asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information is available to him regarding the mechanisms used by universities and polytechnics to measure the demand for graduates of particular subjects in universities and polytechnics.

The main statistical information about the employment of graduates is derived from the first destination surveys of recent graduates undertaken annually by universities and polytechnics. For some employment (including teaching, medicine and veterinary science) there are national assessments of prospective demand, of which higher education institutions are informed. Careers advisers and academic staff in institutions of higher education have a wide range of contacts with potential employers locally and nationally, covering both the demand for graduates and the content of courses.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action his Department takes to improve the training and professional skills of chief education officers and education officers in local education authorities; and what is the current annual expenditure on such programmes.

The Department of Education and Science has no direct responsibility for the training of local education authority officers. Nationally co-ordinated management training courses are provided by the Society of Education Officers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will direct the Medical Research Council, under section 2(1) of the Science and Technology Act 1965, to discontinue human embryo research.

No. The Government's consultation document "Legislation on Human Infertility Services and Embryo Research" (Cmnd. 46, December 1986) invites views about those issues on which the Warnock committee thought legislation was necessary or desirable. This will assist the preparation of legislation for introduction in the next Parliament. At that time it is proposed to offer alternative draft clauses on embryo research to assist Parliament in resolving this matter on a free vote.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children are being educated out of school and in the home.

This information is not collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what provision exists for the adequate supervision of those educated out of school and in the home;(2) what guidance his Department has issued to local education authorities about how they should ensure that those educated at home are receiving adequate education;(3) what guidance his Department has issued to local education authorities about the action to be taken by a local education authority when evidence of inadequate education at home is brought to its notice;(4) what action is taken by his Department to monitor the performances of local education authorities in the supervision of children's education at home;(5) what guidance the Department has issued to local education authorities about the criteria to be used in assessing the quality of education given in the home and to satisfy themselves that the parents are suitable persons to educate their children out of school and in the home;(6) what arrangements exist when children who are educated at home leave the local education authority area for another; what steps are taken to ensure that the subsequent local education authority is aware that children being educated at home have moved to its area; and how these children are then to be academically assessed.

Each local education authority has a duty under section 37 of the Education Act 1944 (as amended) to satisfy itself that the parents of a child of compulsory school age belonging to its area, whether newly arrived or otherwise, are fulfilling their duty under section 36 to ensure that he receives efficient full-time education suited to his age, ability and aptitude, by attending school or otherwise. There is no difference in the criteria for assessing school or home tuition. If necessary, authorities can enforce this duty on parents by school attendance order proceedings under section 37. These duties are straight-forward and, as for many others under the Education Acts, no need is seen for either particular guidance or the monitoring of authorities' performance. However, if my right honourable Friend were to find that an authority had failed to discharge its duty, he could issue a corrective direction under section 99 of the 1944 Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what means are used to ensure that examination results at A and O-level in England and Wales are comparable between examining boards;(2) what research his Department has undertaken into the disparity between the examination results at A and O-level of entrants of the different examining boards in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

The GCE boards bear the main responsibility for ensuring comparability of the standards required for the award of particular grades at O and A-level. They are concerned to maintain the standards of their examinations and have undertaken considerable research.The Department of Education and Science has undertaken no research in this area. However, the Secondary Examination Council (SEC) has been specifically charged with responsibility for monitoring the comparability of examination standards, and currently scrutinises A-levels for fairness and reliability. The SEC will undertake similar work in respect of GCSE examinations which will supersede O-levels and CS in 1988.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of entrants for A-level examinations of each of the examining boards in England and Wales in each year since 1983 have received (a) A grades, (b) B grades, (c) C grades, (d) D grades and (e) E grades.

I shall reply as soon as possible with data for the English boards. Figures for Wales are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

	Total Expenditure on Schools		Teachers' Pay		All Other Costs
Year	£ million Cash	£ million Real Terms	£ million Cash	£ million Real Terms	£ million Cash	£ million Real Terms
1978–79	4,836	4,836	2,709	2,709	2,127	2,127
1979–80	5,496	4,703	3,066	2,624	2,430	2,079
1980–81	6,661	4,805	3,880	2,799	2,781	2,006
1981–82	7,203	4,729	4,302	2,824	2,901	1,905
1982–83	7,649	4,683	4,550	2,786	3,099	1,897
1983–84	8,013	4,695	4,751	2,784	3,262	1,911
1984–85	8,285	4,656	4,946	2,780	3,339	1,876

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table showing outturn capital expenditure on schools in each year since 1978–79 (a) in cash terms, (b) as a percentage of total departmental outturn expenditure on schools and (c) in 1978–79 prices.

