To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the number of jobs he estimates will be made available in the next four years (a) in Clwyd and (b) in Wales, as a result of the new system of grants; and what was the number of jobs projected under the regional development grant system.

Under the regional development grant scheme, 22,500 jobs in Wales and 7,700 jobs in Clwyd are expected to be created as a result of projects already approved for grant. The number of jobs created under the new grants schemes will depend on the response from industry and on the number and size of individual projects for which assistance is sought. I am confident that the new schemes will have a very beneficial effect on employment in Wales as a result of the substantial increase in regional industrial expenditure planned over the next three years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all the appointments he has made to organisations in Wales since June 1987.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the status of county structure plans; and what regard is given to them in deciding planning applications not in conformity with the structure plan.

In any area the structure plan forms part of the statutory development plan. A decision on an application for planning permission must have regard to the provisions of the development plan, so far as material to the application, and to any other material considerations. The latest central Government advice on these matters is set out in paragraphs 11 to 15 of planning policy guidance note No. 1 (PPG 1), dated January 1988, which was issued with Welsh Office circular No. 1/88, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will supply figures for the number of pharmacies in each family practitioner committee area in Wales for each year since 1978 to the latest date for which figures are available.

The number of pharmaceutical chemists in family practitioner committee areas in Wales at 31 December of each year is given in the table:

[holding answer 16 January 1988]: In the period from 13 June 1987 to 31 December 1987, I have made the following appointments to public bodies in Wales:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many of the people he has appointed to public bodies since his appointment are normally resident outside Wales.

[holding answer 16 February 1988]: Of the 56 people I have appointed in the period from 13 June 1987 to 31 December 1987, 52 are normally resident within Wales. Of the remaining four, two are reappointments, one is Welsh by origin, and the other is a specialist in his field.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will make a statement on the criteria and conditions required by state and public schools for acceptance on the assisted places scheme;(2) if he will list those schools, both state and public, that have applied to join the assisted places scheme in the last 12 months; and when he expects to announce his decision as to whether or not they have been accepted.

The assisted places scheme exists to give help with tuition fees at certain independent secondary schools to the parents of able children who might not otherwise attend these schools. The principal criteria for admission to the scheme cover overall and sixth form size, curricular breadth, examination success and general academic merit. In addition, the Secretary of State has regard to the desirability of securing an equitable distribution of assisted places both geographically and between boys and girls.A total of 128 schools have within the last 12 months submitted formal applications to join the scheme. These are listed in the table. Careful consideration is now being given to these applications and my right hon. Friend will announce the outcome in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what would be the cost of providing each 16 to 19-year-old student attending higher or further education with an allowance equivalent to the pay of a youth training scheme trainee, on the assumption that there would be a 50 pe cent. take-up of places.

If 50 per cent. of 16, 17 and 18-year-olds participated in full-time education and received an allowance equivalent to the youth training scheme allowance, the annual cost of those payments would be some £1,900 million. This figure is based on 50 per cent. of the total population of 16-year-olds in England receiving £28.50 per week—the youth training scheme allowance for that age—and 50 per cent. of 17 and 18-year-olds in England receiving £35 per week—I he allowance for trainees in their second year.The figure does not discount awards currently made by LEAs to students in this age group. Nor does it take account of child benefit payments to the parents of students in full-time education up to their 19th birthday.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will provide the latest available figures of the number of children with statements under the Education Act 1981 in each local authority in England, Scotland and Wales.

The number of pupils with statements of special educational need attending maintained primary, middle and secondary schools and special schools in each local education authority in England in January 1987 is given in the table. Information on the number of pupils with statements of special educational need in Scotland and Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many middle schools of eight to 12 years and of nine to 13 years there are; and what are the approximate numbers of pupils in each category.

The number of maintained middle schools of age eight to 12 and of nine to 13, and the number of pupils in these schools in January 1987 in England was as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, pursuant to his answer of 9 February, Official Report, column 149, he will list in precise detail the views and proposals of the Government of the Irish Republic put forward by them at the meeting of the Anglo-Irish Inter-Government Council both in November 1985 and since that date; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend cannot give details of specific proposals put forward in private by the Irish Government. Nonetheless, a detailed communiqué was issued after the meeting of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Council at Hillsborough in November 1985, and joint statements have been issued after each meeting of the Intergovernmental Conference held since.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the discussions in the conference on disarmament on banning attacks on nuclear power stations; and if he will take steps to strengthen the provisions of article 56 of protocol I of the 1977 additional protocols to the 1949 Geneva convention.

