asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he is taking to provide funds for university maintenance.

In reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Salisbury (Mr. Key) on 6 November 1986, at columns 487–96, my right hon. Friend announced that the Government would increase university recurrent grant by 7·2 per cent. between the financial years 1986–87 and 1987–88. Within the increased funding my right hon. Friend said that he expected the University Grants Committee to make provision for a number of particular improvements, including essential repairs and maintenance of plant and buildings.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether, further to his announcement of proposals for the 1987–88 transport supplementary grant settlement on 17 December, he is now in a position to make clear his intentions; and if he will make a statement.

I am pleased to announce that I intend to accept £360 million of expenditure for transport supplementary grant in 1987–88 at a flat rate of 50 per cent. This £180 million of grant is an increase of almost 10 per cent. over 1986–87. It means that I can both maintain my commitment to support schemes accepted in previous settlements and accept a large number of new schemes.Most of the committed schemes are already under construction or starting in 1986–87. With TSG support to their road programmes, local authorities have already reported for 1985–86 completion of 60 major schemes—those costing £1 million or more—with a total value of £200 million and a start of works on 68 schemes costing £360 million. During 1986–87 they plan to complete a further 49 major schemes costing £150 million and start 76 costing £350 million.I also intend to accept 70 new schemes costing £350 million, including important improvements such as the Harrogate-Knaresborough bypass; a further section of the Blackwater Valley route; Regent Road, Salford; Merton relief road and the Coventry Road juction of the middle ring road in Birmingham.The programmes on roads of more than local importance accepted for TSG are important because they save lives, reduce congestion and relieve communities from the effects of through traffic. They help the national economy by aiding the efficient flow of goods, people and services. TSG reflects the national taxpayer's interest in helping local authorities to improve roads carrying heavier longer distance traffic such as those on the country's primary route network or major urban roads which must be adequate in quality and capacity to complement our trunk roads and motorways. The Department's commitment to maintain support in succeeding years providing progress is satisfactory gives authorities the confidence to plan and finance major schemes where they are needed.European Road Safety Year is over, but I want road safety to remain high on the agenda. Many smaller schemes on these heavily trafficked roads often produce very significant accident savings amongst other benefits. Timely investment in smaller schemes may also avoid the need for more substantial works at a later date, giving further benefits to the community. To encourage this worthwhile work, I have taken into account some £55 million of expenditure on minor works for grant in 1987–88, £14 million more than 1986–87.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if, before reaching a decision about the future of the Settle to Carlisle line, he will publish the financial case for closure submitted to him by British Rail.

I have now written to the hon. Member with a copy of the financial information published by the board, copies of which have been placed in the Library today.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a further statement about the British Airways offer for sale.

A pathfinder prospectus was published on 8 January. Copies are available in the Library and in the Vote Office.Preliminary registration statements are being filed in the United States, Canada and Japan. I intend to offer the shares for sale on Thursday 27 January and the last date for receipt of applications will be Friday 6 February.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the outcome of his talks with the Japanese Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications during his visit to Tokyo; and if he will make a statement.

In my talks in Tokyo I emphasied Her Majesty's Government's full support for the bid by Cable and Wireless and the IDC consortium to establish a second Japanese international telecommunications carrier alongside KDD. I pressed for the merits of the proposals from the various consortia to be fully assessed and urged against premature decisions being taken on an issue very important to the demonstration of Japanese commitment to international trade and industrial collaboration. These points have since been confirmed in a note.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans for the Patent Office in the legislative programme for 1986–87; and if he will make a statement.

As announced in the White Paper "Intellectual Property and Innovation" (Cmnd. 9712) the Government propose to hive off the Patent Office and establish it as a non-departmental non-Crown public body. Legislation to implement this and other proposals of the White Paper will be introduced when the parliamentary timetable permits.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the report of the Committee of Inquiry into regulatory arrangements at Lloyd's will be published.

Arrangements for publication of the committee's report are in hand. I am expecting that it will be possible for it to be published on Thursday 22 January.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any plans to amend the conditions of the sub-postmasters' compensation fund; and if he will make a statement.

I met the general secretary and other representatives of the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters today to discuss particularly the terms of the Government's special £2 million compensation fund for sub-postmasters. The fund was established, following an announcement in the House on 13 May 1983 by the then Secretary of State for Industry, my right hon. Friend the Member for Wanstead and Woodford (Mr. Jenkin), to help smaller sub-post offices that were adversely affected by changes in the arrangements for the payment of social security benefits. The fund was due to be closed on 30 April this year.In March last year, the general secretary wrote to me suggesting that the conditions of the fund, particularly the closing date, might be changed. After consulting the Post Office, I have decided that in recognition of the exceptional circumstances caused by industrial action within the DHSS in 1984–85, which considerably distorted sub-postmasters' work levels for about a year, the fund should be extended by one year to 30 April 1988. I have told the federation that the new expiry date must be regarded as final and that we could not entertain the possibility of a further extension.The opportunity has also been taken to update the guidelines, which explain the background to the fund and qualification criteria, to reflect recent changes in sub-postmasters' conditions of employment. I am making arrangements for copies of the revised guidelines to be placed in the Library and to be available from my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the adoption of Community regulations implementing the Community's 26th bi-lateral agreement with textile supplying countries and introducing quota restrictions on imports from Taiwan.

