asked the hon. Member for Wokingham, as representing the Church Commissioners, what overseas allowances are paid from Church Commissioners' funds to members of the stipendiary ministry.

The Commissioners do not pay overseas allowances to members of the stipendiary ministry.

asked the Attorney-General, pursuant to the answer of 4 February, Official Report, column 672, concerning his meetings in 1986 with Mr. Duncan Campbell, what was discussed; and whether the publication or broadcast of classified information was raised.

I have nothing to add to the answer given by my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General on 4 February.

asked the Attorney-General whether he intends to prosecute the publishers of the "Interspace" newsletter under section 2 of the Official Secrets Act for publishing information on the Zircon satellite project.

No.

asked the Attorney-General why he did not seek an injunction to prevent the distribution of an article in the Interspace newsletter detailing information on the Zircon satellite project in 1984.

The articles published by "Interspace" which it has subsequently been claimed referred to this project were not considered to be sufficiently based on fact as to reveal a breach of confidence or to constitute a threat to national security.

asked the Attorney-General how many cases of alleged child destruction have been considered by the Crown Prosecution Service in each of the months since its formation; and in how many of the cases in each of those months the service advocated the bringing of prosecutions.

I have asked for inquiries to be made and will write to my hon. Friend when the information is to hand.

asked the Attorney-General how many housing rights disputes between landlord and tenants over repairs, improvements or service charges have been handled by courts in West Yorkshire during each of the last five years.

I regret that figures are not collected on this specific area of county court work.

asked the Attorney-General how many justices of the peace in Northern Ireland have tendered their resignation to the Lord Chancellor since November 1985; and what reasons were given.

Eight justices of the peace tendered their resignations to the Lord Chancellor between 1 November 1985 and 5 February 1987. Two of these arose because the justices were leaving the jurisdiction; two for health reasons and three for personal reasons. The eighth resignation was tendered for political reasons, and the question of its acceptance is under consideration.

asked the Attorney-General, pursuant to the answer of 5 February, what criteria the Director of Public Prosecutions uses in deciding whether the evidence in a particular case justifies initiating proceedings for extradition; what weight he attaches to the evidence adduced by the police in their decision to bring charges; and how the criteria were applied in the case of Mr. James Ingley.

Before deciding whether to make an extradition request, the Director of Public Prosecutions must first establish whether there is sufficient evidence to support a prosecution in this country, and if so, whether a prosecution is in the public interest. In making this decision, he applies the criteria set down in the code for Crown Prosecutors, a copy of which was placed in the House of Commons Library in June 1986. Where he decides that the evidence adduced by the police is insufficient to support a prosecution, as he did in the case of Mr. James Ingley, it follows that no extradition request can be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy in considering any extension of radio telephone licences after 1987 to ensure that all trunk roads are covered by the system.

Licences for the provision of national radio telephone services have already been granted to BT and to the two cellular operators, Telecom Securicor Cellular Radio Ltd., and Racal Vodafone Ltd. It is a condition of the cellular operators' licences that by 1990 they cover an area where 90 per cent. of the United Kingdom population live. This will cover most trunk roads. Modification of the conditions of licences is a matter for the Director General of Telecommunications. I will of course bear in mind the right hon. Gentleman's suggestion if the licensing of any further national radio telephone operator arises.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe, on 21 January, Official Report, column 581, if he will list the committees and councils which have not appointed someone with knowledge of disability; what action he has taken to bring the requirements of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 to their attention; and if he will make a statement.

The following nationalised industry consumer councils do not at present have someone with specific knowledge of disability:

• Central Transport Consultative Council
• Transport Users' Consultative Committee for Eastern England
• Transport Users' Consultative Committee for Scotland
• Transport Users' Consultative Committee for Western England
• Post Office Users' National Council
• Post Office Users' Council for Wales
• South Western Electricity Consultative Council
• Electricity Consultative Council (Eastern Area)
• Electricity Consultative Council (South Wales)
• North Eastern Electricity Consultative Council
• Domestic Coal Consumers' Council

In the case of four of these bodies, appointments of persons to represent the interests of the disabled are currently under consideration. The requirements of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act are taken into account when the chairmen of the councils and committees are consulted by the Department about membership requirements, prior to decisions on appointments by the Secretary of State.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his policy on the issue of licences for audio-frequency induction loops for hearing aid purposes; if moneys forwarded in error by applicants is returned; and if he will make a statement.

