asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the number of women police officers in the Lancashire constabulary area, and the ranks held, showing the appropriate percentage in each case.

The information requested, as on 31 March 1987, is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he hopes to complete the security survey on Thorpe village in the Orchard Park estate, Hull.

The survey is part of a study of the effect of the priority estates project on crime, housing, management and community life on housing estates. Thorpe village is one of five study areas. We hope to complete the Thorpe village survey interviews in June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in the last year for which figures are available arrangements have been made for chiropodists to hold sessions in prison establishments; and in which prisons were such sessions held.

The information held centrally relates only to sessions held on a regular basis. In September 1986 the position was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to extend or improve facilities for mothers and babies in prison establishments.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 5 March, at column 689.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the research project by the University of Sussex in three prison department mother and baby units is expected to be completed.

The report is due to reach the Department in February 1988.

asked the Secretary of State for die Home Department how many medical officers, hospital officers and nurses employed in prisons have attended training courses in health education.

Information in the form requested is not available from central records and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The professional and in-service training received by the staff groups mentioned contains elements relevant to health education. Such education, involving staff in various disciplines, is an ingredient in a number of existing or planned programmes and initiatives.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Independent Broadcasting Authority has registered a network agreement with the European Economic Community Commission directorate responsible for monitoring restrictive trade practices; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the IBA takes the view that, as a statutory authority, it is not required to notify such agreements under article 85 of the treaty of Rome.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those prisons designated as regional centres for prisoners suffering from AIDS; if he has any plan to increase the number or capacity of such units; and if he will make a statement.

Accommodation at Brixton prison and Risley remand centre is already available for the care and support of inmates who develop AIDS and who do not for the time being require the facilities of the National Health Service. A further purpose-built unit of 12 beds is to be provided at Brixton. Our contingency plans also envisage care and support facilities at other establishments in case of need, but a final decision about their location has yet to be made. At the present time there is no diagnosed case of AIDS in the prison system.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further representations his Department has received over pensioner households being exempted from the television licence fee.

Since 28 January, when I answered a similar question from the hon. Member at column 250, written representations about the level of television licence fees for retirement pensioners have been received from 46 hon. Members and 278 members of the public. the majority of these representations favour reduced, rather than free, licences for pensioners; a view strongly endorsed by a delegation from Pensioners' Voice which I received on 11 March.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further action he proposes to combat child abuse; and if he will make a statement.

I intend to issue next month a paper on the use of video technology in trials involving allegations of abuse. The purpose of the paper will be, first, to seek views from outside Government on the detailed operation of the scheme provided for in clause 21 of the Criminal Justice Bill, whereby children will be able to give evidence by video link at such trials. Secondly, the paper will discuss whether a change in the law should permit a more widespread use of video recordings of a child as evidence in these trials. Copies will be placed in the Library as soon as the paper is issued.I also propose to establish a working group of experts with recent experience in the field of child abuse to review recent developments in the investigations by the police of such cases. The object will be to offer guidance to chief officers of police on best practice, having regard both to the need for the efficient investigation of the allegations and the interest of the child.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Deartment whether he has completed his inquiries into the circumstances which led, in a recent case, to the grant of bail to Mr. Winston Silcott; and if he will make a statement.

