asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his policy on whether teachers being paid at an unqualified rate can have the appropriate increase in their pay backdated once the education authority has received notification of qualified teacher status.

Under existing regulations that cannot be done. The matter is under consideration and I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Table 1
Allocations for LEA prescribed expenditure 1983–84 to 1987–88
	1983–84 (£000's)	1984–85 (£000's)	1985–86 (£000's)	1986–87 (£000's)	1987–88 (£000's)
Barking	2,928	1,442	947	1,135	806
Barnet	1,538	2,453	2,612	1,621	1,744
Bexley	1,633	845	504	715	1,641
Brent	1,180	1,678	891	1,589	2,514
Bromley	841	492	628	1,747	1,618
Croydon	800	1,227	2,170	2,784	2,428
Ealing	693	1,347	2,451	2,154	2,147
Enfield	311	576	966	706	1,222
Haringey	1,597	1,090	895	797	1,121
Harrow	305	523	299	4,078	2,952
Havering	299	216	334	395	393
Hillingdon	896	1,068	521	306	1,059
Hounslow	2,611	3,063	1,566	668	1,255
Kingston-upon-Thames	2,270	1,330	2,131	1,806	1,683
Merton	408	993	2,277	1,203	1,054
Newham	2,084	2,039	2,558	1,271	1,165
Redbridge	872	1,006	1,330	1,149	1,761
Richmond-upon-Thames	557	735	379	249	115
Sutton	266	451	474	329	247
Waltham forest	1,624	889	985	2,184	2,585
Inner London	9,683	9,703	15,080	12,575	14,957
Birmingham	5,220	6,484	3,695	5,016	3,860
Coventry	3,478	2,919	3,094	5,396	5,709
Dudley	3,950	3,516	2,671	2,012	1,329
Sandwell	1,436	1,705	1,914	1,203	576
Solihull	356	723	642	1,295	500
Walsall	1,340	1,026	1,329	1,119	824
Wolverhampton	2,269	2,375	2,047	1,418	1,932
Knowsley	665	895	973	1,483	1,108
Liverpool	3,768	4,243	4,870	2,904	1,885
St Helens	2,384	2,111	1,827	772	855
Sefton	578	824	1,671	2,667	1,790
Wirral	2,403	2,117	766	1,402	1,316
Bolton	2,047	1,536	570	576	645
Bury	982	1,030	803	882	320
Manchester	4,349	6,997	7,450	6,501	8,968
Oldham	780	968	1,014	1,428	2,799
Rochdale	1,174	1,452	1,802	2,163	2,220
Salford	1,038	822	1,551	1,625	1,882
Stockport	1,067	1,770	1,411	1,453	1,243

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what funding for new works has been provided by his Department in each of the last five years; and how this has been distributed on a local education authority basis.

Funding for local education authority capital expenditure is not provided by the Department, but is the responsibility of the LEAs. The level of capital spending they may undertake in any year is, however, limited to the allocation notified to them by the Department, plus the flexibilities permitted by the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980. Table 1 lists each local education authority's allocation for each of the last five years. It is for the LEA to decide how its allocation should be spent.The Department does provide grant-aid for capital projects undertaken by the governors of voluntary aided schools. Table 2 shows the amount of capital expenditure at such schools in its area, covering both commitments and new work, notified to each LEA as eligible for grant-aid in each of the last five years.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of gross domestic product has been spent on the education budget in each year since 1979.

The table shows total outturn public expenditure on education in the United Kingdom for the financial years 1979–80 to 1985–86 expressed as a percentage of average gross domestic product in each year, and estimated outturn for 1986–87 as a percentage of forecast GDP.

Financial years	Percentage
1979–80	5·1
1980–81	5·5
1981–82	5·4
1982–83	5·3
1983–84	5·2
1984–85	5·0
1985–86	4·7
1986–87	4·9

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is yet in a position to announce the membership and terms of reference of the Committee on English.

I have appointed Sir John Kingman FRS, Vice-Chancellor of Bristol university, to be chairman of the committee which I am setting up to make recommendations on a model of the workings of the English language to help improve teaching in schools.The members of the committee are:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the capital allocation for 1987–88 of all the local education authorities which received more than Bradford metropolitan district council.

