asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will set out the amounts of common agricultural policy surplus production held in each of the stores used for that purpose in the United Kingdom;(2) what is the location, by town. of the stores used for the storage of common agricultural policy surpluses in the United Kingdom.

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

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the effects of delay on United Kingdom dairy farmers, he will immediately allow the Milk Marketing Board to organise milk quota leasing in the United Kingdom.

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

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Council of Agriculture Minsters' meeting held in Luxembourg on Monday 13 July; and if he will make a statement.

I represented the United Kingdom at this meeting. The Council agreed, subject to the opinion of the European Parliament, on arrangements for the funding of agricultural expenditure from the Community budget. The decision implements the conclusions reached by Heads of Government at their meeting on 29 and 30 June that the present system of advance payments should be changed.Instead of member states making guarantee payments to farmers and others

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what rights and conditions apply to people (a) being held on remand in police cells and (b) serving a prison sentence;(2) what are the rights of people being held on remand in police cells as to visits; and if he will make a statement as to his Department's policy in this matter.

The conditions under which sentenced and unsentenced prisoners are held in prison department establishments are laid down in "The Prison Rules 1964" as amended. These do not extend to prisoners held in police cells. However, such prisoners are covered by the relevant sections of the code of practice for detention, questioning and treatment of persons by police officers issued under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of (a) men and(b) women being held in police cells in the United Kingdom on I July; and what was the longest period of time a person on remand had been held under such conditions on that date.

On 3 July, the nearest date for which reliable figures are available, the number of men being held in police and court cells in England and Wales was 511 and the number of women was 109. The longest period of time that a person on remand had been so held was 65 days.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the number of people held in police cells in the United Kingdom for each month since January 1965.

The readily available information relates to the last Friday of each month when the numbers of prisoners held in police cells in England and Wales were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why people, whose homes are in London and who have been remanded in custody by courts in London, are being held in police cells many miles away from London.

The continuing rise in the prison population, particularly those remanded in custody, has led to the increasing use of police cells to accommodate some remand prisoners. The pressure on police cells in the Metropolitan police district has made it necessary for the police to look outside London for short term accommodation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions since 1979 visa officers have appealed against an adjudicator's determination to allow an application for entry clearance; and if he will give a breakdown (i) by post of application in the subcontinent and (ii) by year.

The available information compiled from statistics maintained by the independent appellate authorities is given in the table. No record is kept for individual posts and prior to 1984 no separate figures were kept for the Indian sub-continent.

Appeals to the Immigration Appeal Tribunal from decisions by adjudicators to allow appeals against refusal of entry clearance
	Commonwealth	Non-Commonwealth	EC
1979	47	50	0
1980	33	21	1
1981	21	19	0
1982	28	20	0
1983	23	18	1

	India/Bangladesh	Pakistan	Other Commonwealth	EC	Others
1984	32	3	10	0	0
1985	20	10	4	0	5

	Indian	Bangladesh	Pakistan	EC	Others
1986	12	24	27	0	10

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been refused visitor's entry clearance, since the new system was introduced, on the grounds that the immigration officer was not satisfied that the applicant was genuinely seeking entry for only the period of the visit stated by him; and if he will give a breakdown by each post considering applications in the sub-continent.

Information is available centrally only on all applications refused for a visit visa, irrespective of the reason for refusal, and is given in the following table:

Applications refused initially in the Indian sub-continent for a visit visa to the United Kingdom
Number of persons
	1986	1987
	14th quarter	1st quarter	April
Dhaka	600	370	180
Bombay	100	120	90
New Delhi	360	590	260
Calcutta	2—	10	—
Madras	30	40	30
Islamabad	440	590	410
Karachi	290	400	150
1 Including applications refused for a visit entry clearance in the period 1 to 14 October.
2 5 or fewer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals his Department has to improve conditions at remand centres.

