asked the Secretary of State for Energy what instructions he has given the Coal Board about the sale of Coal Board houses; and if he will make a statement.

None. Housing disposals are a management matter for British Coal.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many staff from his Department have made visits to foreign flue-gas desulphurisation plant or training centres to prepare for the operation of British desulphurisation plants.

Three members of my Department's staff have visited foreign flue gas desulphurisation plants in the normal course of their duties. The operation of flue gas desulphurisation plants at the Central Electricity Generating Board stations will not be a matter for my officials.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will send an official to the Sandia laboratories at

Value £ million
	(a) UnitedKingdom Imports (cif)			Change1980–86		(b) UnitedKingdom Exports (fob)			Change1980–86
	1980	1984	11986	£ million	Per cent.	1980	1984	11986	£ million	Per cent.
(i) Cereals and cereal preparations	603	629	769	+166	28	456	993	1,177	+721	158
(ii) Agricultural products	6,003	8,588	9,356	+3,353	56	2,125	3,260	4,001	+1,876	88
(iii) Motor vehicles	2,493	4,356	5,684	+3,191	128	1,525	1,486	1,764	+239	16
(iv) Coal	215	493	443	+228	106	116	72	107	-9	-8
(v) Steel	1,274	1,244	1,520	+246	19	769	1,287	1,591	+822	107
(vi) Electrical goods	3,838	9,976	11,600	+7,762	202	4,149	7,332	8,799	+4,650	112
Sources: The following SITC/R2 data in the United Kingdom Overseas Trade Statistics: (i) division 04, (ii) sections 0 and 4 and division 22, (iii) groups 781, 782, 783 and sub-group 784.1, (iv) sub-groups 322.1 and 322.2, (v) groups 672–675, sub-groups 678.2, 678.3, 678.4 and 679.3 and items 676.01 (part), 676.02 (part), 679.42 and 791.99 (part), (vi) divisions 75, 76, 77 and group 716.
11986 figures are provisional

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what financial assistance has been provided by his Department directly to industry in Wales since 1979; and if he will outline the categories of support provided.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 February 1987, c. 839 From 1 April 1979 to 31 March 1984 regional development grants (RDG) payments to companies in Albuquerque to discuss the experiment carried out there to investigate what would be likely to happen to a pressurised water reactor vessel flawed with a crack and to investigate its relevance to British reactors.

I am advised by Her Majesty's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive that representatives of the Inspectorate have visited the Sandia test site.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the effect of the United Kingdom's presidency of the Council on trade relations with Spain and its territories.

While the United Kingdom presidency did not in itself affect our excellent bilateral trade relations with Spain, I am pleased to say that these were fully maintained in 1986. United Kingdom exports to Spain increased to record levels last year, totalling £1,905 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the value of (a) imports and (b) exports of the following commodities in 1980. 1984 and 1986 at current prices for (i) cereals,(ii) all agricultural products, (iii) motor vehicles, (iv) coal, (v) steel and (vi) electrical goods; and if he will show the net increase or decrease since 1980 in money and percentage terms.

The information is as follows:Wales totalled £470 million. Responsibility for administration of the RDG scheme in Wales was transferred to the Welsh Office from my Department in November 1984.Complete information on other expenditure by my Department on a regional basis could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, we can say that under the selective investment scheme payments to industry in Wales since 1979 had totalled some £18 million at 31 March 1986. Also, under support for innovation under the Science and Technology Act 1965 more than £7·5 million has been paid to industry in Wales since 1 April 1982 (figures for the earlier years are not available).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are taken to monitor the implementation of (a) the minimum requirements and (b) the options set out in appendix B of the territorial operations instruction 1/86, best practice guidelines for recording and monitoring racial incidents; and if he will make a statement.

The Commissioner keeps these matters under continuous review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of reported cases of racial incidents within the London borough of Newham for each month of 1986; how many of these cases led to arrests being made; and what was the total number of persons arrested.

The information is set out in the table.I am informed by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that of the 244 incidents, 29 led to arrests, but figures are not available on the number of persons arrested.

Reported racial incidents in Newham by month for 1986
	Number
January	15
February	8
March	19
April	21
May	14
June	28
July	23
August	31
September	30
October	21
November	21
December	13
Total	244

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice his Department gives to local authorities regarding fire station rebuilding and refurbishment.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what records are kept by licensing magistrates of applications for and permissions granted for licences in the Occasional Permissions Act 1983.

