asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the workings of section 356 of the Companies Act 1985 which requires firms to supply lists of names and addresses of their shareholders; if the Government will review the workings of the section; and if he will list the firms that have made representations to him about the section.

I am aware that section 356 of the Companies Act 1985 has been used to obtain lists of shareholders in return for a nominal fee and that this has involved the companies concerned in expense and inconvenience. In a recent consultative document on the delivery of annual accounts and returns, the Department invited views by 22 December on this question. Some replies have already been received. Otherwise no representations by firms had been made to my Department this year. If the hon. Member has any suggestions, I shall be interested to study them.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what evaluation he has made of the use by industrial and commercial counterfeiters of the United Kingdom as a base for the production and export of counterfeit goods;(2) whether he plans to seek to amend the law on industrial and commercial counterfeiting;(3) what recent representations he has received about industrial and commercial counterfeiting;(4) what consultations he is having with EEC partners over the harmonisation of legislation which expressly covers the forgery or counterfeiting of a trade mark.

The production of counterfeit goods is a covert activity on which there is no firm information. I have received representations suggesting that such production is increasing in the United Kingdom and that the forgery of a trade mark and certain related activities should be made criminal offences. These representations are being carefully considered.Consultations with our EC partners have been undertaken in the context of the current GATT negotiations and the Community regulation on counterfeit goods which was adopted at the Internal Market Council on 1 December 1986 and which will come into force in January 1988.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many times in the past five years the authorities were unable to bring prosecutions over alleged industrial or commercial counterfeiting cases because the relevant legislation did not permit them to press charges.

This information is not readily available and its production would involve disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will withdraw the ban on sales of nuclear, biological and chemical warfare protective clothing to Iran pending a decision on the imposition of a similar ban by all European Community countries; and if he will make a statement.

Exports of such clothing are controlled to all destinations under the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1985. Decisions on applications for licences to export defence equipment to Iran and Iraq take account of the guidelines announced in the House by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 29 October 1985.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many payments have been made in the iron and steel employees readaption benefits scheme; how many payments are outstanding for (a) one, (b) two, (c) three or (d) more than three months; what steps are being taken to speed up payments; if all arrears of payment will be cleared by Christmas; and if Her Majesty's Government are benefiting from the interest earned on the late payment of moneys due under this scheme.

I regret that the information requested is not available in the form requested. I shall he writing to the hon. Member shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last had discussions with either British Aerospace or Airbus Industrie on the A330 and A340 projects; and if he will make it his policy to make a statement on this matter to the House at the earliest possible moment.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry last had discussions including the airbus A330 and A340 project with representatives of British Aerospace on 11 November. I had further discussions on this subject with British Aerospace on 8 December. My last discussion of the airbus A330 and A340 project with representatives of Airbus Industrie took place on 5 September. The House will be informed on the question of British Aerospace's application for launch aid in respect of the proposed airbus A330 and A340 programme as soon as a decision is reached. I would expect this to be during the first quarter of next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he proposes to take in respect of the resumed broadcasting to the east of England by the offshore Radio Laser on 576 metres.

We are concerned about the re-emergence of Radio Laser which operates from a ship anchored in international waters. It is an offence under the Marine Etc Broadcasting (Offences) Act 1967 for anyone in the United Kingdom or a British national to assist in or be involved with a broadcasting station operating from the high seas. Prosecutions under the Act are the responsibility of the Director of Public Prosecutions to whom my Department reports any evidence it obtains on possible offenders. My Department will also continue to pursue with other European countries its efforts to fulfil our international obligation to prevent broadcasting from ships outside national territories.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when Her Majesty's Government first became aware that a submarine ship lift constructed by Anols (NEI) for the Italian company Improglio was going to Libya.

The manufacturer contacted the Department of Trade and Industry in July 1985.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the criteria whereby equipment ordered for Libya is designated as for the purposes of defence; and if he will make a statement on the number of occasions on which permission to supply the Libyan Government with such equipment has been refused.

Goods subject to export control are specified in the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1985 (S.I. 1985, No. 849), as amended. Items subject to control as military goods are listed in group I, part II, of schedule I of the order. Since March 1985 seven applications for licences to export such equipment to Libya have been refused.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the departmental inspectors who will be appointed in terms of section 7 of the Lawnmower (Harmonisation of Noise Emission Standards) Regulations to carry out periodic inspections of lawnmower noise will have responsibility for inspection in the Isle of Man and Channel Isles; and if he will make a statement.

The Lawnmower (Harmonisation of Noise Emission Standards) Regulations give the Secretary of State powers to carry out periodic checks in Great Britain. The powers do not extend to the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements he is making for residents of the Isle of Man and the Channel Isles to have their lawnmowers tested under the Lawnmower (Harmonisation of Noise Emission Standards) Regulations; and if he will make a statement.

The Lawnmower (Harmonisation of Noise Emission Standards) Regulations do not apply to the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. However, I would point out to my hon. Friend that it is not necessary under these regulations to make arrangements for any residents in Great Britain apart from manufacturers, their agents or importers to have their lawnmowers noise tested.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has discussed with the Economic Community Commission the Government's plans for Leyland Bus and Leyland Trucks.

As I told the House on 2 December, negotiations are proceeding for the sale of Leyland Bus and various options are under consideration regarding the future of Leyland Trucks. In this connection I have now notified the Commission under article 93(3) of the treaty of Rome that, when decisions are taken, the Government propose to deal with the historic debt in these companies and with any necessary restructuring costs.The Government will take forward this notification with the Commission in the light of progress on the commercial negotiations. I will keep the House informed.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps have been taken by the Export Credits Guarantee Department to limit its exposure to interest rate movements arising under interest support agreements entered into with banks involved in the fixed rate export finance scheme.

