asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has any plans to change the present arrangements under which private coal mines are licensed.

I have no such plans at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the earliest date on which a Government commitment can be made to the Severn barrage; and if he will make it his policy to continue support for this and other water-based electricity generating proposals.

The work now in hand on the Severn barrage is aimed at reducing uncertainty on its likely costs and performance, assessing regional and environmental implications, and defining the further work that would be required to enable any decision to be made to proceed to construction. The present programme of work should allow this present phase to be completed towards the end of 1988.My Department will continue support for further work on tidal barrages and other promising water-based electricity-producing renewable energy sources.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the future effects on the economy in general from the recently announced new coal-fired power station building programme, in terms of potential jobs and new output; and if he will make a statement.

The CEGB has estimated that the two possible coal-fired power stations at West Burton and Fawley offer opportunities of work for 18,000 to 20,000 people in power plant manufacturing and other companies. The board does not expect to submit a formal application for consent to construct these stations until later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on current progress on the construction of the coal liquefaction plant at Point of Ayr.

Construction of this British Coal plant is at an advanced stage, having started last year.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the latest position with regard to the review conducted by the chairman of British Coal into the cases of miners sacked during the industrial dispute of 1984–85.

I have nothing to add to the statement made by the chairman of the British Coal Corporation on 1 April, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what studies his Department has made of the longer-term effects on coastal erosion as a consequence of North sea oil production operations.

My Department has conducted no studies in this area.

asked the Prime Minister what was the date of her most recent visit to security forces at Middletown, County Armagh.

The date of my most recent visit was 23 December 1986.

asked the Prime Minister, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Stafford (Mr. Cash) on 18 December, Official Report, columns 612–613, if she will make a statement on progress on detailed planning in relation to nuclear accidents.

I hope to make a further statement soon.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will pay an official visit to the northern region.

I have at present no plans to do so. Acts of Parliament

asked the Prime Minister if she will list the titles of Acts of Parliament, given Royal Assent since May 1979, which have not been fully implemented

Acts of Parliament given Royal Assent since May 1979 and which have not been fully implemented are listed below:

asked the Prime Minister whether there has been co-ordination of research between the Department of Health and Social Security and the Department of the Environment since 1980 regarding the direct and indirect human health implications of the air pollutants associated with acid deposition; and if she will make a statement.

Close links have been maintained between the Department of Health and Social Security and the Department of the Environment on the development of research projects and on the assessment of available information on possible health implications of air pollutants associated with acid rain, both before and since 1980. In particular, the DHSS committee on medical aspects of the contamination of air, soil and water coordinates research in this area; members of the committee include experts from university departments and research organisations, with officials from Government Departments, including the Department of Environment, as observers.

asked the Prime Minister if she will announce what further steps Her Majesty's Government will take to assist Cable and Wireless plc to receive serious and detailed consideration of its proposals for KDD International Telecommunications Network under Japanese law.

asked the Prime Minister if, when attending the Venice summit, she will draw to the attention of the Prime Minister of Japan early-day motion 803, entitled "Action in Response to Japanese Trade and Investment Restrictions", and to the large number of hon. Members signatures appended to it; and if she will reaffirm to the Japanese Prime Minister Her Majesty's Government's commitment to supporting the claims of Cable and Wireless plc for transparent and objective consideration of its proposals and feasibility studies as part of the Japanese/United States/United Kingdom consortiums' application for an international telecommunications licence.

Her Majesty's Government are following closely Cable and Wireless's bid, with its IDC partners, for a licence to operate international telecommunications services in competition with KDD. There is now no talk of discrimination against Cable and Wireless. Mr. Karasawa, the Japanese Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, has now for the first time made it clear that he would welcome a proposal for the laying of a new trans-Pacific cable. Commercial discussions on this issue are continuing in Japan and Her Majesty's Government will continue to assist Cable and Wireless in their efforts. I discussed the case with Mr. Tamura, the Japanese Trade Minister, when he was in London recently.

asked the Prime Minister (1) whether she will list government achievements in the northern region since 1983; and whether she will make a statement;(2) whether she will list, by Government Department, the principal aid given to the northern region in each year since 1983.

