asked the Secretary of State for Energy what further consideration he has given to the effect of abolishing the gas and electricity industries' standing charge system in order to assist pensioners and those on low incomes.

Abolishing standing charges would significantly disadvantage a great many pensioners and also many on low incomes.Standing charges cover the cost of necessary emergency services, as well as those of meter reading, accounting and billing. These costs arise no matter how much or how little fuel is used. They reflect the fixed costs which the industries incur in maintaining a constant and safe supply to each consumer's home.Independent reviews carried out by consultants in 1982 found that the level of standing charges did reflect these costs. At the same time, estimates suggested that abolition of standing charges would disadvantage many in vulnerable groups, for the following reasons.The abolition of standing charges for all electricity and gas consumers in Great Britain would mean a loss of revenue for the industries in excess of £1,100 million, or over £250 million in the case of pensioners alone. The industries would have to recover that lost revenue through an alternative tariff structure, which would give rise to substantial increases in the unit rates for fuel. Depending on the tariff structure chosen, these increases might be of the order of 15 per cent.The higher unit rates would penalise those among the least well off who need a lot of fuel. These include many of the old, sick, disabled and those with large families. The precise effect on them would depend upon their patterns of consumption and expenditure and the tariffs in force at the time. But it was estimated that the incorporation of the standing charge into a unit rate would result in higher fuel bills for the following approximate numbers of these groups: over 2 million pensioner households; over 500,000 households relying primarily on state pensions for income; over 500,000 households on incomes a little above the level at which they would receive supplementary benefit. In many cases the bills of these consumers would be higher by a significant amount.The corresponding benefit to other members of these groups would have been much smaller. Moreover, of the total number of consumers benefiting, most would be those who did not need it, such as proprietors of lock-ups and owners of second homes.Since 1983, electricity and gas prices overall have fallen by 12 per cent. and 8 per cent. and standing charges by 8 per cent. and 24 per cent., respectively, in real terms. Gas standing charges were also reduced in cash terms, by £1 a quarter, in 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what arrangements exist within his Department, within the central headquarters or in any regional or sub-regional organisations, for dealing with his responsibilities regarding public services or any other function in respect of the Greater London area; and how many full-time equivalent staff are involved in such work.

The staff are deployed for the most part according to the nature of the function, not according to the local education authority involved. It is therefore not possible to identify the number of full-time equivalent staff involved in work concerning the exercise of my right hon. Friend's responsibilities as they affect the Greater London area.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science with which Departments, and non-departmental bodies his Department and its related non-departmental public bodies has consulted during 1986–87 in respect of services provided within Greater London; approximately how often such consultations have taken place; and what issues were discussed.

The Department consults constantly with a wide range of bodies on a wide range of issues.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether there are any proposals to change the arrangements for discharging his Department's responsibilities regarding public services or any other function in respect of the Greater London area during the forthcoming year.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to change the present arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of schools referred to him for permission to proceed with closure or merger he has refused in each of the last 10 years; and how long from receipt to decision has been taken to issue the decision on average minimum time and maximum time taken in each of the years in question.

Information is not available in precisely the form reqested. The table shows the percentage of schools whose proposed closure was rejected by my right hon. Friend or his predecessors in the period from August 1980, when the Education Act 1980 came into force, and December 1986. Information about the time taken to decide closure proposals is not readily available, but my right hon. Friend has undertaken to decide proposals within six months of their publication, unless they present particular difficulties.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on his meeting on 24 March regarding capital allocations with Lancashire county council representatives.

My right hon. Friend received an all-party delegation from the Lancashire county council on 24 March to discuss the Lancashire education authority's capital allocation for 1987–88. The delegation expressed concern that the allocation of £5·994 million represented only 32 per cent. of the authority's planned expenditure, and was only half the size of its allocation for 1986–87. The delegation explained that the size of the allocation meant that the authority would be unable to make progress in replacing and improving old and sub-standard school accommodation; and asked for an increase in the allocation.My right hon. Friend said that he could not increase the authority's allocation for 1987–88, since the available resources had been distributed. He explained that the Government treated all authorities on exactly the same basis in considering their capital expenditure plans, and that the reason Lancashire had not received a larger allocation was that the authority's plans for capital expenditure on schools failed to take account of the Government's stated priorities: these were, first, to meet the cost (up to a limit previously notified to the authority) of capital projects which had already started, and, second, to allow for projects designed either to provide for basic need in areas of population growth or to remove surplus school accommodation. He pointed out that two thirds of the Lancashire authority's planned spending was for improvement or replacement projects, to which the Government gave a lower priority in allocating the available resources.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to publish his White Paper on the future of polytechnics and colleges of higher education; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies) on 17 February at column 584.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Yeovil on 19 March, Official Report, column 564, concerning statistical and financial information provided by local education authorities, if he will place copies in the Library of the standard forms used to collect this information in each recent year; and if he will make a statement.