The information requested is set out in the table. The figures for capital expenditure are for

Gross Outturn Capital Expenditure1 on Maintained Schools in England
	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85	1985–86
(a) in cash terms (£ million)	304	347	410	336	346	364	393	409
(b) as a percentage of total departmental out turn expenditure2 on schools.	6·9	6·9	6·6	4·5	4·4	4·4	4·6	4·6
(c) in 1978–79 prices3 (£ million)	304	297	296	221	212	213	221	217
1 The grant-aided work at voluntary schools includes expenditure on repairs and maintenance.
2 gross of receipts.
3 using the GDP (market prices) deflator.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what were the totals of capital expenditure forecasts supplied to his Department by local authorities in respect of 1986–87 preparatory to his determination of capital allocations for that year for (a) basic need school places, (b) new schemes relating to substandard school places, (c) expenditure committed on schemes arising before 1986–87 and (d) all other school schemes; and if he will make a statement;

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table showing local authority capital allocations in respect of schools for each year since 1978–79, in cash terms, and in 1978–79 prices.

I shall reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table showing departmental outturn expenditure on schools in each year since 1978–79, broken down between (a) teachers' pay and (b) all other costs, in cash terms and in 1978–79 prices.

The table contains the information. The figures for expenditure include that of central, as well as of local, government; the figures for teacher pay cover nursery, primary, scondary and special schools maintained by local education authorities.all maintained schools in England. They comprise expenditure by local authorities and the total value of grant-aided work at voluntary aided and special agreement schools, including the governors's contribution of 15 per cent. The hon. Gentleman will be aware that over this period the number of maintained, schools in England fell from 28,000 to 25,000.(2) what were the totals of capital expenditure forecasts supplied to his Department by local authorities in respect of 1987–88 preparatory to his determination of capital allocations for that year for

The following totals are taken from the cash plans supplied by local education authorities to my Department in relation to all maintained schools. They comprise LEA planned capital expenditure and the total value of capital projects on which grant aid was sought by the governors of voluntary aided and special agreement schools.

£ thousands
	1986–87	1987–88
(a) new basic need projects:	36,884	59,512
(b) new improvement or replacement projects:	134,363	168,375
(c) committed expenditure:	222,865	243,351
(d) all other schemes:	158,926	181,855

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what amounts of outturn capital expenditure by local authorities in 1986–87 is estimated to have been spent on (a) basic need school places, (b) new schemes relating to sub-standard school places, (c) expenditure committed on schemes arising before 1986–87 and (d) all other school schemes; and if he will make a statement.

Total capital expenditure on education by local authorities in 1986–87 is forecast to be £529 million in England. More detailed information for 1986–87 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about resources for academic pay in the universities.

When I announced planned provision for the universities in November I said the Government would be willing to provide some further additional funding for academic pay restructuring if structural improvements could be agreed at a cost that could be afforded (Official Report, c. 490). I thus

Full-time and sandwich first year students at universities in Great Britain postgraduate, first degree and other advanced courses
(thousands)
Academic year beginning in	1981	1982	1983	1984
Subject of study
Education	10·0	8·9	9·0	9·1
Medicine, dentistry and health	8·0	8·5	8·7	8·1
Engineering and technology	15·9	15·5	15·5	15·6
Agriculture, forestry and veterinary science	2·1	2·1	2·0	2·0
Biological and physical sciences	25·0	25·2	24·9	25·6
Administrative, business and social studies	26·5	26·0	26·3	27·8
Architecture and other professional and vocational subjects	2·2	2·2	2·3	2·4
Language, literature and area studies	11·6	11·2	11·1	11·5
Arts other than languages	9·2	8·9	8·7	9·0
Total—All subjects	110·6	108·4	108·4	111·5

Total Full Time Year Students At Public Sector Higher Education (England)
Thousands
Academic Year Beginning in	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985
NAB Programme
Engineering	8·5	9·2	9·3	9·9	10·3
Other Technology & Light Manufacture	1·1	1·3	1·6	1·3	1·4
Construction & Building	5·8	6·0	6·1	6·0	5·7
Science	3·7	4·3	4·4	4·4	4·7
Environmental & Other Sciences	6·1	6·3	6·0	6·8	6·7
Agriculture	0·7	0·7	0·7	0·8	0·8
Ancillary Health	3·0	3·2	3·3	3·4	3·4
Mathematics & Computing	3·7	3·9	4·8	5·3	5·8

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of first year students in public sector higher education in England and Wales for each of the last five years for which figures are available, as compared with the number of first year students in the universities over the same period, and divided into the subject classification utilised by the University Grants Committee and National Advisory Body, respectively.

