asked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he proposes to take to ensure that British Rail meets the punctuality targets set for it (a) nationally and (b) in the London Midland region.

It is for British Rail to take the necessary steps to meet its punctuality targets. The chairman has assured me that the national targets can be achieved within the resources available. I have not set targets regionally.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he proposes to take to introduce electronic monitoring of key components for commercial helicopters following the sheriff's report at the fatal accident inquiry into the crash of a Chinook off Shetland in November 1986; and if he will make a statement.

The Civil Aviation Authority, which is statutorily responsible for civil aviation safety, tells me that there is no available electronic monitoring equipment capable of detecting the type of fault that occurred in the tragic accident to the Chinook helicopter before failure. Health and usage monitoring systems are now being developed for helicopters as part of a major programme of research into helicopter safety. The research is being funded jointly by the CAA, the United Kingdom Offshire Operators Association and the Departments of Transport and Energy. Operational trials of HUMS are being undertaken in conjunction with Bristow Helicopters, Smiths Industries and Westland Helicopters using a Bristow's AS 332L Super Puma based at Aberdeen in its normal commercial role in support of the oil industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all estuarial crossings in the United Kingdom where a toll is charged together with the amount charged in each case.

The following tables list the tolls charged on estuarial crossings in England, Scotland and Wales. There is no tolled estuarial crossing in Northern Ireland.

Toll charges at estuarial crossings in the United Kingdom
		Charge
	ENGLAND
Severn Bridge (M4)
(i)	3 wheeled Motor Cycle or vehicle not included in Category (ii)	50p

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many people have been killed in hit-and-run car accidents on Merseyside in each of the past five years;(2) what information he has as to how many persons have been injured by hit-and-run car accidents on Merseyside in each of the past five years.

It is customary to refer requests for road accident information within a local area to the authority holding the data. Road safety in local areas is the responsibility of the local highway authorities. I suggest that the hon. Member contacts the Merseyside police authority for the information.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to offer compensation to householders whose homes have been covered in dirt and dust during the shotblasting work on the Thornbridge viaduct of the M6 motorway.

The Department's standard conditions of contract require contractors to be insured against third party claims. The contract for the re-painting of Thornbridge viaduct is a standard one and the contractor has circulated local residents with a local telephone number to contact if they have grievances to report.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the cost of the painting contract on the Thornbridge viaduct of the M6 motorway; and when he expects the work will be completed.

This contract was awarded last May to Colebrand Contracting Ltd. in the sum of £473,092 and is due for completion in October 1987.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a further statement about the privatisation of the British Airports Authority.

This morning up to 500 million ordinary shares in BAA plc have been offered for sale. The issue has been fully under-written at the finest rates ever achieved for a privatisation—an average of 0·0531 per cent. Up to 260 million shares are being offered to the general public, including BAA employees and pensioners, at a fixed price of £2·45 per share. 115 million shares have been placed firm with financial institutions at the fixed price and 125 million shares have been provisionally placed with institutions. These provisionally placed shares will be subject to clawback to satisfy successful tender applications made by individuals and institutions. Successful tender applications will be accepted at the price tendered, and normally in full.Prospectuses and fixed price and tender application forms will be published in a number of national newspapers on Friday 10 July and Sunday 12 July. Everyone who has registered with the BAA Share Information Office will be sent a mini-prospectus containing the application forms. Prospectuses and application forms will also be available from 10 July at all United Kingdom branches of Midland Bank, Clydesdale Bank and Northern Bank, certain principal branches of other banks and a number of stockbrokers. Applications must be received by 10 am on Thursday 16 July. Copies of the prospectus will be placed in the Library of the House on 10 July.

asked the Attorney-General what representations he has received proposing that in multiple personal injury actions raising issues of great complexity and high legal costs, the courts should have power to recommend that appropriate test cases should he funded by the state.

I have received one letter, and the Lord Chancellor has received a small amount of correspondence, relating to multiple personal injury actions, but there have been no representations in the terms of this question.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is considering some form of legally binding contracts for offers to purchase houses to prevent the current spread of the practice of gazumping.

The Law Commission's report on "Subject to Contract" agreements (Law Com. No. 65, published in 1975) concluded that legislation to impose civil or criminal liability for "gazumping" would be counter productive. The Government hope that buyers and sellers of houses and flats will give favourable consideration to the pre-contract deposit agreement recommended by the Conveyancing Standing Committee in January last.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to bring A and D wings at Parkhurst prison, Isle of Wight, back into use; how long these wings have remained unused; why they are unused; why, and when, they were rewired; what was the cost of rewiring them; when and why these wings were reroofed; and what was the cost of reroofing them.

