asked the Prime Minister if Her Majesty's Government have any plans to seek to amend section 9 of the Official Secrets Act 1911 to provide the warrants under that section to be issued by sheriffs in Scotland.

No.

asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied with the policing of the Falkland Islands fisheries conservation zone.

Yes. Two fisheries protection vessels and a surveillance aircraft of the Falkland Islands Government have been patrolling the Falkland Islands interim conservation and management zone since 1 February 1987.

asked the Prime Minister if she will visit the European Investment Bank in Luxembourg during her next visit to the continent.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make it the policy of Her Majesty's Government to implement a programme of positive discrimination to improve the take-up of posts by entrants from the ethnic minorities, in particular in the Cabinet Office, the Home Department, the Ministry of Defence and the Department of Health and Social Security; and if she will make a statement.

Under the Race Relations Act 1976, discrimination in selection in favour of ethnic minority or white candidates on the grounds of their race, colour or ethnic origin is unlawful. There are no plans to implement a programme of positive discrimination in recruitment. The Civil Service is taking positive steps which demonstrates its commitment to making a policy of equal opportunities effective.

asked the Prime Minister if the inquiry into the general level of security at the Government communications headquarters station in Cyprus and other similar stations has been completed; and if she will make a statement.

The Security Commission conducted an inquiry into the security arrangements at 9 Signals Regiment in Cyprus and the other static communications units of all three services and submitted their report to me last year. Following my statement to the House on 29 October 1986, its report was published as a Command Paper, Cmnd. 9923.

asked the Prime Minister what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards continuing the delivery of cruise missile components while negotiations on intermediate nuclear forces are in progress at Geneva.

The NATO countries concerned. including the United Kingdom, have made it clear that in the absence of a concrete INF arms control agreement with the Soviet Union obviating the need for deployment they will continue the deployment of LRINF missiles as scheduled.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 March,

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 19 March.

This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in this House I shall be having further meetings later today., including one with the Board of Deputies of British Jews.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the recent jailing of Phil Penn; and if he will make a statement.

We have not received any representations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people from Sierra Leone have (i) applied and (ii) been granted political asylum in the United Kingdom since the present Government in that country assumed power.

Information on applications and grants in 1979 to 1985 was published in tables 1 and 5A–5F of the Home Office Statistical Bulletin "Refugee Statistics, United Kingdom, 1985" (Issue 12/86). It is hoped to publish corresponding figures for 1986 around the end of April.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the increased number of police officers assigned to road traffic control following the announced increase in police manpower of October 1986.

On 7 October 1986 my right hon. Friend announced increases of 111 police officer posts for three provincial forces with effect from 1 November 1986. Of these, 11 were specifically for road traffic policing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Metropolitan Police Commissioner as to how many Metropolitan police officers visited each of the following public houses in Wapping: (i) the Brown Bear, (ii) the Prospect of Whitby, (iii) Ivories Piano Bar and (iv) the Artful Dodger, on the evening of 24 January; what rank of officers were involved in each visit; how many arrests were made at each of the public houses; how many of the officers involved were wearing riot equipment; what injuries were suffered by officers and members of the public in each location; how many charges followed the arrests of persons located at each public house; and if he will make a statement.

I understand from the Commissioner that there is no record of on-duty police officers having entered any of these public houses on 24 January. The available information is that a total of three sergeants and 30 constables in oridnary uniform were deployed to police the area outside the Artful Dodger and Brown Bear public houses between about 10.45 pm and 11.15 pm. A total of four people were arrested for offences of drunkenness, using insulting words, and obstructing a police officer; three were charged and one was cautioned; no injuries to police officers or members of the public were reported. Information about other incidents which may have occurred outside other public houses during the course of the evening are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he proposes to issue advice to doctors and social workers about the supervision of mentally disordered offenders who have been conditionally discharged from hospital; and if he will make a statement.

After consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services we are publishing today revised and more comprehensive guidance to hospitals, and to consultant psychiatrists, probation officers and social workers who are responsible for providing statutory supervision for conditionally discharged patients in the community. The guidance is intended to inform supervisors of their responsibilities; encourage the widespread adoption of existing good practice; promote the fullest co-operation between the professionals responsible for the patient's care and supervision; and ensure that the Home Office is kept fully informed. We are confident that the new guidance will improve further the effectiveness of supervision and the protection it provides for the public. Copies of the new guidance are being placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made since the establishment of the Local Development Agency Fund in April 1986.

This fund was established jointly by my Department, the Department of the Environment, the Department of Health and Social Security and the Department of Transport and has available to it approximately £1 million a year for a three-year period. Its aim is to strengthen the voluntary sector locally by making grants to new or already existing local development agencies. Typically, but not exclusively, these are "generalist" bodies like councils for voluntary service or volunteer bureaux; but all of these exist to provide practical support and encouragement for the voluntary groups on their areas, to provide a forum in which different groups can meet together and share information and experience, to stimulate volunteering, and to promote more effective working relationships between voluntary bodies and statutory agencies. The fund is administered by a committee which is broadly representative of the voluntary sector and which includes representatives of both local and central Government. It is a requirement that all applications for grants should be supported by a local authority willing to provide not less than 30 per cent. of the total sum requested. Applicants must also show that their proposed activity is supported by voluntary bodies in their areas.After its consideration of a first round of applications, the fund had awarded 57 grants to several different kinds of development agency. These agencies are widely spread geographically and represent both urban and rural areas. Although the fund committee was, from the start, anxious to recognise the needs of groups representing ethnic minority organisations and to receive applications from them the first response here was disappointing. A second round of applications was, therefore, invited with its emphasis on the desire to encourage and strengthen development work in the ethnic minority voluntary sector. Since then, the fund has offered a further 14 grants for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the achievements of the urban development corporations since their inception.