My Department expects to make an exemption order under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 this year to remove the licensing burden from a wide range of low power radio devices, including hearing aid induction loops.In the meantime, we have, from 21 January, varied licence conditions so that all new licences are issued free of charge. Anyone who has inadvertently sent money for renewals falling due after that date should apply for a refund.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if Her Majesty's Government will take steps to encourage the protection of the irreplaceable tropical forests by limiting imports of hardwoods.

The Government attach great importance to halting the erosion of tropical moist forests and to promoting sustainable management and conservation policies. This is a fundamental objective of the international tropical timber agreement; which the United Kingdom was one of the first to ratify. The International Tropical Timber Organisation has been established as the executive arm of the ITTA to co-ordinate a work programme in advance to the next ITTO meeting which is expected to take place in Yokohama next March, The United Kingdom intends to participate actively in these discussions.The import of endangered species of hardwood is already strictly controlled under the convention of international trade on endangered species of wild flora and fauna which is implemented throughout the Community by EC regulations Nos. 3626/82 and 3418/83.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Government will include all concentrations of household bleach in the Child Resistant Packaging (Safety) Regulations 1986; what representations he has received for the inclusion of all household bleach in these regulations; and if he will make a statement.

The Government considered prescribing child resistant packaging for household bleach, but were advised by leading paediatricians that it never caused serious or lasting injury to young children who ingested it; and in any case it is so unpalatable that they would be likely to spit it out straight away. Representatives of consumers have expressed the view that household bleach should be included in the scope of the regulations, but in the circumstances I cannot justify doing so.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list in the Official Report all those companies which filed returns in 1986 or the most recent period for which figures are available under the EEC code of conduct for firms operating in South Africa.

The information is available in the annexes of the analysis and summary of companies' reports under the EC code of conduct for companies with interests in South Africa for the period 1 July 1984 to 30 June 1985, which was placed in the Library of the House on 27 March 1986. The analysis and summary for the period 30 June 1986 will be similarly deposited in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the volume and value of trade with Surinam, in each month for the last three years, up to the latest available month.

Information is available only in value terms and is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek the renewal of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 29 January 1987, c. 342]: Copies of my response to Lord Colville's report on the operation of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984 have today been placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to how many road accidents involving personal injury or fatalities caused by TNT lorries leaving or arriving at the News International plant at Wapping have occurred in the last 12 months.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that there have been three such incidents involving TNT vehicles in the Leman street division. I understand that in one of them a member of the public sustained fatal injuries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, from the information available to him, what is the number of burglaries where access is gained by the breaking of windows; and what steps are being taken to encourage the use of safety or security glass.

Figures obtained by the Home Office standing conference on crime prevention working group on residential burglary for one police force area showed that in 1985 access was gained by the breaking of windows in 13 per cent. of burglaries or dwellings. The publication "How to Protect Your Home" advises that laminated glass will provide additional strength against outside attack. I have asked the chairman of the working group on residential burglary to discuss with representatives of the Glass and Glazing Federation the ways in which different types of glass can help prevent burglary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new interactive, interrogative and batch facilities will accrue to his Department from the connection to the Government data network; and what is the estimated saving to his Department from joining the network.

No new interactive, interrogative or batch facilities will accrue to the Home Office from connection to the Government data network, as there are no plans which depend directly on the availability of that network, nor are there plans resulting from expectation of being connected to the network. The cost of the network will not be known until a contract is placed for its provision.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment Her Majesty's Government have made of the implications of transnational satellite television broadcasting for the operation of current legislation governing the presentation of political issues in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

In principle, the implications are similar to those affecting radio which has crossed frontiers for many years. Most transnational television services offer general entertainment and do not present political issues. Obviously, United Kingdom laws and the regulatory authorities cannot touch transmissions from outside our jurisdiction. Where such services are re-transmitted over cable systems in this country, the Cable Authority has certain regulatory powers concerning the impartiality of news and the presentation of views on matters of political controversy or current public policy. Discussion of a common European system for regulating trans-frontier broadcasting is continuing within the European Community and the Council of Europe.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Nottinghamshire on the effectiveness of the high visibility approach to deterring the excess alcohol offender adopted by Nottinghamshire police over the Christmas period; and if he will discuss with the Association of Chief Police Officers the potential contribution to road safety nationally of using this approach more widely.