A and D wings have been out of use since a roof top demonstration in March 1979. Damage caused by this demonstration necessitated immediate repair of the roof to prevent rapid deterioration of the whole building. These repairs, which cost £80,000, were completed in July 1979. The vacation of the wings at that time gave the opportunity to undertake electrical work which had already been planned; this work cost about £100,000.Since the essential repair work was completed, plans for the use of A and D wings have changed and designs have been prepared for a long-term redevelopment scheme which involved their complete modernisation, including the provision of association facillities and integral sanitation. This scheme is now at an advanced stage and will be implemented as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the wings are unused because they are structurally unsound.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the proposed international link-up of computerised (a) criminal and (b) immigration records; what assessment he has made of the implications of the United Kingdom system of data protection for the operation of the proposed international link-up; and what information he has on the compatibility of the definitions of terrorism used by the different countries involved.

I am not aware of any proposals for an international link up of computerised criminal or immigration records.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visas have been refused, curtailed, or revoked for personnel who work in the Iranian office complex at 4 Victoria street, London S.W.1.

The office complex at 4 Victoria street, London SW1, houses a number of separate Iranian undertakings. The activities of these offices are monitored closely, and while no action has yet been taken of the kind to which the hon. Member refers, as with any foreign national applying to come to or remain in the United Kingdom, Iranians working there will continue to be expected to meet the requirements of the immigration rules.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of immigrants into the United Kingdom this year have been sponsored by people living within Batley and Spen.

The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of political refugees in the United Kingdom from Iran, Iraq, Libya and Syria at the most recent available date.

In the eight years between 1979 and 1986 the numbers of nationals of Iran, Iraq, Libya and Syria granted refugee status in the United Kingdom were about 5,220,440, 130 and 30 respectively. Figures for earlier years are not available. It is not known how many of those granted refugee status have remained in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on the implementation of the Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act 1987;(2) which ferry operators have been penalised under the provisions of the Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act;(3) whether his Department has made an estimate of the cost to ferry operators installing the passenger checking procedures necessary to enable them to comply with the provisions of the Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act; and if he will make a statement;(4) on how many occasions penalties have been imposed under the Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act since it came into force.

The Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act 1987 received royal assent on 15 May 1987, and made carriers liable to charges from 5 March. Up to 26 June notice of liability had been issued in about 1,500 cases; this number will he reduced if carriers are able to show that the charge should not be made in particular cases. Notices of liability have been issued to a substantial number of airlines and ferry operators. Comprehensive details are not readily available. No estimate has been made of the cost to operators of complying with the new legislation. The majority of ferry passengers arc, however, British citizens, others with the right of abode in the United Kingdom, or EC nationals, all of whom require only the briefest of checks to confirm their status.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the workings so far of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 with regard to overnight detainees at police stations.

The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 provides the police with power to detain without charge persons suspected of an offence. The period of detention is restricted to a maximum of 24 hours or, in the case of serious offences, 36 hours. persons are detained overnight they must be permitted a period of eight hours rest and provided with refreshment. After charge, a person who is detained in police custody must be brought before a magistrate's court as soon as practicable, in accordance with section 46 of the Act. All detained persons have a right to consult a solicitor and the 24-hour duty solicitor scheme aims to ensure that, for persons who wish to do so, a solicitor may be consulted outside normal working hours.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding possible legislation on the sale of knives intended for offensive and criminal purposes.

We have received a number of representations from the police representative organisations, police consultative groups, local authorities, hon. Members and members of the public about the availability of offensive weapons, including knives. Some have suggested that curbs should be placed on their sale. We are committed to bringing forward proposals on the sale of offensive weapons which have no legitimate uses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the average term served by those released from detention during Her Majesty's pleasure during the last five and 10 years respectively.

The average time spent under sentence by persons detained during Her Majesty's pleasure in Prison Department establishments in England and Wales was between six and six and a half years for those first released on licence in the years 1977 to 1986 and in the years 1982 to 1986.

asked the Member representing the House of Commons Commission what are the current salaries and numbers in post of the principal grades of servants of the House of Commons.

The following table gives numbers in post and current salary scales of House of Commons staff in grades equivalent or related to Civil Service grades 1 to 7 inclusive:

Numbers of staff in post	Equivalent Civil Service grade	Salary scale 1 April 1987
1	Grade 1	*64,739
2	Grade 2	*43,264–45,349
12	Grade 3	*33,725–36,852
4	Grade 4	31,672–33,235
23	Grade 5	26,204–29,680
1	House of Commons Pay Spine U (equivalent to 98 per cent, of Civil Service Grade 5)	25,709–29,116
14	Grade 6	20,251–26,800
1	House of Commons Pay Spine Z (95 per cent. Grade 6)	19,312–25,533
4	House of Commons Pay Spine ZA (93 per cent. Grade 6)	18,936–25,027
4	House of Commons Pay Spine ZE (83 per cent. Grade 6)	17,037–22,493
45	Grade 7	16,392–21,757
* All rates include inner London weighting of £1,465 per annum except in the case of those grades asterisked to whom no such weighting is payable.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the current relations of Her Majesty's Government with Vietnam; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Member for mid-Sussex (Mr. Renton), the them Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 11 June 1986 at column 240. Vietnam's occupation of Cambodia and poor human rights record continues to inhibit our relations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if there are any plans to establish diplomatic relations with Libya.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if there are any plans to establish diplomatic relations with Albania; and if he will make a statement.