In the short term implementation of proposals in "A Fresh Start" and the court escort scrutiny will allow staff to be deployed more flexibly and to better effect, providing a sound organisational base for improvements in regime standards for prisoners. In the longer term we are giving priority to measures designed to reduce overcrowding and modernise old buildings throughout the prison estate, including remand centres. The current prison building programme will provide over 17,000 additional places by the mid-1990s in existing and new establishments and we are undertaking extensive modernisations and refurbishment at about 100 establishments, including almost all the Victorian prisons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average cost to his Department of a place in a voluntary after-care hostel for offenders.

About £1,000 per annum, but there is considerable variation around this figure according to the type of hostel and the facilities provided.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he has made towards reaching an agreement with the Prison Officers' Association concerning staffing and security at the new remand building due to open at the Feltham youth custody centre on 12 July.

Progress has been made towards reaching agreement with the Prison Officers' Association on matters connected with the new remand building at Feltham youth custody centre. The opening date of 12 July has been postponed for a few days to allow further talks to take place.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional measures he proposes to take to combat crime in the inner cities.

We are developing a range of measures to make our cities safer places. We are evaluating the lessons learned from our "Five Towns" local crime prevention initiative with a view to establishing similar arrangements in other urban areas. For this purpose, we shall again be working with the police and seeking the cooperation of local authorities and the private and voluntary sectors. We shall continue our efforts to encourage and support chief police officers in their endeavours to put more police officers on the streets. We will work with other government departments to build on the valuable contribution they are already making to the prevention of crime through the policies and programmes for which they are responsible.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if his Department issues recommendations or guidelines on safe surfaces in children's playgrounds or recreation areas for schoolchildren; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on I July to the hon. Member for Gateshead, East (Ms. Quin) at column 86.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what part of the electricity supply system and ancillary companies will he privatised; and if he will list them.

Detailed proposals for the privatisation of the electricity supply industry are still being developed.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what effect he estimates the limited resources and understaffing of the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate identified by the Chief Inspector in evidence to the Energy Committee on 6 May have on (a) the safety of nuclear installations and (b) the development of the nuclear industry.

The legal responsibility for the safety of a nuclear installation lies with the site operator. The responsibility of the NII is to see that appropriate standards are developed, achieved and maintained by the licensee to ensure that the necessary safety precautions are taken and to monitor and regulate the safety of the plant by means of its powers under the licence.Although the NII has had staffing shortages, it has nonetheless been able to maintain the required standards of safety, by giving priority to the inspection and assessment of operating plant, but with the consequent risk of some delay to other projects. However, following a special salary increase a recruitment campaign is now under way which is expected to bring the NII up to full strength.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the recommendations contained in paragraph 17 of the second report and paragraph 3 of the third special report of the Energy Committee, Session 1986–87, with regard to the implications for the nuclear industry of the understaffing of the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate.

I have been asked to reply.Two substantial increases in the salary scales for all nuclear installations inspectors have recently been agreed and it is expected that this will enable the inspectorate to attract recruits with the expertise and skills required and to bring its staff up to the numbers planned for 1987–88. A recruitment competition is now under way.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he intends to respond to the second report of the Energy Committee, Session 1986–87.

With regard to the Committee's recommendation on NII staffing, the Government have agreed to a further pay award for nuclear inspectors to make Nil salaries fully competitive with the rest of the industry. An extensive recruitment campaign is now under way and has attracted considerable interest.I hope to be able to respond shortly to the Committee's recommendation on decommissioning costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the achievements of his Department in helping small businesses over the last three years; and if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring.

My Department takes full account of the needs of small businesses in considering the adoption or revision of measures for which it is responsible.Small businesses, like larger ones, will have benefited from measures to encourage competition and stimulate efficiency in energy supply and use. They will also have shared in the benefits from a range of measures, including:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from the chief administrative nursing officer of the Mid Glamorgan health authority about the shortfall of staff for health visitor and community nursing services in the Ogwr health district based on the Telford guidelines; and if he is prepared to provide extra funds to make up this shortfall in the Ogwr health district.

