asked the Attorney-General when his attention was first drawn to the article on Skynet in the 15 February 1985 edition of "Interspace".

The Government became aware of this article on its publication.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when the report of the consultant engineers on the A36 trunk road through West Wellow will be completed; and whether its contents will be made public.

We are considering the consultants' report, which we received recently. In accordance with our normal practice, it is not proposed to publish the report. I shall make an announcement as soon as I can.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the traffic club currently in operation in the Greater London area and its future funding.

The traffic club operating in Greater London is a part of the research and intelligence unit, which is run by the London Residuary Body as an agency service on behalf of the London boroughs. I understand that the future of the unit is currently the subject of discussion by the boroughs.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the contribution which the extension of national traffic clubs could make in regard to safety of young children.

Limited experience of traffic clubs in this country makes it impossible to assess what effect a national traffic club might have on child safety on the roads. There are some indications that in Scandinavia, where traffic clubs have been operating for longer, they have contributed with other factors to reductions in child pedestrian casualties.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the day miles of motorway lane closures in each of the last 15 years; and if he will express the lane closures as percentages of the total motorway mileage for each year.

This information is not available. The length of lane closure varies from day to day and hour to hour. It is impracticable to keep a comprehensive record of the changing pattern.We expect work on about 5 per cent. of the network each year. Before the past six years, work was done on about 3 per cent. Within the next four years, we expect to eliminate the backlog.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will make a statement about the future of the Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk Roads Assessment.

The Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk Roads Assessment was set up in 1978 following the report of the Leitch committee. It produced a valuable report last year on the appraisal of urban road improvements. An independent committee, smaller in size, can continue to play an important role in the development of assessment methods. I have reconstituted the committee with Mr. Derek Wood, QC, as chairman. The other members will be Dr. P. Goodwin, Mr. A. E. Naylor, Mr. R. H. Stewart and Mr. H. J. Wootton. These appointments are for two years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to seek to amend the provisions of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 regarding the security of tenure afforded to small businesses whose leases are in the names of the proprietors of the company trading from the premises; and if he will make a statement.

My Department reviewed all the provisions in part II of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 as recently as 1985, with particular reference to small businesses. It was concluded that generally the Act works well and that there are insufficient grounds for an immediate revision, but we continue to monitor its operation as to the need for any future amendments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report those local authorities in England which have over 15 per cent. of their total local authority housing indicated in form HIP 1 as being difficult to let; and if he will give the percentage in each case.

The numbers of difficult to let dwellings reported by authorities and the percentages of their stock were listed in the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing, Urban Affairs and Construction to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Rooker) on 18 November 1986, at column 102.That list shows that 21 English authorities reported in their 1986 returns that over 15 per cent. of their stock was difficult to let. Figures for difficult to let dwellings were not reported in 1986 by Manchester, which reported about 25 per cent. in its 1984 return and by Southwark, which reported about 23 per cent. in its 1985 return.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a map of England identifying County Heritage sites and areas of special importance for nature conservation which will be protected from industrial development and road planning.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply of 17 November 1986, Official Report, column 46, whether the sale of Spectrum Arena to CPW Leisure Ltd. has now been completed; what use he expects the arena will be put to after its sale; and how and where the money made from its sale will be spent.

I understand that the proposed sale of Spectrum Arena to CPW Leisure Ltd. is not proceeding. The Warrington and Runcorn development corporation is actively seeking alternative offers. Its general expectation is that the arena will remain in leisure use. The corporation has indicated its intention to seek the Department's approval to spend a part of the proceeds of a sale on appropriate new facilities in Birchwood.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the rate support grant, in cash terms, to Leeds city council for each year since 1979.

The figures requested are as follows.The figures for 1979–80 and 1980–81 are not comparable with those for 1981–82 to 1986–87 because they comprise the needs, resources and domestic elements, whereas from 1981–82 onwards the figures comprise block grant and domestic rate relief grant. The figures for 1981–82 to 1985–86 are not comparable with those for 1986–87 because of the abolition of the West Yorkshire metropolitan county on 31 March 1986.All figures are in cash terms. Those for 1979–80 to 1982–83 are final entitlements. Domestic rate relief grant figures for 1983–84 and 1984–85 are final entitlement; those for 1985–86 and 1986–87 are first estimates. Block grant figures for 1983–84 and 1984–85 are entitlements after holdback based upon provisional outturn; those for 1985–86 are entitlements after holdback based on budgets; those for 1986–87 are entitlements based on initial budget returns.