It is for individual courts to determine the form of records maintained on occasional permissions, but licensing justices need to be able to ensure that not more than four permissions in a 12-month period are granted to the same organisation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the recent meeting on the Pompidou group on drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

The eighth ministerial conference of the Council of Europe co-operation group to combat drug abuse and illicit trafficking in drugs (the Pompidou group) was held in London on 20 and 21 January under my chairmanship. The group is a multidisciplinary body which acts as the main forum for co-operation on all drug misuse and drug trafficking matters within Europe. The conference reviewed work since the seventh conference in 1984 and set a new programme of work for the group to pursue over the coming two to three years, comprising:

1 Practical measures for effective implemention of legislation to confiscate the proceeds of drug trafficking;

2 Mechanisms to improve co-ordination of controls in major ports and maritime surveillance;

3 Role of the media in shaping attitudes to drug misuse;

4 Role of primary health care personnel and short term crisis intervention;

5 Problems related to the operating and funding of treatment facilities;

6 Encouragement of co-operation and action by municipalities and local action groups;

7 Review of drugs legislation in member states in order to compare solutions adopted to deal with similar problems;

8 Preparation of a handbook setting out the division of responsibilities for drug questions at national level;

9 Detection and prevention of drug misuse in the armed forces;

10 Exchange of information on the role and effects of methadone in treatment.

The conference also decided that the group should continue to pursue the following topics on which work is already in hand:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated loss of revenue to the British Broadcasting Corporation resulting from Crown exemption from paying television licences.

It is not practicable to estimate how much additional licence revenue would be received if the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 were binding on the Crown.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many plain-clothes police officers were on duty at the News International dispute at Wapping on 24 January.

I understand from the Commissioner that there were four plain clothes officers on duty in the vicinity of the demonstration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the current Association of Chief Police Officers guidelines are binding on the officers responsible for policing the Wapping disturbances on 24 January.

No. The responsibility for maintaining the Queen's peace and enforcing the law rests with the chief officer of police concerned, in this case the Commissioner.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the terms of reference of the inquiry to be conducted by Chief Superintendent Wyrko of Northamptonshire into complaints against the alleged excessive use of force by the police during the Wapping demonstration on Saturday 24 January; how many complaints have been received so far; what publicity has been given to this inquiry; and to whom aggrieved members of the public should address their complaints.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that Chief Superintendent Wyrko has been appointed

"to investigate all allegations and complaints against police officers and about police officers' actions arising from the disturbance at the Wapping demonstration on Saturday 24 January 1987".

Those terms of reference have been agreed with the Police Complaints Authority, which will be supervising the investigation. Twelve complaints have been received so far. I understand that both the Metropolitan police and the Police Complaints Authority have issued press notices about the inquiry. Members of the public who wish to make a complaint may do so at any police station or direct to the Police Complaints Authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there is to be an internal inquiry conducted by the Metropolitan police into the tactics used to control the crowds at the recent Wapping demonstration.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of photographs taken by the Metropolitan police of detained, arrested and suspected persons for each year since 1979; and if he will indicate in how many cases in each year those photographs were destroyed when charges were not subsequently brought or the individual concerned was acquitted.

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that this information is not collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will give the number of photographs taken of persons arrested, charged or otherwise detained as a result of the News International dispute; and what is the procedure adopted by the Metropolitan police with regard to the destruction of photographic material relating to those persons subsequently not charged or acquitted by the courts;(2) in what percentage of cases the Metropolitan police have photographed and fingerprinted pickets and demonstrators arrested, charged or otherwise detained as a result of incidents arising from the News International dispute at Wapping.

I understand from the Commissioner that photographs and fingerprints have been taken in all cases where those arrested or detained have been charged with recordable offences. Of 1,471 persons arrested up to 10 February, 857 (58 per cent.) have been so charged. The photographs and fingerprints of any person subsequently acquitted or bound over to keep the peace by the courts are destroyed in accordance with the code of practice for the identification of persons by police officers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to how many police forces in England and Wales maintain armed patrols on either a 24-hour or a part-day basis.

Three forces in England and Wales operate a system of armed response patrol cars.

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 times during the past 12 months a Metropolitan police helicopter has been used in Newham; what incidents were involved; and what arrests resulted from information received from the helicopter crew.

I will reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the amounts paid in out-of-court settlements of claims arising from the wrongful acts of Metropolitan police officers in 1986; what were the amounts paid under awards made by courts in similar cases in 1986; and what was the number of cases concluded in 1986.

I will reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for 1986 the cases involving police officers in England and Wales where civil damages have been awarded and where, following the conclusion of the case, details of the court's findings have been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions for further action.

This information is not held centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for 1986 the cases involving Metropolitan police officers where civil damages have been awarded and where, following the conclusion of the case, details of the court's findings have been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions for further action.