The fixed rate export finance (FREF) scheme enables medium and long term finance to be provided in support of United Kingdom capital goods exports at fixed interest rates. This is achieved by ECGD's undertaking to make up to the banks any shortfall between the fixed rates and their floating rate cost of funds plus a margin. ECGD's obligations under these arrangements are open-ended.In recent months ECGD has fixed its interest rate exposure on a substantial proportion of its liabilities under the FREF scheme by recourse to the commercial interest rate swap market. To date, the Department has hedged its interest rate exposure in relation to US$2 billion of loans guaranteed under the foreign currency FREF scheme. Although the Department's current swap programme is now complete, further hedging operations may be undertaken at some stage in the future.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the statistics for each division of the Metropolitan police for searches made, arrests made, road checks made and persons detained under part IV of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, persons detained under a warrant of further detention and intimate searches in the same form for each division as are published in the Home Office statistical bulletin and such periods of 1986 for which statistics are currently available.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a question by the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) on 28 October 1986, at column 87. When the annual figures become available I will place in the Library the divisional breakdown for the Metropolitan police.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the police clear-up rate for murder cases for the latest year for which figures are available.

In cases of homicide it is not possible in the absence of a court decision to distinguish between offences of murder, manslaughter and infanticide. In England and Wales in 1985 the ratio of offences of homicide cleared up to offences of homicide recorded in the same year was 96 per cent. Some offences are recorded and cleared up in different years. Statistics of homicides recorded and cleared up are published annually in chapter 2 of the Cmnd. Paper "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales".

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has amended or has any plans to amend the Maxwell Fyfe directive of 1952.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent considerations he has given to the introduction of limited Sunday race meetings.

I recently met representatives of the Jockey Club and the chairman of the Horserace Totalisator Board to hear their views on Sunday racing and betting, and I now await the report of the working party set up by the Jockey Club. In a speech at York on 9 December I mentioned my personal support for the principle of Sunday racing, but emphasised that this would in practice require a change in the law, and that much preparation for such a change would be needed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the efficiency and workings of his Department's accounting and financial management system in relation to the funding of the Metropolitan police; and if he will make a statement.

The efficiency and effectiveness of the accounting and financial management systems is regularly examined as part of the process of financial planning monitoring and control.

Prisoners aged under 17 held in remand centres and local prisons in England and Wales on 30 September 1986; by establishment, sex and type of prisoner
Number1
	Untried		Convicted unsentenced		Sentenced		Total
Establishment	Males	Females	Males	Females	Males	Females	Males	Females
Remand centres
Ashford	2	—	—	—	—	—	2	—
Brockhill	14	—	9	—	1	—	24	—
Cardiff	1	—	1	—	—	—	2	—
Chelmsford	—	—	1	—	—	—	1	—
Dorchester	1	—	—	—	1	—	2	—
Exeter	7	—	—	—	—	—	7	—
Glen Parva	7	—	3	—	4	—	14	—
Hull	14	—	6	—	11	—	31	—
Latchmere House	30	—	5	—	7	—	42	—

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy on combating the incidence of racially motivated attacks; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Government's reply, published last week (Cmnd. 45), to the recent report of the Home Affairs Committee on racial attacks and harassment. We continue to give full support to the police and other local agencies in their efforts to combat racial attacks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visitors to the United Kingdom, holding a visitor's visa, have been stripped and searched at terminals 3 and 4 at Heathrow airport, by immigration staff, in the current year to date.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received on lowering the age of consent for homosexual acts to 16 years of age, and from whom, in the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

We have received numerous representations on the age of consent for homosexual acts in the last five years. The number of these which specifically propose or oppose reduction in the age of consent to 16 could be ascertained only at disproportionate cost. We have no plans to introduce legislation to change the age of consent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many (a) males and (b) females under the age of 17 years were remanded in custody in jails at the latest available date;(2) if he will list by remand jail the number of juveniles held in custody at the latest available date.

The latest available information is given in the table.

	Untried		Convicted unsentenced		Sentenced		Total
Establishment	Males	Females	Males	Females	Males	Females	Males	Females
Low Newton	16	—	2	—	13	1	31	1
Manchester	11	—	—	—	—	—	11	—
Norwich	3	—	—	—	2	—	5	—
Pucklechurch	2	—	1	—	—	—	3	—
Risley	8	—	3	—	1	—	12	—
Swansea	1	—	—	—	—	—	1	—
Winchester	2	—	—	—	1	—	3	—
Local prisons	3	—	1	—	20	—	24	—
All remand centres and local prisons	122	—	32	—	61	1	215	1
1 Figures held centrally are approximate; checking of individual cases would involve disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice or representations he has received from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees in connection with the return to Iran of Iranian nationals in Britain; and if he will make a statement.

Following the meetings held by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and myself with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr. Hocke, on 28 October, I have received a letter from UNHCR's representative in London, Mr. Volfing, taking up the question of Iranian asylum seekers in this country to which I shall be replying shortly.The Government are continuing to respond generously to Iranians who have reason to fear return to Iran. However, we do not accept and have never accepted that all Iranians should be allowed to remain here regardless of their circumstances. Liability to conscription is not recognised under the United Nations convention on refugees as a basis for refugee status and we do not regard it as grounds for the grant of exceptional leave. Nevertheless, we are willing to look at individual cases together with any evidence that Iranians returning from abroad are being treated more harshly than other conscripts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East of 14 November concerning Mr. Stephen Beaufoy of Coventry.

A reply was sent on 12 December.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he proposes to take on the recommendation in the report of the court escort scrutiny for changes in the statutory provisions governing remand in custody pending summary trial or committal.

