asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will provide the latest details of the current average length of time between the receipt of annual accounts by companies registration office and their publication, listed separately for April, May and June.

In recent months, days have been lost due to industrial action and an accompanying overtime ban. The Registrar of Companies estimates that the average time between the receipt of batches of annual accounts and returns and their publication at the end of April, May and June this year was around five weeks, six weeks and seven weeks respectively.The registrar greatly regrets this lengthening of the time taken to place documents on the public record: he accords high priority to the reduction of the accumulated arrears as quickly as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to what extent his Department's competition division monitors the operation of the net book agreement; and if he will make a statement.

The Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976 and the Resale Prices Act 1976 provide the current legal framework within which arrangements such as the net book agreement may be considered in the light of the public interest. Judgments as to the public interest in such cases are a matter for the Restrictive Practices Court. As stated in my reply to the hon. Member on 15 July 1987, at columns 483–84, an application to the court to review its 1962 judgment in respect of the net book agreement may he made by the Director General of Fair Trading. There is no provision for the Secretary of State to make such an application.It is therefore for the Director General to determine whether the conditions for an application to the court in respect of the net book agreement are met and in these circumstances the operation of the agreement is not monitored by my Department.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster w hat representations he has received from the West Yorkshire trading standards joint committee concerning false labelling on textiles with particular, regard to the overstatement of wool content in garments; what further action he is planning; and if he will make a statement.

I have recently received a letter from the West Yorkshire trading standards joint committee on this matter. This is currently receiving attention.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the report of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on the supply of marine radio navigation receivers compatible with the Decca navigator system is to be published; and if he will make a statement.

The report is published today.The Commission found that a monopoly situation existed in favour of several subsidiary companies of the Racal Group in the supply in the United Kingdom of marine radio navigation receivers compatible with the Decca navigator system but concluded that this did not operate against the public interest.At the time the reference was made, the DNS transmitters were operated and financed by Racal. Complaints had been made about some of Racal's practices, particularly those directed against the supply of competitors' receivers whose manufacture Racal had not licensed. Racal explained these practices as being necessary in the past in order to generate and safeguard the income needed for it to meet the operating costs of DNS transmitters. However, as a result of a contract concluded in February this year with the general lighthouse authorities Racal, while still owning the DNS transmitters in the United Kingdom, will operate them under the superintendence of the GLAs and as a charge to the general lighthouse fund, which will provide the necessary income. Racal assured the commission that following this agreement it had abandoned the practices complained of and that there was now total freedom as to the use made of DNS signals. The commission was, however, critical of Racal's having made certain changes to DNS transmissions in the past which might have compromised safety at sea. The commission therefore made two suggestions about authorising future changes to the DNS transmissions and instituting type approval for all DNS receivers.I accept the findings of the commission's report. Because the commission found that the monopoly situation under reference did not operate against the public interest, there is no statutory basis on which to take further action. I shall, however, be drawing the commission's suggestions on authorisation of future changes to DNS transmissions and introduction of type approval for all DNS receivers to the attention of my ministerial colleagues at the Department of Transport.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 will be brought into effect.

My noble Friend intends to make a commencement order under section 50(2) of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 to bring into force on 1 October 1987 part II together with its related provisions in parts IV and V and schedules 2, 4 and 5. Section 10 in part II creates the general safety requirement, which requires consumer goods to be reasonably safe.The same commencement order will bring the product liability provisions into effect on 1 March 1988 (part I and schedule 1, together with the related provisions of part V and schedules 4 and 5). Businesses will need rather more time to prepare themselves for the changes to product liability and therefore sufficient time has been allowed for this purpose. However, my Department will be consulting interested parties urgently about the dates of implementation.A guidance leaflet for manufacturers will be published explaining the way in which the safety provisions of the Act will work. Regulations ancillary to the general safety requirement will be laid at the appropriate time.On misleading prices (part III of the Act) we expect to consult interested parties on a revised draft of the code of practice and any draft regulations in the autumn.It is presently envisaged that section 36 and schedule 3, which makes amendments to the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, will be brought into force on 1 March 1988.

