asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the policy of his Department on visits to prisons by judges; and what guidelines he issues on how often such visits should take place.

The Department welcomes visits by judges to penal establishments. The frequency of such visits is not a matter for us but I understand that all newly appointed assistant recorders are required by the Lord Chancellor to visit at least two establishments before they sit judicially. The Judicial Studies Board encourages all experienced judges and recorders to visit penal establishments from time to time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present number of (a) men and (b) women serving custodial sentences and who are under (i) 21, (ii) 25 and (iii) 30 years of age.

The information is given in the table.

Population under sentence1 in Prison Department establishments in England and Wales on 30 November 1986: by age and sex
2Number
Age in years	Males	Females
14 to 20	8,510	220
21 to 24	8,310	280
25 to 29	6,720	260
14 to 29	23,530	750
1Including persons committed in default of payment of a fine.
2Rounded estimates: detailed checking of individual cases would involve disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of reported cases of rape in each of the last five years.

Numbers of offences of rape recorded by the police in England and Wales in the years 1975 to 1985 are published in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, 1985" (Cmnd. 10, table 2.9). Part of the increase in 1985 was due to changes in police recording practice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of cars stolen in Greater London in each of the last three years.

The number of offences of theft or unauthorised taking of motor vehicles recorded by the Metropolitan police and the City of London police was 86,900 in 1983; 88,000 in 1984; and 88,500 in 1985. These figures are published each year, by police force area in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, Supplementary Tables Volume 3". (Table S.3.1 of the 1985 issue.)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the numbers of people assisted by Her Majesty's Government with voluntary repatriation, including their families, since 1970, together with the annual aggregate financial assistance provided.

The principal scheme for assisting people to return permanently to an overseas country is operated under section 29 of the Immigration Act 1971 on behalf of the Government by International Social Services Great Britain Ltd. A separate facility with different conditions of eligibility is offered by the Department of Health and Social Security under the supplementary benefit scheme. The available information about the assistance provided under each scheme is as follows:

Scheme operated under section 29 of the Immigration Act 1971
Financial year	Number of people assisted (including members of family or household)	Cost (Travel expenses of persons assisted plus administration costs) £
1972–73	122	15,176
1973–74	277	41,828
1974–75	156	32,307
1975–76	221	50,636
1976–77	112	31,181
1977–78	130	46,508
1978–79	178	65,533
1979–80	131	61,991
1980–81	139	78,454
1981–82	251	169,206
1982–83	152	162,203
1983–84	144	169,259
1984–85	81	118,982
1985–86	72	120,882

People assisted by supplementary benefit scheme.
Year	Number of people assisted	Cost £
1972	213	18,940
1973	172	14,686
1974	129	16,780
1975	139	19,878
1976	90	15,710
1977	112	21,848
1978	84	16,929
1979	51	12,406
1980	44	15,791
1981	29	9,120
1982	49	16,534
1983	41	15,677
1984	36	14,435
1985	13	5,088
1986	6	2,796

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he intends to introduce legislation to present more severe penalties in cases where pedestrians on pedestrian crossings are put at risk by drivers of motor vehicles.

The road traffic law review which was set up by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport is examining the scope and definition of road traffic offences and the penalties available. We shall give its recommendations careful consideration when it reports later in the year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the division of the parishes of Birchwood and Croft into electoral divisions will take place.

We have received a report from the Local Government Boundary Commission for England of a further electoral review of the borough of Warrington. This includes a proposal to divide the wards of what is now the single parish of Birchwood and Croft between three district wards. We shall decide whether to make an order giving effect to the commission's proposals as soon as possible after the expiry of the statutory period for representations on 28 January 1987. In view of the number of reports submitted in the last few weeks by the Local Government Boundary Commissions for England and Wales, I cannot at present say when an order relating to Warrington is likely to be made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those areas which have been provided with free additional equipment to improve television reception, with his estimate of the number of persons who have thus been assisted in each case.