[pursuant to his reply, 15 December 1986, c. 389–90]: The information is shown in the following table. University figures for 1985 are not yet available. Public sector higher education in Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of higher education students in (a) Great Britain as a whole and (b) England and Wales in the academic years 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, together with the best estimates

Student numbers in higher education
Thousands
Academic Year Beginning in	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985
GREAT BRITAIN
Full-Time
University	300·2	295·4	291·7	290·6	3291
Polytechnic	133·7	142·4	151·9	156·3	159·3
Other PSHE2	108·2	115·6	121·9	126·1	129·3
Total PSHE	241·8	258·0	273·8	282·4	288·5
Total higher education	542·0	553·4	565·5	573·0	3579·0
Part Time
University1	104·2	108·0	110·9	113·3	3114·0
Polytechnic	66·7	66·1	68·8	69·2	73·0
Other PSHE2	126·2	128·5	132·0	130·0	141·8
Total PSHE	192·9	194·6	200·8	199·2	214·8
Total higher education1	297·1	302·6	311·7	312·6	3329·0
ENGLAND AND WALES
Full-Time
University	255·2	250·6	246·9	245·3	3245·0
Polytechnic	133·7	142·4	151·9	156·3	159·3
Other PSHE	79·0	84·9	89·6	93·3	95·1
Total PSHE	212·6	227·3	241·5	249·7	254·4
Total higher education	467·9	477·9	488·4	495·0	3499·0
Part-Time
University1	100·0	103·6	106·0	107·9	3108·0
Polytechnic	66·7	66·1	68·8	69·2	73·0
Other PSHE	104·0	106·6	109·8	109·2	119·7
Total PSHE	170·7	172·7	178·6	178·4	192·7
Total higher education1	270·8	276·4	284·6	286·3	3301·0
1Including the Open University.
2Including Scottish Central Institutions.
3Provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he is going to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Newham, North-East of 23 December 1986 about Michael Hicks.

My noble Friend wrote yesterday to the hon. Member.

[pursuant to the reply, 15 December 1986, c. 389–90]: The available information is given in the following table.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Gwent as to what training the Gwent constabulary have received to deal with accidents involving radioactivity; whether the divisions of that force carry out regular exercises to deal with such accidents; and at what intervals such exercises take place;(2) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Gloucestershire as to what training the constabulary have received to deal with accidents involving radioactivity; whether the divisions of that force carry out regular exercises to deal with such accidents; and at what intervals such exercises take place;(3) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Gloucestershire as to what items of equipment are available for police use in an accident involving radioactive contamination in the Gloucestershire constabulary area listing the number of (i) dosimeters, (ii) radiac survey meters, (iii) sets of protective clothing, (iv) breathing units and (v) de-contamination units;(4) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Gwent as to what items of equipment are available for police use in an accident involving radioactive contamination in the Gwent constabulary area listing the number of (i) dosimeters, (ii) radiac survey meters, (iii) sets of protective clothing, (iv) breathing units and (v) decontamination units.

Officers of Gloucestershire and Gwent constabularies are trained in the effect of radioactivity during initial training with a refresher course every three years. Both forces have contingency plans for dealing with major incidents, including incidents involving radioactivity, which are exercised at least once a year. Gloucestershire police force holds 14 dosimeters and 338 radiac survey meters (PDRM82s), and Gwent 16 and 184 respectively. Further equipment and professional advice is available as set out in the Emergency Planning Guidance to Local Authorities. A copy is in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many neighbourhood watch schemes have been established (a) in Wales, (b) in South Wales, (c) in Cardiff and (d) in Cardiff, West; and if he will make a statement.

There are currently 1,342 neighbourhood watch schemes in Wales. Of these, 463 are in the South Wales constabulary area including 54 in Cardiff of which 23 are in the police sub-division which covers the Cardiff, West constituency. We are encouraged by the involvement of the community in crime prevention indicated by the increase in the number of schemes in Wales during the last 12 months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the percentage increase in burglaries in Cardiff to the last available figure; and if he will make a statement.