United Kingdom trade in textiles and clothing1: 1970 to 1986 Imports

£ million

France

Belgium/Luxembourg

Netherlands

Federal Republic of Germany

Italy

Irish Republic

Denmark

Greece

Portugal

Spain

Rest of World

European Community2

1970

11·9

14·7

14·7

21·9

20·6

38·1

7·7

0·2

20·3

3·2

232·3

153·5

1971

14·5

18·6

14·2

31·7

23·2

46·3

10·9

0·3

31·7

4·8

307·0

196·2

1972

19·3

23·0

16·0

33·9

26·4

55·7

15·1

0·4

42·4

4·6

351·7

236·9

1973

30·2

27·8

23·3

56·1

38·7

80·8

19·8

1·1

67·9

4·7

497·4

350·4

1974

42·7

35·0

32·0

73·1

60·6

108·0

19·9

4·6

82·8

7·2

624·1

465·8

1975

53·0

47·1

29·3

76·9

84·4

106·8

21·5

3·3

78·4

7·9

679·1

508·4

1976

66·9

65·9

43·1

116·1

128·1

132·9

23·6

8·1

78·4

9·9

621·9

673·2

1977

100·7

79·9

55·4

140·1

190·4

173·1

23·9

12·8

86·9

13·2

1,008·2

876·3

1978

138·2

123·5

87·1

190·4

272·5

194·5

28·9

18·9

118·6

22·1

1,179·6

1,194·7

1979

151·6

142·0

96·5

236·7

323·8

205·4

37·0

23·1

157·9

25·2

1,486·1

1,399·2

1980

140·7

149·0

91·2

222·9

264·0

197·4

37·3

27·9

146·3

23·5

1,474·4

1,300·2

1981

166·5

198·6

107·3

291·8

319·7

195·7

46·1

37·2

140·2

32·1

1,664·7

1,535·3

1982

190·4

212·1

122·5

374·3

374·1

197·5

48·7

37·1

184·7

36·1

1,649·9

1,777·6

1983

227·3

273·2

145·4

447·8

472·2

211·4

57·3

39·8

218·7

43·3

1,785·1

2,136·4

1984

288·7

326·7

188·1

548·5

565·2

220·6

67·2

52·8

267·7

53·9

2,137·6

2,579·5

1985

339·2

358·1

242·3

646·3

620·8

238·5

70·7

60·8

305·8

59·1

1,180·6

2,941·5

19863

341·5

398·2

293·3

677·8

669·5

260·0

74·1

71·4

309·5

59·8

2,394·3

3,155·0

1 Textiles and clothing defined as Divisons 65 and 84 of the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC).

2 European Community total includes all member states as at 1 January 1987 throughout.

3 Provisional figures.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will publish as a table in the Official Report the United Kingdom imports and exports of textiles and clothing from and to (a) other individual European Community countries, (b) the rest of the world and (c) the European Community for each year since 1970;(2) what are the figures for imports and exports of textiles and clothing between the United Kingdom and separately, the European Community and the rest of the world in real terms for each year since 1975.

[pursuant to his reply, 16 July 1987, c. 583]: The information is in the following tables. Information in real terms is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if the energy efficiency policy proposals for 1987 submitted to the Energy Select Committee by his predecessor remain his policy.

It is important that energy is used efficiently. I am currently reviewing with my right hon. Friend how this can best be done.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in the light of Sir John Burnett's public statement at the Edinburgh university convention on Saturday 18 July, a copy of which has been sent to him, he is satisfied with the provision of medical education in British universities over the last 10 years.