Leeds City Rate Support Grant (in cash terms)
	£ million
1979–80	118·816
1980–81	141·121
1981–82	122·790
1982–83	118·387
1983–84	123·612
1984–85	125·865
1985–86	119·643
1986–87	139·591

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the housing investment programme allocation in 1979 prices to Leeds city council for each year since 1979.

The table gives the housing investment programme (HIP) allocations made to Leeds since 1979, together with the total capital expenditure the council has been able to incur on housing:

£ million (1979 prices)	HIP allocation	Expenditure
1979–80	32·349	31·974
1980–81	23·426	24·616
1981–82	19·199	18·557
1982–83	26·797	29·426
1983–84	20·377	25·353
1984–85	19·055	19·637
1985–86	15·380	16·495
1986–87	13·440	1 27·041
1987–88	11·514	—
1 Estimate

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to introduce legislation to enfranchise the leaseholders of private flats; and if he will make a statement.

Before this can be considered it will be necessary to resolve the technical difficulties over the enforcement against successive owners of freehold flats of positive covenants dealing with the repair and maintenance of common parts of the provision of common services. My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor has set up a working group headed by a law commissioner to put forward a scheme to regulate relations between the owners of properties which are interdependent, such as blocks of flats, and has asked the group to report by the middle of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many envelope schemes have been approved nationally since the introduction of the envelope scheme in 1982; and how many dwellings they include.

Since 1982 a total of 106 enveloping schemes have been approved in England covering over 10,500 dwellings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average time in weeks taken between receipt of an application for an envelope scheme by a regional office of his Department and the issuing of a decision on it.

Since current procedures were adopted in 1984 the average time has been 18 weeks. The time taken for the last six schemes has been 11 weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many envelope schemes have been completed; how many dwellings are included in them; and what expenditure has been incurred.

A total of 63 approved enveloping schemes have been completed since 1982. Information is not currently available on the number of dwellings and expenditure incurred specifically in completed schemes, but total expenditure on enveloping since 1982 has been £45 million up to 30 September 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the distribution of completed envelope schemes; and what are the numbers of completed schemes between authorities.

The following table shows the distribution of approved enveloping schemes in England completed as at 1 February 1987:

Local authority	Number completed
Allerdale D.C.	2
Birmingham C.C.	18
Lambeth L.B.	1
Leeds C.C.	1
Leicester C.C.	13
Middlesbrough B.C.	1
Oldham M.B.C.	2
Peterborough C.C.	2
Rochdale M.B.C.	7
Sandwell M.B.C.	1
Sheffield C.C.	1
Stockport M.B.C.	7
Trafford M.B.C.	6
Wolverhampton M.B.C.	1
Total	63

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing the amount of local authority rating revenue per head of population and rate support grant per head of population in each local authority area in 1986–87 or for the latest year for which figures are available.

1986–87 information, for English local authorities, has today been placed in the House of Commons Library.

asked the Prime Minister what proposals have been placed on the agenda of the next meeting of the European Council regarding the budget problem of the EEC; and if she will make a statement.

The agenda for the next European Council has not yet been fixed. However, as I told my hon. Friend on 13 January, at column 144, the Community's financial problems are certain to be considered by the European Council this year.

asked the Prime Minister when she expects to visit the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

I expect to visit the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics at the end of March. Dates will be announced in due course.

asked the Prime Minister if she will take steps to consolidate the 250 different statutory provisions relating to the legal duties and responsibilities of directors of public companies in a single measure.

Much of the law relating to the duties and responsibilities of company directors has recently been consolidated into the Companies Act 1985, the Insolvency Act 1986 and the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986. The remaining provisions cover a wide area of activity and further consolidation would be inappropriate.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list for each hospital within each health authority in England and Wales, hospital hoard in Scotland and hospital and social service board in Northern Ireland, the maximum number of authorised pay beds, distinguishing between non-emergency and emergency beds.

Tables giving the information requested will be placed in the Library shortly.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 10 February.

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others, and attended the memorial service for the first Earl of Stockton. In addition to my duties in this House I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I hope to have an audience of Her Majesty The Queen.

asked the Prime Minister what assessment she has made of the implications for the 22 December 1984 Camp David agreement with President Reagan of the United States Defence Secretary Caspar Weinberger's support for incremental deployment of strategic defence initiative weapons, as announced on 9 January; and if she has any plans to seek to review that agreement.

I have no plans to review the Camp David four points.

asked the Prime Minister what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards sharing with the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics the results of United Kingdom strategic defence initiative research; and if she will make a statement.

The Government do not envisage sharing the results of SDI research with the Soviet Union.

asked the Prime Minister whether the doctrine of competitive strategy announced by US Defence Secretary Weinberger on 9 January represents NATO policy; what consultations there have been within the Alliance on the implementation of such a policy; and what is her assessment of the impact of this policy on relations between NATO and Warsaw Pact countries.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces to the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish (Mr. Bennett) on Friday 6 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will specify the types of question which she is prepared to answer which relate to the periods of previous Administrations; and if she will make a statement.