None. The distribution of manpower and other resources to the various units of the district health authority are matters falling to its own operational and managerial responsibility.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if estimates are available county by county of the average viewing audience of Welsh-language television programmes broadcast by Sianel 4 Cymru;(2) what are the latest estimates of the average number of viewers of Welsh-language television programmes broadcast by Sianel 4 Cymru.

This information is not held centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many of the employees of the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service in each of the Welsh counties speak Welsh; and if he will make a statement.

The number of employees of the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service in the Welsh counties who speak Welsh is:

	Number
Gwynedd	20
Dyfed	18
Clwyd	9
Powys	4
Mid Glamorgan	5
South Glamorgan
West Glamorgan and Gwent

In addition, there are a further 60 Welsh speakers located at the centralised specialist establishments in Wales, that is ADAS headquarters, sub centres and veterinary investigation centres.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the current and capital expenditure per head on housing in Wales during the last year for which figures are available.

Local authorities current and capital expenditure per head for 1986–87 is:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate how many second homes in each borough in Wales will not be rated when the poll tax is operating in full; and what will be the loss of revenue on present charges for each borough as a result of this.

All domestic hereditaments, including second homes, will cease to be rated when the community charge is in full operation. Owners of second homes will instead pay a standard charge to the local authority where the property is situated. The standard charge will normally be equivalent to two units of community charge; but local authorities will have power to set lower standard charges.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will estimate what is the current rates revenue received from private and local authority establishments catering for old people as residents by each local authority in Wales;(2) what is the estimated revenue for each local authority in Wales when the new business rate is levied in full on private and local authority residential establishments catering for old people and the poll tax is levied in full on the residents.

The information needed to make these estimates is not available centrally. Final decisions on the treatment of such establishments under the new system have not yet been taken. However, we have already made it clear that residents of old peoples homes will be exempt from the community charge.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will estimate what is the current rates revenue received from religious establishments with permanent residents by each local authority in Wales;(2) what is the estimated revenue for each local authority in Wales when the new business rate and poll tax are levied in full on religious establishments and their residents.

The information needed to make these estimates is not available centrally.

asked the Attorney-General if the Lord Chancellor will make it his policy to make available free on request to any hon. or right hon. Member one copy of the marked polling register for his or her constituency; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Prime Minister what information she has as to how insurers' overheads in Northern Ireland compare with those in England.

None.

asked the Prime Minister (1) to what extent the Home Office's data processing activities are duplicated by (a) the Inland Revenue, (b) Her Majesty's Customs and Excise and (c) the Department of Health and Social Security;(2) to what extent the Department of Health and Social Security's data processing activities are duplicated by

Government Departments do not, in discharging their own responsibilities, deliberately duplicate data processing activities of other Departments.The Department of Health and Social Security exchanges approximately 40 million data items with the Inland Revenue each year in the process of collecting national insurance contributions and income tax, and in relation to pensioners working and paying income tax; duplication of data processing activities takes place only in that this common information is shared.

asked the Prime Minister what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards recognising the Moroccan annexation of Western Sahara; and if she will convey this policy to King Hassan during his forthcoming visit.

The Government recognise neither the "Saharan Arab Democratic Republic" nor Moroccan claims to sovereignty over the Western Sahara. The Government fully support the efforts made by the United Nations Secretary General to bring about a peaceful solution. I look forward to discussing this and other international issues with King Hassan.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 14 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 14 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 14 July.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 14 July.

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. I was also present at Victoria station to mark the arrival of the King of Morocco. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today, including one with the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if, pursuant to the answer of 6 July, Official Report, column 14, he will specify the benefits which his Department derives from the quarterly information on punctuality by sector supplied by British Rail; and if he will publish the latest such information in the Official Report.