Within the powers provided by Parliament, the enforcement of the law on drink driving is a matter for individual chief officers of police. It is too early to draw conclusions about the results of police enforcement or the Government's publicity campaign over Christmas. Methods of enforcing the laws on drinking and driving are discussed by the Association of Chief Police Officers, with which we are in regular contact.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received seeking amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill to establish (a) a right of appeal by the prosecution against sentences passed by the courts for rape and other serious offences and (b) the creation of a minimum sentence of 25 years and a maximum of life imprisonment, defined as the duration of natural life, in respect of offences of rape or attempted rape.

We have received letters of support for both a prosecution right of appeal and statutory minimum sentences, not necessarily in the context of the Criminal Justice Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Leicester, East on 19 January relating to sentences for criminal offences, if he will specify the number of occasions in each of the last 10 years on which a court has recommended a minimum sentence for rape; and what was the sentence recommended and the sentence actually received in each case.

I am not aware of any such cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Leicester, East on 19 January, Official Report, c. 360, what representations he has received seeking the removal of all rights of remission parole or release on licence in respect of convicted rape offenders.

We receive numerous letters suggesting that convicted rapists, and other offenders, should serve the full sentence imposed by the court. No prisoner has a right to parole and, in accordance with the policy announced by my predecessor, convicted rapists sentenced to more than five years' imprisonment are unlikely to receive parole except for very short periods towards the end of their sentences.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vehicles were towed away by the police in London (a) in 1986 and (b) so far in 1987; in how many instances its driver was not required to pay the removal charge; and why.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has informed me that 43,942 vehicles were removed by his force in 1986, and that up to 31 January this year 2,959 vehicles were removed. The removal charge was waived or not paid in 5,326 cases in 1986, but the figure for 1987 is not available. The charge is waived where it appears, in the light of further information that no offence has been committed, or where evidence of extenuating circumstances is accepted. Charges go unpaid where the vehicle is not claimed from the pound or action to recover the charge is unsuccessful.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines are issued to the police regarding the items of clothing and other belongings which they may remove from people being held in their custody; and if he will make a statement.

The circumstances in which a detained person may be deprived of articles of clothing while in police detention and guidance on the conducting of searches of detained persons are contained in the code of practice for the detention, treatment and questioning of persons by police officers under section 66 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any advice is given by his Department to the police concerning investigation of allegations of child destruction as defined by the Infant Life (Preservation) Act 1929; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in the light of the information supplied to him by the hon. Member for Tooting, he has anything to add to the reply of 3 February, Official Report, c. 564, regarding land near Wandsworth prison.

I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if the warrant sought by the special branch in relation to BBC Scotland referred to all six Secret Society programmes made by the British Broadcasting Corporation.

I have arranged for a copy of the warrant to be placed in the Library of the House and I would refer the hon. Gentleman to its terms.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland whether, in considering the petition for a warrant to search the premises of BBC Scotland at Queen Margaret drive, Glasgow, the Lord Advocate or the procurator fiscal were presented with any evidence which suggested or tended to suggest that offences under section 2 of the Official Secrets Act had been or were about to be committed in respect of the compilation or production of any of the five episodes of BBC Scotland's "The Secret Society" series, other than that dealing with the Zircon satellite project; and if he will make a statement.

Any information communicated by the police to the procurator fiscal in the course of a criminal investigation is confidential, but for the purposes of securing a warrant, a petition narrating the grounds for the application was presented to the sheriff and was sworn to by an officer of the Metropolitan police. I am arranging for a copy of the petition which was presented to Sheriff Lockhart to be placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland what assessment the procurator fiscal made in applying, with the authority of the Lord Advocate, for a search warrant for the BBC's Glasgow offices, as to the necessity of searching for and seizing material relating to all six of the programmes in the BBC series, "The Secret Society".

In applying to a sheriff at Glasgow for the warrant which was sought in this case, the procurator fiscal proceeded upon the basis of information provided by an officer of the Metropolitan police, as was stated by my noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate in his answer in another place on Wednesday 4 February 1987.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the total financial sum and manpower effort invested to date by the electricity supply industry in engineering, economic and site evaluations and planning for the Sizewell B reactor.

I understand from the Central Electricity Generating Board that total expenditure incurred on Sizewell B to the end of January 1987 amounted to£235 million. This sum covers work undertaken by CEGB, the National Nuclear Corporation, the principal contractors and consultants. The bulk of this expenditure has been on engineering effort and the preparation of the design and safety case. It is of course without prejudice to my right hon. Friend's decision whether or not to grant consent for the construction of Sizewell B. Currently, approximately 375 people are employed in the CEGB's project management team and another 450 people are engaged on supporting design and specification work.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how soon he will be in a position to consider an application from the Central Electricity Generating Board on fast breeder reactor power stations to supply electricity to the grid.