As a general rule I do not answer questions relating to the policies and decisions of previous Administrations, for which I have no ministerial responsibility.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland what action is being taken following police inquiries into allegations of irregularities in the awarding of grants by the Highlands and Islands Development Board; and if he will make a statement.

A police report on one such case has been made to the procurator fiscal, Inverness, and the papers have been passed to the fraud unit at Crown Office, which is currently investigating this and another similar case. It would not be appropriate to give further details at this stage.

asked the Paymaster General whether he has any plans to increase jobcentre staff to cover the recently announced increase in restart interviews.

Our announcement of 28 January will result in an addition of about 700 to the number of staff engaged in the restart programme. The increase of staff on this work will be in part offset by the steady introduction of new technology, including the Supervacs system, to other aspects of the work of the jobcentres.

asked the Paymaster General what is the total number of (a) unskilled and (b) partly skilled persons in the work force of Britain; and what information he has on comparable figures in other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, showing in each case the actual figure and percentage of the total work force.

Estimates from the labour force survey conducted in the spring of 1985 show that at that time there were almost 1·3 million unskilled and just over 4 million semi-skilled manual workers in paid employment in Great Britain, representing respectively some 5·4 per cent. and 16·9 per cent. of all workers in paid employment. There are no figures for other OECD countries using comparable skill definitions.

asked the Paymaster General how many people are registered as unemployed in each of the four city council wards within the Leeds, Central parliamentary constituency; and what is the percentage increase or decrease of the 1979 figures for each ward.

The following information is in the Library. Figures are given showing the numbers of unemployed claimants in the wards of the Leeds, Central parliamentary constituency on 11 December 1986. Statistics of unemployment from the ward-based system are available only from June 1983.

	Number
Beeston	1,213
City and Holbeck	2,203
Richmond Hill	1,944
University	2,113

asked the Paymaster General if he has any plans to seek to improve the current safety record in the demolition section of the construction industry; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The Health and Safety Executive recognises that demolition is a high risk sector of the construction industry and as such is treating it as a priority area for inspection.

asked the Paymaster General when he expects the proposed new guidance note on managing health and safety in construction to be issued.

The guidance note on managing health and safety in construction, which has been prepared by the Health and Safety Commission's construction industry advisory committee, has not yet been approved for publication by the commission itself. Until this has been done, it would be premature to give an estimate of the publication date.

asked the Paymaster General, pursuant to the answer of 5 February, Official Report, column 758, what are the reasons for the delay in writing to the hon. Member for Greenock and Port Glasgow about the Manpower Services Commission's inquiry into the funding of certain community projects; if he will now take steps to expedite his Department's response; and if he will make a statement.

I am arranging to meet the hon. Member to discuss this matter.

asked the Paymaster General if the eligibility rules for the job training scheme will allow women who are unemployed, but not in receipt of benefit, to participate in the scheme and receive a training allowance.

[pursuant to his reply, 5 February 1987 c. 761]: The job training scheme is being targeted on those most in need and able to benefit from training for a vocational qualification to obtain employment. Provided men or women have been signing as unemployed at an unemployment benefit office for six months or more, they will be eligible for the scheme. If they did not receive benefit immediately before starting training, but claimed credits for national insurance contributions, they will receive a training allowance whenever a change in their circumstances would have entitled them to benefit had they remained unemployed.

asked the Paymaster General how many people have completed youth training schemes in Leicester and the east midlands to date; how many left before completing their full entitlement to training; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 5 February 1987, c. 763–64]: By the end of March 1986, around 2,500 young people in the local authority district of Leicester had completed YTS schemes since the scheme was introduced in 1983. The comparable figure for the Manpower Services Commissions east midlands and eastern region is 44,000. Over the same period around 3,600 young people in Leicester and 59,000 in the east midlands and eastern region, left the scheme before completing their full entitlement.Independent research has shown that most of these early leavers left to take up jobs. For example, of those young people who left YTS early, in Leicester between April 1985 and March 1986, 55 per cent. were in work some three months after leaving. All in all, the figures demonstrate that large numbers of young people are both taking up, and benefiting from, the opportunities which YTS has to offer in Leicester and the east midlands.

asked the Paymaster General if he will estimate employment trends in the Greenock and Port Glasgow constituency over the next two years; and if he will make a statement.

