asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many pianos in reasonably good playable condition are available to the education service on St. Helena; and in which schools they are placed.

Eight pianos in good condition, including six electronic ones, are in the following schools:

• Country Senior
• Pilling Senior
• Secondary Selective
• Longwood Junior
• Jamestown Junior
• Half Tree Hollow
• Sandy Bay
• Country Junior

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much it cost to produce the booklet "Britain and Africa's Development"; how many copies have been printed; and at what cost.

Eight hundred copies of my address "Britain and Africa's Development" to the Royal Commonwealth Society were reproduced in the Overseas Development Administration at a total cost of £208·34.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much it cost to produce the booklet "British Aid" by the Overseas Development Administration; how many copies have been printed; and at what cost.

It cost £20,760 to produce 30,000 copies of the booklet "British Aid".

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the changes in the fee charged for naturalisation of an alien since 1975 indicating what proportion of the costs of the scheme were intended to be borne by the changes at each stage at which they were increased.

The changes in the fee charged for naturalisation since 1975 are as follows:

Naturalisation Fees: Changes
Date	£
April 1975	40
October 1976	70
March 1978	85

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visas have been issued in (a) Ghana, (b) Bangladesh, (c) India, (d) Pakistan and (e) Nigeria since the scheme began; and how many of these were issued without an interview.

The information available centrally, which does not include separate figures on those visas granted without interview, is given in the following table:

Applications granted for visas to the United Kingdom1
	Number of persons
Ghana
1986 October2 to December	2,890
1987 January, February	1,260
Bangladesh
1986 October3 to December	2,920
1987 January to March	2,610
India
1986 October3 to December	20,130
1987 January to March	16,570
Pakistan
1986 October3 to December	11,540
1987 January to March	10,530
Nigeria
1987 February	42,600
1 For settlement or temporary purposes.
2 Including applications granted for entry clearance in the period 1 to 22 October 1986.
3 Including applications granted for entry clearance in the period 1 to 14 October 1986.
4 Provisional figure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a breakdown of the immigration status on arrival in the United Kingdom of all those (a) granted refugee status on asylum and (b) refused it over the latest 12-month period.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. and learned Friend gave to a question from my right hon. Friend the Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Raison) on 16 March, at column 360. The hon. Member may like to know that the annual statistical bulletin on refugee statistics for the calendar year 1986 is being published on 19 May.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) visitors and (b) business

Ordinary visitors and business visitors admitted to the United Kingdom between October 1986 and January 1987
Number
Nationality	October 1986		November 1986		December 1986		January 1987
	Ordinary visitors	Business visitors	Ordinary visitors	Business visitors	Ordinary visitors	Business visitors	Ordinary visitors	Business visitors
Bangladesh	850	170	500	150	510	110	400	90
Ghana	1,290	570	810	570	970	370	680	460
India	8,520	2,780	5,450	2,490	4,730	1,480	3,730	1,950
Nigeria	5,670	3,330	3,480	2,820	4,400	1,820	3,500	1,850
Pakistan	4,340	1,050	2,610	930	3,090	690	2,130	780

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (i) visitors and (ii) business visitors (a) applied for visas, (b) were granted visas, (c) were refused visas and (d) had their applications referred for further consideration at each of the British posts in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria and Ghana for each month since October 1986.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) on 22 April 1987 at columns 521–29. Separate information for ordinary visitors and business visitors is not available. The other information requested which is available centrally is given in the following table.

Applications for a visit visa to the United Kingdom
Number of persons
	Applications
	1Newly received	2Granted	Refused initially	3Deferred
Dhaka
1987 March	680	490	160	30
Bombay
1987 March	3,080	2,830	50	20
New Delhi
1987 March	2,730	2,230	210	60
Calcutta
1986 October4	500	500	+	10
November	350	340	+	+
December	260	250	-	10
1987 January	270	270	+	-
February	290	280	+	20
March	480	470	+	10
Madras
1986 October4	590	580	+	10
November	450	420	10	10
December	320	290	10	+
1987 January	310	300	+	+
February	420	380	10	+
March	850	810	20	-
Islamabad
1987 March	2,650	1,980	250	190
Karachi
1987 March	1,870	1,700	180	40

The latest available information is given in the following table:

	Applications
	1 Newly received	2 Granted	Refused initially	3Deferred
Kaduna
1987 March	1,780	1,600	40	..
Accra
1987 February	880	580	220	..
..Not available. +5 or fewer.
1 Including applications subsequently withdrawn.
2 Including applications granted on appeal.
3 Including applications referred to the Home Office for decision.
4 Including applications for entry clearance in the period 1 to 14 October 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent on crime prevention by each police authority for each year from 1979 to 1986; and what these amounts represent as a proportion of each police authority's expenditure.