This information forms part of our general monitoring of the board's performance against the objectives that we set it last October. The latest available information on train punctuality is for the last quarter of 1986–87 and is as follows:

Trains arriving within 0 to 5 minutes of right time
	Per cent.
Intercity	77
Network Southeast	91
Provincial	90

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if, pursuant to the answer of 6 July, Official Report, column 14, he will publish in the Official Report the evidence upon which he based his statement that British Rail's punctuality had improved over the last six months; and if he will now take steps to monitor punctuality regionally.

My statement was based on train punctuality figures for all the passenger railway sectors covering the last six months of the 1986–87 financial year. They are the most recent figures for a six-month period and are as follows:

Trains arriving within 0–5 minutes of right time
Sector	3rd quarter 1986–87 per cent.	4th quarter 1986–87 per cent.
Intercity	75·0	77·0
Network SouthEast	89·7	91·0
Provincial	90·0	90·0

I do not propose to monitor punctuality regionally, but I have asked the board to send me information broken down by sub-sector.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 6 July, Official Report, column 14, what information he has about British Rail's intentions with regard to maintaining the trend and pace of disposal of derelict land during the next five years.

I understand from British Rail that it aims to dispose of its present vacant and under-utilised land by the end of 1989. Where further sites are released from operational use, British Rail would intend to dispose of these where possible within the same times scale.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, if, when next he meets the chairman of British Rail, he will raise with him the concentration of repair work in regional depots and the work available to BREL in Crewe, in the light of the accelerated redundancies there since March 1987.

No. The allocation of repair work is a management matter for the Railways Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made on the prospects for the economic development of south-east Leeds in its deliberations on the proposed M1-A1 link.

Consulting engineers are carrying out the east of Leeds study. They must be satisfied that traffic forecasts take account of the prospects for economic development.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish his Department's report on the study of traffic in east Leeds; and if he will make a statement.

We hope to make an announcement during the autumn. This should end the present uncertainty.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when a decision can be expected on the A423 through Maidenhead Thicket; and how soon after a decision he expects work to commence.

I hope to be able to announce a decision on the A423 Maidenhead Thicket to Burchetts Green improvement during the summer. This scheme is in the national trunk road programme for a start of works in the period to March 1989. The actual start will be dependent on the satisfactory completion of the statutory procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to introduce legislation to require those flying or operating privately-owned aircraft to be insured for third party and passenger liability; and if he will make a statement.

It is for aircraft owners who carry passengers on private flights to decide the appropriate levels of both passenger and third party insurance to meet their potential liabilities. Under section 76 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982 they are strictly liable for injury or damage caused to persons or property on the ground.There are no plans to introduce legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will announce the results of studies undertaken into the tender vessel requirements of the general lighthouse authorities.

In June last year my right hon. Friend, jointly with the three general lighthouse authorities, commissioned Arthur Young Management Consultants to review the authorities' tender vessel requirements. I have now received their report and I am placing copies of it in the Library.I believe that this is the first joint comprehensive appraisal that has been made of the authorities' tender vessel requirements, and I am grateful to the consultants for undertaking it. Their report makes a wide range of recommendations which I shall be considering carefully in close consultation with the authorities, the Lights Advisory Committee (which represents shipowners, shippers and port authorities) and the Irish Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to the steps being taken by the promoters of the Channel Tunnel project to ensure more than 50 per cent. of the contracts required to build the trains for use in the Channel Tunnel will go to British Rail Engineering Ltd., particularly in the northwest region; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.British Rail Engineering Ltd. has been given the lead in the design contract for the shuttle trains to be used in the Channel fixed link. The subsequent manufacturing contract will be subject to open and competitive tendering.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on what date IHV Industrial Investments Ltd., Reg. No. 1102274, went into liquidation.

No notice of the appointment of a liquidator nor a copy of a winding up order has been filed with the Registrar of Companies in respect of IHV Industrial Investments Ltd.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he will introduce legislation to reform the law relating to doorstep sales.

My Department will shortly be consulting interested organisations on the text of draft regulations to implement the EC directive on doorstep selling. We expect to lay the regulations before Parliament in the autumn.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list for each of the projects supported by task force money in the Chapeltown area of Leeds the amount of money (a) allocated in 1986–87, (b) spent in 1986–87 and (c) allocated for 1987–88.

