To ask the Attorney-General if he will announce the result of the consultation process initiated by the consultation paper No. 2, "Small Claims"; and if he will raise the limit of claims to be dealt with by small claims courts from £500 to £1,000.

The Civil Justice Review Body is due to report to my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor on the review as a whole early in 1988. It would not be appropriate for me to predict now the outcome on a particular matter.

To ask the Attorney-General what action he proposes to take following the publication of the Law Commission "Report on Common Hold".

The working group report Cm. 179 to which the hon. Member refers was published by the Law Commission as recently as July last. A decision on implementation will be taken when the recommendations have been fully considered.

To ask the Attorney-General if the Crown Prosecution Service will prosecute Nevada Buildings of Nelson, Lancashire, for allegedly taking money under false pretences in relation to the supply of garden outbuildings; and if he will make a statement.

No allegation against that company has been made to the Crown Prosecution Service. The question of its prosecution by the Crown Prosecution Service therefore does not arise.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on (a) the maximum and (b) the average retirement age of air traffic controllers in (i) the United States of America, (ii) Canada, (iii) Australia, (iv) New Zealand and (v) each EEC country.

Information on average retirement ages is not available. The maximum retirement ages where known are as follows:

65—Republic of Ireland, Luxembourg, Canada, Eurocontrol.

60—United States, United Kingdom.

55—Belgium, France, Netherlands.

53—Federal Republic of Germany.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has received any representations concerning alterations to bus services within the London borough of Bexley.

I have received a number of representations on two aspects of London Regional Transport's proposed local route network in Bexley. Decisions on the routeing of bus services are a matter for LRT, within the framework of statutory consultation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the level of expenditure in constant value terms in motorway investment and trunk road maintenance for 1979 and now; and what lengths of motorway were in use and being constructed in each of those years.

The information requested is as follows:

	1979–80 £ million	1987–88 £ million
Expenditure on new construction	546	600
Expenditure on capital maintenance	104	230
(including bridges)	miles	miles
Length of motorway in use	1,300	1,586
Length of motorway under construction	106	16

Expenditure figures are at constant 1985–86 prices, and are for motorways and all-purpose trunk roads combined.The lengths of motorway provided are as at 1 April 1979 for 1979–80 and as 1 November 1987 for 1987–88.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress he has made in improving the safety of contra-flow sections on motorways.

Contra-flow crossovers have been made longer and smoother so that vehicles can negotiate them more easily and safely. The Department is discussing with the police the use of mandatory speed limits at countraflow sites. We are evaluating the video monitoring of major roadworks to allow earlier detection and warning of breakdowns and accidents. The Transport and Road Research Laboratory has recently commissioned a further study of accidents at contraflows.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the total annual cost for maintenance on the M6 for each year for which figures Eire available.

Figures for expenditure on structural and routine maintenance to the M6 are given in the table. They do not include the cost of bridge or lighting maintenance.

	£
1979–80	8,728,420
1980–81	14,850,684
1981–82	22,721,130

	£
1982–83	23,576,263
1983–84	26,594,463
1984–85	30,335,660
1985–86	118,121,164
1 Estimate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give further details about the arrangements for the formal investigation into the King's Cross fire.

Following the appointment of Mr. Desmond Fennell OBE QC to head the formal investigation into the King's Cross fire, I have today appointed Major Anthony G. B. King, inspecting officer of railways from my Department, Dr. Alan F. Roberts, director of the explosion and flame laboratory at the Health and Safety Executive, Sir Peter Darby CBE, lately HM chief inspector of fire services for England and Wales, and Professor Bernard Crossland CBE emeritus professor of mechanical engineering at Queen's university Belfast, as assessors to the formal investigation.A preliminary meeting of the formal investigation will be held, before Mr. Fennell, at 10.30 am on Wednesday 2 December 1987 in Church house, Great Smith street, London, SW1. Any persons or their representatives who were involved in the fire or who may have relevant information that they wish to put before the investigation are invited to attend. Advertisements are being placed in the press.

To ask the Secretary of Transport if he will make a statement on the European Community's decision concerning the agreement on maritime transport between Italy and Algeria.