In 1980 we offered to establish diplomatic relations with Albania without preconditions. That offer remains open, but unfortunately the Albanians have not yet taken it up.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will seek to dismiss the high commissioner to Vanuatu.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received about the reaction in Hong Kong to China's expressed intentions for the future of the colony, following the recent condemnation by a Peking Foreign Ministry official of attempts to introduce democratic elections; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that my right hon. and learned Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Christchurch (Mr. Adley) on 1 July at column 118. I understand that the Chinese official concerned has publicly stated that his remarks were misreported.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the latest number of representations that have been received by the survey office in Hong Kong in response to the recent Green Paper, "The 1987 Review of Developments in Representative Government"; and how many have been (a) written and (b) oral.

Up to noon on 8 July 1987, the survey office had received 910 representations on the Green Paper entitled "The 1987 Review of Developments in Representative Government." Of these, 899 were written and 11 oral.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to the role envisaged for the president of the European Commission and the second member of the Commission, respectively, at the forthcoming European Council at Copenhagen; and by what means proposals they place before the Council will be scrutinised and debated by the House.

The president of the European Commission and a second member of the Commission will attend the next European Council in Copenhagen as provided in article 2 of the Single European Act which entered into force on 1 July. Commission proposals for submission to the Council will be deposited in Parliament in accordance with the standing arrangements for scrutiny by the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to publish a revised edition of the treaty of Rome, as amended by the Single European Act treaty, together with the preamble of that treaty and its other provisions.

Now that the Single European Act has entered into force, the European Community publications office are finalising a consolidated text of all the basic Community treaties as amended by the Single European Act. As soon as this is available HMSO will publish its own version.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the present relations between Her Majesty's Government and Indonesia.

We enjoy good relations with Indonesia. These were strengthened by the visit to London this month of the Indonesian Minister for Research and Technology, Dr. Habibie.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he proposes to take to seek to stop French immigration authorities singling out individual schoolchildren, travelling on school trips with collective passports, and demanding individual identification where they appear to be of foreign origin.

We are always ready to investigate specific cases where British travellers overseas appear to have suffered undue inconvenience and, where approproate, to take them up with the authorities concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Sri Lanka about the continuing disturbances there; and if he will make a statement.

We have frequent contacts with Ministers of the Government of Sri Lanka both here and in Colombo. My right hon. and learned Friend discussed the present situation with the Sri Lankan Finance Minister on 19 June, and my noble Friend the Minister of State has recently received the Ministers of National Security and of Lands and Land Development. All reiterated the Sri Lankan Government's commitment to continue to seek a political settlement.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the main needs of women in the policy areas within 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.

In April 1987 the United Kingdom Government produced a co-ordinated response to the "Forward Looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women" (FLS) which was adopted by consensus at the Nairobi conference held at the end of the United Nations Decade for Women. This document responds to the recommendations and observations on all aspects of policies for the advancement of women made in the FLS and includes information on monitoring and consultation. The Northern Ireland Office contributed to this reply.Women's representative organisations in Northern Ireland are regularly consulted during the preparation of legislation and their views are taken into account.The Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments are responsible for a wide range of public services in Northern Ireland and staff in those services are given appropriate training to ensure their efficient delivery. Where it is relevant to the function in question, the training is designed to help staff appreciate the needs of women in keeping with the needs of all special interest groups.

asked the Minister for the Arts what progress he has made in arranging for individual objects of superlative artistic merit from the various national collections to be shown in selected provincial galleries on a trial basis.

I am concerned to increase public access to the collections of our museums and galleries and regard touring exhibitions as an important means of getting objects to parts of the country where they might not otherwise be seen. I have welcomed the initiative of the Museums and Galleries Commission in setting up a scheme to encourage such exhibitions and have commended to them my hon. Friend the Member for Eastleigh's suggestion of exhibitions built around one or two outstanding items.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether any dumping of gasworks waste from either of the two gasworks demolished for the A55 Expressway has taken place on the Delph landfill site, Plas Bennion, Acrefair.

A quantity of sand was removed from the site of a former gasworks at Conwy Morfa and was deposited at the Delph landfill site, Plas Bennion, Acrefair. I understand that the local authority which is responsible for the site has inquired into the nature of this material, but the results are not yet known.