The allocations for education prescribed capital expenditure which were larger than that made to Bradford metropolitan district council were:

Local education authority	Allocation £'000
Inner London Education Authority	14,957
Essex	11,600
Hampshire	10,918
Humberside	10,753
Derbyside	9,036
Manchester	8,968
Staffordshire	7,591
Kent	7,514
Gloucestershire	7,167
Suffolk	6,683

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the accidents investigation branch report on the accident to the Chinook helicopter BV 234LR G-BISO 2 May 1984 to be published.

The accidents investigation branch report on this accident is going through the legal processes required before publication. It is expected that this report will be published during the summer of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are being taken to reduce noise levels emanating from newly constructed major roads with concrete surfaces.

It is the Department's policy to take noise protection measures where traffic on newly constructed roads, whether concrete or bituminous, causes noise to rise above specified levels. Local highway authorities act similarly. Studies by the Transport and Road Research Laboratory show that concrete and bituminous road surfaces result in similar noise levels when textured to provide similar skidding resistance.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all the public bodies for which he is responsible on which the consideration of the appointment or co-option of a person with knowledge of disability is a statutory requirement; if he will name the persons so appointed or co-opted on each body; and if he will indicate which of those persons is a person with a disability.

The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee is the only such body for which I am responsible. I am required, as far as is reasonably practicable, to secure that at least half of the membership of the committee consists of persons who are disabled. Currently there are 20 members, of whom 11 are disabled. I do not think it appropriate to identify the members with disabilities.The members of the Committee are:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if the chief inspector of accidents has now submitted his report on the accident to the Boeing 737 at Manchester airport on 22 August 1985; and if he will make a statement.

The report of the investigation into the accident to Boeing 737 G-BGJL which occurred at Manchester airport on 22 August 1985 is now being completed by the inspector prior to the commencement of the legal processes, including consideration of representations by persons whose reputations might be adversely affected. Publication will take place as soon as possible, but is unlikely to be before late summer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress made during Britain's presidency of the European Community in combating drug trafficking.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress made during Britain's presidency of the European Community in combating drug trafficking.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress made during Britain's presidency of the European Community in combating drug trafficking.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress made during Britain's presidency of the European Community in combating drug trafficking.

On 20 October I chaired a meeting of Community Ministers in London at which it was agreed that the Community and its member states have a major role to play in stepping up the fight against drug abuse. Agreement was reached upon a seven-point plan which would be pursued in conjunction with the Council of Europe's Pompidou Group, covering:

(i) Measures to reduce demand for drugs especially among young people;

(ii) Measures to improve the treatment of addicts and rehabilitation services;

(iii) ensuring that bilateral and Community aid supports as appropriate a recipient country's efforts to combat drug abuse;

(iv) steps to ensure that legislation takes account of the need to maintain effective control over illicit drug trafficking, particularly at the Community's external frontiers;

(v) mutual enforcement of confiscation orders relating to drug traffickers' assets;

(vi) enhanced co-operation between law enforcement agencies involving exchange of drug liaison officers between member states, the posting of drug liaison officers to other countries and the establishment of a worldwide directory of those involved in the fight against drug abuse; this would be achieved by inviting the Trevi Working Group Three to examine the scope for creating a co-ordinated network of drug liaison officers to monitor developments in producer countries;

(vii) preparation of joint assessments by Community ambassadors in drug-producing countries in order to ensure a steady flow of recommendations for action by the Twelve.

At the European Council, in December, Heads of State and Government endorsed this plan, action on which will be carried forward in ad hoc meetings of officials under the Belgian presidency. A copy of the Council's conclusions has been placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners on remand are currently being held in police cells.

On 16 January 1987 there were 197 persons held in police cells in England and Wales, most of whom are likely to have been untried.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, the case being concluded, he will now answer the question of the right hon. Member for South Down, Official Report, column 532, 6 November 1986.