The information requested is as follows:

	Funds allocated in 1986–87	Spent in 1986–87	Funds so far allocated in 1987–88
	£	£	£
Hendrickson Feasibility Project	500	500
Headstart in Business	12,883	12,883
PATH	93,349	20,000
Chapeltown Community Workshops	3,000	—
APEX Trust	1,000	1,000
Action Resource Centre (ARC)	23,241	—
WTOTO Nursery	35,575	17,575
Jamaica Society Leeds/ Sight & Sound Education Ltd.	132,000	102,000
Leeds West Indian Centre Ltd.	9,100	9,100
Palace Youth Project	1,094	—
Community Enterprise Trust	249,000	100,000
Computer assisted learning project	68,000	—
Burton Group Training	25,000	—
TFDF	50,000	50,000
Industrial Society	3,500	—
NACRO	26,774	—
Project Fullemploy			12,000
Police Foundation Crime Prevention			25,000
Harehills Lane Baptist Church			1,546
Apex Trust			12,524
TOTAL	734,016	300,175	51,070

There are a number of projects under development which are expected to commit further substantial sums in 1987–88.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if, pursuant to his reply of 1 July, Official Report, column 92, he has had any discussions or contact with Thomson since its purchase of Ferguson; and what information he has on Ferguson's current share of the market for television (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) in the European Economic Community.

Neither my right hon. and learned Friend, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, nor I have been in contact with Thomson Grand Public since the announcement of its proposed acquisition of Thorn EM I Ferguson. Information collected by my Department about the market share of individual companies is commercially confidential. However, the proposed acquisition would qualify for consideration under the Fair Trading Act 1973, and the Director General of Fair Trading will no doubt take account of market share considerations in advising my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, on the question of a reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when Mr. Ivor Williams, a constituent of the hon. Member for Chipping Barnet, will receive a substantive reply to his letter dated 12 January to the Office of Fair Trading regarding his complaint about the conduct of his estate agent; why the reply has not yet been given; and why the Office of Fair Trading has not yet acted on the complaint.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations have been made to the EEC Commission to ensure that applications under article 56 of the European Coal and Steel Community programme for payments to redundant steel workers are approved without delay.

[pursuant to his reply, 13 July 1987]: Representations about delays in approving article 56 ECSC readaptation aid payments were made to the Commission recently, followed up last week by a letter from the United Kingdom permanent representation. If understand that approvals in a number of outstanding cases should be given shortly.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement as to the reasons for the decline in regional development grant assistance to the north-east of England, as detailed in the reply to the right hon. and learned Member for Monklands, East (Mr. Smith) on 2 February 1987, Official Report, column 501.

[pursuant to his reply, 13 July 1987]: Expenditure on regional development grant is a function of the rates and scope of grant, the coverage of the development areas and the level of demand. The decline in RDG payments in the north-east appears to have resulted mainly from changes in the development and special development areas in the early 1980s and a fall in investment by manufacturing industry in the region, notably the capital-intensive petrochemicals and steel industries, as well as from changes in the scheme itself. However, the region's share of RDG payments in 1986–87 was higher than in the preceding four years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps will be taken that all the beaches currently designated as bathing areas for the purposes of meeting the water quality standards of directive 76/160/EEC in the United Kingdom will meet these standards by 1992 at the latest.

It is not possible to give the assurance the hon. Member seeks. The scale and cost of the necessary works makes it impossible to complete the task by 1992. However, it remains our target that all identified waters should meet the directive's standards, and we are spending nationally some £70 million on improvement schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment has been made of the effect of the community charge on small businesses in the Maidstone area; and what steps he will consider taking to alleviate the adverse consequences of any sudden increase in payments due from minor but viable concerns with small profit margins.