Value: £ million
	1979				19861
	(a)	(b)	Crude balance		(a)	(b)	Crude balance
	imports (cif)	exports (fob)	£ million	as percentage of (a)	imports (cif)	exports (fob)	£ million	as percentage of (a)
Total trade of which:	48,423	42,802	-5,621	12	86,067	73,009	-13,058	15
(i) Cereals and cereal preparations	668	264		60	769	1,177	+408	53
			-404
(ii) Agricultural products	6,264	1,814		71	9,356	4,001	-5,355	57
(iii Other of which	42,160	40,998	-4,450	3	76,710	69,008	-7,702	10
			1,172
(iv) Motor vehicles	2,997	1,519	-1,479	49	5,684	1,764	-3,920	69
(v) Electrical goods	3,643	3,633	-9	0	11,600	8,799	-2,801	24
(vi) Steel	998	1,080	+83	8	1,520	1,591	+71	5
(v) Coal	136	62	-74	54	443	107	-366	76

I have been asked to reply.No official employment projections are available. In the light of recent developments the outlook is obviously uncertain. The Government are considering what steps might be taken to alleviate the problems caused by the planned redundancies at Scott-Lithgow.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his attention was first drawn to the article on Skynet in the 15 February 1985 edition of "Interspace".

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier today by my right hon. and learned Friend the Solicitor-General.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make available in the Library the booklet, "Guidance on the Exercise of the Presidency", issued to British officials chairing European Community committees during the British presidency.

I have arranged for a copy to be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will show the crude balance of imports and exports of (a) cereals and cereal preparations, (b) motor vehicles and (c) electrical goods in 1979 and 1986; and if he will compare the net overall position in 1979 with 1986;(2) if he will show

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the extent to which civil trade with South Africa should be determined by commercial considerations, rather than the character of the Government of those countries.

The Government's policy is that the level of civil trade with South Africa should, within the limits of our international obligations and undertakings, be determined by the commercial judgment of those engaged in it.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether Her Majesty's Government propose to strengthen the ban on the export of computer equipment liable to be used by South African security forces.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made towards the transfer of powers under the Financial Services Act 1986 to a designated agency.

My right hon. Friend has today received a letter from the chairman of The Securities and Investments Board Limited, together with a statement of the regulatory arrangements the board would propose to operate if powers are transferred to it. This statement includes a copy of the rules and regulations the board proposes to make and the guidance it proposes to issue. The board will be publishing this statement later this week. In accordance with the procedures laid down in the Financial Services Act 1986, my right hon. Friend has asked the Director General of Fair Trading to report to him whether the board's proposed rules, regulations and guidance are likely to have a significantly anti-competitive effect. My right hon. Friend will naturally take into account any representations that he received by 28 February from interested parties on that or any other aspect of the board's proposals. Following this, he will be considering whether the requirements for designation set out in the Act are satisfied in the case of the board. If they are, he hopes to lay a delegation order before the House in draft in the spring.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he intends to introduce measures to promote the development of woodland on farms; what representations have been made from United Kingdom farming interests and the European Economic Community on this matter; and if he will make a statement.

We are very much in favour of more farmers planting trees on part of their land and farming interests have made a number of representations to us on this matter which we are still considering. Possible action on forestry is also under consideration by the European Commission.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the additives currently permitted to be used in cider brewed or sold within the United Kingdom; and if he proposes any changes.

Cider may contain any additive permitted for general food use plus those specifically permitted for use in cider by the Preservatives in Food Regulations 1979.We have no plans at present to change existing controls, but food additives regulations are kept under continuous review and are amended when necessary, taking into account the advice of the Food Advisory Committee, and after consultation with all interests.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the additives currently permitted to be used in beer brewed or sold within the United Kingdom; and if he proposes any changes.

Beer may contain any additive permitted for general food use plus those specifically permitted for use in beer by the Preservatives in Food Regulations 1979. We have no plans at present to change existing controls, but food additives regulations are kept under continuous review and are amended when necessary, taking into account the advice of the Food Advisory Committee and after consultation with all interests.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, pursuant to his reply of 9 December 1986, Official Report, column 110, he is yet in a position to announce the membership of the Salmon Advisory Committee; and if he will make a statement.