On 28 May 1985 Winston Silcott was committed in custody for trial at the Central Criminal Court, on a charge of the murder of Anthony Roy Smith. On 31 May 1985 Silcott successfully applied for bail. He was later convicted of the murder, on 6 October 1985, of PC Blakelock. I understand that he has appealed against that conviction. He has also been convicted of the murder of Smith.The bail application on behalf of Silcot was heard in chambers, and no contemporaneous record is available. This is unsatisfactory. In the absence of such a record, it is impossible to be sure of the detailed circumstances which led to the granting of bail. In particular, it is not entirely clear how closely the court addressed the possibility that the applicant might commit further offences while on bail, or what information the court considered concerning his character, antecedents, associations and community ties.Decisions on bail are among the most difficult which a court has to take. In 1985, 22 per cent. of those committed for trial were committed in custody, including 88 per cent. of those charged with murder.Nineteen per cent. of the prison population are now unconvicted, which is double the percentage seven years ago.We have considered whether procedural or administrative changes are desirable in the handling of bail applications. The Crown Prosecution Service now has responsibility for making representations in respect of all applications for bail in criminal proceedings. With the agreement of my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General, arrangements are now in hand for ensuring that guidance to the Crown Prosecution Service includes the clearest possible instructions on best practice in dealing with bail applications. In addition, my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor intends to ensure that increased attention is given to bail in judicial studies and magisterial training. As to court procedure, there are sound reasons why the details of a bail application should not be made widely known to the public. The Government are not so far persuaded that bail applications to the Crown court ought ordinarly to be made in open court, but clearly there is a strong case for requiring that there should be a record of bail proceedings where appropriate. Arrangements will be made for this to be done in suitable categories of case.We have also looked at the balance which the Bail Act strikes between the need to protect the interests of unconvicted defendants and the need to ensure, as far as possible, that such defendants do not commit offences or subvert the course of justice while awaiting trial. We have considered whether to bring forward proposals during proceedings on the Criminal Justice Bill now before Parliament, for amendment to the provisions of the Bail Act governing the granting of bail. The balance of the Bail Act will be kept under continuous review but we have considered that it would be a mistake to seek to alter that balance as a result of the Silcott case.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about his decision to appoint inspectors under the Companies Act to investigate the circumstances surrounding the acquisition of shares in House of Fraser during 1984 and 1985.

No.It is not the practice of Secretaries of State to disclose the reasons for the appointment of inspectors. I can say, however, that I have asked the inspectors to look in particular at the circumstances surrounding the acquisition of shares in House of Fraser plc in 1984 and 1985.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any plans to arrange for staff of his Department to he screened for antibodies to human immundodeficiency virus.

[pursuant to his reply, 30 March 1987, c. 358]: There are no plans to introduce such screening among staff of the Department of Trade and Industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether any current or former staff of his Department have been found to have developed AIDS or antibodies to human immundodeficiency virus.

[pursuant to his reply, 30 March 1987, c. 358]: I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Health on Wednesday 22 April, at column 628.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken to ensure that staff of his Department are warned about those homosexual and other activities which are deemed to involve a high risk of AIDS infection.

[pursuant to his reply, 30 March 1987, c. 358]: All staff in the Department of Trade and Industry have received individual copies of information and advice about AIDS.

asked the Prime Minister if she will consider matching pound for pound from public funds the money raised from voluntary contributions during the past four weeks of International AIDS Day.

I congratulate all those who have raised money for AIDS projects through International AIDS Day. This is an entirely private charitable venture. For their part, the Government are undertaking a £20 million programme of public education. A further £7 million has been allocated in 1987–88 for the treatment, care and counselling of victims and infected people. An extra £14·5 million for research over the next three years will be made available to the Medical Research Council. Money has also been provided for the voluntary bodies dealing with AIDS. The need for further funding will be kept under review.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland how many prosecutions have taken place in Scotland, and how many are pending, in connection with the purchase or attempted purchase of shares in companies which have been privatised since 1979.

As far as can be ascertained there have been no prosecutions in Scotland in connection with the purchase or attempted purchase of shares in companies which have been privatised since 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the latest position with regard to the M65 link to the M6/M61; and if he will make a statement.

Investigations by consulting engineers are well in hand. We expect to announce the precise route for the link road in the summer and to publish statutory orders early next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received seeking a link from the M65 eastwards to the M1/M62; and if he will make a statement.

We have received suggestions, principally from Lancashire county council, that a new link might be needed, but we have no proposals. The existing A6068 route eastwards from M65 is a lightly trafficked local authority road on the primary route network.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any proposals to upgrade the link between the M66 and M65 to motorway standards.

No. The existing high standard dual carriageway link, completed in 1985, was designed to cater for existing and future traffic requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on potential for traffic growth on the M62 across the Pennines.

The M62 section across the Pennines, soon to be improved by the addition of climbing lanes, can accommodate substantial traffic growth. We plan to widen the busy section of the motorway north of Manchester.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the average waiting time for a driving test at each driving test centre in Lancashire in the last five years.