The community charge will replace domestic rates and should not affect businesses directly. The proposal for a national non-domestic rate on present figures would initially increase rate poundages in the Maidstone area, but thereafter restrain further increases to the rate of inflation. My right hon. Friend has already announced generous transitional arrangements to phase the impact of this proposal and the revaluation of non-domestic properties over five years, or longer in the case of those properties with the largest increases from the revaluation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated revenue for each local authority in England when the new business rate and poll tax are levied in full on religious establishments and their residents.

The information needed to make such estimates is not collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to his answer of 29 June, Official Report, column 44, he will publish additional information exemplifying the community charge proposals, to show specifically the effect on each of the illustrative community charge figures of the difference between the amount of revenue likely to be obtained by each local authority from a centrally fixed non-domestic rate and the amount of revenue from locally determined non-domestic rates projected for 1987–88 under the existing system.

I shall write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate how many second homes in each borough in England will not be rated when the poll tax is operating in full; and what will be the loss of revenue on present charges for each borough as a result of this.

All second homes will be liable for a standard community charge, which will be set by each local authority as a multiple of the personal community charge, up to a maximum of two units of personal charge.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated revenue for each local authority in England when the new business rate is levied in full on private and local authority residential establishments catering for old people and the poll tax is levied in full upon the residents.

The information needed to make such estimates is not collected centrally. Final decisions on the treatment of such establishments under the new system have not been taken. However, we have already made it clear that residents of old people's homes will be exempt from the community charge.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to make special provision under the community charge for ministers of religion.

[pursuant to his reply, 6 July 1987, c. 56]: The community charge will be paid by all adults, with only limited exceptions. As a result, local accountability will be restored, because the cost of local spending will be spread much more widely than at present among those entitled to vote in local elections and who use local services.Against this background, the Government believe that it would be difficult to justify any special provision which resulted in ministers of religion being treated more favourably than their parishioners.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the current and capital expenditure per head on housing in England during the last year for which figures are available.

Current expenditure by English local authorities and new towns on their housing revenue accounts in 1986–87, including debt charges, represented on average £124 per head of population. Capital expenditure by local authorities, new towns, the Housing Corporation and central Government in England represented on average £71 per head of population.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total public expenditure on housing in the United Kingdom as a proportion of the gross domestic product in each year since 1977 to the last year for which figures are available.

Total public expenditure on housing in the United Kingdom from 1977 to 1985 is shown in the table as a percentage of gross domestic product at factor cost. The definition is the same as in the answer given to the hon. Member on 23 May 1986, at columns 370–71, and on 2 April 1987, at columns 606–7. The figures for public expenditure on housing are taken from the annual national income accounts, which are usually published in September of each year. 1986 figures are, therefore, not yet available.

Public Expenditure on Housing as percentage of gross domestic product at factor cost
	per cent.
1977	3·1
1978	3·3
1979	3·4
1980	3·5
1981	1·6
1982	2·6
11983	2·9
1984	3·0
1985	2·5
1 Discontinuity between 1982 and 1983 is due to introduction of housing benefit and consequent exclusion of rent from supplementary benefit paid to tenants.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate what is the current rates revenue received from private and local authority establishments catering for old people as residents by each local authority in England.

This information is not collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate what is the current rates revenue received from religious establishments with permanent residents by each local authority in England.

This information is not collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing) of 8 July, whether (a) a certificate from an independent valuer was obtained in respect of the prospective sale of Canary wharf by the London Docklands Development Corporation or (b) specific consent from his Department was sought or given.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing) on 9 July 1987, at column 228.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many dwellings are operated by housing associations in the Normanton constituency; and if he will break down the number into categories and type of dwellings.

[pursuant to his reply, 10 July 1987, c. 296]: There are nine units operated by housing associations in the Normanton constituency and a further 47 under construction. The former are extra care units for the frail elderly and the latter are also designed to accommodate elderly people.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Housing Executive houses in each of the housing executive districts have been sold to tenants up to the latest convenient date.