I will reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Horne Department when he expects to computerise passport issuing in the United Kingdom and to issue the new machine readable common European Community format passport.

Our earlier target of 1987 has had to be revised. Nevertheless, the project to computerise passport issuing is on a firm footing and the contract for the supply of the computer system has been let to Software Sciences Limited. We now plan for the first of our offices to be computerised from July 1988 and for the system to be introduced in all offices by the end of 1989. It follows that the machine readable common format passport will now be produced in mid-1988. We understand that the Netherlands and West Germany have also revised their timetables and plan to introduce their machine readable passports in 1988, too.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a list showing, for each quarter of each year in which Her Majesty's inspectors' reports of inspections of schools have been published (a) the number of reports of full inspections published in the quarter and (b) the average time in months between dates of such inspections and dates of publication in that quarter; and if he will make a statement.

The detailed disaggregated information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Between 1 January 1983 and 31 December 1986 a total of 936 reports of all kinds by Her Majesty's inspectors were published. The quarterly split was as follows:

	Number
1983
January to March	29
April to June	66
July to September	63
October to December	79
1984
January to March	87
April to June	60
July to September	46
October to December	61
1985
January to March	40
April to June	48
July to September	64
October to December	52
1986
January to March	84
April to June	60
July to September	31
October to December	66

The average time between inspection and publication is close to one year. It remains the aim of Her Majesty's inspectors that reports should be issued to individual institutions within six months of an inspection. They are reviewing their procedures. However, no institution or governing body has to wait that long to know the findings of an inspection. Her Majesty's inspectors discuss these and other matters with the head or principal during and at the end of each inspection, and with the governing body shortly after.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much was spent per pupil in secondary schools in each local authority in England for the most recent years for which figures are available; what is the average figure for England as a whole; and what are the 1979–80 comparable figures at constant prices.

The information requested is given in the table.

Net Institutional Expenditure per Secondary School Pupil
	1979–80	1984–85
	(£)	(£)
Barking	1,090	1,225
Barnet	1,050	1,265
Bexley	960	1,080
Brent	1,195	1,525
Bromley	1,005	1,155
Croydon	1,020	1,225
Ealing	1,095	1,315
Enfield	925	1,150
Haringey	1,160	1,615
Harrow	1,135	1,240
Havering	1,025	1,230
Hillingdon	1,010	1,275
Hounslow	1,045	1,190
Kingston-upon-Thames	960	1,165
Merton	1,000	1,040
Newham	1,110	1,485
Redbridge	1,010	1,185
Richmond-upon-Thames	960	1,170
Sutton	920	1,060
Waltham Forest	1,195	1,450
ILEA	1,410	1,940
Birmingham	935	1,060
Coventry	960	1,180
Dudley	825	990
Sandwell	955	1,135
Solihull	870	1,020
Walsall	915	1,105
Wolverhampton	965	1,130
Knowsley	975	1,240
Liverpool	1,030	1,165
St. Helens	920	1,040
Sefton	900	1,045
Wirral	880	1,035
Bolton	875	1,035
Bury	910	1,100
Manchester	1,175	1,295
Oldham	870	995
Rochdale	990	1,155
Salford	960	1,110
Stockport	850	1,130
Tameside	885	1,070
Trafford	840	1,040
Wigan	925	1,110
Barnsley	940	1,070
Doncaster	955	1,065
Rotherham	870	995
Sheffield	970	1,150
Bradford	825	990
Calderdale	860	1,000
Kirklees	820	950
Leeds	745	970
Wakefield	820	975
Gateshead	915	1,080
Newcastle-upon-Tyne	1,060	1,245
North Tyneside	930	1,180
South Tyneside	985	1,150
Sunderland	940	1,060
Isles of Scilly	1,405	1,670
Avon	885	1,085
Bedfordshire	925	1,060
Berkshire	875	1,055

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, further to his reply of 21 January, Official Report, c. 557, if he will give the total school population of the 10 local education authorities listed for 1985–86 and 1986–87, and projected figures for the next three years.

The total number of pupils in maintained schools in 1985–86 in the local education authorities listed was as follows. The numbers relate to a one-day count of pupils in January 1986. Pupil numbers for 1986–87 are not yet available. Projections of pupil numbers for local education authorities are not available centrally.