I am arranging for copies of the forms sent to local authorities in 1984, 1985 and 1986 to be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Yeovil on 9 March, Official Report, columns 22–23, concerning inspections of secondary schools by Her Majesty's inspectors, if he will publish a table showing, for each type of routine or specific inspection (a) the number of such inspections in the last year, (b) the number of reports of such inspections in the last year for which the report has not yet been published and (c) the target or expected number of such inspections in the current year; and if he will make a statement.

In 1986, Her Majesty's inspectors carried out 65 reporting inspections of secondary schools in England. Twelve of the reports have been published and 53 are in preparation. The Her Majesty's Inspectorate work programme for 1987 has not yet been finalised, but the number of such inspections is not expected to be significantly different. In addition to inspections leading to published reports, Her Majesty's Inspectorate carries out a large number of shorter informal visits to secondary schools, for a variety of purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will state the amount of money spent, per child in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Nottinghamshire, respectively.

The latest information is provided in the following table.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he is taking to stimulate Soviet studies in universities and polytechnics.

Those engaged in the field of Soviet and East European studies are undertaking a task of importance to this country. At a time when changes of great significance appear to be taking place in the Soviet Union, and when greater contacts are taking place between our two countries, it is especially important that the United Kingdom should have the expertise to follow and analyse what is happening.Following the Foreign Affairs Select Committee report on Soviet and East European studies, published in May 1986, The Government undertook to consult representative figures from the academic world, the University Grants Committee, the Economic and Social Research Council, and interested Government Departments. In fulfilment of that undertaking I chaired a seminar on 30 January this year which brought together specialists from a number of universities and polytechnics, at which fears were expressed about the future of work in this field. Because of the national importance of Soviet and East European studies, I am considering with my colleagues in other Departments whether steps might he taken to improve the position.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply of 10 March, Official Report, column 109, if he will publish the letter issued by his Department on 6 March stating that he intends to direct the London residuary body to dispose of Thamesmead to Thamesmead town, the disposal to take place on 1 April.

I have today placed a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when Thamesmead Town Ltd. will take responsibility for the debt attached to Thamesmead;(2) how many officials from his Department are on the board of Thamesmead Town Ltd.

I shall answer these questions 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.

[pursuant to his answer, 19 March 1987]: The valuation prepared by the district valuer, based on an estimate of 300 sales a year of vacant and tenanted property, was £25 million at 31 March 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he plans to publish the auditors' report for 1985–86 and 1986–87 for the London Docklands Development Corporation;(2) what plans the London Dockland Development Corporation has for Pura Foods of Leamouth.

I shall answer these questions shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the correspondence his Department has had with the Lichfield district council in respect of the payments of grants for the provision of loft insulation under the Homes Insulation Act 1978 through the housing investment programme.

Lichfield district council has applied for, and the Department has granted, an additional allocation of resources under the homes insulation scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on progress towards removal of pollution from United Kingdom beaches; and if he will make a statement.

I and my hon. Friend the Minister with responsibility for local government and the environment in Scotland announced on 3 February that 389 waters were now included within the scope of the "bathing water" directive (76/160/EEC); 23 of these are in Scotland.There is now an obligation to monitor all these waters and, where necessary, to bring them up to the directive's standards. Nationally we are spending some £70 million annually in the United Kingdom on remedial works to improve coastal bathing water quality.More than half the waters surveyed in 1986 already meet the directive's standards. Our aim is for all the waters to meet the directive's standards, although inevitably this will take a number of years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to his reply of Tuesday 17 March, Official Report, column 436, he will take into account the value of scrap copper and other non-building materials before paying derelict land grant in respect of the former Ansell's brewery in Birmingham.

I understand that the vast majority of valuable equipment, incuding copper and other non-building materials, was removed by Ansells brewery prior to the site being acquired by Birmingham city council for demolition purposes. The demolition contractors will be responsible for disposing of normal scrap building materials excepting certain antiquities with an historical value which will go to the city council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to require greater openness in the provision of design and other consultancy services in local government; and if he will make a statement.