The number of homes sold by the Executive to its tenants in the 43 districts up until 30 June 1987 were as follows:

Region	Total
South
Armagh	1,250
Banbridge	595
Craigavon	772
Kilkeel	426
Lurgen	1,685
Newry 1	921
Newry 2	1,180
Portadown	956
	7,785
Belfast
District 1	1,115
District 2	581
District 3	362
District 4	528
District 5	499

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland why he has changed his policy towards the receipts from the sale of houses owned by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive; and if he will make a statement

There has been no change in the policy which allows the Housing Executive to apply its capital receipts fully in support of its expenditure programmes. It has always been Government policy to take account of the Executive's estimates of income from rents and receipts in determining the overall level of expenditure by the Executive which includes its borrowings and grant-aid from Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he proposes in respect of houses in the ownership of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive without central heating.

This is a matter for the chairman of the Housing Executive who has advised me that it is the Executive's long-term aim to provide central heating in all of its properties.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the policy of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive with regard to the repair or replacement of steel-framed windows in its houses.

[pursuant to his reply, 13 July 1987]: This is a matter for the chairman of the Housing Executive who has advised me that the policy in respect of galvanised steel window frames in existing housing stock is to retain them until the cost of repair and maintenance is so excessive as to merit replacement, of until repairs are no longer feasible.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many elderly people are waiting for admission to geriatric beds in the hospitals in the North Down area.

The number of people waiting for admission to geriatric beds in the hospitals in the North Down area at 31 December 1986 was 107.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the waiting list for patients who seek admission to (a) the Ulster hospital, Dundonald, (b) Royal Victoria hospital, Belfast, (c) City hospital, Belfast, (d) Mater hospital, Belfast and (e) the Bangor and Newtownards hospitals.

the numbers of patients seeking admission to the relevant hospitals at 31 December 1986 were as follows:

	Number
Ulster hospital	2,978
Royal Victorial hospital	5,862
Belfast City hospital	3,340
Mater hospital	72
Bangor hospital	386
Ards hospital	668

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which beaches in Northern Ireland satisfy the requirements of the European Economic Community and are classified as beaches safe from pollution.

In Northern Ireland 14 waters have been identified under the EC directive on bathing-water quality. The directive applies to waters where bathing is traditionally practised by large numbers of people. Non-identification under the directive does not mean that water is unclear or unsafe. Of the five Northern Ireland bathing waters tested for compliance with the directive standards during the 1986 season, Portstewart, Portrush and Groomsport passed while Bangor (Ballyholme) and Newcastle failed. The cause of the failure at Bangor is being investigated and a new sewerage scheme for Newcastle at a cost of £2 million is nearing completion. I am advised that there is no evidence associating illness with bathing in Northern Ireland waters.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the work to prevent sewage spillage at Orlock, County Down, will be completed.

The spillage of sewage which occurred at Orlock, County Down, in April-May 1987 resulted from the simultaneous failure of both the normal and stand-by pumps at Coastguard lane. Replacement pumps were installed in mid-May are are now working satisfactorily. To avoid the possibility of future spillages the feasibility of laying an emergency overflow pipe from the pumping station to the sea is currently being investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons in Northern Ireland are in receipt of retirement pension at the last available date; and how many receive supplementary benefit to augment their pension.

The number of persons in Northern Ireland in receipt of retirement pension at 30 November 1986 was 208,406. At 18 November 1986, 45,969 people were in receipt of supplementary benefit to augment their retirement pension.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will provide an estimate of the cost of unemployment in Northern Ireland for the last full financial year.

During the 1986–87 financial year a total of £227·9 million was paid to the unemployed—£53·7 million by way of unemployment benefit and a further £174·2 million by way of supplementary allowances. Information on expenditure on agency benefits (for example, free welfare foods, school meals, Health Service charges, hospital fares, prison visits) and supplementary benefit single payments received by the unemployed is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the fire at the Clandeboye shopping centre has revealed any shortcomings in measures to protect customers in an emergency.