Total number of pupils in maintained schools1—1985–862
LEA	Number
Inner London	289,768
Essex	234,776
Hampshire	221,497
Humberside	146,137
Derbyshire	148,370
Manchester	72,979
Staffordshire	168,194
Kent	229,222
Gloucestershire	76,913
Suffolk	93,286
1 Includes part-time pupils in nursery and primary schools and pupils in special schools.
2 January 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are his aims and policy on adult education in basic skills of literacy and numeracy; what are the standards of achievement considered appropriate for a child aged 16 years; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend's policy in adult education is to encourage LEAs and voluntary bodies to make available an appropriate range of learning opportunities for adults who lack basic skills of literacy and numeracy, within the constraints of available resources. To this end, he gives high priority to the funding of the Adult Literacy and Basic Skills Unit in order to stimulate further development of adult basic skills provision. Grant has risen from over £470,000 in 1980–81 to more than £2,050,000 in 1986–87, a fourfold increase in cash terms.It is also my right hon. Friend's aim that 80 per cent. to 90 per cent. of 16-year-olds should attain at least the foundation level of GCSE grade F in a minimum of five subjects, including English and mathematics. We are developing policies for the improvement of the school curriculum to achieve that aim.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table showing for each recent year, with a breakdown by budget heading or project name, his Department's expenditure on adult education in basic skills of literacy and numeracy, expressed in figures adjusted to constant prices; and if he will make a statement.

The expenditure from the Department's adult education budget on the adult literacy and basic skills unit since 1980–81 is as follows:

Grant paid in 1986–87 real terms measured by the GDP deflator at market prices
Financial Year	£
1980–81	659,245
1981–82	1,239,548
1982–83	1,553,311
1983–84	1,638,658
1984–85	1,487,004
1985–86	11,687,140
1986–87	12,052,000
1 Estimated outturn.

Some literacy and numeracy provision is also funded as part of more general DES grant-aided activities undertaken by the Workers Educational Association, the national associations primarily concerned with adult education, residential colleges for adults and the REPLAN programme. In these cases, resources for literacy and numeracy are not separately earmarked.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what statistical information is available to his Department on adults with reading, writing and arithmetical skills less than those considered appropriate for a child age 16 years; what relevant surveys have been undertaken in recent years by his Department or other bodies; and if he will make a statement.

The National Child Development Study survey of 1981 found that 10 per cent. of the 23-year-olds asked said that they had had reading problems since leaving school and 3 per cent. said that these problems had made things difficult for them in everyday life. In the same survey, 5 per cent. of those asked said that they had had numeracy problems since leaving school and 1·5 per cent. said these problems had made things difficult for them. A survey was also conducted in 1981 by Social Surveys (Gallup Polls) Limited which tested the numeracy skills of a sample of the adult population. It found that 10 per cent. could not handle simple addition, and higher percentages had difficulty with more complex numeracy tasks.A recent survey by Mori of the basic literacy and numeracy skills of a sample of the population of Rochdale found that 10 per cent. of the teenagers asked said that they had some problems with reading, 16 per cent. had some problems with spelling and 18 per cent. had some problems with basic maths. Of the adults asked, 7 per cent. had some problems with reading, 13 per cent. had some problems with spelling and 13 per cent. had some problems with maths.There are difficulties in comparing these results with the reading, writing and arithmetical skills considered appropriate for a child aged 16.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he has taken to coordinate action on adult education in basic skills of literacy and numeracy with the work of other departments in contact with large numbers of members of the public; and if he will make a statement.

Membership of the management committee of the Government-funded Adult Literacy and Basic Skills Unit facilitates co-ordination of the work of the Department of Education and Science, the Welsh Office, the Home Office and the Manpower Services Commission. There is also frequent day to day contact at a working level between the unit, the Department of Education and Science, other relevant Government Departments and the MSC.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is the number of boarding school places currently taken up by local education authorities (a) in schools maintained by other authorities and (b) in the independent sector; and what were the equivalent figures for September for each of the years 1980 to 1986 inclusive;(2) whether he will give details under all appropriate headings of the range of statistical information available to his Department relating to the discharge by local education authorities of their duty to meet essential boarding school needs under section 52(1)

This information is not collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the current number of boarding school places provided in maintained schools in England by local education authorities; and what were the equivalent figures as of September for each of the years 1980 to 1986, inclusive.

The information is available neither in the form nor over the whole period requested. The number of boarders in maintained schools in England in January for each year shown was as follows:

	Number
1983	8,341
1984	7,884
1985	7,583
1986	7,118

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the rate of supply of teaching aids for the General Certificate of Secondary Education in the southern region; and if he will make a statement.

The southern examining group's GCSE syllabuses contain full specimen question papers and marking schemes, together with a wide range of information about the assessment of course work. In addition, the group is producing further in-service training aids in the form of open-learning packages containing written materials, which are currently being sent to schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much of his Department's money has been spent on research into meningococcal infections in (i) the last year and (ii) the last five years for which figures are available.