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

The sheep industry in Wales has benefited considerably from the EC sheepmeat regime, and the breeding flock has been increasing by 2 to 3 per cent. annually. Producers in Wales benefit from the sheep variable premium scheme for finished lambs—worth £22·7 million in 1986–87, and from the sheep annual premium scheme on breeding ewes worth £37·9 million in 1986–87. In addition hill livestock compensatory allowances on sheep totalled 19·8 million in Wales in 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table giving the total annual budget of the Welsh Development Agency in each year from 1979–80 to 1987–88 at 1987–88 prices, and on the same basis, total annual expenditure.

The information is as follows:

Welsh Development Agency Spending: 1979–80 to 1987–88
£ million
1987–88 prices1
	Gross annual budget2	Gross expenditure
1979–80	107·8	108·8
1980–81	136·2	129·2
1981–82	141·7	117·8
1982–83	106·0	94·9
1983–84	77·1	80·6
1984–85	82·2	90·6
1985–86	68·1	71·8
1986–87	76·3	76·2
1987–88	86·5	—
1 Adjusted using the GDP deflator.
2 Finalised annual budgets which reflect in year adjustments.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table giving the total annual budget of the Development Board for Rural Wales, Mid Wales Development, in each year from 1979–80 to 1987–88 at 1987–88 prices, and on the same basis, total annual expenditure.

The gross initial budget provision and the subsequent levels of gross expenditure for the Development Board for Rural Wales at June 1987 prices, based on the gross domestic product (market prices) deflator, are as follows:

	£ million 1987–88 prices
	1Gross budget provision	1Gross expenditure
1979–80	16·0	16·0
1980–81	9·9	9·8
1981–82	13·5	11·2
1982–83	12·9	11·9
1983–84	13·0	11·3
1984–85	13·3	13·4
1985–86	13·4	13·6
1986–87	13·4	213·1
1987–88	13·5	313·5
1Figures exclude finance charges arising from repayment of advances under the National Loans Fund.
2Provisional.
3Estimated

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the value of assets sold by (a) the Welsh Development Agency and (b) the Development Board for Rural Wales in each of the years since 1979.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the annual accounts of the Welsh Development Agency and the Development Board for Rural Wales for the years up to and including 1985–86, which are in the Library of the House. For 1986–87, for which accounts have not yet been finalised, the estimated value of assets sold by the WDA is £14·6 million and for the DBRW is £1·7 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish, for each parliamentary constituency, the amounts spent on (a) industrial investments, (b) factory construction and (c) environmental improvements by the Welsh Development Agency in each year since 1983.

The WDA does not maintain details of expenditure in the form requested.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish, for each parliamentary constituency, the amounts spent on (a) industrial investments and (b) factory construction by the Development Board for Rural Wales, Mid Wales Development, in each year since 1983.

The Development Board for Rural Wales has no powers to undertake equity investment in companies. That is the responsibility of the Welsh Development Agency and figures are not available in the form requested. For each parliamentary constituency which falls in whole or in part within the territory of the Development Board for Rural Wales expenditure on factory construction was as follows:

£000s
	1983–84	1984–85	1985–86	1986–87
Brecon and Radnor	635	833	980	680
Ceredigion and Pembroke North	1,412	1,259	915	1,202
Meirionnydd Nant Conwy	375	258	442	205
Montgomery	1,274	2,387	3,383	4,364

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what action he is proposing to take to reduce the level of pollution on beaches in Wales following the recent survey conducted by the Coastal Anti-Pollution League.

Action to improve the quality of Welsh bathing waters and thereby reduce the level of pollution on Welsh beaches is a matter for the Welsh water authority. The authority's "Plan 86" noted the need for expenditure up to £70 million to ensure that those bathing waters recognised under the EC bathing water directive comply with the required standards of the directive.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how much was spent on nurse training in the last four years; how much he estimates will be spent in the year 1987–88; and what are the corresponding figures at constant prices.

The information requested is as follows:

Year	Actual expenditure	Constant price at 1987–88
	£ million	£ million
1983–84	24·940	25·237
1984–85	26·671	26·976
1985–86	25·802	26·080
1986–87	126·312	126·587
1 Estimated.

For the financial year 1987–88 it is estimated that the actual expenditure will be £29·5 million. For each year, actual expenditure is made up from two figures. The first is expenditure by the Welsh National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting on salaries of nurse teachers and other training costs. The second is salaries, national insurance and superannuation costs for learners, paid by health authorities. The salary costs do not take account of the service contributions made by learners during training, which vary according to the particular course and the school of nursing. There is additional, but not separately identified, expenditure on informal teaching costs (teaching provided by qualified staff to learners during clinical placements) and on maintenance and contributions in lieu of rates in respect of schools of nursing.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what arrangements he is making to pay local authorities additional resources in respect of the teachers' pay award for 1986–87.