None. Licences under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 to install transmitting equipment to improve television reception have always been issued on the basis that the licensee would be responsible for obtaining the equipment conforming with the terms of the licence. About 200 such licences have so far been issued. The number of individuals assisted in each case has varied considerably from case to case, but in all about 15,000 people have benefited. If the hon. Member would like details of the schemes for which licences have been issued, I shall be happy to write to him.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report the cumulative total of bus and coach drivers successfully prosecuted for exceeding the 70 mph speed limit on Britain's motorways in each of the past five years.

No reliable information is available for specific types of vehicle. The available information relates to total findings of guilt in magistrates' courts for exceeding 70 mph limits on motorways and is published annually in "Offences Relating to Motor Vehicles, England and Wales, Supplementary Tables" (table 5 of the issue for 1985), copies of which are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects an accurate costing for the visit of Myra Hindley to Saddleworth Moor to become available.

I understand from the chief constable of the Greater Manchester police that the additional cost to the police service of Myra Hindley's visit to Saddleworth Moor was £12,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Avon and Somerset as to what items of equipment relevant to an incident involving radioactivity are available from stores located in Avon and Somerset for use by police of the Avon and Somerset constabulary; what number of (a) personal dosimeters, (b) other radiation meters, (c) sets of protective clothing and (d) breathing units, are available from such stores; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Avon and Somerset as to what training facilities are used by the Avon and Somerset constabulary for couses in dealing with incidents involving radioactivity; what number of officers have attended such courses in each of the last five years; what training is given in the use of relevant equipment; and if he will make a statement.

I shall reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes there have been in the rules for admitting Philippine citizens to the United Kingdom for permanent and temporary work and for the admittance of their dependants, respectively, over the past 10 years.

There are no rules relating specifically to nationals of the Philippines and those seeking admission to the United Kingdom must qualify under the relevant provisions of the immigration rules (currently HC 169, as amended). Throughout the last 10 years, overseas nationals wishing to work here have generally required work permits. The criteria for the issue of work permits were changed in 1980 and permits are now only available for jobs requiring a high level of skill or experience for which no labour is available within the European Community.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Leicester, East of 14 January, if he will list those prison chapels which are used as cinemas.

The prison chapels used as cinemas are the following:

• Pentonville
• Winchester
• Birmingham
• Stafford
• Gloucester
• Manchester
• Liverpool
• Leeds
• Lincoln

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of bail applications which have been refused during the years 1983, 1984 and 1985; how many bail applications for scheduled offences have been granted for the same years; and how many of those granted bail did not comply with its conditions during the same years.

Not all the information requested is available. The number of persons remanded on bail and the number remanded in custody is published, for each offence group, in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales" (chapter 8 of the issue for 1985, Cmnd. 10) No information is collected centrally on the number of persons who do not comply with conditions of their bail.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether police forces in Wales are authorised to produce fixed penalty tickets in a bilingual, Welsh/English format.

There is nothing in law to prevent the police from producing and issuing bilingual fixed penalty notices, but in the light of the practical difficulties that would result for the administration of the new fixed penalty system, no police force at present does so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the economic circumstances of many of the defendants, he will consider making an order directing that the extradition proceedings in connection with the Heysel stadium disaster be heard before a stipendiary magistrate sitting in Liverpool.