The Medical Research Council, which receives its grant in aid from the Department's science budget, has spent the following sums on research into meningococcal infections:

Financial year	£000
1981–82	13
1982–83	11
1983–84	13
1984–85	58
1985–86	27

Research work on meningococcal infections may also be carried out in universities and medical schools using funds allocated for teaching and research on the advice of the University Grants Committee. Details of any such work are not collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the number and total value of single payments under supplementary benefit made in each social security office in Northern Ireland in 1986 in respect of claims made before the amendments to the regulations came into effect and the amounts and values of payments in respect of claims made under the amended regulations.

Information is not readily available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the backlog of single payments cases which built up in 1986 and the delays in processing claims, indicating the case load and the rate at which they have been processed.

In 1986 there was a marked increase in single payment claims due mainly to the declaration of a period of exceptionally severe weather in February resulting in some 70,000 claims and a build-up of other single payment claims in some social security offices in the weeks prior to the changes in single payment regulations effective from 11 August 1986.During the period 18 December 1985 to 16 December 1986, a total of 375,606 single payment claims were received. These were processed as quickly as possible with priority being given to the more urgent cases. Backlogs of claims varied from office to office and from month to month. Similar variations also applied to clearance time per case, which ranged from 10–12 days at the beginning of the year to more than 28 days in the peak month of August. However, overall the average daily clearance rate was 1,473 with the average clearance time per case being 12·4 days. Additional resources were made available to assist those offices with abnormal backlogs and by the end of the year the position had returned to normal.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the number of allegations of police maltreatment of prisoners held in their custody under the emergency provisions in Northern Ireland during the years 1975 through 1985 on a year-by-year basis; how many investigations were held and how many of the allegations were upheld during the same years, again on a year by year basis.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 January 1987, c.586]: The information is not available in the form or for the period requested. However, the total number of complaints as recorded by the Police Complaints Board for Northern Ireland alleging irregularities of procedures by persons arrested and held in custody under the emergency legislation is as follows:

	Number
1979	220
1980	133
1981	81
1982	162
1983	189
1984	220
1985	232

These figures represent around 10 per cent. of the total number of all complaints recorded by the Police Complaints Board for Northern Ireland during the period.Detailed statistics from the Police Complaints Board on the outcome of the cases are available only from 1984. They are as follows:

	1984	1985
Investigations completed	62	75
Withdrawn by complainant	29	16
Investigations incomplete because of non co-operation of complainant	129	141
Total	220	232

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the Welsh gross domestic product for each of the last seven years.

Estimates of the Welsh gross domestic product for each of the last seven years are given in the following table:

Gross domestic product at factor cost: £ million at current prices
	£ million
1979	7,343
1980	8,203
1981	8,727
1982	9,674
1983	10,640
11984	11,010
11985	12,680
Source: Central Statistical Office.
1 Provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales at the latest date for which figures are available, how many people in (a) Wales, (b) Mid-Glamorgan and (c) Clwyd have been unemployed for five years or more in numerical terms and as a percentage of the total unemployment figure; and if he will give the same sum for comparative months from 1980 to 1986 inclusive.

I shall reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the number of Welsh people employed in (a) service sector and (b) manufacturing sector jobs in Wales in each year from 1979 to 1986 inclusive.

The estimated numbers of employees in employment in Wales in the service and manufacturing sectors (excluding the self-employed) are given in the following table:

Employees in employment: Wales	Thousands at September
	Services	Manufacturing
1979	572	317
1980	565	278
1981	561	239
1982	549	223
1983	549	214
1984	554	212
1985	554	210
1986	554	203

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many chest consultants there are currently in Welsh hospitals, in whole-time equivalent terms and per head of population; and what was the figure for February in each of the last seven years.

The required information is given in the table:

	Consultants in Thoracic Medicine 1Whole-time equivalents	Rate per million population
1979	18·1	6·5
1980	14·1	5·1
1981	12·1	4·3
1982	10·1	3·6
1983	8·1	2·9
1984	6·3	2·2
1985	6·6	2·3
1986	24·8	31·7
1 As at September each year
2 provisional
3 Based on 1985 population estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what changes have been made to the rules regarding the payment of capital grants and improvement grants since 1979; and why changes were instituted.

I will write to the hon. Gentleman and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the future of the Agricultural Development Advisory Service in Wales.