Following consideration by Fisheries Ministers of nominations from interested organisations, in consultation with Professor Dunnet, the committee's chairman, I am pleased to be able to announce that the following persons have accepted invitations to serve on the Salmon Advisory Committee:

• Mr. G. H. Bielby
• Mr. C. G. Carnie
• Mr. R. M. Clerk
• The Hon. Edward Davies
• Mr. S. J. Day
• Mr. E. P. Ecroyd
• Lt. Col. James H. Ferguson
• Sir William Gordon-Cumming
• Mr. N. W. Graesser
• Dr. M. M. Halliday
• Mr. D. Heselton
• Mr. A. V. Holden
• Dr. W. R. Howells
• Dr. P. S. Maitland
• Mr. I. Mitchell
• Mr. M. J. Morgan
• Mr. D. R. Patton
• Dr. J. D. Pirie
• Dr. D. J. Solomon
• Mr. W. A. C. Thomson

In considering membership of the committee we have been aware of the need to strike an appropriate balance both between the interests and experience of the members and between the different parts of Great Britain.The committee will meet for the first time in London on 26 February 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what comparative information is available to him on the impact of nuclear power on the operating costs of foreign electricity industries.

The methods of generating electricity in other countries are a matter for the industries concerned and comparative information is not always readily available. However, as examples, the latest available accounts for Electricité de France show that in 1985 the revenue costs per unit of nuclear output were less than half those per unit of output from conventional thermal stations. The 1984–85 accounts for the German utility RWE comment that as a result of the relatively favourable fuel costs, lignite-fired and nuclear power stations are used to meet base-load electricity requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if there have been any developments regarding the proposed Severn barrage since his announcement of July 1986; and if he will make a statement.

Details of the Severn barrage work programme, related studies and procedures for consultation are being discussed by the Central Electricity Generating Board, the Severn Tidal Power Group and my Department. It is intended that full details of the studies and consultation procedures will be widely circulated for comment and that there should be an ongoing consultation process with all interested parties. A first consultative document will be available soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will consider representations in reaching his decision on Sizewell B; and when he will reach his decision.

My right hon. Friend will consider any relevant material which he receives, as he has always done in making his decisions on applications for the construction of power stations. He has said that he wishes to hear the views of the House before reaching his decision on Sizewell B. The debate will take place in the week beginning 23 February. He will reach his decision as soon as possible thereafter.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list electricity prices (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) in France for (i) domestic and (ii) industrial consumers.

[pursuant to his reply, 26 January 1987, c. 58]: A wide range of tariffs is available in both the United Kingdom and France. It is not, therefore, practicable to specify all the prices that a consumer may pay. Moreover, any direct comparison is strongly influenced by the prevailing exchange rate. The Electricity Council's latest estimates for a typical domestic consumer on a standard tariff and for an average industrial consumer are shown in the table below. French prices for domestic consumers include the effects of VAT and local taxes, which are not payable in the United Kingdom. I understand that where customers in France are prepared to suffer substantial amounts of load reduction during 18 designated hours on each of 22 days significant discounts are available.

Average price per unit	Domestic (3,300 units per annum including standing charge)	Industrial (2½ MW maximum demand at 50 per cent· load factor)
England and Wales (pence/kwh)	6·28	3·75
France (francs/kwh)	0·733–0·792	0·365

asked the Minister for the Arts what research he is undertaking on the provision of art in London and the regions.

I contribute to the costs of "Facts about the Arts", a research publication compiled by the Policy Studies Institute which provides regional breakdowns. In addition funding bodies like the Arts Council keep me fully informed as to the relative proportions which go to London and to the regions.

asked the Minister for the Arts when he last met the Association of Metropolitan Authorities to discuss arts policy.

On 17 November 1986.

asked the Minister for the Arts what representations he has received about the future funding of the Sherman theatre, Cardiff.

Two letters.

asked the Minister for the Arts what steps he intends to take to improve funding of the public library service.

Planned central Government provision through the rate support grant for libraries in 1987–88 is over 15 per cent. higher than that for 1986–87. The actual level of spending on public libraries is a matter for individual local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the capital allocation for 1987–88 for the North East London polytechnic in respect of equipment and buildings on minor works together with those for the financial years 1986–87 and 1985–86.

Capital allocations to Barking local education authority included the following sums for advanced further education equipment and minor building works at North East London polytechnic:

	Equipment £	Minor works £
1985–86	606,600	115,780
1986–87	523,000	65,000
1987–88	338,000	—

No resources were available nationally for allocation for further and higher education minor works in 1987–88. Authorities are free to start such projects if they can do so within the total capital spending power available to them.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has received any representations from pupils or parents regarding the future of Wheathampstead school; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has received no such representations.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many institutions of further and higher education have student counsellors; and what information he has on the way in which counsellors are dealing with stress amongst students.

The Department does not have this information. Her Majesty's inspectors have observed variations between institutions in the extent of their provision which has been the subject of a recent postal survey by the Association for Student Counselling. Counsellors are increasingly involved in training programmes for staff which will enhance the role of the latter in helping to counsel students.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the progress of his measures to recruit service personnel for teaching mathematics and physics.