The figures collected centrally relate to police force areas and are published in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales" (table 2.5 of the issue for 1985, Cmnd. 10). In the 12 months ending 30 September 1986 the South Wales police recorded 2 per cent. fewer offences of burglary than in the preceding 12 months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he takes to ensure that local authorities provide for the safety of people in the event of a national emergency; and if he will make a statement.

The Home Office issues the Emergency Planning Guidance to Local Authorities, a copy of which is in the Library, and ensures by means of monitoring that requirements within our area of responsibility are met.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis about the progress of the inquiry into the incident at the offices of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children on Friday 15 February 1985; and if he will make a statement.

I understand from the Commissioner that although the inquiry is still open, lack of evidence and problems over identification mean that there is little prospect of any prosecutions being brought.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy of 16 January, Official Report, column 336, if he will list those practical difficulties involved in producing and using convenient bilingual versions of forms used under part III of the Transport Act 1982.

A substantial amount of information needs to be included in a fixed penalty notice for it to conform to the law, and the forms need to be produced in a format in which they can reasonably be carried by police officers in their tunic or shirt pocket. It would be difficult to produce bilingual forms which meet both these requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the stop and search frequency and subsequent arrests and charging for September 1983, September 1984, September 1985 and September 1986 for the Highbury vale, Holloway, Upper street, City road and Kings Cross areas of Islington (N Division) of the Metropolitan police.

[pursuant to his reply, 2 December 1986, c. 574]: I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the readily available information is as given in the table. This revises some of the figures given in the Official Report at column 632 which I regret were incorrect. The table shows for 1982, 1983 and 1984 the number of persons or vehicles recorded as stopped; statistics showing the number of occasions on which a search was conducted are not available. Up to 1 April 1985, the information was collated on an annual basis and figures for the first quarter of 1985 could be provided only at disproportionate cost. From 1 April 1985, the Metropolitan police introduced a new code of practice relating to stop and search procedures and the information collected in line with sections 5 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, relates only to those occasions on which persons or vehicles were searched. The figures are therefore not comparable with those for earlier years. Monthly figures for such small areas are very variable, and have therefore been aggregated to provide quarterly totals. Figures for the third quarter are not available. Information on whether charges resulted from these arrests is not available.

Stops, searches1 and resultant arrests: 'N' Division, Metropolitan police
Number
	Holloway and Highbury Vale	Kings Cross	Islington	N' District Total
Stops of persons or vehicles2 3
1982	11,000	8,100	7,300	26,400
1983	15,400	7,400	5,300	28,100
1984	10,800	3,300	3,800	17,900
Arrests resulting from stops2
1982	2,100	400	500	3,000
1983	2,500	700	400	3,600
1984	2,100	600	600	3,300
Searches of persons or vehicles3
2nd quarter 1985	272	81	56	409
3rd quarter 1985	199	33	43	275
4th quarter 1985	127	14	55	196
1st quarter 1986	163	67	82	312
2nd quarter 1986	124	41	43	208
Arrests resulting from Searches
2nd quarter 1985	69	18	6	93
3rd quarter 1985	36	4	3	43
4th quarter 1985	14	3	23	40
1st quarter 1986	29	5	8	42
2nd quarter 1986	32	3	7	42
1The basis of recording changed on 1 April 1985.
2The figures are rounded because they are based on information in station registers for operational purposes and as this form of recording is unsuitable for the preparation of statistical summaries, the resultant figures may be subject to some error. Components may not add to the total because they have been rounded independently.
2Some of the figures on stops and searches have been revised and differ from those shown at column 632, vol. 101, part II.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the countries that are signatories to the 1949 Transport International Routier; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.The provisions of an international agreement signed at Geneva on 16 June 1949 relating to the international transport of goods by road were terminated on 1 January 1965.A later customs convention on the international transport of goods by road (TIR carnets) signed at Geneva on 15 January 1959 was terminated and replaced by the present convention: the customs convention on the international transport of goods under cover of TIR carnets (TIR convention), signed at Geneva on 14 November 1975. The list of signatories (and accessions) to this convention (as at 31 December 1985) is as follows.

