asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to seek to increase the effectiveness of microcomputers in schools.

My right hon. Friend is seeking to build on the achievements of the microelectronics education programme and to learn from its operation. The microelectronics education support unit, launched last year, is designed to disseminate good practice as widely as possible, through the development of curriculum materials, through support for teacher training, and through direct advice to LEAs and schools. The Council for Educational Technology, reorganised as from last year, will also be well placed to promote effective use of new technologies in schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied that teachers involved in the teaching of microcomputers are sufficiently well trained and motivated in their use.

Training is one of the keys to effective use of information technology in classrooms, and although well over half the teaching force has attended at least an introductory course since the start of the decade, there remains scope for a great deal more training—introductory, in-depth and updating. The training grants scheme for 1987–88 allows some £4 million as a national priority to enable teachers to go on courses related to IT in schools, and the microelectronics education support unit will give back-up to the trainers themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to increase the number of microcomputers in primary and secondary schools.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Information Technology announced on 9 March a scheme to assist the purchase of microcomputers and peripheral equipment for schools. The Government are currently considering whether they should make further funds available for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will provide a breakdown of the capital expenditure allocations to each local education authority in England and Wales, showing the allocations in respect of further education establishments.

The component for further and higher education within the capital allocations made by my right hon. Friend to each local education authority for 1987–88 is shown in the following table. Allocations to local education authorities in Wales are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much local education authority supplementary capital expenditure on further and higher education has taken place in the last five years for which figures are available, broken down into the local education authorities in England and Wales.

The information requested in respect of local education authorities in England is not available centrally. Local education authorities in Wales are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will place in the Library copies of (a) his Department's letter of 15 December 1983 mentioned in a footnote to the table given in his reply to the hon. Member for Yeovil on 23 February, Official Report, columns 47–48 and (b) his Department's letter of 18 December 1985 mentioned in a footnote to the table given in his reply to the hon. Member for Yeovil on 2 February, Official Report, column 472, concerning substandard school accommodation.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to increase the capital expenditure allocations for further education and higher education; and if his Department has any information relating to past and projected future local education authority, supplementary spending out of their own capital receipts.

All the resources available for capital allocations to local education authorities for 1987–88 in England for further and higher education have been distributed. The level of allocations for 1988–89 will be decided later this year. Information about local authorities' supplementary spending is available from their annual returns of outturn capital expenditure. The provisional figure for further and higher education in 1985–86 is £133 million, £53 million more than the sum allocated for that year. For local authority capital expenditure on education as a whole, the gross outturn for 1986–87 is estimated to be £529 million, £232 million more than the sum allocated for that year. For all local authorities the available spending power from capital receipts in 1987–88 is estimated to be £2·8 billion, a higher figure than in 1986–87.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has about the support and resources being made available for children with special needs who are being educated in mainstream schools under the Education Act 1981.

Research findings and HMI investigations indicate that LEAs are increasing the financial provision for support and other resources for children with special needs in mainstream schools. It is not possible to quantify that increase, since such expenditure is not separately identified in returns.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what information is available to his Department on budgeted expenditure by local education authorities for 1986–87 and 1987–88 relating to the introduction of the general certificate of secondary education; which elements of such budgeted expenditure receive specific grant support from his Department; and if he will make a statement;(2) what arrangements will be in force for 1987–88 to ensure or confirm that departmental spending targeted to support the introduction of the general certificate of secondary education through

It is for local authorities to determine the resources made available for GCSE provision, and this information is not collected centrally. The Government's plans for 1987–88 provide for an increase of 18·8 per cent. in total local authority expenditure compared with the current year; of this some £100 million is intended for GCSE non-teaching costs.The Government have directed the following substantial resources specifically to help meet GCSE-related costs: £20 million expenditure on GCSE books and equipment is being supported through education support grant and the Manpower Services Commission this year, and a further £10 million will be supported through ESG in 1987–88. For GCSE in-service training, up to £9·5 million has been supported in 1985–87 and £15 million has been set aside for 1987–88.Expenditure under these schemes is being monitored by the authorities themselves, the Department and HMI.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a breakdown of the education component of the block grant for each local authority in 1987–88 into rate support grant, education support grant, education training grant and any other elements, showing the amount of each element targeted to support the introduction of the general certificate of secondary education; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will publish a breakdown of the education component of the block grant for each local authority in 1986–87 into rate support grant, education support grant, in-service education training grant and any other elements, showing the amount of each element targeted to support the introduction of the general certificate of secondary education; and if he will make a statement;(3) if he will publish a breakdown of the education component of the block grant for each local authority in 1985–86 into rate support grant, education support grant, in-service education training grant and any other elements, showing the amount of each element targeted to support the introduction of the general certificate of secondary education; and if he will make a statement;(4) if he will publish a breakdown of the education component of the block grant for each local authority in 1984–85 into rate support grant, in-service education training grant and any other elements, showing the