The prevention of attacks on peaceful nuclear facilities is the subject of discussion by the conference on disarmament's ad hoc committee on radiological weapons. The United Kingdom plays a constructive role in these talks and is chairing the committee this year.We do not believe that it would be appropriate to attempt to alter the text of the 1977 additional protocols, which were preceded by long and detailed negotiations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to (a) the estimated value of emergency food relief contributions, by country, for the years 1985 to 1987–88, (b) whether these contributions are deducted from the overseas aid budget of such countries, and (c) the proportion of the overseas aid budgets of such countries these payments represent.

The table contains details of total food aid by donor country for 1985 and 1986 and the percentage of total official development assistance of each country that these figures represent. Information on the value of food aid used for emergency relief is not separately available. Nor is information readily available on the relationships between the overseas aid budget and expenditure on food aid in all the countries listed.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information he has as to which British-based motor manufacturers are in a position to fit (a) oxidation catalysts and (b) three-way catalysts to their products from 1 January 1989.

Some United Kingdom motor manufacturers are currently producing three-way catalyst versions of certain of their models for export markets which enforce emissions standards requiring such equipment. However, these models are not necessarily produced in specifications designed for United Kingdom conditions. No United Kingdom manufacturers are presently supplying cars fitted with oxidation catalysts. The future model plans of the manufacturers are a commercial matter for the companies concerned.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will update the information contained in his reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North on 10 February 1987, Official Report, column 164, regarding the crude balance of imports and exports of (a) cereals and cereal preparations, (b) motor vehicles and (c) electrical goods in 1979 and 1987 and the net overall position in 1979 and 1987; and if he will also show (A) total imports and (B) total exports of (i) cereals and cereal preparations, (ii) all agricultural products, (iii) all other imports and exports, (iv) motor vehicles, (v) electrical goods, (vi) steel and (vii) coal for 1979 and 1987, giving in each case, the difference between (A) and (B) in actual and percentage terms.

The information is as follows:

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total output of fertilisers, the percentage exported and the proportion of the domestic market taken by imports in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) West Germany and (c) Japan in 1958, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975 and in each year from 1979 to 1987.

The available information for the United Kingdom for the value of output for years up to 1985 is published in the "Business Monitor" series PA 1002, "Report on the Census of Production", summary volume (table 11); 1986 output data are available in "Business Monitor" PA 251 (table 8). The available information on United Kingdom export and import ratios is published in "Business Monitor" series MQ12, import penetration and export sales ratios for manufacturing industry. These publications are available in the Library. Similar information for the Federal Republic of Germany and Japan is not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what measures he is taking to promote the application of the principles of superconductivity in British industry.

On 21 January 1988, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced a £16 million three-year programme to stimulate collaborative industrial research on superconductivity. The DTI will provide up to 50 per cent. of the programme cost and industry will find the balance. Work supported under the programme will include research into materials and device applications, as well as research aimed at producing superconductors that work at room temperature. The programme has been developed in consultation with the electronics and electrical engineering industries, and complements the Science and Engineering Research Council's programme of academic research in HEIs, including the first university research centre at Cambridge. The DTI and SERC have together established a National Committee for Superconductivity, announced in October 1987. Chaired by Sir Martin Wood, the national committee co-ordinates support for industrial and academic research and advises on national policy for superconductors.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received from interested bodies concerning applications to register with self-regulating organisations under the Financial Services Act.

I have received many representations about this and other aspects of the Financial Services Act.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he has any estimate of the number of applications currently before the self-regulating organisations or the Securities and Investments Board.

I am informed by the Securities and Investments Board that the number of applications by investment businesses for authorisation by a recognised self-regulating organisation or the Securities and Investments Board which were either approved or in the course of consideration as at 12 February 1988 was approximately 9,800.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to advertise further the time limits for applications before self-regulating organisations or the Securities and Investments Board.

