asked the Paymaster General how many unemployed claimants aged under 25 years there were in each parliamentary constituency at the most recently available date.

I am sending the hon. Member the information requested which is also available from the Library. The information relates to the numbers of unemployed claimants aged under 25 years in each parliamentary constituency of the United Kingdom on 8 January 1987, the latest date for which an analysis of unemployment by age is available.

asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement on the steps he takes to ensure the accuracy of his Department's unemployment figures as a true indication of the number out of work.

I am satisfied that the monthly unemployment figures are an accurate measure of the number of people claiming benefits at unemployment benefit offices.

asked the Paymaster General when he expects his Department's considerations of the Manpower Services Commission's review of the industrial language training service to be completed; and if he will make a statement.

A decision has now been made that the industrial language training service will continue to be funded by the Manpower Services Commission for a further financial year under present arrangements. Further consideration will be given during the year to the range of problems the ILTS is seeking to tackle to offer further guidance on its future funding and management.

asked the Paymaster General what are the reasons for the delay in responding to the recommendations on the future of the industrial language training service; what representations he has received from the Manpower Services Commission about its ability to determine the 1987–88 Budget provision in the absence of decisions on these recommendations; and if he will make a statement.

Decisions on the future of the industrial language training service have required very careful attention in the light of the important issues raised in the recent review. Officials in the MSC and my Department have worked closely in planning how best to allocate funds for 1987–88 while further consideration is given to the future management and funding of the service. The local authorities concerned have been told of the financial arrangements for next year.

asked the Paymaster General what percentage of people trained under YTS in 1986 completed their course with a nationally recognised qualification.

The information is not available in the form requested. Of those respondents to the Manpower Services Commission's regular follow-up survey of leavers who completed a one-year YTS training programme in the period April to August 1986, 32 per cent. reported that they had gained a nationally recognised qualification whilst on YTS. Under two-year YTS, which began in April 1986, it is intended that all trainees should be given the chance to gain such a qualification.

asked the Paymaster General if he will give details of the work of the interdepartmental task forces established in 1986 in eight small city areas.

The task forces were set up under the Government's inner cities initiative. The aim of the initiative is to improve the quality of life and bring jobs to the most deprived areas by improving the targeting of the Government's national programmes on to those areas and to experiment with new methods of extending those programmes using an £8 million a year top-up fund. The task forces comprise of a small number of civil servants and private sector secondees in offices in the districts they serve. They seek to establish good relations with the residents of the district and to involve those residents in plans for the revival of their areas.So far I have approved 100 projects committing more than £4·9 million of these top-up resources in our task force areas. These will encourage enterprise training and job creation. We have also concentrated the efforts and programmes of the Manpower Services Commission and other Government Departments on the eight areas and their residents. We are establishing enterprise agencies and development funds to support local business in partnership with a clearing bank in each district. We are making progress on the greater use of local labour on inner city building work and on targeted training schemes which link training with specific job opportunities for local people. We are entering into projects in partnership with private sector companies such as Tarmac and McAlpine and we are involving existing organisations with experience in the field or strong local connections such as, Business in the Community, Project Fullemploy, Action Resource Centre, Evangelical Alliance, NACRO, the Industrial Society, the Apex Trust and others in pursuing the aims of the initiative.

asked the Paymaster General if he will give details of the work of the city action teams in (a) Hackney, (b) Islington and Lambeth, (c) Newcastle-Gateshead, (d) Liverpool, (e) Manchester-Salford and (f) Birmingham since their establishment.

Five city action teams were set up in April 1985. They are located in: London (which includes Hackney, Islington and Lambeth); Newcastle-Gateshead; Liverpool; Manchester-Salford and Birmingham.The city action teams have been successful in meeting their objectives of better co-ordinating Government action and help in the priority areas they cover. They aim to reduce the number of people in acute housing stress, reduce the number of derelict sites and void buildings and increase job opportunities and the employability of certain groups. Total Government provision for expenditure in the city action teams priority areas was estimated to amount to about £670 million in 1985–86, and about £739 million in 1986–87. The Government have provided an additional £1 million to the Newcastle-Gateshead city action team during 1986–87 to provide pump-priming finance as part of their response to the recent shibuilding closures in the north-east.

asked the Paymaster General if he will publish the responsibilities of his Department section UB 9.