I understand that, as part of an operation which led to the conviction of two men for conspiracy to murder, two detectives represented themselves as members of a terrorist organisation. I am informed that the police made an apology in court for any distress caused to the family of the late Mr. Airey Neave.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current monthly rate of representations by hon. Members in immigration cases; and how it compares with the rate prior to the introduction of his March 1986 guidelines.

The following table gives the number of immigration files created each month since October 1985 as a result of representations made on immigration matters by right hon. and hon. Members.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a complete list of statutory provisions bearing upon the disclosure of official information, other than the Official Secrets Acts, in order to update the list of provisions published in appendix V of the Franks report.

[pursuant to his reply, 18 December 1986, c. 656]: The following is the information requested:

• Census Act 1920, section 8(2).
• Public Health Act 1936, section 287.
• Coal Act 1938, section 1(3).
• Population (Statistics) Act 1938, section 4(2).
• Ministry of Supply Act 1939, section 17.
• London Building Acts (Amendment) Act 1939, section 142.
• Agricultural Returns Act (NI) 1939, section 1(5).
• War Damage Act 1943, section 118.
• Water Act 1945, schedule 3, paragraph 82(5).
• Atomic Energy Act 1946, section 13.
• Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946, section 56.
• Building Restrictions (War-time Contraventions) Act 1946, section 5 (now defunct).
• Agriculture Act 1947, section 81.
• Cotton (Centralised Buying) Act 1947, section 23(2).
• Industrial Organisation and Development Act 1947, section 5.
• Statistics of Trade Act 1947, section 9.
• Civil Defence Act 1948, section 4(4).
• Cotton Spinning (Re-equipment Subsidy) Act 1948, section 4.
• Monopolies & Restrictive Practices (Enquiry & Control) Act 1948, section 17.
• Radioactive Substances Act 1948, section 7.
• Wireless Telegraph Act 1949, sections 5, (6)(ii) and 15(4)(c).
• London County Council (General Powers) Act 1949, section 35.
• Coast Protection Act 1949, section 25.
• Statistics of Trade Act (NI) 1949, section 8.
• Slaughterhouses Act (NI) 1953, section 6(5).
• Clean Air Act 1956, section 26.
• Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1956, section 33.
• Agriculture Act 1957, section 26.
• Cinematograph Films Act 1957, section 5.
• London County Council (General Powers) Act 1957, section 58.
• Marketing of Eggs Act (NI) 1957, section 20.
• Agricultural Marketing Act 1958, section 47.
• Public Records Act 1958, schedule 2.
• Food and Drugs Act (NI) 1958, section 41(6).
• Building (Scotland) Act 1959, section 18(8).
• Horticulture Act 1960, section 12(3).
• Radioactive Substances Act 1960, section 13(3).
• Covent Garden Market Act 1961, section 32.
• Factories Act 1961, section 154.
• Public Health Act 1961, section 68.
• Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) Act 1961, section 12.
• Flood Prevention (Scotland) Act 1961, section 10.
• Agricultural Produce (Meat Regulation and Pig Industry) Act (NI) 1962, section 15(5).
• Offices, Shops Railway Premises Act 1963, section 59.
• Water Resources Act 1963, section 112.
• Weights & Measures Act 1963, section 48.
• Agriculture and Horticulture Act 1964, section 13.
• Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963, section 28.
• Harbours Act 1964, section 46.
• Marketing of Potatoes Act Act (NI) 1964, section 13.
• Agricultural Marketing Act (NI) 1964, section 23.
• Cereals Marketing Act 1965, section 17.
• Gas Act 1965, schedule 6, paragraph 9.
• Highlands and Islands Development (Scotland) Act 1965, section 12.
• Factories Act (NI) 1965, section 154.
• Land Development Values (Compensation) Act (NI) 1965, section 40.
• Office and Shop Premises Act (NI) 1966, section 56.
• Horticulture Act (NI) 1966, section 29.
• Abortion Act 1967, section 2(1).
• Agriculture Act 1967, sections 24 and 25.
• Iron and Steel Act 1967, section 43.
• Adoption Act (NI) 1967, section 44.
• Medicines Act 1968, section 118(2).
• Sewerage (Scotland) Act 1968, section 50.