The Extradition Acts 1870 and 1895 provide that extradition proceedings must be held before the Bow street magistrate except where it would be dangerous to the life of the accused or prejudicial to his health to move him to Bow street. We are, however, considering the suggestion made by the hon. Member, and will write to him.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many crimes in total, and how many crimes of violence were committed in each district of the Metropolitan Police in 1978 and in each year since;(2) how many burglaries were committed in each district of the Metropolitan Police in 1978 and in each year since.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 January 1987, c. 75]: Total notificable offences recorded by the police in each London borough in the years 1978 and 1980–83 are published in each "Annual Abstract of Greater London Statistics: 1983–84, Volume 16" (Table 147), a copy of which is the Library. Recently more detailed figures, including those for violence against the person, burglary and other main offence groups have been placed in the Library and I will arrange for further tables to be added to extend the series back to 1982. More detailed information for earlier years can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, (1) how many murders were committed in each district of the Metropolitan Police in 1978 and in each year since;(2) how many murders were cleared up by the Metropolitan Police in 1978 and each year since; and what percentage this represents of total murders in their area.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 January, c. 75]: In the absence of a court decision, it is not always possible to distinguish offences of murder, manslaughter and infanticide; they are collectively known as homicide. Numbers of offences of homicide recorded and cleared up by the Metropolitan police are published each year in the annual "Report of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis" (appendix 4(ii) of the report for 1985, Cmnd. 9790). A breakdown of the recorded homicides by district would be available only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were cautioned formally for sexual offences (a) in each Metropolitan police district and (b) in the Metropolitan police area in 1978 and in each year since.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 January 1987, c. 75]: Information about cautions by police force area and offence group is published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales" [table 35(a) for 1978; table 34(a) for 1979; and table 3.7A of vol 3 of the supplementary tables from 1980.] Details of cautioning by district could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report such information as is available to show the average sentence given, and the actual sentence served, for (a) rape and (b) attempted rape, (c) manslaughter, (d) occasioning grievous bodily harm and (e) murder in each of the past 10 years.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 December 1986, Vol. 107, c. 80]: The readily available information is given in the table. Information for all years could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The comparison between the sentence served and the sentence imposed can only he made on discharge; thus the sentence lengths reflect sentencing decisions taken in previous years. Information on sentencing in each year is to be found in "Criminal Statistics" (chapter 7 of the Command Paper and supplementary volumes 1 and 2).The average time served under sentence is reduced by time spent on remand, remission and parole. Changes during this period included a significant increase in the average time spent on remand, a reduction in the minimum qualifying period for parole (affecting mainly sentences under 3 years), and a more restricted policy on parole for those serving sentences of over 5 years for offences of violence. Also between 1980 and 1985 both the average sentence length and the average time spent under sentence were reduced by the changes in the sentencing structure for young offenders which came into effect in May 1983. Under the Sexual Offences Act 1985 the maximum sentence for attempted rape was increased to life imprisonment.The average time served by those released on licence from life sentences does not fully reflect the longest periods likely to be served by some of those given life sentences following the abolition of capital punishment in 1965 who have not yet been released. Fuller information on the time served by all persons received under life sentences is given in table 4(e) of "Prison Statistics England and Wales 1985", (Cmnd. 9903). In accordance with the statement

Average sentence length imposed and average time spent under sentence in Prison Department establishments in England and Wales by persons discharged in 1976, 1980 or 1985 from sentences for murder, manslaughter, rape or wounding
Months/years
		Determinate sentences		Average time spent under indeterminate sentences1
Year of discharge	Offence	Average sentence length4 (months)	Average time spent under sentence1 (months)	Borstal training (months)	Life sentences (years)
1976	Murder	Life	6	6	10⅓
	Manslaughter	46·5	23·1	8·9
	Rape2	45·7	24·3
	Wounding2 3	14·2	8·3
1980	Murder	Life	6	6	10⅔
	Manslaughter	57·3	26·0	8·3
	Rape2	48·3	23·4
	Wounding2 3	12·5	6·9
1985	Murder	Life	6	6
	Manslaughter	50·35	21·85		10
	Rape2	42·95	20·45
	Wounding2 3	10·55	5·15
1On completion of sentence or release on licence: excluding those discharged following a recall from parole or licence or for other reasons eg successful appeal, transfer out of Prison Department establishments. Excludes any time spent on remand in custody or in non-Prison Department establishments.
2Including attempts.
3Including assault occasioning grievous bodily harm.
4Sentence length reflects any consecutive sentences and any appeals; the offence recorded is the principle offence.
5Including sentences of youth custody.
6 Not applicable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy that every prisoner whose home is in Wales may be held within a prison in Wales if he or she so wishes.

[pursuant to his reply, 19 December 1986, Vol. 1, c. 734]: The only accommodation presently available for male offenders in Wales is in Cardiff and Swansea prisons, and these are already fully committed as local prisons for male adults serving the courts in south and mid-Wales. There are also two male young offender establishments, Usk and Prescoed camp, in Wales and we try to accommodate Welsh young offenders in them if their home is nearby. There is no facilty for female prisoners to be held in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on Government policy relating to the level of funds available to meet third party claims for damages resulting from a nuclear accident.