This information is not readily available. The waiting times in April for the last three years were:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many driving tests have been conducted at each driving test centre in Lancashire in each of the last five years; and what the percentage failure rate has been in each case.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many driving test centres there are in Lancashire; where they are sited; and how many test examiners are employed at each centre.

There are six driving test centres in Lancashire, sited and staffed as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to the numbers of commuters using rail services from Essex into London in each of the past five years.

Specific data on passengers travelling from Essex into London are not available. However, the figures for the number of passengers arriving in the morning peak at Liverpool Street and Fenchurch Street stations for the past five years are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if, pursuant to his answer in the Official Report of 8 April, Official Report column 249 relating to motorway barriers he will state what proportion of central barriers construction contracts will be covered by his proposed sample check of 150 miles.

The 150 miles of detailed checks cover some 36 separate sections of motorways constructed between 1958 and 1976. Continuous central reserve safety fences were not provided on motorways until after 1970, and were added to motorways constructed prior to this date under contracts arranged locally. The information requested is not readily available. It is estimated the sample should cover about 20 per cent. of central barrier construction contracts.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has now heard from the Civil Aviation Authority following his request to it to hold consultations with the airline industry, in order to ensure a proper framework for free and fair competition in British aviation; and if he will make a statement.

The Civil Aviation Authority's consultation paper on safeguards against monopolistic and anti-competitive behaviour was issued on 22 January. Consultees were originally given until 31 March to respond, but, in view of the complexity of the issues and the need to ensure that they are given the fullest consideration, individual requests for further time to submit a response have been granted. The authority expects that all submissions on this consultation, and on the parallel consultation on market entry, will have been received by the end of May.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the Government's policy on the encouragement of competition in the British airline industry and strengthening the role of other airlines as competitors to British Airways.

The Government are committed to a sound and competitive multi-airline industry and to the promotion of fair competition in all markets, so long as the United Kingdom's interests are not prejudiced. This policy offers British airlines, with adequate resources, opportunities to provide competing services and thus to strengthen their position. It is also the aim of the policy that the United Kingdom civil aviation industry as a whole should continue to include airlines strong enough to compete aggressively against foreign carriers.It is essential for the continued success of the Government's policy that there should be effective safeguards against anti-competitive behaviour. The Civil Aviation Authority, at our request, is reviewing the information available to it on airlines' activities and whether that information should be improved, in consultation with the air transport industry, its users and others. The authority is also consulting on the question of market entry.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he intends to make it a legal requirement that persons on the exposed seats of new coaches and minibuses to which seat belts are to be fitted will be obliged to wear those belts.

No. We aim to encourage their voluntary use.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library information on the anticipated reliability and frequency of servicing of pacer units at the time of British Rail's purchase of these units; what information he has on the extent to which these expectations have been met; and if he will make a statement.

These are management matters for BR, and the Government do not receive the type of information requested. I understand, however, that BR has experienced certain problems in the operation of their pacer units. Where these difficulties have not already been overcome, BR is confident that they can be resolved.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if, pursuant to his answer of 22 April, he will discuss with British Rail appropriate definitions of overcrowding on Inter-City services.

I am happy to discuss with British Rail its standards for Inter-City, but it is required to operate this service on a commercial basis and it is for it to decide on the combination of quality, price and provision that best enables it to meet the needs of its customers and to compete successfully with other modes.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a review of the high-risk excess alcohol offender scheme.

We need more results before drawing firm conclusions. The scheme has been running for four years. In the last 12 months the first drivers have completed their obligatory three-year period of disqualification and have had to satisfy the licensing authority that their drink problem is under control.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if, commencing in this year's edition of "Road Accidents Great Britain: The Casualty Report", he will publish the proportion of fatalities, by age group, with alcohol levels 0 to 20 mg per cent., 21 to 50 mg per cent., 51 to 80 mg per cent. and those over 80 per cent.

