asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the incident that occurred prior to 8.30 am on Friday 28 November north of junction 16 on the M1 motorway between London and Wakefield and which caused severe congestion.

Severe traffic congestion was caused on M1, and throughout Northamptonshire, on 28 November as a result of a fire on an articulated lorry carrying cans of oil. The vehicle stopped on the northbound hard shoulder immediately north of junction 17 (M45). The fire quickly spread to the vehicle's load, and became extremely intense. Burning oil spread over three lanes of the motorway, badly damaging the road surface. Emergency services promptly brought the fire under control.The motorway was initially closed to northbound traffic, which was diverted via A45 and A5. Later some traffic was able to use the motorway while the road was resurfaced, though other traffic continued to be diverted. A short delay to southbound traffic was caused by smoke from the burning oil.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the outcome of the conference, "Transport Without Handicap, A Priority for Europe" on 1 and 2 December.

This conference, which was organised by the Department of Transport as one of the initiatives to mark the United Kingdom presidency of the European Community, brought together nearly 500 people from 13 countries of Europe to discuss recent developments and future needs in the field of transport for disabled people. Delegates and speakers included representatives of transport operators, local and national Governments, voluntary sector groups and a large number of disabled transport users.The conference provided a forum for an exchange of experience and expertise on a Europe wide basis and an opportunity to identify priority areas for future initiatives at both national and international levels.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to make available to a larger proportion of disabled people the facilities currently available through the mobility advice and vehicle information service.

The Department of Transport's mobility advice and vehicle information service provides advice and guidance to disabled people on driving and car adaptations. MAVIS was established a year ago, initially on a two-year pilot basis. Its operations are being closely monitored to establish the most effective way to make such advice available to disabled people throughout the country. The results of the monitoring and recommendations for future developments will be made in 1987.In addition, the Department of Transport will be holding the third mobility road show on June 12, 13 and 14 1987. This major international motor show for disabled people has, in previous years, attracted many thousands of disabled people from all over the United Kingdom and Europe to look at and test drive a wide range of vehicles.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many civil servants employed by his Department and engaged primarily on regional matters are based in (a) Yorkshire and Humberside, (b) the north-east and (c) the north-west.

The total number of officers employed by the Department at our regional offices in Leeds (Yorkshire and Humberside region), Manchester (north-west region) and Newcastle (northern region) was 353 on 1 October 1986. This figure includes 16 local government officers working full time for the Department. The details are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he proposes to introduce legislation to require motorists to take regular eye tests; and if he will make a statement.

No. Current legislation already places the responsibility on motorists to meet, at all times when driving, a standard of visual acuity equivalent to an ability to read a vehicle number plate from a distance of 75 ft for characters 34½ in high or 67 ft for characters 3⅛ in high. The number plate test is one that motorists can take for themselves at any time and can be readily used by the police for enforcement purposes. Motorists who have any doubts about their ability to satisfy the test should consult an optician for further advice.Research studies have not identified poor eyesight as a significant factor in accidents. There is no evidence to suggest that the present arrangements are failing to meet the requirements of road safety.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what representations he has received concerning the construction of new roads on stilts above railway lines; and if he will make a statement;(2) what consideration is being given to the construction of a motorway on stilts between central London and Gatwick airport; and if he will make a statement.

We have received suggestions from time to time but have no proposals for such schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what qualifications for those employed by temporary signing contractors on Britain's motorways are necessary to meet the road safety requirements of his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Detailed guidance on safety for both workmen and road users is contained in the various Departmental publications listed in trunk road management and maintenance notice 9/85, a copy of which is in the Library. Contractors are responsible for ensuring that the requirements are met and that their employees are trained accordingly.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the companies who tendered for temporary signing work on motorway contracts in Buckinghamshire during 1984, the level of each tender, and the price of the tender from the successful bidder.

The Department's agent, Buckinghamshire county council, did not invite separate tenders for temporary signing work on motorway contracts in 1984. Traffic management arrangements at major works were part of the responsibility of the main contractors.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the standard of the work carried out under the temporary signing contract on the Buckinghamshire section of the M1 during the 1984 major works.