Maintained schools (including nursery and special): England
	October 1986		October 1984
	Number	Per cent. of (a)	Number	Per cent. of (a)
Pupils in attendance	6,351,870	(a)	6,613,026	(a)
Pupils taking school meals:
on payment	1,956,310	30·8	2,243,548	33·9
free	1,143,817	18·0	1,147,886	17·4
Total	3,100,127	48·8	3,391,434	51·3
Total Pupils bringing own food	1,937,151	30·5	1,940,682	29·3
Pupils having other arrangements	1,314,592	20·7	1,280,910	19·4

An analysis of the returns shows the following proportions for primary and secondary pupils, as percentages of pupils in attendance.

	Primary		Secondary
	1986	1984	1986	1984
Pupils taking school meals	51·8	53·4	44·5	48·2
Pupils bringing own food	37·3	35·7	23·3	23·2
Pupils having other arrangements	11·0	10·9	32·1	28·6

No Census was carried out in October 1985 due to the effect of the teachers' action on the take-up of school meals.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will consider setting up a committee to examine the evidence of violence in schools, directed both at teachers and pupils, and to make recommendations as to what measures can be taken to prevent such violence; and if he will make a statement.

The evidence of visits by Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools suggests that most schools are well ordered and do not regard disruptive behaviour as a serious problem. Nevertheless any violent behaviour in schools is deplorable. It must be primarily a matter for individual schools to decide on the appropriate measures to prevent it in their own particular circumstances. I hope, however, that they will he assisted by the report of a survey of good practice as regards discipline and behaviour which is being prepared by Her Majesty's inspectorate and is to be published shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the results of the October 1986 census of school meals; and what were the comparable results of the previous census.

The information is as follows:Detailed tabulations on the returns from local education authorities in England, from which these national totals were derived, are being placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give details of any revised cash limits for his Department's votes in 1986–87.

On 5 February I announced a change to the cash limit for Class XII, Vote 3 at columns 736–37. I regret that there was an error in the current cash limit given in that answer. The figures should have been:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the Kingman committee of inquiry into English language teaching is inviting evidence; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The Kingman committee would welcome written evidence, particularly on what skills society and individuals need in oral and written communication, the nature of English language teaching in the different phases of schooling, and the implications for initial and in-service teacher training. My right hon. Friend hopes that anyone wishing to give evidence on these or other matters within the committee's terms of reference will write to the committee's secretary at Elizabeth House, York Road, London SE1 7PH, not later than 1 June 1987.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all the projects funded by derelict land grant in (a) the west midlands and (b) Birmingham in the last three years, in the same form as the answer relating to Wales given to the hon. Member for Alyn and Deeside (Mr. Jones) on 16 February, Official Report, column 452.

I understand that the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales related to 109 schemes and involved considerable effort to extract. I regret that I can only repeat that the hon. Gentleman's request for details of the 609 schemes for which derelict land grant was applied for in the west midlands, over the last three years, would involve disproportionate expenditure and would divert staff from the priority task of processing current applications. However, the proposed introduction of computerised records should in due course enable us to answer such requests more readily.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many owner-occupiers of designated prefabricated reinforced concrete (PRC) houses are currently unable to obtain assistance through the Housing Defects Act 1984.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the replies I gave on 2 and 5 February to the hon. Member for Basingstoke (Mr. Hunter) at columns 493 and 774 concerning the position of owners of privately developed PRC houses not eligible for assistance under the housing defects legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of the sale of council housing to sitting tenants in the Crawley borough and Mid Sussex district; and what was the percentage of relevant stock that existed at 30 September 1979 which has been sold to date.