On 2 December 1986 the House debated a decision (document 9809/86) relating to the Community's signature of the protocol of the multi-fibre arrangement (MFA) and a decision (document 10720/86) on the provisional application of the Community's bilateral textile agreements with certain third countries from 1 January 1987.The Commission subsequently submitted to the Council its proposals for three regulations, the first setting out the detailed provisions governing the implementation of the above agreements under the MFA with certain third countries, the second with Yugoslavia and the third its proposed regulation concerning quotas on imports from Taiwan. The House of Commons Select Committee on European Legislation considered these three proposed regulations on 17 December 1986 and recommended them for further consideration by the House. I regret it was not possible to arrange the debate before the House rose on 19 December: But since the House had already debated the policy implications of the MFA on 2 December, and since the maintenance of a scrutiny reserve would have prevented implementation of the measures on 1 January 1987, thereby damaging United Kingdom industry, I was satisfied that, in accordance with the terms of the resolution of the House of 30 October 1980, there were special reasons why adoption should not be delayed until after the debate recommended by the Scrutiny Committee. I therefore agreed to the adoption of the three regulations on 22 December 1986. A debate on the regulations will be arranged as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on progress on the privatisation of Unipart and Leyland Bus.

On 24 July 1986, my right hon. Friend announced that agreement in principle had been reached on the sale of Unipart and, separately, Leyland Bus to management-led consortia. I am pleased to announce that the contractual arrangements relating to both sales have now been completed.Unipart has been acquired by UGC Ltd, a consortium of its management and employees and a group of institutional investors. Employees of Unipart are being given the opportunity to subscribe for a 12 per cent. interest in UGC whilst the Unipart managers' share in the company may rise from an initial 10 per cent. to 20 per cent. if performance targets are met.On Leyland Bus, it was contemplated in July that the management consortium would purchase Leyland Bus and 33 per cent. of Leyland Parts for a sum of £11·7 million. Following detailed negotiations, it has now been determined that the management consortium will purchase Leyland Bus for a sum of £4 million, subject to audit. Leyland Parts will, however, remain within Leyland Vehicles Ltd, continuing to market bus parts on behalf of the privatised bus company. Appropriate contractual arrangements have been negotiated between the parties. Employees are to be given an opportunity to own shares in the business on a basis to be determined.The Government hope that the new private sector companies will take advantage of these opportunities to develop viable and successful enterprises.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take any further steps to improve the prospects for the private rented sector, especially in London.

I have today laid before the House two orders under the Housing Act 1980. The first of these repeals the provisions of the Rent Act 1977 and the rent (Agriculture) Act 1976 which require any increase in a fair rent for a regulated tenancy set by a rent officer or a rent assessment committee to be phased over two years. Because inflation has fallen to such a low level, there is no longer any justification for delaying full payment of any rent increase when awarded. This should improve marginally the return available to private landlords from fair rents. At the same time, tenants who are eligible for housing benefit will of course receive benefit at once on any higher rent.The second order amends the Housing Act 1980 so as to remove the requirement on a landlord in the Greater London area who is letting a property under shorthold to register a fair rent for the property. This requirement was abolished in 1981 for properties outside the Greater London area. It will still be open to either landlord or tenant for a property let on shorthold in the Greater London area to apply for a fair rent to be registered. I hope that this will encourage owners keeping property empty in London to now let it, secure in the knowledge that they will be able to obtain vacant possession.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the achievements and publications since 11 June 1984 of the structural integrity division of the Building Research Establishment; and what is its current programme of work.

Since 11 June 1984 the structural integrity division of the Building Research Establishment has been engaged mainly on continuing investigations, but with the addition of a major new programme of investigations of large panel system dwellings in collaboration with other divisions throughout the establishment. There have been 43 publications, of which 13 were concerned with system built dwellings, 17 with the performance and durability of masonry, three with the disposal of radioactive waste, five with the principles of codification and control, three with durability of cement based products and two with use of colliery spoil to backfill limestone mines.The integrity investigations continue to assess the implications of structural failures and developments in design and construction but, in addition, there has been an emphasis on investigation of the implications for dwellings of deterioration or poor quality of construction. Since June 1984, 10 investigations have been completed, arising from actual or potential deterioration or poor quality construction, including five types of prefabricated reinforced concrete housing.The current programme of work includes 17 integrity investigations of various sizes, arising from failures, structural deterioration, innovations and new requirements. The programme also includes the necessary research drawing where appropriate on other parts of the establishment, and response to inquiries and issues arising from publications.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the work since June 1984 of the visitors panel of the Building Research Establishment; and whether he will list the current members of the panel.

The panel's work has greatly assisted the director BRE in assessing and monitoring the quality of the establishment's research. The two annual reports so far submitted have made a valuable contribution to my Department's thinking on the establishment's future.Members of the panel are:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what directions have been given by him to the Housing Corporation about charitable housing associations' voluntary sales policy and registration with the corporation.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why he did not accept the advice of the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission that he call in for public inquiry the proposed building works at the grade II listed building housing the Royal Mint.