[pursuant to her reply, 5 May 1987, c. 317]: Since 1983 the northern region's dependence on its traditional industries has decreased and the industrial structure now includes an increasing proportion of sectors with good growth prospects. The Government will continue to support this transition by measures to encourage enterprise and competitiveness, combined with regional aid to foster and expand the industrial and commercial base of the north.The Government's success in reducing inflation, in cutting taxes and borrowing, and in reducing burdens on business has helped to create seven years of steady growth in the national economy, which has been reflected in the north, as elsewhere. In the northern region, there are now 1,096,000 people in paid employment, 29,000 more than in 1983, and a further 107,000 self-employed, 16,000 up on 1983. Over 6,000 new businesses register for VAT each year.Redundancies are 30 per cent. down on 1983 and vacancies are 79 per cent. up. Manufacturing investment rose by 57 per cent. in real terms between 1982 and 1985 (the latest year for which figures are available) and business confidence in the region is growing. Unemployment is now on a firmly downward trend standing at 15·7 per cent. compared with 16·8 per cent. in March 1986 and 16·7 per cent. in February 1983.The contributions and achievements of the Departments of Trade and Industry, of Environment and Transport, and of Employment and the Manpower Services Commission are listed below together with a table setting out the aid provided to the region since 1983. The total amounts to almost £5 billion and demonstrates the Government's commitment to the region.Information on the regional achievements and expenditure of other Government Departments is not immediately available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will provide funds to keep open the Welsh Beekeeping Centre at Colig Howell Harris, Brecon; and if he will make it his policy to seek to obtain support from the European Community for this project.

There are no Welsh Office funds available for this purpose, nor would the centre appear to qualify for European Community support, although I understand the Welsh Beekeepers Associaton has been exploring the position with the European Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make available to farmers in Wales, hit by the Chernobyl radiation cloud, a guaranteed price for the sale of their farms if they should want to sell and find it difficult because of the effects of the radiation ban on the marketability of their farm.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to the hon. Member for Copeland on 30 April at column 216 by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he received a formal application from the West Glamorgan health authority for the approval of an accident and emergency specialist post for the casualty service at Singleton hospital; when the Welsh Medical Manpower Committee last met; when it will meet again; and what would he the annual cost of appointing an accident and emergency specialist.

The Department was asked to give approval to the West Glamorgan health authority's proposal to establish a new consultant post in accident and emergency which would include responsibility for the Singleton hospital minor casualty unit in a letter dated 28 January 1987. In a letter of 9 March to the authority, the Department emphasised that as a new post the proposal would have to be put to the Welsh Medical and Dental Manpower Committee and that in that context a job description for the post would be required.The Welsh Medical and Dental Manpower Committee last met on 7 April, and is next scheduled to meet on 7 July.The total annual cost of a consultant may include his or her salary, the employer's on-costs, and the cost of support staff, equipment and facilities and accommodation. These will vary from post to post according to the circumstances. The Department has not received information about the detailed costings for the post in question. The salary scale for a full-time consultant as recommended by the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration will be £25,440 to £32,840 from 1 April 1987.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many redundancies were reported to his Department in each of the years since 1979 in the constituency of Alyn and Deeside;

Notified redundancies are not available on a constituency basis. I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the numbers of notified redundancies for Wales. Welsh counties, and Welsh travel-to-work areas since 1979 are as follows:

asked the Lord Privy Seal how much money has been paid to (a) the official Ulster Unionist party and (b) the Ulster Democratic Unionist party (i) from November 1985 to March 1986 inclusive and (ii) from April 1986 to March 1987 inclusive, under the terms of the resolution of the House relating to financial assistance to opposition parties.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to accede to the request from the Hampshire police authority for an increase in its establishment of 23 officers.

My right hon. Friend will consider this application, which was made on 14 April, in the light of advice of Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary and together with other applications which are outstanding for 1987–88. I shall let the hon. Member know the outcome in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the action taken by police and immigration officers in conducting raids to arrest numbers of suspected illegal entrants; and if he will make a statement.

I have received recent representations only from the hon. Member for Bradford, West himself.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of passengers granted temporary admission in 1986; and how many of these subsequently absconded.

[pursuant to his reply, 10 April 1987, c. 421]: In 1986, a total of 12,414 passengers were given temporary admission pending further examination and 10,757 were given temporary admission following refusal of leave to enter. Some passengers were included in both categories. Many passengers given temporary admission in the latter part of 1986 were not required to report back until the early months of 1987, but the number of passengers recorded in 1986 as having failed to comply with the conditions of temporary admissions was 1,161.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been brought during each of the past three years by the Metropolitan police in respect of (a) parking offences. (b) bus lane offences and (c) litter dropping.

I will reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make arrangements similar to those planned for the detection of road fund licence offences by means of roadside checks in the London area for the detection of excess alcohol offences.