I have been asked to reply.The Nuclear Installations Act 1965, as amended, provides, in the first instance, for funds up to the sterling equivalent of 300 million SDR (currently about £250 million) to be available to satisfy compensation claims in made by the then Home Secretary in November 1983, offenders convicted of the most heinous murders can normally expect to serve at least 20 years in custody, and there will be cases where the gravity of the offence requires a still longer period to be served.the event of a nuclear accident. Beyond that, the Act provides that claims shall be satisfied to such extent and out of funds provided by such means as Parliament may determine.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, during the negotiation of the Anglo-Irish Agreement or in the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, or in any other exchanges with the Government of the Irish Republic, Her Majesty's Government requested re-affirmation, or classification, of the supplementary agreement fixing the area of Northern Ireland and continued by the Ireland (Confirmation of Agreement) Act 1925, following the Tripartite Agreement between the Governments of the Irish Free State and Northern Ireland and His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom; and what conversations have occurred between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of the Irish Republic on the international status and continuing validity of the said agreement and legislation.

The question of the 1925 boundary agreement or the Ireland (Confirmation of Agreement) Act 1925 which gave it legislative confirmation, did not arise in the negotiations leading to the Anglo-Irish Agreement; nor have there been any recent conversations about it with the Government of the Republic of Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 19 December, Official Report, column 760, when he expects the current examination by the Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europe follow-up meeting in Vienna of the record of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Eastern European countries in implementing the provisions of the Helsinki Final Act to be completed.

The Vienna CSCE follow-up meeting reconvenes on 27 January. The formal exchange of views on implementation of the Helsinki Final Act is scheduled to end at the beginning of February. However, the United Kingdom delegation will be able at any stage of the meeting to raise specific aspects of the performance of the Soviet Union and eastern European countries which are of concern.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement about his recent discussions with the Spanish Foreign Minister in respect of Gibraltar.

My right hon. and learned Friend met the Spanish Foreign Minister in London on 13 and 14 January. Their meeting was part of the process of co-operation and negotiation between Britain and Spain, started by the Brussels Agreement of 27 November 1984. My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State and the Chief Minister of Gibraltar, Sir Joshua Hassan, were also present as members of the British delegation.The Foreign Ministers reviewed progress in co-operation between Gibraltar and Spain. They agreed that it should continue to take place on a fair and balanced basis, consistent with their common Community obligations. They noted that contacts had developed satisfactorily in a number of fields including tourism, the environment, culture and sport, public health and education. They agreed that the creation of economic and cultural working groups was desirable subject to terms of reference being agreed. Officials were instructed to pursue this.The two Ministers also discussed co-operation in the civil use of Gibraltar airport and instructed officials to resume their study of the matter.As provided for in the Brussels agreement, there was a full discussion of sovereignty. Snr. Fernandez Ordonez underlined the importance of proposals put forward by Spain in February 1985. My right hon. and learned Friend reaffirmed our commitment to honour the wishes of the people of Gibraltar, as set out in the preamble of their 1969 Constitution. He stressed the importance of managing any differences between Britain and Spain in a spirit consistent with their links of traditional friendship and their common membership of the European Community and NATO.The two Ministers agreed to meet again in Madrid in accordance with the pattern already established.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has now concluded the negotiations between himself and the tobacco industry on the sponsorship of sport and sporting events; and if he will make a statement.

I am pleased to announce that the negotiations have been completed and the Government have reached a new voluntary agreement with the tobacco industry on sports sponsorship in the United Kingdom. The agreement came into effect today and will run until at least 31 October 1989.The effect of the new agreement is that: overall expenditure on sponsorship activities will be reduced; the companies will not sponsor events designed to appeal mainly to spectators under 18 years old; media advertising will not depict any participants in a sport; the size of health warnings on signs at televised events will be increased by 50 per cent.; there will be tighter controls over the siting of signs at televised events; the agreement will be monitored by the Committee for Monitoring Agreements on Tobacco Advertising and Sponsorship, which is chaired by Sir Peter Lazarus.These provisions have been incorporated into the detailed text of an agreement, copies of which are being placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The Government are grateful to the tobacco companies for the way in which they have pursued the negotiations and for accepting more specific controls over their sponsorship activities, particularly where the event concerned is to be televised.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many homes are currently for sale within the London docklands which have been developed on sites provided by the corporation at prices (a) below £50,000, (b) between £50,000 and £100,000 and (c) above £100,000.

I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the number of tenancies currently existing which fall within the provisions of the Rent Act 1957.

I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will increase the compensation payments to council tenants who are compulsorily transferred to another council tenancy.

My right hon. Friend has at present no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the effects of the recent cold weather on the operation of Big Ben.

On 12 and 13 January the cold weather caused a problem with the chimes of the Great Clock. The normally flexible pads, which regulate the strength of the strike of the bell hammers, became hardened in the extremely low temperatures in the belfry. This affected the hour striking bell, Big Ben, and also one of the quarter-chiming bells. These failed to sound on a number of occasions, the hardened pads preventing the hammers making contact with the bells.A method has been found of warming the pads sufficiently to restore their flexibility and all the bells are now producing their familiar sound.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the number of local authorities receiving grant-related expenditure on the criterion that an airport is situated in their area.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment intends that, for the 1987–88 rate support grant settlement, 30 local authorities will receive grant-related expenditure for debt charges retained by local authorities where airport companies are established under the Airports Act 1986. Estimates of the debt charges remaining, totalling £9·9 million, are as follows:

Local Authority	Airports Debt Charges GRE (£ Million)
Luton	1·067
Bournemouth	0·171
Southend	0·043
Blackpool	0·114
Norwich	0·114
Merseyside Transport Authority	0·726
Gateshead	0·031
Newcastle-upon-Tyne	0·031
North Tyneside	0·031
South Tyneside	0·031
Sunderland	0·031
Birmingham	0·529
Coventry	0·529
Dudley	0·529
Sandwell	0·529
Solihull	0·529
Walsall	0·529
Wolverhampton	0·529
Bradford	0·962
Calderdale	0·168
Kirklees	0·168
Leeds	0·962
Wakefield	0·168
Cleveland	0·142
Devon	0·441
Dorset	0·171
Durham	0·192
Humberside	0·156
Norfolk	0·185
Northumberland	0·092
England	9·900

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has about the incidence of local authorities giving themselves planning permission for a housing development prior to holding a public inquiry into the development proposal.

The Department's evidence to the Select Committee on the Environment's investigation of appeals, call-in and major public inquiries, reported:

"in the year April 1984—March 1985 a little over 12,300 deemed permissions were granted. Of these almost 1,400 in respect of land vested in local authorities but where the development was to be carried out by others. We do not know how many of these permissions represented departures from development plans".

Nor do we know in how many cases a public inquiry was held. The Select Committee recommended in its subsequent report that

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the progress, morale and performance of the British Board of Agrement since 6 June 1984.

Agrement certificates are now recognised, under the building control system introduced in November 1985, as documents which demonstrate compliance with the requirements of the building regulations. The number of valid certificates has increased from 534 in May 1984 to 643 in November 1986. Between December 1985 and November 1986, the board issued 207 certificates, of which 73 were replacements for old ones "recast" in a new format.Progress towards financial self-sufficiency, which it was forecast would be achieved in financial year 1987–88, is proving slower than anticipated, but grant in aid paid to the board as a proportion of turnover is down, from 31 per cent. in 1984–85 to about 20 per cent. (estimated) for 1986–87.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will bring up to date the table set out by the hon. Member for Ealing, Acton (Sir G. Young) on 5 June 1984 regarding the financing of the National Building Agency; and whether the accounts for this body have now been finalised, and the organisation finally dissolved.

The following payments have been made by the Department to meet the closure costs and net liabilities of the National Building Agency over the last three years. There are no other amendments to the June 1984 table.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) on what basis the transfer of development corporation houses belonging to Warrington and Runcorn Development Corporation will take place; how the sale price and repair liability will be determined; and what provisions will be made for tenant involvement;(2) what questions will be asked of the tenants of Warrington and Runcorn New Town Development Corporation in the survey to determine whom they would like to be the new owners of their rented property; if he will be bound by the results of the survey; when the survey will be carried out; and who will undertake it.

These are matters on which decisions still have to be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses owned by local authorities are currently registered as being empty; if he will break them down by local authority; how many have been unoccupied for more than 12 months; what information he has as to the number in need of urgent repair; what plans he has to deal with the problem; how many people are registered as homeless; and if he will make a statement.

At national level, the information requested by my hon. Friend is as follows. Local authorities reported that, at 1 April 1986, they had 113,300 vacant dwellings; 27,100 of these had been vacant for over one year; 38,600 were being improved or repaired; and 18,800 were awaiting improvement or repair. At 31 March 1986, there were 15,400 households reported by local authorities as in temporary accommodation under the homelessness provisions of the Housing Act 1985; in the preceding year, authorities accepted responsibility for securing accommodation for 97,100 households under those provisions. Figures for individual local authorities are in the Library: numbers of vacant dwellings are in pages 1.6 to 18.6 and 1.7 to 18.7 of the "HIPI (1986) all items print" and the households in temporary accommodation at 31 March 1986 in table 9(a) of "Local Housing Statistics No. 78".In our view, local authorities can reduce the number of their dwellings standing empty if they implement a number of good management practices, in particular faster reletting procedures and better planned repair and maintenance operations. They also have scope for letting or leasing property for short-life use; if it is let to a registered housing association, they may claim housing association grant to make it fit for short-term letting. Estate Action (UHRU) provides advice and resources for authorities on bringing rundown estates up to an acceptable standard, thereby reducing numbers of difficult-to-let and empty properties. And we are currently consulting on a proposed general consent for local authorities to let empty homes awaiting repair or demolition to housing associations on leases of up to five years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will specify the staffing levels of the new inspectorate of pollution.

It is expected that the staff complement of the inspectorate when formed on 1 April will be about 190. This figure includes posts which may be transferred to departmental policy directorates after review of the organisation in the first year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to ensure that all recommendations to central Government emanating from the new inspectorate of pollution will be statutorily available to local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

The inspectorate will form part of my Department and will tender advice to Ministers under normal Civil Service rules. It will publish an annual report with a full account of its activities and local reports where applicable and will issue technical advisory and guidance documents.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the specific powers of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution.

The formation of the inspectorate will not affect the statutory basis of pollution control. The inspectorate's powers at 1 April and the development of its functions are discussed in a consultation paper, copies of which I placed in the Library of the House last week.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what effect his recent statements on the rate support grant and rate limitation will have upon ratepayers in the London borough of Haringey in the coming financial year.

My right hon. Friend announced on 13 January that after the passing of the Local Government Finance Bill he intends to make the Rate Support Grant (England) Report 1987–88 under which Haringey will receive £69 million block grant—£18 million more than this year—if it spends at its expenditure level of £153 million, determined for it last July, and to determine a rate limit for Haringey of 239·27p, a reduction of 6 per cent. on its 1986–87 rate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the effects of his statement on the rate support grant of 13 January, Official Report, column 147, on Cleveland county council, relative to the position as previously announced in his proposals of 3 December.

The effect of my right hon. Friend's announcement of 13 January on Cleveland county council is that it will receive £99 million block grant—an increase of £8 million from its position under my right hon. Friend's proposals of 3 December—if it spends at the settlement spending assumption.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the cost to central Government of funding the Central Council for Physical Recreation in each of the last six years; and if he will express this annual cost as a percentage of the Sports Council grant.

It is for the Sports Council to determine what grant can be given to the Central Council of Physical Recreation. The figures are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek power to institute a differential rating scheme for small shops and post offices in rural communities; and if he will make a statement.