The information requested is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average number of hours worked each week by police officers for each police authority; and what is the average number of hours overtime worked each week by police officers for each police authority.

Federated ranks in the police service are required to work eight hours per day with two rest days in seven. Information on the number of hours worked by police officers and the number of hours overtime worked by police officers is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were employed in the United Kingdom in each year from 1979 to the most recent year for which figures are available; and what estimate he has of the number currently employed.

The information requested is as follows:

Police officer strength: United Kingdom
Position on 31 December	Numbers
1979	133,165
1980	137,619
1981	140,103
1982	141,881
1983	142,214
1984	141,925
1985	142,265
1986	143,212
31 March
1987	143,908

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many designated community police officers are employed by each police authority; and what proportion of the total number of police officers this represents in each police force.

I regret that this information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) to which branches of the organisation known as Conservatives Abroad overseas registration documents have been supplied;(2) by whom the review of the need for guidance on the distribution methods of overseas electors' declaration forms referred to in his answer to the hon. and learned Member for Leicester, West on 22 April,

[pursuant to his reply, 8 May 1987, c. 548]: I regret that my original reply was incomplete. The full reply is as follows.Overseas electors' declaration forms were distributed widely by our diplomatic missions. Information is not available centrally on all the bodies which received copies of the forms, but in practice missions would have supplied copies to anybody, including a branch of Conservatives Abroad, which requested them.The need for guidance on the methods of distribution was considered jointly by this Department and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office issued guidance on 5 May on the lines indicated in my answer of 22 April at column

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to seek further information from Italian police regarding members of an organisation responsible for bombings in Bologna who are resident in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 23 February 1987, c. 36]: I shall write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Attorney-General why it is intended to abolish the right to trial by jury in civil action cases in Northern Ireland; what representations he has received from the Northern Ireland Bar, and elsewhere, for and against such abolition; when he proposes to proceed with the requisite regulations under the Judicature Act 1978; and if he will make a statement.

In January this year it was announced that the Lord Chancellor had concluded that there was no compelling reason why Northern Ireland should differ from England and Wales in the use of juries in personal injury actions. This decision was reached at the conclusion of a review during which submissions from known interested parties, including the Northern Ireland Bar, were considered. The Lord Chancellor indicated that he proposed to bring forward legislation to give effect to this decision and a draft order (The Jury Trial (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 1987) was laid in the House on 11 May 1987. As a result of the curtailment of the parliamentary timetable the order will not be reached before the dissolution of this Parliament.

asked the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the interim report from the Metropolitan police on Lord Rothschild.

I have discussed the case with the Director of Public Prosecutions. He is considering the interim report and may need to request the police to make certain further inquiries.

asked the Prime Minister what conclusion she has drawn from the recent performance of the Scottish Development Agency as to the appropirate role of the state in the Scottish economy; and if she will make a statement.

Since 1979 the Scottish Development Agency has become widely accepted as one of the most effective development agencies in Europe. The agency is committed to working with the grain of the market, encouraging entrepreneurship and private sector initiatives. This approach to economic development is fully in line with the Government's philosophy, and it will continue of offer substantial benefits for Scotland. The work of the agency was commended by the review carried out and published last year. A copy of the report was placed in the Library.

asked the Prime Minster if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 14 May.

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

asked the Prime Minister if she will publish a table or tables listing the identifiable public expenditure per capita for (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) Wales, for each of the last years for which figures are available, giving a separate breakdown for housing, health, education, social services, tourism, transport, roads, industrial support, local government, special employment measures, fire and emergency services, police and prisons.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, South (Mr. MacGregor) to my hon. Friend the Member for Darlington (Mr. Fallon) on 16 December 1986, at columns 488–498. More detailed figures are not readily available. Figures for local authority expenditure

(£ Million)
Area	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85	1985–86	11986–87
North East	123·0	107·0	101·1	109·7	91·4	68·8	61·6	46·4	89·8
North West	76·5	74·1	122·2	177·5	133·1	115·5	107·4	83·0	113·7
Yorkshire & Humberside	30·2	21·5	38·7	47·1	36·4	23·5	26·8	24·2	27·2
East Midlands	2·3	2·4	3·2	7·2	8·8	8·2	3·8	4·4	8·4
West Midlands	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
South West	6·0	5·0	8·5	10·3	11·0	7·8	9·5	8·6	14·6
Scotland	107·3	70·2	133·3	142·7	287·3	143·0	109·2	107·5	170·0
Wales	71·5	50·7	103·5	122·2	121·5	72·1	92·7	84·4	88·9
Great Britain Total	416·8	330·9	490·5	616·7	689·5	438·9	411·0	358·5	512·6
1Figures for 1986–87 are provisional.