The notification and advertisement procedures which apply to listed building consent applications are so designed to allow members of the public, local conservation bodies and the national amenity societies an opportunity to make representations. These procedures were followed and representations were received which identified the issues involved. The HBMC indicated that it was minded to authorise listed building consent, though it considered that a case for call-in existed. Having had regard to all the representations, it was not thought that a public inquiry was necessary and no overriding reason was seen to remove jurisdiction from the Tower Hamlets borough council and the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many representations he has received (a) in favour and (b) against the proposed new development at Hamilton in north-east Leicester;(2) what criteria he used in assessing the need for a large scale housing development at Hamilton in the Leicester, East constituency; and on what basis he considered such a development as environmentally desirable;(3) what is his policy concerning the construction of large council housing estates; and how this policy is applied to the proposed Hamilton plan in Leicester.

I shall answer these questions shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the housing investment programme allocation for the London borough of Newham for each of the last five years.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the level of rate support grant in cash terms for the London borough of Newham for each year since 1979.

The rate support grant paid to the London borough of Newham in respect of the years 1979–80 to 1986–87 inclusive are as follows in cash terms.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the results of the first year's monitoring programme for TBT in the aquatic environment; and what further action he proposes to take.

Preliminary results from the first year's monitoring programme indicate that the water target concentration for TBT of 20 nanograms per litre has been exceeded in six of the nine estuaries studied, at some time during the year; and that at a number of sites on the Broads with high densities of pleasure boats, levels significantly above this target concentration have been found.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given to the Report entitled "Homeless Young People in Britain: The contribution of the Private Sector", a copy of which has been sent to him by Duncan Guthrie, the director of the Disabilities Study Unit; if there is any action he will be taking; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 January 1987]: Young people stand to benefit from a number of Government measures in the housing field. I gave details in my answer of 26 November, at column 263, to my hon. Friend the Member for South Ribble (Mr. Atkins).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what research on nuclear waste management or disposal has been carried out at Potton Island, Essex.

I have been asked to reply. None.

asked the Prime Minister if she will propose to the next meeting of the European Council that consideration be given to the financial problems of the Community; and if she will make a statement.

I doubt if this will be necessary. The Community's financial problems are certain to play a large part in the deliberations of the European Council and the Council of Ministers this year.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 January.

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.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the new governor of Hong Kong to be appointed.

An announcement will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list in the Official Report the salary of the governor of Hong Kong in pounds sterling.

The salary of the governor of Hong Kong is £93,327 per annum (at an exchange rate of £1: HK$11).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current salary of the Hong Kong commissioner in London.

The current salary of the Hong Kong commissioner in London is HK$686,400 per annum (or £62,400 per annum, at an exchange rate of £1: HK$11).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government of China are consulted on the appointment of the governor of Hong Kong.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the cost of the upkeep of the Hong Kong Government office in London in each of the past five years.

The cost of the upkeep of the Hong Kong Governent office in London in each of the current and past four financial years is as follows:

• 1982–83 HK$24·44 million (about £2·22 million)
• 1983–84 HK$25·42 million (about £2·31 million)
• 1984–85 HK$26·19 million (about £2·32 million)
• 1985–86 HK$24·54 million (about £2·45 million)
• 1986–87 HK$30·06 million (about £2·78 million)

(The exchange rates used were those in force at the time.)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make it his policy to seek to ensure that the next governor of Hong Kong be appointed from outside the Diplomatic Service; and if he will make a statement;(2) what consideration will be given to the appointment of a Chinese as governor of Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement.

Our concern is to ensure that the right person is appointed to this highly important post.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current salary in pounds sterling of the ambassadors at Washington, Paris, Moscow and Peking.

The annual salaries of Her Majesty's ambassadors at the following posts are:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the reply of 12 December, Official Report, columns 271–2, regarding the deaths of British travellers in Spain and Spanish territories, if he will provide such information as is available relating to a breakdown of the cause of death in each case identified in 1985 and 1986, and the subsequent outcome of any coroners' inquiries.

The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will seek to obtain a transcript of the "Face the Facts" programme on BBC Radio 4 of 7 January regarding the death of Gary Maher and the near fatal injuries to his sister Sheree; if he will now make representations to the Spanish Government for the reopening of the inquiries into this case; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will outline the assistance given by Her Majesty's Government to the Maher family following the death of Gary Maher in Tenerife in February 1985, itemising those letters and telexes sent to the Spanish authorities regarding this case.

A transcript of the programme has been made. Successive Governments have followed a policy whereby representations to another Government are considered only if all legal procedures available have been used and there appears to have been a miscarriage of justice. It appears that all legal avenues have not yet been exhausted in this case.The consular department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has offered all proper assistance to the Maher family, including an offer of discussions with officials, and will continue to inform them and my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Mr. Bowden) of any developments; consular officials remain ready to discuss the case with the Maher family.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will outline the arrangements for the distribution of the moneys received from the Soviet Union under the claims agreement of 15 July 1986.