A consultation document is being published today. Copies have been placed in the Vote Office and in the Library. The document describes the existing statutory arrangements and the proposals made in the report of the court escort scrutiny, and invites comments by 31 January 1987 on possible changes in the statutory provisions.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland which police forces other than the Northern Constabulary were involved in the investigations into the death of Mr. William McCrae in April 1985; at what stage they became involved; and at whose invitation.

The investigation into the death of Mr. William McCrae was carried out by officers of Northern Constabulary. No other police forces were involved in the investigation of the death except insofar as to assist in obtaining statements of witnesses residing outwith the Northern Constabulary area.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland at what stage and at whose invitation the special branch was involved in the investigation into the death of Mr. William McCrae in April 1985.

Special Branch was not involved in the investigation into the death of Mr. William McCrae.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the superannuation arrangements of retired members of the security service.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Mr. McNair-Wilson) on 4 December at column 728.

asked the Prime Minister whether the financial management initiative, in respect of non-departmental public bodies which was set out in the report published by the Cabinet Office in collaboration with the Treasury financial management unit in November 1984, remains on course for the main programme to be completed by all Departments in the life of the present Parliament and not later than April 1987; and if she will make a statement.

Following the financial management unit's report, I announced in November 1984 a programme of work aimed at producing progressive value for money improvements in non-departmental public bodies. By April 1986 departments had completed reviews of financial management in approximately half of all executive bodies and we are on course to complete the main programme of work by April 1987.

asked the Prime Minister if a copy of the Solicitor-General's letter of 6 January to the then Secretary of State for Defence was shown to her chief press secretary before officials from the Department of Trade and Industry contacted her Office about bringing the letter into the public domain.

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

asked the Prime Minister what arrangements exist between the Department of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Defence for the screening of contracts for Libya with possible military applications.

The Department of Trade and Industry seeks the advice of the Ministry of Defence on all export licence applications for military equipment as specified in group I of part II of schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1985 as amended; and on all applications for licences to export other controlled goods to a military end user.

asked the Prime Minister, pursuant to her answer of 27 November, Official Report, columns 299 and 300, why she will not refer to the Security Commission the matters published in the magazine Lobster by Robin Ramsey and Stephen Dorrell in respect of action taken by the security services against Her Majesty's Government from 1974 to 1976; and if she will make a statement.

I have nothing furher to add to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, North (Mr. McNamara) on 27 November 1986, at cols. 299 and 300, or to the points made by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 3 December 1986, at col. 941.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will now update the information given in her letter of 22 July to the hon. Member for Tiverton as to central Government finance for books, equipment and other costs incurred in introducing the general certificate of secondary education in the county of Devon, to be paid before the end of the present financial year, and broken down as between payments by the Department of Education and the Manpower Services Commission, and similar information for the following financial year.

In my letter of 22 July I set out the expenditure ceiling, £277,500, for the GCSE for which education support grant (ESG) is available in this financial year to Devon local authority. That figure remains unchanged. Devon's allocation of grant from the MSC, for scientific and technological equipment, is £95,100 in this financial year.

asked the Attorney-General if he will update the list of those prosecuted under sections 1 and 2 of the Official Secrets Act 1911 in the same format as in the answer given to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras on 9 February 1985,Official Report, column 350, and to list any cases that have been prosecuted under other Official Secrets legislation.

Details of proceedings undertaken under sections 1 and 2 of the Official Secrets Act 1911 since 28 January 1985 set out in the manner of appendix II of the Franks report are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many jobs have been lost in the whisky industry in Scotland in each of the past seven years; and if he will provide a breakdown of the figures by location.

Information in the form requested is not available, but the estimated changes in the number employed in each of the years 1978 to 1984 from each previous year, in the spirit distilling and compounding industry in Scotland are 0,—700,— 2,000,— 1,900,— 2,100 and—1,100 respectively. Estimates of numbers employed in each year are based on the annual census of production. Estimates for 1985 and 1986 are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the average number of people unemployed annually in Greenock and Port Glasgow in each year since 1979.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 31 October 1986 at columns 196–7.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the latest unemployment figures for Greenock and Port Glasgow in the Official Report by district council ward boundary.

On 9 October 1986, the latest date for which information is available, the number of unemployed claimants in each electoral ward of the Greenock and Port Glasgow parliamentary constituency was as shown in the table. This information is available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish figures showing unemployment by age group in Greenock and Port Glasgow.

On 9 October 1986, the latest date for which information is available, the number of unemployed claimants by age group in the Greenock and Port Glasgow parliamentary constituency was as shown in the table. This information is available in the Library.

Age Group	Number of Unemployed Claimants
under 17	177
17	377
18	391
19	374
20–24	1,675
25–29	1,145
30–34	864
35–39	802
40–44	709
45–49	689
50–54	590
55–59	669
60 and over	112
Total	8,574

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the average length of time a person spends on the unemployment register in Greenock and Port Glasgow in each year since 1980.

The information is not available in the precise form requested. The table relates to unemployed claimants who had completed a period of unemployment in the Greenock and Port Glasgow parliamentary constituency in October each year from 1983. This information is available in the Library.

Year (October)	Median Length of Unemployment (weeks)
1983	12·8
1984	13·5
1985	9·1
1986	11·5

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many school leavers under the age of 18 years have never had a job since leaving school in Greenock and Port Glasgow.