From April 1980 to September 1986, Crawley has reported selling 4,538 dwellings to sitting tenants, equivalent to 32·1 per cent. of the council stock in April 1980: Mid Sussex has reported 1,015 sales up to June 1986, equal to 18 per cent. of its April 1980 stock. Earlier sales to sitting tenants were not separately reported.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing such information as he has as to the average council rent level in (a) Hammersmith and Fulham and (b) the Greater London area; and if he will express each of these figures as a percentage of (i) average earnings in Greater London and (ii) the state retirement pension for a single pensioner and a pensioner couple, in each of the years from 1970 to 1986.

The figures based on rent information reported by Hammersmith and Fulham and by all housing authorities in Greater London are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many voluntary organisations receive grants from his Department for dealing with child homelessness and child prostitution; and if he will list the organisations by name as well as the amount of funding they receive.

The Department provides, under section 73 of the Housing Act 1985, a substantial programme of grants for voluntary bodies concerned with homelessness. This year. grants to 17 bodies will amount to more than £500,000. Some of these bodies make special provision for advice and assistance to young people. For example, CHAR (grant £31,350) have a worker concerned with young homelessness, and "First Key" (grant £15,000) are concerned with providing housing advice and assistance to young people leaving care. In addition, we have funded (£38,528) under this programme the production by the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless Trust of material aimed at preventing homelessness among school leavers and other young people. The provision of accommodation for the homeless is also funded through the urban programme and through grants to housing associations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many dwellings have been sold by local authorities and new towns in England from April 1979; how many were flats; and what percentage of the total stock of local authority dwellings these sales represent.

From April 1979 to September 1986, English local authorities and new towns sold an estimated 793,000 dwellings, including 36,000 flats. The total sold represents about 15 per cent. of the local authority and new town housing which was available for sale during that. period.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce his decision on the proposed sale by Leeds metropolitan district council of maisonettes on Cartmel drive, Leeds, to the Regent Housing Association; and if he will make a statement.

The Department issued a formal letter of consent to the Director of Housing of Leeds City Council on 23 February 1987 following our unreserved endorsement of the Council's proposal to dispose of these dwellings, and others at Levens Garth and Boggart Hill, to the Yorkshire Metropolitan Housing Association for refurbishment by their development organisation, the Regent Housing Society Ltd. These disposals are entirely consistent with the Government's policy of bringing difficult to let council dwellings back into use with private sector capital.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department at any time over the past five years has had contracts with KMS Ltd.

As far as I am aware my Department has not placed any contracts with KMS Ltd.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish details of the uses made of urban programme funds sponsored through health authorities in the north-west region over the last three years.

The projects approved by this Department for Urban Programme funding in the financial years 1984–85, 1985–86 and 1986–87 are as follows:

District health authority and project	Urban programme funding £000
Bolton
Landscaping and associated works—Chorley street	88
Access improvements to Bolton General and Royal Infirmary hospitals	20
Psychiatric support for child adolescent services	20
Incontinent—Help service	20
Medicine Advisory Service	80
Support for tranquilliser misusers	30
Education/Health kits to promote healthy living	108
Area Social Work Centre	14
Mobile Unit for Preventive Health Care for women	86
Training Lay-carers on health aspects of caring for the elderly	22
Self-help support for families with children requiring special needs	43
Renovation and refurbishing of older premises in the Inner Area	11
Blackburn
Provision of health centre—Roman road	354
Health education base—James street	40
Knowsley
Community Physiotherapists	30
Internal improvements to Twig lane clinic	50
Area Health clinics, security improvements	10
Improvements to waiting area, Whiston hospital	25
Twig lane clinic improvements phase II	100
Speech Therapists for language disorder unit	19
Night sitters for terminally ill	38
Liverpool
Community Night Nursing Service	90
Alcholism Councillor	25
Garston Health Clinic, Improvements	230
Croxteth Health Clinic, Improvements	210

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will issue direction requiring the London residuary body to transfer Thamesmead to Thames Trust;(2) when he expects the transfer of Thamesmead from the London residuary body to Thamesmead Trust.