The Foreign Compensation (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) (Registration and Determination of Claims) Order 1986 was laid before Parliament on 6 January 1987 and is due to enter into operation on 1 February. It provides for the Foreign Compensation Commission to register claims by British holders of Russian bonds and to determine and value claims by British and Commonwealth applicants wishing to benefit from the original property and personal injury claims registered between 1918 and 1951. Advertisements will shortly be placed in the national press indicating how detailed information may be obtained by potential claimants under the order. It is intended that this order should shortly be supplemented by a further Order in Council setting out the detailed arrangements for the distribution of compensation to successful claimants.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy towards the relief of all retirement pensioners from the need to pay for a television licence.

We have no plans to propose the exemption of all retirement pensioners from the need to pay for a television licence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Leicester, East of 16 December, Official Report, column 484, what were the proceeds from the sale or auction of unclaimed wheel-clamped cars during the last year for which figures are available; what is the approximate cost of trying to trace the owner of an unclaimed vehicle; what is the average cost of clamping a vehicle; what has been the total revenue raised in each year since 1983 from unclamping fees; and if he will make a statement.

The commissioner has indicated that the information available on the proceeds from the disposal of unclaimed vehicles does not distinguish between those initially wheel-clamped and those simply removed. In the financial year 1985–86 a total of £23,692 was raised through the sale for scrap or auctioning of all unclaimed removed vehicles. No estimate of the average cost of attempting to trace the owners of unclaimed vehicles is available. The average cost of clamping in the financial year 1985–86 was £22·35. The commissioner estimates that the income from wheel-clamping in each calendar year was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether the new mother and baby unit at Holloway is now in use;

The accommodation was completed in 1982; it was taken into use on 17 November 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many unsentenced women gave birth while serving custodial sentences in the year 1985–86; and what sentences they eventually received.

The information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Table 4, appendix 7 of the report on the work of the prison department 1985–86 (Cmd. 11) records 71 female inmates temporarily removed to outside hospitals for delivery returning to the establishment afterwards, and one whose delivery took place within the establishment. This delivery accounts for the one live birth recorded in the table.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state (a) how many women in prison are mothers of dependent children, (b) how many dependent children do these women have and (c) how many of these children are aged under 18 months.

The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. On 11 August 1986, 340 females in custody were known to be the mothers of 455 children aged five years or under, of whom 111 were 18 months or under.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state (a) how many women were in custody with their children on the most recent convenient date, (b) in which prisons these women with their children were held, (c) what were the ages of the children and (d) for what offences these mothers had been imprisoned.

The information is not readily available: I shall reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women in prison on the most recent convenient date were known to be pregnant.

On 9 January, 18 adults and 11 youth custody trainees.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of north Wales on the items of equipment available for police use in an accident involving radioactive contamination at (a) A Division (Caernarfon), (b) B Division (Llandudno), (c) C Division (Prestatyn) and (d) D Division (Wrexham) of the north Wales police, listing in each case the number of (i) doesimeters, (ii) radiac survey meters, (iii) sets of protective clothing, (iv) breathing units and (v) decontamination units;(2) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of north Wales on what training the police in

I shall reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the statement by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on his strategy for the coming year.

I am placing copies of the commissioner's strategy statement for 1987 in the Library today. I am also sending a copy to all right hon. and hon. Members whose constituencies fall wholly or partly within the Metropolitan police district. I hope to meet London Members soon to discuss the statement.I have discussed the commissioner's statement with him. The force goal for 1987 is to improve the quality of service to the public by:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he intends to publish the 1987 public expenditure White Paper.

"The Government's Expenditure Plans 1987–88 to 1989–90" (Cmnd. 56, Vols I and II) will be published at noon on Wednesday 14 January, and copies will be available in the Vote Office.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been reached on negotiations with the Inland Revenue on its assent to the settlement or Lloyd's insurance with underwriters in the syndicates managed by Peter Cameron Webb.

It is not the case that the settlement of Lloyd's internal matters depends on the Revenue's assent. Discussions are proceeding with a view to settling all the outstanding tax liabilities of members of Lloyd's as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the level of overseas investment in both current and constant price terms each year since 1960, with direct and portfolio investment differentiated for each year.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 January 1987]: Annual information on the current value of transactions involving investment overseas by United Kingdom residents, distinguishing direct and portfolio investment, between 1964 and 1985 inclusive is given at table 1·4 of the "United Kingdom Balance of Payments" 1986 edition (The CSO Pink Book), a copy of which is in the Library. Later information up to the third quarter of 1986 is given in the press notice on the United Kingdom balance of payments issued on 4 December 1986.Comparable information prior to 1964 and figures at constant prices are not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the gain or loss to those with incomes (a) under £5,000, (b) £5,000 to £10,000, (c) £10,000 to £15,000, (d) £15,000 to £20,000, (e) £20,000 to £30,000, (f) £30,000 to £50,000, (g) £50,000 to £70,000 and over £70,000 a year as a result of each Finance Act since 1979, both in aggregate and per person on average in each of these categories, in each case indicating how much is due to indexation and how much is real gain.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 January 1986]: The information is in the tables. For each financial year shown, the tables compare the yield from the tax regime in that year with the 1978–79 tax regime. All estimates are calculated on a provisional estimate of the 1986–87 tax base and all tax regimes have been indexed to 1986–87 levels by reference to the statutory formula. The comparisons therefore allow for budgetary changes in income tax rates and allowances, but not for any changes since 1978–79 in the definition of the income tax base.The first table shows the total reduction (+) or increase (-) in tax yield from each income range; and the second table shows the average change for individual tax units.As child tax allowances were being phased out in 1978–79, they have been excluded from the comparison.It is not possible to provide useful estimates of the liabilities in 1986–87 for the 1978–79 regime without indexation since Inland Revenue records do not cover many of the people who would be brought into tax by such low levels of personal allowances. A partial analysis with incomplete coverage would be misleading.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what initiatives his Department takes in advising medical schools to provide training for medical practitioners in the care of the incontinent; and if he will make a statement.