On 9 October 1986, the latest date for which information is available, the number of school leavers under the age of 18 years, who had never had a job since leaving school, in the Greenock and Port Glasgow parliamentary constituency, totalled 434. This information is available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each local authority (a) the rate support grant at settlement spending assumption for 1987–88, (b) in 1986

	(1) Needs element proposed for 1987–88	(2) Needs element 1978–79 in 1986 prices	(3) Difference column (1)—(2)	(4) Percentage change Per cent.
REGIONS
Borders	31·496152	27·607927	3·888225	14·1
Central	67·632605	69·313193	-1·680588	-2·4
Dumfries	43·281554	36·371754	6·9098	19·0
Fife	89·18089	84·448342	4·732548	5·6
Grampian	134·273126	116·376434	17·896692	15·4
Highland	79·365402	70·076481	9·288921	13·3
Lothian	168·980574	191·105748	-22·125174	-11·6
Strathclyde	701·098354	738·243778	-37·145424	-5·0
Tayside	102·760163	99·843205	2·916958	2·9
ISLANDS
Orkney	9·101088	7·682173	1·418915	18·5
Shetland	10·7472	9·143642	1·603558	17·5
Western Isles	22·411306	16·555499	5·855807	35·4
DISTRICTS
Berwick	0·213835	0·311359	-0·097524	-31·3
Ettrick	0·383018	0·56636	-0·183342	-32·4
Roxburgh	0·887561	0·618276	0·269285	43·6
Tweeddale	0·166888	0·263142	-0·096254	-36·6
Clackmannan	0·549295	1·072759	-0·523464	-48·8
Falkirk	1·650467	3·211921	-1·561454	-48·6
Stirling	0·933493	1·418053	-0·48456	-34·2
Annandale	0·413507	-·533122	-0·119615	-22·4
Nithsdale	0·657168	1·068997	-0·411829	-38·5
Stewarty	0·265232	0·411124	-0·145892	-35·5
Wigtown	0·34971	0·500655	-0·150945	-30·1
Dunfermlin	1·485223	2·722175	-1·236952	-45·4
Kirkcaldy	1·953516	3·254813	-1·301297	-40·0
North East Fife	0·75901	1·146439	-0·387429	-33·8
Aberdeen	4·18052	5·307477	-1·126957	-21·2
Banff	0·958713	1·302544	-0·343831	-26·4
Gordon	0·80697	0·920944	-0·113974	-12·4
Kincardine	0·537904	0·748435	-0·210531	-28·1
Moray	0·977378	1·354433	-0·377055	-27·8
Badenoch	0·120125	0·17849	-0·058365	-32·7
Caithness	0·478375	0·409665	0·06871	16·8
Inverness	0·676472	0·925813	-0·249341	-26·9
Lochaber	0·284064	0·440581	-0·156517	-35·5
Nairn	0·117071	0·123999	-0·006928	-5·6
Ross and Cromarty	1·028758	0·811752	0·217006	26·7
Skye and Lewis	0·237359	0·184375	0·052984	28·7
Sutherland	0·405867	0·251016	0·154851	61·7
East Lothian	0·944896	1·078209	-0·133313	-12·4
Edinburgh	12·513104	11·179539	1·333565	11·9
Midlothian	0·936546	1·447104	-0·510558	-35·3
West Lothian	1·63173	2·177522	-0·545792	-25·1
Argyll and Bute	2·630941	1·406628	1·224313	87·0
Bearsden	0·55918	0·884824	-0·325644	-36·8
Clydebank	3·073173	1·545087	1·528086	98·9
Clydesdale	0·669933	0·853253	-0·18332	-21·5

The figures show for each local authority the needs element of rate support grant proposed for 1987–88, the needs element paid in 1978–79 at 1986 prices, the absolute difference between the two figures and the percentage difference between the two figures for each authority. The GDP deflator is used to convert the figures for 1978–79 from cash to constant prices. The figures for 1987–88 are proposals which have still to be discussed with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities. Local authorities will also receive resource element to compensate for differences in rateable resources and domestic element to provide domestic rate relief.

	(1) Needs element proposed for 1987–88	(2) Needs element 1978–79 in 1986 prices	(3) Difference column (1)—(2)	(4) Percentage change Per cent.
Cumbernauld	0·724204	1·336109	-0·611905	-45·0
Cumnock	0·912041	0·750671	0·16137	21·5
Cunninghame	1·932617	2·605019	-0·672402	-25·8
Dumbarton	1·006527	1·555735	-0·549208	-35·3
East Kilbride	0·94209	1·636653	-0·694563	-42·4
Eastwood	0·638522	0·97835	-0·339828	-34·7
Glasgow	42·497882	24·259475	18·238407	75·2
Hamilton	1·237428	2·489937	-1·252509	-50·3
Inverclyde	2·453304	2·471883	-0·018579	-0·8
Kilmarnock	1·012858	1·588	-0·575142	-36·2
Kyle and Carrick	1·374805	2·182713	-0·807908	-37·0
Monklands	2·466506	2·609833	-0·143327	-5·5
Motherwell	2·354567	3·61693	-1·262363	-34·9
Renfrew	4·396435	4·886487	-0·490052	-10·0
South Kelvin	1·111105	1·591734	-0·480629	-30·2
Angus	1·084667	1·806724	-0·722057	-40·0
Dundee	5·741682	4·71791	1·023772	21·7
Perth and Kinross	1·407344	1·917441	-0·510097	-26·6
Total	1578·060000	1580·400665	-2·340665	-0·1

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report all the urban aid projects in the GEAR area of Glasgow which