Information is available in tables C4 and C5 on page 23 of the 1985 edition, but not as a detailed cross-tabulation. We will consider this suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are being taken to improve methods of data collection in relation to official statistics regarding the number and proportion of fatalities resulting from accidents where excess alcohol was identified as a major contributory factor.

Coroners' reports contain information on blood alcohol levels of fatalities. This is summarised in "Road Accidents Great Britain: The Casualty Report". This book also contains information on breath tests of drivers involved in accidents. The number of such tests administered is a matter for the police.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if the construction of the Channel tunnel will have any impact on war graves or cemeteries containing war graves in the United Kingdom.

The construction of the Channel tunnel will have no impact on war graves or cemeteries containing war graves in the United Kingdom, though the Commonwealth War Graves Commission has, of course, been kept informed of the plans.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made with regard to his decision on the A423 Stubbings bypass; and if he will make a statement.

The inspector's report following the A423 inquiry is still being considered. I hope to make an announcement this summer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department is replying to all those organisations which have submitted observations on the Widdicombe report.

We have received nearly 400 responses to our invitation for comments on the Widdicombe report. The Department has acknowledged each one, but will not be responding individually to he various comments and observations contained in them. I can, however, assure the hon. Member that my right hon. Friend will take proper account of the responses in his consideration of the report and its findings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of housing grants to the private sector were mandatory grants in 1979 and each subsequent year (a) nationally, (b) in the north-west region, (c) in Lancashire, (d) in Burnley and (e) in Pendle.

The information reported by local authorities is available in the form requested only from 1981–82.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses were built each year in Grimsby since 1979.

Reported completions of dwellings in Great Grimsby appear in the following issues of "Local Housing Statistics", which are available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he has had discussions with the chairman of the West Yorkshire Residuary Body about the district valuer's assessment of the value of county hall, Wood street, Wakefield; and if he will make a statement;(2) what recent discussions he has had with the chairman of the West Yorkshire Residuary Body regarding the sale of county hall, Wood street, Wakefield; and if he will make a statement;(3) when he expects the West Yorkshire Residuary Body to make its decision on the sale of furnishings and contents of the county hall, Wood street, Wakefield;(4) when he expects the West Yorkshire Residuary Body to make its decision on the sale of the county hall, Wood street, Wakefield.

I have discussed the sale of county hall with the chairman of the residuary body and I understand that marketing should soon be completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will report on the work undertaken with the UNECE Geneva convention on long-range trans-boundary air pollution by the group of experts on cost and benefit analysis into an economic assessment of the acid deposition problem in the United Kingdom; and if he will provide details of conclusions which the group has reached.

The executive body for the UNECE convention on long range transboundary air pollution has given the group of experts on cost and benefit analysis a wide-ranging remit to develop and apply appropriate economic methodologies to the evaluation of alternative abatement scenarios, for the ECE region as a whole and not specifically the United Kingdom. The group has had two formal sessions and has not yet reached conclusions, but these will be made available in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the emission scenarios for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and other pollutants which are being used for cost-benefit analysis of the acid deposition problem in the United Kingdom within the context of the UNECE Geneva convention on long-range transboundary air pollution.

The executive body for the convention on long range transboundary air pollution adopted the following sulphur dioxide emission scenarios for the ECE region as a whole at its second session in September 1984, taking 1980 emissions as the base level:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in full in the Official Report the text of the United Kingdom's sulphur dioxide abatement programme as provided to the group of experts on cost and benefit analysis within the UNECE Geneva convention on long-range transboundary air pollution.

No such programme has been provided to the group of experts on cost and benefit analysis. Research work being undertaken for my Department on the development of economic evaluation models in the context of United Kingdom domestic policy have been used as a substantial input to the work of the group. It is intended to make the results of this research available in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce his approval for the Thorpes scheme on the Anchor park estate under the estate action programme.

Estate Action is considering the local authority's outline application for additional resources to carry out improvement works linked to more localised management on the Thorpes part of the Orchard Park estate in Hull, together with bids from other authorities.Local authorities will be advised shortly which outline schemes they should work up as firm bids for Estate Action support. Formal approval of schemes will follow once local authorities have consulted tenants fully and produced satisfactory detailed schemes and costings in line with their outline proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has yet completed his consideration of the report sent to him on 20 April by the Greenpeace organisation on the pollution of the North sea by nitrates and other agricultural based chemicals; and if he will make a statement.