I am today laying before the House of Commons the Welsh Rate Support Grant Supplementary (No. 2) Report 1986–87, which makes provision for additional expenditure by local authorities and for additional rate support grant in respect of the pay award to teachers for 1986–87.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Overseas Development Administration lists of OSAS appointments and addresses of appointees in any Commonwealth country are in any way (a) classified or (b) subject to any restriction on circulation to the general public.

Details of those serving under the overseas service aid scheme are not regarded by the ODA as classified. The Government do not circulate lists of officers, nor disclose their private addresses, to the general public. There are a number of associations of aid-financed officers who are, of course, free to circulate lists to their members, and their addresses, according to their own rules and policies.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the cost to the European Community of subsidising exports of sugar in each of the last five years.

The total cost of export refunds on Community sugar was as follows:

	£ million
1982	415·0
1983	444·7
1984	694·9
1985	795·5
1986	802·3

This cost was met partly by production levies charged on Community sugar.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the total cost to the European Community of the sugar regime, and the amounts received from levies on sugar beet farmers, in each of the last five years.

The information requested is as follows. Levy revenue is raised both from production levies paid by sugar manufacturers, who in turn may pass up to 60 per cent. of the cost on to beet growers, and storage levies charged on first-hand sales of Community quota sugar in order to meet the cost of storing Community sugar.

Year	Gross expenditure	Total levy revenue
	£ million	£ million
1982	692·7	393·7
1983	772·1	556·1
1984	952·7	687·0
1985	1,061·1	621·8
1986	1,117·9	1
1 Not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the value of all foods and food products returned to the United Kingdom from other countries due to unacceptable levels of radiation, since the explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear reactor.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths) on 6 July. This information is not available and 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 Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is the gap between the green pound and the pound sterling in the beef sector following the devaluation of the green pound in December 1986;(2) what is the gap between the green pound and the pound sterling in the beef sector as a result of the decisions taken by the Council of Ministers on 30 June 1987.

The United Kingdom MCAs applying in the beef sector immediately before and after the green rate devaluations taking effect on 5 January and 6 July 1987 were:

	5 January	6 July
	per cent.	per cent.
Before	-23·6	-15·1
After	-18·4	-10·6

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what discussions he has had with the chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board, the South of Scotland Electricity Board and the Atomic Energy Authority on correction of temporary defects in advanced gas-cooled reactors.

I have had a preliminary discussion with the chairman of the CEGB at which he explained some of the operational problems being experienced with the board's advanced gas-cooled reactors. Since these are operational matters, I shall ask him to write to the hon. Member. Questions about the South of Scotland Electricity Board are a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what studies the Central Electricity Generating Board has performed to assess the environmental impact of the operation of various systems of flue gas desulphurisation; if he will list those systems which have already been investigated by the board and those which it still intends to investigate; and when he or the board intends to publish the results of these studies;(2) on what date the Central Electricity Generating Board commenced investigations into the environmental impact of various systems of flue gas desulphurisation for use at coal-fired power stations; and if he will outline the criteria which the board have applied in its studies;(3) what studies the Central Electricity Generating Board has performed to investigate the environmental impact of the operation of

These are matters for the Central Electricity Generating Board and I shall ask the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action his Department has taken to encourage the development of co-operatives.

Co-operatives can benefit from a number of schemes introduced by the Government to help and encourage small businesses, such as the loan guarantee scheme and the enterprise allowance scheme. In addition, the National Co-operative Development Agency. which is sponsored by this Department, seeks to stimulate the growth of co-operatives by providing help and advice to co-operatives and to people wishing to set up such enterprises. The number of co-operatives has increased from 300 in 1980 to more than 1,500 at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has about the amount of research for British industry currently being conducted at universities in the United Kingdom.

In 1984–85 (the latest year for which figures are available) universities in the United Kingdom received £47·7 million from industry in the form of research grants and contracts. This compares with £147·5 million from the research councils, £64·3 million from Government Departments and £57·2 million from United Kingdom-based charitable bodies. I am sure that industry would benefit from taking greater advantage of what the universities have to offer.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made in talks with industry for the financial support of a city technology college in Southampton.

My right hon. Friend has as yet received no proposals to establish a city technology college in Southampton. If there is support in industry and in the local community for doing so he would be pleased to consider any proposals which are put forward.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he intends to take to extend pre-school education to ensure that a place is available for all three to five-year-olds whose parents require it.

It is for local education authorities to determine the scale and nature of their educational provision for the under-fives in the light of their own priorities and assessment of local needs. The Government's plans for expenditure on education allow for provision attributable to under-fives to continue in real terms within broadly the same totals as today. Both participation rates and the actual numbers of under-fives in school are currently the highest ever.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many of the proposals from local education authorities for secondary school reorganisation currently before him involve the closure of grammar schools.