Project	Staff employed		Estimated value of total expenditure approved up to 1986–87
	Full time	Part time	Capital £	Current £
GEAR Home Visiting Project	2	1	650	116,250
GEAR Alcohol Information Centre	2	1	43,000	108,960
GEAR Unit for Mentally and Physically Handicapped	4	—	25,000	162,200
Daycare for the Elderly Parkhead	5	3	84,980	274,200
Trident GEAR	2	—	1,000	156,520
Boys Leader, St. Francis in the East, Youth Centre	1	—	—	62,860
Home Support/Day Care GEAR (part project)	12	11	—	389,400
	18	6	154,630	1,270,390
1 Plus sessional staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list, by individual local authority, the number of urban aid applications (a) approved, (b)

Authority	Total	Approved		Refused		Withdrawn		Under con-sideration in SDD		Awaiting further information from LA
		No.	%	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
Central RC	21	6	28	14	67	1	5	—	—	—	—
Dumfries and Galloway RC	1	—	—	1	100	—	—	—	—	—	—
Fife RC	9	4	44	5	55	—	—	—	—	—	—
Grampian RC	7	3	43	4	57	—	—	—	—	—	—
Highland RC	2	—	—	2	100	—	—	—	—	—	—
Lothian RC	9	5	55	4	44	—	—	—	—	—	—
Strathclyde RC	392	283	72	49	13	12	3	9	2	39	10
Tayside RC	21	6	26	14	67	1	5	—	—	—	—
Aberdeen DC	6	—	—	4	67	—	—	—	—	2	33
Angus DC	1	1	100	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Clydebank DC	11	3	27	8	73	—	—	—	—	—	—
Cunninghame DC	5	2	40	3	60	—	—	—	—	—	—

The information is as follows:refused and

The information for 1986–87 is as follows:

Authority	Total	Approved		Refused		Withdrawn		Under con-sideration in SDD		Awaiting further information from LA
		No.	%	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
Dumbarton DC	10	1	10	9	90	—	—	—	—	—	—
Dundee DC	7	5	71	2	29	—	—	—	—	—	—
Falkirk DC	1	—	—	—	—	1	100	—	—	—	—
Glasgow DC	49	35	71	13	27	1	2	—	—	—	—
Hamilton DC	2	1	50	1	50	—	—	—	—	—	—
Inverclyde DC	13	3	23	10	77	—	—	—	—	—	—
Inverness DC	1	1	100	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Kilmarnock and Loudoun DC	2	2	100	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Kyle and Carrick DC	1	—	—	1	100	—	—	—	—	—	—
Monklands DC	26	7	27	19	73	—	—	—	—	—	—
Motherwell DC	2	—	—	2	100	—	—	—	—	—	—
Nithsdale DC	1	—	—	1	100	—	—	—	—	—	—
Renfrew DC	10	5	50	5	50	—	—	—	—	—	—
Stirling DC	8	3	38	5	62	—	—	—	—	—	—
West Lothian DC	5	2	40	3	60	—	—	—	—	—	—
	623	378	61	179	29	16	2	9	1	41	7

RC = Regional Council.DC = District Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the gross annual salary paid to the chief executive official in each of the Scottish local authorities.

Such information is not held centrally and would best be obtained from the local authorities concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many members of the permanent secretariat of the Scottish Office have been educated privately, what percentage of the secretariat this comprises; and what are the corresponding figures for 1981.

[pursuant to his reply, 5 December 1986, c. 831–2]: My Department does not maintain central statistics on the schools attended by staff and the collation of information on its administration group staff from individual records could only be obtained at disproportionate Cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has considered the responses which he has received to the Green Paper "Paying for Local Government".

I am placing in the Library a summary of the 118 responses received in Wales to "Paying for Local Government". It is clear that there is widespread dissatisfaction with the present domestic rating system and that a fundamental reform is needed. More than twice as many private individuals were in favour of the proposed community charge as opposed it, and no other possible alternative to rates received substantial support. Although both the Welsh Counties Committee and the Committee of Welsh District Councils have rejected the proposals, they too have acknowledged the need for change but have expressed preferences for two totally different and incompatible alternatives, neither of which would properly and fully meet the Government's objective of achieving greater accountability. Most business respondents, including the CBI (Wales), were in favour of the proposal for a unified non-domestic rate poundage. There was also considerable support for a simplification of the present grant system.The Government plan to introduce legislation as soon as practicable to implement in Wales and England the main proposals in the Green Paper, with the intention that the new system should start in 1990.I am grateful to all those who took the trouble to respond to the Green Paper. Many of them were concerned about the practical problems of operating the community charge. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and I have today produced a document with detailed proposals for implementing the charge and a copy is being placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each local authority (a) the rate support grant at settlement spending assumption for 1987–88, (b) in 1986 prices the actual rate support grant paid in 1978–79, (c) the absolute difference between the two figures and (d) the percentage difference between the two figures for each authority.

Rate support grant figures for 1987–88 are not yet available, but we shall inform the House of our intentions for the forthcoming financial year in the near future. Details of the rate support grants paid to local authorities in 1978–79, expressed in real teems at 1986–87 prices using the GDP (market prices) deflator, are given in the following table.No valid comparisons for individual authorities can be made between the two years as different arrangements for paying grants to each class of authority apply to each year.