When the London Docklands Development Corporation and the Merseyside Development Corporation were created in 1981 their areas were characterised by extensive areas of derelict docks, a severe lack of basic infrastructure and high and continuing job losses. In just five and a half years both corporations have achieved notable success in securing the regeneration of their areas.LDDC's area covers some 2,065 hectares, forming part of three London boroughs. The corporation has secured private sector development and commitments of over £1·6 billion, giving a gearing ratio of private to public capital investment of 6·4 to 1. Over 300 companies have started in—or moved into—docklands; a total of over 7 million sq ft of non-residential floor space is being developed or is already completed; over 8,000 permanent jobs have been attracted to the area; and about 10,000 new homes have been completed or sites started.LDDC has itself reclaimed over 320 hectares of land for new uses; it has part funded the docklands light railway, which is due to open later this year; and its total support for community projects has exceeded £10 million. The corporation has now begun major infrastructure schemes in the royal docks.MDC's area covers 350 hectares of docklands in the local authority areas of Liverpool, Sefton and Wirral. It has a key role in the recovery of the heart of Merseyside, and despite a more difficult economic climate it has achieved considerable success. 166 hectares of dereliction have been reclaimed; 112,000 square metres of old buildings have been refurbished for new uses; some 224 homes are currently being created by new build or conversion; 1,156 new jobs have been created and at least 700 construction workers are employed on MDC schemes at any one time. With major projects including the restoration of the historic Albert dock, improvements to the south docks, and Brunswick Business park, MDC is succeeding in creating a climate of confidence in its area in which he private sector is prepared to invest, and £65 million has so far been spent or committed by the private sector.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the causes for the continued delay in the purchase by Mr. T. F. Smith of his council dwelling at 9A East Dulwich road SE22.

I understand that there have been delays on the part of Southwark borough council in registering its leasehold title to 9A East Dulwich road. The Department has repeatedly pressed the council to resolve the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he is having regarding assistance to the residents of Oakthorpe village; and if he will make a statement.

Last month I met a delegation from North-West Leicestershire district council led by my hon. Friend the Member for Leicestershire, North-West (Mr. Ashby) to discuss their call for assistance for Oakthorpe. Following the positive response of British Coal in tackling the problems caused by the underground fire and its expenditure of £2 million on essential works, I discussed with the council ways in which it might seek to obtain further assistance from the Government for environmental improvements in the general improvement area it has declared at Oakthorpe.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has consulted any of the London boroughs regarding the terms of direction and the terms of disposal of Thamesmead.

No, but my right hon. Friend has closely consulted the London Residuary Body, which has a duty to protect the interests of London's ratepayers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the highest figure achieved for the sale of London Docklands Development Corporation land for private housing to date.

Prices vary widely according to the conditions of sale and to the location and size of the site. In some locations, however, such as on the Isle of Dogs, £1·5 million per acre has been obtained. The maximum price for an individual site to date is commercially confidential information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in order the six highest rated shire counties in the United Kingdom.

Following is the available information:

Highest shire county precepts in England and Wales 1987–88
	Pence
Derbyshire	262·0
Cleveland	252·0
Cumbria	246·5
Nottinghamshire	236·0
Bedfordshire	232·2
Avon	228·5

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements are being made to help finance completion of the Merseyside maritime museum.

I have arranged with my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Arts to transfer £1·4 million from the DoE/UAI cash block to the Office of Arts and Libraries in order to meet the cost of completing the Merseyside maritime museum. The transfer will enable the Office of Arts and Libraries to pay grant-in-aid to the national museums and art galleries on Merseyside Trust, which is managing completion of the contract. The cash limit of the block has been reduced to £366·873 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much cash is being distributed to successor authorities by the London and metropolitan residuary bodies; what assessment he has made of the implications this will have for the level of rates in these authorities; and what are the residuary bodies' levies for the 1986–87 and 1987–88 financial years.

The financial benefits resulting from the removal of an unnecessary tier of local government are now being realised. This will greatly benefit London borough and metropolitan district councils and their ratepayers.Within two years of abolition of the Greater London council and the Metropolitan county councils successor boroughs and districts are expected to receive additional cash entitlements totalling £431 million and capital spending power in excess of £754 million.Ratepayers will benefit directly in three ways. First, the distributed balances of the abolished councils totalling £257 million can be returned to them through lower rates. Secondly, some £174 million in cash receipts received by successor authorities will reduce their need to finance capital expenditure from borrowing or revenue. And thirdly, residuary bodies' levies are significantly lower in 1987–88 than in 1986–87. Indeed in three areas—Tyne and Wear, West Midlands and West Yorkshire —ratepayers will no longer be required to contribute towards the residuary bodies' costs.Taken together with the Government's estimate of long term annual savings of some £100 million resulting from staff savings it is clear that our decision to remove this unnecessary and wasteful burden of local government bureaucracy was fully justified. In London alone the cash to be distributed by the London Residuary Body in the two years following abolition amounts to around £100 per household.Subject to audit and certification of the abolished councils' 1985–86 accounts, residuary bodies are in the process of distributing inherited revenue balances after deduction of amounts applied to staff compensation payments resulting from abolition. The timing of distribution is at the discretion of the residuary bodies but they estimate that by 31 March 1988 the following amounts will have been distributed to rating authorities in their areas:

Estimated revenue balances of abolished councils to be distributed to rating authorities by 31 March 1988
	£ million
London	129·0
Greater Manchester	46·3
Merseyside	15·6
South Yorkshire	nil
Tyne and Wear	12·6
West Midlands	46·6
West Yorkshire	7·3

In addition my right hon. Friend has made orders under section 77 of the Local Government Act 1985 requiring residuary bodies to distribute capital moneys among the rating authorities in their areas. The residuary bodies estimate that by 31 March 1988 they will have distributed the following amounts of capital spending power inherited from the abolished councils and accruing from their own disposals of capital assets and repayments of principal on loans.

Estimated capital spending power to he distributed to rating authorities by 31 March 1988 (£ million)
	Inherited from abolished councils	Generated by residuary bodies
London	368·8	263·3
Greater Manchester	62·3	10·4
Merseyside	nil	1·0
South Yorkshire	5·5	2·0
Tyne and Wear	4·6	4·0
West Midlands	4·5	11·1
West Yorkshire	10·6	5·7

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all outstanding applications for consents for each authority abolished on 31 March 1986.

[pursuant to his reply, 16 March 1987, c. 401–2]: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to him on 9 May 1986 by my hon. Friend the Member for Surbiton (Mr. Tracey) at columns 301–4. In addition, the following 34 applications were outstanding under sections 91 and 92 of the Local Government Act 1985.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further action he is taking in respect of Truscon RD27 houses in Storrington avenue, Liverpool, subsequent to the recent correspondence between his Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby.

[pursuant to his reply, 17 March 1987, c. 439]: We are considering the further material forwarded by the hon. Member together with his request that we review the decision not to designate these properties nationally under the housing defects legislation. I hope to write to the hon. Member shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will detail in the Official Report the valuation that has been placed on the land and buildings at Thamesmead by the district valuer.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Minister for the Arts if he anticipates any call in the near future on the Contingency Reserve for a work of art offered in lieu of inheritance tax.

I am very pleased to be able to announce that heritage Ministers have accepted in principle a major Constable painting, "Stratford Mill", known also as "The Young Waltonians". This painting, of the highest quality and importance, has a current market value of £10 million. Under the acceptance-in-lieu procedures agreed in 1985, which allow a call on the reserve, we will be taking steps to acquire it for the nation at a cost of some £5·5 million. This is the most valuable item ever accepted in lieu of tax. In accordance with the wishes of the executors, it will be allocated to the National gallery.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he next proposes to meet the representatives of the teachers' employers; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is meeting representatives of the teachers' employers on 26 March.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to draw to the attention of overseas students seeking to study for degrees in the United Kingdom a list of institutions offering approved courses of study and certified degrees.

My right hon. Friend is considering the possibility of legislation to curb bogus degrees. The British Council is able to offer prospective students information on universities and institutions authorised to award degrees in the United Kingdom by Royal Charter or Act of Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what would be the cost to his Department of applying to maintained sector boarding schools the 85 per cent. formula for capital funding which currently applies in the voluntary aided sector, assuming expenditure remained at the level of the last financial year for which he has statistical information relating to capital allocations to, and expenditure by, local education authorities in respect of their maintained boarding provisions.

It is not possible to make this calculation, since local education authorities ar not required to submit details of capital spending on individual projects to the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he or any of the Ministers in his Department last met representatives of the Boarding Schools Association to discuss boarding provision in the maintained and independent sectors of education; and what further meetings are planned.

I received a deputation from the Boarding Schools Association in May 1984 and have been in touch with the association by correspondence since then. I have expressed my willingness to meet the association again if it wishes.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will list, since 1980, the proposals which have come before him under sections 12 or 13 of the Education Act 1980 for the closure or significant reduction of boarding provision in maintained schools; and what was his decision in each case.

The table lists proposals published under sections 12 and 13 of the Education Act 1980 for the clolsure or discontinuation of boarding provision in maintained schools, and shows in each case the Secretary of State's decision, or local education authority determination in accordance with section 12(7) of the Act. The list excludes special schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will set out in tabular form the cost to public funds for the last five financial years of the 85 per cent. system of funding the capital costs of voluntary aided schools.

The cost to public funds of capital expenditure at voluntary aided and special agreement schools in England over the last five financial years is as follows:

Capital grant to voluntary aided and special agreement schools
Year	England £ million
1981–82	28·7
1982–83	22·2
1983–84	19·0
1984–85	24·7
1985–86	31·0

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received concerning the reduction in grants to the University of Bradford for 1986–87; and if he will make a statement.

No representation has to date been received in the Department about the University of Bradford's recurrent, equipment or capital grant for 1986–87.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he intends to amend the Education (Teachers) Regulations 1982 to extend the mandatory requirement to possess a recognised qualification as a teacher of the deaf to teachers working in the peripatetic and advisory services with hearing-impaired children.