[pursuant to his reply, 5 March 1987, c. 653]: The Department issued on 6 March a letter stating that the Secretary of State intends to direct the London residuary body to dispose of Thamesmead to Thamesmead town, the disposal to take place on 1 April if at all possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the numbers of entrants to his Department from the ethnic minorities in the years

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the total public expenditure on improving home insulation for each of the last five years.

[pursuant to his answer, 9 March 1987]: The available information is as follows:1985–86 and 1986–87; if he will also list the monitoring procedures used to ascertain the percentage of the work force represented by ethnic minorities and their patterns of promotion; and what are his methods of recruitment of minorities into his Department.

The ethnic origins of new entrants have been surveyed since October 1985. In the period from 1 October 1985 to 28 February 1987, there were 1,739 new entrants to the Department of Trade and Industry. Their ethnic origins were:

	Number
A White	743
B Non-White	119
C Data not yet available	850
D Non-respondents	27

A phased programme of surveys of the ethnic origin on non-industrial civil servants by means of voluntary self-classification is being conducted by the Department and is expected to be completed during 1987.All departmental recruitment is conducted on the basis of fair and open competition and selection is on merit. Consideration is being given to ways of using the data on the ethnic origin of staff to monitor promotion.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received about the establishment of Satellite Information Systems Ltd.; and whether he has referred such representations to the Office of Fair Trading or the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

My right hon. Friend has received representations from the National Greyhound Racing Club and from my hon. Friend. These have been referred to the Office of Fair Trading for consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will refer to the Office of Fair Trading plans by the larger bookmakers to establish their own rule-making body to control afternoon greyhound racing at tracks which they own and operate.

Representations alleging that certain bookmakers intend to establish their own control organisation for afternoon greyhound racing have been referred by my right hon. Friend to the Office of Fair Trading.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken to consult the retail trade about implementation of the Nightwear (Safety) Regulations 1985; and how the trade was notified about the regulations.

The Nightwear (Safety) Regulations 1985 were the subject of two separate consultations in May and November 1984. Bodies representing the retail sector which were invited to comment on the proposals included the National Union of Small Shopkeepers, the Retail Alliance, the Retail Consortium and the Retail Distributors Association. In response to representtions from the trade, the period allowed before the regulations came into force was extended to 15 months.A copy of the revised draft regulations, which were laid before the House in November 1985, was sent to all consultees. The regulations were made on 20 December 1985 and were publicised in

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from the retail trade about the treatment of stock in hand following implementation of the Nightwear (Safety) Regulations 1985.

I met the trade associations, including the Retail Consortium, on 5 January this year to discuss their problems over implementing the 1985 regulations with respect to babies' garments by the due date of 1 March 1987. As a result I decided to introduce an amendment to the regulations which has since been approved by a resolution of each House.The Nightwear (Safety) Regulations 1987, which were made on 27 February, postpone, until 1 September 1987, the coming into force of those requirements of the 1985 regulations which relate to the testing, labelling and advertisement of babies' garments, as defined in regulation 3(1) of the 1985 regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his Department at any time over the past five years has had contracts with KMS Ltd.

No such contracts have been placed by this Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress was made at the meeting of the Council of the European Community, Research, on 24 February; and if he will make a statement.

The Council of Ministers (Research) met on 24 February in Brussels. I represented Her Majesty's Government.The meeting was devoted exclusively to discussion of the proposed new framework programme for EC research and development. The Council's discussion focused on a possible compromise tabled by the Belgian presidency. This called for the Council to concentrate its negotiations on 5.765 billion ecu (£4·21 billion) of new commitments which, when added to the commitments already agreed, was equivalent to a programme of 6·85 becu (£5 billion) as compared with the Commission's original proposal of 7·735 becu 8£5·65 billion) total expenditure. The United Kingdom took the view that while some elements of the compromise—subject to certain assurances—could be helpful in furthering progress, the total figure remained too high. The Council's meeting was inconclusive with some member states adopting a similar line to that of the United Kingdom and others indicating that the proposed compromise figures involved too great a reduction. The meeting was adjourned until 24 March.The United Kingdom will continue to work for a programme based on high quality research and sharply focused on promoting industrial competitiveness. In the view of Her Majesty's Government, this can be achieved with a more modest growth over current expenditure than the European Commission has so far proposed.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much Government money was allocated to the Yorkshire and Humberside Development Association in 1985–86 and in 1984–85.