Not yet.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider modification of the criteria upon which renovation grants are considered so that, in addition to the condition of a dwelling, the needs of the applicant can be considered; what representations he has received from local authorities and others in this matter; and if he will make a statement.

Local authorities already have discretion to take into account a number of factors other than dwelling condition, including the needs of the grant applicant. We are considering changes to the system to reflect more directly applicants' needs and resources, in the light of responses to the Green Paper "Home Improvement — A New Approach" and subsequent representations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information his Department keeps on the importation of rana heterodactyla and rana tigrina; if he will give figures on the countries of origin; and if any conditions are imposed by United Kingdom authorities in the methods of slaughter.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to rana hexadactyla and rana tigerina. International trade in these species has been monitored since 1 August 1985 under the terms of the convention on international trade on endangered species and statistics of imports from non-EC countries have since then been maintained by my Department.From 1 August 1985 to date, 3,629 kg of rana hexadactyla legs and 200 kg of rana hexadactyla meat have been imported from India. There have been no imports of rana tigerina.No conditions relating to methods of slaughter are attached to import permits, which are imposed for conservation reasons. There is, however, an internationally recognised code of practice relating to the processing of frogs legs to which, I understand, the Indian Government subscribe.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will discuss with the Football Association the implications for Her Majesty's Government's policy on equal opportunities of the FA's rule forbidding mixed football; and if he will make a statement.

The Football Association and the Women's Football Association both encourage the participation of everyone in the game. As with most physical sports, however, the view of both associations is that while very young children of either sex may compete on equal terms, the interests of competitive football are best served by separate competitions for men and women at the junior and senior level. I see no need to offer advice to the FA or the WFA on this view or any inconsistency between it and the Government's approach to equal opportunities.

asked the Secretary of State for. Education and Science if he will open immediate discussions with those conducting the affairs of University college, Cardiff about the loss of posts now projected.

The University Grants Committee is already in contact with University college, Cardiff about the college's financial position, including its current academic and financial plans.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will have discussions with the University Grants Committee regarding the implications for education in Wales of the financial situation of the University college of Wales, Aberystwyth; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend and I, together with the chairman of the University Grants Committee, met representatives of the University of Wales on 29 January to discuss aspects of the funding of the university.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to allocate funds for the improvement programme planned for St. Saviours, Ealing.

I cannot at present say when funds might be allocated for this project.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish for each of the year since 1978 his estimate of the total number of places available nationally in nursery schools and nursery classes.

Information on the number of places in nursery schools and nursery classes is not collected centrally. The number of full-time and part-time pupils in maintained nursery schools and nursery classes in primary schools in England each year since 1978 was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any plans to arrange for staff in his department to be screened for antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus.

[pursuant to her reply, 30 March 1987, c. 344–45]: No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether any current or former staff of his department have been found to have developed AIDS or antibodies to HIV.

[pursuant to her reply, 30 March 1987, c. 344–45]: I would refer my hon Friend to the answer given by my hon Friend the Minister for Health on Wednesday 22 April.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he has taken to ensure that staff of his Department are warned about those homosexual and other activities which are deemed to involve a high risk of AIDS infection.

[pursuant to her reply, 30 March 1987, c. 344–5]: In April 1986 the Management and Personnel Office, after consulting the chief medical officer, DHSS, circulated all Departments with guidance to managers and model notes for staff. This Department drew on those notes in producing advice to staff through the medium of an office notice. I understand that a copy of the central guidance is available in the Library.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will estimate the annual cost to the Exchequer of the larger size of brown manilla envelopes supplied for use by the House of Commons; what representations he has received concerning the number of such envelopes which have broken in the post; and if he will make a statement.