I have not received an application from the Central Electricity Generating Board to build a fast reactor power station.

per cent.1
Type of fuel	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985
Coal2	70·4	69·8	70·2	72·8	78·0	79·2	74·7	75·4	48·8	64·5
Oil 2 3	15·4	15·8	16·9	14·9	9·8	7·9	9·9	7·5	33·1	15·8

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Makerfield on 21 January, Official Report, column 570, concerning net effective cost information supplied to his Department, in which year the Central Electricity Generating Board first supplied such information in connection with a proposed new power station; if he will list the names of all power stations for which investment approval has been given in the light of such information being supplied, stating in each case what merit order positions were specified; and if he will make a statement.

The current net effective cost approach was first used in the CEGB's case in support of its application to construct Sizewell B, on which my right hon. Friend's decision has not yet been made.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the estimated savings or costs per kilowatt year for the proposed Sizewell B nuclear reactor over coal-fired power stations if the price of power station coal is (a) £45 per tonne, (b) £40 per tonne, (c) £35 per tonne, (d) £30 per tonne and (e) £25 per tonne.

My right hon. Friend is currently considering the economic case for Sizewell B in the light of Sir Frank Layfield's report. Until he has reached his decision, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on such matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any plans to privatise part or all of the electricity supply industry; and if he will make a statement.

The Government have no present plans to privatise the electricity supply industry.

Smith asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many staff from his Department have made visits to foreign pressurised water reactor plant or training centres to assess the likely operational characteristics of the Sizewell B reactor.

There have been occasional visits by both Ministers and officials to overseas power stations, including PWRs.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish in the Official Report the percentages for electricity generation by main fuel source for each of the last 10 years.

For United Kingdom public supply, the information, on a fuel used basis, is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total annual revenue, actual or anticipated, from fishing licences and associated activities in the Falklands.

We and the Falkland Islands Government have assumed revenue of approximately £8 million from fishing licences, transhipping licences and harbour dues. Costs of the implementation of the Falkland Islands interim conservation and management zone have been estimated at £4 million. By 1 February, approximately £5 million had been received.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have recently been made to the Government of Turkey on the question of human rights; and if he will make a statement.

In recent years, Turkey has made considerable progress towards the full restoration of human rights and democracy. We take every appropriate opportunity to raise this subject with the Turkish Government and in particular to express our concern over the mass trials. My right hon. and learned Friend last raised these issues with the Turkish Minister responsible for legislative affairs during his visit to London on 18 December 1986. He assured my right hon. and learned Friend that progress would continue.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Turkish Government following the recent DISK trials.

The recent verdicts in the DISK trial, which were announced on 24 December, are subject to appeal and the matter is therefore still before the courts. In these circumstances it would not be appropriate to comment. We have however made clear to the Turkish authorities on several occasions our general concern about the mass trials.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what action Her Majesty's Government are taking to find an equitable solution to the problems of the people of Cyprus.

We believe that the United Nations Secretary-General is best placed to make progress towards a solution to the problems of Cyprus. All parties involved have recently renewed their commitment to support his mission of good offices. We give active support to the Secretary-General's mission. He has publicly acknowledged the role we have played. We also lose no opportunity to speak to the parties, and urge them to be flexible and show the necessary political will to achieve a settlement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any plans to increase funding for the British Broadcasting Corporation world service.

We are currently considering the next three-year funding requirements of the external services for the period 1988–89 to 1990–91 which will include an amount for the world service (approximately £17 million in 1986–87). Any increase in funding for the external services will need to be assessed against other demands on Foreign and Commonwealth Office resources, and it is likely to be some time before any decisions are taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to give final approval to the merger of the Marian high school and Bishop Challoner school in Birkenhead; and when he expects to approve the rebuilding programme budget for the school.

My right hon. Friend expects to announce his decision on the merger shortly. The question of the rebuilding project will be considered in the light of his decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table showing the numbers of classes and of pupils in classes in each local education authority with 30 and under, 31 to 35, 36 to 40 and over 40 pupils per class for primary and secondary schools in 1985 and 1986, respectively.

The number of classes and pupils in classes in the four size bands requested in maintained primary and secondary schools for each local education authority in England for 1985 and 1986 are as follows. The analyses are in respect of classes taught by one teacher on a specified school period within the day of the census count in January of each year. The figures may not, therefore, be representative of the pattern of classes over the academic year as a whole.