The Agricultural Development and Advisory Service (ADAS) is a part of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and operates in Wales as the agent of the Secretary of State for Wales. These arrangements will continue in future.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the Sino-British agreement for the return of Hong Kong to Chinese rule in 1997 in the light of recent political events in China.

We have noted statements by Chinese officials that China's policies towards Hong Kong are unaffected by recent internal developments. We remain confident in the commitment of the Chinese Government to the full implementation of the Sino-British joint declaration on the future of Hong Kong.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Soviet Union on Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

We have taken every opportunity to see clarification of Soviet intentions and to emphasise the need for a genuine settlement to bring peace and freedom to Afghanistan and enable its people to determine their own future. I did so when I received a Supreme Soviet delegation on 3 February; so did Her Majesty's ambassador in Moscow on 29 January; so also did my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the hon. Member for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Renton) with the Soviet ambassador on 20 January.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had recently with the Government of Pakistan with particular reference to the situation on the Afghanistan border and the provision of aid for refugees from Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

Afghan refugees continue to flee to Pakistan. We remain in touch with the Pakistan Government on the subject of aid. My hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development, the hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Patten), announced a further allocation of £3·5 million during his visit to Pakistan in November, as he told the House on 2 February.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he proposes to initiate any discussions within the European Economic Community about the role within an overall settlement in the middle east of the promotion of human and civil rights on the west bank and in the Gaza strip.

Developments in Arab territories occupied by Israel are kept under close review by Ministers of the Twelve.We have made clear on many occasions to the Israeli Government that improvements in conditions in the occupied territories would improve the climate for peace negotiations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the latest progress on arrangements for the pooling of information about terrorism by European Governments.

As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Bruinvels) on 12 January, we gave high priority to measures to combat terrorism during the United Kingdom presidency. Ministers met in the TREVI group on 25 September 1986 and 9 December 1986 and there was an informal meeting of Interior and Justice Ministers on 20 October 1986. The subject was also discussed by Foreign Ministers meeting in political cooperation and by Heads of State/Government at the European Council on 5 to 6 December.These meetings resulted in enhanced practical cooperation between member states on counter-terrorism measures, including the setting up of a secure communications link between police forces of the member states; intensification of liaison between counter-terrorism experts and mutual exchanges of information about people excluded from the territory of any one member state. We will continue to do everything possible to promote effective counterterrorist co-operation among the Twelve.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many checks Falkland Islands fishery protection ships have made on vessels fishing inside the Falkland Islands conservation zone since 1 February.

In the first week of the implementation of the Falkland Islands interim conservation and management zone, which came into effect on 1 February, Falkland Islands Government fisheries protection officers boarded six fishing vessels.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to monitor instances of human rights violations by Salvadorean military and security forces both before and after they receive training by United Kingdom personnel.

We have made it clear that candidates for training should be both professionally and personally suitable. Our current monitoring of the human rights situation in E1 Salvador will be continued after the cadet has returned.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made and to whom about the attack on the Shell tanker Isomeria in the straits of Hormuz at 20.00 hours on 23 January; and if he will make a statement.

I summoned the Iranian chargéd'affaires, Mr. Akhundzadeh-Basti, on 26 January to deliver a protest at this premeditated, totally unprovoked and unjustifiable attack. The acting head of the British interests section in Tehran delivered a similar protest to the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We await a satisfactory Iranian response.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to the numbers of Jews who were allowed to emigrate from the Soviet Union during the month of January 1987.

According to our information, 92. We continue to press for a significant increase in the numbers permitted to leave.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Mid Sussex (Mr. Renton), received during his recent discussions in Moscow about the effect of the new Soviet law narrowing the family reunification invitations to Soviet Jews who wish to emigrate, especially on those who have already applied outside the new criteria; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave him on 26 January at column 41.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy of 29 January, Official Report, columns 334–35, on information made available on technical verification of a nuclear test ban treaty to bodies in the United States of America, if he will list those United States technical authorities with which regular contact on these matters is maintained.

We are in regular contact with the Departments of both Defence and Energy, in particular the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency which is the umbrella organisation for research into technical issues relevant to a comprehensive nuclear test ban.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy of 29 January, Official Report, column 335, on the five continents peace initiative, if he will place a copy of the replies mentioned in the Library.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department was consulted about the issue of warrants for the search of British Broadcasting Corporation premises in Glasgow.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why, on 22 January, he had to cancel a meeting with Philip Habib; and when this meeting was arranged.

The meeting of my right hon. and learned Friend with Mr. Philip Habib was arranged some days before it was due to take place. It was cancelled because the Foreign Secretary had to attend other urgent business. Mr. Habib was received by a senior FCO official instead.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why he asked his hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Renton) to deliver his speech to the Middle East Association on 22 January in the Shell centre; and when the invitation from the Middle East Association was accepted.