[pursuant to his reply, 26 March 1987, c. 241]: I take it that the hon. Member is referring to UBS 9, which is one of the sections within my Department's unemployment benefit service head office.The section is responsible for liaison arrangements between the Manpower Services Commission and unemployment benefit service and the related benefit office procedures.

asked the Paymaster General if he will publish the preliminary results of his study into the reallocation of responsibility for benefits for the unemployed.

[pursuant to his reply, 26 March 1987, c. 241]: No. The preliminary report of the joint study team on the relationships between DHSS and the Department of Employment and their networks of local offices was produced as advice for Ministers.

asked the Paymaster General if he is investigating the feasibility of imposing any new work test or conditions for the payment of unemployment benefit.

[pursuant to his reply, 26 March 1987, c. 241]: the policy and practice in these and many other matters is kept under review.

asked the Paymaster General how many staff are employed in (a) unemployment benefit offices, (b) jobcentres, (c) Manpower Services Commission and (d) the remainder of his Department; and how many separate buildings are occupied for each.

[pursuant to his reply, 30 March 1987, c. 356]: The information requested as on 9 March 1987 (the latest date for which figures are available) is as follows:

	Number of staff (including casual appointments)	Number of buildings
Unemployment benefit service (including unemployment benefit offices and regional offices)	29,200	21,100
Employment and enterprise group5 (including jobcentres, regional and area offices)	15,471	31,009
The Manpower Services Commission (including the employment and enterprise group, vocational and educational training group, skill training agency and MSC head office)	127,305	1,285
Remainder of Department of Employment (group)	8,781	4175
1 This figure includes the number of staff given at 5.
2 Unemployment benefit offices.
3 Jobcentres.
4 Including outstations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effects of his proposals relating to corporation tax on the capital gains of companies on life assurance companies; and if he will make a statement.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring up to date for 1987–88 the information in the reply dated 25 July 1986, Official Report, column 698, concerning reduced rate contributions together with the estimated cost to the Exchequer; and if he will publish his subsequent letter in the Official Report.

[pursuant to the reply, 25 March 1987, c. 214–15]: I have been asked to reply.It is expected that during 1987–88 an average of 1·6 million women in the United Kingdom will be eligible to pay class 1 national insurance contributions at the reduced rate for married women and widows. This estimate includes those optants who are expected to earn less than the class 1 lower earnings limit, and who are not expected to pay any contributions.It is estimated that in 1987–88 the full year cost of the reduced contribution rate, in terms of lower contributions revenue, will be £200 million. It is not possible to estimate reliably the associated saving in benefit expenditure.The remaining information is as follows:

asked the Minister for the Arts what advice he has given to public library authorities on the possible effect on the discharge of their functions of clauses 10 and 46(1)(a) of the Consumer Protection Bill.

[pursuant to his reply, 1 April 1987]: None. Clause 10 of the Bill creates the offence of supplying consumer goods, including hooks, which fail to comply with the general safety requirement. It does not relate to risks of death or personal injury which might arise by virtue of a person's relying on or being influenced by what is printed in a book. The definition of "safe" in clause 19 makes that clear. A public library authority will be liable only if it supplies (a term defined in clause 46) consumer goods which are not reasonably safe having regard to all circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met representatives of the external services of the British Broadcasting Corporation; and what was discussed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his last meeting with representatives of the external services of the BBC.