My right hon. Friend will consider whether the requirement for mandatory qualifications for teachers of the deaf should be extended to cover teachers working in the peripatetic and advisory services. However, any extension could not be done simply by amending the 1982 regulations. It would require an amendment to section 27 of the Education Act 1980 to enable regulations to be made to cover the qualifications of teachers other than those in schools and establishments of further education.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Yeovil on 6 March, Official Report, column 705–6, concerning returns made by district inspectors of Her Majesty's inspectorate, what separate items of statistical and financial information were given in the returns for the last year to show the distribution of resources and the overall levels of expenditure within a local education authority; whether such information is collected by means of a standard form; and if he will make a statement.

Her Majesty's inspectors sought statistical and financial information from local education authorities covering the range of issues discussed in the report on the effects of local authority expenditure policies on education provision in England, 1985. A standard form was used. Detailed information on actual and estimated education expenditure by individual local authorities is published each year by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy and copies are placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science further to his reply to the hon. Member for Yeovil on 6 March, Official Report, columns 705–6, concerning returns made by district inspectors of Her Majesty's inspectorate, if he will review whether parts of the returns containing assessments by inspectors of the appropriateness of provision and the impact of changes may be placed in the Library without statistical information given by local education authorities in confidence; what considerations have been material to such parts of the returns not being pubished; and if he will make a statement.

No. The assessment by Her Majesty's inspectors of provision made by individual local education authorities are based on the statistical and financial information they provide and on Her Majesty's inspectors' general knowledge of the authority. Neither of these is complete enough in its coverage to allow judgments to be made about the quality of education in individual LEAs. However, the information from and assessment of all 97 English LEAs, when drawn together and analysed, is able, in the view of Her Majesty's inspectors, to provide a well-founded picture of the general picture and noticeable trends nationally. It is this picture which makes up the reports by Her Majesty's inspectors on the effects of local authority expenditure policies on education provision. The treatment of the background material relating to individual LEAs in confidence ensures a high return from them without which the reports would be considerably diminished. Only in their published inspection reports on education provision in single LEAs are Her Majesty's inspectors able to provide a securely based judgment of efficiency and effectiveness across an individual authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many people he estimates to be employed in the London docklands light railway project.

The docklands light railway will employ 102 people when it opens to the public in July. These figures do not include LRT's consultants and the contractors' personnel who have worked on designing and constructing the project.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) at what price the Yorkshire Traction company has been sold as one of the National Bus company subsidiaries;(2) if he will make it his practice to reveal the details of National Bus company subsidiary sales where the sale has been completed.

As the right hon. Member will know from the answer given to him on 16 March by my hon. Friend the Miniser of State the prices obtained for individual National Bus Company subsidiaries are confidential while sales of the remaining subsidiaries are in progress. A report will be made to the House in due course on the aggregate proceeds of sale.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 16 March, Official Report, column 392, about railway lines which have been reduced to single track, if he will make it his policy to collect the information For future years.

No. As the hon. Member will know from the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Minister of State on 28 April last, this is not a matter for Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he proposes to make any changes to the values of time used in transport appraisal in view of the research sponsored by his Department.

In the light of the evidence from this research we intend to make substantial changes to the values of non-working time. We have today published new values in a report "Values for Journey Time Savings and Accident Prevention". A copy has been placed in the Library.Values associated with time savings, injury and loss of life have been used for many years in economic appraisals of transport policy, projects and operations. The values of time recommended by the Department have been updated regularly to take account of changing prices and income. Values of time spent on such non-work activities as shopping, holidaying and commuting are based on research originally carried out in the 1960s. A new programme of research into the value of this non-working time, using modern techniques and more recent data, has now been completed and the results have been used to formulate the new values given in the report. The research evidence is contained in a report "The Value of Travel Time Savings", which has been published separately by the consortium of researchers who carried out the studies for the Department.The most significant finding was that people are willing to pay more to reduce the amount of their own time spent travelling. The new values in the report reflect this finding. The report also gives new values for the average cost of casualties. While separate research into this area has also been undertaken, no conclusive empirical evidence has emerged. In these circumstances it is our judgment that, for the present, the weight currently attributed to accident savings relative to time savings should be maintained. The values of accident savings have been derived on this basis, but we will keep this matter under review.We are concerned to minimise uncertainty on road improvement schemes already at public inquiry or awaiting a final decision from the Secretaries of State for Transport and the Environment. It is therefore important that final decisions on the new values are reached quickly. Before reaching these decisions we propose to have a short period (four weeks) of consultation with experts in the field and others who may wish to comment. Current values of time and accident costs will continue to be used until we make a further announcement on the new values.The Secretaries of State for Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales will also be considering whether to use the new values in transport investment decisions in their countries. The aim would be to maintain a consistent approach throughout the United Kingdom. With major changes of this kind, we shall of course be looking closely at how the proposals work in practice.The research represents an important step forward in our understanding of the value people attach to the time they spend travelling outside their working hours. The proposals will properly reflect this new appreciation in our assessments of value for money in transport. The new values of casualty costs underline our continuing commitment to make our roads safer for all users.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he is taking to relieve traffic congestion and nuisance in the Earls Court area; and if he will make a statement.