My Department will be issuing a further series of advertisements in both national and regional press drawing to the attention of investment businesses the need to apply for authorisation before 27 February. This follows two earlier series of advertisements which, regrettably, some investment businesses seem to have ignored.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he is satisfied that the Securities and Investments Board and the self-regulating organisations have adequate staff and resources to deal with the applications before them; and if he will make a statement.

The then Secretary of State concluded before proposing the transfer of functions to the SIB in May 1987 that the staff and resources available to it were sufficient for the time. I believe that still to be the case. Before recognising a self-regulating organisation under the Act, the SIB is required to satisfy itself as to a number of factors, including the adequacy of the organisation's resources. I see no reason to differ from SIB's judgment.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will take steps to cease the distribution by the citizens' advice bureau in Wimbledon of the pamphlet "Sex", published by the Terrence Higgins Trust, in view of its explicit promotion of exclusively homosexual activities.

Policy and day-to-day running of the citizens' advice bureaux are matters for the National Association of Citizens' Advice Bureaux (NACAB). I understand that NACAB circulates to bureaux a monthly information pack on AIDS publications which provides a comprehensive list of leaflets available on AIDS, including the Terrence Higgins Trust leaflet "Sex", which bureaux may choose to look at to decide whether they might be helpful to clients. The NACAB has informed me that, in its view, this leaflet is not suitable for public display and that it has not distributed it to bureaux. The NACAB has also informed me that the leaflet has not been stocked, distributed or displayed by the Wimbledon CAB.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he intends to liberalise the provision of specialised satellite services; and if he will make a statement.

The Government remain committed to the duopoly policy in telecommunications which was announced in November 1983. The Government made clear then that they did not intend to license operators other than BT and Mercury to provide the basic telecommunication service of conveying messages over fixed links whether cable, radio or satellite either domestically or internationally. This position will not be reviewed until November 1990.The Government also made clear that they would give consideration to ways of introducing new specialised services by satellite. We are now proposing a degree of liberalisation in this area. Before settling the final details, we are allowing a six-week consultation period on how the following arrangements should be brought into practice.Our present intention is to license up to another six operators to provide point to multi-point satellite-based third party services in the United Kingdom only. If more than six acceptable proposals are put to us in a one-month qualifying period after the consultation period has ended, we will ask the Director General of Telecommunications to advise us which of the applicants to license.We are also intending to license receive-only terminals on users' permises. Users will be licensed to receive all kinds of satellite-delivered services within the scope of the Telecommunications Act 1984, whether national or international. A licence under that Act will be issued shortly after the end of the consultation period. The

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information he has as to how many sub-postmasters' annual revisions are awaiting checking at postal finance depot, Chesterfield; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 16 February 1988]: This is an operational matter for the Post Office Board and I have therefore drawn my right hon. and learned Friend's question to the attention of the chairman of the Post Office.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total output of acrylics, the percentage exported, and the proportion of the

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what was the total output of chemicals, the percentage exported, and the proportion of the domestic market taken by imports in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) West Germany and (c) Japan in 1958, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975 and in each year from 1979 to 1987;(2) what was the total output of chemicals, by value, the percentage exported and the proportion of the domestic market taken by imports in

[holding answer 16 February 1988]: The available information is as follows:domestic market taken by imports in

[holding answer 16 February 1988]: I regret that this information is not available. The only available information relates to the United Kingdom and is published in the "Business Monitor" PQ2514 (tables 2 and 5).

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total output of videotape, the percentage exported, and the proportion of the domestic market taken by imports in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) West Germany and (c) Japan, in 1958. 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975 and in each year from 1979 to 1987.

[holding answer 16 February 1988]: I regret that this information is not available. Information for the United Kingdom on output of videotapes is not published because the figures would disclose information about individual undertakings.

To ask the Prime Minister what is the agreed limit on agricultural spending for the current year in consequence of the Brussels Council agreement; and what was the agreed limit for 1987.

As I indicated in my statement of 15 February the guideline base for 1988 has been set at 27·5 billion ecu (about £19 billion). The limit for 1987 was just under 23 billion ecu (about £16 billion).