My right hon. Friend is currently considering six proposals under section 12 of the Education Act 1980 which involve the closure of grammar schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many civil servants are employed by his Department in (a) London and the south-east, (b) the south-west, (c) the midlands and (d) the north of England; and what is the budgeted expenditure of his Department for the current year in each of these regions.

The Department employs about 1,200 staff at its London headquarters and 600 at its Darlington office. Seventy-five are employed at the University Grants Committee, also in London. The remaining 600 Department of Education and Science staff mainly Her Majesty's inspectors of schools and their support staff, are based at small divisional and local offices throughout the country. Provision in the Supply Estimates for the Department's gross running costs in 1987–88 is £58·336 million, but it is not possible to break this figure down by location.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in the light of the failure of the Leicestershire education authority to provide facilities at the two sites of Fleckney Church of England (Controlled) Primary School for children to partake of packed lunches, as required under section 22 of the Education Act 1982, he will take steps to resolve the matter forthwith.

My right hon. Friend is satisfied, on the basis of inquiries made by his officials, that the Leicestershire education authority is doing everything possible to ensure that facilities are restored at the school.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has granted any additional funding to the University Grants Committee to enable it to finance expenses incurred by universities in contesting test cases in the courts; and which universities and colleges have received undertakings from the University Grants Committee that such litigation will be underwritten by the grants committee.

No additional funds have been provided by the Government for this particular purpose. The UGC told universities in 1982 that, in appropriate circumstances, it would be ready to make a contribution towards damages and costs arising from court proceedings in connection with redundancy. This remains its policy.

asked the Scretary of State for Education and Science what is his policy towards the early specialisation entailed by the present system of A-levels.

The Government are concerned to broaden the curriculum of A-level students without diluting academic standards. They have announced the introduction in September next of a new examination course, Advanced Supplementary level. The new courses should increase the range of options open to A-level students and give them new opportunities to continue the study to A-level standard of subjects which contrast with or complement their main field of study. The first examinations will be held in summer 1989.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the criteria his Department has laid down as to the minimum number of (a) pupils, (b) teachers and (c) facilities acceptable for the maintenance of a rural village school.

My Department has made no such stipulations. Circular 3/87, issued on 6 May, referred to the general principles proposed in the White Paper "Better Schools" concerning the size thresholds at which schools of different types can economically deliver a satisfactory curriculum, but acknowledged that there may be some localities where for geographic and other reasons smaller schools need to be maintained.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has received the report of the study group chaired by Sir Clifford Butler into geological surveying; if he intends to publish the report; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science has received Sir Clifford Butler's report from the chairmen of the Advisory Board for the Research Councils and of the Natural Environment Research Council, who have recommended that it be published. Accordingly, the report is being published today and copies are being placed in the Library of the House. A number of the recommendations fall to be considered by the Government and my Department is consulting other Departments concerned. My right hon. Friend will make a further statement when these consultations have been completed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many United Kingdom civil servants currently enjoy salaries in excess of (a) £18,500 per annum, (b) £21,500 per annum and (c) £24,000 per annum.

Based on staff numbers at 1 October 1986 and the revised pay rates effective from 1 April 1987, it is estimated that there are 18,400 non-industrial staff in the home Civil Service whose basic pay is in excess of £18,500 per annum, 9,100 in excess of £21,500 per annum and 7,500 in excess of £24,000 per annum. Figures for the Northern Ireland Civil Service cannot be provided on precisely the same basis but would add about 5 per cent. to the numbers in each of the three categories.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his Department has considered using London weighting style allowances as a form of regional pay; and what recent studies have been conducted by his Department into housing costs and labour market pressures affecting public sector workers within and outside the boundaries for payments of London weighting allowances.

In addition to London weighting the Civil Service pay arrangements already permit variation in pay rates, according to the locality of the office, through special pay additions. Other recent developments have ben the new agreement with the Institution of Professional Civil Servants on flexible pay, and changes in the financial package offered when civil servants move location, which now takes more account of variations in house prices across the country.The Treasury and the MPO monitor relevant developments and their effect on recruitment and retention. Proposals are under consideration to address problems of recruitment and retention where they exist in London, the south-east and other particular areas.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of shareholders now owning shares in companies privatised since 1979 are (a) current or (b) former employees of that company.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Government have changed their assessment of the relative superiority of the air forces of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the Warsaw pact, given the change between paragraph 6, annex A of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1986" and paragraph 4, annex A of the current year.

These two paragraphs are to be taken in different contexts. Paragraph 6 of annex A of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1986 (Cmnd. 9763-I)" is concerned with the modernisation programmes of NATO's air forces which make an essential contribution to countering the Warsaw pact armoured threat. The equivalent paragraph in the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1987 (Cmnd. 101-I)" is paragraph 10 of annex A. Paragraph 4 of annex A in this year's statement is part of a commentary on the balance of conventional forces, which indicates that NATO aircraft face greater numbers of Warsaw pact aircraft, a situation unaltered from previous years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will detail the percentage contributed to total non-domestic rates for England and Wales from (a) commercial properties, (b) industrial properties and (c) other premises.