• Trade Descriptions Act 1968, section 28.
• Post Office Act 1969, section 65.
• Finance Act 1969, section 58(6).
• Census Act (NI) 1969, sections 6, 7(4) and 7(5).
• Agriculture Act 1970, sections 21, 83 and 108.
• Sea Fish Industry Act 1970, section 14(2).
• Fire Precautions Act 1971, section 21.
• National Savings Bank Act 1971, section 12.
• Town and County Planning Act 1971, section 281(3).
• Local Government Act 1972, sections 100 and 158 and schedule 12A parts I and II.
• European Communities Act 1972, sections 11(2) and 12.
• Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972, section 263.
• Water Act (NI) 1972, section 24(8).
• Water Act 1973, section 32(7) and schedule 3, part III, paragraph 41.
• Fair Trading Act 1973, sections 30(3) and 133.
• Employment Agencies Act 1973, section 9(4).
• Employmet and Trading Act 1973, section 4(5).
• Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, sections 27(4) and 28.
• Local Government Act 1974, sections 29, 32 and 33.
• Prices Act 1974, schedule, paragraph 12.
• Consumer Credit Act 1974, sections 160(4) and 174(5).
• Legal Aid Act 1974, section 22.
• Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, section 9.
• Control of Pollution Act 1974, section 94.
• Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, section 28.
• Supply Powers Act 1975, section 5.
• Biological Standards Act 1975, section 5.
• Sex Discrimination Act 1975, section 61.
• Scottish Devlopment Act 1975, section 10(7).
• Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976, section 41.
• Energy Act 1976, schedule 2, paragraph 7.
• Race Relations Act 1976, section 52.
• Rent (Agriculture) Act 1976, section 30(4).
• Fair Employment (NI) Act 1976, schedule 4, paragraph 11 and schedule 5, paragraph 12.
• Banking Act 1979, section 19.
• Estate Agents Act 1979, section 10.
• Agricultural Statistics Act 1979, sections 3 and 4.
• Merchant Shipping Act 1979, section 40(1)(b).
• Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980, section 167, and schedule 20, part III.
• Competition Act 1980, section 19.
• Water (Scotland) Act 1980, section 38(6).
• Highways Act 1980, section 292(4).
• Deep Sea Mining (Temporary Provisions) Act 1981, section 13.
• Film Levy Finance Act 1981, section 8.
• Energy Conservation Act 1981, section 20(8).
• Fisheries Act 1981, section 12.
• Education Act 1981, schedule 1, paragraph 4.
• British Telecommunications Act 1981, section 50.
• Local Government Finance Act 1982, section 30.
• Iron & Steel Act 1982, section 33.
• Insurance Companies Act 1982, section 47a.
• Industrial Training Act 1982, section 6(2).
• Merchant Shipping (Liner Conferences) Act 1982, section 10(2).
• Civil Aviation Act 1982, section 23.
• Value Added Tax Act 1983, section 44.
• Diseases of Fish Act 1983, section 9.
• Public Health (Control of Diseases) Act 1984, section 62(3).
• Building Act 1984, section 96.
• Telecommunications Act 1984, section 101.
• Data Protection Act 1984, sections 15, 19, 20 and schedule 1, paragraph 3.
• Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, section 98.
• Anatomy Act 1984, section 10(6).
• Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, section 43.
• Companies Securities (Insider Dealing) Act 1985, section 2.
• Companies Act 1985, sections 449.
• Weights and Measures Act 1985, sections 64 and 79(7).
• Building Societies Act 1986, section 53.
• Consumer Safety (Amendment) Act 1986, section 11.
• Financial Services Act 1986, part VIII.
• Animals Scientific Procedures Act 1986, section 24.
• Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986, section 34.
• Gas Act 1986, section 42.
• Airports Act 1986, section 74.

asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement on progress made during Britain's presidency of the European Community in encouraging the growth of jobs throughout the European Community.

asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement on progress made during Britain's presidency of the European Community in encouraging the growth of jobs throughout the European Community.

asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement on progress made during Britain's presidency of the European Community in encouraging the growth of jobs throughout the European Community.