Participant	Signature	Date
Afghanistan		423 September 1982
Albania		44 January 1985
Austria	27 April 1976	13 May 1977
Belgium	22 December 1976	20 December 1982
Bulgaria		420 October 1977
Canada		421 October 1980
Chile		46 October 1982
Czechslovakia		425 February 1981
Cyprus		47 August 1981
Denmark	21 December 1976	20 December 1982

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will, as a matter of urgency, in conjunction with the London boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark. Islington and Camden, make available the facilities of the civil defence bunkers at Clapham common, Clapham north, Clapham south and Stockwell under-ground stations for the immediate shelter of the homeless in inner city London; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.These facilities are the so-called deep tube shelters at Clapham Common, Clapham North, Clapham South and Stockwell. Those at Clapham South and Stockwell have been let commercially for storage purposes on long leases and are not therefore available. Those at Clapham North and Clapham Common are disused and are not in a fit state for habitation.The Property Services Agency would be ready to consider an approach from a local housing authority, or other appropriate housing agency, regarding the feasibility of adaption and the possibility of leasing such facilities to them for such purposes.

Non-metropolitan County District (ranked by percentage reduction)	Electorate		1981–86 reduction
	1981 Register	1986 Register	Decrease in electorate	Percentage decrease
Shepway	67,607	64,945	-2,662	-3·9
Kingston upon Hull	206,574	201,345	-5,229	-2·5
Pendle	65,659	64,562	-1,097	-1·7
Scunthorpe	48,820	48,192	-628	-1·3
Middlesbrough	109,649	108,263	-1,386	-1·3
Epsom and Ewell	51,693	51,040	-653	-1·3
Brighton	121,311	120,120	-1,191	-1·0
Burnley	67,590	67,125	-465	-0·7
Easington	77,065	76,598	-467	-0·6
Blackburn	103,565	102,998	-567	-0·5
Bristol	307,089	305,920	-1,169	-0·4
Derwentside	68,956	68,719	-237	-0·3
Stoke-on-Trent	196,300	195,678	-622	-0·3
Sedgefield	69,604	69,400	-204	-0·3
Southampton	159,464	159,131	-333	-0·2
Preston	94,891	94,847	-44	0·0
Wansbeck	48,254	48,247	-7	0·0

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the sites where planning permission has been granted for opencast coal mining in Wales, but which are pending authorisation for working by (a) British Coal and (b) private companies and the acreage of each site.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on Government policy relating to the issue of potassium iodate tablets for use against iodine 131 resulting from a nuclear accident.

I have been asked to reply.Government plans in the event of a United Kingdom accident are outlined in the Health and Safety Executive booklet "Emergency Plans for Nuclear Installations". The plans provide for the issue of potassium iodate tablets for people within a distance of 2 to 3 kilometres downwind of the site of a release of radioactivity. Medical advice to the Government indicates that 200 mg of iodine is appropriate for use pending evacuation of those concerned. A further dose of 100 mg per day is advised if exposure continues because evacuation is thought unnecessary or inappropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Official Report the 30 English non-metropolitan districts which have shown the greatest percentage reduction in electorate since 1981, giving the percentage and actual figure in each case.

I have been asked to reply.There are not 30 but 17 English non-metropolitan districts which showed a reduction in electorate between 1981 and 1986. They are as follows:

Authorisation under the Opencast Coal Act 1958 is required only in respect of British Coal sites. One such application for such authorisation in respect of a site for which planning permission has been granted is before my right hon. Friend for decision. This relates to 321·07 acres of land at Gilfach Iago, Ammanford, Dyfed.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list the sites for which planning permission has been sought, but not yet decided upon, for opencast coal mining in Wales by (a) British Coal and (b) private companies and the acreage of each site;(2) if he will list the sites for which planning permission has been granted for the development of opencast coal mining in Wales in each year since 1979 to

This information is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the sites in Wales where opencast coal mines are being worked by (a) British Coal and (b) private companies and the acreage of each site.

