Leeds Reparation Scheme.
• Lewisham Police Council.
• London Boroughs Association.
• London Borough of Newham.
• London Intermediate Treatment Association.
• London Magistrates' Clerks Association.
• Magistrates' Association.
• Methodist Church—Division of Social Responsibility.
• Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, Social Services Department.
• Metropolitan Police.
• Midland and Oxford Circuit Committee.
• Miskin Project.
• Montgomery Conservative Association.
• National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders.
• National Association of Probation Officers.
• National Association of Senior Probation Officers. National Association of Victim Support Schemes.
• National Council for Civil Liberties.
• National Council of Women of Great Britain.
• New Approaches to Juvenile Crime.
• North Yorkshire Social Services Department.
• Office of the Comptroller and City Solicitor, City of London.
• Parliamentary All-Party Penal Affairs Group.
• Police Federation of England and Wales.
• Police Superintendents' Association of England and Wales.
• Prison Governors Branch, Society of Civil and Public Servants.
• Prison Reform Trust.
• Prosecuting Solicitors' Society of England and Wales.
• Rainer Foundation.
• Sandwell Mediation Scheme.
• Chairman of the Securicor Group, PLC.
• Shooting Sports Trust Limited.
• South Yorkshire Repatriation Scheme.
• Steels, Solicitors.
• Swindon Probation Office.
• Talbot, Davies and Lopner, Solicitors.
• Unit Trust Association.
• Uxbridge Juvenile Court Panel.
• Victim and Offender in Conciliation Group, Rochester YC.
• West London Group for Homosexual Equality.
• West Midlands Intermediate Treatment Association.
• West Yorkshire Probation Committee.
• Woodlands Intermediate Treatment Centre.
• Wyrewide Association.
• Young Barristers Committee.

In addition, 30 members of the public submitted comments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he has had with interested parties concerning Law Commission report 143, "Codification of the Criminal Law"; and if he will make a statement.

None. In its introduction to the report, the Law Commission seeks the views of the professions and the public on the proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in monitoring the performance of local authorities in meeting their civil protection responsibilities; and when a report thereon will be made available.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a question on this subject from my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. Terlezki) on 22 July at column 156.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Northamptonshire as to the circumstances in which on Monday 20 October officers, out of uniform and hatless, in an unmarked car, on the M I northbound stopped a woman driving alone and did not immediately offer visual or verbal proof of their identity; and if he will make a statement on the substance of the report.

The enforcement of road traffic law, including the policy on the use of unmarked vehicles, is a matter for individual chief officers of police. I understand that in this case the officers made use of the police vehicle's blue flashing lights and two tone horn to stop a driver suspected of exceeding the speed limit, and that the officers were wearing uniform.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will investigate the circumstances and conditions in which remand prisoners, including Tracy Armstrong, a constituent of the hon. Member for Hackney South and Shoreditch, are being kept a week at a time in cells at magistrates' courts, including those at Lavender Hill magistrates court and Highbury Corner magistrates court; and if he will make a statement.

Some untried prisoners are having to be held in police cells in London because of lack of places to accommodate the untried population. We are continuing to take vigorous action to tackle this problem. Among recent or current developments are the transfer of prisoners to other parts of the country, an increase in the capacity of Brixton, an increase in the number of untried prisoners held at Pentonville and the introduction of units for untried prisoners at Feltham and Rochester youth custody centres. We have also reached broad agreement with the Prison Officers Association at Holloway on an internal reorganisation which will progressively increase its capacity sufficiently to accommodate all London female untried prisoners.We are conscious that police cells are not designed for holding prisoners for extended periods and that prisoners accommodated there do not receive the full range of privileges available in prison. Nevertheless, the police are doing all they can to provide the best possible conditions in very difficult circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the case of Mr. Amanaullah Khan is to be considered by the Security Commission; and if he will make a statement.

This case does not fall to be considered by the Security Commission. Mr. Khan has, however, exercised his option to appear before my panel of advisers in cases involving deportation on grounds of national security and I understand that arrangements are being made for a hearing as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action a person with a visa to visit the United Kingdom is required to take in the United Kingdom if they wish to extend their permission to visit the United Kingdom; if representations from hon. Members will be considered in such a circumstance; and if he will make a statement.

A visa holder admitted to the United Kingdom as a visitor may apply for an extension of his stay in accordance with the provisions of the immigration rules. Representations by hon. Members on such applications are taken into account in the normal way.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when a person with a visitor's visa is refused entry to the United Kingdom, what information is given to the passenger about their rights of appeal; in what languages such information is available; whether such a passenger is detained or granted temporary admission pending appeal; what rights to make telephone calls such passengers are given; what information about rights to independent representation is available and in what languages; what independent advice is available to such passengers from independent advice agencies at ports of entry; how soon after entry appeals are held; and if he will make a statement.

When a passenger who holds a valid visa is refused leave to enter the country, he is given a written notice, in English, of his right of appeal, which he may exercise before departure. The immigration service informs the United Kingdom Immigrants Advisory Service of all such cases. If the passenger does not understand English, the notice and the appeal procedures are explained to him in his own language. He has access to a telephone. Under the Immigration Act 1971, a passenger who has been refused entry is liable to detention but most of those who remain here for an appeal hearing are instead granted temporary admission. The hearing is normally a few weeks after refusal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will arrange for nationals of countries subject to visa control, settled in the United Kingdom, who are advised by his Department to obtain visa exemption stamps to avoid difficulties on re-entry to the United Kingdom, to obtain such stamps from immigration officers on departure from the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to enable persons travelling abroad to obtain visa exemption stamps at air and sea ports.

Immigration officers automatically stamp the passports of eligible passengers entering the United Kingdom to show that they are exempt from a visa requirement. Passengers whose passports have not been so endorsed on entry or while in this country may obtain exempt endorsement where adequate arrangements can be made to establish exemption.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when an overseas national who requires a visa to visit the United Kingdom arrives in the United Kingdom without a visa, what minimum time they will be allowed to remain in the United Kingdom before removal from the United Kingdom; what access to a public telephone will he given to such passengers; and if he will make a statement.

How soon it is practicable to remove passengers refused leave to enter the country depends on the circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his reply of 28 October, from what countries the families to be tested by DNA originate; on what criteria the families are being selected; how many families, to date, have been selected; when families selected will be notified of that selection; if hon. Members whose constituents have been selected, or are selected, will be notified; and if he will make a statement.

The arrangements for the proposed trial using DNA testing in a sample of immigration cases are still being developed. Some cases will be selected on a random basis; some will be people who have already volunteered. The families who will be invited to participate have not yet been selected. It will be for individual applicants to decide if they wish to approach an hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evidence he has of the departure of Mr. Vanunu from the United Kingdom.

I have no such evidence. Anyone who has evidence that any offence was committed should of course at once inform the police.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is yet in a position to announce a decision on the continuation of the blood test option for drivers subjected to a Lion Intoximeter 3000 breathalyser test; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend intends to make an announcement shortly.

asked the Paymaster General why so many frequent changes are made in civil servants working for the Manpower Services Commission in the south-west of England; and if he will make a statement.

The Manpower Services Commission has recently undergone a period of rapid growth as a result of new and expanded initiatives such as job clubs, restart and the job training scheme. The commission has had to arrange a considerable number of personnel moves in order to ensure that these important initiatives are adequately and properly staffed.

asked the Paymaster General why the Manpower Services Commission will not allow the various agencies in the south-west of England to have more freedom in their work and monitor the results.

I understand my hon. Friend is referring to the schemes run under the community programme.The revised controls for the community programme, introduced on 1 April 1986 as a result of a report by Coopers and Lybrand Management Consultants, include recommendations about the financial management of agencies. Prior to an agency being approved, Manpower Services Commission officials have to ensure that management controls are adequate, making recommendations as appropriate. The frequency and nature of monitoring undertaken depends upon the effectiveness of the controls operated by the agency management.

asked the Paymaster General how many community employment programme and community programme managing agents or sponsors have been excluded from schemes in the following area manpower board areas: Birmingham/Solihull, Coventry/ Warwickshire, Wolverhampton/Walsall, Sheffield/ Rotherham, Nottinghamshire, Trafford/Salford, central Manchester, inner Liverpool, outer Liverpool, London north-east, London north, London south and west and London south-east.

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

asked the Paymaster General what was the annual expenditure of the Manpower Services Commission in each year since 1976 for the following area manpower boards; and what is the projected expenditure up to 1988; Birmingham/Solihull, Coventry/ Warwickshire, Wolverhampton/Walsall, Sheffield/ Rotherham, Nottinghamshire, Trafford/Salford, central Manchester, inner Liverpool, outer Liverpool, London north-east, London north, London south and west and London south-east.

It is not possible to provide an answer to the historic and current parts of this question except a disproportionate cost to the taxpayer. Details of projected expenditure in the areas covered by the specified area manpower boards in 1987–88 can not be ascertained until the total estimate provision for the Manpower Services Commission's grant-in-aid and for Department of Employment agency programmes delivered by the commission is settled for that year.

asked the Paymaster General how much has been paid by the Manpower Services Commission's north-east London area manpower board to target training workshop YTS in the current financial year; and what was the forecast budget for target training in the current financial year.

The Manpower Services Commission has so far paid a total of £126,038 in grants to target training workshop YTS in the current financial year. The forecast budget for the workshop in the current financial year was £265,200 for grant aid, plus £12,650 for managing agent's fees and VAT.

asked the Paymaster General (1) if he will list the major individual programmes, the individual budgets and number of approved places allocated annually to the special temporary employment programme, the community employment programme and the community programme since 1978 in the following area manpower board areas: Birmingham/Solihull, Coventry/Warwickshire, Wolverhampton/Walsall, Sheffield/Rotherham, Nottinghamshire, Trafford/ Salford, central Manchester, inner Liverpool, outer Liverpool, London north-east, London north, London south and west and London south-east;(2) if he will list the number of approved places which have been allocated annually to the special temporary employment programme, the community employment programme and the community programme since 1978 in the following area manpower board areas: Birmingham/ Solihull, Coventry/Warwickshire, Wolverhampton/ Walsall, Sheffield/Rotherham, Nottinghamshire, Trafford/Salford, central Manchester, inner Liverpool, outer Liverpool, London north-east, London north, London south and west and London south-east;(3) if he will list the agencies and sponsors employing long-term unemployed people under the community programme; how many approved places each agency and sponsor has; and how many of their places are filled for the following area manpower boards: Birmingham/ Solihull, Coventry/Warwickshire, Wolverhampton/ Walsall, Sheffield/Rotherham, Nottinghamshire, Trafford/Salford, central Manchester, inner Liverpool, outer Liverpool, London north-east, London north, London south and west and London south-east.

The information requested in these questions is not readily available, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Paymaster General what are the numbers of community programme entrants in the 12 months to February 1986. April 1986 and July 1986; and what were the proportions of part-time participants who entered the programme in those 12-month periods.

The number of community programme entrants in the 12 months to February 1986, April 1986 and July 1986; and the percentage of part-time participants are as follows:

Twelve months ending	Total entrants	Percentage of part-time entrants
February 1986	231,671	85
April 1986	254,012	85
July 1986	280,406	86

asked the Paymaster General if he will estimate the total number of people leaving the unemployment register in connection with the restart scheme.

By 9 October, 71,506 had left the unemployment register after receiving a letter in connection with restart. Included in this figure are 30,218 people who left the register after being interviewed.

asked the Paymaster General if he will publish the latest estimates of the numbers of people taking jobs under the jobstart scheme, the average level of gross earnings for such jobs and the distribution of jobstart earnings, in the same or similar format to that given in his answer of 18 April, Official Report, columns 527–28, also showing how many of the long-term unemployed were given restart interviews in the period covered by the estimates.