Our planned legislation on competitive tendering for local authority services will include a power to add activities, via secondary legislation, to those which will appear on the face of the Bill. This will enable us to consider, in the light of experience with the initial list, whether others—such as those referred to by my hon. Friend—should also be opened up to competition. But there is no need to wait for legislation: authorities should be reaping the benefits of competition now, by voluntary action.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements are expected to exist during 1987–88 for analysing and co-ordinating those responsibilities of Departments of State which relate to local government in the Greater London area; and how far they will vary from those of 1986–87.

My Department, and other Departments, make arrangements as appropriate on any matters of mutual concern which may arise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to amend the cost floor regulations made under the Housing Act 1980 according to which any property built after 1974 cannot be sold at less than the cost of building; and if he will make a statement.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when section 6 of the Housing and Planning Act 1986 will be brought into effect.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total value of urban programme moneys spent in (a) Greater Manchester, and (b) the city of Manchester (i) at current prices, and (ii) in constant 1987–88 prices for the years 1982–83 to 1987–88, inclusive.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the procedures adopted when the Crown sells blocks of flats.

I can confirm that the various Crown authorities are prepared, where they intend to sell any residential property comprising flats, to give the tenants of such flats an opportunity of first refusal analogous to the relevant provisions in part I of the Landlord and Tenant (No. 2) Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the amount received in Wales in the form of the various loans and grants by the EEC for each of the years of our membership.

The informaion requested is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to the number and identity of British citizens employed in the security service of Bahrain; what guidance he has given to the embassy at Bahrain regarding advice to be given to British citizens in such employment; and if he will make a statement.

We are aware that the Government of Bahrain employ a number of British citizens in their security service. These are United Kingdom expatriates who have been directly recruited. We have no responsibility deriving from their employment.We do not exercise authority over the employees of an independant Government nor offer them advice in the carrying out of their duties.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the official response there has been from the United States of America to the United Kingdom compromise proposal on challenge inspection for the verification of a chemical weapons treaty.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Liverpool Garston (Mr. Loyden) on 24 March at column 101.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the official response there has been from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to the United Kingdom's compromise proposal on challenge inspection for the verification of a chemical weapons treaty.

The Soviet Union has said that it is willing to negotiate on the basis of the United Kingdom proposal. Negotiations on all aspects of a ban on chemical weapons are continuing at the conference on disarmament in Geneva.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide such information as is available to Her Majesty's Government or the United Nations, concerning Israeli incursions into Lebanese air space.

The Israeli air force carried out 18 air strikes in Lebanon in 1986 and a further eight this year. It overflies Lebanese territory regularly. We do not maintain detailed records of such flights.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make the gathering of information on ethnic origins compulsory, and publish the percentage of entrants to his Department who failed to respond to the ethnic origins questionnaire.

A survey of the ethnic origin of staff-inpost and new entrants to the Northern Ireland Office (Home Civil Service group) has been carried out on the basis of voluntary self-classification. There are no plans at present to change to a compulsory system.Information on the number of new entrants who responded to the questionnaires, and those who did not, between October 1985 and September 1986 was given in my hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member on 10 March 1987, at columns 142–43.Information on the response rates among entrants who joined the Northern Ireland Office on loan from other Government Departments is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what amounts of free European Economic Community surplus foods were made available for distribution to the needy in Northern Ireland; whai estimated percentage of this food still remains available for distribution; when this scheme ends; if he will make a statement on the operation of the scheme in Northern Ireland; and if he will thank all the voluntary workers who responded to the challenge of this scheme.

The amount of food available was not specified on either a national or a regional basis. The European Commission made provision for the release of intervention products and the purchase of other foods on the open market.The scheme ends on 31 March 1987.In Northern Ireland, as elsewhere in the United Kingdom, distribution has been carried out under the auspices of certain recognised charitable organisations which have met the demands on them admirably. the organisations were not restricted in their uptake of food under the scheme. Intervention board statistics show that up to week ending 13 March 1987, 1,253 tonnes of butter, 403 tonnes of beef, 19,162 pints of milk and 395 tonnes of cheese have been distributed in Northern Ireland.The scheme had to be introduced as speedily as possible and I fully appreciate and thank the recognised organisations and other charitable groups for the great work which they have done for the needy in Northern Ireland by responding so enthusiastically and promptly to this very considerable task.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the level of average earnings of (a) women and (b) men in Northern Ireland.

The latest information available, as at April 1986, is as follows:

asked the Prime Minister, pursuant to her oral answer to the hon. Member for Burnley on 24 March, how many years' maximum contributions were possible in SERPS in 1979; and what is the figure now.