British Coal has provided the following information for its sites where coaling operations are in progress:

	Acres
Ashfield House Farm, Ewloe, Clwyd	41
East Pit, Gwauncaegurwen, West Glamorgan	713
Ffos Las, Trimsaran, Dyfed	1,045
Ffyndaff, Rhigos, Mid Glamorgan	750
Garnant, Garnant, Dyfed	284
Ley Farm, Chirk, Clwyd	85
Maesgwyn Further Extension, Banwen, West Glamorgan	11,235
Nant Helen, Ystradgynlais, Powys and West Glamorgan	762
Park Slip Extension, Aberkenfig, Mid Glamorgan	1443

British Coal has also provided the following information for private sites for which licences under the Opencast Coal Act 1958 are still extant and where coaling operations are in progress:

	Acres
Pencoedcae, Rhymney, Gwent	4½
Pen Bryn Oer, Rhymney, Gwent (Consent originally given for a total area of 60 acres)	16
Cefn Uchaf, Glynneath, West Glamorgan	60
Cefn Rhigos, Rhigos, Mid Glamorgan	44
Gelliwarog, Ystradgynlais, Powys	7½
Caeharris, Dowlais, Mid Glamorgan (of a 35 acre land reclamation scheme)	25
Varteg Uchaf, Ystradgynlais, Powys	12
Blaenpergwm Colliery, Glynneath, West Glamorgan	23
Ginny Cottages, Llanhilleth, Gwent	3
Bryn Serth, Tredegar, Gwent (of an 88 acre land reclamation scheme)	13
Gilfach Goch, Ystradgynlais, Powys	5
1Includes partially restored areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the sites which have been licensed to be prospected for opencast coal in Wales by (a) British Coal and (b) private companies; and what is the acreage of each site.

No licence is required by British Coal or private companies to carry out prospecting for opencast coal. Such operations are permitted by the general development order but there are stringent conditions which have to be observed.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many planning appeals concerning opencast coalmining have been heard by his Department since 1979, and how many were (a) appeals against refusals to grant permission in which the original decisions were overturned, (b) appeals against refusals to grant permission in which original decisions were upheld, (c) appeals against the granting of permission in which the original decisions were upheld, and (d) appeals against the granting of permission in which the original decisions were overturned.

Eleven such appeals have been determined since 1979. Six were allowed, overturning the original decision, and five were dismissed, upholding the original decision. There is no right of appeal to my right hon. Friend against the granting of permission by local planning authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what effects he expects the further cuts in milk production quota to have on the Welsh beef industry.

The further cuts in milk quotas agreed by the Council of Agriculture Ministers in December could lead to an increase in dairy culling over the next two years. The Commission has however allocated 435 million ecu to meet the market management costs of dealing with extra beef during this period.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what measures have been taken by the Government to ensure a balanced beef market in the future for Welsh farmers and to shield producers from the effects in other sectors.

The retention of the beef variable premium scheme, the devaluation of the green pound, and the increase in the maximum possible rate of payment under the Buckler cow premium scheme together will provide stability for the beef sector during the next two years as the balance between supply and demand improves. The next two years should see a substantial move towards lower intervention stocks and a more market-related level of production.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has on how the percentage of entrants who succeed at A levels and O levels set by the Welsh Joint Education Committee compare with those who enter for examinations set by other boards.

Information from the 1986 summer examinations, as supplied by the Welsh Joint Education Committee, is as follows:

	WJEC subject entries per cent.	Borrowed papers and project examinations1 per cent.
'A' level2	73·2	66·4
'0' level3	58·1	58·2
1Examination papers, set by examination boards other than the WJEC, borrowed by the WJEC for candidates in Wales. These figures exclude entries made directly by some examination centres in Wales to examination boards other than the WJEC—information on which is not centrally available.
2Percentage of subject entries achieving grade E or above.
3Percentage of subject entries, excluding Common Syllabus entries, achieving grade C or above.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many entrants for O and A-level examinations in each year since 1979 in Welsh schools have sat Welsh Joint Education Committee papers; and how many have sat papers set by each of the English examination boards.

The available information on subject entries in the summer of each year, as supplied by the Welsh Joint Education Committee, is as follows:

	WJEC subject entries		Borrowed papers and project examinations1
	'O' level and Common Syllabus	'A' level	'O' level	'A' level
19792	155,653	19,707	—	—
19802	161,168	20,135	—	—
1981	168,908	21,282	2,444	862
1982	170,789	22,536	2,477	784
1983	174,640	23,635	2,645	829
1984	177,257	23,283	2,738	828
1985	174,652	23,142	2,947	796
1986	188,463	23,209	2,986	747
1Examination papers, set by examination boards other than the WJEC, borrowed by the WJEC for candidates in Wales. These figures exclude entries by some examination centres in Wales made directly to examination boards other than the WJEC—information on which is not centrally available.
2Separate figures for borrowed papers are not available; they are included under WJEC subject entries.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the planned levels of capital spending on roads, housing, water and sewerage in 1986–87, the likely outturn for 1986–87 and planned expenditure for 1987–88 by the Scottish Development Department and each of the regional authorities.