[pursuant to his reply, 9 March 1987, c. 36]: The original grant in 1984–85 was £463,000 to which was added £55,000 for extraordinary additional payments. The grant in 1985–86 was £400,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much support from public funds of all kinds has been made available to the aerospace and aeroengines industries since the fiscal year 1978–79.

[pursuant to his reply, 2 March 1987, c. 517]: From the fiscal year 1978–79 to 1985–86 inclusive, Department of Trade and Industry funding for the civil aircraft, aero-engines and associated equipment industry totalled approximately £1,400 million. This figure includes support in the form of launch aid, research and development programmes, direct grant support to companies for innovation, and assistance under sections 7 and 8 of the Industry Act; equity investment in Rolls-Royce Ltd. between 1978–79 and 1982–83; and public dividend capital for British Aerospace.

asked the Prime Minister what representations were made to her at her recent meeting with representatives of pensioners' organisations; and how the Government will be responding to these representations.

I met a delegation from the National Pensioners' Convention steering committee on Thursday 5 March. They made representations with regard to the level of the basic pension, and the various other benefits and services available to pensioners. These will be considered and I will be writing to the National Pensioners' Convention in due course.

asked the Prime Minister if she will raise at the next meeting of the European Council the question of relations between the Community and the United States of America with particular reference to the effect on trade of the Commission proposal to place taxes on oils, fats and margarine.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to him on Tuesday 3 March, at column 543, on this subject.

asked the Prime Minister what information she was given, prior to the United States bombing of Libya in April 1986, as to the expected whereabouts of Colonel Gadaffi at the time of the raids.

None.

asked the Prime Minister when she last hosted an official dinner at Chequers.

I last gave an official dinner at Chequers on Saturday 23 November 1985.

asked the Prime Minister if she will pay an official visit to Bedfordshire.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 March.

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in this House I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I hope to have an audience of Her Majesty the Queen.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to ensure that, following the conversion of local authority owned airports into public limited companies, no changes in planning policy occur as a result of changes in ownership; and if he will make a statement.

The transfer of local authority owned airports to public airport companies is not intended to bring about any change in planning policy. By virtue of part V of the Airports Act 1986, all major airport companies will have certain rights under the General Development Order but any development which would significantly increase capacity will remain subject to the normal planning process.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the road schemes which are in hand or which have reached their planning stage to improve the London-Exeter route west of Amesbury; and if he will set out what schemes have been approved since his announcement in 1985 and what studies have been started since 23 June 1986 for this same stretch of road.

I can confirm to my hon. Friend that substantial improvements are being made to the A303/A30 route west of Amesbury.Two schemes are under construction; the Furze Hedge improvement in Wiltshire and Ilminster bypass in Somerset.Also in Somerset, a public inquiry has been held into the Sparkford bypass and a decision will be announced shortly. We have announced a public inquiry into the South Petherton-Ilchester improvement to start later this month and, at the eastern edge of the County, we have published draft orders for the Mere-Wincanton improvement which will bypass Bourton in Dorset and Zeals in Wiltshire.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met representatives of the Greater Manchester passenger transport authority to listen to its submission concerning the financing of that authority; when he replied in writing to the Greater Manchester passenger transport authority about that submission; and what account was taken in that letter of the submission.

I last met representatives of Greater Manchester passenger transport authority on 16 February. The decision on their application for further borrowing approval, which my Department gave to them formally on the same day, was based on information provided by the authority and took into account copious discussions and correspondence.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider banning double-decker coaches from using the third lane on motorways.

No. The Department makes no special speed limit distinction between double-decker and other coaches; all buses and coaches are subject to a 70 mph speed limit on motorways.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department at any time over the past five years has had contracts with KMS Ltd.