No. The Clandeboye shopping centre complied with all the required measures to allow the safe evacuation of all occupants of the building in the event of a fire. On the day of the incident all customers and staff were evacuated safely and without casualty.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Department of Health and Social Services investigation into the incidence of cancer in Northern Ireland is completed; and when he expects it to make its final report.

The expert committee examining patterns of disease in Northern Ireland which have a possible association with radiation has not yet completed its work. I hope to receive the committee's final report by the end of 1987.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the plans of the Warrenpoint harbour authority with regard to the expansion or development of the harbour area in Warrenpoint.

[pursuant to his reply, 13 July 1987]: Planning approval for a proposal by the Warrenpoint harbour authority, for development of the area known as the Old Town dock, has recently been refused by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland. I understand that the authority has no other current plans for expansion or development of the harbour area.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table showing the average household bill for water rates for each regional water authority in Northern Ireland for each year separately between 1979 and 1987.

[pursuant to his reply, 13 July 1987]: A separate water bill is not levied in Northern Ireland, but is subsumed in the regional rate levied at a uniform poundage across the Province. From 1983–84 onward, however, it is possible to identify the portion of the regional rate attributable to provision of water and sewerage services, and the implied average rate demand per household for these years is shown in the table.

Average household water and sewerage rate demand
Year	£
1983–84	61·65
1984–85	67·85
1985–86	70·74
1986–87	71·60
1987–88	77·15

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table showing the figures for the numbers of households where water supplies have been disconnected, showing where possible the reasons for disconnection, for each year separately between 1979 and 1987.

[pursuant to his reply, 13 July 1987]: Since domestic water supplies are paid for through the general rating system in Northern Ireland, the need to disconnect premises used solely as household residences does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the guidelines dealing with use of data separated by sex for base line studies or other research within his responsibilities.

There are no guidelines dealing with use of data separated by sex in either the diplomatic wing or the aid wing of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what instructions were given to Her Majesty's ambassador in Amman regarding attendance at official functions given in honour of Doctor Kurt Waldheim during his visit to Jordan; and whether he will make a statement.

Her Majesty's ambassador at Amman was authorised, in consultation with his European Community colleagues, to attend, as appropriate, events connected with the visit.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why the United Kingdom abstained on the United Nations General Assembly resolution 41/16 of 18 December 1986.

We abstained both on this resolution and on a similar one in 1985 in accordance with our policy of strict neutrality in the Western Sahara dispute.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to help relieve the suffering of the 165,000 Western Sahara refugees in Algeria.

The Western Sahara refugees in Algeria receive assistance from European Community funds and from multilateral aid agencies to which we contribute.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will make it their policy to oppose any fishing agreement between the European Community and Morocco which extends to the territorial waters of Western Sahara; and if he will make a statement.

Responsibility for the conduct of the negotiations for a fisheries agreement between Morocco and the European Community lies primarily with the Commission. We continue to monitor closely the progress of these negotiations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to encourage peace between Morocco and the Polisario Front in Western Sahara; what contacts Her Majesty's Government have had with the parties concerned with a view to advancing the prospects for peace in the region; and what proposals Her Majesty's Government will be putting to King Hassan during his state visit to help bring about peace.

We fully support the United Nations Secretary-General in his efforts to bring about a peaceful solution of the Western Sahara dispute. We look forward to discussing this and other international issues with King Hassan during his state visit.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the number of cruise missiles to be based at Molesworth.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the number of cruise missiles to be based at Molesworth.

As has been stated previously it is planned that 64 cruise missiles will be based at Molesworth.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the proportion of the defence budget spent on conventional weapons since 1979.

Over 97 per cent. of the defence budget since 1979 is estimated to have been spent on programmes other than the strategic nuclear force.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on verification procedures for enforcing nuclear arms control agreements.

Any arms control agreement must be effectively verifiable, but precise procedures will depend upon the terms of any agreement which may be negotiated.