My right hon. and learned Friend last met representatives of the BBC external services when he visited Bush House on 20 March. During his visit my right hon. and learned Friend discussed a range of external broadcasting issues with the top management of the external services. He also took the opportunity to underline the importance of the fundamental principle of accountability for public funds as well as our view that it is right that the National Audit Office should have access to the BBC external services to carry out economy, efficiency and effectiveness examinations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards foreign Governments who are proven to have forged British passports for use by their agents; and if he will make a statement.

We take the greatest exception to such actions by foreign Governments and make this clear, as well as seeking firm assurances against any recurrence of such unacceptable behaviour.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to cease to accredit South African military attachés to the United Kingdom.

As my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs told the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) on 5 June 1986, at column 626, we have already agreed with our European partners not to grant accreditation to military attachés from South Africa.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the level of British Government aid to Nicaragua in 1986.

In 1986 British bilateral aid to Nicaragua consisted of:

a. Support for small development projects co-financed with British voluntary agencies under the joint funding scheme. Eleven projects were approved in the financial year 1985–86 to a value of some £100,000.

b. £82,500 in response to an appeal by Christian Aid to help displaced persons in Nicaragua.

c. £3,200 in technical co-operation for training in Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken by the European Community to assist the Palestinians with food and medical supplies in the refugee camps in the Lebanon.

The European Community contributes annually (about £22 million in 1986) to the feeding programmes of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, which mainly benefit Palestinians in Lebanon. In addition, 2·7 million ecu (about £2 million) from the EC budget was allocated on 5 March 1987 to UNRWA, the UN Disaster Relief Organisation and the International Committee of the Red Cross towards their efforts to relieve conditions in the camps. Member states of the Community are also making their own contributions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the current and capital expenditure per head on housing in Scotland during the last year for which figures are available.

:Current expenditure on the housing revenue accounts of local authorities, new towns and the SSHA was £169·40 per head of overall population in 1985–86. Information on the current expenditure of housing associations is not available. Gross capital expenditure by all public housing bodies in 1985–86 was £115·62 per head.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many primary schools with fewer than three teachers there are in each of Scotland's regions and island areas; and if he will give a breakdown of the figures to show the number in each district.

The numbers of education authority primary schools in each region and island area in which less than three full-time equivalent teachers were employed in 1984 were as follows. Education statistics are not collated at district level.

	Numbers
Borders	36
Central	22
Dumfries and Galloway	47
Fife	23
Grampian	82
Highland	113
Lothian	18
Strathclyde	96
Tayside	61
Orkney	10
Shetland	19
Western Isles	36

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to seek to improve the average time taken to process council house sales by (a) the Edinburgh district council and (b) other local authorities in Scotland.

Across Scotland as a whole there is evidence that authorities are becoming increasingly aware of the financial advantages to be gained by the efficient processing of council house sales. The average time taken by councils during the fourth quarter of 1986 was 7·5 months — close to the target figure of seven months which we consider reasonable.I am concerned, however, at the length of time which some local authorities are taking to process sales. Because receipts from council house sales form part of an authority's annual gross capital allocation for housing, processing delays—which result in the authority failing to generate the receipts level anticipated during the year in question — cause real reductions in the authority's effective consent, and hence in its housing programme.I have therefore instructed my Department to write today to four authorities — Edinburgh, Monklands, Dumbarton and Argyll and Bute district councils—each of which is taking longer than 11 months on average to process sales, drawing their attention to the serious consequences of these delays. I calculate, for example, that because of delays in processing sales Edinburgh district council has forgone almost £10 million of capital expenditure consents since 1983, equivalent to approximately 10 per cent. of its gross housing capital allocation over the period. The letter asks for an early indication of the steps the four authorities propose to take to ensure that sales are completed within a reasonable period.

asked the Attorney-General how many cases of multiple applications for British Telecom shares have been or arc being investigated; if he will list cases in which successful prosecutions have been mounted; and if he will make a statement.