The employer for these works was Buckinghamshire county council, the agent authority for this part of the M1. The temporary signing was sub-contracted by the main contractor. I understand that the county engineer was satisfied with the standard of work.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from the Association of County Councils concerning the regulations regarding the tendering by local authorities for signing work in respect of major works on motorways.

I am not aware of recent representations from the association on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether local authority repair and maintenance agencies are restricted from tendering for signing work for his Department during periods of major contracts on motorways.

Agent authorities' direct labour organisations may tender for work for the Department but have no powers to work as a sub-contractor to a private sector maintenance contractor.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what guidelines his Department issues to agencies doing contract work on behalf of his Department in respect of temporary signing work on motorway maintenance.

The Department issues detailed guidance in the form of standards, advice notes, manuals and site drawings. These publications are listed in the relevant trunk road management and maintenance notice (TRMM/9/85). A copy is in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will list the total cost of contraflow temporary signing on motorway contracts for the current year and the comparable figures for 1983, 1984 and 1985.

Temporary signing is often carried out as part of the main works contract. The cost is not recorded as a separate item.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what representations his Department has received from local authorities in respect of their ability to tender for motorway maintenance contracts; and if he will make a statement.

The Department has received no formal representations from local authorities on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what estimates his Department has made of the increase in traffic on the A34 through Newbury in 1988, 1990 and 1992, respectively.

The forecast traffic flows for the A34 near the Robin Hood roundabout (based on a 12-hour period on a weekday in May) are:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Newham, South on the funding of the docklands light railway eastern extension, Official Report, 1 December, column 617, he will place in the Library a copy of the text of the assurance he has received from the London Docklands Development Corporation concerning private funding of the extension.

I am unable to deposit the documents referred to as they contain commercially sensitive information. We believe that this part of the docklands light railway can and should be paid for out of the private and public sector development gains it is expected to generate.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he proposes to introduce legislation to authorise a new crossing of the Thames at Dartford; and if he will make a statement.

I announced proposals for the construction of a new, privately financed, bridge to be undertaken by Dartford River Crossing Ltd., the concession company, on 29 September. Since then the Department and the company have been discussing in detail the statutory and contractual arrangements which will govern the construction of the new bridge and the transfer and operation of the existing tunnels. Discussions have been required with interested third parties, including the county councils, the Port of London Authority, and local landowners.Many of these matters are novel and complex and it is important that we get them right. Nevertheless, good progress has been made, and I aim to introduce a Bill as early as possible after Christmas.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will now make available for independent assessment all the details of the incident at Berkley nuclear power station reported to the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate on 7 January 1983 and all the documents relating to the subsequent safety review;(2) if he will now make available for independent assessment all the details of the incident at Berkley nuclear power plant involving the discovery of environmental contamination on 25 September 1980 and all the documents relating to subsequent inquiries;(3) if he will now make available for independent assessment all the details of the discovery of weld defects at Berkley nuclear power station on 26 November 1980 and all the documents relating to subsequent inquiries;(4) if he will now make available for independent assessment all the details of the incident at Berkley nuclear power station involving radioactive contamination discovered during work begun in January 1981 to remove a discharge pipeline and all the documents relating to subsequent inquiries;(5) if he will now make available for independent assessment all the details of the incident at Berkley nuclear power station on 25 June 1981 involving radioactive contamination and all the documents relating to subsequent inquiries.

These incidents were independently assessed at the time by HM nuclear installations inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive. Descriptions of the incidents, and of the immediate subsequent investigation of the incident of 25 June 1981, are given in the HSE's quarterly reports for third and fourth quarters, 1980, first and second quarters 1981 and first quarter 1983. HMNII advises me that following the incident of 7 January 1983 a comprehensive safety review of the cranes was undertaken, leading to a programme of refurbishment, and that changed procedures were adopted to prevent damage to an operating reactor by an operating crane. They advise me that following the incident of 26 November 1980, remedial work was carried out on both reactors 1 and 2; and that the remainder of the disused pipeline exposed in January 1981 was removed under radiologically controlled conditions. All this work has also been assessed by HMNII, whose final agreement was required before the reactors could be restarted following the work on the defective bellows welds found on 26 November 1980; and is required before the operator will be permitted to resume normal operation with the cranes referred to in the report on 7 January 1983 incident.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list those currently employed by Her Majesty's Government to act as his political advisers.

