asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has given any more detailed consideration to the operation of penalty fares systems on public transport.

Earlier this year my right hon. Friend established a working group of officials from the Home Office, the Lord Chancellor's Department, London Regional Transport, and my Department to review the principles which should apply to penalty fares schemes on public transport. The group was asked, in particular, to review the penalty fares provisions of the London Regional Transport Act 1984. This was in line with the undertakings given to Parliament by the Government on 25 June 1984, at column 765, during consideration of the relevant sections of the London Regional Transport Act, that if further improvements could be identified before the penalty fare provisions were brought into effect we would be prepared to implement them in amending legislation. The working group was also asked to examine concerns which had been raised about the different powers contained in the London Docklands Railway Acts 1984 and 1985 and London Docklands Railway (City Extension) Bill. The working group has now reported and the Government have accepted its recommendations for changes to the existing legislation. My right hon. Friend has given LRT consent to deposit a private Bill seeking to amend the penalty fares provisions of the London Regional Transport and London Docklands Railways Act to bring them into line with the working group's recommendations. I have today deposited a copy of the working group's Report—"Penalty Fares on Public Transport" in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all road construction contracts which his Department intended to award in 1986–87 as identified in table 1 of Class VIII, Vote 1 of the Supply Estimates 1986–87, showing in each case whether the contract has been let or whether it is expected to be let during the remainder of 1986–87, and giving in each case the total value of the contract and the expansion likely to be incurred in 1986–87.

The information requested is as follows:

	Contract let	Contract value	Estimated expenditure this year
		£ million	£ million
M63/66 Portwood-Denton	1	51·5	6·3
A361 Tiverton-Newtown	2/87	323·0	0·3

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to how much British Rail has spent to date on the new Network SouthEast lines; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that Network SouthEast has earmarked £13·4 million for Operation Pride in 1986–87. This will pay for more capacity to relieve overcrowding, more frequent train cleaning, a better service at telephone inquiry bureaux, and some modernisation of stations. In addition, NSE has completed some major projects this year, including three electrification schemes. A number of stations, notably Dorchester, Brighton, Faversham, Ealing Broadway and Andover, have been modernised.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what undertakings were required and given about the maintenance of ferry services operated by British Rail when Sealink was sold.

No undertakings were required or given that particular services would be maintained indefinitely. It was envisaged in the sale agreement that British Rail and Sealink would enter into individual contracts requiring either party to give an appropriate term of notice to the other if they wished to terminate the provision of particular connecting rail or ferry services. In fact the only such individual contracts to have been signed were those relating to Freightliner and freight train-ferry services.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a table in the Official Report setting out the net foreign currency earnings of the United Kingdom owned and registered merchant trading fleet, and the United Kingdom's net balance of overseas payments on the overall sea transport account, in each year since 1980, together with his forecast of these magnitudes in 1986 and 1987.

The following table gives figures of revenue for international activities of the United Kingdom shipping industry. Information is not available separately for the United Kingdom owned and registered trading fleet. The sea transport balance is taken from table 33 of the Central Statistical Office "Pink Book" (United Kingdom balance of payments).

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing the value of investment in British owned merchant ships in each year since 1980 and his forecasts of these magnitudes in 1986 and 1987.

I refer my hon. Friend to articles in British Business of 5 September 1986 (page 42) and of 26 September 1986 (page 37), copies of which are in the Library. These give figures of the capital expenditure of the United Kingdom shipping industry as compiled by the Department of Trade and Industry.My Department does not make forecasts of investment in the shipping industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the latest estimate available to him of the annual cost to the nation's economy of continuing with the present dock labour regime in the United Kingdom.

I am not aware of any such estimate; a wide range of figures could be derived, depending on the assumptions made.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is currently considering any proposals for the closure of a port covered by the dock labour scheme; and if he will make a statement.

No. The closure of a port would usually need an Act of Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to eliminate the dock labour scheme; and if he will make a statement.

The Government have consistently made it clear that they have no plans to legislate on this matter during this Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many train derailments have taken place in each of the previous five years under the headings of (a) passenger and (b) freight;(2) if he will list the reported accidents on British Rail showing the numbers injured and killed for each of the years 1976 to the latest available date.

The information is given in the Department's annual reports on railway safety, published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, copies of which are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what controls exist on ships entering ports in accordance with the memorandum of understanding on port state control.

All foreign ships entering ports covered by the memorandum are subject to inspection. Each authority undertakes to achieve an annual inspection rate corresponding to 25 per cent. of the estimated number of individual foreign ships entering its ports, taking as a basis of the inspection the standards laid down in seven internationally agreed instruments dealing with safety and the prevention of marine pollution. In selecting ships for inspection special attention is paid to those which may present a special hazard, for instance oil tankers and gas and chemical carriers.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what are Her Majesty's Government's plans over bus deregulation in London.

We have made it clear that it is our firm intention to extend deregulation to London in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans for improving road access to docklands.