Provision for expenditure on regional development grants for financial years 1987–88 to 1989–90, as set out in the Supply Estimates for 1987–88 and as incorporated in the public expenditure White Paper for later years, is as follows

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the likely level of the community charge in the London borough of Wandsworth; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the expenditure on regional development grant in each region of England Scotland and Wales for each year from 1978–79 to 1986–87; and what expenditure is planned on regional development grants in each of the regions of England, Scotland and Wales in each of the years from 1987–88 to 1989–90.

Payments of grant from 1978–79 to 1986–87 were as follows:

If the new system had been introduced in full in 1986–87, the community change in respect of Wandsworth borough council's own services would have been £59. There would have been an additional £27 for miscellaneous services, including the Metropolitan police, and £311 for expenditure by the Inner London education authority. The total community charge would have been £397. All these figures are inevitably highly speculative. By the time the community charge is introduced in 1990–91 each authority may spend more—or less—than it did in 1986–87. There will be plenty of scope for ILEA in particular to reduce its expenditure before 1990. If, in 1986–87, it had spent at the Government's assessment of its need to spend, instead of what it actually spent, ILEA's community charge would have been only £65, and the total community charge in Wandsworth only £157.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many a) council houses and (b) council flats have been sold by each local authority in each year from 1981 to 1986.

A table showing the available information for financial years will be placed in the Library as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what information he has as to the reasons for the delay in the purchase by Mr. A. Jamieson of his council home at 8 Spring Hill Close, Champion Hill, London SE5;

I understand that the tenants mentioned are among many who have met delay in exercising the right to buy their homes from Southwark borough council. The Department is discussing with the council the reasons for the delays and its proposals for dealing with them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council houses and flats, sold since 1979, have been repossessed because the owners could not afford the mortgage repayments.

The available information on properties taken into possession by building societies and local authorities does not distinguish former council dwellings from other housing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money each local authority received in capital receipts in each year from 1981 to 1986; and how much money each local authority has in the form of accumulated capital receipts at present.

I have today placed in the Library a table showing for each local authority and in total (a) for each financial year from 1981–82 to 1985–86 the amount authorities have reported they have received from disposals of fixed assets, repayments of grants and advances, and capital receipts by virtue of regulations made under section 75(5) of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980; and (b) the amount of accumulated capital receipts at the end of 1985–86 which could be converted into cash. Figures for capital receipts in 1986–87 or accumulated receipts at the end of that year are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the details supplied to date by his Department, concerning estimates of future energy demand and fuel mix required, as input to the individual studies comprising the Fellowship of Engineering's project entitled, "Acidic Emissions: Study of Combustion Processes and Abatement Technologies"; and if he will outline progress with the project and the results which have so far been produced.

Estimates of future energy demand and fuel mix have not been required for any of the individual studies within the fellowship's project and none have been suplied by the Department. The final report is due to be submitted by 31 March 1988, but good progress by the fellowship means that the detailed technical and economic assessment of abatement technologies will probably be available earlier.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in the light of the public support for a statute of Air Chief Marshal Lord Dowding, as well as support from within the House of Commons itself, he will now give consideration to erecting such a statue.

My right hon. Friend will give favourable and urgent consideration to the application under the Public Statues (Metropolis) Act 1854 which has just been submitted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what estimate he has made of the effect of the poll tax in the city of Sheffield on a family of two in (a) a terraced house with a rateable value of £120, (b) a semi-detached house with a rateable value of £200 and (c) a detached house with a rateable value of £400;(2) what estimate he has made of the effect of a poll tax on an average family of four in the city of Sheffield.

The Government have proposals for a community charge and not a poll tax.Illustrative figures were placed in the Library on 1 April showing the community charge figure in each area if the system had been fully in operation in 1986–87, and on the basis of expenditure and grant figures applicable to that year. On these assumptions, the community charge in Sheffield would have been £322. It would have been only £170 if spending had been in accordance with our assessment of need to spend, instead of what was actually spent.The average domestic rate bill in Sheffield in 1986–87, using adjusted poundages, was £450 per hereditament. On the same basis, houses with rateable values of £120, £200 and £400 would have had rate bills of £397, £662 and £1,325 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many flats and houses owned by local authorities were vacant at the latest available date; and what were the rent arrears of the same authorities for the last convenient financial year.

Estimates derived from English local authorities' housing investment programme returns showed that there were 113,300 vacant local authority dwellings at 1 April 1986, including 1,700 which were closed awaiting demolition. Based on figures supplied to the Department by English local authorities in their housing subsidy claim forms, cumulative rent arrears at 1 April 1986 amounted to £211 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received regarding the forthcoming international symposium on the organisation and management of construction organised by the Chartered Institute of Building due to be held between 7 and 10 September; and if he will make a statement.