The state earnings-related pensions scheme began in April 1978; a person retiring on 6 April 1979 could therefore achieve one year's contribution. For someone on average earnings, the extra benefit amounted to 95p a week. This figure has, of course, been uprated in each year since. A person retiring on 6 April 1986, with a maximum of eight years in the scheme, would have received £16·25 in additional pension if he had been on average earnings. It is estimated that for April 1987, with a maximum of nine years contributions, a newly-retiring pensioner who had been on average earnings would receive £20·05 a week.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the latest available figure for the number of AIDS sufferers, HIV carriers and hepatitis B carries among the prison population.

The latest information available is for 24 February, at which date there was no reported case of diagnosed AIDS in the prison population of England and Wales. On the same date the population included 45 inmates reported as having been identified as HIV antibody positive. Corresponding information about current hepatitis B cases is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The latest analysis of the incidence of known cases is for the year ended 31 March 1986 during which 165 acute cases and 295 chronic cases (carriers) were recorded.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the measures taken by his Department to prevent the spread of HIV and hepatitis B in prisons; and if he will make a statement.

Guidance on the management of hepatitis B cases was issued by the prison department in August 1984 and revised in February 1985. In the latter month the first in a series of memoranda of guidance on the management of AIDS and HIV cases was also issued. The preventive measures taken locally include medical inquiry and examination of all prisoners at the reception stage, clinical investigation in appropriate cases, counselling and health education and the application of precautionary regime restrictions to prisoners known to be infected. The restrictions applied in a particular case are determined by the medical officer in the light of clinical and other factors and the guidance received from the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to seek to increase the clear-up rate of crime in England and Wales.

We shall continue our efforts to ensure that the police are adequately resourced for this purpose. Local policing priorities and methods of operation are properly matters for chief officers to decide in the light of local circumstances; but, in their work to detect and prevent crime, they will be looking for support from the whole community.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what complaints of ill treatment he has received from inmates and other sources at Hollesley Bay detention centre during the last three months.

Complaints concerning two inmates have been made recently by the probation service in a letter to the governor of Hollesley Bay youth custody centre and detention centre, who is investigating them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the increase in the number of crimes in Cumbria since 1979.

Since 1979 recorded crime in Cumbria has increased by 55 per cent. compared with 51 per cent. in England and Wales as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home department why section 8(a) is still included on the passport application form; and what use is made of the information obtained therefrom.

A woman, but not a man, may have acquired, or been exempted from loss of, British nationality directly as a result of an existing or former marriage. Section 8(a) of the passport application form seeks to elicit the information required to establish such a route to citizenship.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many rewards of £5,000 or more were facilitated by the Metropolitan police in each year since 1975; and what was the highest single amount in each year.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that no reward payment of £5,000 or more has been made by the Metropolitan police from public funds in any year since 1975. On occasion, in order to maintain the confidentiality of informants, the Metropolitan police also facilitate the payment of rewards offered by private institutions such as Insurance companies, banks, and so on. It is not the practice of the Metropolitan police to release details of any reward payment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what regulations govern the resignation of a senior police officer of (a) the City of London police or (b) the Metropolian police in order to accept a position in industry or commerce.

An officer below the rank of assistant chief constable (commander in the Metropolitan and City of London forces) must give one month's written notice of intention to resign. Assistant chief constables and above who have reached the age of 55 can resign after giving three months' written notice but need the police authority's consent if they wish to resign at an earlier age. Police officers are free to accept business appointments on leaving the police service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of reported cases of racial incidents within the London borough of Southwark for each month of each of the last seven years; and how many of these cases each year led to arrests being made.

I refer the hon. Member to replies I gave to questions from the hon. Member for Newham, North-East (Mr. Banks) on 4 December 1986 at columns 711–14 and the hon. Member for Peckham (Ms. Harman) on 10 March 1987 at columns 121–22. Information for the years prior to 1983 is not available, and monthly breakdowns for the years 1983–85 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the cost of converting Beckingham army camp in Lincolnshire into a temporary prison in 1981;(2) what was the cost of converting Rollestone army camp in Wiltshire into a temporary prison in 1981.

The capital costs of converting Beckingham and Rollestone camps to temporary prisons in 1981 were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the prison department relinquished Rollestone and Beckingham army camps; and to what use each camp was subsequently put.

The temporary prisons at Rollestone and Beckingham were vacated and returned to the Ministry of Defence for normal use at the end of November 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans his Department has to take over (a) Rollestone, (b) Beckingham and (c) any other army camps for use as temporary prisons during the forthcoming financial year; and if he will make a statement.