Each of the trunk road schemes in east London worth nearly £600 million in total and included in the programme for completion by the early 1990s will improve access to docklands. The following are particularly relevant:

Under construction: South Woodford to Barking relief road and A2 Rochester Way relief road.

To start early in 1988: north circular, Chingford road to Hale End road.

For completion by 1993, subject to the successful completion of the statutory procedures: east London river crossing; Al2, Hackney Wick to M11; and A13, West of Rainham to M25.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has about the costs to district councils of the operation of the Transport Act 1986; what information he has about regional variations in these costs; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to the reply, 21 November 1986, c. 362]: All local authorities that incur expenditure on public transport including district councils, will benefit from the improved value for money, through the competitive tendering requirement, which the Act is already providing. Those benefits can be passed on to passengers or ratepayers. Setting up public transport companies has caused some district councils costs which do not show any pattern of regional variation; but the benefits overall of establishing transport undertakings at arm's length and on a competitive commercial basis will outweigh those costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to know the results of his Department's inquiries into the loss of the MV Kowloon Bridge.

I refer my hon. Friend to the statement that I made earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards Namibia; and what steps he is taking to seek a solution of outstanding constitutional problems there.

Our policy is to press for the early and peaceful implementation of the United Nations plan for Namibian independence, as endorsed by United Nations Security Council resolution 435. This forms the only universally accepted basis for a settlement. We continue to support United States and United Nations negotiations towards such a settlement.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, if he will make a statement about the agreement between Britain, France and Italy by which BNFL manufactures uranium dioxide from imported enriched uranium hexafluoride and exports it to France and Italy for use in their nuclear reactors.

BNFL processes imported low enriched uranium hexafluoride for a variety of overseas customers. All material is covered by the relevant IAEA and EURATOM safeguards agreements and subject to the normal export licence controls.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what quantity of uranium was purchased by the Central Electricity Generating Board in 1985; and from what sources it was purchased.

The CEGB informs me that, as reported in its annual reports, all deliveries of natural uranium to the CEGB in 1985 were under a contract with Rio Algom in Canada. The total quantity delivered to the CEGB that year was around 340 tonnes of uranium.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on how his policy towards openness about nuclear matters is to be applied to the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Nuclear Installations; and whether that body will in future publish an annual report.

The Independent Advisory Committee on the Safety of Nuclear Installations plans to publish a report on its work early next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will obtain from the Central Electricity Generating Board a statement of current plans for development of the electricity supply system in the next 15 years, including a list of sites under consideration for new coal-fired power stations; and if he will place a copy of the statement in the Library.

The medium term development plan of the electricity supply industry (England and Wales) for the period 1986–93 was published by the Electricity Council last month. It includes a section on generation (pages 18–23) which covers possible sites for future power stations. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will describe what arrangements exist between his Department and the Central Electricity Generating Board to discuss strategic planning of the electricity system; what forecasts and financial information are made available by the Central Electricity Generating Board for such discussions; and if he will make a statement.

The Central Electricity Generating Board annually provides me with detailed forecasts of capital requirements for the next six years. These are considered, together with the capital and financing forecasts for the Electricity Supply Industry (England and Wales) as a whole, in the annual investment and financing review of the nationalised industries. Approvals to capital expenditure in the following three years are then given. Strategic planning features in the medium term development plan for the industry, published annually by the Electricity Council; and is also the subject of ad hoc reports to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what information his Department receives on the costs of different siting options for new power stations in England and Wales; if he will set out an illustration of the costs for two different sites; and if he will make a statement.

Applications to site power stations in England and Wales and comparison of the costs of different siting options are matters for the Central Electricity Generating Board. The costs of a particular site would be included in the total station costs for which my right hon. Friend's investment approval would need to be obtained.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what arrangements have been made for copies of the emergency handbooks used by operators at each site of (a) British Nuclear Fuels plc and (b) the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority to be deposited in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

Copies of the emergency plans for BNFL sites will be deposited as soon as practicable. The plans for the UKAEA sites at Dounreay and Winfrith have already been placed in the Library of the House and those for Harwell are expected to follow shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list initiatives by his Department which have been of benefit specifically to the north-east, north-west and Yorkshire and Humberside regions since 1979.

The Government's approach to energy matters is necessarily a national one designed to benefit all Britain's energy consumers producers and suppliers, many of whom are situated in the north-east, north-west and Yorkshire and Humberside regions.Our aim is that energy should be produced, supplied and used efficiently and economically. We need to build on Britain's considerable heritage of coal, oil and gas, and long experience in civil nuclear power to ensure a degree of diversity in supply. We aim to ensure that the energy economy works as efficiently as possible through the discipline of the market place and with suitable financial targets for nationalised industries. A further spur to efficiency will be the privatisation of British Gas.The improved efficiency of the gas and electricity industries has been shown clearly over the last three years. Domestic electricity and gas prices have fallen in real terms, electricity by 10 per cent. and gas by 7 per cent. In cash terms they have gone up by 2 per cent. per year for electricity and 3 per cent. per year for gas. Under the last Labour Government, electricity prices went up 11 times as fast and gas prices four times as fast. Examples of benefits attributable directly to the three regions are:

asked the Paymaster General how many claimants in Coventry have had their benefit suspended or ended by the availability for work test.