Consultants have been examining the possibility of sharing the west London railway corridor to provide relief for the Earls Court area. Work has progressed far enough to show that a relief road could be provided running mainly in cutting from Shepherds Bush to the River Thames.The report on the first stage of the west London assessment study has highlighted the severe environmental and safety problems in the Earls Court area. It seems clear that whatever other action may be taken a new route is likely to be the only way of achieving substantial improvement of the environment in the area. I have therefore decided that we should now consult the local planning authorities on a proposal to safeguard the line of a western environmental improvement route. I have today written to ask for their comments on this proposal.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport which recommendations made by the official inquiry into the capsized ferry European Gateway in 1982 have since been acted upon.

Recommendations of courts of formal investigations are carefully considered and all relevant

Recommendations	Action taken
1. The Department should recognise that modern radar provides an alternative to compass bearings as a means of detecting the risk of collision and should emphasise this in M Notices.	The Department did not accept this premise but an M Notice was issued to draw attention to the proper use of radar as an aid to navigation and in the avoidance of collisions.
2. Funds should be provided for research into the phenomenon of a symmetric flooding of a symmetrical compartment.	Stage I of the research project has been completed and stage 2 will commence shortly.
3. Consideration should be given to catering for the possibility of abandoning a ship listing to more than 15°.	For a ship whose keel was laid on or after 1 July 1986 the regulations now require that the lifeboats can be launched when the ship is listed up to 20°.
4. Distribution and use of portable VHF sets should form part of the drill practised at musters.	A ship whose keel was laid on or after 1 July 1986 is required to have an emergency means of two-way communication (which may be fixed or portable or both) between emergency control station, muster and embarkation stations and strategic positions on board.
5. Passenger vessels should carry at least two portable loudhailers for communication with passengers in emergencies	A ship whose keel was laid on or after I July 1986 requires either a public address system or some other means of communication.
6. There should be uniformity of practice in the stowage of lifejackets in ships of the same class.	In the final stages of discussions with the Industry.
7. Lifejackets for children and their stowage should be clearly marked "FOR CHILDREN".	It has been agreed with the Industry that new lifejackets presently marked for "persons weighing less than 32 kg" will also have the word "child" stencilled on them. Stowage will be so marked.
8. Distinguishing the stowage position of the safety knife in liferafts by luminous paint.	There is a difficulty in finding a suitable material which retains its luminosity for 12 months when stored in darkness. Meanwhile the position of the knife is being marked by reflective tape or some similar means, on a voluntary basis.
9. Regulations should require that, when practicable, passenger ships should operate with watertight doors closed.	After consultation with the industry my Department has issued written guidance on the provision of access openings in watertight bulkheads of passenger ships and procedures for operating watertight doors. An M Notice on "The operation of watertight doors on passenger ships" has also been issued.
10. Power operation of watertight doors on passenger ships should be mandatory.	The relevant regulations have been amended so that power operation on new ships is a statutory requirement. In addition all existing UK registered passenger ro-ro ferries are now fitted with power operated doors.
11. Regulations should provide for uniformity in the operation of watertight doors.	The UK has taken this matter up with the International Maritime Organisation and it is expected to be agreed at the next session of the appropriate sub-committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place int the Official Report the number of disabling accidents in the Army, Navy and Royal Air Force in the years 1980 to 1986 and the latest available figures for 1987, which resulted in the discharge of the service man or service woman from the particular arm of the service. showing each service and year Separately.

The following numbers of United Kingdom regular service personnel have been medically. discharged since 1980: principally because of accidental injury, sustained on or off duty.

Year	Army	Royal Navy and Royal Marines	Royal AirForce
1980	100	36	18
1981	76	41	20
1982	72	24	14
1983	73	42	17
1984	118	61	12
1985	222	73	20
1986	238	56	17
1987	figures not yet available

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list in the Official Report the number of fatal accidents which occurred to service personnel in the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force in the years 1980 to 1986 and the latest available figures for 1987, showing each arm of the services and each year separately.

The following numbers of United Kingdom regular service personnel have sustained fatal accidents on or off duty, since 1980:

Year	Army	Royal Navy and Royal Marines	Royal AirForce
1980	116	46	50
1981	103	39	43
1962	98	24	46
1983	88	44	49
1984	91	32	50
1985	76	28	61
1986	66	26	36
19871	8	6	10
1 To end February.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any plans to meet the American submarine authorities responsible for submarine movements in the Clyde coast and Irish sea areas to discuss the potential danger posed by submarines to United Kingdom fishing vessels.

No. The problems of the potential interaction of fishing vessels and submarines in relatively confined areas of sea space is well appreciated by both the RN and the USN.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the extension of contract catering facilities at Royal Air Force bases in Scotland: and if he will list the time scale envisaged for completion of such extensions.

Contract catering was introduced at RAF Turnhouse and RAF Pitreavie Castle last year. We are also examining the possibility of contracting out the catering support function in RAF junior ranks messes throughout the United Kingdom by early 1990. Contracts for this work would be let at RAF Leuchars and RAF Kinloss in mid-1988, but we do not yet know when contracts would be let at other RAF stations in Scotland.As a separate measure, the Army, which provides catering services at RAF Benbecula, is considering contracting out elements of these services; if this programme proceeds, contracts would be let later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those operational Royal Air force bases in the United Kingdom which have catering services provided by (a) contract and (b) civilian manpower.