Rate support grants paid to Welsh local authorities
£ thousand
	1978–79
Local authority	Domestic element	Needs element	Resources element
Counties
Clwyd	—	56,862	—
Dyfed	—	59,391	—
Gwent	—	72,466	—
Gwynedd	—	42,161	—
Mid Glamorgan	—	92,164	—
Powys	—	32,567	—
South Glamorgan	—	67,450	—
West Glamorgan	—	55,346	—
Districts
Alyn & Deeside	2,675	—	6,967
Colwyn	2,283	—	6,506
Delyn	2,436	—	10,518
Glyndŵr	1,308	—	6,720
Rhuddlan	2,184	—	6,565
Wrexham Maelor	3,612	—	17,615
Carmarthen	1,350	—	8,830
Ceredigion	1,770	—	10,021
Dinefwr	832	—	6,874
Llanelli	2,057	—	12,104
Preseli	1,844	—	7,511
South Pembrokeshire	1,249	—	484
Blaenau Gwent	1,964	—	18,247
Islwyn	1,675	—	14,272
Monmouth	2,415	—	10,901
Newport	4,970	—	9,473
Torfaen	2,800	—	17,077
Aberconwy	2,052	—	7,095
Arfon	1,428	—	9,508
Dwyfor	892	—	4,082
Meirionnydd	1,146	—	3,004
Ynys Môn	2,120	—	8,939
Cynon Valley	1,393	—	15,461
Merthyr Tydfil	1,352	—	13,951
Ogwr	3,656	—	23,698
Rhondda	1,376	—	21,375
Rhymney Valley	2,594	—	23,222
Taff Ely	2,444	—	16,022
Brecknock	1,135	—	5,141
Montgomeryshire	1,346	—	6,574
Radnor	622	—	2,228
Cardiff	11,826	—	25,210
Vale of Glamorgan	4,152	—	12,566
Port Talbot	1,498	—	4,725
Lliw Valley	1,480	—	11,255
Neath	1,824	—	9,848
Swansea	6,337	—	33,465

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many ambulance personnel with extended paramedical training are employed by each area health authority in Wales.

This information is not held centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his latest estimate of the number of dwellings owned by local housing authorities in Wales; and if he will give corresponding figures for each of the last seven years.

The information requested is as follows:

Estimated number of local housing authority1 dwellings relating to December in each year
Year	Dwellings '000
1979	308
1980	306
1981	293
1982	278
1983	271
1984	267
1985	262
1Including new town corporations.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total number of persons whom he nominates to various public bodies and authorities in Wales; and how many of these posts are currently filled by women.

On 30 June 1986, the latest date for which figures are available, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales had, either solely or jointly with other Ministers, responsibility for a total of 1,288 appointments to various public bodies and authorities in Wales, of which 222 were filled by women.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the outcome of the discussions between his staff and Gwynedd health authority in relation to the problems facing that authority in maintaining the ambulance service; and whether he will make funds available to the authority for this purpose.

A number of suggestions were made to officials of Gwynedd health authority about the effective operation of their ambulance service and the authority's management is taking these suggestions into account in considering the future of the service.Responses to the consultative document on regional services for north Wales, including those on the provision of fast comfortable ambulance transport, are currently under consideration and an announcement will be made in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales on what date a decision was taken to make major structural improvements on the A487 trunk road near Talyllyn in Gwynedd; on what date works were commenced on this scheme; what was the original target date for completion of the work; and when he now expects the work to be completed.

A decision to undertake the current series of major structural improvements to the A487 was taken in 1982 when consulting engineers were appointed to carry out soil surveys and prepare three separate carriageway strengthening and stabilisation schemes. Work on the first contract started in July 1984 and, provided that adverse weather conditions do not interfere with the works, completion of the final contract is expected to be on time, before the end of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many of Her Majesty's inspectors of schools in Wales do not possess a specific degree or diploma in education.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 15 April 1986, at column 350. The position remains the same with two of Her Majesty's inspectors not possessing a specific degree or diploma in education.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many of Her Majesty's inspectors of schools are currently employed in Wales.

Fifty-six.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Eccles, on 8 December, now make it his policy to collect central information on the annual costs of acute, chronic and geriatric beds; and if he will make a statement.

It is not proposed to collect information in the form suggested. However, changes in the information about hospital services including financial data will start to be introduced in Wales from 1987–88. These changes broadly accord with the recommendations of the steering group on health service information and will include information on the direct costs of patient treatment services in more than 20 different specialties or specialty groupings.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research his Department has conducted or commissioned to determine the concentration of polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDD) and dibenzofurans (PCDF) in commercially caught shellfish and in crabs.

My Department has begun a programme of research to enable it to carry out sensitive and rapid detection of these substances in the environment and in the food chain.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what criteria have been involved in the decision of the Forestry Commission to make land at Tilgate forest, Weald Forest district, Crawley, Sussex available for disposal; what account will be taken of the proposed use of the land by any prospective purchaser; and if he will make a statement.

In reaching its decision to dispose of land at Tilgate Forest, Crawley, the Forestry Commission had regard to the main purpose of its sales programme, namely the rationalisation of the forest estate in the interests of improving efficiency. The Commission also took account of the guidelines issued by Forestry Ministers in 1981, which were reproduced at appendix V of the Commission's 1981–82 annual report. Whether the proposed change of use is appropriate in planning terms is entirely a matter for the local planning authority.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the number and value of horticulural grants for England and Wales made under the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund in 1985 and 1986, respectively.

The following is the latest information available. Farm capital grants to horticultural enterprises in England and Wales under Schemes qualifying for partial EAGGF reimbursement were:

	Number of payments	Value (£ million)
1984	1,275	3·4
1985	1,054	3·7

The EAGGF reimburses up to 25 per cent. of the total grant paid. The following grant payments were also made direct from the EAGGF for horticultural processing and marketing schemes:

	Number of payments	Value (£ million)
1985	8	0·322
1986	4	0·183

Launching aids paid to horticultural co-operatives with a maximum EAGGF reimbursement of 50 per cent. were:

	Number of payments	Value (£ million)
1985	24	0·987
19861	23	1·190
1 Estimate.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will review the need for dairy inspection visits by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

My official need to visit farms to check compliance with the Milk and Dairies Regulations. Milk Marketing Board test results are not a reliable indicator of compliance, and dependence on these would, in any event, be inconsistent with the line we have taken in discussion of the heat treated milk directive. More generally, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr. Latham) on 4 December at column 1061.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the policy of his Department towards informing farmers of the new pesticide control regulations.