Revised procedures for testing availability for work were introduced in the Coventry area on 10 November. Since then benefit has been suspended in 23 cases, but no claims have yet been formally disallowed by the adjudication officers.

asked the Paymaster General what is the form of monitoring and report conducted by his Department or the Manpower Services Commission to establish how many people have found jobs, started self-employment, entered training or become involved in volunteer work, as either a direct result of restart or as a result of (a) advice given by restart interview staff, (b) use of a jobclub, or (c) advice from a restart course subsequent to volunteer work.

We have no means of knowing how many of those who have had a restart interview, or who have been on a restart course, subsequently find jobs, start self-employment, enter training or take up voluntary work. People have always ceased to claim benefit for those and other reasons at any time and will continue to do so.However, when people are referred direct from restart interviews to jobs, self-employment, training or voluntary work the employers or organisations and so on are asked about the result. When people leave jobclubs they are asked whether they are going into a job, training or some other opportunity. We cannot guarantee the completeness of our returns however. We do not have any means of following up every participant. There is no sensible reason why we should devote extra staff and resources to doing so.

asked the Paymaster General if he will state the latest estimate of the number of holidaymakers who did not come to the United Kingdom from the United States of America during 1986; and how this compares to the corresponding period of 1985.

Figures are not available for the number of people in the United States who planned to visit the United Kingdom on holiday either during 1985 or 1986, but who did not do so. Figures are available for the number of visitors who came to the United Kingdom from North America as a whole. During the first eight months of 1986 there were 1,991,000 visitors from this area, compared with 2,754,000 for the same period last year. This represents a fall of 27 per cent. Both the British Tourist Authority and British Airways report that bookings are now returning to forecast levels.

asked the Paymaster General how many people have applied for jobstart allowances and how many have been refused jobstart allowances, for each of the jobcentres at Billingham, Eston, Guisborough, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar, Saltburn, Stockton, Thornaby and Yarm.

Jobstart was piloted in nine areas of Great Britain from January 1986 to the end of June 1986. One of the pilot areas was Billingham and during that period 13 people applied for the allowance, of whom 12 were successful and one was rejected.Since 1 July 1986 jobstart has been extended nationally and the numbers of jobstart applications and rejections till 14 November 1986 for the offices requested are as follows:

	Applications	Rejections
Billingham	8	—
Eston	1	1
Guisborough	—	—
Hartlepool	5	2
Middlesbrough	28	7
Redcar	10	4
Saltburn	4	3
Stockton	9	—
Thornaby	1	1
Yarm	—	—
Total	66	18

asked the Paymaster General if he will list the size of his Department's advertising budget from each financial year since 1979; and if he will give the estimate for the next financial year.

[pursuant to his reply, 24 November 1986]: We do not have an advertising budget as such. For figures of expenditure on the promotion of employment and training schemes to the people intended to benefit from them, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson) on 19 November 1986, at column 216.We have not yet set a figure for estimated expenditure on such promotion in 1987–88.

asked the Paymaster General what has been the size of the budget for information and publicity staff of each financial year since 1979; and if he will detail the number of staff employed on this work over the same time span.

[pursuant to his reply, 24 November 1986]: For the number of staff employed on this work from 1979 until the present, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson) on 19 November, at column 217. Salary costs for these staff in 1985–86 were £455,000. Salary costs were not separately attributed to these staff in previous years.

asked the Paymaster General if, in the light of the letter to him dated 7 November from the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation (RADAR), he has anything to add to his reply, of 17 November, Official Report, column 66, regarding the effect on disabled people of the new guidelines on the availability for work test; why his earlier answer made no mention of the letter from RADAR; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 24 November 1986]: I confirm the information I gave in my reply of 17 November relating to disabled claimants. The new procedures will improve the arrangements whereby the sick, the handicapped and those who care for them can be directed to claiming the correct benefits. Although I said I had received no representations on the effect of the new guidelines on disabled people, this did not take account of the letter to me from RADAR. This did raise a point about eligibility for benefit and was provoked by our new arrangements, although I believe it was based on a mistaken understanding of the long-established relationship between invalidity benefit and unemployment benefit. I apologise for my failure to refer to this letter, to which I shall be replying shortly.

asked the Prime Minister if she knew from her discussions with her office on 7 January whether Department of Trade and Industry officials had asked for the disclosure of the letter from the Solicitor-General to the then Defence Secretary to be made from No. 10 Downing street; and if she will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 17 November 1986 at columns. 49–50.

asked the Prime Minister what information she has about the tonnage by which the United Kingdom owned and registered merchant trading fleet has been reduced in the past 12 months; what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the remaining fleet to meet the United Kingdom's national defence requirements, including those for civil resupply; and if she will make a statement.