Twelve cases of multiple applications for British Telecom shares were investigated by the police and considered by the Director of Public Prosecutions. Criminal proceedings for attempting to obtain British Telecom shares by deception, were instituted in seven cases against a total of 10 defendants. These cases were tried at Bow street magistrates court between 11 March and 29 September 1986. All 10 defendants (Roy Corbin, Warwick Goodman, Edward Hems, Paul Fogg, Dennis Williamson, Brian West, Brian Taub, Roy Conway, Stephen Conway and Michael Collins) were convicted.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish detailed local figures of the amount of rainfall in Gwynedd on Friday 2 May 1986; and if he will make a statement on the degree of statistical accuracy of such meteorological information.

Rainfall measurements at some 40 observation points in Gwynedd between 0900 2 May and 0900 3 May 1986 ranged from 0 to 6·3 mm, the smaller amounts being mainly in the coastal areas and the larger ones in Anglesea and Snowdonia. Because of the showery nature of the rainfall, it is possible that even heavier falls occurred in localities not adequately covered by rain gauges.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the procedures which establish to whom young recruits should initially refer complaints of bullying or brutality in the Army.

A soldier may make a complaint about bullying, or any matter in which he thinks he has been wronged, either to his immediate superiors, such as his platoon or company commander, or direct to his commanding officer, who is required by law to investigate the complaint and take action as he considers necessary. Periodically soldiers are also given the opportunity to bring a complaint to the attention of a senior visiting officer. All soldiers are made aware of these procedures at an early stage in their training.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what information is provided for recruits about procedures for making complaints about mistreatment.

Mistreatment is not tolerated in the armed forces. Information on the services' redress of grievance procedures is brought to the attention of all personnel, including recruits, through posters and notices displayed prominently in all units and through standing publications.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make available in the Library the results of each investigation in the last four years into allegations of cruelty and brutality in the armed forces.

It is not normal practice to publish investigation reports and, while their results are made available on request to those with a direct interest, it would not be appropriate to place such results in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated cost of assessing the number of complaints made in each case of the last four years about cruelty and brutality in the armed forces.

As I stated in answer to the right hon. Member's question on 23 March, at column 2, the information is not held centrally. It would be necessary to make inquiries at every service unit to see whether any such complaints had been made over the past four years. The cost of such an investigation would clearly be substantial.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average cost of (a) the first six months and (b) the first 12 months of training of recruits.

Records are not held in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost and effort.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have deserted in each of the last four years; and in which branch of the armed forces they served.

Statistics for desertion and absence without leave are not easily distinguished, as the difference cannot normally be established until return. The following table therefore gives figures for both desertion and absence without leave from the armed forces (in practice the majority of cases fall into the latter category and arise from short-term domestic or personal problems affecting the individual).

Numbers deserting or going absent without leave: 1983 to 1986
	Royal Navy and Royal Marines	Army	Royal Air Force
1983	149	670	19
1984	110	662	16
1985	117	548	9
1986	100	522	12

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the discussions being held between his Department and the General Electric Company on the renegotiation of the supply contract for the Foxhunter radar system.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for South Ribble (Mr. Atkins) on 1 April.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects Foxhunter radar to be fully operational in Tornado F2/3 squadrons of the Royal Air Force; what delays have occurred in this contract; and what financial penalties will be incurred by the manufacturer.

[pursuant to his reply, 16 March 1987, c. 376]: A contract for development of the Foxhunter radar for the Tornado air defence aircraft was placed with GEC Avionics in 1976 on a cost-plus basis. At that time the development phase was due to be completed by 1981. Subsequently a fixed price production programme for an interim standard of the radar was agreed with GEC Avionics. Deliveries of the interim radar have been made since early 1986. The total Ministry of Defence requirement is for 200 radars including parts. (A further 32 radars have been ordered to meet the requirements of Saudi Arabia.)The Foxhunter radar was the first airborne pulse doppler radar to be developed in the United Kingdom, and inevitably some technical obstacles were encountered during the course of development. The radar does not meet all the requirements of the Royal Air Force, but radars to an agreed interim standard have already been delivered.My Department is at present negotiating new contract arrangements for the programme, to implement a set of agreed modifications to achieve the required performance. Discussions have been held with the company on management aspects and the payment and reporting conditions that my Department will require as part of the contract conditions. My Department and GEC Avionics are currently negotiating towards a firm price for this work, with the aim of placing a new contract with GEC Avionics by the autumn of this year.

asked the Prime Minister if she will invite the next meeting of the European Council to review the functions and powers of the Court of Auditors in relation to expenditure by the EEC which the court determines to be illegal; and if she will make a statement.