The control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 and the consents made under them came into effect on 6 October. Considerable publicity was given to the new controls through press briefing, a press release, the wide distribution of our free leaflet "Pesticides: Guide to the New Controls", and the publication of "Pesticides 1986" by HMSO (reference book 500). Advice on the new controls is also available from ADAS advisors. A code of practice, at present under discussion with interested organisations, will provide practical guidance to farmers on how to comply with their new legal obligations. It will be laid before the House before it is issued in its final form.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received about the wording of the questions in the agricultural census used to levy funds for the research and development fund.

We have received no such representations.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out the number of United Kingdom firms with whom leasing arrangements have been made for intervention storage during the last 12 months, together with square footage space in each case.

In the 12 months ending 30 November 1986 leasing arrangements for intervention storage have been made with 58 firms in the United Kingdom. Information on square footage is not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was (a) the per capita consumption of cow's milk and (b) the milk quota for the United Kingdom and France in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

The milk quotas for the United Kingdom and France for each of the last three years are as follows:

	United Kingdom1 '000 tonnes	France '000 tonnes
1984–85	15,885	26,768
1985–86	15,725	26,508
1986–87	15,725	26,508
1 Excludes allocation from Community Reserve.

Milk is consumed as a range of products in which the butterfat and solids-not-fat proportion are different from those in whole milk and it is not meaningful to produce a single figure of the consumption of milk. However pages 95 to 103 of the fourth quarter of 1985 edition of the Eurostat publication "Animal Production" give the consumption per head of drinking milk and the major milk products for 1981 to 1984.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what formula is used to determine national milk quotas under the Common Agriculture Policy: what account is taken of population size; and if he will make a statement.

Allocation of national milk quotas was in general based on deliveries to dairies in each member state during 1981 increased by 1 per cent. An additional 1 per cent. was allowed for the first year of operation to facilitate transition to the quota system. Exceptionally, national quotas for Italy and Ireland were based on deliveries during 1983, with no extra 1 per cent. for the first quota year, and 1983 was also later used to fix the level of quota for Spain. Population size was not a contributory factor, as it is clearly irrelevant. I believe quota has been determined fairly but that continuing surpluses require further cuts to be made. These should be applied equally between all member states.

asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement on the European Community Labour and Social Affairs Council held in Brussels on 11 December, including the agreed action programme on employment growth.

I presided at this Council. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Employment, my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle (Mr. Lee), represented the United Kingdom. The Council adopted an action programme for employment growth based on a text put forward by the United Kingdom, Italy and the Republic of Ireland. The programme sets the four priorities for the Labour and Social Affairs Council's future work as being the promotion of new business and employment growth, more efficient labour markets, better training for young people and adults, and more help for long-term unemployed people. First proposals under the programme are to be brought forward before the next Labour and Social Affairs Council. The European Commission will in addition be making six monthly reports to the Council and the European Parliament on progress made in the Programmes implementation.The agreement to an action programme on employment growth is a major step forward in ensuring that the European Community makes a more effective contribution to reducing the current level of unemployment in the Community, which stands at some 16 million. Within its four priorities, the action programme sets out some 40 specific proposals for action to be taken either by the European Community or by member states, ranging from the provision of better support services for small firms to the promotion of training, counselling and guidance for the long-term unemployed.For example, it calls for a reduction in burdens on enterprise including a review of current EC legislation in order to remove obstacles to self-employment. It includes measures aimed at improving the employment prospects of women and those of disabled people and residents of inner city areas. It endorses the need for up to two years vocational education and training for school leavers leading to recognised vocational qualifications. It also calls amongst other measures for the removal of obstacles to the further growth of part-time and temporary work and for Community-level support for efforts to establish and expand co-operatives.The Council invited the European Commission to put forward the first of its specific proposals particularly on training and long-term unemployment before the meeting of the Labour and Social Affairs Council under the forthcoming Belgian Presidency. The Belgian and Danish Ministers undertook to carry forward the programme during their respective presidencies in the coming year. It will remain our aim to ensure that the action programme is translated as quickly as possible into specific measures to be taken by the Community and member states. I am placing in the Library a copy of the resolution containing the action programme.The Council was unable to reach agreement on the draft directive prescribing four named carcinogens, due to the inability of one country to subscribe to a text supported by the other 11 member states, or on the draft directive on benzene due both to the absence of an opinion from the European Parliament and to the inability of two countries to accept proposed figures for an action level. The Council was also unable to reach agreement on the draft decision of the EEC/Yugoslavia co-operation agreement.The Council reached agreement on the allocation of extra resources to the Council's actions to combat poverty following the accession to the Community of Spain and Portugal.

asked the Paymaster General if he has any plans to review the resources and staffing available to Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate; and if he will make a statement.

The resources and staffing of Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate are the responsibility of the Health and Safety Commission and Executive subject to the limits set by the Government on their total manpower and running costs. A recruitment competition for up to 20 nuclear installations inspectors is at present under way.

asked the Paymaster General (1) what courses are currently offered at the Deptford skillcentre; how many places are available on each; and how many of these places are currently filled;(2) how many places for

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

asked the Paymaster General if he will list the circumstances in which the use of polyurethane is permitted in underground mining operations; and what representations he has received seeking approval for the use of this material underground.

The use of polyurethane as a sealant in mines operated by British Coal is prohibited by NCB production instruction 1968/3. Its use in other circumstances is subject to the approval of a working group set up for this purpose by NCB producation instruction 1976/1. The working group has approved the use of polyurethane in personal protective equipment and as a filling for pneumatic tyres.

asked the Paymaster General if he will give in percentage terms the latest available figures for unemployment in the Monklands, West constituency; if he will break these figures down between male and female unemployed and long-term unemployed; and if he will make a statement.