The tonnage of this fleet decreased by 5·4 million dwt in the year ending September 1986.There are sufficient vessels to meet Ministry of Defence requirements. The ability of the fleet to meet those requirements is monitored closely by the Ministry of Defence and the Department of Transport. The availability of merchant shipping to meet civil supply needs has to be assessed in terms of the capability of NATO, since the Alliance has a long-standing agreement to pool its merchant shipping in war.

asked the Prime Minister what information she has about the present level of investment in the British-owned merchant fleet; and what assessment Her Majesty's Government have made of the adequacy of this for the creation of a future merchant fleet of a size and composition to meet the requirements of national defence partners.

In 1985 capital expenditure by the United Kingdom shipping industry on new and secondhand ships was £346 million net of disposals. In the first and second quarters of 1986, the figures were £89 million and £38 million respectively. These figures do not cover investment in ships owned by overseas subsidiaries and associate companies of United Kingdom concerns. Details were given in articles published in British Business on 5 and 26 September this year, copies of which are in the Library.The "Statement on the Defence Estimates" figures in 1986 reported that a study carried out by consultants last year of future trends for those parts of the merchant fleet for which there is a defence requirement, indicated that for the foreseeable future most of these requirements were likely to be met, and that the situation was being monitored closely. The requirements for civil supply have to be viewed in NATO terms, and take into account overall NATO demand and NATO supply including overseas registered shipping beneficially owned in NATO countries and other factors such as future investment and manning, NATO wide. We are pursuing these matters with our NATO allies.

asked the Prime Minister what information she has about trends in the size of the merchant shipping fleets of other member countries of the North Atlantic Alliance; and when she next expects to have an opportunity to discuss the defence implications of these trends with the leaders of the United Kingdom's North Atlantic Treaty Organisation partners.

In 1985 the total tonnage of the merchant fleets of NATO members fell by 30·7 million dwt.The NATO Planning Board for Ocean Shipping has drawn the attention of the North Atlantic Council to the implications for the Alliance of this trend, and indicated possible remedial measures. I anticipate an early discussion of the matter in the Council.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list in the Official Report the Government Departments responsible for the policy issues arising from the decline of the United Kingdom-owned and registered merchant fleet; and whether she is satisfied with the co-ordination between them.

The Department of Transport takes the lead in co-ordinating policies in respect of the United Kingdom merchant fleet, while other Departments may have a primary role in related policy areas. There is full co-ordination between Departments.

asked the Prime Minister if she will set out the current administrative responsibilities exercised by Her Majesty's Government towards the Baliwick of Guernsey, the Baliwick of Jersey, and the Isle of Man; if Her Majesty's Government have any plans to seek to alter the present constitutional relationships between the United Kingdom and these three Crown dependencies; and if she will make a statement.

The Crown has ultimate responsibility for the good government of the islands and acts through the Privy Council on the recommendations of Ministers of Her Majesty's Government. By long-standing constitutional convention, the islands legislate for their own domestic affairs, but Her Majesty's Government have responsibility for the defence and the international relations of these dependencies of the Crown. We have no plans to alter the present constitutional relationships.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 25 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 25 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 25 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 25 November.

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in this House I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I shall attend a dinner in support of the Somerville college appeal.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list the Government Departments which have responsibilities for the preservation of wild reptiles and amphibians; and whether there are plans to increase their powers and scope of responsibility.

The Government Departments which have responsibilities for the conservation of wild reptiles and amphibians are the Department of the Environment, the Scottish Office, the Welsh Office and the Department of the Environment (Northern Ireland). The Government rely for scientific advice on the conservation of these and other wildlife species on the Nature Conservancy Council. There are no plans at present to increase the powers and scope of responsibility of the foregoing Government Departments. It is possible by order to add to the list of protected animals and plants and others likely to be in danger of extinction.

asked the Attorney-General if he will prosecute the authors and publishers of the book, "Comic Relief" for blasphemy.

The investigation of any alleged criminal offence is a function of the police. If the hon. Member considers that an offence of blasphemy 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.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received from the General Synod of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland regarding the operation of the Anglo-Irish Agreement; and what has been his response.

I recently received a letter from the clerk of the General Assembly and general secretary of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, forwarding a resolution of the general board of the church. I shall reply to it shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funds his Department will make available to Harland and Wolff in 1986–87.

The Government have set the company's external financing limit, including trading losses and redundancy costs, at £68 million for 1986–87.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) for what offences the prisoner who miscarried in October at Her Majesty's prison, Maghaberry was being held in custody;(2) if he will outline the circumstances in which a prisoner in Her Majesty's prison, Maghaberry had a miscarriage in October.

[pursuant to his reply, 24 November 1986]: No prisoner miscarried in Maghaberry women's prison during the month of October. A prisoner who was committed to the prison on 27 October for seven days for non-payment of fines imposed for motoring offences was released on the following day on payment of the balance owing. It was subsequently reported in the press that she had a miscarriage on 29 October.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the practice of strip searching pregnant women in Her Majesty's prison, Maghaberry.