The temporary use of military camps for the accommodation of prisoners is among the options that would be considered should the need arise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if, pursuant to the Prime Minister's answer of 19 March, Official Report, column 1036, he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the numbers and proportion of offenders, broken down by age groups;(2) if, pursuant to the Prime Minister's answer of 19 March,

This information is published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales." (Table 5.21 of chapter 5 of Cm. 10 gives the figures for 1985, figure 5.6 of the same chapter shows that the peak age of offending has varied little since 1965.)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further response he has had to his proposals on crime prevention.

We continue to receive encouraging responses to our efforts to improve crime prevention. The number of neighbourhood watch schemes continues to increase, demonstrating the enthusiasm of the public for this approach; local authorities are increasingly undertaking crime prevention work, often with Government funding; over 8,000 places have been approved under the community programme to enable voluntary, private and public sector organisations to employ unemployed people on crime prevention projects; and we are working with the Confederation of British Industry, the Association of British Chambers of Commerce and other private sector organisations to develop private sector involvement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion and actual sum of money has been allocated under the urban programme and through the urban housing renewal unit for crime prevention measures.

I have been asked to reply.The urban programme makes an important contribution to crime prevention and tackling the effects of crime through support to 380 projects in 1986–87, totalling about £10 million. Initiatives supported include schemes run in various urban areas by NACRO, and crime prevention and community projects run by the police in Birmingham and Newcastle.About 30 per cent. (some £17 million) of the resources made available through estate action in 1986–87 are being used to support measures to provide increased security for residents on run-down council estates. These include controlled entry arrangements; video surveillance systems; adaptations and remodelling; provision of defensible space; improved lighting; new locks for doors and windows. All these physical measures are being supported by strengthened management presence on estates — which may involve concierge-type arrangements, door porters, resident caretakers, block patrollers and so on.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many settlements of civil actions against the Metropolitan police have been approved by the Secretary of State for the Home Department in each of the last seven years under section 48(2)(b) of the Police Act 1964.

[pursuant to his reply of 2 March 1987, c. 470–71]: The Metropolitan police has standing authority for the settlement of civil actions against the force which do not exceed £2,000, excluding legal costs. Home Office approval is required for settlements above that amount. In 1985 Home Office approval was given to 16 cases and in 1986 to 13 cases. The number of cases approved in earlier years is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any plans to conduct studies into the logistic and manpower consequences of reducing the United Kingdom's nuclear stocks.

Such studies have been and will be carried out as necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will now state the timetable for the deployment of cruise missiles at Molesworth.

I have nothing to add to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire, South (Mrs. Currie) on 15 April 1986 at column 375.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence on what date cruise missiles or cruise convoy components were stationed at RAF Molesworth and RAF Alconbury.

There are no plans to station either cruise missiles or their associated vehicles at RAF Alconbury. Vehicles and equipment will continue to arrive at RAF Molesworth as it builds up to full operational readiness in 1988.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether RAF Alconbury will be used as a base from which to carry out cruise dispersal exercises.

There are no plans to use RAF Alconbury for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he intends to acquire new land for cruise missile dispersal exercises.

There are no plans to acquire land specifically for this purpose, but because of the demand for training areas we have a general requirement to try to expand existing training areas where suitable land becomes available.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence which Ministry of Defence police establishment in East Anglia will be responsible for policing cruise dispersals in East Anglia; and whether he has any plans to increase that establishment.

It is not our practice to provide details of specific security arrangements and plans.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he next plans to meet representatives of the Marconi group of companies; and what issues he intends to discuss.

In the normal course of affairs, I, my ministerial colleagues and our officials would expect to meet representatives of the Marconi group of companies at regular and frequent intervals, given the amount of business between us.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will list all the projects which the Marconi group of companies is working on as part of the strategic defence initiative.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Campbell-Savours) on 23 March at column 6 listing contracts placed by the Ministry of Defence. The available details of contracts or subcontracts placed by the United States Government or United States contractors have been provided on a confidential basis to the Defence Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make the gathering of information on ethnic origins compulsory, and publish the percentage of entrants to his Department who failed to respond to the ethnic origins questionnaire.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given in response to this question by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 24 March at column 98.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total size of Eastney barracks; what proportion of the site is open space; and how many (a) listed and (b) unlisted buildings it contains.

Eastney barracks occupies a site of some 37 acres of which 14 acres is open space. Eastney playing fields occupy a further 21 acres of open space. The barracks area contains six listed and 51 unlisted buildings. In addition, some of the earth embankments and boundary walls are scheduled as ancient monuments.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if there is to be a continued Marine presence at Eastney barracks, Portsmouth;(2) if he will make a statement about future provision for the groups and organisations using the Eastney barracks, Portsmouth;(3) if he will make a statement about the future of the Royal Marine Volunteer Cadet Corps at Eastney barracks, Portsmouth.