I have read Sir John's remarks with interest. The Government, in their joint note of guidance on medical education to universities and health authorities, have asked the University Grants Committee to give careful consideration to the level of funding it provides for medical education and to the guidance it gives to institutions. The UGC has impressed upon universities the need for decisions about clinical academic posts to be the subject of close consultation with the relevant health authorities. The Government are also examining the arrangements for co-ordination and co-operation among the relevant Departments at national level and the responses received to the recommendations on this matter by the Croham committee ("Review of the University Grants Committee", Cm. 81).

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the report of the joint efficiency study of non-advanced further education will be published; and if he will make a statement.

The report, which is entitled "Managing Colleges Efficiently", is published today.It recommends a number of measures which LEAs and further education colleges should take so as to manage their resources more efficiently and effectively. It is the outcome of a joint study undertaken by the DES, the WOED and the local authority associations, and we intend to build on that partnership so as to ensure that the report's challenging recommendations are implemented.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has yet received the report from the study of the dual use of school sports facilities; and if he will make a statement.

This study which has now been completed confirms first that there is scope for expanding the dual use of school sports facilities. Secondly it makes recommendations for improved accounting, management and marketing for dual use. We shall now be working towards the publication of practical advice arising from this study. A copy of the report has been placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science who will be the members of the interim advisory committee on school teachers' pay and conditions.

The membership of the Interim Advisory Committee on School Teachers' Pay and Conditions is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will list grants made available to universities in Great Britain in the financial year 1986–87, on the advice of the University Grants Committee and the Computer Board.

The information requested is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any plans to advance the use of information technology in schools.

We have developed a new and comprehensive strategy on IT in schools which will take us into the 1990s and beyond. Details are set out in a letter to chief education officers, which was issued yesterday. Copies are available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which polytechnics and colleges currently maintained or assisted by local education authorities will be covered by the forthcoming Education Bill.

The following maintained institutions were listed in "Higher Education: Meeting the Challenge" (Cm. 114), to be re-established as free-standing corporate bodies, coming within the ambit of a new Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council:

• Bath College of Higher Education
• Bolton Institute of Higher Education
• Bretton Hall College of Higher Education
• Brighton Polytechnic
• Bristol Polytechnic
• Bulmershe College of Higher Education
• Charlotte Mason College of Education
• City of Birmingham Polytechnic
• Coventry Polytechnic
• Crewe and Alsager College of Higher Education
• Dorset Institute of Higher Education
• Ealing College of Higher Education
• Edge Hill College of Higher Education
• Essex Institute of Higher Education
• Garnett College (this will now instead merge with Thames Polytechnic in August 1987)
• Hatfield Polytechnic (includes Harfordshire College of Higher Education, merged in April 1987)
• The Polytechnic, Huddersfield
• Humberside College of Higher Education
• Kent Institute of Art and Design (to be established in September 1987 from the Canterbury College of Art, Maidstone College of Art and Medway College of Design)
• Kingston Polytechnic
• Lancashire Polytechnic
• Leeds Polytechnic
• Leicester Polytechnic
• Liverpool Polytechnic
• Loughborough College of Art and Design
• Manchester Polytechnic
• Middlesex Polytechnic
• Nene College
• Newcastle Polytechnic
• North East London Polytechnic
• North Riding College
• North Staffordshire Polytechnic
• Oxford Polytechnic
• Plymouth Polytechnic
• Portsmouth Polytechnic
• Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication
• Rolle College
• Royal Northern College of Music
• Sheffield City Polytechnic
• Slough College of Higher Education
• Southampton Institute of Higher Education
• South West London College
• Sunderland Polytechnic
• Teesside Polytechnic
• Trent Polytechnic
• West Midlands College of Higher Education
• West Surrey College of Art and Design
• The Polytechnic, Wolverhampton
• Worcester College of Higher Education

The following assisted institutions will also come within the ambit of the PCF:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are currently serving prison sentences in Her Majesty's prisons for sexual assault on a child; and what is the average sentence currently being served.