No.

asked the Prime Minister what advice was issued to Ministers, prior to privatisation of British Telecom, about participation by Ministers in the purchase of shares in British Telecom.

Those Ministers most closely involved in the flotation of British Telecom were told that it would be ill-advised to apply for BT shares at the time of flotation. Other Ministers were advised that there was no general bar on applying for shares, subject to the normal requirement that there should be no conflict of interest.Ministers were also advised that subsequent purchases of BT shares came under the general guidance given to Ministers on taking office.

asked the Prime Minister if the advice to Ministers about the conduct of their financial affairs has been revised to take account of the opportunities for purchasing shares in privatised companies.

There has been no change to the general guidelines to Ministers on the conduct of their financial affairs. It has been the usual practice to issue specific advice to Ministers about the purchase of shares in privatised companies, which were formerly in public ownership, at the time of flotation.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 2 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 2 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 2 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 2 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 2 April.

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.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give the most recent figures available to him of the numbers of personnel working offshore on the United Kingdom continental shelf; how many are (a) United Kingdom nationals, (b) European Economic Community nationals other than United Kingdom, (c) United States nationals and (d) others; and if he will make a statement.

The numbers requested are as follows:

	Personnel offshore on 30 September 1986
	Totals	of which, on fixed installations
United Kingdom citizens	10,742	6,119
European Community nationals (excluding United Kingdom citizens)	436	153
United States nationals	90	24
Others	458	88
	11,726	6,384

These figures have been extracted from the Inland Revenue's 1986 survey of the offshore work force, which covers construction workers and personnel on fixed installations, mobile drilling rigs, service vessels and support barges. The only non-EC countries with more than 40 nationals on the UKCS at the time of the survey were Norway (230 personnel, three on fixed installations), the USA (90 personnel, 24 on fixed installations) and Sweden (79 personnel, two on fixed installations). The figures given are of personnel counted; in reporting its survey the Inland Revenue's practice is to multiply the total counted by 1·9 to allow for shift working and seasonal variations.The entry and stay of non-EC nationals in the United Kingdom is controlled by the Home Office under the Immigration Act 1971. The Act does not extend offshore.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce legislation to make compulsory the display in a motor vehicle of a certificate that the vehicle has third party insurance cover.

No. Such display would not give conclusive evidence of insurance and in some circumstances could be positively misleading.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all the motorway and trunk road contracts with a works cost of £1 million or more which his Department intends to award for 1987–88 showing, in each case, the total value of the contract and the expenditure likely to be incurred in that year.