It remains our intention to dispose of at least the major part of the Royal Marine barracks at Eastney. Suitable provision will be made either at Eastney or elsewhere for the units currently using the buildings there.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what groups and organisations currently use Eastney barracks in Portsmouth.

The following groups and organisations currently use Eastney barracks:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to dispose of the Eastney barracks site, Portsmouth.

It is the intention to proceed as quickly as possible with the disposal of the Eastney barracks site once the extent of any residual Royal Marines presence there has been determined. The future of the Eastney playing fields will depend upon the outcome of a separate study.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many houses and flats are in the Eastney barracks, Portsmouth; and when they are to be sold.

There are four houses and 10 flats within the Royal Marine barracks, Eastney. Any decision on disposals would have to he taken in the light of the prevailing requirement for married quarters in the Portsmouth port area as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 9 March, Official Report, column 945, if he will make a statement as to why Squadron Leader Hare was permitted to make a statement to the press subsequent to action being taken arising from his first statement, and as to why no further disciplinary action was considered necessary subsequent to the second breach.

Squadron Leader Hare was interviewed immediately following the publication of further articles in the press about him. No disciplinary action was considered necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy that military vehicles or equipment should never be used for the transport of private horses owned by service personnel; and if he will make a statement.

If the purpose of a journey is related to authorised activity, military vehicles may be used to transport private horses owned by service personnel if this is the most cost-effective option. If it is not related to authorised activity, military vehicles may still be used subject to availability and to the full cost being recovered. I see no reason to alter this policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy that volunteers only should be in attendance on duty at organised equestrian events involving service personnel; and if he will make a statement.

Encouraging participation in sporting events is an important part of maintaining the well-being and physical efficiency of service personnel. There is generally no shortage of volunteers to organise and take part in such events; and all personnel selected for equestrian trades are volunteers. However, certain organisational duties in support of sporting events do not necessarily lend themselves to the use of volunteers

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy that time spent participating in equestrian activity by officers, and currently treated as duty hours, should in future be counted against leave entitlement; and if he will make a statement.

No. Such a policy would not be consistent with the Army's policy on participation in sports and physical activity. It would also be contrary to the purpose for which leave is granted.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether he will publish in the Official Report his estimate of the number of cars bought by business in the most recent period of 12 months for which figures are available, together with a breakdown by engine size;(2) whether he will publish in the

At the end of 1986, 2·04 million cars in Great Britain were registered in a company name. The number of these cars used by owners, directors and high-paid employees is not known. The Inland Revenue has estimated that some 1·15 million directors and higher-paid employees in the United Kingdom are expected to have a company car for private use in 1987–88.Information about the number of new vehicle registrations in Great Britain in the 12 months to January 1987 is given in the table. Information about the cost of these vehicles is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ensure that vessels over 10,000 dwt can continue to use the ports of the Severn estuary for the foreseeable future.

If it is eventually decided to construct a Severn barrage, then the capacity of the locks built into it would determine the size of vessels that could use the ports above the barrage line. On this point, I have nothing to add to the answer I gave my hon. Friend on 1 December 1986 at column 502. I am aware of no other foreseeable new restriction on access to ports in the estuary.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to seek further powers to require adequate testing and maintenance of helicopters.

No. The CAA has statutory responsibility for the airworthiness of helicopters on the United Kingdom register and has adequate powers in this respect.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of accidents occurring on pelican crossings on major trunk roads for each of the last three years; and if he will distinguish how many of these accidents were fatal.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he has any plans to transfer all Japan Airlines flights from Heathrow to Hurn airport;(2) if he has any plans to move all Japan Airlines flights from Heathrow airport to Gatwick.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the European Community Transport Council meeting on 23–24 March.

Further progress was made towards agreement on a "first step" on air transport liberalisation towards the 1992 internal market deadline. Other member states finally accepted our argument that cheap off-peak fares should be available to all categories of traveller and that unnecessarily restrictive fare conditions should be dropped. The only remaining mandatory conditions for such fares would he an advance purchase requirement and a cancellation-change of booking penalty. The Council accepted these ideas unanimously. The deadlock on fares has therefore been broken, but more work is needed on capacity and market access if — as the Commission rightly insists — there is to be an acceptable overall settlement by the end of June. The Belgians have helpfully timetabled an additional Aviation Council for 9 June and the Commission is giving us robust support.The Council also discussed a number of inland transport issues. On road haulage liberalisation it was unfortunately not possible to reach agreement on a proposal for further increases in the Community quota of road haulage permits for 1987. A further attempt to agree quota increases will be made in June. There was a preliminary exchange of views on road haulage taxation issues. The Council also discussed the financial aspects of the proposed medium-term transport infrastructure programme but made little progress in resolving outstanding differences between member states. The presidency reported on discussions with Austria and Switzerland on the problems of transit traffic through these countries and there was a brief discussion of speed limits. The Council held a minute's silence in memory of the victims of the Zeebrugge ferry tragedy and I was able to thank my fellow Transport Ministers for the assistance given during the rescue operation.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service when he last met representatives of the Civil Service trade unions; what subjects were discussed; and if he will make a statement.