Following is the available information for 1987–88:

Composition of non-domestic rate income in England and Wales
	Per cent.
Commercial properties	52
Industrial properties	29
Other premises	19

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what sums have been allocated in each of the last seven years for expenditure on fixtures, fittings, and equipment in the Vote Office, Table Office, Library, Chamber, Committee Rooms in the Commons and the Commons Dining Rooms, separately.

The Property Services Agency, including the Crown Suppliers, is responsible for providing furniture and fittings to agreed standards, and some equipment for the Palace of Westminster. The total value of purchases on these items for the parliamentary estate is currently some £400,000 per annum. Expenditure is not recorded separately for each of the areas identified by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the Nottingham housing investment programme bids and the allocation each year since 1979 at constant 1987 prices.

The position has changed since 1979, in that local housing authorities nationally now fund more than half their capital expenditure from capital receipts, rather than from housing investment programme allocations made by the Department.The proposed capital programme shown by authorities in their HIP submissions cannot therefore be compared directly with their HIP allocations.Since 1979 the final HIP allocations made to Nottingham city council, and their total capital expenditure on housing, have been as follows:

	1987–88 prices
	HIP allocation	Expenditure
	£ million	£ million
1979–80	42·959	41·890
1980–81	29·211	29·687
1981–82	21·900	26·381
1982–83	24·778	30·831

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to increase the funds made available to the Commission for the New Towns in order to enable it to increase its advertising budget.

My right hon. Friend does not provide any funds for the commission's publicity budget; the commission generates sufficient income to cover this and the majority of its expenditure on other activities. It is in the first instance a matter for the commission to assess the levels of expenditure which are required to carry out its responsibilities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies his officials have undertaken or commissioned into the environmental impact of various flue gas desulphurisation systems for use at coal-fired power stations; what systems have been investigated; and what results and conclusions have been yielded.

At the request of my Department, the Fellowship of Engineering is preparing an extensive report on individual process and abatement technologies applicable to stationary and mobile sources of pollution arising from the combustion of fossil fuels, including all the main flue gas desulphurisation processes.The study, which includes an appraisal of the process costs, operating experience, material requirements and ease of by-product disposal, is nearing completion and I expect it to be available for publication in the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will provide a table of information outlining nitrogen oxide emissions in grams per kilometre for average cars in service performing standard test cycles using 95 RON petrol, according to (a) the ECE 15–04 urban test cycle and (b) at constant speeds of 90 kilometres per hour and 120 kilometres per hour for the following: (i) the current conventional spark ignition engine with carburettor, (ii) the July 1985 Luxembourg agreement for combined nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons, (iii) United States 1983 standards and (iv) California 1989 standards;(2) if he will provide a table of information containing estimates of reductions in nitrogen emissions, additional vehicle production costs and fuel penalty for the following technical systems of exhaust emission control for average cars in service performing standard test cycles using unleaded 95 RON petrol:

Information on vehicle emission control costs and performance in the terms set out in the hon. Member's questions is currently being analysed by international experts, including delegates from the United Kingdom, for the Executive Body for the Convention of Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. I would expect the Executive Body to approve the final report for publication at its next session in November this year and I will ensure a copy is placed in the Library of the House at the earliest opportunity.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report the general criteria used by the London Docklands Development Corporation to value the land it has for sale; at what stage of negotiation with any purchasers the corporation is bound by agreements, or previously determined formulae; and to what extent any such formulae take account of increased land values.

The general criteria are that when the London Docklands Development Corporation sells land it must obtain a certificate from an independent valuer that the price is not below current market value and, if that is unobtainable, it must seek specific consent from the Department to the disposal of land at a lower price.The corporation becomes bound when contracts become unconditional and the point at which this happens will depend upon the nature of the agreement and on its precise terms.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply of 1 July, Official Report, column 99, what is the value of the Spectrum Arena in Birchwood; how long the Spectrum Arena has been empty; and if the Spectrum Arena will be available to Warrington borough council under similar terms to other disposals of community-related assets of development corporations.

The Spectrum Arena was closed on 30 June last year. I cannot say how much the development corporation would be prepared to accept for a sale of the arena, without prejudicing its bargaining position. The corporation would consider any reasonable offer from the council.

asked Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his proposals for legislation to prevent the construction of buildings susceptible to the build-up of radon gas.