An EC Council decision was adopted on 17 September concerning an agreement on maritime transport covering cargo trade between Italy and Algeria. The decision allows Italy to ratify the agreement on the understanding that both countries are clear that the agreement will be implemented in accordance with Community law and that Italy takes steps to ratify the United Nations code of conduct for liner conferences as soon as possible. The decision provides for the Community to review the position within a year.The agreement had been notified under EC regulation No. 4055/86 agreed in December 1986, applying the principle of freedom to provide shipping services to, from and between member states. This regulation prohibits new bilateral cargo-sharing arrangements between member states and third countries from 1 January 1987 except in exceptional circumstances, where liner shipping would not otherwise have an effective opportunity to ply for trade to and from the third country concerned. Italy reported such circumstances to the Community.In referring the proposed decision to the Select Committee on European Legislation my noble Friend the Minister for Aviation and Shipping stated that he proposed that it should be adopted without waiting for the completion of the scrutiny process. I regret that this was necessary because unless it were adopted by 17 September, Italy would be free to ratify the agreement without taking account of the Council's views. This was the first notification of a proposed agreement under the regulation and it was important that the final phase of the Community's shipping policy be seen to be respected.The Select Committee on European Legislation has now completed its scrutiny and while considering that it raised issues of political importance, and noting the reasons for its adoption before scrutiny, has not recommended it for debate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the total amount of vehicle excise licence duty paid annually by vehicle owners for each year for which figures are available since 1957.

Revenue from Vehicle Excise Duty (net of refunds) for the United Kingdom is as follows:

Year	£ million (cash)
1975–76	765
1976–77	814
1977–78	1,045
1978–79	1,086
1979–80	1,162
1980–81	1,360
1981–82	1,618
1982–83	1,840
1983–84	1,997
1984–85	2,264
1985–86	2,426
1986–87	2,520
1987–88	2,574

Comparable figures for periods before 1975–76 are not available.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will make it her policy to ensure that the setting of grant-related expenditure assessment by the Secretary of State for the Environment, and the setting of expenditure levels by the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for fire and civil defence authorities, is co-ordinated, and that both sums have regard to approved establishment levels, including support staff, turn out, special services, pension costs and fire prevention work.

I am satisfied that such coordination takes place. Grant-related expenditure assessments are required for the purpose of distributing block grant calculated on principles applicable to all authorities; expenditure levels for the joint fire and civil defence authorities are set as part of the precept limitation process and are intended to reflect the particular circumstances of individual authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now recognise the Prison Governors' Association.

We are considering the new association's request for recognition, which was received last month. Consideration of the request will inevitably take some time; there are a number of factors to be examined, and the views of other interested parties must be taken into account.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to increase the maximum sentence for possession of a false Ministry of Defence police identity card.

Adequate maximum penalties are already available to the courts.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of (a) violent crimes and (b) other crimes per year since 1977 committed by residents of the Bowling Green probation hostel in Carlisle during their time at the hostel.

The available information is as follows:

	Violent crimes	Other crimes
1984	Nil	9
1985	2	13
1986	1	11
11987	Nil	10
1 To 30 June.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are being contemplated to reduce the number of prison disturbances and escapes.

All such incidents are the subject of review and debriefing; lessons learnt inform policy, guidance and procedures at all levels. Our main programme for the reduction of overcrowding and the improvement of physical conditions through the prison building and refurbishment schemes, together with new conditions of service and working methods under fresh start, will underpin the more specific measures taken following the report of Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons on the major disturbances in spring 1986.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Thames Valley as to what weapons the late Michael Ryan held illegally.

I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek powers to control the publications of advertisements which encourage the commission of criminal offences such as smuggling, the productions of bombs, or the illegal purchase of firearms; and if he will make a statement.

It is an offence to solicit or incite another to commit a crime, whether or not the solicitation or incitement has any effect. A person who publishes an advertisement inciting any of the activities mentioned is thus liable to be charged with a criminal offence. We have no plans to introduce any further form of restriction.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to calculate expenditure levels for metropolitan fire and civil defence authorities for 1988–89 by reference to original respective redetermination submissions for 1987–88, updated for inflation and other committed expenditure.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out the figures for (a) expenditure levels and (b) grant-related expenditure assessments for each metropolitan fire and civil defence authority; if he will list the factors which account for the difference between the two figures for each such authority; and if he will make a statement.

The latest provisional figures for the seven joint fire and civil defence authorities' expenditure levels (ELs) and grant-related expenditure assessments (GREs) for financial year 1988–89, are as follows:—

Fire and civil defence authority	1988–89 GRE (Provisional) £ million	1988–89 EL (Provisional) £ mil/ion
Greater Manchester	38·290	46·799
Merseyside	29·739	31·617
South Yorkshire	17·970	22·314
Tyne and Wear	18·749	22·649
West Midlands	40·534	42·696
West Yorkshire	27·294	36·489
London	142·504	166·775

GRE assessments and expenditure levels have different functions and purposes, and are formulated on different bases. GRE assessments are the method by which block grant is distributed on the basis of principles common to all authorities. Expenditure levels are set as part of the precept limitation process and are intended to reflect the particular circumstances of individual authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, following the cancellation of 16 November meeting, he or one of the Ministers in his Department will meet a delegation of representatives of the fire services sub-committee of the Association of Metropolitan Authorities to discuss fire service funding levels for 1988–89.