I have no political advisers.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the number of aerogenerators of the largest size currently operating which would be required to generate 1,360 MW of electricity.

The largest aerogenerator currently operating in the United Kingdom is a 300 kW machine on Orkney. A total of 4,534 such machines would be required to generate 1,360 MW.Elsewhere in the world there is a small number of 3 MW machines and there is a 3-MW machine currently under construction on Orkney. A total of 454 3 MW machines would be required to generate 1,360 MW.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will direct the Falkland Islands Development Corporation to reverse its decision to reject Captain E. P. Carlisle's proposals for a ship-based slaughterhouse to be operated by a Falkland Islands company; and if he will make a statement.

No. The proposal has been fully considered by the Falkland Islands Development Corporation and I have no reason to ask for its decision to be reviewed.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if outgoing telephone calls from offices within the Palace of Westminster are logged on a computer.

In June 1985 the Services Committee decided that call information logging equipment should be fitted to the new Palace of Westminster electronic telephone exchange for system management purposes only. The information stored by this equipment can be accessed by only a severely restricted number of individuals, and there are no facilities for recording telephone conversations.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many associate specialists have been appointed in each health authority in Wales; and in what specialties; and what estimate he has of the actual financial saving to each authority.

Associate specialist posts are established with the approval of the central manpower committee. Costs are not a relevant factor in the determination of applications. Information on the overall

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many vasectomies were carried out by (a) junior hospital staff and (b) consultants and consultant surgeons in each of the health authorities in Wales in the past year for which details are available.

The available information is shown in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made with the proposed cardiac surgery unit at Morriston hospital near Swansea; and whether other centres for such procedure are envisaged within Wales.

There are no plans to develop a cardiac surgery unit at Morriston hospital, Swansea. A unit at Cardiff is being planned.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will enumerate the number of individuals registered with family practitioner committees within Wales that have received cardiac bypass surgery at hospitals outside the Principality in each of the past four individual years.

The information is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will detail the arrangements for cardiothoracic surgery within Wales, in addition to those at the university teaching hospital at Cardiff.

Facilities for thoracic surgery are available at Llandough hospital, Penarth.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the locations of specialist mammography centres in Wales, enumerating how many such procedures were carried out annually at each centre for the last three individual years for which figures are available.

Statistics on mammography tests are not held centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what funds voted for the purchase of specimens by the National Museum of Wales during 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85 and 1985–86 were vired for other purposes; and if he will specify the sums and the purposes for which authority to vire was granted.

The information requested is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales why it was necessary for any of the civil servants and local government officers in Wales who have been involved in compiling the Welsh housing condition survey to be required to sign a declaration under the Official Secrets Act; and whether this has been required for each of the previous Welsh housing surveys.

The signing of declarations was not required in the previous survey in 1981, but it is considered that it would be a breach of confidence if those acting on behalf of the Welsh Office in undertaking the housing condition survey disclosed personal information gained in the course of their duties. The signing of the declaration under the Official Secrets Act served as a reminder to those engaged on the survey work about the confidentiality of information acquired in official work.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the approximate target date for publication of the current Welsh housing condition survey; and whether the scope of the survey will report to any significant extent from the scope of previous such surveys.

It is hoped that publication of the 1986 Welsh house condition survey will take place in December 1987 or January 1988.The report of the survey will differ in extent from previous reports as results will be published at local authority district level.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many people involved in compiling the current Welsh housing condition survey have been required to sign a declaration under the Official Secrets Act.

One hundred and forty four.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the resolution 38/58C of the United Nations General Assembly on the proposal for an international peace conference on the middle east.