The content of undergraduate medical education is a matter for universities within broad guidelines laid down by the General Medical Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) to what extent he encourages the provision of district continence nurse advisers; what encouragement he gives for the development of such services; and if he will make a statement;(2) what advice, encouragement and guidance his Department gives for the establishment of walk-in or self-referral continence clinics; and if he will make a statement;(3) if he will take steps to ensure that minimum acceptable standards of care for incontinent persons are available within each district health authority in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

It is for the health and social services boards to assess and decide the type and level of provision required and the priority they attach to the development of incontinence services in the light of local needs and circumstances. Whilst I would expect health and social services boards to provide acceptable incontinence services, I do not intend to set minimum standards of care for incontinent persons or to offer advice to boards on the appointment of continence nurse advisers and the establishment of clinics.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if his Department will provide vocational courses on the control and care of incontinent persons for general practitioners; and if he will make a statement.

The Department, through the Northern Ireland Council for Postgraduate Medical Education, provides a comprehensive range of courses covering all fields relevant to general practice. Incontinence is included as a module in several of these courses.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give an estimate of the number of male incontinent persons in the age brackets 15 to 64 and 65-plus years in Northern Ireland; if he will give the same estimates for females; and if he will make a statement.

No reliable estimates are currently available.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what advice his Department gives to health authorities regarding the importance of medical-surgical management and nursing care management of incontinent patients; and if he will make a statement;(2) what advice he gives regarding the provision of continence advice and service; what information he has on variations in care of incontinent patients from one area to Another; if he will write to each health board concerning provision for the treatment of incontinence; and if he will make a statement.

The management and treatment of incontinence is a matter for professional medical and nursing staff. Information on the care of incontinent patients is not collected centrally. The Department of Health and Social Services recognises the important contribution which the correct treatment and management of incontinence makes to the well-being of incontinent patients and co-operates with professional bodies in the provision of suitable training for staff. I have no plans to write to health and social services boards on this subject.

asked the Paymaster General how many people in the north-east region of Yorkshire were employed under the sheltered placement scheme.

On 5 January 1987, there were six people in the north-east region of Yorkshire who are employed under the sheltered placement scheme.

asked the Paymaster General what was the cost of the sheltered placement schemes for disabled people in 1986; and what will be the estimated cost for 1987.

The estimated cost of the sheltered placement scheme to central Government in the calendar year 1986 is £5·4 million. Decisions have not yet been taken on the level of central Government spending on the scheme in 1987–88.

asked the Paymaster General (1) if his Department will make arrangements with the Department of Health and Social Security whereby disabled people attending employment rehabilitation courses could continue to receive their social security benefits including housing benefit;(2) if he will require the Manpower Services Commission to increase rehabilitation allowances in excess of state benefits as an incentive for clients to attend rehabilitation courses.

I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Paymaster General how many people have been registered as unemployed in the London borough of Newham in each year since 1979.

Following is the available information, which is also in the Library. The table shows the numbers of unemployed claimants in the London borough of Newham in November of each year since 1983. The comparison is affected by the change in the compilation of the unemployment statistics in March 1986. Statistics of unemployment for local authority districts are derived from the ward-based system and are available only from June 1983.

asked the Paymaster General what further conclusions he has drawn from more recent employee involvement statements in company directors' reports in accordance with section 235 and schedule 7 of part V of the Companies Act 1985.

I have today placed a survey of a sample of recent reports in the Library of the House. It indicates that more companies are reporting a wide range of employee involvement arrangements than we observed previously.

asked the Paymaster General whether the National Advisory Council on Employment of Disabled People has been reconstituted.

My right hon. and noble Friend has reconstituted the National Advisory Council on Employment of Disabled People for a further period of three years from 1 January 1987.The members of the reconstituted council are:

asked the Paymaster General if he will estimate the effect on employment prospects of (a) the free trade zones and (b) the enterprise zones.