The progress made was considerable. In particular, at the Labour and Social Affairs Council on 11 December the Council adopted an action programme for employment growth, based on a text put forward by the United Kingdom, Italy and the republic of Ireland. The action programme sets the four priorities for the Labour and Social Affairs Council's future work as being the promotion of new business and employment growth; more efficient labour markets; better training for young people and adults; and more help for long term unemployed people.First proposals under the programme are to be brought forward before the Council's next meeting. The European Commission will in addition be making six-monthly reports to the Council and the European Parliament on progress made in the programme's implementation. For a more detailed account of the action programme I refer my hon. Friends to my right hon. and learned Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Kingswood (Mr. Hayward) on 15 December 1986, at column 368.In addition to the adoption of the action programme, achievements during the United Kingdom presidency in a number of other areas will also contribute substantially to the growth of jobs throughout the Community. Particular examples are the substantial progress made towards the completion of the internal market and towards lightening the burdens on business arising from Community obligations.

asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement on progress made during Britain's presidency of the European Community in encouraging the growth of smaller businesses throughout the European Community.

asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement on progress made during Britain's presidency of the European Community in encouraging the growth of smaller businesses throughout the European Community.

asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement on progress made during Britain's presidency of the European Community in encouraging the growth of smaller businesses throughout the European Community.

The European Community approved the broad principles of an action programme for small and medium-sized enterprises at the Industry Council on 20 October 1986. They adopted a resolution recognising the important role of SMEs in job creation and calling for a Community strategy for SMEs to complement national action. The programme's two main aims are to create a favourable environment for SMEs and to develop specific measures to improve their effectiveness, efficiency and access to finance. The programme provides a framework for the activities of the Commission's SME task force. It identifies the areas in which they will develop proposals in more detail including the reduction of burdens on businesses; ensuring that European Community policies relating to taxation, company law, competition, and the internal market are developed with due regard to the needs and interests of SMEs; ensuring that SMEs have access to European Community assistance through, for example, the European social fund and research and development programmes; setting up information centres to improve SMEs' understanding and awareness of European Community programmes and policies; and improving SMEs' access to advice, training and finance.In a separate set of conclusions the Industry Council of 20 October emphasised the priority that it attaches to reducing fiscal, administrative and legal constraints on business, particularly SMEs, so as to encourage enterprise and promote employment.On 17 November 1986 the Economic and Finance Council reached agreement on the substance of a new lending facility for SMEs. One and a half billion ecu (about £1·1 billion) will be made available in two equal tranches, the first to be raised by the Commission, the second by the European Investment Bank.The Council has already begun discussion of a Commission proposal for a Council directive on the application of value added tax to SMEs. The proposals include provisions concerning the exemption limits below which small businesses are not required to be registered for VAT, and a simplified scheme to be made available for all businesses whose annual turnover does not exceed 150,000 ECU (about £110,000).In addition, the Labour and Social Affairs Council on 11 December adopted and action programme on employment growth which sets out the formation of new businesses and employment growth as one of the priority areas of its future work. The programme calls for the rapid implementation of the SME action programme as endorsed by the Industry Council and for support for the efforts being made within member states to encourage the setting up and expansion of SMEs and one-man businesses in particular through the removal of unnecessary administrative constraints and a review of existing Community legislation to remove obstacles to the number of people taking up self-employment.

asked the Paymaster General how much the community programme will cost in the current year (a) gross and (b) net.

The current cash limit for the community programme is £1,061·million. This is £5 million lower than the initial cash limit, reflecting a take-up of the scheme which has been slightly lower than expected.The net cost of the programme is about £440 million, some 40 per cent. of gross costs.

asked the Paymaster General what efforts are made, and to what extent it is a specific part of the objects of the community programme, to place participants in a job at the end of their 12 months.

A principal aim of the community programme is to help unemployed people secure permanent employment. Many sponsors provide training in job search skills and participants are granted time off with pay to visit their local jobcentre and attend interviews with local employers.

asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement about proposed reductions in community programme plans in 1987–88; and if he will provide a breakdown of the reductions as between the voluntary sector and the private sector for each of the Manpower Services Commission areas.

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

asked the Paymaster General when he expects the Aigburth and Lark Lane community care project, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside, to be approved; and if he will make a statement.