An international conference could be valuable if the gap between the parties can be narrowed and they can agree on the principle and nature of such a meeting. With the majority of our EC partners we abstained on this resolution because we believe that an immediate conference would not be productive if these conditions are not met.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why there has been no increase in grant to the United Nations Association in the past five years; and if he will increase the grant in future in real terms; and if he will make a statement.

The level of the grant-in-aid to the UNA is reviewed annually. The size of this grant together with those to other organisations has to be decided in the light of all the available information and of the limited resources available for all activities undertaken by the FCO. No absolute commitments can be given for future years.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the subject of the Falkland Islands has been discussed in the past 12 months in the context of European Economic Community political co-operation; what was the result of any such discussions; and if he will make a statement.

Our views on various aspects of the Falkland Islands question have been made plain to our partners. We have tended to use bilateral contacts for this purpose but my right hon. and learned Friend briefed his colleagues on 10 November on the Falkland. Islands interim conservation and management zone and our views on the Falklands vote at the UNGA have been made plain in the Political Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the other European Economic Community members voted in the recent United Nations resolution about the Falkland islands; and what explanation they have given to Her Majesty's Government for their attitude.

The majority of our European Community partners (Belgium, Denmark, Federal Republic of Germany, Republic of Ireland, Luxembourg and Portugal) abstained. French, Greek, Italian, Dutch and Spanish support for the resolution reflects a variety of considerations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what, for each diplomatic mission overseas, is the current (a) authorised establishment and (b) actual staffing level.

The current diplomatic and aid wing authorised United Kingdom-based establishment at each post overseas is:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs into what divisions the western hemisphere is divided for the administrative purposes of his Department; which nations each division covers; how many home-based staff are allocated to each; and of what grades.

The western hemisphere is divided for administrative purposes within the diplomatic wing of the FCO among five departments under an assistant under secretary. The nations each department covers and the allocation of home based staff to each are:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to take the lead in securing a United Nations embargo on the supply of arms to Iran and Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

No, we do not believe it would be effective. Our own very restrictive policy on defence sales to Iran and Iraq remains unchanged. We do not sell any defence equipment to either side which could significantly enhance their capability to prolong or exacerbate the conflict.

asked the Prime Minister when and by what means the chief information officer at the Department of Trade and Industry and the press secretary at No. 10 Downing street first became aware that a letter was to be sent by the Solicitor-General to the then Secretary of State for Defence alleging material inaccuracies in relation to Westlands.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he has taken following the terrorist attacks on the border at the Army/police station in Middletown on 23 November and at the Fane Valley Co-operative building at Newtownhamilton on 25 November; who were responsible for these terrorist attacks; whether the terrorists were operating from the territory of the Republic of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the security situation along the Irish/United Kingdom border.

These disgraceful attacks are the subject of investigations by the Royal Ulster Constabulary. Appropriate assistance is being sought from the Garda Siochana. Both are thought to have been the work of the Provisional IRA. In the attack at Middletown the mortar rounds were fired from a vehicle situated in the Republic of Ireland. The vehicle used to convey the bomb to the Fane Valley Co-operative building was hijacked in Northern Ireland shortly before the attack took place.Although much has been done to seek to reduce the level of terrorist activity in the border region the Government remain concerned at the security situation there, and measures are in hand on both sides of the border designed to bring about further improvements in the situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if, in the light of the Taoiseach's statement in London on 28 November that progress by the United Kingdom in the implementation of the Anglo-Irish Agreement would determine progress with the Republic's Extradition Bill, he will make representations to the Irish Government about their intentions with regard to the fulfilment of their obligations under paragraph 7 of the joint communiqué of the Anglo-Irish summit meeting of 15 November 1985, Cmnd. 9657; and if he will make a statement.

The Irish Government are well aware of our views on the desirability of early ratification of the European convention on the suppression of terrorism, and we understand their desire to enact legislation designed to bring this about.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will direct the London residuary body to observe the recommendations contained in his Department's circular 23/83 with regard to its role as landlord of land occupied by showmen; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made about the effect on the revenue of the creation of simplified planning zones; and if he will make a statement.