To ask the Prime Minister what estimate she has made of the maximum expenditure which the European Economic Community would be entitled to undertake if the 1·2 gross national product formula agreed at the Brussels Council were applied in full; and what limit would have applied if the 1·4 limit had remained in force.

The 1·2 per cent. gross national product ceiling on the Community's own resources agreed at the European Council is equivalent in 1988 to some 46·5 billion ecu (£32·2 billion), whilst the current 1·4 per cent. value added tax ceiling this year is equivalent, on a comparable basis, to some 36·7 billion ecu (£25·4 billion).

To ask the Prime Minister (1) what percentage levy of gross national product for the current year was agreed at the Brussels Council;(2) what voting system will apply, in consequence of the Brussels Councils agreement, to alterations in the gross national product levy; and if she will make a statement.

The level of the new gross national product-related contributions will be subject to the overall ceiling on all own resources equivalent to 1·2 per cent. of Community GNP and to any annual sub-ceilings which the Council may agree. These ceilings, once adopted, cannot be changed except by unanimity and following ratification in all member states. Within that constraint, the level of GNP-related contributions required to balance the budget in 1988 and later years will reflect the expenditure decisions taken by qualified majority voting in the annual budgetary process, just as the actual rate of value added tax contributions is determined under the present system.

To ask the Prime Minister if there is any provision in the Brussels Council agreement to prevent the Commission underwriting spending levels in excess of legal limits in a manner similar to the metric year operated in 1987 when receipts were demanded one month in advance and receipts delayed for a month; and if she will make a statement.

The decision on budget discipline described in my statement of 15 February will be legally binding.

To ask the Prime Minister why she agreed to the exceptional circumstances clause in the Brussels Council agreement; and by which voting system it will be operated.

I refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made on Monday 15 February on the outcome of the European Council. The monetary reserve which I referred to in my statement will operate on the basis I described and the question of voting does not therefore arise. There is no other provision for so-called exceptional circumstances.

To ask the Prime Minister if the sum which is currently spent each week by the European Economic Community on dumping, storing and destroying food surpluses will change in consequence of the Brussels Council agreement; and if she will make a statement.

The sums spent each week on storage and disposal of surplus depend on the level of surpluses and the prices at which they can be sold. As I said in my statement on 15 February, the agreement on the agricultural stabilisers is intended to control both output and spending on surpluses.

To ask the Prime Minister what representations Her Majesty's Government have received from the United States of America and other foreign governments about the Brussels Council agreement.

None.

To ask the Prime Minister if the previous decision of the Finance Ministers' Council to transfer the responsibilities of financing the cost of butter dumping to member states, which was declared to be unlawful by the Court of Auditors, was discussed at the Brussels Council; and what changes were proposed in these arrangements following the increase in EEC resources.

The matter was not discussed and no changes are proposed.

To ask the Prime Minister by what amount the 160 million ton ceiling for cereal production payment without price reduction exceeds or is less than actual cereal production in 1987; and if she will make a statement.

The 1987 cereals harvest was affected by exceptionally difficult weather conditions in many parts of the Community; the harvest is estimated at 153 million tonnes, which is well below the trend-line production figure for 1987 of 165 million tonnes.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will introduce new regulations to simplify the settling of estates in intestacy cases.

No. I am not satisfied that there is any need to change the rules relating to the settlement and distribution, by personal representatives, of the estates of persons dying intestate. The rules are intended to enable the distribution of an intestate's estate in a manner that the intestate might have directed if he or she had left a valid will.

To ask the Attorney-General whether any changes will be made to the 1987–88 cash limit and running costs limit for Class XX Vote 27 of covering the administration costs of the serious frauds office and the provision in Class XX Vote 28 covering the Department's prosecution costs.

Yes. The office will not, as earlier expected, take over the conduct of some cases from the Crown Prosecution Service before it becomes operational. Sections 1–3 of the Criminal Justice Act 1987 are likely to be brought into force in April 1988. The cash limit for Class XX, Vote 27 will be reduced by £570.000 from £2,000,000 to £1,430,000 and the running costs limit by £570,000 from £1,500,500 to £930,000. With a shortfall of £1 million on prosecution costs under Class XX, Vote 28, £1,570,000 will be surrendered to the Reserve.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals exist for interoperability among NATO countries in (a) artillery barrels and (b) ammunition.