[pursuant to his reply, 24 November 1986]: All women prisoners are strip searched on initial reception and before discharge, and on certain other occasions; there are other circumstances in which searches are carried out on a random basis. Where a prisoner is known to be pregnant, a hospital officer is present during the search, but this did not happen in the case which gave rise to the question. However in this case, the prisoner was examined by the prison medical officer later on the day of her reception; no abnormalities were evident, and she made no complaints of any kind.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what medical or psychiatric evidence he has received concerning the extent to which strip searching was a contributory factor in the miscarriage of a prisoner in Her Majesty's prison Maghaberry in October.

[pursuant to his reply, 24 November 1986]: Naturally I regret that the woman should have had a miscarriage after her discharge from prison; but I am aware of no evidence to suggest that the searches carried out during the short period that she was in prison were in any way a contributory factor.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions a pregnant woman in Her Majesty's prison Maghaberry was subject to strip searches in the week before she miscarried; and if he will indicate the number of times over the previous seven days she was strip searched each day before her miscarriage.

[pursuant to his reply, 24 November 1986]: The prisoner was strip searched twice—on reception and prior to her discharge the following day.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what will be the spending of his Department on fees to outside consultants in the current year; and what it was in 1979–80 and in each intervening year.

[pursuant to his reply, 19 November 1986; c. 258]: The fees paid in the last two financial years are shown below together with the estimated expenditure for the current financial year. Information for the previous years would be available only at disproportionate cost.

	£
Expenditure 1984–85	4,723,025
Expenditure 1985–86	5,029,849
Estimated expenditure 1986–87	5,960,050

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the current level of educational lessons held at Holloway prison since the beginning of the current year; what is the number of such lessons cancelled because of staffing difficulties; how these figures compare with the two previous years; and if he will make a statement.

In the two months since the start of this academic year, 183 classes took place out of a planned total of 810. Prison officers, among other duties, escort prisoners to and from classes and supervise them. Cancellations of classes were due to the shortage of prison officers for such work. The comparable figures for September and October 1985 were 220 classes out of 927 and for the same period in 1984, out of approximately 800 proposed classes, none took place.As part of a review of the deployment of staff with a view to providing as positive a regime as possible at Holloway, new arrangements, taking advantage of the accommodation offered in the new education centre, are being implemented to allow greater flexibility in the deployment of prison officers supervising education activities. These arrangements are expected to reduce the number of occasions when all classes have to be cancelled and to increase the opportunities for prisoners to take part in education. In addition, vigorous action is in hand to deal with the basic problem of the shortage of prison officers at Holloway including an intensive recruitment campaign in the London area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) men and (b) women prisoners have been found hanged in their cells in each of the last five years.

The number of prisoners found hanged in prison establishments in England and Wales is as follows. Records held centrally do not show precise locations.

Year	Men	Women	Total
1981	18	—	18
1982	21	—	21
1983	22	—	22
1984	26	—	26
1985	27	1	28

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many baths, showers and toilets are available to prisoners in Wandsworth prison; how many baths or showers each prisoner is allowed per week; and how many changes of clothes each prisoner is allowed per week.

The numbers of baths, showers and toilets available are as follows:

	Numbers
Baths	14
Showers	58
WCs	201
Urinals	165

Each prisoner is normally allowed one shower per week and an additional shower when he makes use of the gymnasium. Additional showers are available for prisoners employed on jobs of a physically dirty nature. When appropriate for medical reasons a bath is available instead of a shower.Prisoners at Wandsworth have one change of clothes per week consisting of two shirts, one T-shirt, two pairs of socks, two pairs of underpants and two vests. Overclothing is changed as necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the maximum number of prisoners who can be employed in Wandsworth prison on any one day.

Seven hundred and twenty.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Prison Officers Association to ensure adequate staffing in prisons in England and Wales to seek to avoid the serious incidents that have recently taken place in prisons in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

It would be wrong for me to comment on the details or causes of incidents in Scottish prisons. Actions of those involved in these events may be the subject of criminal proceedings. As my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has announced, general complaints about conditions and the treatment of prisoners at Peterhead prison are to be the subject of a special investigation by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any proposals for introducing statutory time limits for the presentation of criminal trials in England and Wales.

Yes. Following field trials, we plan to introduce statutory time limits in three police areas—Avon and Somerset, Kent and the West Midlands—from 1 April next year. These limits will apply to the period for which an accused may be kept in custody—

(a) while awaiting summary trial or committal by a magistrates' court in proceedings for an indictable offence instituted in any of those areas on or after 1 April, or

(b) while awaiting trial in the Crown court at Bristol, Maidstone or Birmingham, having been committed on or after that date.

In the light of experience there we shall go on to apply custody limits throughout England and Wales. We have no immediate plans to exercise the powers to apply limits to periods when the accused is not in custody; these will come later.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to render it a criminal offence to use mobile electronic eavesdropping equipment to obtain confidential information from commercial organisations for the purposes of deriving financial gain from such information; and if he will make a statement.

As my predecessor announced in the House on 12 March 1985, at column 157, the Government intend, when an opportunity occurs, to introduce legislation based on the Law Commission's proposals that people who obtain information by "improper means"—which includes the use of mobile electronic eavesdropping equipment and other surveillance devices—would be subject to an obligation not to use or disclose that information. Under the Law Commission's proposals a person who breached this obligation would not be committing a criminal offence but would be liable at civil law to an action for breach of confidence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to extend restrictions on the use and sale of crossbows; and if he will make a statement.

We have been considering the matter, and my right hon. Friend will report our conclusions to the House shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the steps being taken to implement the recommendations of the report by Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons regarding Her Majesty's prison, Ashwell.

The report of Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons was published on 23 September 1986 with an accompanying statement by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, which outlined the action already taken to implement its observations. Work on implementing the report is continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have escaped from the cells of Salisbury magistrates', court and the old and new Crown court in Salisbury in each of the last five complete calendar years and in the current year to date; and if he will make a statement.

The only escapes from the cells of Salisbury magistrates', and Crown courts in the period concerned occurred from the Guildhall cells in 1985 and totalled three.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people currently serving sentences in prison have served more than 15, 20 and 25 years, respectively.

The latest readily available information is given in the table.

Population1 of prisoners in Prison Department establishments in England and Wales on 30 September 1986 whose initial reception under sentence was 15 years or more earlier
Time since initial reception under sentence into a Prison Department establishment2	Number of prisoners
	All	Recalled3
15 years but less than 20 years	119	31
20 years but less than 25 years	43	24
25 years and over	19	12
1The figures are those recorded centrally and are approximate; detailed checking of individual cases would involve disproportionate cost.
2Includes time spent on licence by prisoners recalled after having been released on licence.
3Prisoners who had been recalled after having been released on licence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people convicted of murder, and given a life sentence since the abolition of the death penalty, have subsequently been found to be innocent of the charge and pardoned.

No person convicted of murder since the coming into force of the Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty) Act 1965 has been granted a free pardon. Four men convicted of murder and given life sentences and one man convicted of murder and ordered to be detained during Her Majesty's pleasure have had their convictions quashed following a reference to the Court of Appeal by the Home Secretary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the working group on the use of firearms by the police to report to him.

We expect to receive the report very soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to meet the chairman of the Medical Research Council to discuss research funding; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend met the chairman and secretary of the Medical Research Council on 5 November for a general discussion about the work of the council. The chairman drew attention to the financial pressures on the council. There was then a short discussion before turning to other topics.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his Department's attitude towards conductive education for certain categories of disabled children; and what advice he is giving local education authorities on the desirability of enabling such children to receive conductive education.

Conductive education was developed in the context of the Hungarian educational system. The educational and other implications of introducing it here will need to be given very careful consideration before any encouragement can be given to the wider development of the system in this country. It is for the local education authority to decide what is the appropriate form of education for individual children who have special educational needs.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the meeting of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Dartford (Mr Dunn) on Thursday 13 November with representatives of Rapid Action for Conductive Education.

I was glad to have the opportunity to meet the representatives of Rapid Action for Conductive Education. They urged strongly that conductive education should be made generally available in this country for the benefit of disabled children and adults. In particular they requested that financial support should be given by central Government towards the four-year Anglo-Hungarian conductive education project which is to be established at Birmingham university. I assured them that their views would be given careful consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) whether the Medical Research Council has been informed of or is involved in any current or proposed research project into genetic handicap which necessitates or would necessitate the use of human embryo;(2) if he is aware of any publicly funded current or proposed research project into genetic handicap which involves or would involve the use of human embryo.

My right hon. Friend is not aware of any such work. I understand that the Medical Research Council is not involved in such work, nor is the council aware of any.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement concerning the future of Burton Manor college, Cheshire.

My right hon. Friend has considered a resolution submitted to him for confirmation by the governors of Burton Manor college seeking to terminate the agreement under which the college is administered. He did not regard it as a valid and effective resolution and therefore could not confirm it. He has invited representatives of the Liverpool local education authority and the college to discuss the future of the college with the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give directions under section 68 of the Education Act 1944 to Brent council to cease disciplinary proceedings against Miss McGoldrick.

My right hon. Friend could use his powers under section 68 only if he were satisfied that the authority was proposing to act unreasonably. The present position is that the ad hoc disciplinary sub-committee of the council's education committee is to meet shortly to consider whether or not to proceed with a disciplinary hearing. My right hon. Friend will consider the position in the light of the outcome.

United Kingdom visible trade balances—BOP basis, £ million
	1956	1966	1970	1979	1 21986
Manufactures	n.a.	+ 2,098	+ 2,562	+ 2,698	-5,194
Finished manufactures	n.a.	+ 1,707	+ 2,103	+ 1,964	-4,262
Precious stones	n.a.	n.a.	-47	-398	-80
Crude oil	n.a.	n.a.	-469	-685	+ 4,173
Total less crude oil	n.a.	n.a.	+ 435	-2,764	-11,922
1January—August.
2Seasonally adjusted, at an annual rate.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what information he has concerning the total value of cigarette sales in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years; and if he will state in each of those years what percentage of the total figures was represented by sales of United Kingdom produced cigarettes and what percentage by imported cigarettes;(2) what information he has concerning the percentage of the United Kingdom market supplied by United Kingdom manufactured cigarettes in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Annual figures of the total value of cigarettes sales are given in National Accounts Blue Book, Table 4.8, a copy of which is in the Library. Comparable data are not available for imports as the import figures exclude duty and are valued at the point of import not at retail prices. Information on the value of United Kingdom manufacturers' sales is available in Business Monitor PQ 4290. These are valued at manufacturers' sale prices not retail prices, but include duty paid and are therefore also not comparable with imports.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will introduce legislation to make school governing bodies the final arbiters on teacher disciplinary matters; and if he will make a statement.

The Education (No. 2) Act 1986 confirms that the power of teacher dismissal rests with the local education authority. That power can be exercised only after consulting the governing body and the head teacher. The power of suspension can be exercised by the governing body or the head teacher but a suspension must be ended at the direction of the local education authority. There are no plans to introduce new legislation on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for the first eight months of the current year at an annual rate the deficit on trade in (a) manufactures, (b) finished manufactures, (c) precious stones, (d) crude oil and (e) total trade less crude oil to the nearest £m; and if he will provide corresponding figures for (i) 1956, (ii) 1966, (iii) 1970 and (iv) 1979.

The available information is as follows:Information is therefore not available on the proportions of the total value of sales accounted for by United Kingdom produced cigarettes and by imported cigarettes. Information is, however, available in respect of the numbers of cigarettes released for consumption in the United Kingdom as compiled by HM Customs and Excise and is as follows:

Quantities of cigarettes released for home consumption
per cent.
	Proportion accounted for by imports	Proportion accounted for by United Kingdom manufacturers
1981	1·4	98·6
1982	1·7	98·3
1983	1·9	98·1
1984	6·4	93·6
1985	10·6	89·4
19861	11·4	88·6
1January to August.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has concerning the total number of cigarettes sold in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

The information available on quantities of cigarettes released for consumption in the United Kingdom as compiled by HM Customs and Excise is as follows:

Quantities of cigarettes released for home consumption
	Total clearances (million)
1981	109,822
1982	102,449
1983	102,611
1984	99,864
1985	99,070
19861	61,013
1January to August

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he intends to appoint inspectors to investigate the suspected insider dealing which preceded the bid by BTR for Pilkington on 20 November.

If and when I obtain information suggesting that insider dealing may have occurred, I shall take appropriate action, which might include appointing an inspector under section 177 of the Financial Services Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the provisions of schedule 12 of the Financial Services Act are likely to come into force.

The provisions will come into effect on 30 April. The necessary commencement order will be laid before the House shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the future funding of the British Overseas Trade Board.

The BOTB net expenditure budget has been set at the following levels for the next three years.

£ million
1987–88	1988–89	1989–90
27·7	28·3	28·0

The budgets for 1987–88 and 1988–89 are £1 million above the previously planned levels. No budget had previously been set for 1989–90.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many bankruptcies have occurred in Wales in each year from 1979 to 1986; if he will specify the size of the firms concerned, showing those employing (a) less than 20 workers, (b) between 20 and 50 workers, (c) between 50 and 100 workers and (d) over 100 workers; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 24 November; col. 8.]: The number of bankruptcies in Wales in each year from 1979 to 1986 is given in the table below. No records are kept of the numbers of employees of individuals and partnerships declared bankrupt.

Year	Number
1979	203
1980	231
1981	306
1982	334
1983	419
1984	547
1985	444
19861	352
1to September.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the proposals for a Community ship scrapping scheme put to the European Commission by the European Economic Community Shipowners' Association.

I have been asked to reply.We have noted these proposals, which will be fully considered in discussions within the Community aimed at strengthening the position of Community fleets and improving their competitiveness.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will set out the effects of the Chancellor's Autumn Statement on the construction and maintenance of national and local authority roads in Wales in 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89 and 1989–90, giving comparable figures for the public expenditure White Paper for January.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given on 17 November 1986 in reply to the hon. Members for Brecon and Radnor (Mr. Livsey) and Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Thomas), at columns 300–1.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how much has been spent per pupil in Welsh infant schools since 1980; and what are the figures for each local education authority in Wales.

Figures giving expenditure per pupil in infant schools in Wales are not separately available. The equivalent figures for primary schools are given in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, for 1985–86 and 1986–87 respectively, what is the total budget and estimated expenditure for each county in Wales under the all-Wales strategy for mentally handicapped people.

The information requested is given in the following table:

Approved grant and outturn expenditure reports 1985–86, 1986–87
	Approved grant 1985–86 £	Actual expenditure 1985–86 £	Approved grant 1986–87 £
Clwyd	669,000	591,900	829,000
Dyfed	310,000	221,400	664,600
Gwent	616,000	485,400	1,068,000
Gwynedd	1743,600	436,400	11,320,000
Mid Glamorgan	1996,300	673,100	11,762,000
Powys	268,600	187,700	360,000
South Glamorgan	735,000	706,700	825,000
West Glamorgan	783,000	762,400	900,000
Total	5,121,500	4,065,000	7,728,600
1Includes extra allocation for vanguard areas.