There are no free trade zones in the United Kingdom. However, in 1984 six freeports were designated as an experiment to test their usefulness as a stimulus to economic activity. Their designation was not primarily intended or presented by the Government as an employment or job creation initiative. However, at 1 July 1986 around 100 persons were directly employed full-time in the freeports.Britain's 23 enterprise zones had 53,500 employees in December 1985, some 20,000 of these jobs having been created since designation, and there is no reason to suppose that the good progress made so far cannot be continued. Comprehensive information on enterprise zones is contained in the Department of the Environment's report "Enterprise Zone Information 1984–1985", a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives his Department takes in advising medical schools to provide training for medical practitioners in the care of the incontinent; and if he will make a statement.

The Department has no direct involvement in the academic content of courses arranged by the University of Wales college of medicine.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) to what extent he encourages the provision of district continence nurse advisers; what encouragement he gives for the development of such services; and if he will make a statement;(2) what advice, encouragement and guidance his Department gives for the establishment of walk-in or self-referral continence clinics; and if he will make a statement;(3) if he will take steps to ensure that minimum acceptable standards of care for incontinent persons are available within each district health authority in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Whilst I would expect all health authorities to provide acceptable incontinence services, I do not intend to prescribe in detail how such services should be provided or set specific standards of care, since it is for individual authorities to decide for themselves both the level of provision, and the pace and direction of further developments in their services, in the light of their local needs and circumstances.In 1977, the Welsh Office wrote to all health authorities advising them that the management of incontinence should be clearly identified as the responsibility of a designated special nurse, who should act as a "resource person" for nurses working in hospitals and the community services. Since then, most district health authorities have appointed at least one continence adviser. Community nurses also provide advice and assessment as part of their nursing duties.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if his Department will provide vocational courses on the control and care of incontinent persons for general practioners; and if he will make a statement.

The Department does not directly provide vocational courses in any medical or surgical discipline, and would not wish to interfere in the excellent facilities for continuing education already available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give an estimate of the number of male incontinent persons in the age brackets 15 to 64 years an 65 plus in Wales; and if he will give the same estimates for females; and if he will make a statement.

The specific information requested for Wales is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what advice his Department gives to health authorities regarding the importance of medical-surgical management and nursing-care management of incontinent patients; and if he will make a statement;(2) what advice he gives regarding the provision of continence advice and service; and what information he has on variations in care of incontinent patients from one area to another; if he will write to each health authority concerning provision for the treatment of incontinence; and if he will make a statement.

Although data about incontinence services in particular districts are not routinely collected, information about these services is regularly included in the reports of the Health Advisory Service, and is also obtained informally by the Department's own officers.There has been a growing awareness in recent years of the important contribution which the correct management of incontinence, and the provision of appropriate services, can make to enable those suffering from this distressing condition to obtain help and remain in their own homes in the community.A considerable amount of research, much of it funded by the DHSS and the Welsh Office, has been carried out into various aspects of incontinence. For example, the results of a study of incontinence pads and garments was published in October 1986 by the DHSS and Welsh Office in the health equipment information series. In order to bring together the wide range or recently completed work, the Government are funding a research review by the nursing practice research unit at Surrey university.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to help farmers who suffered financial losses when Welsh Quality Lamb Ltd. went into liquidation; and if he will make a statement.

No. Sales of livestock to Welsh Quality Lamb Ltd. were a matter of private commercial contract.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what military nuclear research has been carried out at Potton Island, Essex.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, further to his answer of 9 December, Official Report, column 178, about the amphibious capability study (i) when he expects to complete the study of providing helicopter lift, including the concept of an aviation support ship, (ii) what criteria are to be involved; and (iii) what basic requirements as to the: (a) number of ships, (b) number of helicopters per ship, (c) number of marines to be carried per ship and (d) degree of protection to be provided he has laid down.

We shall he addressing the means of providing helicopter lift in support of amphibious operations over the next few months. The number of ships will be addressed within our consideration of the overall shape of the amphibious package. Details of the criteria involved are confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, further to his answer of 9 December, Official Report, column 178, about amphibious capability (i) when he expects Swan Hunter to complete the feasibility study into extending the life of HMS Fearless and HMS Intrepid, (ii) when he expects to complete feasibility studies for a new design option for their replacement and (iii) which companies will be invited to do this work.

I would expect Swan Hunters to complete the feasibility study into extending the lives of HMS Fearless and Intrepid next summer. As for feasibility studies into the option of building new ships, letters have now been sent to some 80 firms asking whether they wish to participate in this work. On current plans I would expect these studies to be completed in the summer of 1988, with evaluation taking about a further year.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing, in simplified form, the scale of charges from the Meteorological Office for aviation services.

The CAA determines what services the Meteorological Office should provide to civil aviation, in fulfilment of international and domestic agreements. The charges for these services are made to the CAA at full cost, that is they include both the direct cost and a share of the core overhead cost.Air operators and others in civil aviation who require meteorological information over and above that supplied by agreement with the CAA are charged on a repayment basis that is similar to that applying for other commercial users of the services of the Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing, in simplified form, the scale of charges from the Meteorological Office for marine services.