The building regulations already provide sufficient powers to regulate the construction of new buildings. The regulations are supported by approved documents which give guidance on how to comply with regulations. The Department is working on guidance to be included in the approved documents on measures which may need to be taken in areas where radon is a problem.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what work is still being done and how many people are still employed on the site of Fulbeck which was earlier being considered for nuclear dumping;(2) what work is still being done and how many people are still employed on the site of Elstow which was earlier being considered for nuclear dumping;(3) what work is still being done and how many people are still employed on the site of South Killingholme which was earlier being considered for nuclear dumping;(4) what work is still being done and how many people are still employed on the site of Bradwell which was earlier being considered for nuclear dumping.

All four sites are in the final stages of reinstatement in accordance with the conditions in the special development order. The total labour force working on all four sites on 7 July was 11; this number varies from day to day as work progresses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now set a deadline for the submission by Birmingham city council of its proposals for an urban development agency in Birmingham.

No. The city council and its partners are now appointing consultants to prepare a development strategy for east Birmingham which I understand could be complete in September. This is a constructive move forward.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the dates when Ministers in his Department have had meetings with Birmingham city council about the proposed urban development agency.

My right hon. Friend met the city council on 30 July and 8 December 1986 and proposes to meet it again shortly to discuss its proposals for an urban development agency.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what research his Department is carrying out on the effect on council tenants to transfer their existing tenancy to a private landlord on the quality of management and maintenance of rented property in London, particularly as regards the level of vacancy and the physical condition of the property.

[pursuant to his reply, 7 July 1987]: Under our policies, council tenants will be able to judge for themselves which landlord, council or other, offers them the best quality of housing management and maintenance services and to act accordingly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to submit for further review the price agreed by the London Docklands Development Corporation and the developers of Canary wharf; and if he will make a statement.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked. the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the National Health Service per capita expenditure for each region of the United Kingdom.

National Health Service per capita expenditure for each of the English regional health authorities, including estimates of the expenditure on the family practitioner services in each region, is set out in the table. Expenditure in Scotland and Wales is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. Friend the Secretary for Wales.

Region	Expenditure per capita (£)
Northern	287·88
Yorkshire	284·10
Trent	264·82
East Anglian	267·88
North West Thames	300·15
North East Thames	328·44
South East Thames	308·83
South West Thames	291·97
Wessex	270·30
Oxford	244·08
South Western	286·68
West Midlands	278·18
Mersey	295·82
North Western	308·52
England total	292·28

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the turnover in the number of domestic staff at the east Cumbria hospitals since these services were privatised; and what they were for the preceding year;(2) what is the sickness rate for the domestic staff at the east Cumbria hospitals since these services were privatised; and what were the figures for the preceding year.

This information is not held centrally. The hon. Member may wish to write to the chairman of East Cumbria health authority for the information he requires.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consideration his Department has given to the effect of the boundaries for outer London weighting allowance on the recruitment of skilled staff for health service jobs elsewhere in the south-east.

The boundaries within which London weighting allowances are payable are a matter for negotiation between the Management and Staff Sides of the London weighting consortium of the General Whitley Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has about the proportion of births which are started by artificial induction and the proportion which are accelerated; and what are the current trends.

The estimated proportions of deliveries in National Health Service hospitals which were artificially induced or in which labour was accelerated are given in the table. The information is derived from a nominal 10 per cent. sample of cases recorded by the Maternity Hospital In-Patient Enquiry.

Deliveries assisted by Artificial Induction or Accelerated Labour Percentages—England
Year	Induction	Accelerated labour
11979	21·8	10·8
11980	20·2	11·1
1982	18·7	11·1
1983	18·8	11·7
1984	17·4	11·8
1985	17·6	12·1
1England and Wales.
Figures for 1981 are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many married women have become eligible for invalid care allowance since Mrs. Jackie Drake won her case on this; and if he is satisfied with the rate of take-up.

The steps we have taken to publicise the extension of invalid care allowance to married women have produced a substantial response. At 3 July, the latest date for which information is available, over 118,500 claims had been received from married women, of which about 64,000 have been successful and some 34,000 are awaiting decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied that the present level of out-of-school provision meets the need of working parents and their children.

Out of school provision is primarily a matter for parents but many local authorities provide schemes. The Department has for many years recognised the needs of working parents and families under stress by providing funding to the National Out of School Alliance, a voluntary body which stimulates the development of out of school schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to allow women the freedom to choose local facilities for ante-natal care and confinement.

We have commended to health authorities the three reports from the Maternity Services Advisory Committee which offer advice on good practice in maternity care. The report on ante-natal care emphasises the need for careful assessment, reflecting the mother's views, needs and wishes in determining the plan for care at all stages in the pregnancy.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his policy towards the nature and degree of centralisation of maternity facilities.

The second Maternity Services Advisory Committee report encourages women to have their babies in a hospital offering the full range of services necessary to cope with any emergencies. It is for health authorities to determine locally how best to implement this policy.