No, as far as can readily be ascertained. Central records are not kept of contracts let by the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport in what circumstances it is not possible to provide lighting on fog-prone sections of motorways.

I refer my hon. Friend to the announcement I made in the House on the new policy for the provision of lighting on motorways on 24 July 1986 at column 451.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to provide lighting on all or some of the 30 fog-prone sites on the M25.

Lighting is already installed at 12 of the fog-prone sites of the M25 motorway. We plan to light junction 6 during this autumn. There are no plans at present to provide lighting at the remaining sites. The situation is being kept under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish in tabular form the most recent available figures of day and night traffic flows in each section of the M25.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what action he has taken to secure the provision of transport data for London when the London residuary body withdraws its services in April.

I welcome the discussions boroughs are having about a scheme to meet collective needs for Londonwide data, including traffic surveys and accident analysis information. Meanwhile, I must secure the Department's other requirements. London's transport data framework needs to be developed as professionally as possible for all who make use of it.I have taken the steps announced on 12 December to place a contract with consultants to hold and develop the decennial Greater London transportation survey. We are also appointing consultants to maintain the programme of speed counts. We have today written to the London residuary body and the boroughs about these arrangements. We shall continue to consult closely with boroughs both about the development of the modelling and about appropriate longer-term arrangements. They and other users will be able to buy the services they need.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all cases reported to his Department or to the coastguard, or about which his Department has information where fishing vessels have been in any kind of incident involving (a) British, (b) United States or (c) about submarines; and what action he has taken as a result.

[pursuant to his reply, 4 March 1987, Vol. 111, c. 605]: Her Majesty's Coastguard has not been involved in any SAR operations involving fishing vessels and submarines since 1979 other than the Summer Morn. The signal log book at Clyde recorded that FV Berachah (6 December 1982) and FV Huntress (11 September 1984) had reported that a submarine had caused them difficulty. No further details are known.No such incident has been reported to other divisions in my Department but the maritime safety committee of the International Maritime Organisation discussed, last year, the dangers of fishing vessels at sea posed by submerged submarines and subsequently issued an advisory circular.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the numbers of entrants to his Department from the ethnic minorities in the years 1985–86 and 1986–87 and if he will also list the monitoring procedures used to ascertain the percentage of the work force represented by ethnic minorities and their patterns of promotion; and what are his methods of recruitment of minorities into the Department.

The ethnic origins of new entrants to my Department have been surveyed since October 1985. The position is:

	Number
Total new entrants to Welsh Office in the period 1 October 1985 to 28 February 1987	133
Ethnic origins:
white	132
black-Asian	1
not stated	—

A phased programme of departmental surveys of the ethnic origin of non-industrial civil servants by means of voluntary self-classification is being conducted. All non-industrial staff in my Department will be surveyed by June 1988. Consideration is being given to ways of using the date on the ethnic origin of staff-in-post to monitor promotion.All departmental recruitment is conducted on the basis of fair and open competition and selection is on merit. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Privy Council Office on 20 February 1987 at columns

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Thomas) of 5 February, Official Report, column 755, if he will set out the reasons why it has not been the practice to make publicly available papers submitted to the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee; and if he will make it his policy to publish such papers.

The current practice that working papers submitted to the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee are not made publicly available allows for full discussion by the committee in cooperation with Government Departments. The conclusions of RWMAC discussions are made public in their annual reports.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if his Department at any time over the past five years has had contracts with KMS Ltd.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will state total amount of public funds provided through his Department or its agencies which came to Anglesey between 1974 and 1979 and between 1979 and 1987.

I will write to my hon. Friend about the figures for 1979 to 1987 as soon as possible, and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House. The figures for 1974 to 1979 are not readily available and could only to obtained at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will provide the financial resources to enable accident and emergency consultants to be appointed for the casualty unit at Singleton hospital, Swansea.

Discussions are continuing between West Glamorgan health authority and the Welsh Office about the health authority's request for funding of a consultant in accident and emergency services whose responsibilities would include Singleton minor casualty unit. It would be premature to forecast the outcome of these discussions at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what conclusion he has reached following his Department's review of the "All Wales Strategy for the Development of Services for Mentally Handicapped People"; and if he will make a statement.