My predecessor, the hon. Member for Eastbourne, (Mr. Gow) gave his support to the Chartered Institute of Building's successful application to hold this international symposium in London. I subsequently agreed to give the opening address. I am sure that the symposium, which is addressing issues of particular interest to the United Kingdom construction industry, will be an enormous success.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses are currently under construction; and how this number compares with the position in May 1979.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy towards the public sector building houses to rent.

The aim of the Government is to encourage the maximum provision of rented housing outside the public sector. Local authorities should target their own provision more closely on those in greatest housing need.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to announce modifications to the improvement grant procedure following the consultation he carried out with the publication of the Green Paper "Home Improvement—New Approach".

Shortly.

	Coventry		West Midlands		England
	No.	Percentage of stock	No.	Percentage of stock	No.	Percentage of stock
Unfit dwellings	944	0·8	103,800	5·2	654,000	3·5
Dwellings fit but lacking basic amenities	4,935	4·1	64,100	3·2	501,000	2·7
Non-standard dwellings in need of renovation1	4,182	3·5	308,500	15·4	2,890,000	15·4
1 Dwellings requiring repairs estimated at more than £3,000 (£4,200 in Greater London).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 6 May, Official Report, columns 713–4, what information he has on the area required for a pressurised water reactor installation similar in size to that which was the subject of the Sizewell inquiry, and on whether such a unit would fit on to the existing site at Hinkley Point.

I have been asked to reply.Plans of Sizewell B were submitted by the Central Electricity Generating Board in its application for consent to construct the station. This, together with considerable further evidence on the site, was given to the inquiry held by Sir Frank Layfield. The area required for permanent operational works is about 40 acres.It is for the CEGB to consider the suitability of a site for the construction of a power station before making an application for consent to my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State. My right hon. Friend has not yet received an application for consent to build a pressurised water reactor at Hinkley Point.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to amend the law relating to the effect on the rateable value of homes of installing central heating; and if he will make a statement.

We intend to abolish domestic rates starting in 1990. This will sweep away all the anomalies of the present rating system including those associated with the installation of central heating systems since 1974. I trust that we shall have the hon. Member's support.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the numbers of houses, also expressed as a percentage of the total, in Coventry, west midlands and nationally which are (a) substandard dwellings; unfit, (b) fit but lacking one or more basic amenity, (c) non-substandard dwellings in need of renovation.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 May 1987]: Local authorities are asked for these figures in their annual housing investment programme returns; the figures are not necessarily comparable as authorities' criteria differ and they are not consistent with national estimates from the English house condition survey of 1981.The figures provided by Coventry and estimates for the west midlands and for England, including allowance for any missing returns, are as follows:

asked the Minister for the Arts what is his policy towards the recommendation of the Attenborough report on access to the arts for the disabled, a copy of which has been sent to him.

Many of the Attenborough recommendations have been acted upon. The Arts Council and other funding bodies have issued codes of practice; in addition, the Arts Council has appointed a full-time disability officer. I am satisfied that the arts bodies for which I am responsible are fully aware of the needs and aspirations of disabled people, and are doing all that they can in their support.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what provision he intends to make to relieve from duty stores imported for use by ships lying in United Kingdom ports; and if he will make a statement.

There is already adequate provision for stores to be shipped free of duty direct from the United Kingdom. However, it is the Government's intention to introduce legislation as early as possible in the next Parliament which will enable imported stores to be transhipped in the United Kingdom without payment of duty and tax. Provision will also be made for customs duty to be relieved on certain imported stores consumed in port prior to departure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the availability of capital gains tax rollover relief for oil licence gains.

For a number of years the Inland Revenue has proceeded on the basis that the present law does not allow capital gains tax rollover relief in respect of gains on the disposal of any oil licence interests. A recent decision of the special commissioners indicates that this understanding of existing law was incorrect, and that an oil licence may be a qualifying asset for rollover relief purposes. The Government propose, as early as possible in the next Parliament, to bring forward legislation with retrospective effect to make clear that this relief is not in fact available for oil licence gains.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the latest meeting of the European Community's Economic and Finance Council.