Within the powers provided by the legislation, the steps taken to enforce the law on drinking and driving are a matter for individual chief officers of police.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if there are any plans for the inmate of Wandsworth prison now receiving dialysis treatment to be given a kidney transplant;(2) for how long the present private dialysis treatment now being given to an inmate of Wandsworth prison is planned to last;(3) how many prison officers escort the inmate from Wandsworth prison for dialysis treatment; how many hours are involved in this work per week; and what is the total cost;(4) who gave permission for an inmate at Wandsworth prison to receive private dialysis treatment; what is the weekly cost of this treatment; and who is responsible for paying for it.

[pursuant to his reply, 29 April 1987]: After prison medical staff, and a consultant nephrologist, confirmed that the inmate, a foreign national who has been sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for illegal importation of drugs, was in urgent need of dialysis private treatment was authorised by prison department officials as a short term emergency expedient.Dialysis equipment will shortly be available at Wandsworth prison and when the installation work has been completed and the necessary training in its use given (which, it is estimated, will take about six weeks), the present arrangements will be discontinued. There are no plans for a kidney transplant.The weekly charge for the treatment, which has been borne on the prisons Vote is £350. A prison officer and hospital officer have been accompanying the prisoner for his treatment twice a week; and the estimated total weekly cost of the escort, which has lasted about eight hours on each occasion, has been £200.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Chislehurst on 12 December 1986, Official Report, column 261, he can now report on the outcome of the Government's representations to the Greek authorities and the European Commission on the discriminatory rates of value added tax applied to certain alcoholic beverages.

At our request, the European Commission has pursued this with the Greek authorities and is considering possible infraction proceedings in the European Court. We will continue to insist on early action to remove any discrimination against United Kingdom exports of spirits to Greece.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a substantial increase in the budget for the British national space plan.

The Government are presently considering the British national space plan and hope to come to a decision soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the allocation of shares in the Rolls-Royce offer for sale.

A total of 2·025 million applications (including applications from eligible employees and pensioners of Rolls-Royce) were received for 3,145.9 million shares. 801,470,588 shares were available under the offer.The basis of allocation will be as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from persons who have lost money as a result of the activities of a time-share company, Holiday Ownership Exchange of Leicester Square, London, details of which have been sent to him; if he proposes to take any action in response to these representations; and if he will make a statement.

I have received one written representation and my Department has had several inquiries by telephone. The Department has made widely available its leaflet entitled "Your Place in the Sun" which gives a checklist of steps to take before entering into a timeshare transaction and advises people what to do if things go wrong. The enforcement of consumer protection legislation is generally a matter for local authority trading standards departments. I understand that the City of Westminister has received some 150 complaints about the activities of holiday ownership exchange and they are considering these matters in relation to the powers vested in them.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will make a statement concerning funding of the British National Space Centre.

The Government are presently considering proposals for future space funding put forward by the British National Space Centre and hope to reach a decision soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether there is going to be an increase in the number of British directors of the Leyland/DAF joint venture as a result of the discussions following the debate in the House on 11 March.

Rover Group and DAF are continuing to discuss the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is now prepared to increase the Government's contribution to the A330/A340 projects.

The Government's discussions with British Aerospace about the amount of launch aid for the airbus A330 and A340 projects have reached an advanced stage and it is hoped that an agreement will soon be reached.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the answer of 6 May, Official Report, column 418, about hydraulic excavators, what information is available to his Department about the quantity and value of components imported by Komatsu in any recent period.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been made available, and to how many firms, in regional aid to industry in (a) the Grimsby travel-to-work area, (b) South Humberside and (c) Humberside entire in each year since 1978.

Figures for the four main components of regional aid to these areas are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give details of any Government grants paid to Brooke Marine, Brooke Yachts, Brooke Marine International and Brooke Marine Holding within the last two years.

The Department of Trade and Industry has not paid any grants to any of these companies within the last two years.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what moneys are owed by his Department to the London residuary body in respect of Greater London council activities prior to abolition.

I will reply to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects the review of the regulation of takeovers that he announced on 28 January to be concluded.

The review has now been concluded. It was carried out by officials from my Department, the Treasury and the Bank of England, together with representatives of the Securities and Investments Boards, the stock exchange and the panel on takeovers and mergers. The review group identified a number of measures which will strengthen the regulation of takeovers. These are listed below. The measures will improve the monitoring and investigative capabilities of the takeover panel, adding further to the arrangements already made with the Stock Exchange to use the latter's new information systems. The measures will make available the sanctions of the Securities and Investments Board and recognised self-regulating organisations, and they will require authorised investment businesses to co-operate with inquiries and investigations carried out by the panel. In addition, they will facilitate and improve co-operation between regulators, and we have today made an order under section 180 of the Financial Services Act and section 449 of the Companies Act designating the panel to receive regulatory information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.A consultative document will be published shortly about changes to law proposed by the review group.The appointments of a new chairman and two new deputy chairmen of the panel have already been announced and further appointments will be made when the new regulatory regime under the Financial Services Act is in place.These steps bring the panel into a closer relationship with the regulatory arrangements established by the Financial Services Act. I believe this provides for effective and flexible regulation of takeovers.MEASURES IDENTIFIED IN THE REVIEW