Information in the form requested is not available. The number of offenders sentenced to

Persons sentenced to unsuspended imprisonment and youth custody for sexual offences where the victim is known to he aged under 16 and average sentence length
England and Wales 1985
Offence description	Numbers sentenced to		average sentence length (months)
	Unsuspended imprisonment	Youth custody	Unsuspended imprisonment	Youth custody
Buggery with a boy under the age of 16 or with a woman or an animal	95	7	41	22
Attempt to commit buggery with a boy under the age of 16 or with a woman or an animal	11	—	33	—
Indecent assault on a male person under 16	160	11	20	12
Indecent assault on a female person under 16	368	40	17	10
Unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 13	53	5	28	22
Unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 16	77	11	10	7
Incest with girl under 13	40	—	34	—
Inciting girl under 16 to have incestuous sexual intercourse	—	2	—	9
Abduction of unmarried girl under 16	2	1	13	12
Gross indecency with children	61	6	11	6

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will issue guidelines regarding the circumstances in which pregnant women are placed on remand; and if he will make a statement.

In deciding whether or not to remand an accused person in custody, a magistrates' court is required by the terms of the Bail Act 1976 to have regard to any considerations which appear to be relevant. Such decisions are taken in the exercise of judicial discretion, in accordance with the provisions of the Bail Act 1976, and we would not think it right to issue guidance to the courts on how they should interpret their responsibilities in the light of individual circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will hold an urgent inquiry into the deaths of (a) Nenneh Jalloh on 24 April at Marylebone police station and (b) Mohammed Parkit on 1 May; and if he will make a statement.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that he has not received any complaints arising from the deaths of either Mohammed Parkit, who did not die in police custody, or Nenneh Jalloh, and that there was no criticism of police action by the coroner at the inquests into their deaths. The Commissioner has referred the death of Nenneh Jalloh to the Police Complaints Authority, which is supervising an investigation into the circumstances in which it took place.I have no plans to institute any other form of inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans there are to extend the lease on the car ferry Earl William for use as an immigration detention centre.

The existing lease is for three months, with the option of extensions up to a maximum of 12 months. We have decided to exercise that option for a period of three months in the first instance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to how many police officers there are at each of the police stations in the London borough of Newham, and as to what the comparable figures were for the three previous years.

The information requested is set out in the table. Figures for 1984 are not available. The figures for 1987 are not comparable with those for earlier years, as manpower accounting procedures were changed during the force reorganisation; officers in certain units who had previously been carried on divisional strengths now form part of the establishment of area headquarters.

	16 June 1985	15 June 1986	14 June 1987
East Ham
Uniformed	115	138	105
CID	6	11	5
Total	121	149	110
Plaistow
Uniformed	117	114	110
CID	16	14	17
Total	133	128	93
West Ham

	16 June 1985	15 June 1986	14 June 1987
Uniformed	156	172	143
CID	16	21	21
Total	172	193	164
Forest Gate
Uniformed	114	104	100
CID	10	8	6
Total	124	112	106
North Woolwich
Uniformed	11	19	34
CID	0	0	2
Total	11	19	36

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish in the Official Report the date and place of the police examination of the records of names held by the Economic League.

I understand that the police examination referred to took place at the Skipton offices of the Economic League on 25 March 1987.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in selling the empty prison houses and hostel in Culcheth, Warrington; how many have been sold; when the remainder will be placed on the market; what is the value of these empty properties; and how long they have now been empty.

Marketing of the 39 empty prison officers' houses and hostel at Culcheth, which are being sold as a single block, has been resumed, following agreement with the local authority of adoption specifications for roads and services. A considerable amount of interest has been shown in the properties by prospective purchasers, but to date no firm offers have been received. Information about the value of the properties is subject to usual commercial confidentiality. The bulk of the houses have been empty for five to six years and the hostel for about five years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the Government's policy towards the encouragement of the development of an independent sector in broadcasting by the stipulation of a substantial proportion of independently-produced programmes on BBC and ITV; and if he will make a statement.