I have informal meetings from time to time with representatives of the Civil Service trade unions. Matters of mutual interest are discussed.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will establish a programme to acquaint Back-Bench hon. Members with the basic functioning of the Civil Service.

I have over the past year invited Back-Bench Members from all parties to a series of presentations in the Management and Personnel Office on management reform in the Civil Service, and I am willing to arrange further presentations if there is a demand for them. In January I published a report on the work of my Department entitled "The Challenge of Change in the Civil Service", and I am willing to publish further reports if that would be helpful.

asked the Minister for the Arts Whether he will establish a unit within the Office of Arts and Libraries to monitor the effect of the introduction of museum charges on attendance.

asked the Minister for the Arts whether he will set up an inquiry into the effect of museum entrance charges on the level of admission.

I have no such plans.

asked the Minister for the Arts if he will give the total number of books held in public libraries in England and Wales for 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980 and 1985; and if he will make a statement.

No statistics are available for 1960. Approximate figures for England and Wales for subsequent years, as published by CIPFA, are as follows:

asked the Minister for the Arts what representations he has had about possible initiatives to increase the number of people using the public library service.

None.

asked the Minister for the Arts what estimate he has of the growth in service points in public libraries in the 10 year period to 1984–85.

Statistics published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy show an increase in the total number of service points in England from 9,720 in 1975 to 15,238 in 1985.

asked the Minister for the Arts (1) if the British Library has completed its assessment of the damage to its collections inflicted by Miss Norma Hague and discovered in 1984;(2) if he will list the individual and total value of the damage inflicted by Miss Norma Hague on the collections

I shall let the hon. Member have replies as soon as possible.

asked the Paymaster General if he will publish a table for each region in Great Britain and Greater London, showing the total numbers of people who, when interviewed for each of the last three labour force surveys, said that they would like a job if one were available, and the numbers of those in that category who (a) had not looked for work in the four weeks reference period and were not available to start work within two weeks and (b) had looked for work in the four-week reference period but were not available to start work within two weeks.

The figures supplied in the first three columns of the tables refer to the Labour Force Survey (LFS) figures for the number of people who said they would like a job for whatever reason. The remaining columns extract the figures requested for those people who were not available for work. Any analysis should take account of the fact that the figures in the first three columns include a further substantial number of people who said they were available for work but had not looked for work in the last four weeks.As I made clear in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Darlington (Mr. Fallon) on 17 March at column

asked the Paymaster General if he will give the official unemployment figures for May 1970, January 1974, March 1979, June 1983 and the latest available date.

The following information is in the Library. The table gives estimates of seasonally adjusted unemployment (excluding school leavers) consistent with the current monthly count. These statistics are available only from January 1971.

asked the Paymaster General whether he will publish in the Official Report a table

asked the Paymaster General what are the latest estimated percentage register effects on the unemployment count of the following special employment measures: (a) community programme, (b) enterprise allowance scheme, (c) young workers scheme, (d) community industry, (e) job release scheme and (f) job splitting scheme.

It is difficult, if not impossible, to calculate precisely the effect of the unemployment count on employment measures. The people engaged in (b)(c)(e) and (f) in the question are all engaged in ordinary work in the mainstream of the economy and have left the unemployment count in the same way as other unemployed people who find a job. The community programme (a) also provides real work at normal pay levels for long-term unemployed people. We make showing the median gross weekly earnings of full-time adult males and females at the latest available date and the upper and lower deciles as a percentage of the median; and if he will provide comparable figures for 1973 and 1979.

The most recent information relates to April 1986 and is published in table 30 of part B of the 1986 New Earnings Survey report. This table also includes figures for 1979. Figures for 1973 are published in table 30 of part B of the 1983 survey report. Copies of these reports are available in the Library.

asked the Paymaster General what are the gross and net costs for each financial year since 1982–83 for the following special employment measures: (a) community programme, (b) enterprise allowance scheme, (c) young workers scheme, (d) community industry, (e) job release scheme and (f) job splitting scheme.