There is no scale of Meteorological Office charges for marine services.In fulfilment of the United Kingdom's obligations as a signatory of the safety of life at sea agreement under the auspices of the International Maritime Organisation, no charge is made for the weather bulletins for shipping or for the sea area gale warnings as broadcast by the BBC and by coastal radio stations.Other marine services, including for example those for the routeing of individual ships, for towing, for transfer of cargo at sea and for offshore oil and gas drilling rigs and production platforms, are provided on repayment. The charges are assessed on a case-by-case basis to cover direct costs plus a share of the costs of the core overheads.The Meteorological Office has very recently arranged to provide a premium rated telephone forecast service for inshore mariners, including yachtsmen. This is known as Marinecall.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what decisions have been taken by Her Majesty's Government during the past three months involving contracts with British Aerospace for the development of a facility for the airborne launching of nuclear missiles; and if he will make a statement.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he made before reaching his decision to cancel the Nimrod project as to whether Boeing or GEC was the more likely to resolve first the vital question of secure data links for the airborne early warning system.

Boeing offered to deliver its first aircraft complete with JTIDS/Link 16 before GAv. We considered the risk associated with both proposals to be of the same order on this particular area.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will hold discussions with Plessey about the eventual control of the high technology development as a result of its £1,000 million agreement with Boeing; and whether it will pass to American control.

I shall answer shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out for each of the last 10 years the percentage of officers who have attended in their main schools (a) independent boarding, (b) grammar schools and (c) other schools, for each of (i) the Household Brigade. (ii) the Royal Armoured Corps excluding the Royal Tank Regiment and (iii) the Army as a whole.

The information requested is not held in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what orders or advice have been issued to members of each of the armed forces about the dangers of AIDS; and when they were issued;(2) over what period the 1st Battalion Queen's Own Highlanders was stationed in Kenya;(3) when his Department and the Royal Army Medical Corps, respectively, became aware that the AIDS virus was common in parts of Kenya;(4) when his Department and the Royal Army Medical Corps, respectively, first became aware the AIDS virus could be transmitted by heterosexual relations;(5) what orders or advice on the risk of AIDS from prostitutes in Kenya were given to officers and other ranks of the 1st Battalion Queen's Own Highlanders;(6) how many of all ranks of the 1st Battalion Queen's Own Highlanders are known to the Royal Army Medical Corps to have venereal disease caught in Kenya.

I shall reply shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost at 1986 prices of the Nimrod aircraft currently in service with the armed services (a) when they were first commissioned and (b) at the present day, including the costs of any updating or improvements.

[pursuant to his reply, 17 December 1986, c. 597]: I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the Nimrod Maritime Reconnaissance (MR) Mk2 aircraft. These were converted from the Nimrod MR Mk1 aircraft, the original cost of which is not readily available and could not be provided except at disproportionate expense.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many miners have taken redundancy pay (a) during the miners strike and (b) since the strike ended; and if he will make a statement.

During the 1984–85 financial year, the year of the miners' strike, approximately 8,000 men left the industry under the redundant mineworkers payments scheme. From the end of that financial year to the end of December 1986 a further 56,000 qualified under the scheme. The reduction in manpower has enabled British Coal to make impressive gains in productivity.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing (a) the level of uptake of selective assistance to industry under section 7 of the Industrial Development Act 1982 in cash terms for Scotland in each year since 1982 and (b) the percentage change in level of uptake between years.

Offers of regional selective assistance accepted by businesses in Scotland in each year since 1982 and the associated percentage changes between these values are given in the table.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many assisted place scheme pupils in Ayrshire currently receive free school meals; and what has been the corresponding total for each year since the scheme began;(2) which schools in Ayrshire are currently participating in the assisted places scheme; how much each is receiving towards the cost of the scheme in the current year; and what has been the total amount spent on the scheme in Ayrshire since it was introduced;(3) what is the total number of pupils currently receiving an assisted place in schools in Ayrshire; what percentage of the total school roll at such schools they comprise; and how many of them are already attending a fee-paying school;(4) if he will list the amount spent on

Wellington school, Ayr, is the only school in Ayrshire to have participated in the assisted places scheme. The school was admitted to the scheme in school session 1982–83 and currently has 39 assisted pupils, 12 of whom attended a fee-paying school before taking up an assisted place. Assisted pupils form 7·7 per cent. of the current school roll. The additional information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the critical groups of members of the public in the vicinity of Chapelcross for (a) direct emissions of radioactivity, (b) gaseous discharges of radioactive waste and (c) liquid discharges of radioactive waste; what are the pathways of exposure in each case; whether an individual may be a member of more than one critical group; what scientific method is adopted for individuals being members of more than one critical group; and if he will make a statement.

The Scottish Development Department statistical bulletin No. 4/1984 tabulates the actual exposure pathways to the associated critical groups in respect of radioactive waste disposal for Chapelcross and describes the procedure followed when the same people are known to be members of more than one critical group.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what fraction or percentage of what recognised dose limit for members of the public was used as a target level for maximum exposure of members of the public in issuing new certificates of authorisation for radioactive discharges from British Nuclear Fuels Ltd, Chaplecross in April; whether this target level was applied to calculations of exposure arising only from operations at Chaplecross; whether this target level was applied to calculations of exposure arising from all sources of radiation other than naural and medical; and if he will make a statement.