The estimated cost of the brown post-paid envelopes, code number 131, supplied for right hon. and hon. Members use during the period March 1986 to April 1987 was £42, 572·60. This amount includes postal charges at first-class rates.The Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee at its meeting on 19 May last year considered the feasibility and cost of stocking more robust brown envelopes and decided that orders should be placed on an experimental basis for a stronger self-seal brown envelope of 120g/m2 code number 23–115. These are being tried out by the Committee Office and the results of the experiment will be reported to the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what funds he has made available, and to which local authorities in Scotland for the conversion of domestic and industrial waste into fuel.

The Energy Efficency Office has funded research and development and demonstrations of the conversion of domestic and industrial waste into fuel, to the value of £3,134,000 in the United Kingdom.No local authorities in Scotland have applied to my Department for funding, but our energy technology support unit is monitoring the performance of a pilot refuse derived fuel plant operated by Glasgow district council.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the current estimate of the Central Electricity Generating Board for the capital cost of the Sizewell B nuclear power station.

I am advised by the CEGB that its latest estimate is £1,245 million in 1982 prices, the price basis used by Sir Frank Layfield. This includes substantial costs incurred because of the time the CEGB had to wait for a decision; these are a function of the inquiry process rather than the type of station.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the draft recommendation and report prepared by the Steering Committee for Human Rights of the Council of Europe on conscientious objection to compulsory military service; and if he will make a statement.

The United Kingdom Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe supported the draft recommendation and report which were adopted by the Committee of Ministers' Deputies on 9 April 1987.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent changes there have been to the rights of immigrant workers in Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement.

The Hong Kong Government announced on 16 April revised conditions of employment for foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong, covering conditions of stay, wage levels, and new arrangements for changes of employment and renewal of contract. These revisions followed a Government review of the employment of foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Government also reminded all foreign domestic helpers to observe conditions of stay by not taking on additional work and reminded employers to take out accident insurance for all foreign domestic helpers in their employ.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he has received any assurances from the Government of Sri Lanka that the British citizens working for KMS are not employed in military operations.

No. As I told the hon. member for West Bromwich, West (Miss Boothroyd) on 24 March, we understand that KMS employs British citizens under a private commercial contract with the Sri Lankan Government to training services to their security forces. We have emphased throughout to KMS and to the Sri Lankan Government alike our view that British subjects should not be engaged in military operations of any kind in Sri Lanka.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any current or former staff of his Department have been found to have developed AIDS or antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus.

[pursuant to his reply, 30 March 1987, c 341–421]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Minister for Health on 22 April.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any plans to arrange for staff of his Department to be screened for antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus.

[pursuant to his reply, 30 March 1987, c. 341–42]: There are no such plans at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to ensure that staff of his Department are warned about those homosexual and other activities which are deemed to involved a high risk of AIDS infection.

[pursuant to his reply, 30 March 1987, c. 341–421]: In April 1986 the Management and Personnel Office, after consulting the chief medical officer, DHSS, circulated all Departments with guidance to managers and model notes for staff. This Department drew on those notes and on the Department of Employment-Health and Safety Executive book "AIDS and Employment" in providing notes for staff. I understand that copies of both those pieces of guidance are available in the Library of the House.

asked the Paymaster General if he will publish in the Official Report the percentage increase in average full-time male manual and average full-time and part-time female wages in the Borders region since 1979 to the latest figures available, together with the percentage increase in the retail prices index and the equivalent percentage wage rate increases in United Kingdom national terms for the same period.

Estimates of earnings in the Borders region are available only for full-time manual male employees.The information is shown in the table:

asked the Paymaster General if he will publish in the Official Report a statistical analysis of average wage rates since 1979 (a) in the Scottish borders. (b) in Scotland and (c) in the United Kingdom.

The available information on average earnings for the Borders region and the comparable information for Scotland and the United Kingdom is set out in the table:

asked the Paymaster General what are the lastest figures he has available for staffing levels, actual and establishment, of the Health and Safety Executive and the Industrial Pollution Inspectorate (a) in the United Kingdom as a whole and (b) in Scotland.