We are seeking a mutually convenient date on which to hold the postponed meeting, the purpose of which is to discuss expenditure levels and grant related expenditure assessments for the fire and civil defence authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his Department's policy towards the purchase of equipment from Electronic Data Systems.

The Home Office's procurement policy, which applies to all potential contractors, including Electronic Data Systems, is to seek best value for money for competent suppliers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the total

Severity	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986
Borders
Fatal	24	22	23	14	11
Serious	298	266	214	260	259
Total	322	288	237	274	270
Central
Fatal	42	26	27	23	53
Serious	516	424	395	361	417
Total	558	450	422	384	470
Dumfries and Galloway
Fatal	23	34	26	28	42
Serious	254	238	224	223	274
Total	277	272	250	251	316
Fife
Fatal	41	30	37	32	29
Serious	479	454	456	419	380
Total	520	484	493	451	409
Grampian
Fatal	92	72	80	95	59
Serious	779	580	643	690	632
Total	871	652	723	785	691
Highland
Fatal	52	31	46	39	36
Serious	579	430	443	450	399
Total	631	461	489	489	435
Lothian
Fatal	89	63	68	72	73
Serious	1,660	1,392	1,366	1,336	1,319
Total	1,749	1,455	1,434	1,408	1,392
Strathclyde
Fatal	267	268	225	240	226
Serious	3,692	3,071	3,223	3,151	2,907
Total	3,959	3,339	3,448	3,391	3,133
Tayside
Fatal	62	71	58	51	61
Serious	830	667	697	792	769
Total	892	738	755	843	830
Orkney
Fatal	2	—	—	3	8
Serious	30	25	18	24	20
Total	32	25	18	27	28
Shetland
Fatal	2	3	4	2	3
Serious	70	40	25	42	20

The information requested is as follows—

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the total number of private operations for (a) the removal of eye cataracts and (b) joint replacement within the Grampian health board area in 1986, together with equivalent figures for 1985, 1980, 1975 and 1970.

This information is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many teachers of mathematics, sciences, physical education, history and modern languages there are in schools in the Easterhouse area of Glasgow;(2) how many posts for teachers of mathematics, physical education, modern languages and sciences have been vacant for more than two months in the schools of the Easterhouse area of Glasgow;(3) how many

Information on schools in Easterhouse can be obtained from Strathclyde regional council.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of community organisations from Easterhouse in Glasgow.

I have received no requests for such a meeting.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial support is being given by his Department to the Family Planning Association; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend has decided to renew the grant awarded to the Family Planning Association under section 16(B) of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 for the three years to 31 March 1990 at a rate of £14,000 per annum. The grant is intended to meet part of the costs of the association's information, education and resource centre in Glasgow.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the expected incidence of still births in Scotland per year; if he has any evidence of any unusual geographical or temporal concentration of still births in any recent year; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 23 November 1987]: There is no figure for the expected number of still births per year. The table following shows still birth rates per 1,000 births in Scotland and health board areas in recent years.

Still birth rates per 1,000 births (live and still) by Health Board Area, Scotland, 1981 to 1986
Health Board Area	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986
Scotland	6	6	6	6	5	6
Borders	3	5	3	6	3	5
Forth Valley	7	7	7	5	5	4
Dumfries and Galloway	6	3	9	5	7	2
Fife	5	7	5	6	6	6
Grampian	7	6	6	6	5	5
Highland	7	6	6	6	5	4
Lothian	5	6	6	6	5	4
Argyll and Clyde	7	5	6	6	7	6
Ayrshire and Arran	4	6	7	6	4	7
Greater Glasgow	7	6	5	6	7	6
Lanarkshire	7	6	6	6	5	10
Tayside	4	4	4	4	5	6
Orkney	4	8	9	16	13	4
Shetland	3	14	19	9	3	6
Western Isles	15	3	3	9	5	—

I have no evidence of any unusual geographical or temporal concentration of still births.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what residential accommodation is provided for departmental Ministers and civil servants and charged to public funds; and what has been the total cost in each financial year since 1979.