The Community's Economic and Finance Council met in Brussels on 11 May. I represented the United Kingdom.The Council discussed the Commission's proposals for the future financing of the Community. I made clear our view that ways must be found of controlling Community expenditure, on agriculture and other programmes, before it was appropriate even to consider possible increases in own resources, and that any changes in the Fontainebleau abatement system would have to be for the better. The Council will resume discussion at its June meeting.The Council also considered the budgetary situation in the current year. I suggested that the anticipated expenditure overrun be financed by use of headroom within the 1·4 per cent. VAT ceiling, by savings in the 1987 agricultural price fixing and by a switch from advances to reimbursement of agricultural guarantee expenditure. I

Distribution of Total Income 1987–88 for Higher Rate Tax Payers1
Range of total income Lower limit	Total number of incomes	Number of incomes with investment income	Number of incomes with mortgage interest relief	Total number of incomes	Number of incomes with investment income	Number of incomes with mortgage interest relief
(£ pa)	('000s)	('000s)	('000s)	('000s)	('000s)	('000s)
	Single people			Married couples without wife's earnings
20,000	65	45	15	60	40	20
25,000	55	40	20	100	75	70
30,000	25	20	10	50	40	30
35,000	10	10	5	35	30	20
40,000	20	20	10	45	40	30
50,000	25	20	10	55	45	30

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, pursuant to his reply dated 6 April, Official Report, column 74, showing the average unearned income and average amount of mortgage interest relief in each income band at higher rates, he will publish in the Official Report the number of incomes in each of these two categories in the same detail.

[pursuant to his reply, 13 May 1987]: Information is given in the tables. The estimates are based on a projection from the 1984–85 survey of personal incomes and are therefore provisional.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax revenue it is estimated his Department loses as a result of the charitable status enjoyed by private schools.

to his reply, 13 May 1987]: I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth might receive a reply to his letter dated 4 April referring to Mr. D. P. Morris of Jully and Barber Ltd., Rugby.

I have today replied to my hon. Friend's letter of April 8 concerning Jully and Barber.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the West German Government about the supply to Iran by MAN of Germany of replacement power packs for Chieftain tanks supplied by the United Kingdom before the Iran-Iraq war; and if he will make a statement.

We are not aware of this specific proposal, but if my hon. Friend would care to pass on to me any details he may have, we would be happy to raise the matter with the Federal German authorities. As recorded in my answer to my hon. Friend on 9 December 1986, we have in the past raised with the FRG the supply of Chieftain tank engines to Iran, and it is our understanding that their policy of neutrality in the conflict does not permit the export of goods for military use to areas of tension.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions his Department sponsored advertisements in national newspapers in the last three years; which newspapers were chosen for these campaigns; which local newspapers were used in these campaigns; and which newspaper publishing groups received payment for advertising space.

The diplomatic and aid wings of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have sponsored advertisements in national newspapers on 216 occasions during the three years to 31 March 1987. The majority of these advertisements were for recruitment purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding the training of Iraqi pilots at Kidlington, including (a) the number of Iraqi pilots currently at Kidlington, (b) whether their training is intended to equip them as military or civilian pilots, and (c) whether and on what basis his Department is satisfied that the skills acquired in the United Kingdom will not be used in the war against Iran.

We do not have details of the number of foreign students, including Iraqis, currently training at the privately owned and run Oxford air training school at Kidlington. We are aware, however, that the training leads to civilian pilots licences, both private and commercial, and we understand that the skills obtained cannot of themselves be used in an offensive role.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what basis the cost of residence re-entry visas to the United Kingdom is calculated; and what information he has as to how this figure compares with the fee charged by other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries.

"Visa exempt" stamps issued in the United Kingdom and "returning resident" visas issued overseas to nationals of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nigeria and Ghana are issued free of charge. For other visa nationals residence re-entry visas issued in the United Kingdom and returning resident visas issued overseas cost £20 for a single entry visa and £40 for a multiple entry visa. These are the United Kingdom's standard worldwide charge for all short-term and multiple entry visas. They are calculated on the basis that income from fees should as much as possible offset the costs of the entry clearance operation. Details of comparative fees charged by other OECD member states are not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding the level of support in the United Kingdom for the work of the Council of Europe in terms of publicity.

Publicising the work of the Council of Europe in member states is the responsibility of the council's directorate of press and information.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding the level of support in the United Kingdom for the work of the Western European Union in terms of publicity.

The WEU Secretary General has responsibility for publicising Western European Union activities. British Ministers keep Parliament and the public informed on a regular basis. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Wallasey (Mrs. Chalker) on 30 April at column 197.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what stage the discussion and negotiations with the People's Republic of China have reached with regard to the Fugitive Offenders Act (Hong Kong) Order 1967;(2) if he will make a statement on the timetable for enacting legislation with regard to the Fugitive Offenders Act (Hong Kong) Order 1967;(3) what is his intention regarding the application of safeguards embodied in the Fugitive Offenders Act (Hong Kong) Order after the termination of British sovereignty and jurisdiction;(4) what safeguards will be contained within the terms of Fugitive Offenders Act, disregarding the external relations provisions of section 2.2

The arrangements currently in force in respect of Hong Kong as regards the return of fugitive offenders to and from the territory cannot subsist in their present form, beyond the resumption by China of sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997. We are considering what action would be appropriate to ensure that suitable arrangements can continue in force in respect of Hong Kong after that date. The continuity after 1997 of such arrangements affecting Hong Kong will require consultation with the Chinese Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the income per month from entry clearance applications for each post in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria and Ghana since October 1986.