£ million
Route	Title	Works cost estimate	Forecast expenditure in 1987–88
We plan to let contracts on the following schemes which have completed all their statutory procedures:
M25	Widening between junctions 11–13	24	9·0
M40	Oxford to Birmingham (Warwick section)	55	15·0
M62	Eastbound Climbing Lane (junctions 21–22)	3	0·5
M62	Westbound Climbing Lane (junctions 24–25)	2	0·0
M63	Stretford to Eccles improvement stage 4	7	1·5
M62	Manchester motorway box (M62, M63, M66) signal improvements	21	1·7
A2	London boundary to M2 improvement contract 4	1	0·8
A3	Compton to Shackleford improvement	8	3·4
A10	Melbourn bypass	4	1·4
A16	South of Haven Bridge Boston	3	1·5
A17	Long Sutton/Sutton Bridge bypass	12	4·5
A30	Blackwater bypass	4	1·4
A34	Hanford grade separated junction	5	3·1
A34	Whitway diversion	5	2·5
A35	Dorchester bypass	8	2·0
A39	Barnstaple bypass	15	3·5
A43	Peartree Hill to Wendlebury	22	4·0
A46	Coventry eastern bypass	23	9·0
A47	Acle bypass	7	1·9
A49	Leominster bypass	9	5·2
A69	Horsley to Corbridge improvement	3	2·3
A69	Newcastle western bypass	56	10·8
A69	Newcastle western bypass advanced works	8	6·0
A361	Newtown to Barnstaple	19	3·0
A417	Birdlip bypass	2	0·0
	Sub-total (25 schemes)	326	94·0
We also aim to let contracts on the following schemes for which statutory procedures are still outstanding:
M3	Compton to Bassett improvement	18	4·0
M40	Oxford to Birmingham (Banbury bypass)	150	0·5
A6	Barton bypass	6	0·0
A17	Fosdyke bypass	3	1·5
A19	Peterlee grade separated junction	2	1·0
A27	Pevensey bypass	6	1·5
A41	Bicester southern bypass	3	0·0
A42	Measham Ashby bypass	34	7·8
A46	Newark relief road	27	5·0
A52	Bottesford bypass	4	1·7
A52	Nottingham outer relief road, Abbey street grade separated junction	4	0·0
A435	Alcester bypass	8	0·0
A49	Prees bypass	2	0·0
A140	Dickleburgh bypass	2	0·1
A696	Woolsington bypass	9	0·0
	Sub-total (15 schemes)	274	23·1
	Total (40 schemes)	606	117·1

The information requested is as follows. The national road construction contracts actually let in 1987–88 will differ from this list, depending on the progress on outstanding statutory and other procedures. Other schemes not listed may start in 1987–88 if progress with their procedures is faster than currently expected.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department is monitoring any overseas studies into the use of delineation to counteract visual impairment in the case of drivers.

I am not aware of overseas studies of this kind. The topic is not in the current research programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish in the Official Report the stages in consultation and the bodies contacted prior to the close of the Freightliner terminal in Edinburgh.

Freightliners Ltd. took its decision to rationalise its business on commercial grounds. It informed Ministers of its decision before it was announced on 9 January. It has since consulted those most closely affected — customers, staff and unions — on the implications of its decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to introduce legislation requiring cross-Channel ferry operators to install black box recorders; and if he will make a statement.

These recorders can be valuable in the investigation of certain casualties, but they are still being developed: technical standards and specifications need to be agreed and production costs established. It is premature at this time to consider whether the device should be installed on hoard ship on a statutory basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to meet the Civil Aviation Authority and the Manchester fire authority regarding their views on the number of aircraft seats which should be removed following the inquest recommendations on the accident at Manchester airport in August 1985; and if he will make a statement.

No. Air safety matters are the statutory responsibility of the Civil Aviation Authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to why passengers alighting at Fulham Broadway Underground station on Saturday afternoon 21 March were filmed by the police, as to what use has been made of the films, and as to whether the films are available to those filmed for viewing.

No. The British Transport police's open use of hand-held camera equipment at Underground stations is an important and integral part of the measures agreed between the Government, the police and the football authorities to combat hooliganism associated with football. The procedure is complementary to the use of closed circuit television operated by police forces at all first and second division League football grounds; the aim being to deter troublemakers and assist the police in their public order and public safety duties.I understand that BTP's camera was in use on 21 March because of the high proportion of supporters using the Underground to attend the West Ham versus Chelsea fixture. No trouble amongst the supporters occurred and the film was wiped clean.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish the report from CSP International on the feasibility of introducing market forces into the management of radio spectrum.