[holding answer 17 November 1987]: The only residential accommodation provided for Scottish Office Ministers is my official residence at Bute house, Edinburgh which is used primarily for receptions and other formal Government occasions. The running cost figures for Bute house (rent, rates, fuel and maintenance) are as follows:

	£
1979–80	8,000
1980–81	37,000
1981–82	9,000
1982–83	11,000
1983–84	14,000
1984–85	12,000
1985–86	52,000
1986–87	102,000

The figures for 1980–81, 1985–86 and 1986–87 reflect the incidence of major works of maintenance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will seek European regional development fund assistance for rural areas, as proposed in the European Commission's framework proposal on the reform of the Community Structural Fund (Cmnd. (87)376).

I have been asked to reply.The Commission's proposal for a framework regulation is currently the subject of detailed examination and debate. Proposals for implementing regulations including that for ERDF have yet to be made, and overall implementation is in any event not proposed before 1989. Until then, the current ERDF regulation remains in force and applications for assistance for rural areas will continue to be submitted within the terms of that regulation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the number of science graduates leaving university in 1987 and 1986; and if he will indicate how these figures compare with those for 1987 and 1976.

Students from abroad and fee levels in the United Kingdom 1978 to 1985
	Academic Year
	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85	1985–86
A. Number of Students
Australia	800	700	500	400	400	400	400	500
Bangladesh	400	400	300	300	200	300	400	400
Canada	1,100	900	700	500	500	700	800	1,000
Hong Kong	5,100	6,300	6,400	5,800	5,700	6,900	6,900	7,000
India	1,200	1,100	800	700	600	800	1,000	1,100
New Zealand	200	200	200	200	200	200	200	200
Pakistan	1,000	900	700	600	500	600	700	900
South Africa	700	600	500	400	300	300	400	400
Sri Lanka	2,100	1,600	1,200	800	600	600	600	700
United States	3,700	3,200	2,500	2,200	2,300	3,100	3,400	4,700
Zimbabwe	1,500	2,200	1,700	900	600	400	300	300
East Africa	2,200	2,200	2,100	1,900	1,500	1,700	1,900	1,900
West Africa	7,600	6,600	6,400	6,300	5,600	4,900	4,200	4,200
West Indies	1,200	1,100	900	700	500	500	700	700
South America	2,200	2,000	1,700	1,100	900	800	800	800
B. Recommended Minimum fees
UNIVERSITIES1
Arts Courses	—	—	2,000	2,500	2,700	2,900	3,150	3,310
Science Courses	—	—	3,000	3,600	3,600	3,800	4,150	4,350

There was a total of 17,300 first degree science graduates leaving universities in the United Kingdom in 1986, compared with 14,000 in 1976, excluding medicine, engineering and agriculture. In 1986 there were also 8,600 science first degree graduates from polytechnics and colleges in Great Britain. Information for 1987 is not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received on the funding of Scottish universities since the announcement of the Government's spending plans in the Autumn Statement.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will list, for each year since 1978 the total fees paid to British educational establishments by students from (a) Australia, (b) Bangladesh, (c) Canada, (d) East Africa, (e) Hong Kong, (f) India, (g) New Zealand, (h) Pakistan, (i) South Africa, (j) South America, (k) Sri Lanka, (l) the United States of America, (m) West Africa, (n) the West Indies and (o) Zimbabwe;(2) if he will list, for each year since 1978, how many students have attended British educational establishments from

Information on the number of students from the specified countries in universities, polytechnics and colleges in the United Kingdom is shown in the table. The recommended overseas fee levels for such students is also shown in the table. Information on the actual fees paid is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he takes to discover the number of surplus places in primary and secondary schools in a local authority which has put up to him a proposal for school reorganisation.

It is for local education authorities to provide details where appropriate of the number of surplus places in the schools affected by statutory reorganisation proposals. Where this information is not provided, LEAs are asked to supply it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what information he has as to the income of each of the constituent colleges of the University of Wales from sources other than Government grants during the last year for which figures are available;(2) what information he has as to the income of each university in England and the University of Wales from sources other than Government grants during the last year for which figures are available;(3) what information he has as to the proportion of the income of each of the constituent colleges of the University of Wales which came from sources other than Government grant during the last year for which figures are available;(4) what information he has as to the proportion of the income of each of the English universities and the University of Wales which came from sources other than Government grant during the last year for which figures are available.

I refer the hon. Member to tables 3 and 4 in volume 3 of "University Statistics 1985–86", a copy of which is in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any plans to meet the officers of the University of Wales to discuss the future of higher education in Wales.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent representations he has received concerning the levels of grants to students in higher and further education.

Taking into account recent representations to the student support review, as well as other written representations of a general character, the number received over the last six months is about 100.I have also had discussions on student support, at my own instigation, with representations of the National Union of Students, the Association of Metropolitan Authorities, the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals and the Committee of Directors of Polytechnics.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the cost of the investment programme for the electricity supply industry to the year 1990; how the programme is made up; and if he will make a statement.