Our policy is to ensure that at least 25 per cent. of programmes broadcast on both ITV and BBC television are supplied by independent producers as soon as possible. We have asked the IBA and BBC to come forward with firm plans for the achievement of this target.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of the Police Complaints Authority are engaged in supervising investigations of complaints against the police.

Five members, supported by a staff, supervise investigations which are carried out by poke officers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases the Police Complaints Authority has dealt with over the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what percentage of the total number of complaints this represents.

The most recent statistics relating to complaints are published in the annual reports for 1986 of the Police Complaints Authority, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary and the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, copies of which are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has completed his review of the arrangements for investigating allegations of misconduct made against senior police officers; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. This review was undertaken in the light of concern expressed about the investigation of allegations against the former deputy chief constable of Greater Manchester, Mr. John Stalker.It had the benefit of observations from the Greater Manchester police authority, the Police Complaints Authority and the chief constable of West Yorkshire, Mr. Colin Sampson, all of whom were involved in the investigation of allegations against Mr. Stalker, and from the Association of Chief Police Officers and Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary.The essential requirements of any disciplinary arrangements are that they should be fair and thorough and that they should afford adequate safeguards to the person against whom allegations are made. I have concluded that the present arrangements, which are contained in the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and regulations continue to meet these criteria. In particular, I am satisfied that the central feature in these arrangements should continue to be the role of the police authority as disciplinary authority. It is the responsibility of the police authority to decide:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has plans to renew the Pool Competitions Act 1971; and if he will make a statement.

	Division 1			Division 2
	1985–86	1986–87	Percentage change	1985–86	1986–87	Percentage change	Overall percentage change
Attendances	9,008,673	9,213,328	+2	3,542,028	4,144,905	+17	+6
Arrests	1,839	2,008	+9	1,050	1,708	+68	+29
Ejections	2,206	3,532	+60	1,089	1,255	+15	+45

The Government remain determined to seek further progress, in partnership with the football authorities, through measures such as the wider adoption of membership schemes and the exclusion order provisions of the Public Order Act 1986, which will come into force on 1 August.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals held under the international provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984 and against whom an extension of detention was authorised by the Secretary of State were (a) subsequently charged with an offence or (b) deported under the Immigration Act 1971.

[pursuant to his reply, 13 July 1987, c. 364]: From the implementation of the 1984 Act on 22 March 1984 to 31 March 1987, 24 persons whose detention under the international provisions of the Act had been extended beyond 48 hours were later charged with offences. I shall write to the hon. Member later about the numbers deported after having been so held.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals were successfully

No. In line with the policy as announced in Standing Committee on 5 July 1983 and on subsequent occasions, I have decided that the Pool Competitions Act 1971 should not be renewed. The Act will therefore lapse on 26 July. The few organisations affected have already been notified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has about recent trends in the incidence of football hooliganism; and if he will make a statement.

The Association of Chief Police Officers for England and Wales has reported that the improvement in standards of crowd behaviour during the 1985–86 season was maintained during last season, which saw a welcome increase in overall attendances at football matches.The police take the view that the use of closed-circuit television and the controls on alcohol have made a major contribution to the prevention of disorder inside grounds. They have been increasingly able to take prompt and effective action to control violent behaviour where it occurs, and have also tackled other forms of unacceptable behaviour such as racial chanting. This is reflected in the statistics for arrests at Football League matches and ejections from grounds in 1986–87, which show an increase in comparison with 1985–86. The figures for divisions 1 and 2 are as follows:contacted from 1984 in connection with the comprehensive review of exclusion orders made under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974 and 1976 that were still in force.

[pursuant to his reply, 13 July 1987, c. 364]: Ninety five people were successfully contacted in respect of the main review of exclusion orders made under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons excluded under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974, 1976 and 1984 were excluded direct from prison after completing a prison term.

[pursuant to his reply, 13 July 1987, c. 363]: The information which can be provided without disproportionate cost relates to the period 1 January 1982 to 31 March 1987, during which 12 persons were excluded on release from prison.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons excluded under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts were originally detained in London.