I have now received the final report by CSP International entitled "Deregulation of the Radio Spectrum in the UK." This complex study has taken nearly two years to complete and deals with all types of civil use of the radio spectrum. A steering group, including officials of my Department, has overseen development of the work, but the views expressed in the report are those of an independent firm of consultants. The Department is still appraising its full implications for radio users and spectrum management policy. The study does not therefore necessarily anticipate the future attitude of the Department on policies for spectrum management.None the less, the findings of the study will be of interest to a wide range of existing and potential users of spectrum, service providers and manufacturers of equipment. The report is being published today by Her Majesty's Stationery Office and my Department would welcome views and comments on the analysis and proposals in the report, particularly the scope for deregulation and frequency planning organisations.Copies of the report have been placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will now appoint Mr. James Towler of Leeds to the Central Transport Users' Consultative Committee; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Madden) on 30 March, at column 360.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will specify the number of claims made to his Department during 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84 and 1984–85 by companies based in Wales for science and technology grants; and if he will identify how many of the claims had projected costs below £100,000.

The total number of applications from companies based in Wales, for project support under the principal schemes of the Science and Technology Act, are as follows. Applications with eligible project costs below £100,000 are listed separately.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if an export licence has been granted at any time in respect of the Hereford Bye Street Gate sculptures; and if he will make a statement.

The Bye Street Gate sculptures are understood to have been in this country since at least 1965. The Department's records of export licences are retained for no more than 10 years.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many company directors have been prosecuted and disqualified as a result of the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986.

[pursuant to his. reply, 31 March 1987, c. 444]: This Act, which consolidated the disqualification provisions of the Insolvency Act 1985 and the Companies Act 1985, came into effect on 29 December 1986. At that date, there were 453 disqualification orders on the register, subsequently, a further 22 orders have been notified.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the United Kingdom share of European Economic Community exports of goods in Standard Industrial Trade Classifications 5, 6, 7, and 8, respectively, in 1979, 1985 and the latest period of 12 months for which figures are available; and what information he has as to how these compare with the share held by Germany, France and Italy.

[pursuant to his reply, 1 April 1987]: The information is in the following table:

Shares of European Community1 exports (per cent.)
	Standard International Trade Classification Sections
	5	6	7	8
1979
United Kingdom	14·5	15·2	14·7	13·2
France	14·8	15·5	17·8	13·9
Federal Republic of Germany	33·4	26·7	39·1	25·6
Italy	6·8	12·9	11·1	25·9
1985
United Kingdom	13·2	10·9	14·8	13·9
France	16·7	15·3	15·2	12·9
Federal Republic of Germany	32·2	28·3	39·9	25·3
Italy	7·4	14·8	11·7	25·2
12 months to November 1986

	Standard International Trade Classification Sections
	5	6	7	8
United Kingdom	13·1	10·5	13·1	12·7
France	14·9	14·6	14·8	12·3
Federal Republic of Germany	33·9	29·3	41·3	26·5
Italy	7·2	14·6	11·8	24·7
1 Present membership throughout.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consider reviving the bee husbandry committee of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Our regular contacts with the representative beekeeping organisations keep us in touch with current problems and I see no reason to revive this committee.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce legislation to prevent dairies or dairy farmers from adding a substance to milk to nullify the effect of antibiotics to enable it to be processed into cheese.

[pursuant to his reply, 1st April 1987]: It is already an offence under section 2 of the Food Act 1984 to sell to the purchaser's prejudice any food which is not of the nature substance or quality demanded by the purchaser. In addition, a dairy which used a substance as described by my hon. Friend in the manufacture of cheese would contravene the more specific provisions of the Cheese Regulations 1970, as amended.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to promote the playing of chess in schools.