Existing arrangements within NATO already provide a substantial measure of artillery barrel and ammunition interoperability. These include a quadrilateral ballistics memorandum of understanding, and a NATO sub-panel with responsibility for ammunition information exchange. The United Kingdom is also fully involved in discussions on the interoperability of future artillery systems.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on the number and percentage of vehicles registered in the United Kingdom that are fitted with head restraints; and if he will make a statement.

The Department has no statistical information on this. The majority of new cars are now being provided with head restraints that meet European standards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what legislation is (a) in force and (b) proposed concerning the maximum and minimum ages of licensed public service vehicle drivers.

The Road Traffic Act 1972 and regulations made under the Act prescribe 21 years as the minimum age for driving public service vehicles with some closely defined exceptions where the minimum age may he reduced to 18 years. Drivers of these vehicles may continue to renew their licences until they fail to satisfy the traffic commissioners as to their fitness to hold a licence. There are no proposals to change these arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what legislation is (a) in force and (b) proposed concerning the physical fitness, and medical examination, of licensed public service vehicle drivers.

The Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981 and the regulations made under the Act require all applicants for public service vehicles drivers' licences to satisfy the traffic commissioners that they are fit to hold the licence. A medical report is required on first application, on each five-year renewal when drivers reach 46 years of age and annually after 65. There is also a general requirement for all drivers to report any medical condition which could affect fitness to drive. Interested bodies are now being consulted on a proposal to require public service vehicle drivers to submit medical reports with licence renewals from the age of 45.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the approximate proportion of traffic disruption or major delay in Greater London over the latest convenient annual period attributable to (a) road repair works, (b) road improvement schemes, (c) road works by statutory undertakers, (d) traffic signal failure, (e) road accidents, (f) flooding or burst water mains, (g) vehicle breakdowns, (h) shed loads, other than in accidents, (i) illegal parking, (j) state occasions, processions and demonstrations and (k) excess of traffic demand over road capacity.

Information is not collected in this form.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has concerning the amount of road traffic congestion in Greater London; from what sources he obtains such information; and what definitions he adopts of (a) congestion and (b) serious delay to traffic flow.

Road traffic congestion in London is monitored by its effect on traffic speeds. Results of regular surveys are published in statistics bulletins available from the House Library. We have not adopted a definition of congestion or serious delay to traffic flow. The Department is considering whether specific indicators would be useful.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has concerning the M25 in respect of (a) the number and distribution of major delays, (b) the causes of major delays, (c) the numbers, locations and causes of major accidents, (d) the times, places and degree of any excess of demand over effective road capacity and (e) hourly peak and minimum flows, expressed in passenger car units, in the most heavily and least used sections.

The information is not available in the form requested. The M25 is congested at certain times on some sections. Work has started to enable a fourth lane to be added to both carriageways between junctions 11 and 13. A study has been commissioned into the best way of adding a fourth lane between junctions 15 and 16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if there are any reciprocal arrangements for parking concessions for disabled people between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of New Zealand; and if he will consult the Royal Association on Disability and Rehabilitation on this matter.

Reciprocal arrangements for parking concessions for people with disabilities are confined to Europe. We intend to raise with the disabled persons transport advisory committee the question of extending reciprocity to countries outside Europe.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met his French counterpart; and what was discussed.

I met M. Douffiagues on 7 December at a meeting of the EC Transport Council. Matters discussed included international air services, road haulage permits and traffic through non-EC transit countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the progress of the requirement to install speed governors in coaches.

I made regulations on 15 February which will be laid before the House shortly. These require new coaches to be fitted with a speed limiter from 1 April 1989, coaches first used on or after 1 April 1984, from 1 April 1990, and coaches first used on or after 1 April 1974, from 1 April 1991. Older coaches or those which have a maximum design speed no higher than 70 mph will not be affected by the regulations.The limiters must comply with British Standard AU 217 and be set to a maximum speed of 70 mph. The regulations will be amended as necessary to refer to minor changes to this standard now under consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action has been taken, following the meeting between the Minister responsible for aviation and directors of Manchester Airport plc held on 8 February, to communicate the Government's views on the issues which the Manchester Airport plc directors raised at the meeting concerning the serious implications of the Civil Aviation Authority's draft charging proposals for Manchester airport; if he will publish any letter sent to the Civil Aviation authority as a result of that meeting; and if he will make a statement.