Proposals for projects under the community programme are considered by the appropriate local office of the Manpower Services Commission with the advice of the area manpower board. I understand that, in this case, a formal proposal has not yet been put forward by the Aigburth and Lark Lane community care project to the local office of the Manpower Services Commission. The details sent by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside are insufficient for the Commission to reach a decision.

asked the Paymaster General if he is satisfied with the working of the community programme; and if he will make a statement.

Yes, I am very satisfied with the operation of the community programme, which is providing worthwhile work experience for 300,000 unemployed people each year on projects which bring benefit to the community. Survey evidence shows that around a third of those who take part go straight from the programme into employment or training and about half will have had at least one job or training within 12 months of leaving.

asked the Paymaster General if he will list in the Official Report the Manpower Services Commission community programmes in the city of Liverpool at the latest date; and how many are employed on each project.

A table listing the number of community programme agencies and independent sponsored projects administered by the Manpower Services Commission's Merseyside inner community programme area office, and the number employed on each is as follows. The information was collated on 16 January 1987.

Agency	Number Employed
Merseyside Council for Voluntary Service	342
Community Task Force	353
Liverpool RC Archdiocese	226
NACRO	306
Liverpool Diocesan Care and Repair Association	233
Diggers	111
Toxteth Activities Group	93
Spina Bifida Community Service	61
Speke Enterprises Ltd.	108
Liverpool & Youth Workers Consortium	76
Merseyside Improvements Ltd.	727
Fazakerley & District	156
Liverpool Health Authority	98
North West Community Services Ltd	249
Ners	77
Landlife	57
South Sefton Health Authority	140
Christ Church Council	56
Merseyside Youth Association	446
AT4	339
Aintree Parish Church	60
Services for People in Need	201
G Force	635
Total	5,150

asked the Paymaster General what is his Department's policy with regard to the extension of existing centres for the unemployed.

The Manpower Services Commission funds a number of posts in centres for the unemployed through the community programme. There are no plans to increase the support for these centres.

asked the Paymaster General (1) what has been the number of people interviewed by his officials in Coventry as part of the project to see which people are available for work;(2) what is the number of people over the age of 50 years who have been interviewed by his officials in Coventry as part of the availability for work scheme;(3) what is the number of

As I announced on 28 October, we are introducing improved procedures to establish the long-standing requirement that benefit should only be paid to unemployed claimants who are available for work in accordance with long-standing legal rules. These better procedures were introduced in the Coventry unemployment benefit offices on 10 November 1986.At 26 December 1986, the latest date for which information is available, 3,957 new claimants in Coventry had completed the availability questionnaire. Of these, six people have had their claims disallowed by the independent adjudicating authorities because they are not available for work and a further 53 cases are still under consideration. Our records do not separately distinguish sex, age, whether a claimant is disabled or whether it has been necessary to interview a claimant.

asked the Paymaster General if, pursuant to his answer of 19 November 1986, Official Report, column 213, schemes providing vocational training for disabled people, combined with a substantial degree of adaptation of workplaces, are now eligible for support from the European social fund if they are in priority areas of the country.

The European Commission's guidelines for applications to the European social fund in 1987 removed the specific priority allocated to vocational training for disabled people combined with a substantial degree of adaption of workplaces. However, priority was retained for operations in priority areas for disabled people capable of working in the open labour market. As a result any schemes in priority areas which would have been eligible under the 1986 guidelines should still qualify under the 1987 guidelines. However, the final interpretation of the guidelines rests with the European Commission.

asked the Paymaster General if support from the European social fund is available for vocational training of disabled people only if schemes are in priority areas.

The specific social fund guideline which accords priority to operations for disabled people capable of working in the open labour market is restricted to priority regions. However, the final interpretation of this guideline rests with the European Commission which has in the past been prepared to support under it some operations for disabled people taking place outside the priority regions so long as those taking part are residents of priority regions. In addition, disabled people may also be eligible to benefit from other employment and training programmes supported by the social fund under other of the fund's guidelines not specifically directed towards helping the disabled.

asked the Paymaster General if he has any intention to seek to amend the restrictions on eligibility of projects for disabled people under European social fund guidelines.