The Government have no specific plans to promote the playing of chess in schools as this is a matter for schools themselves. However, the Department provides a regular grant towards the administrative costs of the British Chess Federation which aims to encourage the study and practice of chess, and we would wish to see as many young people as possible being given the opportunity to play.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has received any recent representations from education authorities about funding of the general certificate secondary education examinations.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will publish a table showing for each local education authority in Greater London that replied to both of his Department's circular letters dated 5 February 1982 and 30 June 1986 requesting information on sub-standard primary school places (a) the capital allocations made for each year 1982–83 to 1985–86 inclusive, in cash terms, and (b) the capital expenditure bids submitted for each year 1982–83 to 1985–86 inclusive, in cash terms; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will publish a table showing for each metropolitan district education authority outside Greater London that replied to both of his Department's circular letters dated 5 February 1982 and 30 June 1986 requesting information on sub-standard primary school places

[pursuant to his replies, 12 March 1987, c. 262]: Funding for local education authority capital expenditure is not provided by the Department, but is the responsibility of the LEAs. The level of capital spending they may undertake in any year is, however, limited to the allocation notified to them by the Department, plus the flexibilities permitted by the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980. Capital allocations are calculated by applying a standard set of criteria to the information supplied by all LEAs on a common basis. The information requested for the years 1982–83 to 1985–86 broken down between authorities within Greater London, metropolitan districts and non-metropolitan authorities is set out in the table.

Plans for and allocations in respect of LEA prescribed expenditure, 1982–83 to 1985–86
£ thousands
	1985–86
Local education authority	Allocation	LEA plans
(Greater London)
Barking	947	1,579
Barnet	2,612	5,825
Bexley	504	1396
Brent	891	4,619
Bromley	628	4,518
Croydon	2,170	3,626
Ealing	2,451	3,352
Enfield	966	1,375
Haringey	895	3,644
Harrow	299	3,007
Havering	334	1,013
Hillingdon	521	2,368
Hounslow	1,566	4,638
Kingston-upon-Thames	2,131	4,070

	1985–86
Local education authority	Allocation	LEA plans
Merton	2,277	4,226
Newham	2,558	7,672
Redbridge	1,330	1,738
Richmond-upon-Thames	379	752
Sutton	474	966
Waltham Forest	985	2,334
Inner London	15,080	27,686
(Metropolitan districts)
Birmingham	3,695	6,569
Coventry	3,094	7,419
Dudley	2,671	7,016
Sandwell	1,914	4,429
Solihull	642	1,297
Walsall	1,329	3,222
Wolverhampton	2,047	3,793
Knowsley	973	1,986
Liverpool	4,870	8,461
St. Helens	1,827	3,190
Sefton	1,671	2,060
Wirral	766	2,585
Bolton	570	1,317
Bury	803	1,507
Manchester	7,450	17,545
Oldham	1,014	2,650
Rochdale	1,802	2,885
Salford	1,551	2,891
Stockport	1,411	2,691
Tameside	532	1,360
Trafford	1,594	3,208
Wigan	1,464	3,990
Barnsley	1,090	1,226
Doncaster	424	1,353
Rotherham	481	1,751
Sheffield	3,497	8,044
Bradford	8,269	13,383
Calderdale	830	2,305
Kirklees	3,304	6,955
Leeds	3,325	9,301
Wakefield	1,438	3,307
Gateshead	1,122	3,714
Newcastle upon Tyne	1,716	3,948
North Tyneside	2,235	4,300
South Tyneside	1,339	2,851
Sunderland	3,047	4,679
(Non-Metropolitan (counties)
Isles of Scilly	—	—
Avon	3,951	10,965
Bedfordshire	1,625	5,427
Berkshire	7,490	11,584
Buckinghamshire	5,978	12,649
Cambridgeshire	4,387	6,506
Cheshire	5,005	9,518
Cleveland	4,493	7,482
Cornwall	3,319	4,523
Cumbria	3,803	5,254
Derbyshire	7,239	10,794
Devon	6,405	11,046
Dorset	5,265	8,666
Durham	2,995	6,415
East Sussex	4,870	7,993
Essex	11,679	28,705
Gloucestershire	4,652	7,261
Hampshire	11,844	23,877
Hereford and Worcester	1,480	2,688
Hertfordshire	5,960	8,417
Humberside	4,138	7,400
Isle of Wight	1,230	2,125
Kent	5,209	9,481