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what Her Majesty's Government are doing to encourage companies, in both private and public sectors to use their purchasing power to buy goods produced in the United Kingdom and at the same time assist the export potential through the achievement of a greater customer base.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 May 1987]: The Government encourage purchasers in the public and private sectors to recognise that in seeking best value for money they should use their commercial power to enhance the ability of suppliers to compete in home and overseas markets. In the field of public procurement, the Government have issued guidance which sets out best purchasing practices and my Department is promoting this with public bodies under the public purchasing initiative. We welcome and support efforts by private sector organisations such as Industry Matters, Better Made in Britain and the Think British campaign to highlight the benefits to purchasers of having a strong supplier base close at hand and the action they can take to achieve this. In addition, my Department offers a wide range of practical help to companies wishing to improve their productive efficiency and the quality, design and marketing of their goods.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will receive a deputation from the work force of Pinewood film studios to discuss the proposed loss of over 250 permanent jobs there; if, in the light of the redundancies at Pinewood studios and the decline in British feature film production, he will review the operation of the Films Act 1985; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 May 1987]: The Government regret that Pinewood has had to announce redundancies. It would not be appropriate for the Government to intervene in a commercial decision taken by the company, but I am always ready to discuss constructive proposals about the future of the industry. However, I do not consider it necessary to review the operation of the Films Act 1985.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those parades and demonstrations which took place between 17 and 22 April inclusive; in respect of which of these the required seven days notice was not given to the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary; if he will identify which were Loyalist and which Republican; and if he will make a statement.

Police records indicate that a total of 38 parades and demonstrations took place between 17 and 22 April in respect of which seven days' notice was not given; they do not show the affiliation of the organisers of these events.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list for Northern Ireland those sites which have been identified as meeting the criteria for designation under the EEC birds directive as special protection areas and under the Ramsar convention; when these sites will be designated; and if he will make a statement.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will state the total expenditure by way of grant aid on land reclamation in the Province, the area of land which has been reclaimed, and the number of farmers or landowners who have benefited, in respect of each of the years 1980 to 1986, under each of the following schemes (1) the farm capital grant scheme; (2) the farm and horticulture development scheme; (3) the agriculture and horticulture grant scheme; (4) the agriculture and horticulture development scheme; and (5) the agriculture improvement scheme (EC).

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

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his reply of 22 April, Official Report, column 580, how many of the recent murders considered to have been carried out by competing factions of the Irish National Liberation Army led to the deaths of individuals who had formerly been charged with scheduled offences but subsequently released.

[pursuant to his reply, 5 May c. 392]: As I explained in my reply to my hon. Friend. I am not prepared to speculate on the motives behind terrorist murders. I cannot, therefore, provide the information sought.

asked the Paymaster General what representations he has received regarding the quality and quantity of staff employed by the nuclear installations inspectorate.

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

asked the Paymaster General to which bodies or persons he has sent his free booklet, "Action for Cities", and when a copy was sent to the Library and to hon. Members whose constituencies are affected by its contents.

The booklet has been sent to a wide range of interested groups including local authorities; professional organisations; voluntary bodies; churches; police forces; national and local press; construction companies; banks; building societies; and architects. Copies were also sent to the city action teams and inner city task forces for wider distribution to local people. Copies were sent to the Library on 6 May and a copy was sent on 7 May to each hon. Member representing a constituency in England.

asked the Paymaster General where, and in whose premises the press conference on the subject, "Action for Cities" was held on 28 April; and which hon. Members were invited to, or informed of, the event.

The "Action for Cities" presentation was held at the Limehouse studios, Canary wharf, in London's docklands. The House was informed of this in my statement on 27 April.

asked the Paymaster General how many people were invited to attend jobcentres in Telford for the restart programme up to 31 March; how many attended; and if he will categorise the offers made.

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

asked the Paymaster General what is the advertising budget, split by type of media, for the promotion of the job training scheme; what proportion is aimed at potential trainees; and what proportion is aimed at potential employers.

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

asked the Paymaster General what is his latest estimate of the number of full-time jobs lost and part-time jobs gained between 1979 and the latest available date.