The Health and Safety Executive's responsibilities cover Great Britain but do not extend to Northern Ireland. The number of permanent staff in post at 1 March 1987 and planned manpower for 31 March 1987 are as follows:1.

asked the Paymaster General (1) what has been the change in the amount of part-time working in the Borders region since 1979;(2) what has been the change in the number of manufacturing jobs in the Borders region since 1979;(3) what has been the change in the number of service based jobs in the Borders region since 1979.

My Department's statistics for the region monitor only net changes in employment between census dates. No census was taken in 1979, or 1980, and the most recent figures are for September 1981. The September 1984 census estimates for local areas are not yet available.

asked the Paymaster General, if he will take steps to publish an up-to-date version of the White Paper entitled, "Lifting the Burden".

"Lifting the Burden" (Cmnd. 9571), published in June 1985, was followed, in May 1986, by a second White Paper on deregulation entitled "Building Businesses … Not Barriers" (Cmnd. 9794). A summary leaflet "Cutting Red Tape" was published at the same time. We expect to publish a further report during 1987.

asked the Paymaster General how many people in (i) Burnley and (ii) Pendle constituencies are engaged in (a) the YTS, (b) the community programme, (c) the job release scheme, (d) the enterprise allowance scheme, (e) the job splitting scheme, (f) community industry and (g) the young workers scheme.

Not all the figures are available in the precise form requested. However, the available information for Burnley and Pendle at 31 March 1987 is as follows:

asked the Paymaster General if he will publish in the Official Report for (a) Burnley constituency and (b) Pendle constituency (i) the population and (ii) the number unemployed as at 1 January and 1 July in 1979 and each subsequent year.

Following is the available information, which is also in the Library. The most recent information on the population in parliamentary constituencies is from the 1981 census of population, which identified populations of 94,078 and 85,744 respectively, present on census night (5–6 April 1981) in the Burnley and Pendle constituencies.The following table shows the numbers of unemployed claimants in the parliamentary constituencies of Burnley and Pendle on count dates closest to 1 January and 1 July. The comparison is affected by the change in timing of the compilation of the unemployment statistics in March 1986. Statistics of unemployment for parliamentary constituencies are derived from the ward-based system and are available only from June 1983.

the Paymaster General what was the number of people unemployed in (a) Burnley and (b) Pendle by standard industrial classification when such figures were last available.

The following information is in the Library. The table shows the numbers of unemployed registrants, analysed by the 1968 standard industrial classification, at jobcentres which closely correspond to the Burnley and Pendle parliamentary constituencies in May 1982, the last date for which such figures were collected. These figures are not comparable with the current monthly count of unemployed claimants at unemployment benefit offices.

asked the Paymaster General what are the unemployment figures, broken down by male and female and under 25 years, 25 to 50 years and over 50 years of age for each of the last four years for (a) Burnley constituency and (b) Pendle constituency.

The following information is in the Library. The tables show the number of unemployed claimants in the age groups requested, analysed by sex, in the constituencies of Burnley and Pendle, for January of each

asked the Paymaster General how many people in (a) Burnley and (b) Pendle have been unemployed (i) for more than one year and (ii) for more than two years; and what were the corresponding figures in 1979.

The following information is in the Library. The table gives the numbers of claimants who had been unemployed for the durations requested in the parliamentary constituencies of Burnley and Pendle on 8 January 1987, the latest date for which an analysis of unemployment by duration is available. Statistics of unemployment for parliamentary constituencies derived from the ward-based system and are available only from June 1983.

asked the Paymaster General when he expects to increase the maximum community programme wage for labourers.

We keep under review the maximum level of wages which can be reimbursed under the community programme and make changes when this would improve the cost-effective use of taxpayers' money. There are no plans at present to increase the maximum level of reimbursement of wages for participants.

asked the Paymaster General how many community programme places in the Borders region are expected to be lost as a result of new Manpower Services Commission restrictions on approved places and average occupancy rates.

It is proposed that the average number of filled places for the Borders region in 1987–88 shall be 261, compared to 282 during 1986–87.

asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement on Government policy towards reductions in Manpower Services Commission community programme projects in the Borders area in 1987–88.