Recruitment to initial teacher training in 1986 was 6 per cent. higher in mathematics and 34 per cent. higher in physics by comparison with 1985. Applications so far for 1987 suggest a further improvement. Data are not held centrally on the previous history of candidates but a number of recruits have employment experience. The armed forces have welcomed information about teaching as a potential second career for suitably qualified personnel.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will now give his decision on the representations he has received against the proposed further reduction of pupils into the Myton school, Warwick, from September 1987;(2) if he will now give his decision over the proposed closure of Wolverton junior and infant school;(3) if he will now give his decision over the proposed closure of Baddesley Clinton RC junior and infant school.

These proposals published by Warwickshire LEA are currently before my right hon. Friend, and a decision will be announced shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, further to his reply of 21 January, Official Report, column 557, what proportion of school buildings in the 10 local education authorities listed date from before (a) 1900 and (b) 1918.

This information is not held centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list any research projects on the implementation of the Education Act 1981 known to his Department other than those commissioned by his Department; and if, in each case, he will give (a) a brief description of the project, (b) the publication date of the final report and (c) any subsequent action taken by the Department.

My right hon. Friend is aware of only two such projects:

'Effectiveness of Locational Integration for Children with Special Educational Needs': a 15-month project funded by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales. It cost £22,128 and was based at University College, Cardiff under the direction of Dr. G. Upton. It focused on children with moderate learning difficulties in four LEAs in South Wales and its aim was to measure the extent to which local integration led to social and functional integration. The project ended June 1986 and the draft Report is currently under consideration. A decision on publication has yet to be taken.

'Screening and Special Educational Provisions in Schools': a three-year project funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. It cost £100,230 and was based at the University of London Institute of Education under the direction of Professor H. Goldstein. It involved the major application of standardised testing in primary schools to identify children who may be in need of special attention or teaching and investigated both screening and provision for special educational needs within the classroom. The final report is currently under consideration by ESRC and is expected to be published in due course.

Mr. Carter-Jones asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the research projects on the implementation of the Education Act 1981 sponsored by his Department; and if, in each case, he will give

My right hon. Friend has sponsored four research projects concerned with implementation of the Education Act 1981:

• Meeting Special Educational Needs — Support for the Ordinary School: National Foundation for Educational Research.
• Project Impact — In-service Education and Special Educational Needs: Manchester University/Huddersfield Polytechnic.
• Education Act 1981: Policy and Provision for Special Educational Needs: University of London Institute of Education.
• Education Act 1981: Development of Training Materials for Use on a Multi-Professional Basis in the Management of Change in the Special Needs Field: University of London Institute of Education. (This project is jointly funded with DHSS).

The NFER project examined ways in which ordinary schools, by re-structuring and by drawing on external resources, can enhance their capacity to educate children with special educational needs. Project impact evaluated a transbinary regional modular diploma leading to an advanced specialist qualification in special educational needs. Policy and provision for special education needs was concerned with procedures adopted by LEAs to implement the provisions of the Act and the impact of these on district health authorities, social services departments, voluntary organisations, parents and the children concerned. The findings of these three projects were the subject of a major dissemination seminar in November 1986 and were presented to the Department on 31 December 1986.The fourth project began in October 1986 and will run for two years.The Department is studying the findings of the first three projects. Any further action must await the outcome of the inquiry by the Select Committee for Education, Science and the Arts into special education.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will outline how he is seeking the views of students on those measures under review relating to students' grants and loans, mentioned in the letter of 2 February to all hon. Members.

Written evidence has been invited and received from the National Union of Students and my review group is today meeting the NUS to discuss it. Written evidence has also been received from the Bath Area Students' Organisation, Bristol University Graduate Association, Cambridge University Graduate Union, Cambridge University Students' Union, Cranfield Students' Union, Edinburgh University Students' Association, Heriot-Watt University Students' Association, Herts. Area National Union of Students, National Union of Students (UK) and Union of Students in Ireland, Northern Ireland Regional Committee, Open University Student Association, Oxford University Student Union, Sheffield City Polytechnic Union of Students, Sheffield University Students' Union, and Southampton University Students' Union.As stated in the letter I have met students at their institutions here and in America to hear their views. I have in particular visited university and polytechnic student accommodation in London.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has yet received the report of Lord Croham's review of the University Grants Committee; and if it will be published.