The invitation to address the Middle East Association on the occasion of its 25th Anniversary was accepted by my right hon. and learned Friend on 21 July 1986. Due to urgent Government business he was, with much regret, unable to fulfil the engagement. I was therefore asked to deliver his speech at the Shell centre.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to announce agreement with the British Broadcasting Corporation on a revised financial memorandum governing the financial relationship between external services and his Department.

We expect to reach agreement soon with the BBC on a revised financial memorandum on the external services' finance and principles governing expenditure. We believe that it should include provision for the National Audit Office to carry out economy, efficiency and effectiveness examinations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of the changes proposed and effected in the British Broadcasting Corporation's external services output following publication of the Perry review.

Since publication of the Perry report, the BBC external services are broadcasting a post-1950 record of 732¾ hours per week. The net increase of 5¼ hours broadcasting per week over the pre-Perry output breaks down as follows:

	Time change
Increases per week
English by Radio service	2 hours
Portuguese for Africa service	1 hour, 45 minutes
Indonesian service	1 hour, 45 minutes
Persian service	1 hour, 45 minutes
Decreases per week
German service	1 hour, 45 minutes
Hungarian service	45 minutes
Czech/Slovak service	45 minutes

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 6 February to the hon. Member for Leicester, East, if he will make it his policy to require the removal from the United Kingdom of any diplomat for any alleged drunken driving offence; and if he will make a statement.

Our policy is fully set out in the White Paper on "Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges" (Cmnd. 9497), particularly paragraphs 65 and 69. There are no current plans for a change.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Spanish authorities to secure the return of Fernando Perez, a ward of court who was abducted from his school in Eastbourne on 10 October 1986 and taken by his father to the Canary Islands.

Fernando Perez has both British and Spanish nationality. In accordance with international practice, dual nationals cannot be protected by Her Majesty's Government in the country of their other nationality.Wardship orders taken out in this country can be enforced abroad by the local court under the terms of the European convention on the recognition and enforcement of decisions concerning the custody of children. We understand that solicitors acting for Mrs. Perez, the child's mother, have been advised of the correct channel for making application.Our consular officers in Spain have no authority to expedite proceedings: this is a matter for the local court, in which we cannot intervene.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received in respect of de-oxyribosenucleic acid testing in connection with immigration cases.

We have received representations from hon. and right hon. Members on behalf of constituents requesting the DNA test, together with similar representations from immigrant organisations and law centres. I hope that it may be possible to include a few of these cases in the pilot scheme to which I referred in my written answer to the hon. Member on 28 January at column 283.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish details of all the measures currently being taken by the Government against South Africa.

The restrictive measures currently being applied by us are as follows:

• An embargo on arms exports to South Africa (United Nations Security Council resolution 418);
• An embargo on arms imports from South Africa (United Nations Security Council resolution 558);
• No military co-operation with South Africa;
• The recall (since 1985) of British military attachés from South Africa;
• The discouraging of sporting links with South Africa (1977 Gleneagles agreement):
• The discouraging of cultural and scientific events and agreements with South Africa except where these contribute towards the ending of apartheid or have no possible role in supporting it;
• No exports of oil to South Africa;
• No collaboration with South Africa in nuclear development;
• A ban on all new Government loans to the Government of South Africa and their agencies;
• A ban on the import of gold coins from South Africa;
• No Government funding for trade missions to South Africa or for participation in exhibitions and trade fairs in South Africa;
• A voluntary ban on new investment in South Africa;
• A voluntary ban on the promotion of tourism to South Africa;
• A ban on iron and steel imports from South Africa;
• A ban on the export of sensitive equipment to the South African police and armed forces.

asked the Minister for the Arts what proportion of the English Regional Arts Associations' expenditure was accounted for by administration in the latest available year.

The proportion varies considerably between one association and another. I am pleased to learn that the Arts Council is to conduct a review of its own administrative costs and those of the regional arts associations, and I have asked the chairman to report to me on the findings.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to change the procedures used for Government purchasing.

Government Departments are continually updating their practices in pursuit of a more commercial approach. In their search for greater value for money, Departments are helped and advised by the Central Unit on Purchasing, set up in August 1985 following a report by the Cabinet Office (MPO), "Government Purchasing". Information about the unit's work so far was given in the answer by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the hon. Member for Langbaurgh (Mr. Holt) on 19 November at column 229.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will explain why, in table 2.4 of the Government's expenditure plans 1978–1989–90, there are no projections to 1990 for the National Health Service, the Northern Ireland Government services, local authorities or the nationalised industries and local authorities (trading).