[pursuant to his reply, 13 July 1987, c. 363]: The information which can be provided relates to the period from 1 January 1979 to 31 March 1987, during which a total of 30 persons were made subject to exclusion orders, having been originally detained by the Metropolitan police, eight of whom were detained in 1979, 12 in 1980 and two in 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will seek a meeting with the chairman of British Rail to discuss the standard of services on the Barking to Gospel Oak line.

I have agreed standards for the quality of BR services as a whole, which I shall be monitoring in general terms, but it would not be appropriate for me to discuss each and every service's performance with Sir Robert Reid. These aspects will be being watched carefully by the statutory consumer bodies, and I expect them to report on any persisting difficulties.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport for the last year for which records are available, how many accidents have occurred on (a) motorways, (b) other trunk roads for which his Department is responsible, and (c) other roads generally caused by the problems on the road or hard shoulder of broken down vehicles, involving (i) damage, (ii) personal injury and (iii) fatality.

I regret the information is not generally available. Reports received by the Department do not identify causes of accidents. The presence of broken-down vehicles is not recorded.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he proposes to publish his Department's report on the grounding and subsequent sinking of the Kowloon Bridge.

My noble Friend the Minister with responsibility for aviation and shipping has received the report and arranged for a copy to be placed in the Library. The report, made on behalf of the Hong Kong Administration, does not hold anyone to blame, but concludes that a succession of events associated with atrocious weather led to the grounding and loss of the Kowloon Bridge. Of these events, the most serious was the failure of the steering gear and this was probably linked to the grounding of the vessel while she was in Bantry Bay. A successful evacuation of all 28 persons on board was effected by RAF aircraft, which were using Cork airport at the time in connection with another rescue. Apart from an RAF winchman who sustained arm injuries, everyone else was rescued unhurt. The rescue was admirably carried out with RAF personnel displaying the courage and professionalism which we have come to expect in such circumstances. The master and his crew also carried out their part in the abandonment of the vessel with calmness and courage.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on implementation of the recommendations made in the report by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on the British Railways Board's property activities, published in June 1985; and if he will make a statement.

The Railways Board is continuing to make good progress in implementing the commission's recommendations, and I am placing copies of its second response in the Library of the House.A number of improvements have been made in the British Rail property board's organisation and management structure. This action has also taken account of advice from consultants appointed by the property boa rd to review its organisation, management structure, systems and procedures, and working practices. I am pleased to note that simpler procedures for releasing land no longer needed for the railway have been introduced. In particular, I welcome the opportunities for increased sales of surplus land that the board has identified, amounting to an additional £100 million in its latest business plan. The board's development division has also been reviewed and reorganised, taking account of recommendations from a group of private sector property consultants.Good progress is also being made in increasing the commercial exploitation of the board's operational property, with more extensive private sector involvement. The arch refurbishment programme, which generates income and helps the environment, has been stepped up to cover over 700 schemes over the last two years, and is expected to continue at a high level, and greater competition is being introduced in station trading.I am also placing in the Library a copy of' my Department's review of the board's liabilities for property no longer needed for the railway, particularly in connection with closed branch lines, as proposed by the commission. The property board's current and forecast levels of expenditure in this area are small in relation to the board's overall finances, and we see no case for removing the liabilities or for separately funding them. The evidence suggests that the property board should continue broadly with its present maintenance policies, negotiating with local highway authorities and other interested parties to shed its liabilities on the basis of voluntary agreements, taking every opportunity to transfer individual liabilities where this makes financial sense.The Department will assist the board to establish an English and Welsh viaducts committee, similar to that which exists in Scotland, in order to provide a forum for considering the future of listed viaducts on closed railway lines, and we will support a further application to the Charity Commissioners seeking charitable status for the Railway Heritage Trust, if the board and the trust judge it advantageous. We will also keep under review the question of ownership and statutory responsibility for the board's road overbridges.