The information is not available in the form requested because percentage unemployment rates are not calculated for areas smaller than travel-to-work areas. The table shows the numbers of unemployed claimants in the Monklands, West constituency as at 9 October 1986. This information is also in the Library.

	Male	Female
Unemployed for over one year	1,658	461
Total unemployed	3,498	1,521

asked the Paymaster General how many males and females have been offered jobs as part of the jobstart programme by region; how many males and females have left the jobstart scheme; and how many leaving have immediately become unemployed.

Jobstart offers long-term unemployed people a financial incentive to take jobs they might not otherwise consider. Applicants normally obtain a job and then apply for the jobstart allowance. The numbers of people successfully applying for jobstart since the scheme started on 1 July until 5 December are listed in table 1:

Region	Male	Female	Total
East Midlands and Eastern	162	73	235
London	47	20	67
North West	439	202	641
Northern	167	45	212
Scotland	155	123	278
South East	102	53	155
South West	104	39	143
Wales	150	74	224
West Midlands	238	82	320
Yorkshire and Humberside	223	70	293
National Totals	1,787	781	2,568

The numbers of people who left the jobstart scheme during the same period are listed in table 2:

Region	Male	Female	Total
East Midlands and Eastern	1	0	1
London	0	0	0
North West	3	2	5
Northern	3	0	3
Scotland	0	1	1
South East	2	0	2
South West	2	0	2
Wales	1	2	3
West Midlands	0	1	1
Yorkshire and Humberside	3	1	4
	15	7	22

asked the Paymaster-General what has been the pay increase in each year since 1979 of (a) manual workers, (b) non-manual workers below executive grades, and (c) executives, including bonuses where appropriate.

The available information is from the new earnings survey and is shown in the table:

Percentage increase in gross weekly earnings of full-time adult1 2 employees—Great Britain
April	(a) Manual workers	(b) Non-manual workers excluding occupation groups I, II and VI3	(c) Non-manual workers occupation groups I, II and VI3
1979–80	+20·2	+24·5	+26·7
1980–81	+ 9·5	+17·2	+11·8
1981–82	+ 9·3	+ 8·0	+10·8
1982–83	+ 7·5	+ 9·2	+ 9·9
1983–84	+ 7·8	+ 7·3	+10·3
1984–85	+ 7·0	+ 6·7	+ 7·9
1985–86	+ 6·7	+ 7 ·9	+10·0
1 Whose earnings are not affected by absence.
2 Females aged 18 and over and males aged 21 and over from 1979–1983 males and females on adult rates 1983 onwards.
3 The occupation classification used in the New Earnings Survey does not separately identify executive grades; occupation groups I, II, and VI cover Professional and related supporting Management and Managerial (excluding General Management).

asked the Paymaster General whether a decision has yet been made to continue after the current year the special annual quota of work permits for workers from the dependent territories whose level of skill is below that required by the general work permit scheme.

Yes. It has been decided that the quota for 1987 will be 200—the same as this year. Within the figure of 200, no more than 150 permits will be allowed for any one territory.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the outcome of Exercise Swift Sword carried out in November jointly with the Sultan of Oman's armed forces; and if he will make a statement.

Exercise Saif Sareea (Swift Sword), a combined United Kingdom-Omani exercise took place in Oman between 15 November and 8 December and was most successful. The exercise, involving nearly 5,000 British service men, achieved its aim of demonstrating our capability for rapid strategic deployment outside the NATO area. It also enabled the three services to practice combined operations with a host nation in accordance with operational concepts evolved from the lessons of the Falklands campaign. Further work will continue on drawing together the many detailed lessons of the exercise. The success of the exercise owed much to the excellent cooperation from, and generous facilities provided by, our Omani partners, for which Her Majesty's Government and our armed forces are most grateful.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will consider inviting the Sultan of Oman's armed forces to participate in a joint exercise in the United Kingdom during 1988 or 1989.

We always give careful consideration to the possibility of combined exercises with our friends where there are mutual benefits to be gained and we would be happy to consider detailed proposals from Oman.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the visit by his hon. Friend the Member for Kettering, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces, to the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, Melton Mowbray, on 11 December.

I regret that because of pressure from parliamentary commitments, I was in fact unable to visit the RAVC Melton Mowbray on 11 December.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether there have been any recent developments concerning the Gurkha field force in Hong Kong.

I am glad to announce today, on the 10th anniversary of the disbanding of the 48 Gurkha Infantry Brigade, that the Gurkha field force in Hong Kong is to be renamed the 48 Gurkha Infantry Brigade. The renaming will restore the distinguished designation of 48 Gurkha Infantry Brigade to the Army's order of battle.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions since 1 January his Department has been consulted by the Department of Trade and Industry regarding orders for British companies to supply Libya with equipment with possible military applications.

Consultation by meetings, phone calls and letters take place between my Department and the Department of Trade and Industry at many levels. It would not be possible to calculate the number of such consultations on any particular subject over a specific time scale.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement with regard to the British Aerospace/Rolls-Royce horizontal take-off and landing project, with particular reference to any discussions within the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation concerning its nuclear weapon delivery potential.

I know of no formal discussions within NATO regarding the military potential of HOTOL, including that for nuclear weapon delivery, although those nations which are also members of the European Space Agency are undoubtedly familiar with the HOTOL concept. There is currently no United Kingdom military requirement for such a vehicle.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what contracts for radar equipment for sale to Iran have been signed by British companies in the last 12 months.