It it too soon to make reliable estimates of expenditure by counties in 1986–87.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the progress made so far under the all-Wales strategy for mentally handicapped people; and if he will make a statement.

All 10 plans prepared by counties have been approved. The Department is currently reviewing progress and we intend publishing the conclusions in the new year.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will state how many road improvement schemes on trunk roads in Wales have been abandoned during the past 12 months because acquisition of the necessary land would require a compulsory purchase order, although the Welsh Office had previously approved the scheme.

One, a small footway widening scheme on the A487 at Heol-y-Dur, Gwynedd.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will state which grants are available to soccer clubs in Wales to improve their grounds in order to minimise risks of crowd violence.

The Football Grounds Improvement Trust makes grants to clubs of the Football League, including the four Welsh clubs, for ground improvements. The Football Trust makes grants for a similar purpose to non-league clubs and has done so for four Welsh clubs to date.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many persons obtained spectacles through the National Health Service between 1 July and 30 September in Wales; and what was the comparable figure in the corresponding period in 1985.

Between 1 July and 30 September 1986, dispensing fees paid indicate that 16,157 persons were supplied with lenses; additionally 18,470 vouchers were issued for pairs of glasses. During the corresponding period in 1985, dispensing fees paid indicate that 30,400 persons were supplied with lenses.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many people are employed by the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service in Wales; what were the corresponding figures for the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

The number of people employed by the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service in Wales on 18 November was 326½.Information for earlier years can be provided only as at 1 April of each year. I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given by my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Newport, West, (Mr. Robinson) on 22 April 1986, at column 93.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his Department's estimate of the number of houses in multiple occupation in Wales.

It is estimated that there are approximately 11,700 houses in multiple occupation in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what proportions of dwellings in Wales unfit for human habitation are (a) privately owned and (b) owned by local authorities.

Ninety thousand nine hundred dwellings were quoted as being unfit for human habitation in the 1981 Welsh "House Condition Survey". Of these, 61 per cent. were owner-occupied and 4 per cent. were owned by local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library the result of question 96 of the schedule section M of the Welsh "House Condition Survey" of 1981.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if the 1986 Welsh house condition survey will be supplemented by a social survey.

Yes; the Welsh Office is conducting an inter-censal survey which will supplement the 1986 Welsh house condition survey.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report for each local authority in Wales his Department's estimate of (a) privately owned houses which are statutorily unfit for people to live in and (b) privately owned houses that are fit but in substantial disrepair.

The information required is not currently available at district level. Information at county level is published in the Welsh "House Condition Survey 1981", a copy of which is in the Library of the House of Commons.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if the 1986 Welsh "House Condition Survey"

£ thousand
	Cost of repurchase		Cost of reinstatement
	December 1984 to June 1986	April 1986 to June 1986	December 1984 to June 1986	April 1986 to June 1986
Aberconwy	—	—	—	—
Alyn and Deeside	43	—	—	—
Arfon	—	—	30	30
Blaenau Gwent	18	18	—	—
Brecknock	113	53	—	—
Cardiff	78	19	36	7
Carmathen	98	15	—	—
Ceredigion	—	—	—	—
Colwyn Bay	—	—	—	—
Cynon Valley	—	—	—	—
Delyn	16	—	—	—
Dinefwr	—	—	—	—
Dwyfor	—	—	—	—
Glyndwr	15	—	—	—
Islwyn	—	—	10	—
Llanelli	—	—	—	—
Lliw Valley	—	—	—	—
Meirionnydd	—	—	—	—
Merthyr Tydfil	—	—	—	—
Monmouth	356	24	12	—
Montgomeryshire	—	—	—	—
Neath	—	—	—	—
Newport	25	—	105	53
Ogwr	20	—	—	—
Port Talbot (Afan)	—	—	—	—
Preseli	86	—	—	—
Radnor	—	—	—	—
Rhondda	—	—	—	—
Rhuddlan	—	—	—	—
Rhymney Valley	—	—	249	46
South Pembrokeshire	14	—	9	—
Swansea	13	—	—	—
Taff-Ely	—	—	—	—
Torfaen	—	—	—	—
Vale of Glamorgan	36	36	159	87

Three thousand seven hundred dwellings were surveyed during the 1981 Welsh house condition survey. All these dwellings were included in the Welsh inter-censal survey 1986, and those 86 per cent. that were successfully interviewed were then included with the sample for the 1986 Welsh house condition survey. Revisiting dwellings surveyed in 1981 provides the best measure of the change in conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the net cost to date and in this financial year to the latest available date for each local housing authority in Wales of (a) refurbishment grants, (b) wholesale repurchases and (c) wholesale repurchases following rejection of a refurbishment grant application on the grounds of excessive cost under the Housing Defects Act 1984.