Receipts from entry clearance fees at posts in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria and Ghana are as follows. Figures currently available centrally relate only to the final quarter of 1986.

	Pounds Sterling (to the nearest £50)
New Delhi	136,150
Bombay	194,650
Calcutta	32,100
Madras	25,650
Islamabad	147,650
Karachi	154,200
Dhaka	611,350
Lagos	102,550
Kaduna	30,550
Accra	72,100
Total	1,506,950

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has concerning the decision in the Energy, Research and Technology Committee of the European Parliament on 29 April to initiate proceedings against the European Commission in the European Court over the apparent refusal of Euratom to release to the European Parliament specific safeguards documentation on the Magnox reprocessing line at Sellafield.

Although its meeting on 29 April was held in camera, the Committee has for some time sought full details of the arrangements, announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy on 4 June 1986, between the Commission and the United Kingdom authorities on the implementation of Euratom safeguards at Sellafield.I understand that the Commission had refused to release these details on the grounds that the information is, like all such arrangements, confidential, and that as a result the Committee is considering taking action in the European Court against the Commission.

Graduates in foreign languages
	Thousands
	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985
University (Great Britain)—Year of completion of course
First degree graduates
Foreign languages	4·7	5·0	5·2	5·4	5·7	5·9	6·1	6·2	6·3	5·3
Foreign languages except French	3·8	4·0	4·2	4·4	4·7	4·9	5·0	5·1	5·2	4·2
Foreign languages except French and German	2·9	3·2	3·4	3·6	3·9	4·0	4·0	4·0	4·1	3·7
Higher degree graduates
Foreign languages	0·7	0·6	0·7	0·8	0·7	0·8	0·8	0·8	0·8	0·9
Foreign languages except French	0·6	0·6	0·6	0·7	0·7	0·7	0·7	0·7	0·7	0·8
Foreign languages except French and German	0·5	0·5	0·6	0·6	0·6	0·7	0·7	0·6	0·6	0·8
CNAA1 (United Kingdom)—Year of confirment
First degree graduates
Foreign languages	0·3	0·3	0·4	0·4	0·4	0·6	0·4	0·5	0·5	0·9
Foreign languages except French	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the assurances received from the Libyan Government that Libyan arms were not being made available to Argentina at the time of the Falklands conflict.

It is not our practice to publish confidential exchanges between Governments.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government will make a further contribution to the United Nations voluntary fund for the victims of torture.

I am pleased to announce that we have decided that the United Kingdom should make a contribution of £25,000 to this fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's initial report to the United Nations due under article 18 of the 1979 convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women.

The report is being finalised and will shortly be submitted to the United Nations Secretary-General. Copies will be placed in the Library as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of students in foreign languages expected to graduate in 1987; what was the number for each of the last 10 years; and what are the numbers for (a) all languages except French and (b) all languages except French and German.

The latest available information is shown in the following table. The Department has not produced projections for future years at this level of detail. A small fall is expected in the numbers graduating in 1986, followed by a small increase in 1987 and following years.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students aged between 16 and 19 years of age entered full-time courses of non-advanced further education in England and Wales as a proportion of all 16 year-olds in each academic year from 1979–80 to 1986–87.

The figures as a percentage of all 16 to 18-year-olds are as follows. It would not be meaningful to express this as a percentage of 16-year-olds only. Figures for Wales are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

Students in full-time non advanced further education England
November	Percentage of all 16–18's1
1979	9·2
1980	9·7
1981	11·1
1982	12·4
1983	11·8
1984	11·8
1985	12·2
21986	12·3
1 Those aged 16, 17 and 18 as at the previous 31st August.
2 Provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will institute an inquiry under section 93 of the Education Act 1944 into the administration of education in Leeds; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to set up such an inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent representations he has had seeking a formal investigation into the administration of education in Leeds.

My right hon. Friend has received no recent representations on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to how many other EEC countries have a comprehensive system of education similar to that which exists in the United Kingdom.

: Education in EC member states differs according to history, culture and political development. Direct comparisons are not possible. Denmark, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy and Spain operate a non-selective approach to education up to the end of compulsory schooling (variously 14 to 16).

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) when the analysis was completed for the 1986 report by Her Majesty's inspectors on the effects of local authority expenditure policies on education provision in England;(2) if he will publish the 1986 report by Her Majesty's inspectors on the effects of local authority expenditure policies on education provision in England.

I understand from Her Majesty's senior chief inspector of schools that work has not yet been completed on the analysis for and the content of the annual expenditure report for 1986. The timing of its submission to Ministers is entirely and solely a matter for HM inspectorate. The question of publication can only be considered when I receive the report.

asked the secretary of State for Education and Science what further action the Government plan to take to promote opportunities for in-service training for GCSE teachers.

From the beginning of the next academic year, the Education (School Teachers' Pay and Conditions of Employment) Order 1987 provides that teachers will be available for work on five days a year beyond those days on which they will be required to teach pupils. It will be for schools and local education authorities to decide how best to use those five days. The Government expect that a substantial part of the available time will be devoted to in-service training, including training related to GCSE.The Government's monitoring of the introduction of the GCSE has shown that for schools and teachers the provision of two days' closure for GCSE in-service training last summer term was helpful. Many local education authorities, schools and teachers think it would be beneficial if a similar provision during the present academic year was provided, before the second and final year of the first GCSE courses begins in September.The Government have therefore decided to make further, special provision in the intervening period before the new conditions of service come into force. Accordingly, my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Education and Science and for Wales have today laid before the House regulations which amend the number of days on which a school shall meet, consequential to the Education (School Teachers' Pay and Conditions of Employment) Order 1987, and also enable local education authorities in England and Wales to close their schools to pupils for one day before 31 July 1987 in order to allow teaching staff to undertake GCSE in-service training.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many meetings he has had with the farming unions during the past three months, at which the losses arising from the Chernobyl disaster have been discussed; and if he will now make a further statement on improving his compensation scheme for farmers in Wales affected by this disaster.

I have had a number of meetings with the farming unions during the last three months to discuss compensation arrangements for producers affected by the Chernobyl incident. I and my ministerial colleagues have concluded that a further element of compensation is justified for the extra costs of monitoring and marking sheep before they can be released from the restricted area. We expect to make an early announcement on the details of this scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales on how many occasions his Department sponsored advertisements in national newspapers in the last three years; which newspapers were chosen for these campaigns; which local newspapers were used in these campaigns; and which newspaper publishing groups received payment for advertising space.

I have not sponsored any advertising in national newspapers in the last three years. I have, however, sponsored local advertising for the right-to-buy campaign in the South Wales Echo, the South Wales Evening Post, the South Wales Argus and the Wrexham/Chester Evening Leader.Where the Welsh Office has been associated with national campaigns on AIDS, drugs misuse and road safety sponsored by major Whitehall Departments, I have sponsored advertisements in the Welsh language newspaper

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has plans to increase the number of consultants in thoracic medicine in Wales.

It is for individual health authorities to assess the need for additional consultants in thoracic medicine in Wales, on the basis of local needs, priorities and resources. We are always ready to consider requests by authorities to approve additional consultant posts, in the light of advice from the Welsh Medical and Dental Manpower Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give details of capital provision for hospital and community health services in Wales in 1987–88.

A capital spending programme totalling £53·4 million has been approved for hospital and community health services in Wales in 1987–88.The programme includes expenditure of £13·3 million for major schemes already in progress, the greatest part of which goes towards the continuing construction of Llanelli general hospital. Other schemes which benefit include developments at Llandough near Cardiff, Morriston and Singleton in Swansea and Withybush in Haverfordwest, remedial work at West Wales general hospital, Carmarthen and the University hospital of Wales, Cardiff and renovation work and the Prince of Wales hospital Rhydlafar and St. David's hospital, Carmarthen.Some £3·7 million has been allocated for centrally funded developments and regional services which include the improvement of cardiac services in South Glamorgan, the implementation of recommendations made in the report on regional services in north Wales and the provision of the first of the medium secure psychiatric units. Three further computerised tomography scanners are to be purchased and will he located at Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor, East Glamorgan hospital, Church Village and Velindre hospital in Cardiff, thus further extending the availability of this valuable diagnostic technique.Other allocations include £3·6 million for computer and information technology developments and the establishment of a resource management pilot scheme in West Glamorgan, £1·5 million for psychiatric bridging finance to help move from large psychiatric hospitals to community care and £0·3 million for the provision of equipment in special care baby units as part of the perinatal mortality initiative. A block allocation of £24·5 million has been made to district health authorities, a 14 per cent. increase over their 1986–87 allocation. Allocations to individual authorities are as follows:—

	£ million
Clwyd	4·1
East Dyfed	1·8
Gwent	4·3
Gwynedd	1·5
Mid Glamorgan	4·7
Pembrokeshire	0·9
Powys	0·9
South Glamorgan	2·2
West Glamorgan	4·1

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the figures for the amount of milk quotas sold by Welsh producers to producers outside Wales, the amount bought by Welsh producers from outside Wales, and the net loss or gain to Wales, since the scheme came into operation and differentiating between north and south Wales.

