asked the Secretary of State for Transport what level of investment has been made by British Rail in the London Midland region in each of the past eight years.

Investment in infrastructure (cash prices) in the London Midland region in each of the past eight years is as follows:

	£ million
1979	33·9
1980	40·9
1981	36·2
1982	18·5
1983	23·5
1984–851	57·5
1985–86	47·6
1986–87	42·7
1 15-month accounting period.

These figures do not include investment in locomotives and rolling stock, as it is impossible to apportion BR's rolling stock accurately between regions.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he takes to monitor the level of passenger satisfaction with British Rail.

British Rail has been asked to report in its annual report and accounts on its performance against agreed quality standards. I shall, in addition, be receiving reports on this from it quarterly. I also see the annual reports of the statutory rail consumer committees and my officials and I keep in touch with them.

M25 Traffic Flows
Section	16-hour average daily flow	16-hour average weekday flow	24-hour average daily flow	24-hour average weekday flow
1–2	—	68,000	—	73,000
2–3	—	59,000	—	64,000
3–4	51,000	54,000	56,000	58,000
4–5	57,000	59,000	62,000	64,0000
5–6	72,000	75,000	77,000	80,000
6–7	78,000	81,000	85,000	87,000
7–8	84,000	86,000	91,000	93,000
8–9	74,000	76,000	80,000	82,000
9–10	80,000	84,000	87,000	90,000
10–11	100,000	106,000	108,000	113,000
11–12	111,000	119,000	120,000	127,000
12–13	—	106,000	—	112,000
13–14	123,000	133,000	133,000	142,000
14–15	116,000	124,000	125,000	133,000
15–16	112,000	122,000	121,000	130,000
16–17	100,000	110,000	107,000	117,000
17–18	102,000	113,000	109,000	120,000
18–19	106,000	117,000	114,000	125,000

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what reply he is sending to the recent approach made to him by the chairman of the Greater Manchester passenger transport authority concerning both the rail link to Manchester airport and the light rapid transport project; and if he will make a statement.

My Department is working closely with the PTA, and PTE and, in the case of the airport rail link, BR and the airport company on the necessary evaluations of these projects. I fully recognise the importance which the PTA attaches to them and its wish for early decisions, but those involved also understand that the Government must be satisfied that the projects represent good value for money before public resources can be committed to them.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to revise circular 3/85 on tax licensing in the light of the judgment in Regina v Reading Borough Council ex parte Egan.

When a transcript of this judgment is available I shall consider whether the advice contained in circular 3/85 should be revised.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the latest five-day and seven-day average traffic flows on a 16 and 24-hour per day basis on each section of the M25, indicating the month when the counts were taken.

The information requested is given in the following table. The figures shown are for May 1987 apart from the sections between junctions 1–2, 2–3 and 12–13 where automatic counting loops will be installed later this year. The flows given for those sections are taken from a one-day count conducted on Tuesday 3 June 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will state the latest five-day and seven-day average traffic flows on a 16 and 24-hour basis on each section of the M4 between west London and Reading.

		24-hr 7-day	16-hr 7-day	24-hr 5-day	16-hr 5-day
1983	Jl-22	89,000	1	92,000	89,000
1981	J2–32	101,000	1	106,000	100,000
1985	J3–42	85,000	1	89,000	84,000
1986	J4–4A	44,000	1	44,000	42,000
1986	J4A-4B	88,000	1	93,000	88,000
	J4B-5	1	1	1	1
1986	J5–6	99,000	1	1	1
1986	J6–7	99,000	1	1	1
1986	J7–8/9	96,000	1	1	1
May 1987	J7/8/9	98,000	90,000	106,000	99,000
1986	J8/9–10	73,000	1	1	1
1986	J10–11	71,000	1	1	1
May 1987	J10–11	75,000	70,000	80,000	76,000
1986	JU-12	70,000	1	1	1

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to the availability of motorcycle helmet visors complying with the new regulations on abrasion resistance; and if, to avoid insurance complications for motorcyclists unable to comply with the new regulations, he will waive temporarily the new requirements.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 July 1987, c. 17]: I am informed that the major supplier of motorcycle helmet visors is presently dealing with a backlog of orders and that some motorcyclists therefore could be finding it difficult to obtain the visors they need which comply with the regulations. Any motorcyclist in that position who wishes to continue to wear a visor not meeting the new requirements would be well advised to check the position with his insurance company.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether any activity, discharge or emission, including storage of radioactive materials, from the Aldermaston

The information available is as follows:and Burghfield atomic weapons plants subjects any member of the general public in any one year to a radiation dose of more than 0·1mSv.