Simplified planning zones will have no direct effect on central Government revenue. Local planning authorities will not receive the fees which would have been payable on making planning applications for development authorised by simplified planning zone schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list any recommendations currently being considered by his Department concerning the acceptable level of list I and list II substances in dredged materials to be disposed of in the North sea;(2) what concentrations of list I and list II substances are regarded as acceptable levels of contamination in dredged materials to be disposed of in the North sea.

I have been asked to reply.In the context of both the Oslo and London dumping conventions, to which the United Kingdom is a signatory, guidelines for the disposal of dredged materials were adopted this year which prescribe the conditions under which licences may be issued for the sea disposal of dredged materials. Whilst the guidelines do not set numerical limits on the levels of Annex I and II substances, they indicate the factors to be taken into account in assessing whether or not the environmental impact of contaminated spoils is acceptable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy on the amounts of list I/black list substances which render sewage sludge unsuitable for sea disposal.

I have been asked to reply.These substances may not be disposed of at sea except where they occur in, for example, sewage sludge as trace contaminants. In deciding on particular cases, in accordance with the relevant international conventions, my Ministry takes full account of the need to protect the marine environment, its living resources, human health and of her relevant factors.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will consider bringing in provisions of the Financial Services Act relating to the conduct of investment business in the United Kingdom without a licence, with immediate effect; and if he will make a statement.

It would not be possible to implement immediately the provisions which require investment businesses to be authorised, because it is necessary first to give such businesses an opportunity to obtain authorisation. Our intention is that the agency should be designated, the self-regulating organisations and professional bodies recognised and an interval allowed for businesses to apply to them, before bringing into force the requirement to be authorised. I hope that it will be possible to complete the last of these stages during the second half of 1987.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish his latest figure for the amount of regional development grant and regional selective assistance paid out for each regional area covered by grant aid for 1984–85, 1985–86 and so far in 1986–87.

The payments of regional development grant¹ made in each region of England and in Scotland and Wales in 1984–85, 1985–86 and 1986–87 to date are:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what is his budgeted figure for payments in (a) regional development grant and (b) regional selective assistance; and what is his best estimate of the amounts due;(2) if he has any plans for any further moratorium on the payment of regional development grant; and if he will give details of any such plans.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many people were employed in merchant shipbuilding in 1979 and in the most recent year for which figures are available in (a) Great Britain, (b) the United Kingdom, (c) France, (d) Germany, (e) Italy and (f) the European Economic Community as a whole.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much shipbuilding intervention fund support has been paid out in each year since 1977, and in total, to each of the member countries of the European Community.

There is no support for merchant shipbuilding paid to Member countries from European Community funds. Each member state administers a regime of aid that is agreed with the European Commission within the framework of successive Council directives on shipbuilding aids. For the United Kingdom, Her Majesty's Government have made the following payments to merchant shipbuilding yards from the shipbuilding intervention fund:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of world orders has been won by British shipbuilding yards in 1985 and so far in 1986.

During 1985, United Kingdom shipbuilding yards won 2·7 per cent. of world new orders for merchant ships. During the first six months of 1986, United Kingdom yards have won 1·6 per cent. of world orders.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of orders placed by British shipowners has been placed in Britain in 1985 and so far in 1986.

During 1985, 61 per cent. of new orders for the United Kingdom flag were placed in United Kingdom yards. During the first six months of 1986, 78 per cent. of new orders for the United Kingdom flag were placed in United Kingdom yards.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the numbers employed in each of the yards of British Shipbuilders in 1979, the numbers employed currently, and the number to be employed in April 1987.

The information is as follows. The figures for 1979 include employment at companies since sold or closed:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the current orders of British Shipbuilders and the date of completion.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his latest figure for the gross domestic product per head of each regional area expressed both in 1986 prices and as a proportion of the south-east for (a) 1979 and (b) the latest year for which figures are available.

The information requested is:

The following is the information: