asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) when officers of the national museum of Wales asked Dr. Roderick Bowen, QC to undertake the inquiry into allegations of professional misconduct in the department of art; when these instructions were confirmed to him in writing; when members of staff of the national museum were requested to submit their statements of complaint; and what disciplinary action was taken subsequently with respect to the writer of the unauthorised letter to the president of the national museum, dated 16 September 1982, alleging professional misconduct;(2) what were the allegations of professional misconduct in the department of art of the national museum of Wales as a result of which a senior member of its council conducted an inquiry in 1982; and when the keeper of the department of art was provided with them in writing;(3) when the letter of intent relating to the loan of exhibits to Japan by the national museum of Wales was first received by the then acting director; when this letter was first received by the president; when the draft contract was first received by the officers; and when the treasurer undertook to check out the financial arrangements proposed in that draft contract;(4) when the officers of the national museum of Wales gave their approval for preliminary negotiations to be undertaken by the keeper of art for the loan of exhibits to Japan; when the officers reported their action to the council of the national museum and obtained that body's approval; when the report by the keeper of art on the 1986 fund-raising exhibition in the far east and the attached draft agreements was submitted to the council for its consideration; and who undertook the technical examinations of the venues in Japan on whose judgment the council based its decision to approve the loan.

Under the terms of the museum's royal charter, these are matters for which the council has direct management responsibility. I suggest the hon. Gentleman writes to the director.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what were the staffing recommendations of his Department's staff inspectors for the department of art of the national museum of Wales in July 1983; and at what dates each of the new posts recommended were first filled.

The Welsh Office staff inspectors recommended certain grading adjustments and other changes, the net effect of which would have been an increase in the complement of the department of art by one conservator grade E, one half (full-time equivalent) conservator grade G/F. The technician III post also recommended already existed. After taking account of the overall staffing situation the museum decided against implementing these recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales which consultants were employed to review the functions and management structure of the department of art of the national museum of Wales in 1986; what previous experience those consultants had of museums; and how much of their fees was met from the grant-in-aid.

Touche Ross and Co was appointed by the national museum of Wales which considered it qualified to conduct this inquiry. The fees were paid from grant-in-aid.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has on why the national museum of Wales purchased advertising space in the June 1986 issues of The Burlington Magazine, Apollo and the Museums Bulletin to apologise for any defamation that may have accrued to its former keeper of art; how much these advertisements cost; and, in terminating his services by mutual agreement, whether any funds were expended beyond a normal severance payment.

My information is that the advertisements were of an explanatory nature and were placed as part of the severance agreement with the former keeper of art. The question of their cost should be put to the museum authorities. The severance payment comprised various moneys to which the former keeper of art had a contractual entitlement, a payment for the completion of research already begun and a £3,155 exgratia payment to facilitate the mutual termination of his employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if there are any regular checks made for radioactivity in human foodstuffs (a) in north Wales and (b) in Clwyd; and if he will make a statement.

There is regular monitoring of the terrestrial and aquatic environment designed to assess the impact of the discharges from the two nuclear power stations in north Wales.In addition, since the Chernobyl accident, a general monitoring programme covering agricultural produce has been undertaken throughout Wales. Produce tested includes milk and milk products, cereals, fruit, vegetables and meat.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average waiting time for an ambulance responding to an emergency call in (a) rural areas and (b) urban areas; what arrangements exist for monitoring response times; and if he will make a statement.

The information is not available in the precise form requested. The following table, however, gives details of the response time in minutes for 50 per cent. and 95 per cent. of calls respectively for each district health authority in 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average price of a school meal charged by each of the education authorities in Wales.

The information on the prices of fixed price meals, as supplied by local authorities in September 1987, is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many children are receiving free school meals in each of the education authorities in Wales, expressed as a percentage of the total number of children taking school meals.

The information obtained from a census on a specified day in September 1986 is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the number of posts in his Department held by women, listed by grade, in each of the years since 1979.

I refer the hon. Lady to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Barking (Ms. Richardson) on 23 July 1987, at column 393.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish figures showing unemployed by (a) age group and (b) sex in Wales for the latest available date.

Figures are published quarterly in the labour market data supplement of the Employment Gazette, those for July 1987 appearing in table 2.6 in the September issue.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the total number of pupils on school rolls and the pupil to teacher ratio in primary schools in Wales for each year since 1979.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received regarding the inclusion of Welsh as a foundation subject in the proposed core curriculum.

We have received a total of 173 representations which refer to the position of Welsh within the national curriculum, of which 126 favour the inclusion of Welsh as a foundation subject throughout Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give details of each district health authority which has contractual arrangements with a private non-National Health Service hospital to provide acute medical services, showing (a) the hospital with which a contract is made, (b) the number of patients treated by that hospital during 1986–87, (c) the total amount spent by the district health authority on treatment under the contract during 1986–87 and (d) the amount of (c) expressed as a percentage of the district health authority's overall budget for 1986–87.

I am not aware from the statistical returns submitted to the Department to date of any district health authority in Wales which has contractual arrangements with a private non-National Health Service hospital to provide acute medical services.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give details of contracts agreed by each district health authority for the following services (a) ambulances, (b) gardening, (c) laboratories, (d) portering, (e) hospital shops, (f) window cleaning, (g) pharmacy and (h) telephones; and if he will give the estimated annual savings in each case.

The information requested is not held centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give details of all new contracts awarded since 31 December 1986 by each district health authority by hospital for (a) portering, (b) catering, (c) laundry, (d) cleaning and (e) other ancillary work; and if he will give the estimated annual savings for each contract awarded.

The information requested in respect of new contracts awarded by district health authorities in Wales for catering, laundry and cleaning services is given in the following table. Details of contracts relating to portering and other ancillary work are not held centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the latest figures as a percentage of services put out to tender by each district health authority for (a) catering, (b) domestic services, and (c) laundry; and if he will give the estimated annual savings.

The information in respect of contracts awarded to date is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any proposals concerning the construction of an east-west road link from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth; and if he will make a statement.

There is already a trunk road link between Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth on which the following improvements are planned:

• A458 Welshpool to English Border
• A483 Welshpool Relief Roads
• A470 Llanidloes Bypass
• A470 Diversion East of Llangurig to Wern Villa
• A44—A470 Improvement of Junction South of Llangurig

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many consultant hospital beds there were in Wales in each of the years 1985, 1986 and 1987.

The following table gives the average number of daily available beds in National Health Service hospitals in Wales. These figures exclude maternity, medical and dental beds allocated to general practitioners.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the information available to him on the occasions in the last 20 years in which over 3 in. of rainfall fell in Dyfed inside 24 hours.

I have been asked to reply.There were 22 occasions during the past 20 years when a day's rainfall of 75 mm (3 in.) or more was recorded at stations recognised by the Meteorological Office in Dyfed, as listed:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what has been the total amount of investment spent at British Coal's Woolley colliery since (a) 1974, (b) 1980 and (c) 1985;(2) what is the total amount of investment spent by British Coal on the coal preparation and washing facility at its Woolley complex;(3) in the event of the closure of British Coal's Woolley and Redbrook collieries, to what extent capital repayments and interest charges from those collieries will fail be to carried by other collieries;(4) what was the total amount of investments spent at British Coal's Redbrook colliery since

This is a matter for the British Coal Corporation. I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many inquiries Government bodies received as a result of their public awareness campaigns during Energy Efficiency Year; what savings accrued to Government bodies as a result of changes in their own practice promoted because of Energy Efficiency Year; and what was the cost to Government bodies of having an Energy Efficiency Year.

My Department and others received numerous inquiries, but no precise record was kept of the number; however, my Department received more than 120,000 requests for Monergy information packs and distributed some 2 million copies of Monergy News magazine.The heating costs of the Government's civil estate reduced by £8 million (from £34 million to £26 million) in July 1986-June 1987 by comparison with the preceding 12 months. Part of this reduction was the result of increased energy efficiency but it is not possible to say how much.Expenditure by my Department on energy efficiency advertising and promotional and marketing activity during Energy Efficiency Year was about £12 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what progress is being made in the study connected with the Mersey barrage.

The Mersey barrage company is progressing its examination of the technical and economic viability of the scheme, its employment potential and its effect on the environment.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what were the detailed objectives of the Northern Development Company; and what progress in quantifiable terms has been made in reaching these.

This is the first full year of operation of the Northern Development Company, a partnership of regional self-help between industry and commerce, the local authorities and the regional TUC. Its objectives are to promote and market the region, and assist its economic development by encouraging enterprise. It subsumes the inward investment promotion activities of the former North of England Development Council. It is too early to quantify results, but progress to date has been encouraging.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will consult the British Steel Corporation as to whether problems exist in the production of scaffolding materials as a result of EEC quota restrictions.

Steel for the production of scaffolding is not covered by EC quota restrictions. The BSC has reported that demand for scaffolding has been unusually high in recent weeks, partly as a result of repairs to storm damage, but it has been able to meet all orders to it. If my hon. Friend is aware of particular difficulties, I would be very willing to ask the BSC to look into them.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement concerning the responses he has received to Department's draft code of practice regarding the ignition resistance of upholstered furniture; and when he expects his final proposals to be operative.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress has been made in implementing the rolling programme of references of nationalised industries to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

The Department's code of practice proposals on the ignition resistance of upholstered furniture produced a substantial amount of corrrespondence. The majority of the replies agree with the principle of the code of practice approach though there are many suggestions for differences of detail and of timing. My officials are currently discussing the responses with officials of the Home Office. I expect to be in a position to make a further statement during the next month and to circulate draft regulations for consultation early in the new year.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the volume and value of imports of hardwood and softwood timber, respectively, in 1985, 1986 and 1987 to date, what was the equivalent figures for domestic production intended for use in the home market; and what each figure represents as a proportion of domestic consumption.

The available information is in the following table:

During the past 12 months reports have been published on the Post Office's procurement activities, the maintenance activities of the British Waterways Board, the Central Electricity Generating Board's transmission of electricity and British Rail's Network Southeast On 7 September I announced a further programme of references of nationalised industries. The first reference in the programme, that of the Welsh water authority, was made on that date. I have today sent to the MMC the reference relating to the costs and efficiency of and the service provided by the Post Office's counter services at Crown offices. In due course I propose to make further references concerning the London Underground and British Coal.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is (a) the proportion of working time allocated to his departmental equal opportunities officer for equal opportunities duties, (b) the other duties carried out by the departmental equal opportunities officer, (c) the proportion, and the amount, of the departmental budget which is allocated to equal opportunities work, (d) the number of occasions when the departmental equal opportunities officer meets equal opportunities officers from other Government Departments each year, (e) the guidelines issued to his departmental training officers and equal opportunities officers to promote the use of section 47 of the Sex Discrimination Act, and (f) the action taken to facilitate jobshare, part-time working and parental leave.

The departmental equal opportunity officer spends about 25 per cent. of her time on work relating to equal opportunities. The equal opportunity officer is also the departmental disabled persons officer, and has other personnel management responsibilities including the management of the Department's pay budget. No specific part of the departmental budget is allocated to equal opportunities.The equal opportunity officer meets her counterparts in other Departments at the annual meeting arranged by the office of the Minister for the Civil Service, and on other occasions throughout the year. No specific guidelines have been issued to the officer, or to the departmental training officer, on the operation of section 47 of the Sex Discrimination Act. All requests for part-time work or job-sharing are considered sympathetically. Special leave may be granted to enable staff to cope with domestic problems.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will estimate for primary and secondary maintained schools in England, respectively, the current average annual cost of education, including free school transport, per pupil; and also whether he will tabulate these figures for convenient size bands of schools.

The latest available estimate of the current cost per school pupil may be made from local authority returns of 1987–88 budgeted expenditure to the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) pursuant to the answer of 29 October, how he has arrived at the figure of 720,000 surplus secondary school places; and if he will take steps to obtain the figures for each local authority;(2) pursuant to the answer of 29 October, how he has arrived at the figure of 710,000 surplus primary school places; and if he will take steps to obtain the figures for each local authority.

The figures were calculated by comparing the school population at January 1987 with the estimated physical capacity of maintained schools in England. It is the responsibility of individual LEAs to assess whether there is spare capacity in the schools in their area, and if necessary to make proposals for school reorganisation aimed at removing surplus places. My right hon. Friend therefore has no plans to seek information on the number of surplus places within each authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has made a decision on the siting of the Teesside city technology college; and if he will make a statement.

A final decision has not been taken on the location of the proposed Teesside city technology college. A number of possible sites are being investigated on behalf of prospective sponsors.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made with raising the finance from private sources needed to put up the Teesside city technology college; and if he will make a statement.

Discussions with several prospective sponsors of a Teesside CTC have taken place and my right hon. Friend has had a number of firm indications of support. He is confident that the necessary private sector finance will be available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list, for Cornwall, information available to him by date and estimated cost of remedy, on schools that (a) date from the 19th century, (b) still have outside toilets and (c) will not, in their present condition, meet the 1981 School Premises Regulations by 1991.

The Department does not collect this information.

asked the Prime Minister when she next proposes to pay an official visit to Wales.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if, in the light of the recent changes announced by her regarding the management of the Civil Service, she will list those matters relating to the Civil Service about which parliamentary questions will now he answered by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and by the Minister of State, Privy Council Office, respectively.

The new allocation of functions previously undertaken by the Management and Personnel Office is set out in note 3 to the press notice issued from No. 10 Downing street on 7 August, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. Treasury Ministers will answer questions on the matters listed in the column headed "Treasury", and the Minister of State, Privy Council Office will answer on the matters listed in the column headed "Cabinet Office". Treasury Ministers will in addition continue to answer questions on Civil Service matters transferred to the Treasury in 1981, including manpower, pay, allowances and superannuation.

asked the Prime Minister (1) on what date British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. was given approval to export weapons grade plutonium subject to non-proliferation safeguards; how Her Majesty's Government propose to ensure that such safeguards are adhered to; and if she will make a statement;(2) what contracts for the export by British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. of weapons grade plutonium, involving which countries, are currently awaiting Her Majesty's Government's approval; and if she will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 27 October 1987 at column 217.Information on individual contracts entered into under the guidelines laid down is, in the normal way, commercially confidential.

asked the Prime Minister what information she has as to the number and percentage of written parliamentary questions which are answered on the day on which right hon. and hon. Members request such answers; and what is the same information for answers from each responsible Cabinet Minister.

This information is not held centrally.

asked the Prime Minister whether she has made any further representations directly to President Chissano of Mozambique about the incarceration of Mr. Findlay Dion Hamilton, a British subject, in a Mozambique gaol since 1982; and with what result.

I made representations about Mr. Hamilton to the then president of Mozambique in 1983. We have subsequently raised his case with the Mozambique authorities on several occasions. Most recently, my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office raised the case with President Chissano during his visit to London in May.The president undertook to try to help, but indicated that it was a matter for decision by the Council of Ministers.There have been no further developments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of convictions in England and Wales for procuring an illegal abortion in each year since 1957.

The information requested is given in the table. Details of proceedings for procuring an illegal abortion are published annually in tables S1.1(A) and S2.1(A) of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, Supplementary Tables, Vols, 1 and 2", under offence classification 14.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for the establishment of a privately managed remand centre.

We are considering the fourth Report of the Home Affairs Committee on contract provision of prisons, in the light of my noble Friend's recent visit to the United States, in the course of which he looked at several private management custodial facilities. Our conclusions will be announced as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were strip searched at immigration points in 1987, 1986 and 1985; whether individuals have any right of appeal when a strip search is proposed; and whether any code of practice exists in relation to these strip searches.

Paragraph 4(3) of schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971 provides that an immigration officer may search the baggage and person of passengers seeking entry to ascertain whether they are carrying relevant documents, but no woman or girl may be searched except by a woman. It would be very unusual for a strip search to be necessary for this purpose, and there is no record of any search of this kind having taken place at immigration control points in the years in question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to protect leading members of the Iranian community living in the United Kingdom and known to be opposed to the Khomeini regime, and of the Libyan community known to be opposed to the Gaddafi regime; and if he will make a statement.

Members of the Iranian and Libyan communities living in the United Kingdom who are believed, or consider themselves, to be at risk are seen by the police and given advice about their personal security.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding the provision of Falmouth with a police station; and what is the earliest date by which one can be provided.

A bid for approval to plan a new police station at Falmouth was submitted to the Home Office in 1985 by the Devon and Cornwall police authority, but the application was not approved.Last July, the authority raised again with the Department the question of a new police station, but it was told that we did not expect to be able to invite new bids for major police building schemes until May 1988. If the authority puts forward a bid then, it will be considered with the bids received from other authorities. If its bid is successful, the authority will be authorised to draw up detailed plans, but I cannot say at this stage when building work would commence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his Department's approved police establishment for Devon and Cornwall; what is the estimate of the police authority of the necessary establishment; and what proposals exist to increase police establishment in Devon and Cornwall.

The authorised police establishment of the Devon and Cornwall constabulary is 2.794. The Devon and Cornwall police authority applied in June 1986 for increases totalling 137 police posts to be implemented over three financial years; 37 of these have so far been approved. We are giving further consideration to the 33 police posts remaining from the police authority's application for additional posts in the present financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will amend the appropriate regulations to enable pensioners living in multi-storey accommodation, who are visited by wardens, to receive concessionary television licences; and if he will make a statement.

No. Pensioners living in multi-storey accommodation may already qualify for the concessionary accommodation for residential care television licence, provided that accommodation satisfies all the relevant criteria set out in the Wireless Telegraphy (Broadcast Charges and Exemption) Regulations 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to amend section 18 of the Representation of the People Act 1983, as amended by the Representation of the People Act 1985, so as to make it mandatory for district councils and London borough councils to designate only places which are accessible to disabled electors as polling booths; and if he will make a statement.

No. Since 1 October 1985 councils of districts or London boroughs in England and Wales have been required, so far as is reasonable and practicable, to designate as polling places only such places as are accessible to the disabled. Moreover, a permanently disabled voter may apply in advance to vote by post or by a proxy. In these circumstances, an alternative course being available, we have no plans for further legislation on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many requests for the extradition of persons from the Republic of Ireland to England and Wales have been made in the years 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987 to date; of these, how many in each year were for persons alleged to be concerned in terrorist crime; and in each category and year how many of the requests were (a) granted and (b) refused.

The return of fugitives to and from the Republic of Ireland takes place by means of individual warrants of arrest. The table provides fugitives for the number of persons who were the subject of such warrants from England and Wales for the years 1982 to 1986. Only one request was in respect of terrorist offences; this related to Evelyn Glenholmes, and was unsuccessful. One other request was refused on technical grounds during this period. In some cases, warrants could not he executed since the fugitive was at the time serving a prison sentence in the Republic or could not be traced.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many probation officers were employed by local authorities in Wales in each of the years 1985, 1986 and 1987.

The number of probation officers employed by probation committees in Wales at the end of June in each of the three years was as follows:

asked the Attorney-General whether he will make a statement about the progress of the investigation by his Department's police into the Marconi company about possible fraudulent dealings with his Department.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Campbell-Savours) on 28 October.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been spent by his Department on advertising in national newspapers in each of the past five years; and if he will provide a breakdown by newspaper titles.

[holding answer 3 November 1987]: The figures are as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the practice of Her Majesty's Government with regard to charging fees to the owners or operators of projects which secure loans from the European investment bank which are guaranteed by Her Majesty's Government; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 4 November 1987]: The Government's general practice with regard to European investment bank loans to United Kingdom borrowers is to provide guarantees only in respect of certain categories of public sector projects, in particular investment by public corporations, and not to charge fees.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many loans have been provided by the European investment bank for United Kingdom projects since the formation of the bank; and how many of these loans have been guaranteed by the British Government or by bodies regarded by the bank as of equivalent status, respectively.

[holding answer 4 November 1987]: The European investment hank has made some 438 loan contracts for projects in the United Kingdom from its own resources. The bank is bound by its statute to obtain adequate guarantees for all its loans. The British Government have guaranteed some 204 of the loan contracts for United Kingdom projects.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what portion of the European investment bank's £1,000 million loan to Eurotunnel has been paid over to Eurotunnel; and what is the rate of interest and repayment arrangements in respect of the loan.

[holding answer 4 November 1987]: None of the European investment bank's £1,000 million loan to Eurotunnel has yet been paid over. As explained in the last paragraph of the bank's press notice contained in my answer of 15 May 1987, at column 390, the conclusion of contractual arrangements for the loan is subject, inter alia, to successful completion of the forthcoming equity issue.The European investment bank loans will primarily be at fixed interest rates and for a range of maturities up to 25 years. The terms will reflect the prevailing market conditions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the joint stock banks which have agreed to guarantee the loan of £1,000 million given by the European investment bank to Eurotunnel, and the amounts of the loan which each bank has agreed to guarantee, respectively.

[holding answer 4 November 1987]: The European investment bank is expected to seek guarantees from among the syndicate of banks formed to co-ordinate the financing of Eurotunnel. No choice has yet been made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he had with the joint stock banks regarding their agreement to guarantee the £1,000 million loan from the European investment bank to Eurotunnel; and what fees are being paid to the banks concerned for the guarantees they have given to Eurotunnel.

[holding answer 4 November 1987]: My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has had no discussions with the joint stock banks regarding guarantees for the European investment bank loan to Eurotunnel. Any fees involved would be a matter for negotiation between the syndicate banks concerned and Eurotunnel.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the date of the meeting of the board of the European investment bank at which formal approval was given to the loan of £1,000 million to Eurotunnel, and if he or one of his Ministers took part in the board's proceedings.

[holding answer 4 November 1987]: As I informed the House on 15 May 1987, at column 390, the board of directors of the European investment bank agreed on 12 May 1987 to lend Eurotunnel the equivalent of £ 1 billion or 10 billion French francs. This was on the basis that conclusion of the necessary contractual arrangements would be subject to the conditions set out at the end of the press notice by the bank, which was incorporated in my earlier answer. Ministers are not members of the bank's board of directors and did not take part in the board's proceedings.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total cost to public funds of the meeting of the European Council held in London in December 1986.

[holding answer 2 November 1987]: The total cost to public funds of the London European Council, held on 5– 6 December 1986, was £ 234,050.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether British visitors to Thailand and Thai visitors to Britain, respectively, are required to obtain visas.

British passport holders may visit Thailand for up to 15 days without a visa provided they are tourists and have on arrival a confirmed onward ticket showing a departure date not exceeding that period. For longer visits, visas must be obtained in advance.All Thai visitors to the United Kingdom must obtain a visa before travelling.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to visit British merchant seamen in the Gulf at the request of the seafarers' unions; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to visit the Gulf. However, I am hoping to visit the area in the near future, and contact with British merchant seamen operating in the Gulf is very much in my mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the level of punctuality in the London-Midland region of British Rail.

I do not monitor train punctuality on the basis of BR regions.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking regarding the Horne report on public service facilities; and if he will make a statement.

The Government's response to the Horne report, published in July 1986, accepted the great majority of its recommendations. The Department is pressing ahead with implementation. Proposals for new primary legislation are being prepared, and we shall continue to seek an early opportunity to bring it before Parliament. I announced on 29 July the establishment of the street works advisory committee.The Department is leading negotiations on diversions of utility apparatus in consequence of highway improvement schemes. Joint working parties of local authority and utility representatives are carrying forward detailed technical work on specifications for reinstatements, training and certification of workmen and the computerised street works notice and register systems.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the number of hours lost and the resulting costs to British industry caused by traffic delays through roadworks on dual carriageways and motorways.

Records are not kept of total delays caused by roadworks on dual carriageways and motorways. Delay costs are only assessed on major lane rental schemes. During 1985– 86 12 contracts were let on this basis. Total site occupation time was 727 days resulting in delay costs to the travelling public of about £ 11· 5 million. Had the contracts been on a conventional basis, it is estimated that site occupation would have been 1,227 days and delay costs £ 19·5 million.Lane rental has now been extended to most major maintenance schemes where there are likely to be significant delays.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he intends to license further operators to fly to London's City airport; and if he will make a statement.

It is for individual air transport operators to apply to the Civil Aviation Authority for the necessary air transport licences if they consider that there is a demand for further services from London City airport.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if approval has been given for a flight route from (a) Teesside airport and (b) Newcastle airport to London City airport; and if he will make a statement.

No air transport operator has applied to the Civil Aviation Authority for an air transport licence to provide a service between either Teesside or Newcastle and London City airport.

asked the Secretary of state for Transport what progress is being made towards the resolution of the problems of future pilotage at Falmouth; and by what date he hopes to come to a decision.

Within the present Falmouth pilotage district, three authorities qualify under the Pilotage Act 1987 as competent harbour authorities for pilotage purposes. Following the failure of the authorities to reach agreement locally on future arrangements for pilotage in the port, my right hon. Friend is considering whether to use the powers available to him under the Act to ensure that satisfactory arrangements are made. His decision will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he intends to take to limit the increase in the number of air traffic movements in the south-east of England and to further the use of airports in other parts of the United Kingdom.

My right hon. Friend has no such plans in mind. The Government remain committed to the policy set out in the 1985 airports policy White Paper (Cmnd. 9542) of encouraging the maximum use of regional airports to meet regional demand.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has completed his review of night flight restrictions at Heathrow and Gatwick; and whether he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he will make a statement on night flying quotas in the south-east; what opportunity he will provide for consultation; and when he hopes to announce new night flying quotas to replace those which end in spring 1988.

The Government's policies for reducing the noise nuisance from aircraft using Heathrow and Gatwick have effectively controlled disturbance at night and have brought about an improvement in the night noise climate. We have, amongst other measures, carefully restricted both the numbers and types of aircraft allowed to fly at night.I have recently reviewed these restrictions in the light of the conclusions of research studis and the comments of people and representative bodies consulted last year. My objective is to continue to improve the night noise climate around the airports while avoiding unnecessary restrictions on the airline industry.At Heathrow, I propose that the number of night flights should be held to roughly its present level. This represents a reduction on the present permitted number of flights as announced in 1981. The demand is increasing, but I am not convinced that it can be satisfied without adding to the levels of night disturbance near the airport, especially in the early morning. My proposals will ensure that as airlines replace their older aircraft with modern, quieter types, the level of disturbance at night will gradually improve. In addition, I propose to ban take-offs by noisier aircraft during the small hours of the morning (0030–0500).At Gatwick one option would be to freeze the night quota at its present level. But the different mix of aircraft at Gatwick and the high proportion of charter operations there gives us an opportunity, which does not exist at Heathrow, to make a more positive improvement to the night noise climate. By encouraging airlines to replace their older, noisier aircraft with modern, quieter ones we would achieve a quicker reduction in disturbance by both night and day. And the airlines and their passengers would benefit from the flexibility which comes from being able to plan more movements at night.Thus, my preferred option at Gatwick would be, over the next five years:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what driving test standards are necessary in order to obtain a heavy goods vehicle and a public service vehicle driving licence in the United Kingdom; and what equivalent information he has about each of the member states of the European Economic Community.

To obtain an HGV or PSV licence in the United Kingdom, candidates have to pass a driving test during which they must (i) demostrate a full understanding of the principles involved in driving heavy load or passenger-carrying vehicles and of the application of those principles; (ii) demonstrate their ability to handle such vehicles competently and with utmost safety in a wide variety of situations; and (iii) show courtesy and consideration for other road users.HGV and PSV tests incorporate manoeuvres which are conducted at the test centre; a practical drive of about 20 miles; and oral questions on the Highway Code and technical matters. The distance travelled in other EEC countries ranges from five to 20 miles. The length of a driving test is the best readily available indicator for comparing standards.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list in the Official Report the minimum age for obtaining a heavy goods vehicle and a public service vehicle driving licence in the United Kingdom; and what equivalent information he has about each of the member states of the European Economic Community.

Twenty-one but below this under particular circumstances. The minimum age limits for driving vehicles carrying goods and passengers within the European Community are laid down in EC regulation 3820/85. A copy of this is available in the House Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many detections of overloaded heavy goods vehicles entering the United Kingdom from Europe there have been in each of the last five years; and what monitoring procedures and checks are in operation to prevent this practice.

Goods vehicles entering the United Kingdom are liable to be weighed at the port of entry or at inland weighbridge sites by the Department's traffic examiners or by local authority trading standards department staff.The numbers of foreign registered goods vehicles weighed and found to be overloaded are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he plans to seek power to assist British Rail in the event of its revenue from Channel tunnel services being less than the sums it has guaranteed to Eurotunnel; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith), as representing the House of Commons Commission, if, in the light of present pressures resulting from the volume of parliamentary questions tabled and problems with new technology, there are any plans to increase staffing levels in the office of the editorial Supervisor of the Vote; and if he will make a statement.

The staff of the editorial Supervisor of the Vote was increased by two posts earlier this year, in part as a response to the steady increase in questions and early-day motions during recent years, and in part in expectation of additional work arising from the changeover to computerised printing. In the event, difficulties with the new technology have been greater than expected and there has also been some sickness among the staff concerned. These are temporary problems, which are being alleviated by the ad hoc employment of staff from other parts of the House service who are working overtime.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people with a main diagnosis of schizophrenia psychoses were discharged from mental illness hospitals in Scotland in each of the last five years; and how many of them were taken into local authority residential care in the same year.

I am sorry I cannot give my hon. Friend all the information he seeks. Central information is not collected on the movement of people after discharge. The available figures are given in the table.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what budget the Newcastle district health authority has for AZT in 1987–88; and if he will make additional allocations available for AIDS and haemophiliac treatment to Newcastle as he has recently done to some district health authorities in London.

The allocations to which the hon. Member refers have been made to regional, not district, health authorities. It is for Newcastle health authority to decide what budget allocations to make for particular drug treatments, in the light of competing demands for available resources. The hon. Member may wish to write to the chairman of the authority directly for the information required. We have already made additional allocations totalling £104,000 for the haemophilia reference centre at Newcastle so that it can provide specialist counselling on HIV infection for haemophiliacs and their families. We have also made an additional allocation of £95,000 to the Northern regional health authority this year for a pilot AIDS community support centre in Newcastle and for an AIDS training workshop for nurses.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received concerning the draft regulations under the Social Security Act which provide that the cost of alarm systems for elderly, sick or disabled persons living in non-purpose built accommodation will no longer be eligible for housing benefit; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby (Mr. Wareing) on 21 October 1987 at column 800.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the number of people living in accommodation not specifically intended for and occupied by elderly, sick, or disabled persons who receive assistance through housing benefit towards the cost of an alarm system.

I regret that we do not have a reliable basis on which such an estimate could be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether a proportion of the community care budget of the social fund will be allocated specifically to the provision of grants to meet the cost of emergency alarms for elderly and disabled people living in accommodation not specifically intended for occupation by elderly, sick or disabled persons.

No. The cost of alarms is not met under existing supplementary benefit single payment regulations and we do not intend to make specific provision for this under the social fund. Housing benefit (or, for owner-occupiers, income support) may be available in certain circumstances to help with the running costs. Local authorities have powers to supply and meet the costs of alarms for elderly, sick or disabled people.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list those foetal conditions, syndromes and diseases, involving the lack of a vital function or lack of vital organs incompatible with sustaining life, which have come to his Department's attention giving both numbers of recorded cases over recent years for which figures are available and expressed in each case as a percentage of live births for that year.

"Mortality Statistics, Perinatal and Infant: Social and Biological Factors for England and Wales 1984," published by OPCS, series DH3, gives the numbers of stillbirths by cause of death. "Abortion Statistics for England and Wales 1986," published by OPCS, series AB No. 13, gives the number of legal abortions by principal medical conditions mentioned. "OPCS Monitor" reference M B3 gives results from the voluntary OPCS monitoring programme of malformed births. These volumes are in the Library. More detailed information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what control he seeks to exercise over the scale of charges made by medical employment agencies for temporary or locum staff engaged by hospital authorities in England and Wales; and what recent representations he has received from the National Association of Health Authorities on this matter.

The National Association of Health Authorities has communicated, and we have carefully noted, a resolution passed at its annual general meeting on 17 to 19 June 1987 calling for the Government to press ahead with efforts to reform the career structure of hospital doctors and to take steps to reduce the cost to health authorities of employing locum doctors through agencies. I announced measures to reform the hospital medical staffing structure on 27 October at column 258. There are no controls on medical locum charges by agencies, but a number of health authorities are taking or considering steps to reduce their costs in this respect, and we shall carefully monitor their progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what the estimated cost would be to district health authorities of British Telecom's proposal to charge them for emergency repairs; and if his Department will compensate them for this loss.

The estimated cost to health authorities in 1987–88 will be £3·75 million. This will be paid from health authorities' general allocations.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give for 1984 for each region and for England as a whole the number of deaths and discharges a month compared to the number of beds occupied.

Information about discharges and deaths is not collected centrally on a monthly basis. The annual figures are given in the table.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the numbers of patients receiving treatment under contractual arrangements with institutions outside the National Health Service for the years ending 31 December 1985 and 31 December 1986, and if he will break those figures down in the categories of (a) medical, (b) surgical, (c) pre-convalescent and post operative, (d) convalescent, (e) geriatric, (f) disease of the chest, (g) maternity, (h) mental illness, (i) mental handicap, (j) rehabilitation, (k) terminal care and (l) others.

The information requested is given in the table.