No. The recent report (NRPB—202) by the National Radiological Protection Board assesses the doses likely to have been experienced by members of the public arising from the airborne and liquid discharge from AWRE, Aldermaston and ROF (Burghfield) over the years since these establishments began their operations: the maximum doses assessed by NRPB are very low, considerably less than 0·1mSv per annum. These estimates are consistent with the extensive programmes of environmental monitoring conducted in the area by MOD and also independently by the environmental authorising departments. Radiation emitted from radioactive materials handled and stored at these sites does not add to the very low doses. Thorough internal scrutiny and independent investigations such as the Pochin inquiry, have failed to identify any other potential pathways for radiation exposure where doses to members of the public would exceed those given by NRPB in its recent report.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what actual numbers of service men and women were registered on the electoral roll at the time of the recent general election under the special provision made for members of the armed forces; and what percentage this amounted to in the case of each service.

At 31 March 1987, the last date for which figures are available, some 203,763 voting registrations for service personnel were held on index. Based on current strengths of service personnel this amounts to an overall registration level of 64 per cent. for all three services. The figures by service are as follows:

Percentage
RN—RM	50,809	76
Army	103,389	65
RAF	49,565	53

All figures exclude service spouses also registered under the Service voters provisions.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if it is with his approval that two serving Royal Air Force officers are directly connected with a private company, Lea Aviation Ltd., which uses Royal Air Force assets for commercial gain;(2) who authorised the use by Lea Aviation Ltd. at an air show on the North Weald airfield, Epping, of front-line Royal Air Force aircraft including Tornados, Harriers and Hawks;(3) on what basis is the amount paid by Lea Aviation Ltd. to his Department for the use of Royal Air Force assets computed;(4) whether the contract for the use of Royal Air Force aircraft at the recent private air show operated by Lea Aviation Ltd. at the North Weald airfield, Epping, was put out for tender;(5) who provided the security arrangements for the protection of the Tornado, Harrier and Hawk aircraft which took part in a recent airshow organised by Lea Aviation Ltd. at North Weald airfield, Epping; and who paid for the arrangements.

I shall answer shortly.

Davies asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the guidelines for circumstances whereby serving' military personnel are allowed to be directly connected with commercial organisations whose business includes the use, for private profit, of military equipment.

I shall answer shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of school leavers in Wales with five or more higher grade O-level CSE passes in each local education authority stayed on in full-time education after the minimum school-leaving age in the last year for which figures are available.

In 1984–85, it is estimated that 62 per cent. of school leavers in Wales who possessed five or more higher grade GCE O-level or CSE examination passes continued full-time further or higher education. Comparable figures for each local authority are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with the state of the dairy industry in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Although measures have been introduced to curb the continuing over-supply problem in the milk sector, latest figures confirm that incomes on all dairy farms in Wales went up by 52 per cent. in 1985–86, and the dairy sector remains the most profitable of the livestock commodities in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to give extra financial aid to the Mid-Wales Development Board in 1987; and if he will make a statement.

The resources made available to Mid-Wales Development for 1987–88 will make possible an 8 per cent. increase in the board's gross expenditure compared with last year. Funding in subsequent years will be considered during the course of this year's review of public expenditure.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what British food exports have been returned to Britain over the past 12 months as a result of unacceptable levels of radioactivity, listing the quantities and the value of each product; and if he will make it his policy to reduce the maximum acceptable level within the United Kingdom to 600 Bq/kg.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 July 1987]: This information is not available. There is no statutory requirement for exporters to furnish details of any returned consignments.The British Government have made it clear that they regard the level of 600 Bq/kg adopted for Community imports from third countries as unduly restrictive and are supporting moves to establish more scientifically based levels in future EC emergency regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he takes to ensure that overseas aid funds are utilised in ways which benefit women and in projects which are for the improvement of womens' lives and under their control.

We recognise the importance of taking the role of women fully into account in aid projects. Some of our projects include special components for women. We are prepared to contribute to projects specifically devoted to helping women.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he intends to take in the light of the conclusion in the second report of the Foreign Affairs Committee on bilateral aid that the aid and trade provision has introduced a conflict of priorites.

I am studying the second report of the Foreign Affairs Committee on bilateral aid. The Government will give their detailed observations on the report, including the section on the aid and trade provision, after the summer recess.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list, for each

Country	Project	Company	Export Value	ATP Element
			£ million	£ million
April 1982—March 1983
Brazil	Jacui Power Station	Klocner/NEI	90·800	24·138
Burma	Gas Turbines	JBE	11·044	2·213
Burma	Bridge Project	Balfour Beatty	0-·360	0·090
Egypt	W. Sabaeya Phosphate Mine	Seltrust Engineering	20·000	7·315
India	Rihand Super thermal Power Plant	NEI	231·200	17·034
Indonesia	Mrica Hydro Project	Balfour Beatty	44·646	12·075
Kenya	Railway Coaches	BRE Metro	23·700	5·030
Mexico	Maritime Training	College of Nautical Studies	0·030	0·006
Mexico	Scientific Instrument Training	Darwin Instruments	0·029	0·029
Paraguay	Power Transmission Scheme	Balfour Beatty	5·290	1·350
Peru	Mini Hydros	Balfour Beatty	25·625	4·852
Zimbabwe	Hwange Power Station	PED	3·600	1·000
April 1983—March 1984
Botswana	Moruple Power Station, Turbines	NEI/Parsons	17·126	4·418
Burma	Outboard Propulsion Units	Sykes Marine	5·000	1·202
Colombia	Coffee Rust Control Programme	Wiles and Associates	0·201	0·201
Colombia	Mine Safety Training	BMC	0·018	0·018
Honduras	Aguan Valley Study	Halcrows	0·500	0·100
India	Amlori Coal Mine	BMC	80·030	15·030
Indonesia	Jambu Aye Hydro-Electric Dam Study	Rendel Williamson Hydro	0·200	0·200
Indonesia	Ombelin Coal Mine	Dowty Meco	19·200	4·445
Jordan	HV Transmission Line	Balfour Beatty	13·568	3·611
Malawi	Telecommunications	GEC/BT	1·000	0·260
Malaysia	Viewdata	GEC	2·367	0·851
Philippines	Dendro Power Station Adviser	Balfour Beatty	0·080	0·040
Zimbabwe	Abattoir Feasibility Study	Ove Arup	1·760	1·760
April 1984—March 1985
Botswana	Moruple Power Station, Coal and Ash Plant	Butterfly Engineering	4·736	1·343
Brazil	Coal Mining Training	BMC Ltd.	0·019	0·019
Cameroon	4 Towns Water Project Design Study	Sir A. Gibb and W. S. Atkins	0·910	0·910
Colombia	Bridge Project Extension	Balfour Beatty	0·540	0·152
ECOWAS1	Telecommunications Feasibility Study	British Teleconsult	0·065	0·065
Egypt	Electricity Management Advice	British Electricity Int.	0·166	0·166
Egypt	Draglines	Ransome and Rapier	0·463	0·463
India	Balco Power Station	GEC	130·000	33·066
Indonesia	AIS Submarine Cable	STC	104·000	3·093
Indonesia	Isolated Diesels	HSPE	38·400	12·515

The amount spent under the aid and trade provision in the last five financial years was follows:

	£ million
1982–83	46·8
1983–84	28·4
1984–85	59·5
1985–86	36·5
1986–87	181·3
1provisional

Aid agreements signed with developing countries over the last five financial years are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when, in the light of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Countries' report, published on 19 June showing Britain's aid to have fallen from 0·34 per cent. of gross national product to 0·32 per cent, he anticipates achieving the United Nations target of 0·7 per cent.

We shall continue to maintain our substantial aid programme. The planned cash increases in aid set out in the 1987 public expenditure White Paper (Cmnd. 56-I) are intended to maintain the real value of the aid programme. Like previous Administrations, we have not set a timetable for achieving the United Nations target for aid of 0·7 per cent. of GNP.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the new flow of resources between Britain and the third world in each of the last five years.

Net official and private flows from Britain to developing countries in each of the last five years were:

	£ million	Percent of GNP
1982	3,580	1·30
1983	4,012	1·33
1984	3,621	1·13
1985	1,871	0·53
11986	5,015	1·34
1 Provisional

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what are the main needs of women in the policy areas within the sphere of his Department's activities; what has been done to identify and quantify these needs and to monitor services delivery; what consultation is carried out with women to ensure their views are adequately represented; and what training is given to his staff to raise their appreciation of the needs of women.

My Department is aware of the need for women to play their full part in the wealth creation process. It has adopted a number of measures to encourage women to pursue non-traditional careers in industry, for example in engineering, information technology and management generally. Some of these measures are described in more detail in the Home Office review of the United Nations' "Forward-Looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women", a copy of which is in the Library. They include support for initiatives in education, such as the Government's engineering and technology programme; and encouraging companies to tailor their recruitment and career structures to the needs of women. Industry is responding positively.I am also keen to increase the number of women taking up public appointments for which my Department is responsible. We encourage women's organisations to submit details of possible appointees, and we welcome their views on the Department's work. The training offered to all staff in the Department covers the importance of bearing in mind the needs of particular groups, including women, and officials are kept fully informed of equal opportunities requirements in personnel matters.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what discussions the Director of OFTEL has had with British Telecom about the effect of the proposed charges for directory inquiries on the blind and disabled.

This is a matter for the Director General of Telecommunications. He is responsible for ensuring that British Telecom complies with the condition of its licence which obliges it to provide directory information free of charge, or with appropriate compensation for any charges paid, to those persons who are so blind or otherwise disabled as to be unable to use a telephone directory.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will outline the guidelines followed by the Government when deciding on export licences for defence equipment.

In considering applications for licences all relevant factors are taken into account including the type of equipment, its proposed destination and the use to which it might be put.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish a table in the Official Report listing the number of export licences for defence equipment issued for each country since May 1979.

It has been the practice of successive Governments not to make public information of this kind.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will give details of United Kingdom trade in defence equipment in 1986 including the value of such trade and the role of his Department.

For details of United Kingdom trade in defence equipment I refer the hon. Gentleman to the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1987–2, Defence Statistics" (Cm. 101/II) (tables 2·7 and 2·8), copies of which are in the Library.The role of my Department in the trade in defence equipment is that of licensing authority.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will he attending the United Nations conference on trade and development in Geneva in July.

I shall attend as leader of the United Kingdom delegation.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proposals Her Majesty's Government will be making through the European Community or on their own, to the United Nations conference on trade and development in order to assist developing countries in the areas of aid, trade and debt.

The United Kingdom will reaffirm its policy of offering effective support through the United Kingdom aid programme for the poorest developing countries, especially those undertaking IMF-IBRD agreed structural adjustment. We shall confirm our support for the internationally agreed debt strategy, stressing the Chancellor's new initiative for the poorest, most heavily indebted sub-Saharan African countries. This involves the provision of additional resources to relieve official debt in those countries adopting sound policies. We shall also emphasise the importance of active participation by developing countries in the Uruguay round and underline the constructive part which the United Kingdom and the European Community are playing in these negotiations.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what reply he is sending to the recent approach made to him by the chairman of the Greater Manchester passenger transport authority concerning both the rail link to Manchester airport and light rapid transport project; and if he will make a statement.

I shall reply to the right hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his reply of 29 June, how much task force money has been allocated to each of the following projects in the Chapeltown area of Leeds, (a) Positive Action for Training in Housing, (b) Jamaica Society, Leeds, (c) Community Enterprise Trust and (d) the development fund in partnership with the Yorkshire bank.

Task force money has been allocated as follows:

(a) Positive Action for Training in Housing—£93,000;

(b) Jamaica Society, Leeds—£132,000;

(c) Chapeltown Harehills Enterprise Ltd. (CHEL—also known as Community Enterprise Trust)—£249,000;

(d) Task Force Development Fund—£100,000.

The task force uses its own moneys to supplement and encourage the investment of other Government and private sector funds. Each of these projects has attracted significant funds from other Government, public and private sources as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much shipbuilding intervention fund support has been paid out in each year since 1977, and in total, to each of the member countries of the European Community.

There is no support for merchant shipbuilding paid for out of European Community funds. Each member state administers a regime of aid that is agreed with the European Commission within the framework of successive Council directives on shipbuilding aids. For the United Kingdom, Her Majesty's Government have made the following payments to merchant shipbuilding yards from the shipbuilding intervention fund:

Financial Year	£ million
1976–77	1·4
1977–78	19·3
1978–79	10·8
1979–80	36·3
1980–81	45·8
1981–82	54·5
1982–83	54·9
1983–84	43·4
1984–85	28·1
1985–86	30·8
1986–87	22·4

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish a table showing the balance in shipbuilding expenditure since 1979 between merchant and warship yards.

Since British Shipbuilders is funded centrally, I can only provide an estimate that over 70 per cent. of total Government support of more than £1,750 million since 1979 has been used for merchant shipbuilding. The warship yards now in the private sector very nearly covered their costs. The balance has been used to support the corporation's engineering, shiprepair and offshore concerns.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will provide a table for the number employed in (a) the merchant and (b) the warship shipbuilding industry in each of the European Economic Community countries, including the United Kingdom, and Japan, Korea and Taiwan in 1979 and in the most recent year for which figures are available.

The available information for merchant shipbuilding is as follows. Comparative information on warshipbuilding is not available. In 1979, 29,000 were employed in United Kingdom warship yards. In 1986 the figure was 17,700.

'000s
	1979	1986
Belgium	6·3	(1985) 3·9
Denmark	9·9	(1985) 10·2
France	23·0	(1985) 15·1
Germany	27·4	(1985) 22·3
Greece	(1980) 2·7	(1985) 2·0
Ireland	0·8	Nil
Italy	19·0	11·6
Netherlands	11·3	6·4
Portugal	(1982) 3·8	(1985) 3·3
Spain	(1980) 40·6	(1985) 18·0
United Kingdom	31·2	13·7
Japan	(1980) 113·0	(1985) 93·0
South Korea	(1982) 64·5	(1984) 176·6
Taiwan	Not available

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will provide an updated list of the subventions on offer, in credit, loan and direct subsidy facilities for the shipbuilding industry in each of the European Economic Community countries, Japan, Korea and Taiwan.

The information given to the hon. Member on 9 December 1986 about aid regimes in other countries remains the most up-to-date information available. No EC member state has yet received Commission approval for a new aid regime under the sixth directive on aid to shipbuilding.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proportion of world orders has been won by the British shipbuilding yards in 1986 and the latest convenient date in 1987.

During 1986 United Kingdom shipbuilding yards won 2·1 per cent. of world orders. Data for 1987 are not yet available.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list all public sector shipbuilding orders that are to be awarded in 1987 and 1988; and if he will list all those orders where tenders are currently invited.

British Shipbuilders yard	Current orders	Completion date
Govan	2 container ships	First half 1989
Austin and Pickersgill	1 multi-purpose cargo vessel	Second half 1987
	12 ferries	Summer 1987 to mid 1989
Sunderland	1 crane ship	Second half 1987
	I diving support vessel	January 1986
	13 ferries	Summer 1987 to mid 1989
Appledore-Ferguson (Port Glasgow)	1 passenger ro ro ferry	February 1988
	1 research vessel	Second half 1987
Appledore-Fergusson (Appledore)	1 dredger	Summer 1987
	1 dredger	Second half 1987
	1 dredger	First half 1988
Clark Kincaid	1 engine	Summer 1987
	1 engine	First half 1988
	1 engine	Second half 1988

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the loss of revenue from income tax if the personal allowance for single people were to be raised to £3,320 and for married couples to £5,200; and what would be the net effect after allowing for recoupment by indirect taxation based on current spending patterns.

The full year direct revenue cost of increasing the present personal tax allowances to £5,200 for a married man and £3,320 for a single person is approximately £7 billion at 1987–88 income levels. The net cost, after allowing for increased payments of indirect taxes is likely to be somewhat less, but this cannot he estimated readily since a range of macro-economic factors would be involved.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the main needs of women in the policy areas within the sphere of his Department's activities; what has

The following merchant shipbuilding orders are planned:

• Car-passenger ferry for Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd. Following their attractive tender, terms and conditions are to be discussed with the Appledore-Ferguson yard at Port Glasgow.
• Cargo-passenger ship for the Overseas Development Administration, to be supplied to the Government at St. Helena. Tenders have been invited.
• Passenger ferry for Shetland islands council. Tenders have been invited.
• Two passenger ferries for Orkney islands council. Tenders have not yet been invited.

The placing of warship and naval auxiliary orders is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list all current orders and completion dates for each British Shipbuilders yard.

The following is the information:been done to identify and quantify these needs and to monitor services delivery; what consultation is carried out with women to ensure their views are adequately represented; and what training is given to his staff to raise their appreciation of the needs of women.

In formulating and implementing economic policy, the Treasury has regard to the needs of all British subjects, both women and men. The Green Paper "Personal Taxation" dealt specifically with the tax treatment of married women and has been the subject of consultation with a wide range of representative bodies. Changes to the principal Civil Service pension scheme were made on 1 July 1987, to give, wherever possible, equality of treatment for men and women. Training is given to all members of staff to enable them to carry out their duties efficiently and effectively. The Treasury has nominated an equal opportunities officer, and personnel policies and procedures have been reviewed and are being monitored to ensure that they do not discriminate against women.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing for each year since 1979 the total of United Kingdom-owned assets overseas, broken down by country and into figures for the public and private sectors.

Estimates of United Kingdom owned assets overseas are published in the annual Pink Book, "United Kingdom Balance of Payments", copies of which are in the Library. The 1986 edition showed summary information in table 1·2 each year between 1966 and 1985, distinguishing public sector and private sector assets; further details are shown in section 9. Figures for end-1986 will be published in August and are expected to show total overseas assets net of liabilities of around £110 billion.An analysis of total overseas assets by country is not available. However, details of the book value of direct investment assets analysed by country were published in an article in the 22 May 1987 issue of "British Business". These figures are collected only every three years, the latest relating to end-1984. Also, information on United Kingdom banks' overseas claims, by country, is published quarterly in table 14 of the

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to introduce independent taxation for wives and husbands.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood) about the taxation of married couples on Friday 3 July, at column 177.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward proposals to ensure that married couples are treated no less favourably for capital gains tax purposes than couples cohabiting.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion. We shall continue to keep under review the capital gains tax position of married couples in the context of our more general consideration of the overall tax regime for them, including the tax arrangements for their investment income.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost to the Exchequer of repealing section 37 of the Income Tax and Corporation Taxes Act 1970.

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

£ billion
	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85	1985–86	31986–87	41987–88
Income Tax	21·1	24·9	28·8	30·7	31·6	33·2	36·1	38·5	40·0
Value Added Tax	8·2	11·0	11·9	13·8	15·2	18·5	19·3	21·5	23·3
Customs and Excise Duties1	9·5	10·5	12·9	13·5	15·5	16·2	17·2	18·7	19·4

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost to the Exchequer of taxing income above the standard rate at 35 per cent. for the first £10,000, at 45 per cent. for the next £10,000, and at 50 per cent. for the remainder.

The full year cost at 1987–88 income levels is estimated to be about EH billion. This estimate makes no allowance for possible changes in the behaviour of taxpayers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the housebuilding organisations and estate agents on the implications of the case initiated by the European Economic Community Commission before the European Court on 15 September on the levying of value added tax on new houses; and if he will make a statement.

We have kept closely in touch with bodies representing the construction industry over this case. We have fought the case strenuously at all stages and will continue to do so.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what would be the immediate revenue cost of abolishing the 60 per cent. tax hand, thus making the maximum rate of tax 50 per cent.;(2) what would be the immediate revenue cost of abolishing the 60 per cent. and 50 per cent. tax hands, thus making the maximum rate 40 per cent.

[pursuant to his replies, 6 July 1987, c. 18]: The full year direct revenue costs at 1987–88 levels of income of reducing the maximum income tax rate to (a) 40 per cent. by abolishing the 45 per cent., 50 per cent., 55 per cent., and 60 per cent. rates and (b) 50 per cent. by abolishing the 55 per cent. and 60 per cent. rates are estimated to be about £1,400 million and £450 million, respectively. These estimates make no allowance for possible changes in taxpayers' behaviour.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the estimated total yield of (a) income tax, (b) value added tax, (c) all other taxes, (d) all Customs and Excise duties and (e) all miscellaneous income to the Exchequer, other than borrowing, (f) public sector borrowing and (g) rates in each year from 1979–80 to 1987–88, estimated.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 July 1987, c. 19]: Following is the information.

asked the Attorney-General (1) whether he proposes to set up specialised training courses for solicitors employed by the Crown Prosecution Service in juvenile cases;(2) whether he proposes to continue the policy of having specialist lawyers to deal with juvenile prosecutions in England and Wales;(3) how many Crown Prosecution Service areas have specialist lawyers or departments to deal with juvenile prosecutions; and how many people are so employed in each area in England and Wales.

I shall reply to the hon. Member when all the information requested has been obtained.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many loans have been made by British Coal Enterprise Ltd. to firms in the Easington district since its inception; what has been the amount of money loaned; and how many jobs have been created.

I regret that figures are not available at sub-regional level. However, I am pleased to be able to report that up to 27 June British Coal Enterprise Ltd. had committed E5·4 million in support of 198 individual projects in its north-east region, and has assisted in the creation of 2,574 jobs opportunities.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will conduct a full investigation into the quality of off-the-job education being provided by YTS.

No. The youth training board, which includes representatives of the TUC, CBI, local authorities and the education service, is directly involved in ensuring quality on YTS. The new training standards advisory service is undertaking comprehensive quality audits of YTS managing agents and provides expert advice and guidance on quality matters, including the off-the-job training and education provided on YTS. Furthermore, all providers of YTS programmes have had to apply to become approved training organisations and their arrangements for off-the-job training and education are scrutinised as part of the approval process.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has had on the quality of off-the-job education provided by YTS.

We have had four representations over the past 18 months on this subject. One of those concerned the standard of off-the-job training and education provided by YTS, and the remaining three concerned the length of the off-the-job training period.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to ensure high standards of off-the-job education for YTS trainees.

Potential managing agents for YTS schemes are required to set out in detail their proposals for training including the length and content of the off-the-job training and education that young people will receive. The formal contract between the MSC and each managing agent refers to the agreements reached on these proposals. Thereafter, MSC staff monitor the quality of training provided. To strengthen these arrangements a new training standards advisory service became operational in April 1987. Furthermore, the MSC requires all providers of training to apply to become approved training organisations. Only organisations which gain such status will be able to take part in YTS.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how long it has taken his Department to prepare its case for the appeal of Mr. Mike Fowler of 8 Meadow close, Houghton Green against the decision to reclaim benefit paid to him when he was a councillor; and if he will make a statement.

This is a complex case. I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate the number of women seeking work but not included in the unemployed register.

According to preliminary results from the labour force survey, in Great Britain in spring 1986 there were an estimated 593,000 women without a job and seeking work but not included in the count of unemployed benefit claimants. This compares with 479,000 included in the count but either not seeking work or in employment during the week of the survey. Details were published in the April 1987 edition of Employment Gazette, on page 208.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures for average earnings for (a) all women, (b) women in manual occupations and (c) women in non-manual occupations, expressed as (i) mean average, (ii) median and (iii) mode; and what are the comparative figures for men.

The latest date for which information is available is April 1986. Table 1 in part A of the report on the new earnings survey 1986 gives information on the gross weekly mean and median earnings of full-time adult employees in Great Britain. Information on the distribution of weekly earnings from which the modal ranges can be determined is published in table 29 of part B of the new earnings survey 1986. Copies of both these reports are available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what discussions he has had with the Health and Safety Executive on the implications for safety at work of the case initiated by the European Economic Community Commission before the European Court on 15 September on the levying of value added tax on protective clothing and footwear; and if he will make a statement.

None. Neither I nor my predecessor has had discussions with the Health and Safety Executive on the forthcoming case before the European Court The implications for safety, along with other considerations, will be assessed when the verdict, and its basis, are known.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what are the number plates used by official vehicles of the High Commissioner in Vanuatu;(2) whether he will institute an inquiry into the use of the High Commissioner's official car by a Government official for the delivery of Conservative party fund-raising literature in Vanuatu; and if he will make a statement;(3) why the official car of the High Commissioner in Vanuatu was used to deliver Conservative party material to Mr. N. Anderson of OSAS, P.O. Box 567, Port Vila, Vanuatu; and if he will make a statement;(4) what is the practice with regard to the use of official diplomatic cars for delivering non-official material; and if he will make a statement;(5) what is the practice with regard to Her Majesty's embassies acting as receiving points for mail addressed to United Kingdom citizens working abroad and forwarding such items to their correct addresses.

The 75 technical co-operation officers and OSAS officers and their families regularly use the High Commission's postal box number 567 for both official and private mail which is then delivered to staff living locally in Vila. The registration numbers of High Commission vehicles are CD UK 1 and UK 5. All private mail received by the High Commission addressed to Mr. Anderson would have been handled in this manner. It would of course be quite improper for the High Commission to open or inspect the contents of private mail.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total number of directives and regulations, respectively, produced by the European Economic Community in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figures in each of the previous 10 years.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Government submitted their 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 has been completed and was submitted to the United Nations Secretary-General on 25 June 1987. Copies have been placed in the Library.

Sub-category	30 June 1987	Maximum in last 12 months	Minimum in last 12 months
Lost or stolen	354,902	354,902	290,056
Obtained by deception1	377	604	377
Found or apparently abandoned	27,270	29,553	22,719

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional advice he is going to give to the electoral registration officers as to the sale of names and addresses of people contained in the electoral register in machine-readable form, when the sale of the names and addresses takes place without the consent or knowledge of the data subject.

None. We have already advised registration officers that people who buy this data will have to register the details with the Data Protection Registrar and we have told them of the existence of the mailing preference service to help electors who do not wish to be on mailing lists.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to announce the subject access fee and issue the orders under section 29 of the Data Protection Act.

We hope to announce the subject access fee within the next few weeks. Drafting of the orders inder section 29 is well advanced, but consultation with the interested parties concerned is not yet complete. We plan to lay the orders immediately after the summer recess.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current number, and the maximum number and minimum number of entries for each of the sub-categories of the stolen and suspect vehicle index of the police national computer over the last year.

The number of entries in each of the sub-categories of the stolen and suspect vehicle index of the police national computer as of 30 June, together with the maximum and minimum number of entries for the previous 12 months, is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current number, the maximum number and minimum number of entries for each of the sub-categories of' the wanted and missing persons index of the police national computer over the last year.

The number of entries in each of the sub-categories of the wanted and missing persons index of the police national computer on 30 June 1987, together with the maximum and minimum number of entries for the previous 12 months, was as follows:

Sub Category	30 June 1987	Maximum in last 12 months	Minimum in last 12 months
Wanted persons	31,166	31,936	30,864
Failed to appear in court	21,598	21,598	20,253
Suspected of offence	4,398	4,398	4,139
Impending prosecution	47	65	34
Deserter from Armed Forces	2,099	4,302	2,081
Location desired: for example for services of summons	36,989	37,693	36,960
Missing	2,266	2,266	1,992
Found	20	20	10
Absconded from Local Authority care	594	679	503
Absconded from hospital	59	59	36
Absconded from youth custody	105	110	68
Absconded from prison	493	507	446
Absconded from remand	13	21	9
Absconded from school	42	64	40
Absconded from detention	3	11	3
Recalled to youth custody	0	1	0
Recalled to prison	253	265	242
Recalled to detention	0	0	0
Notify if in custody	0	0	0

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to increase the penalties upon those found guilty of carrying knives for offensive purposes; and if he will make a statement.

The courts are already sending more people to prison when convicted of carrying offensive weapons. The existing maximum penalty on conviction on indictment is two years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine. Where the weapons are used to cause injury, high maximum penalties are available.The Government are concerned about the increased use o f offensive weapons and are considering as a matter of urgency possible legislative changes to help curb their sale and use.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many full United Kingdom passports were issued at each of Her Majesty's passport offices respectively, in each month of the last three years; and what was the average monthly interval between application and issue in each office.

The information requested is given in the tables:

London Passport Office
Month	Issues	1 Average turn-round time (days)
1984–85
June 1984	44,083	14
July	51,812	14
August	39,414	6
September	28,018	3
October	25,897	2
November	24,794	2
December	15,324	2
January 1985	26,284	10
February	30,884	16
March	40,403	12
April	47,214	11
May	47,574	9
	421,701
1985–86
June 1985	43,957	12
July	50,898	12
August	33,788	10
September	27,388	8
October	27,932	8
November	25,022	6
December	17,890	6
January 1986	29,354	10
February	34,919	14
March	42,087	20
April	50,185	23
May	47,652	26
	431,072