The certificates of authorisation issued in respect of Chapelcross works are consistent with the Government's objectives for radioactive waste management as set out in the White Paper (Cmnd. 9852), "Radioactive Waste: The Government's response to the Environment Committee's Report", and take into account exposure from all sources, excluding natural and medical.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley on 9 December, Official Report, column 134, concerning radiation exposure of the public arising from operations at Chapelcross, what proportion of radiation doses received by members of critical groups in the vicinity of Chapelcross arises from other discharges; and if he will make a statement.

The levels of artificial radioactivity detectable in the inner Solway, which are low, result in part from the distant effects of Sellafield. Estimates of the contribution of this component to the doses to the critical group identified in respect of Chapelcross discharges are given in the aquatic environment monitoring reports of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, which are available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley on 9 December, Official Report, column 134, if he will publish a table similar to the table on page 2 of the Scottish Development Department's "Statistical Bulletin No. 4, 1984" showing a summary of pathways of public radiation exposure in the vicinity of British Nuclear Fuels Ltd, Chapelcross in each year from 1981 to 1985 and showing the effective dose equivalent for each year in millisieverts.

A statistical bulletin containing information in similar form to that of bulletin No. 4/1984 will be published shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley on 9 December, Official Report, column 134, on the most recent assessment of annual dose levels, when the habits survey used in calculating such exposures was last revised; when the physiological uptake factors used in calculating such exposures were last revised; whether calculations of maximum exposures of members of the public in the vicinity of British Nuclear Fuels Ltd, Chapelcross in each year 1981 to 1995 inclusive have been revised to take account of the latest habit survey and uptake factors now available; and if he will make a statement.

The last formal habits survey was undertaken in 1982, but all factors relevant to the estimation of public radiation exposure from controlled disposal of radioactive waste are kept under review and assessments are revised in the light of the latest information available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will arrange to meet the leaders of the Scottish fishing industry to discuss in detail the recently announced total allowable catches for 1987 and their implication for the industry.

I met industry representatives before I attended the meeting of the Council of Fisheries Ministers on 17 and 18 December 1986, at which the 1987 total allowable catches were agreed, during a convenient break in the course of the Council meeting and also immediately after that meeting. I am satisfied that the agreed total allowable catches strike the correct balance between the current needs of the industry and the protection of fish stocks for future years.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will arrange, as a matter of urgency, to meet the leaders of the fish processing industry in Scotland to discuss the impact on the economic future of that industry of the recently announced total allowable catches for 1987.

I discussed this issue with representatives of the fish processing industry when I attended the annual dinner of the Scottish Fish Merchants' Federation on 12 December 1986. My officials also met representatives of the industry earlier that month.I am well aware of the fish processors' concern about the reduced white fish quotas in 1987. It is, however, in the industry's long-term interests that steps should be taken now to conserve important fish stocks.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what intiatives his Department takes in advising medical schools to provide training for medical practitioners in the care of the incontinent; and if he will make a statement.

None. The undergraduate curriculum in medical schools is a matter for the universities to determine taking account of guidance issued from time to time by the General Medical Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) to what extent he encourages the provision of district continence nurse advisers; what encouragement he gives for the development of such services; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will take steps to ensure that minimum acceptable standards of care for incontinent persons are available within each district health authority in Scotland; and if he will make a statement;(3) what advice his Department gives to health authorities regarding the importance of medical-surgical management and nursing-care management of incontinent patients; and if he will make a statement;(4) what advice he gives regarding the provision of continence advice and service; what information he has on variations in care of incontinent patients from one area to another; if he will write to each health authority concerning provision for the treatment of incontinence; and if he will make a statement.

Guidance was issued in 1976 and 1977 to health boards and local authorities on the provision of aids and facilities for incontinent people. The results of a research study of incontinence pads and garments were sent to health boards in October 1986. It is for health boards to determine the level of service provision in the light of local needs and circumstances and information on an area basis about the incidence of incontinence and service provision is not held centrally. The term "continence adviser" is not generally used in Scotland but advice to individuals is given by general practitioners, district nurses, health visitors and social workers. Nurses with specialised expertise hold continence clinics and organise training programmes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if his Department will provide vocational courses on the control and care of incontinent persons for general practitioners; and if he will make a statement.

Postgraduate education, including vocational training for general practitioners, is funded by the Department and provided through regional postgraduate committees and the postgraduate deans and regional advisers in general practice who are also responsible for determining the subject matter of the training courses offered. I understand that at least two courses dealing specifically with incontinence have been arranged for 1987. The topic will invariably be covered in other courses dealing with care of the elderly, terminally ill and neurological diseases.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice, encouragement and guidance his Department gives for the establishment of walk-in or self-referral continence clinics; and if he will make a statement.

The establishment of such clinics is a matter for each health board to determine on the basis of its knowledge of the needs and priorities of its own area.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give an estimate of the number of male incontinent persons in the age brackets 15 to 64 and 65 plus years in Scotland; if he will give the same estimates for females; and if he will make a statement.

The information requested is not available centrally.