The restart programme was extended nationally on 1 July 1986, earlier in some areas. By 9 October, 366,451 people had been counselled. In the same period, 1,312 people started on the jobstart scheme. Information about wage levels is available for the first 965 of these participants. The average starting wage in that group was £64.69 per week.The range of wages is shown in the table.

Wages (£ a week)	Number
0·39	35
40·49	57
50·59	147
60·69	266
70·79	460
Total	965

asked the Paymaster General if he will publish details and results of the strengthened availability for work test pilot exercise run from 16 June in 12 unemployed benefit offices.

The availability for work experiments were conducted in 12 unemployment benefit offices. In half the offices an experimental questionnaire was issued to all new claimants and in the other half the questionnaire was issued after six weeks unemployment. This was supplemented by interviews in some cases. The results were measured against a group of 12 "control" offices.The results were:

	Experimental Offices	Control Offices
(a) New Claims Experiments
Number of initial claim enquiries	14,059	14,467
Number of claims not pursued	1,077	586
(b) Six Week Experiments
Number of Claimants reaching 6 weeks unemployment	4,731	6,317
Claims withdrawn within 2 weeks of issue of questionnaire	514	330
(c) Claims disallowed by the independent adjudication authorities on availability grounds (both experiments)	543	53
(d) Appeals against disallowance	59	4
(e) Appeals allowed	25	1

Some of those who did not pursue or withdrew their claims transferred to other venefits and in addition some claimants were helped towards re-employment opportunities through jobcentres.

asked the Paymaster General (1) if he will list all those Department of Employment offices in which the new work availability test has been introduced;

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

asked the Paymaster General, what estimate he has made of the additional employment which will be created in laboratories to be created under article 4 of the Lawnmowers (Harmonisation of Noise Emission Standards) Regulations 1986; and if he will make a statement.

The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has appointed nine existing test laboratories to examine, among other things, noise emissions from lawn mowers. We do not know, at this early stage, whether these bodies will need to appoint additional staff but it was never the purpose of the regulations to create jobs in this direct way and I hope they do not cause unnecessary public expense. The harmonisation of these standards should produce fair competition within the common market and prevent other countries from excluding products by producing unnecessarily stringent regulations. I hope that our manufacturers will be able to take advantage of the wider market that should result.

	Aberdeen	Bristol/Bath	Greater Manchester	Reading/Slough	Total
£500–£1,000	13	13	17	10	53
£1,001–£2,000	2	7	4	6	19
£2,001–3,000	6	15	5	5	31
£3,001–£4,000	2	4	1	3	10
£4,001–5,000	3	6	2	6	17
All Values	26	45	29	30	130

asked the Paymaster General how many loans have been made under the career development scheme in each pilot area and in total to date, the value of which lie between £300 and £500.

Six career development loans have been made at the previous lower limit of £500. I reduced the lower limit to £300 earlier this month following discussions with the participating banks, training providers and potential users of the scheme.

asked the Paymaster General how many applications for loans under the career development scheme have been made to date in each pilot area and in total to date; and, in each case, how many were rejected.

As at 30 October 1986, the total numbers of applications and formal rejections notified to my Department by participating banks for each of the four pilot areas and in total was as follows:

	Number of Career Development Loan applications	Number of formal rejections1
Aberdeen	48	22
Bristol & Bath	53	8

asked the Paymaster General (1) how many loans have been made under the career development scheme to date in each pilot area and in total;(2) what is the total value of loans made under the career development scheme to date in each pilot area arid the overall total value.

At 30 October 1986, the number and value of career development loans notified to my Department by participating banks for each of the four pilot areas and in total was as follows:

	Number of loans	Value of loans
		£
Aberdeen	26	50,494
Bristol & Bath	45	103,635
Greater Manchester	29	44,935
Reading & Slough	30	68,750
Total	130	267,814

asked the Paymaster General how many loans of £500 to £1,000, £1,000 to £2,000, £2,000 to £3,000, £3,000 to £4,000 and £4,000 to £5,000 have been made under the career development scheme to date in each of the pilot areas and in total.