The report of the committee, chaired by Lord Croham, which has been reviewing the role and functions of the University Grants Committee is being published today. Copies are available in the Vote Office.It is a valuable report with important recommendations for the future of a body which is central to the relationship between Government and our universities. My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Northern Ireland and Scotland and I are grateful to Lord Croham and the members of his committee for their work and the clarity of their report.I am inviting interested bodies to let me have detailed comments on the report's recommendations by 30 June 1987. In order to inform this consultative process the Government intends to announce fairly quickly its own broad conclusions on the principal recommendations. I am therefore asking for any comments on the general approach proposed in the report to be submitted within the next month.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much aid has been given by Her Majesty's Government bilaterally to Nicaragua in each of the last five years; and how much aid has been given by the European Community to Nicaragua in each of the last five years.

British bilateral aid to Nicaragua over the five years 1981 to 1985 was:

	£'000
1981	91
1982	49
1983	64
1984	9
1985	116

This aid was used for two purposes: disaster relief, channelled through the Nicaraguan Red Cross, Oxfam and the Catholic Fund for Overseas Development; and the training of a few Nicaraguans in Britain. In addition, we helped British voluntary agencies to fund some projects in Nicaragua.European Community aid to Nicaragua between 1981 and 1985 was:

	£'000
1981	501
1982	415
1983	452
1984	1,099
1985	976

Figures for 1986 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much aid has been given by Her Majesty's Government bilaterally to Honduras in each of the last five years; and how much aid has been given by the European Community to Honduras in each of the last five years.

British bilateral aid to Honduras over the five years 1981 to 1985 was:

	Bilateral aid £'000	of which1 £'000
1981	5,002	4,702
1982	2,272	1,200
1983	6,670	4,984
1984	3,446	2,599
1985	3,653	2,967
1 Commonwealth Development Corporation loans.

European Community aid to Honduras between 1981 and 1985 was:

	£'000
1981	3,560
1982	5,130
1983	4,240
1984	8,130
1985	225

Figures for 1986 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans his Department has to provide extra car parking space at Wandsworth prison; and if he will make a statement.

There are no plans to provide additional car parking space at Wandsworth beyond the 82 places currently available for staff.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what studies have been made by his Department of the downwind lethal range of the effects of munitions containing nerve gas;(2) if his Department's scientific research branch is working on protective measures against chemical weapons.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Banff and Buchan (Mr. McQuarrie) on 5 February 1987 at column 775.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library his Department's advice to local fire authorities in England and Wales on the provision of gas detection equipment on fire appliances for use by fire brigades in the prompt detection of gas leaks at incidents.

We have placed in the Library copies of Home Office guidance on problems associated with gas detection.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the loss of firefighters' posts, fire appliances and fire stations that will result from the implementation of the 1987–88 establishment schemes for the London and metropolitan county fire brigades, separately distinguishing each brigade.

My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is at present considering the proposed establishment, support service and management schemes for 1987–88 submitted by the metropolitan fire and civil defence authorities. The London Fire and Civil Defence Authority has been granted an extension of time, and has not yet submitted its proposals.When made or approved, copies of the schemes will be laid before Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ask the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis how many prosecutions there were in the last 12 months for parking in the bus lane in Whitechapel road in east London.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has informed me that the information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the 39 prison officers' houses at Culcheth have now been sold; how long they were unoccupied before their sale; how much they were sold for; which estate agents sold them; and how the money from the sale will be used.

None of the 39 houses has been sold because offers so far received have not met the conditions of sale referred to in my reply to the hon. Member of 28 April 1986 at column 307. Marketing has now been suspended pending agreement on adoption specifications by the local authority.Most of the houses have now been unoccupied for five to six years. Receipts from the sale will be credited as appropriations in aid to the Prisons (England and Wales) Vote, Class XI, 2.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now announce the membership of the Animal Procedures Committee under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

The Animal Procedures Committee will be appointed shortly and the membership of the Committee will be made public.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers in England and Wales were deployed on specialist traffic duties on 30 November in each year between 1980 and 1986.

I gave the available information for 1986 in my reply to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Wallace) on 5 February at column 783. Information for previous years is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has received the 12th annual report of the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights; and if he will make a statement.

The report has been published today, and copies have been laid before Parliament. It covers the period 1 November 1985 to 31 October 1986.The report deals with a wide range of matters which the Commission has considered during the year under review. These include emergency legislation, the European Convention on Human Rights, treatment of prisoners, police complaints procedure, electoral and divorce law, special education and children care.Copies of my response to the Commission's report have been placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what figures are available to indicate the total number and total value of exceptionally severe weather payments made in each social security office in Northern Ireland in 1986.