Planned capital expenditure on transport, water and sewerage and housing for 1986–87 and 1987–88 is:

	1986–87 £ million	1987–88 £ million
Roads
Scottish Development Department	96	107
Local authorities	159	155
Water and sewerage	101	107
Housing	644	720

The information about roads expenditure by local authorities includes expenditure on other forms of transport infrastructure. The information about housing expenditure relates to expenditure by all agencies. The likely outturn for 1986–87 is expected to be closely in line with planned expenditure in all cases.Decisions have not yet been taken about final capital allocations to regional authorities for 1987–88.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list in the Official Report the numbers of houses below the tolerable standard in each of the housing authorities in Scotland;(2) how many houses below the tolerable standard there are in

The number of houses below the tolerable standard reported to the Scottish Development Department at 31 March 1986 is set out in the table. Information is collected centrally only for the areas of District and Islands Councils.

Number of houses below the tolerable standard at 31 March 1986
Areas	Number
SCOTLAND	56,516
Borders	2,258
Berwickshire	940
Ettrick and Lauderdale	668
Roxburgh1	450
Tweeddale1	200
Central	1,635
Clackmannan	482
Falkirk	687
Stirling	466
Dumfries and Galloway	912
Annandale and Eskdalc	251
Nithsdale	400
Stewartry	169
Wigtown	92
Fife	3,252
Dunfermline	526
Kirkcaldy	861
North East Fife	1,865
Grampian	6,016
Aberdeen	2,018
Banff and Buchan	1,769
Gordon	461
Kincardine and Deeside	400
Moray	1,368
Highland	5,323
Badenoch and Strathspey	260
Caithness	425
Inverness	651
Lochaber	154
Nairn	48
Ross and Cromarty	2,600
Skye and Lochalsh	650
Sutherland	535
Lothian	8,214
East Lothian	939
Edinburgh	6,041
Midlothian	654
West Lothian	580
Strathclyde	21,485
Argyll and Bute	4,200
Bearsden and Milngavie	75
Clydebank	69
Clydesdale	249
Cumbernauld and Kilsyth	67
Cumnock and Doon Valley	210
Cunninghame	183
Dumbarton	125
East Kilbride	120
Eastwood	38
Glasgow	11,452
Hamilton	900
Inverclyde	355
Kilmarnock and Loudoun	123
Kyle and Carrick	328
Monklands	248
Motherwell	730
Renfrew	2,000
Strathkelvin	13
Tayside	3,424
Angus	1,147
Dundee	1,470

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the numbers of homeless persons in (a) Shettleston constituency, (b) Glasgow district, (c) Strathclyde region and (d) Scotland.

Estimates of the numbers of homeless persons are not available. The figures below show the numbers of households that applied under the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977 and were housed in temporary accommodation at 30 September 1986. Information is collected centrally only for local government district and islands councils areas.

Households in temporary accommodation at 30 September 1986
Area	Number of households
Glasgow	114
Strathclyde1	445
Scotland1	712
1Based on incomplete returns.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the Strathclyde police report for him about the burglary at BBC Scotland, Queen Margaret drive, Glasgow, on 23 December 1986.

My right hon. and learned Friend has not received a report from Strathclyde police about this matter. I understand from the chief constable that the incident to which the hon. Member refers has not, in fact, been reported to the police.

1981 Census Residents aged 16 or over in Employment (a) Numbers—Estimated number by industry
District Ward of Dundee	Primary 0, 1	Manufacturing 2–4	Construction 5	Services 6–9	Total working population
Ancrum	9	416	66	1,390	1,882
Ardler	0	652	146	915	1,714
Balgillo	63	528	116	1,298	2,005
Baxter Park	27	376	64	1,045	1,512
Blackshade	42	697	158	866	1,763
Broughty Ferry	45	348	168	1,011	1,572
Caird	55	667	77	1,061	1,859
Central	9	301	47	895	1,253
Clepington	47	328	47	622	1,044
Coldside	21	451	103	759	1,333
Craigie Bank	20	441	143	973	1,578
Craigie Barns	30	464	Ill	1,028	1,633
Douglas	76	799	105	827	1,807
Downfield	44	696	148	1,314	2,202
Drumgeith	48	694	133	799	1,674
Dudhope	11	423	54	954	1,442

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to monitor the proportion of congenital malformations amongst babies born to women living in those parts of Scotland which were subject to rises in radiation levels following the nuclear accident at Chernobyl; and what plans he has to publish the information.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will indicate the number of prison officers employed at Peterhead prison and whether this is up to establishment.