I will answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council houses have been sold to sitting tenants in the county of Avon in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

The numbers of right-to-buy sales, and other sales to sitting tenants by councils in the county of Avon, are given in the following issues of "Local Housing Statistics" which are available in the Library:

Year	Issue No.
1983–84	75
1984–85	79
1985–86	79

Subsequent to the publication of issue No. 79, Bristol has reported 1,313 sales to sitting tenants in 1984/85 and 903 in 1985/86.Corresponding figures for each local authority in Avon for the period 1 April to 30 September 1986 are:

	Numbers
Bath	62
Bristol	359
Kingswood	49
Northavon	64
Wansdyke	137
Woodspring	97
11 April to 30 June only.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to reimburse the Sandwell metropolitan borough council for expenditure incurred under the Housing Defects Act and subsequent amendment.

It is already the Secretary of State's practice, under section 569 of the Housing Act 1985, to make Exchequer contributions to local authorities in respect of allowable expenditure under the Housing Defects Act and subsequent amendment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council tenants successfully found new accommodation under the national mobility scheme during the last 12 months for which figures are available.

The national mobility steering committee report for 1985–86 shows that 6,840 tenants were successful in finding new accommodation under the national mobility scheme. The organisation estimates that about 5,700 of these were council tenants.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in the Official Report all those universities which provide undergraduate or postgraduate courses in departments of developments studies; what changes have occurred to student numbers in those departments since the beginning of the academic year in 1979 to the present academic year; and what information he has on the changes which have occurred in the percentage of the total cash available to each university going to these departments over the same period.

In 1979 Birmingham, East Anglia and Kent universities ran undergraduate courses intitled development studies and in 1986 East Anglia, Kent and Swansea ran such courses. These were not all run by departments of development studies. They covered a variety of options mainly in the economics, geography, political and sociology fields which were also included as options in courses at other universities. In 1986, 32 universities offered postgraduate taught or research courses in development studies which also covered a wide range of options. Information on the numbers of students studying the different options is not readily available centrally. Information is not available centrally on expenditure by individual departments (the classification of which varies between universities).

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in the Official Report for each local education authority in England (a) the capital bid submitted for 1987–88, (b) the allocation announced, (c) the allocation as a percentage of the bid in each case and (d) the 1986–87 allocation in each case.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the capital allocation made to each local education authority for expenditure on schools, in cash and constant prices, for each year since 1979.

I shall reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the bid made by each local education authority for a capital allocation for expenditure on schools for 1987–88.

The information is as follows:

	1987–88 LEAs Plans £ (000's)
Barking	634
Barnet	3,289
Bexley	2,461
Brent	6,436
Bromley	3,193
Croydon	4,264
Ealing	4,582
Enfield	2,285
Haringey	7,615
Harrow	1,784
Havering	1,091
Hillingdon	3,669
Hounslow	4,840
Kingston-upon-Thames	1,074
Merton	2,306
Newham	4,651
Redbridge	2,883
Richmond-upon-Thames	745

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many grammar schools have closed in each year since 1970.

The information is not available centrally in the form requested. The number of grammar schools in England has fallen over the years as shown in the table below:

January each year	Number of grammar schools
1970	975
1971	918
1972	850

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total expenditure on the assisted places scheme in each year since its introduction.

The information requested is as follows:

Financial year	Expenditure £ million
1981–82	3·002
1982–83	8·691
1983–84	14·995
1984–85	22·152
1985–86	29·569

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will list in the Official Report(a) the number of assisted places pupils and (b) the percentage of all such pupils in respect of the income schedule for the assisted places scheme.

The latest available information relates to the school year 1985–86 and is as follows:

Income bands	Number of assisted pupils	Percentage distribution
Up to £6,376	7,889	39·3
£6,377–£6,750	692	3·4
£6,751–£7,300	943	4·7
£7,301–£8,400	2,102	10·5
£8,401–£10,080	3,285	16·3
£10,081–£12,280	3,394	16·9
£12,281 upwards	1,779	8·9

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the number of grammar schools in each local education auhority retaining selective secondary education.

The number of grammar schools in the local education authorities in England which in January 1986 had retained selective education are given below.

Grammar schools
	Number
Barnet	2
Bexley	2