Movement of quota in and out of Wales as recorded by the Milk Marketing board during the period 1 April 1985 to 17 February 1987 has been as follows:

Million litres
	North Wales	South Wales	All Wales
In	+4·8	4·0	+8·8
Out	-4·6	-12·5	-17·1
Net loss or gain	+0·2	-8·3	-8·5
Loss as a percentage of total quota	—	-0·8	-0·54

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report(a) a list of the constituencies served by each district health authority and (b) a list of the health authorities serving each constituency.

The only parliamentary constituency in Wales served by two district health authorities is that of Ceredigion and Pembroke, North, which is divided between East Dyfed and Pembrokeshire district health authorities. Otherwise, constituencies are contained entirely within health authorities, as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to extend the M4 to Ceredigion; and if he will make a statement.

No, but the dualling of the A48 between the end of the M4 and Carmarthen will result in a greatly improved route as far as Carmarthen. Of the two schemes needed to complete this work we expect the Cross Hands/Llandarog bypass to be open to traffic later this year while "Roads in Wales 1985" envisages a start on the Nant-y-Caws/Coed Hirion bypass before the end of 1987.In addition, Dyfed county council as the local highway authority is drawing up proposals to improve the county roads between Carmarthen and Ceredigion. At the appropriate time, consideration will be given to the eligibility of such schemes for transport supplementary grant.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of persons employed in the Irvine travel-to-work area ward by ward for the years 1976 to 1986.

The table gives the figures for April 1981, from the census of population small area statistics. Such information is not available for the other years specified.

Number of usual residents, aged 16 or over, who were working
	Number
Cunninghame District Ward
Irvine West	1,434
Irvine Townhead	1,646
Irvine Vineburgh	1,759
Irvine North	1,818
Irvine Woodlands	1,864
Dreghorn	1,697
Broomlands	1,628
Bourtreehill	1,494
Girdle Toll	765
Irvine Landward	819
Kilwinning East	2,186
Kilwinning South	1,909
Kilwinning West	2,339
Stevenston North	1,894
Stevenston South	1,918
Beith	1,887
Dairy	1,619
Garnock East	1,815
Kilbirnie South	1,670
Kilbirnie North	1,597
Saltcoats East	1,483
South Beach	1,625
Saltcoats North	1,598
Ardrossan South	1,723
Ardrossan North	1,895

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the total amount of rebates paid in each regional authority area in Scotland to ratepayers who are eligible for relief on their rates bills under the legislation passed after the 1985 revaluation.

The information for 1985–86 and 1986–87 is set out in the table. Figures for each region for 1987–88 are not yet available. It is estimated that total rebates for Scotland for that year will amount to about £13·7 million.

£ Million
Authority	1985–86	1986–87
Borders	0·563	0·413
Central	0·983	0·743
Dumfries and Galloway	0·774	0·613
Fife	0·810	0·578
Grampian	2·336	1·843
Highland	0·591	0·426
Lothian	4·746	3·328
Strathclyde	11·495	8·793
Tayside	2·321	1·870
Total	24·619	18·607

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what provision is available for the needs of languages disordered children in Scotland; how this compares with England; and if he will make a statement.

Where a child in Scotland has a language disorder which constitutes a learning difficulty giving rise to special educational needs of a pronounced, specific or continuing nature, the education authority in whose area the child resides is required to assess those needs and thereafter provide fully for them. The decision on precisely what provision to make is a matter for the education authority. The procedure for opening Records of Special Education Needs under Section 60 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 is similar to the process of statementing provided for in England by Section 7 of the Education Act 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the numbers of (a) preschool age children, (b) primary schoolchildren and (c) secondary schoolchildren, with a specific language disorder in (i) Scotland, (ii) the Strathclyde region and (iii) Glasgow district.

The information requested is not collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what provision there is for the rehabilitation of speech problems in road traffic accident victims in (a) Glasgow, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland.

The provision of speech therapy services is a matter for individual health boards, but the Scottish Home and Health Department funds a Scottish centre of technology for the communication impaired, based at the Victoria infirmary, Glasgow, which has been officially opened today by the chairman of the Greater Glasgow health board. This centre reinforces local effort by providing a Scotland-wide specialist service involving assessment and provision of aids for people with speech problems, and advising professional staff and disseminating information about advances in this important field. There are now 339·4 (whole-time equivalent) speech therapists employed in the Scottish Health Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the costs incurred by his Department following the Chernobyl accident on (a) compensation for farmers, (b) equipment purchased for monitoring contamination, (c) staff costs on monitoring and administration of compensation schemes and (d) staff costs on public information.

Compensation to farmers amounted to £1·4 million. Monitoring equipment was purchased at a cost of £32,000. In addition, expenditure of £324,000 was incurred on laboratory sampling and associated work. I regret it is not possible readily to identify the staff costs attributable to monitoring, administration of compensation and public information.