The following stations controlled by RAF Strike Command have catering services provided by contract:

• Fylingdales
• Manston
• Northolt
• Turnhouse
• West Drayton

There are no RAF stations at which the catering service is wholly civilian manned. Catering is provided by a mixture of civilian and service personnel at the following Strike Command stations in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list in the Official Report the number of civilian jobs presently held in each of the Royal Air Force bases established in Scotland; and if he will list these according to the work involved.

On 1 February 1987 the numbers of civilians employed at RAF stations in Scotland were as follows:

RAF Station	Number of civilians employed
Benbecula	2
Buchan	45
Kinloss	199
Leuchars	200
Lossiemouth	281
Machrihanish	29
Pitreavie Castle	12
Prestwick	3
Saxa Vord	35
Stornaway	4
Tain	8
Turnhouse	24
	842

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of savings accrued through the use of private contract facilities at Royal Air Force bases in the United Kingdom.

About £12 million per annum.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list in the Official Report the number of suicides in the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force in the years 1980 to 1986 and the latest figures for 1987, showing each arm of the services and each year separately.

There have been the following numbers of suicides by United Kingdom regular service personnel since 1980:

Year	Army	Royal Navy and RoyalMarines	Royal Air Force
1980	11	3	10
1981	18	6	8
1982	23	3	14
1983	18	3	9
1984	18	2	9
1985	18	5	7
1986	19	7	12
1987	figures not yet available

Figures for attempted suicides cannot be collated in a meaningful form, because degrees of true intent cannot be judged.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list in the Official Report the number of active service deaths which occurred in the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force in each of the years 1980 to 1986, and the latest available figures for 1987, showing each arm of the services separately.

There have been the following numbers of active service deaths of United Kingdom regular service personnel since 1980:

Year	Army	Royal Navy and Royal Marines	Royal AirForce
1980	7	—	—
1981	10	—	—
1982	142	113	1
1983	5	—	—
1984	9	—	—
1985	2	—	—
1986	4	—	—
19871	—	—	—
1 To end of February

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Official Report the number of convictions arising out of courts martial in each of the armed services which resulted in (a) sentences of

	Royal Navy		Army		Royal Air Force
	Detention	Dismissal from Service	Detention	Dismissal from Service	Detention	Dismissal from Service
1980	8	16	471	303	97	41
1981	5	12	489	354	115	64
1982	9	18	463	429	118	79
1983	8	25	377	336	93	52
1984	11	24	351	355	103	55
1985	12	17	335	345	71	75
1986	10	20	264	258	51	30

Numbers cover awards of detention and dismissal from service including mandatory dismissal after the award of imprisonment by court martial. They do not include such awards from summary trial by commanding officers in the Royal Navy. No figures are yet available for 1987.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many courts martial were conducted in each of the years from 1980 to 1986 and the latest figure for 1987, showing each service separately.

The figures are as follows:

	Royal Navy	Army	Royal Air Force
1980	54	1,123	243
1981	57	1,125	226
1982	49	1,148	239
1983	65	844	237
1984	73	853	190
1985	65	845	217
1986	60	644	144
19871	6	115	27
1 January and February

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list in the Official Report, the number of appeals (a) made and (b) granted in each of the armed services against a decision of courts martial in each of the years 1980 to 1986 and the latest available figures for 1987.

Although there are arrangements for an accused to petition against the finding or sentence of a court martial, the only route of appeal as such is to the Court Martial Appeal Court. Details of such appeals are as follows:

	Number of appeals made	Number of appeals granted
1980
Royal Navy	2	1
Army	7	—
Royal Air Force	4	—
Total	13	1
1981
Royal Navy	3	—
Army	5	1
Royal Air Force	2	—

Administrative discharge is not a sentence awarded by courts martial. Details of sentences of detention and discharge are as follows:

	Number of appeals made	Number of appeals granted
Total	10	1
1982
Royal Navy	1	—
Army	8	1
Royal Air Force	2	—
Total	11	1
1983
Royal Navy	2	—
Army	4	—
Royal Air Force	2	—
Total	8	—
1984
Royal Navy	4	1
Army	10	2
Royal Air Force	7	—
Total	21	3
1985
Royal Navy	1	—
Army	9	2
Royal Air Force	1	1
Total	11	3
1986
Royal Navy	1	—
Army	11	1
Royal Air Force	5	—
Total	17	1
1987
Royal Navy	1	—
Army	1	—
Royal Air Force	1	—
Total	3	—

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Official Report the number of prosecutions proceeded with for abuse of rank, attacks on superior officers and drug-related problems in the years 1980 to 1986 and the latest figures for 1987, showing each service and each offence separately.

"Abuse of rank" is not an offence within the terms of the Service Discipline Acts. Statistics on offences involving attacks on superior officers could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Figures for comvictions for drug-related offences are as follows:

	Royal Navy	Army	Royal Air Force
1980	100	39	14
1981	100	70	32
1982	36	69	17
1983	61	114	15
1984	61	149	143
1985	52	130	77
1986	112	89	20
1 Complete details for 1986 for the Royal Navy are not yet available. No figures for 1987 are yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the Government's latest assessment of the numbers of the short-range missiles held by NATO and Warsaw pact countries.

Information on the numbers of land-based short range missile systems held by NATO and the Warsaw Pact is contained in annex A to volume I of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1986". It is planned to update this information in the next "Statement on the Defence Estimates".

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the ratio of pilots currently engaged in flying duties to aircraft in the Army Air Corps.