Yes. The next opportunity will be at a meeting of the European Social Fund Advisory Committee, due to take place next month at which representatives of my Department will put forward the case for extending the availability of support for disabled people under the guidelines of the European social fund. Final decisions on the guidelines rest with the European Commission.

asked the Paymaster General if he will list the number of job losses in the United Kingdom tobacco industry by regions since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

The precise information requested is not available. However, estimates related to the tobacco industry in Great Britain showed a net loss of 15,000 employees in employment between September 1979 and September 1986, the latest date for which figures are available.The available regional employment estimates for the industry are from censuses of employment taken in September 1981 and September 1984. Between these dates, there was a net loss of 2,200 employees employed in the tobacco industry in the south-east region and no reduction in the northern region. Figures for other regions cannot be given without disclosing confidential information about individual concerns; the 1984 census estimates for Northern Ireland are not yet available. The reduction between the two census dates in the total number employed in the industry in Great Britain was 6,800.

asked the Paymaster General how many persons were employed in the tobacco industry in the United Kingdom at the latest date; and what were the figures in 1979.

The estimated number of employees in employment in the tobacco industry in Great Britain are as follows:

Date	Employees in Employment (thousands)
June 1979	31·0
June 1986	17·3
September 1986	16·5

These estimates are subject to considerable potential estimation error due to the relatively small number of employees in the industry. Comparison between the figures for June and September could be affected by seasonal factors. Estimates are not available for Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of his Department toward aid projects in Commonwealth countries funded by third countries which have as their goal the overhaul of the legal system.

Independent Commonwealth countries exercise their sovereign rights in overhauling their legal systems and can seek advice and assistance from whatever source they deem appropriate. We are ready to consider any request to provide advice or assistance on legal matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the direct British contribution has yet been paid to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency; what information he has on the payment of contributions by Arab states; and if he will make a statement.

The 1986 contribution of £5 million has been paid. A further £5 million has been pledged for 1987 and will be paid during the course of the year.For information on the payment of contributions by Arab states, I refer the hon. Member to annex I of the addendum to the report of the Commissioner General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency of October 1986, UN Official Record No. A/41/13/AddI, copies of which have been deposited in the Library of the House.

asked the Prime Minister how many television sets there are in 10 Downing street; where they are located; and who pays the licence fee for each of them.

Thirteen television sets are currently in use at 10 Downing street. No licence fees are payable for television sets on Crown property used for Government purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what records are being made of any accidents, incidents or untoward occurrences involving a flask containing spent nuclear fuel where the events did not meet the criteria for an incident notifiable to Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate; and if he will make a statement;(2) what emergency plans have been approved by Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate in respect of accidents involving flasks containing spent nuclear fuel; whether separate emergency plans, or sections of plans, have been approved in respect of flasks containing damaged, distorted or failed nuclear fuel elements; and if he will make a statement;(3) what are the reporting criteria for an incident notifiable to Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate in relation to an accident, incident, or untoward occurrence involving a flask containing spent nuclear fuel; and if he will make a statement.

The emergency plans approved by Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive for all licensed nuclear installations include provision for dealing with any flask incident on site, as do the plans of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority.Accidents, incidents and untoward occurrences, including any involving flasks, at a licensed nuclear installation are required to be recorded in a formal register, available at all times for inspection by HMNII. If any such event causes significant radiological exposure, or shows that the safe operation or condition of the plant may be affected, the licence terms require that the Health and Safety Executive be formally notified as soon as practicable. The UKAEA also has arrangements for providing full information on any such event to HMNII.The Secretary of State for Transport is responsible for regulations governing flasks in transit outside nuclear sites.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will now make available for independent assessment all the details of the incident at Windscale involving radioactive contamination of a worker on 27 March 1981, and all the documents relating to subsequent inquiries;

I refer the hon. Member to the answer already given to him on 8 December 1986 at columns 5–6.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list all the public bodies for which he is responsible on which the consideration of the appointment or co-option of a person with knowledge of disability is a statutory requirement; if he will name the persons so appointed or co-opted on each body; and if he will indicate which of those persons is a person with a disability.