The gross and estimated net costs are as follows:attempts to estimate how many of those concerned would have found jobs in any event without the schemes. Taking account of this and other factors, the best estimates we have of the so-called percentage effect of the schemes is as follows:

asked the Paymaster General (1) if he will make a statement on the progress made by his Department in the Moss Side task force area;(2) if he will give details of actions taken by the Moss Side task force since it was established;(3) if he will give details of the budget allocated to the Moss Side task force during 1986–87; how much will be spent by 31 March and on what projects; and what will happen to any unspent funds after 31 March;(4) if he will give details of the budget to be allocated to the Moss Side task force during 1987–88;(5) if he will give details of the Moss Side task force's relationship with the local community, including the extent to which its views are taken into account and influence decisions on how the task force's budget is allocated.

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

asked the Paymaster General how many men and women are currently being trained in the wool textile industry and how many have been trained in each of the last 20 years.

[pursuant to his reply, 16 March 1987, c. 353]: The historic information requested is not available. Current training statistics in the wool textile industry are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what was the total value of regional development grants and regional selective assistance grants awarded to businesses in the west Lancashire district in (a) 1984–85 and (b) 1985–86 respectively;(2) how many regional development grants and regional selective assistance grants were awarded in the west Lancashire district council area in

In 1984–85, seven regional development grant (2) and regional selective assistance awards totalling £266,000 were made in the west Lancashire district area. In 1985–86, 52 awards totalling £2,173,000 were made.These figures do not include any awards made under regional development grant (1) scheme. Records of such awards were not maintained for individual areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when holders of the citizens band radio licence will be able to use the frequencies of the common European CEPT system; and how long they will be able to use the existing 27MHz frequency after the launch of the CEPT system.

I am pleased to be able to annouce that all holders of a current CB licence who possess appropriate equipment meeting my Department's new performance specification MPT 1333 will be able to use these frequencies from 1 September 1987.I am also glad to reaffirm that the existing 27MHz frequencies will be in use for a long period. The existing CB United Kingdom specification (MPT 1320) will be reviewed during 1990 but, whether the outcome of the review, we will ensure that existing users get a good life out of their sets. One of the major factors we shall take into account in assessing the continuing need for the existing channels in 1990 will be the size of the licensed CB service. Irrespective of the outcome of this review, we will not be permitting conversions between two services. Converted sets will not meet the new specification and can give rise to interference. Sets must fully meet the new specification as this gives the best chance of European harmonisation of CB.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many complaints have been received by his Department about alleged breaches of undertakings given to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in respect of takeovers and purchases in each of the years 1970 to 1986;(2) what remedies exist when undertakings given to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in relation to takeovers and purchases are not kept.

Any assurances which may be given to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission have no statutory underpinning. Under section 88(1) of the Fair Trading Act 1973, my right hon. Friend has powers, in the event of an adverse public interest finding on a non-newspaper merger reference, to ask the Director General of Fair Trading to seek undertakings from the parties to remedy the adverse effects identified. Such undertakings are given to Ministers.The operation of undertakings given under the Fair Trading Act is kept under review by the Director General of Fair Trading, who has a duty, if it appears to him that an undertaking has not been or is not being fulfilled, to advise Ministers. Any complaints about breaches of undertakings would normally be drawn to the attention of the Director General of Fair 'Trading. The Department does not keep records on this basis. The Fair Trading Act also provides for the exercise of the order-making powers under certain circumstances to remedy adverse effects on the public interest identified by the MMC.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish a table showing the location and the number of jobs at each location involved in Airbus Industrie A300, and A310, A320 production in the United Kingdom.

On the information presently available, it is estimated that the number and location of jobs in the United Kingdom currently attributable to the Airbus Industrie A300, A310 and A320 programmes is set out in the following table. The figures are approximations only.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the increase in the real rate of exchange against the principal currencies since the date on which the nominal rate for sterling fell to its lowest point against the deutschmark, together with his estimate of the increase in United Kingdom, German, American and Japanese export prices in dollar terms since the fourth quarter of 1976, having regard to changes in the nominal exchange rate and rates of inflation since the quarter for which the figures were last published in the "Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics."

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report a table for finished manufactures on the same basis as that provided for manufactures in his answer to the hon. Member for Walthamstow (Mr. Deakins) on 19 February, Official Report, column 750; and if he will provide similar figures of value and volume for trade with the European Economic Community.

Those figures which are available follow. Estimates of volume of trade in finished manufactures by geographical area are not available.