In 1987–88 the community programme will provide jobs for 300,000 people, the same number as in 1986–87. The programme will operate at an average level of about 245,000 filled places over the year, slightly below the current level of 248,000 filled places. At the same time the Manpower Services Commission is seeking to ensure that places are as far as possible targeted on those areas of greatest need and this means that some shifts in the geographical distribution of places will occur. In the Borders area places have been allocated according to the distribution of the numbers of long-term unemployed people within Scotland. This means that there will be an average filled place allocation of 261 places for 1987–88 compared to 282 places during 1986–87.

asked the Paymaster General when he expects to reply to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Maryhill's letter of 20 March regarding the Manpower Services Commission's community programmes in inner-city areas in Scotland.

I shall be replying to the hon. Member shortly.

asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement on the visit to Nabisco at Long lane, Liverpool of the Department of Employment Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on Thursday 2 April.

I was invited to the Nabisco bakery at Aintree, Liverpool on 2 April to present certificates to a number of YTS managing agents in the locality who had recently gained the status of approved training organisation. The requirement for all YTS managing agents to gain ATO status is an important aspect of the Manpower Services Commission's programme of quality development in YTS.

asked the Paymaster General when he will reply to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Maryhill's letter of 7 April about disparities in the United Kingdom in the level of earnings.

I shall be replying to the hon. Member shortly.

asked the Paymaster General how many persons have to date received compensation payments under the pneumoconiosis, Etc. (Workers Compensation) Act 1979; and what has been the total amount of money paid out under the provisions of that Act since it reached the statute book.

As at 23 April, 4,619 persons have received payments amounting to £26,953,073 since the Act came into force on 4 July 1979.

asked the Paymaster General whether he has any plans to arrange for staff of his Department to be screened for antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus.

[pursuant to his reply, 30 March 1987,c. 353]: No.

asked the Paymaster General whether any current or former staff of his Department have found to have developed AIDS or antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus.

[pursuant to his reply, 30 March 1987, c. 353]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Health on Wednesday 22 April.

asked the Paymaster General what steps he has taken to ensure that staff of his Department are warned about those homosexual and other activities which are deemed to involve a high risk of AIDS infection.

[pursuant to his reply, 30 March 1987, c. 353]: In April 1986 the Management and Personnel Office, after consulting the chief medical officer DHSS, circulated all Departments with guidance to managers and model notes for staff. The Department of Employment group drew on those notes and on the Department of Employment-Health and Safety Executive book "AIDS and Employment" in providing notes for staff. I understand that copies of both of those pieces of guidance are available in the Library of the House.

asked the Paymaster General whether he will publish in the Official Report his estimate of the numbers and average gross earnings in the fiscal year 1987–88 of the median and deciles of full-time male and female manual and non-manual workers.

I have been asked to reply.No official forecasts are available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement outlining the nature of his responsibilities for marine pollution; and if, in particular, he will indicate what calculations he has made of the cost of disposing of sewage sludge per wet ton by means of incineration, agricultural application, land fill and sea dumping, respectively.

Under part II of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 my right hon. Friend the Minister is responsible in England for granting licences for the disposal of waste at sea. He is also jointly responsible, with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, for granting authorisations under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 for the discharge of radioactive wastes from licensed nuclear sites and UKAEA premises in England. In addition, under the Control of Pollution Act 1974 we are consulted by water authorities or by the Secretary of State for the Environment about the potential effects on fisheries of proposed pipeline discharges into coastal waters. Comparisons of financial and other costs are more appropriately made in individual cases as they vary considerably according to the circumstances.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on the value of the pesticides sold to farmers for the last year for which figures are available.

Information on sales of agricultural pesticides to farmers in the United Kingdom is not held by my Department. However, current indications from industry figures suggest annual sales approaching £400 million.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many ex-Spanish fishing vessels are now on the British Register; and what was the total on 1 January.

I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what occasions in the past month the Thames barrier has been raised in order to prevent flooding in the London area, other than for testing purposes.

During the past month the Thames barrier was raised on Sunday 29 March due to a combination of northerly winds, a high spring-tide, and the level of surge and fresh water flow.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he intends to revise the Soft Drinks Regulations 1964; and if he will make a statement.