Approximately 1·1:1. This ratio is planned to rise in the coming years to levels closer to those now found in the Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he now expects that the agreement on the airborne warning and control system will be signed.

The contract with Boeing Aerospace Company for the purchase of its airborne early warning and control system was signed on 26 February.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated unit cost of the European fighter aircraft.

Nations are currently evaluating the outcome of the project definition phase. It would be inappropriate to publish any cost estimates at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of exercise Swift Sword.

The net additional cost to the United Kingdom of exercise Swift Sword is estimated at some £4·3 million, most of which resulted from the airlift. The Sultan of Oman's Government, who provided considerable support, also bore significant costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the vulnerability of Chinook helicopters to ground fire on the central front.

Our support helicopters are not normally expected to operate in situations involving exposure to round fire. However, their vulnerability to such action has been assessed by the Defence Operational Analysis Establishment. The conclusions of that study are classified. We are also aware that American experience in Vietnam showed the Chinook to be able to absorb considerable damage from ground fire while maintaining an operational capability.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the annual cost of maintaining 5 Airborne Brigade.

The annual running cost of 5 Airborne Brigade is some £80 million at current prices. This figure includes the brigade's personnel costs, as well as such items as spares, maintenance, direct support and the extra costs of airlift for parachute training. It excludes, inter alia, the capital costs of equipment and accommodation.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many lieutenant generals in the British Army are over the age of 50 years;(2) how many major generals in the British Army are over the age of 50 years; (3) how many brigadiers in the British Army are over the age of 50 years; (4) how many lieutenant colonels in the British Army are over the age of 50 years; (5) how many Army majors are over the age of 50 years; (6) how many generals in the British Army are over the age of 50 years.

The number by rank from major upwards of officers in the British Army who were aged 50 years and over as at 31 December 1986 are shown in the table.

Rank	Number
Major	644
Lieutenant Colonel	386
Colonel	288
Brigadier	147
Major General	52
Lieutenant General	11
General	8

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many press briefings have been given by his Department since 20 January; and how many of these press briefings were on the subject of Royal Air Force pilots.

Since 20 January 1987 there have been five press briefings at the Ministry of Defence, of which one was on the subject of present and future Royal Air Force aircrew officer manning.

asked the Attorney-General if he will seek an injunction to prevent the publication of the book, "Inside Intelligence", by Anthony Cavendish; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Cavendish has undertaken to make his manuscript available to the Government. The question of an injunction does not therefore arise at this moment.

asked the Attorney-General how many civil proceedings involving charitable trusts associated with the Unification Church have been completed in the past five years; and if he will make a statement.

Information is not held about all proceedings brought against charities generally. However, in the past five years there have been no proceedings in England and Wales concerned with the charitable status of trusts associated with the Unification Church other than the two actions brought by myself in 1984, which are presently pending.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of United Kingdom financial aid to Sudan for the financial years 1984–85, 1985–86 and 1986–87; and what are the projected figures for aid to Sudan for 1987–88 and 1988–89.

Gross British bilateral aid to Sudan amounted to £35·0 million in 1984–85 and £36·8 million in 1985–86. These totals include expenditure on disaster relief and food aid. Figures for 1986–87 are not yet available. It is not our practice to reveal forward planning figures but we expect to maintain substantial aid programme to Sudan in 1987–88 and 1988–89.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give a breakdown of the specific projects of United Kingdom aid and the finance allocated to them in the Sudan during the current financial year.

Expenditure in the Sudan on British bilateral capital aid projects and associated technical cooperation is provisionally estimated as follows in the current financial year:

	£ million
Khartoum North and New Burri Power Stations	0·8
Rehabilitation of Old Burri Power Station	2·0
Rehabilitation of Gezira light railway	2·0
Equatoria Region Agricultural programme	1·6

	£ million
Road Maintenance Unit	0·4
Northern Region Irrigation Rehabilitation	2·3
Western Savannah rural development	1·2
Red Sea Fisheries	0·2

asked the Paymaster General how many people have been inteviewed at Merseyside jobcentres for the job training scheme since its commencement; and how many of these have been found work.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him of 12 March, which explained that the new scheme is not even scheduled to begin in Merseyside until April 1987.

asked the Paymaster General what is the latest estimated financial provision for the new job training scheme for 1987–88; what percentage of that money is additional to existing funding; and how much will be transferred from other projects at present financed by the Manpower Services Commission.

[pursuant to his reply, 18 March 1987]: Details of expenditure for 1987–88 are set out in Class VII, Vote 5, section L of the Supply Estimates, published on 17 March.

asked the Paymaster General what is the average weekly income of residents in the constituencies of Peckham, Southwark and Bermondsey and Dulwich for each year since 1979.

The information available comes from the family expenditure survey and relates to average gross weekly income of households in the Greater London area. The family expenditure surveys do not provide income information for smaller areas of Greater London.

Average gross weekly household income
	£
1979	133·20
1980	169·55
1981	193·47
1982	200·63
1983	(a) 220·70
	(b) 218·98
1984	231·27
1985	248·60

asked the Paymaster General how many (a) TOPS and (b) YTS placements have been made with the Manpower Services Commission with Paignton secretarial college in each of the past three years; at what annual cost; how many people so placed subsequently found paid employment; how many places he proposes to support in 1987–88; and if he will make a statement.