The industry's investment programme for the years in question is comprised as follows:

£ million outturn prices
	1987–88	1988–89	1989–90	1990–91
CEGB	673·0	780·0	970·0	1,530·0
Area Boards	668·0	752·9	759·4	799·4
Total	1,341·0	1,532·9	1,729·4	2,329·4

The CEGB expenditure on new generation projects includes the costs of completing the existing programme of AGR stations, the costs of Sizewell B, and a provision for the initial costs of new coal and nuclear stations for which approval has not yet been granted.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how much of the electricity supply industry's investment programme is renewal of existing assets and how much is to meet new demand.

The industry's investment programme represents a comprehensive programme designed to meet new load, to serve existing demand more economically and to replace old plant. Many projects are undertaken for a combination of these reasons. It is not feasible to divide up the expenditure in the way suggested.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the assumption for inflation built into the estimates for the investment programme for the electricity supply industry.

The industry has assumed general inflation of 4 per cent, for the year ending 31 March 1989, and 5 per cent, per annum thereafter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy by how much electricity prices will have increased in the three years to April 1988.

The last substantive increase in electricity tariffs was in April 1985, when domestic tariffs rose by an average of 4·3 per cent, and industrial tariffs by an average of 4·9 per cent. Tariff increases in April 1986 for domestic consumers were removed, and, in the case of industrial consumers more than offset, by reductions later in the year. There has been no increase in 1987.The net effect of these changes has been to reduce the average real price by domestic consumers by 6·9 per cent, between April 1985 and October 1987. The corresponding figure for industrial consumers is a reduction of 10·6 per cent, (from Q2 1985 to Q2 1987) Assuming that inflation continues at its current level of around 4 per cent, per annum until the end of the financial year, even after the next electricity tariff increase has taken effect, prices will be no higher in real terms than in April 1985.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any plans to raise at the next Council of European Energy Ministers, the implications for the future of European civil nuclear collaboration of the outcome of the Italian referendum result on nuclear power.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if the contractual arrangements for United Kingdom participation in the Superphenix project for a fast reactor, presently held by the Central Electricity Generating Board, include any stipulation on the proportional ownership by participating countries of the electricity output from the Superphenix fast breeder reactor; and if he will make a statement.

This is a matter for the Central Electricity Generating Board. I shall ask the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what agreement has been made with other partners in the European fast reactor collaborative programme over the expected payback time in electricity production in proportion to the respective investments made by each country in the programme; and if he will make a statement.

The return on the utilities' investment in future fast reactor plant will be a matter for the utilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he has any plans to discuss the implications of the recent Italian referendum on nuclear power for Italian involvement in the European fast reactor collaboration programme, including Superphenix, with the Italian Ministry for Industry; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he has any plans to discuss with representatives of ENEL the implications for its continued participation in the European fast reactor consortium of the result of the Italian referendum on nuclear power on 9 November;

No. The Italian Government are themselves now considering the implications of the results of the recent referendum.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what account his Department has taken of the report "Land for Energy Development" in reaching decisions concerning the location and construction of power stations in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

The siting of power stations in England and Wales is in the first instance a matter for the Central Electricity Generating Board. Questions concerning the siting of power stations in Scotland and Northern Ireland should be addressed to my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by each Welsh health authority the services put out to competitive tender, together with the percentage of the total budget of each authority which the tendered services represent; and if he will make a statement.

Information on health authority services put out to competitive tender is not held centrally other than for domestic, catering and laundry services. For this information I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson) on 6 November 1987, at column 895.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to visit Felinfach creamery in Ceredigion to discuss future policy; and if he will make a statement.

Not at the present time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans during the next 12 months to improve the trunk road between Aberaeron and Aberarth; and if he will make a statement.

A scheme is in preparation to improve a section of the A487 trunk road between Aberarth and Aberaeron where a landslip has necessitated the use of traffic lights. We cannot say at this stage when work is likely to commence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he will take to ensure that Gwynedd county council publishes a revised definition map of public rights of way in Gwynedd, pursuant to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

The timetable for the production of the revised definitive map of public rights of way in Gwynedd is a matter for Gwynedd county council. I understand however that the definitive map showing those changes which did not attract objection will be made available for inspection by the public early in the new year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will provide current figures of those on local authority housing waiting lists for (a) Torfaen (b) Gwent and (c) Wales.

Information about waiting lists for local authority accommodation is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he will publish the report of the review of community nursing services in Wales.

I am publishing today the report of the review of community nursing services in Wales which was set up two years ago under the chairmanship of Mrs. Noreen Edwards, chairman of Gwynedd health authority. Mrs. Edwards and her review group have completed a wide-ranging examination of nursing services in the community. In doing so, they have not confined themselves to specific community nursing issues but have looked at the wider primary care setting in which such services are delivered, covering such important matters as relations with general medical practitioners and the patient's access to services. I think it appropriate, therefore, that this report should be published today alongside the Government's White Paper on primary health care so that both documents can be read in conjunction with one another.In all, Mrs. Edwards' report contains 36 recommendations— on nursing in the community; on teamwork in primary health care; on the planning and management of primary health care; and on nurse education and training. I believe that the report is a very valuable one in the context of the public consideration of community nursing and primary care matters, upon which Wales has its own distinctive contribution to make, as the White Paper makes clear. It is my intention to consult widely on all the recommendations in the report with the exception of those concerning nurse education and training which, as the report acknowledges are covered by consideration of the UKCC's proposals in relation to Project 2000. I have arranged therefore for copies to be distributed throughout the Health Service in Wales and to the various professional groups. I have asked that their comments on the report be submitted to me within the next six months. Texts of the report have also been placed in the Library of both Houses and I have arranged for copies to be issued to all Members having constituencies in Wales.Arrangements were made for the report's translation at the earliest possible moment, but I regret that this is not completed. However, I thought that it would be right to go ahead with publication today to keep in step with the issue of the White Paper and I hope that the Welsh version of the report will be available very soon. The separate summary of the report's conclusions and recommendations is available in both Welsh and English versions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many jobs have been created for men and how many for women in Wales in each of the last five years by new inward investment from overseas; how many of these are part-time; and what is his estimate of new jobs in the current years from overseas investment.

[holding answer 23 November 1987]: The information is not available in the form requested. Detailed information is available only for those projects which have benefited from regional assistance. Since 1982, a total of 235 inward investment projects promising 18,500 jobs have received job-related assistance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many youth training schemes have been run by voluntary organisations for each year since 1983.

The table below shows the number of YTS schemes run by voluntary organisations in 1983–84, 1985–86,1986–87, and at 31 October 1987. Information for 1984–85 is not available.

	Number
One Year YTS
1983–841	752
1985–861	526
Two Year YTS
1986–872	345
1987–882	361

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has on the extent of recruitment of hotel staff in France, for want of people in Britain to fill full-time vacancies; and what steps his Department and the Manpower Services Commission are taking to help fill such vacancies from among the unemployed.

We believe that British hoteliers seeking staff from France do so mainly through non-official contacts, rather than the employment service. There is, therefore, no information available about the scale of recruitment. The British employment service has direct links with the French employment service, but no hotel workers have been recruited by this method in recent years. Within Great Britain, the employment service and the Manpower Services Commission work together to help employers recruit and train the staff they need. The commission also supports initiatives by the hotel and catering industry training board to improve training and career arrangements, and funds provision of places on YTS and the job training scheme in hotel and catering occupations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many work permits have been refused to foreign nationals, other than those from the EEC and the Republic of Ireland; and which were the six main countries of origin of those so refused, for each year since 1978.

This information is not collated centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report the letter dated 9 November from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Pendle (Mr. Lee) to the hon. Member for Greenock and Port Glasgow, regarding the payment of arrears of unemployment benefit to former employees of the British Shipbuilders group; what is the precise authority by which these payments have now been authorised; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 23 November 1987]: The text of the letter dated 9 November is as follows:

Dear Norman,

Thank you for your letter of 25 September about the claims for arrears of unemployment benefit by former employees of the British Shipbuilders group, one of whom is Mr. John Scott of 14 Stonehaven Road, Greenock.

I am pleased to tell you that authority has now been given to issue payments equivalent to the unemployment benefit which would have been payable to those redundant employees who, for good reason, did not claim within the statutory time limit. Procedural instructions have been issued via regional offices, and those will shortly receive payment. People who, for one reason or another, cannot be paid any arrears will have been given a written explanation.

I hope this explains the position.

John Lee

The payments referred to in the letter have been made either in accordance with the normal statutory provisions governing the payment of unemployment or supplementary benefits or delegated authority by HM Treasury. I am pleased to say that the majority of arrears payments due to former employees of the British Shipbuilders group should have been made by the end of this month.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list in the Official Report details of the individual cases of fraud relating to the common agricultural policy in the United Kingdom amounting to £350,000 in 1985 which were reported to the European Commission.

The United Kingdom notified 68 cases of CAP irregularities in 1986,most of which occurred in 1985 or earlier years, totalling some £500,000. Nearly all were failures to meet conditions of schemes, and fraud was not suspected.There were only two significant cases where fraud might have been intended. One was a misdescription of meat for export for which £268,000 of export refunds were claimed. However, this was detected and no payment was made. The second was a fraudulent claim for monetary compensatory amounts on cattle. The £68,000 paid has been recovered.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many live calves have been exported during the last 12 months; what were the corresponding figures for the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Calf exports over the 12 months October 1986 to September 1987 were 309,524 head. Corresponding figures for the last five years were as follows:

October—September figures
	Number of head
1981–82	244,401
1982–83	236,970
1983–84	218,726
1984–85	165,286
1985–86	164,877

Although the level of exports is currently higher than in recent years it is similar to the level in 1980 (298,752 head) and significantly lower than in the late 1970s when it reached a peak of 420,301 head in 1978.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will support work within the Oslo commission on the extension of the geographical coverage of the Oslo convention so as to include internal waters behind baseline with the aim of securing effective international surveillance over all dumping activities, and so as to expedite this work with the aim of reaching agreement in principle by 1 January 1988.

[holding answer 24 November 1987]: Yes. This was a United Kingdom proposal.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in his review of his Department's research and development, he will make it his policy to give priority to the research programmes concerned with pollution of the North sea.

[holding answer 24 November 1987]: This Department already accords a high priority to research work under its aquatic environment programme and the level of effort is kept under review.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his Department is conducting research into the build-up of nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients in the coastal waters of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 24 November 1987]:Such work is already in hand.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has regarding tests by the United States Administration on a 12 warhead Trident missile; and what are the implications for the Trident missile refurbishment package in regard to the United Kingdom's deterrent.

It would not be appropriate for me to comment on specific aspects of the Trident missile test programme being carried out by the United States. I can nevertheless assure the hon. Member that we remain in close touch with the United States Government about the Trident II system which the United Kingdom is purchasing from the United States and I am fully satisfied that the United Kingdom's requirements continue to be met.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give a detailed breakdown of the costs of the Trident missile purchase agreement showing separately the cost of storing, maintaining and refitting replacement missiles as part of the package described in the debate in the House on 22 October, Official Report, columns 949–962.

The cost of information is not broken down into the categories requested by the hon. Member. However, I can advise that under the missile processing agreement announced in 1982 the United Kingdom will pay $70 million as a contribution to the capital cost of jointly used facilities at King's bay and will meet the full cost of any additional construction investment costs at King's bay occasioned solely by United Kingdom missile processing. These costs have been taken into account in calculating the saving of £767 million arising from the decision to process missiles at King's bay.The United Kingdom will be charged a percentage of the total King's bay running costs related to the United Kingdom share of the missile processing work load.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why he will not release information on the estimated proportion of the development and production costs of the warhead element of the Trident programme, attributable to (i) the United Kingdom and (ii) the United States of America.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave on 2 November at column 607.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when a decision will be taken on the replacement aircraft for the Army Air Corps Beavers; and what consideration he has given to Pilatus Britten-Norman's Defender for this role.

A contract has been let with Pilatus Britten-Norman to assess the suitability of Islander aircraft for this role. We hope to reach a decision on the procurement in the new year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he hopes to announce his decision on the proposed central headquarters office technology system; and if he will make a statement.

The aim of the corporate headquarters office technology system project is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Ministry of Defence headquarters by providing secure, integrated office technology facilities to all staff. The first phase, involving the production of a detailed operational requirement (by independent consultants) was successfully completed in May. Approval was therefore given for phase 2 to proceed and four consortia of IT companies have just submitted their technical responses to the requirement. Following evaluation of these responses, we plan to invite bids for two competitive prototype systems, to be installed in two MOD headquarters buildings. Whether we proceed with phase 3 and replicate the winning system throughout MOD headquarters depends on phase 2 demonstrating both that the requirement can be met in the technical sense and that the potential benefits of phase 3 would justify the costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the number of weather ships attached to the meteorological service in 1979 and at the present; and if he will make a statement on the implications for surface weather forecasting, in the light of recent mis-forecasts.

[holding answer 19 November 1987]: A number of European nations fund ocean weather stations collaboratively under the North Atlantic ocean station agreement. In 1979 a total of nine vessels were provided and manned by Norway, the Netherlands, France, the United Kingdom and the USSR, to operate four permanent ocean weather stations under this agreement. The United Kingdom provided two ships. The NAOS programme now operates three ocean stations and the United Kingdom provides one ship.Ocean weather stations provide only one source of offshore observations for weather forecasting. In recent years a number of other platforms have come into use including meteorological satellites, buoys and ships and aircraft on passage.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on his Department's deregulation initiatives.

The Government are committed to reducing the burdens on business — particularly small businesses — from legislative and administrative regulation. Prime responsibility for that task lies with individual departments, but work is co-ordinated by the enterprise and deregulation unit, now located in the Department of Trade and Industry. We aim to ensure that regulation which is unnecessary is avoided or removed; that essential regulation is made less burdensome; and that proper account of the cost to business is taken in all relevant policy decisions. My Department's own activities are of course carefully scrutinised within that programme.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the progress of his Department's deregulation initiative.

The Government's work to reduce the burdens imposed on business by legislative and administrative regulation, which is co-ordinated by the enterprise and deregulation unit in my Department, continues to make progress broadly as set out in the report to Parliament "Encouraging Enterprise" published in May this year.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has received any report from the director general of OFTEL on the quality of service at British Telecom phone boxes following OFTEL's report of 23 September.

Not yet, though my right hon. and learned Friend and the director general discussed quality of service when they met last week. I understand that OFTEL and British Telecom expect to publish the results of their new monthly survey of call box services next week.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he proposes to have any discussions with manufacturing industries regarding the implications of increased electricity charges in 1988; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend has discussed the implications of higher electricity charges with the director general of the CBI. Higher rates of return are required if the electricity supply industry is to finance the massive investment necessary in the 1990s. The effect on manufacturing industries will depend on a number of factors, including the movement of other costs.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what discussions he has had with the European Economic Community Commission about the future of the British steel industry.

I and other Ministers of the Twelve considered the Commission's proposals on the future of the European steel regime at an Industry Council on 21 September. There will be a further meeting of the Council on 8 December.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on his support for marketing scheme.

The Department's support for marketing scheme assists independent firms with up to 500 employees with the costs of expert consultancy to develop or improve a strategic approach to marketing. The scheme was launched in September 1986 and by 31 March 1988 more than 1,400 projects will have been completed.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement about the current state of the British film industry; and what information he has as to a number of films currently in production, or planned for production, in the United Kingdom.

Investment in film production traditionally experiences cyclical downturns, and it is presently at a lower level than in recent years. However, figures prepared by the British Film and Television Producers Association indicate that in the first 10 months of this year investment was still substantial and exceeded £100 million.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what has been the growth rate of output in manufacturing industry since 1979; and how this compares with comparable figures for other industrial countries.

Between 1979 and the third quarter of 1987 manufacturing output grew at an annual average rate of 0·2 per cent. But it grew by over 6 per cent, in the latest year.Between 1979 and the first half of 1987, manufacturing output increased at an annual average rate of 2·5 per cent, in the United States of America, 3·5 per cent, in Japan, and 1 per cent, in Germany while it fell at an average rate of 0·5 per cent, per year in France.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the latest trade figures.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the latest trade figures.

In the year ending October 1987 there was a deficit of £1,053 million on the current account.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what are the implications for the economy of the October overseas trade figures.

Figures for visible trade for the year to October 1987 show deficits of £5·5 billion in manufactured goods and £5·5 billion in other non-oil goods and a surplus of £3·5 billion in oil. Current estimates of invisible trade indicate a surplus of £6·5 billion for the year to October. Thus the balance on current account is a deficit of £1·1 billion. These figures are broadly consistent with the estimates for the year 1987 given in the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Autumn Statement.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he last met the United Kingdom management of General Motors, and what matters were discussed.

My right hon. and learned Friend has not yet had an opportunity to meet the management of General Motors. I myself have met them a number of times and discussed a range of issues. I plan to visit Vauxhall's Luton site shortly for a plant tour.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he last met the chairman of the Design Council to discuss the Government's policy for the promotion of design.

On 18 November.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the national quality campaign.

The campaign is now well into its fifth year and, at a conservative estimate, has reached over 60,000 firms. It has played an important part in encouraging a growing number of businesses to adopt the companywide approach to quality that is vital to their competitiveness.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what are the latest available figures for the number of people in the United Kingdom financial services sector and the contribution of the industry to gross national product and the balance of payments.

The latest figures available for the banking, finance and insurance sector are for 1986 when approximately 1·2 million people were employed, some five per cent, of all United Kingdom employment. The sector accounted for about eight per cent, of the total domestic output of the United Kingdom economy. The sector contributed a surplus of over £9 billion to the balance of payments.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he is satisfied that trade with Japan in manufactured goods is on a fully reciprocal basis; and if he will make a statement.

I remain dissatisfied. Her Majesty's Government strongly support the European Commission in its representations to the Jananese authorities seeking the removal of unfair barriers to trade in particular areas.