My hon. Friend's question appears to be directed at the public sector manpower table published in table 2.14 of Cmnd. 56. A note to table 2.14 states:

"Manpower projections for future years are not included for local authorities, the National Health Service, public corporations and other central government. The Government does not directly control manpower numbers in these areas. Its influence is exercised essentially through expenditure and financial controls".

However, the figures provided for the Northern Ireland Government service include the Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office, whose manpower is under the control of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland—see table 3.18.37 of Cmnd. 56.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is prepared to consider similar Inland Revenue write-off proposals for the British film industry as exist in other major western film producing countries; and whether he will make a statement.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his reply of 6 February, if he will give sub-totals for the unclaimed prize money from premium bond draws by year; and what is his policy in respect of unclaimed prize money.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any changes are proposed in the cash limit for the Inland Revenue.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class XIX, vote 7 will be increased by £4,500,000 from £958,817,000 to £963,317,000 to cover extra spending on professional assistance, current computer costs, accommodation and training which is partly offset by a reduction in capital spending on computers. The increase will be charged to the reserve. At the same time, the Department's running cost target will be increased by £6,500,000 from £914,950.000 to £921,450,000.

asked the Prime Minister if any public expenditure was incurred in her travel arrangements to the Young Conservatives' conference on 7 February.

The cost of my travel to the conference does not fall on public funds.

asked the Attorney-General what steps he takes, when considering prosecutions or the issue of warrants in relation to offences under the Official Secrets Act, to ascertain the damage to public interest caused by the particular disclosure.

My right hon. and learned Friend takes such steps as are practicable to ensure that he is fully advised of all factors which affect the public interest. These will depend on the scope and nature of the breach of the Official Secrets Acts that is alleged in a particular case.

asked the Attorney-General what efforts are being made to secure the return of Fernando Perez, a ward of court who was abducted from his school in Eastbourne on 10 October 1986 and taken by his father to the Canary Islands.

I understand that Mrs. Perez's solicitors are applying for an order granting her care and control of the child and a declaration that his removal was unlawful. If Mrs. Perez obtains the order and declaration, an application for the return of the child may be made to the Spanish authorities on her behalf by the Lord Chancellor's Department under the Child Abduction and Custody Act 1985.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence he has about the effect of air pollution on the vitality of British conifers.

The Forestry Commission has been conducting annual surveys of forest tree health and has recently published the findings of its 1986 survey. This suggests a worsening of tree condition, but I understand that there is no firm evidence that points to a cause such as air pollution as distinct from other factors such as climate, or the depredations of insects or fungi. The Forestry Commission and my Department are continuing their research to further the understanding of the roles played by climate, soil factors and pollutants and their interaction in tree health. In consultation with the NCC and other interested bodies, further extension in terms of species and areas covered are being planned for 1987.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list in the Official Report those local authorities in England whose total of housing classified as unfit together with those classified as fit but lacking basic amenities is over 5 per cent. of their total housing stock as recorded on form HIP 1; and if he will give the percentage in each case;(2) if he will list in the

The inforation requested is as follows. Numbers reported are not necessarily comparable as authorities' criterion may differ and national totals are not consistent with estimates from the English house condition survey of 1981.

Local authorities with more than 5 per cent, of dwelling stock substandard (unfit or fit but lacking basic amenities) April 1986: England
Local authority	Percentage of total stock
1. Newham	28·5
2. Hackney	22·6
3. Lewisham	122·0
4. Hammersmith and Fulham	119·6
5. Lambeth	19·2
6. Southwark	18·8
7. Haringey	17·2
8. Kensington and Chelsea	116·8
9. Tower Hamlets	16·8
10. Blackburn	16·6
11. Camden	16·5
12. South Herefordshire	16·0
13. St. Helens	15·3
14. Wandsworth	115·2
15. Rugby	114·7
16. Birmingham	14·7
17. Stoke-on-Trent	114·6
18. Hyndburn	14·6
19. Caradon	14·6
20. Mendip	14·2
21. Bolton	13·6
22. Sandwell	113·5
23. Staffordshire Moorlands	113·2
24. Forest of Dean	112·3
25. Leominster	12·2
26. Chorley	11·8
27. Wolverhampton	11·8
28. Trafford	11·7
29. Kettering	11·6
30. South Holland	11·6
31. Torridge	11·5
32. Malvern Hills	11·0
33. Waltham Forest	10·6
34. Hounslow	10·6
35. Richmond upon Thames	10·5
36. Leeds	10 5