I am arranging to meet my hon. Friend to discuss this matter.

asked the Paymaster General what information he has as to the number of new attractions constructed in each the tourist board areas in each year since 1978; and if, in each case, he will give details of the principal such attractions.

Neither my Department nor the English or Regional tourist boards hold information on all new attractions. Information is, however, available on new developments, or expansion-improvements to existing attractions, which received offers of support under the scheme of selective financial assistance operated under section 4 of the Development of Tourism Act 1969. Under this scheme, assistance to attractions has been offered as follows:

Number of Attractions for which English Tourist Board Assistance offered
Regional Tourist Board	1983–84	1984–85	1985–86	1986–87
Cumbria	2	2	3	2
East Anglia	4	3	5	6
East Midlands	7	5	2	4
Heart of England	7	8	2	3
London	3	6	2	1
Northumbria	5	3	5	4
North West	11	11	4	10
South East	5	6	4	9
Southern	17	5	10	7
Thames and Chilterms	4	5	7	3
West Country	13	10	11	22
Yorkshire and Humberside	4	13	5	15
Totals	82	77	60	86

Support was offered to developments with a total capital cost greater than £1 million relating to the following attractions:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the contract for airborne fisheries patrols between August 1986 and May 1z987, giving a summary of the costs of these arrangements. the terms of that contract, the type of aircraft and radar equipment used and the standard of surveillance and enforcement achieved; and if he will list any changes he intends to make to these arrangements from May.

From 1 September 1986 a Dornier 228 equipped with Bendix 1500 surveillance radar was chartered for the period until 31 may 1987.The cost of the charter for the six months up to 28 February 1987 was £413,000. As an interim solution the Dornier has achieved a satisfactory level of surveillance and support for protection and enforcement From 1 June 1987 a Fokker F27–200 will be acquired and thereafter employed in this role. Tenders for operating the Fokker F27 are due to be opened on 20 March 1987 and a decision announced in early-mid April 1987.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the hospital inpatient waiting lists for each health board at the end of September 1986.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Caithness and Sutherland 9 March, Official Report, column 89, he will make a statement on the finding of the Health Service Commissioner for Scotland on the complaint made by Dr. John Mitchell.

In respect of the failure of the board to provide Dr. Mitchell with an adequate response to the representations he made to it about nurse staffing levels, the complaint was upheld by the Health Service Commissioner for Scotland, who was not able to investigate the complaint about nurse staffing levels. The board has conveyed to Dr. Mitchell its apoligies.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to reply to the hon. Member for Maryhill regarding correspondence relating to parity of treatment of essential small pharmacies in Scotland compared with those in England and Wales.

A reply was sent by my noble Friend the Minister of State to the hon. Member yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he is having with Strathclyde regional council social work department and Glasgow district council housing department to improve die provision of safety rails and gates fitted in patients' homes in the light of delays in some patients being discharged from hospital, about which the hon. Member for Glasgow, Maryhill has written to him.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what savings have resulted to the National Health Service in Scotland from the introduction of the selected list scheme of National Health Service drugs; and if he will make a statement.

The information we have from the Scottish Health Service Common Services Agency shows that the selected list scheme saved £8·1 million on the Scottish NHS drugs bill in the first year of the scheme's operation. In each of the therapeutic groups within the scheme the savings were as follows:

	£000's
Analgesics for mild to moderate pain	2,400
Antacids	465
Benzodiazepine tranquillisers and sedatives	1,995
Cough and cold remedies	2,301
Laxatives	105
Tonics and bitters	35
Vitamins	772

By redirecting the savings achieved towards other forms of patient care this represents a valuable contribution towards the continuing growth of the National Health Service in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the number of full-time and part-time places, respectively, on the community programme in each of the local government regions in Scotland; if he will state the total expenditure on the community programme in each local government region in Scotland; and if he win make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 16 March 1987, c 383]: The information is not available in the precise form requested.At the end of February 1987 the numbers of full-time and part-time places on the community programme, in each of the Manpower Services Commission's community programme office areas in Scotland, were as shown m the table.

Community programme filled places in Scotland February 1987
Community programme office area	Full-time	Part-time	Total
Glasgow	1,383	5,793	7,176
Lanarkshire	1,061	2,575	3,636
Renfrew, Dumbarton, Argyll and Bute	1,003	3,969	4,972
Ayr, Dunfries and Galloway	563	3,121	3,684
Lothians and Borders	1,094	2,955	4,049
Tayside and Grampian	928	2,209	3,137
Central and Fife	960	2,570	3,530

Community programme office area	Full-time	Part-time	Total
Highlands and Islands	157	927	1,084
SCOTLAND	7,149	24,119	31,268

In the current financial year, expenditure up to 6 March 1987 was £129·4 million. Expenditure by region is not available.The community programme continues to be successful in meeting its principal objective of providing up to a year's work experience for as many long-term unemployed people as possible within the available resources.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens have been refused visitors visas to the Soviet Union during each of the last 24 months for which records are available; how many of those refused were hon. Members or Members of the House of Lords, respectively; how many were spouses of such Members; and if he will make a statement.

We do not have records of the number of visas refused to British citizens. As far as hon. Members and their spouses are concerned, the only cases of which I am aware in the past two years are those I referred to in my reply to the hon. Member for Edmonton (Dr. Twinn), on 18 March.