The available information is as follows:

Exceptionally severe weather payments 1986
Social security office	Number	Amount£
Andersonstown	2,782	112,376·07
Antrim	1,900	65,458·98
Armagh	1,747	58,918·92
Ballymena	1,443	51,439·13
Ballymoney	1,646	56,281·98
Ballynahinch	290	7,862·00
Banbridge	966	32,253·74
Bangor	401	11,125·01
Carrickfergus	981	31,140·17
Coleraine	1,619	56,597·64
Cookstown	1,499	32,235·79
Corporation Street	4,004	153,995·53
Downpatrick	735	20,747·02

Temperature data: 12 January 1987—18 January 1987

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Weekly mean

Daily mean

Minimum night

Daily mean

Minimum night

Daily mean

Minimum night

Daily mean

Minimum night

Daily mean

Minimum night

Daily mean

Minimum night

Daily mean

Minimum night

Aldergrove

0·0

-4·5

-6·0

-4·0

-6·9

-1·1

-4·3

0·5

-1·7

1·7

1·1

3·7

1·5

4·0

1·6

Lisburn

0·3

-4·0

-5·2

-3·5

-6·6

-1·0

-3·8

0·3

-1·6

2·1

1·2

4·1

1·9

4·5

2·0

Carmoney

-0·2

-4·1

-6·0

-3·8

-7·0

-1·5

-4·8

0·2

-1·6

1·0

0·0

3·2

0·4

3·3

-0·4

Carrigans

-0·6

-4·5

-6·5

-5·3

-8·5

-2·2

-6·1

-0·3

-3·0

1·4

0·7

2·6

0·1

3·4

0·2

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what weeks in 1986 were declared as periods of exceptionally severe weather; and which of those weeks had average temperatures of or lower than (a) 0 deg C or (b) minus 1·5 deg C in any area of Northern Ireland.

The declaration in effect covered four weeks from 3 February 1986 to 2 March 1986. During that period the average weekly temperature did not fall below 0 deg C at any of the weather stations (at Aldergrove, Lisburn, Carmoney and Carrigans) now designated for exceptionally cold weather payments purposes. At two of the stations only (Lisburn and Carmoney) the average reached 0 deg C (during week commencing 24 February 1986).

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what figures are available to indicate for the weeks 5 January to 11 January and 12 January to 18 January 1987 the daily mean temperature, the minimum night temperature and the weekly mean temperature for each weather station in Northern Ireland, designated for measuring temperatures for exceptionally severe weather payments.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish in the Official Report the information available to him on the numbers of children with special educational needs in each education authority in Northern Ireland; and what is his estimate, in each case, of the percentage of these children who are persons to whom the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 applies.

[pursuant to his reply, 9 February 1987]: The latest available figures relate to pupils determined as hnadicapped at January 1986 and are as shown in the table.Insufficient information is available to estimate accurately the percentage of the pupils included who would come within the scope of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons (NI) Act 1978.

Education and Library board	Number of pupils
Belfast	1,309
Western	821
North-Eastern	760
South-Eastern	860
Southern	447
Total	4,197

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer to the question from the right hon. Member for Bethnal Green and Stepney (Mr. Shore) on 1 December 1986, Official Report, colum 470, if he will estimate the average weekly earnings after tax, national insurance contributions and child benefit at (a) current prices and (b) constant April 1986 prices of (i) a single man, (ii) a married man, (iii) a married man with two children under 11 years, and (iv) a single woman, all with earnings in the highest 5 per cent. of income levels.

Estimates of the levels of earnings for the top 5 per cent. of earners are not published. The information in the table is based on estimates of these levels derived from distributions of earnings published in the relevant new earnings surveys. Earning levels are for men or women as appropriate paid at adult rates with pay unaffected by absence. Taxpayers are asumed to have no reliefs or allowances other than the appropriate personal allowances.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the effect on total tax revenue of reductions in the marginal rates of tax since 1979.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to income tax rates. If the 1986–87 income tax allowances, thresholds, and rates were replaced by the 1978–79 income tax allowances, thresholds and rates, indexed to 1986–87 levels by reference to the statutory formula, the direct revenue cost on the 1986–87 income tax base would be about £8·1 billion in a full year. But this estimate makes no allowance for any behavioural changes.The direct revenue cost can be attributed to the following changes in allowances, thresholds, and rates:

Changes from 1978–79 tax regime indexed to 1986–87 to obtain 1986–87 tax regime
	Yield (+)Cost (-)£million
1. Increases in personal allowances	-3,270
2. Abolition of reduced rate band at 25p	+1,400
3. Decrease in basic rate of 4p	-3,920
4. Increase in basic rate limit of £1,100	-185
5. Changes in higher rate thresholds up to 60 per cent.	-500
6. Abolition of higher rates above 60 per cent.	-800
7. Abolition of investment income surcharge	-825
Total	-8,100

In the table, the effect of each change has been calculated on the assumption that each of the previous changes has already been made.