[pursuant to his reply, 14 January 1987, c. 242]: The number of prison officer grade personnel employed at Peterhead prison at 1 January 1987 was 233 and the inmate population at 6 January 1987 was 172. In addition, eight civilian instructors and tradesmen were in posts for which prison officer grade staff with relevant qualifications were not available. The agreed complement of prison officer grades at Peterhead is 268, geared to an inmate population of 281.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the number and percentage of people employed in manufacturing services, construction and primary industries in each district ward in Dundee at the 1981 census; and what subsequent comparative information on such district wards he possesses.

[pursuant to his reply, 19 January 1987, c. 397]: The tables give estimates derived from the 1981 census of population. Many of the figures have been estimated from small numbers in a 10 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to proportionately large sampling errors. For example, for an average ward, there is a roughly one in three chance that an estimate of 100 is in error by more than 30, and a roughly one in three chance that an estimate of 600 is in error by more than 60.No more recent information is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the latest estimated cost of the east coast main line electrification project.

The total authorised cost for the east coast main line electrification project, including new locomotives and rolling stock, is £314.5 million at 1983 prices, equivalent to some £360 million at 1986–87 prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the projected completion date of the east coast main line electrification project.

1991.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport why he gave approval to the A46–A47 link road in east Leicester; what representations he received against the scheme; and if he will provide a breakdown by party.

[pursuant to the reply, 14 January 1987, c. 193.]: The second paragraph of the above answer was misleading. The answer should read as follows.The A46–A47 link road is the responsibility of Leicestershire county council, the highway authority. The scheme was accepted for transport supplementary grant in the 1985–86 financial year in recognition of its more than local traffic importance. The grant enables county councils to plan and finance major schemes. Acceptance for grant does not imply any views on the detailed aspects of any statutory orders which may still be necessary for the scheme.The link road was included in the county structure plan approved in 1980. It was not affected by the alterations to the plan which are now passing through the statutory processes.This Department does not have a record of all the objections that may have been made to the county council.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether SNCF anticipates customs inspectors on Channel tunnel trains travelling further than Ashford in pursuit of their duties;(2) whether any Customs and Excise facilities will be operated at Ashford to handle

I have been asked to reply.No decisions have been taken about on-train controls for passengers or freight carried on through services. French and United Kingdom Customs are holding discussions with SNCF and British Rail respectively about the controls for through trains. But it is likely that the United Kingdom customs controls would follow the familiar red-green arrangements for passengers terminating their journeys at Ashford or Waterloo and that facilities for shuttle train freight traffic would be provided at a purpose built clearance depot at Ashford.Customs controls generally are to form part of a protocol to the Treaty at present under discussion covering all frontier controls.

asked the Attorney-General whether any prosecutions have been brought under the Data Protection Act for unlawful tapping of telephone conversations by the means of misuse of telephone logging equipment.

No.

asked the Prime Minister (1) if she will list those Government-owned concerns or concerns owned by Government agencies or by wholly Government-sponsored corporations or bodies, which were not limited companies, but which have become limited companies, although remaining in the same ownership, since 1979; and if she will state, in each case, how many of the employees, although still employed by the company, ceased to be civil servants;(2) if she will list those private limited companies wholly or partly-owned by the Government or by Government agencies or by wholly Government-sponsored corporations or bodies.

The information in the form requested is not available. I refer the hon. Member to pages 27 and 28 of the supplementary statements to the Consolidated Fund and National Loans Fund accounts 1985–86 (HC 69), the various accounts laid before Parliament by public corporations or bodies, such as the nationalised industries, and paragraph 539 of the statement on the Defence Estimates 1985 (Cmnd. 9430-I).

asked the Prime Minister whether her assurances of 10 December 1986, Official Report, column 161, with regard to the tapping of right hon. and hon. Members' telephones apply equally to right hon. and hon. Members' conversations with persons whose telephones are being legally tapped; and if she will make a statement.