The issues are for the Civil Aviation Authority. As promised at the meeting, my noble Friend sent a short letter to the chairman of the authority mentioning the Government's oft-repeated White Paper commitment to the development of Manchester airport, and the provisions of section 39(2)(c) of the Airport Act 1986.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out in a table for each month of 1987 (a) the number of accidents that occurred on motorways, (b) the number of vehicles involved, (c) the number of goods vehicles with an unladen weight of more than 3 tonnes or vehicles drawing a trailer involved and (d) the number of coaches involved.

I will write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he intends to require that all self-drive hire cars are equipped with rear seat belts.

All cars, including self-drive hire cars, first used from 1 April 1987 are required to be fitted with rear seat belts or child restraints. We have no plans to extend this requirement to any type of car registered before this date. We hope that all concerned—the car hire firms and their customers—will consider on a voluntary basis, the safety advantages of fitting and using rear seat belts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has placed in the Library a copy of the report by Mr. Aksel Frandsen, referred to in the Government response to the special report of the Select Committee on the Dartford-Thurrock Crossing Bill.

I did so yesterday.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints have been brought under the Indecent Displays (Control) Act 1981; and how many were successful.

The available information, which may be incomplete, is given in the following table:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will place in the Library a copy of his reply to the letter from the joint central committee of the Police Federation on specific powers of arrest and search of suspected carriers of knives or other sharply pointed articles; whether he proposes to meet Mr. Leslie Curtis, chairman of the Police Federation, to discuss this matter; and whether he will make a statement.

I have done so today. The chairman of the Police Federation has not requested a meeting to discuss the matter, but my right hon. Friend and I are always willing to discuss the matter with him and I have already met the Metropolitan branch of the federation.Section 128 of the Criminal Justice Bill makes it an offence to have a bladed or sharply pointed article (other than a pocketknife) in a public place without good reason. The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 increased police powers by making available to all constables a power to stop and search for offensive weapons and prohibited articles, and the Criminal Justice Bill will extend these powers to enable the police to stop and search those reasonably suspected of carrying articles covered by section 128. The "reasonable suspicion" requirement, which is the basis of the federation's concern, is not specific to the new offence, but applies generally to stop and search powers. A definition of "reasonable suspicion" is contained in the codes of practice made under PACE. A review of the codes has now been initiated, during which my right hon. Friend will be consulting the Police Federation and others.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will list the constabularies which will have computers connected to the upgraded police national computer network and those constabularies that have an existing mainframe computer linked to the police national computer;(2) whether he will list mainframe computers belonging to constabularies and indicate whether they are for command and control or criminal information purpose.

The following police forces have a direct link to the police national computer through their own force computer system(s); this indicates whether these are command and control or criminal information systems.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to amend the processes by which central Government funds are channelled to local development agencies; and if he will make a statement.

The only central Government funds for local development agencies for which my right hon. Friend is responsible are those channelled through the experimental local development agencies development fund. We are at present awaiting the first progress report from the committee administering the fund and in the meantime have no plans to change it.My right hon. Friend has recently amended the terms and conditions under which the fund is administered to permit him to require the committee to withhold or vary the conditions attached to a particular grant in those exceptional circumstances where such action is justified in the public interest.This safeguard should not normally affect the day-to-day administration of the fund. We have, however, invited interested parties to make representations about the change and these are being considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will indicate the measures taken to advise the general public of their right of access for data subjects in the Data Protection Act following the introduction of the measure on 11 December 1987.

I am informed by the Data Protection Registrar that after 11 November 1987, when the right of subject access came into force, he carried out an advertising campaign in the national press for about one month, to advise the general public of their rights. In addition 2 million advisory leaflets and posters were distributed to public libraries, citizens' advice bureaux and similar information points, and arrangements were made for the Post Office to frank approximately 90 million pieces of mail with a special mark drawing attention to the subject access right. The registrar undertook a public relations campaign involving the distribution of publicity material to regional newspapers and radio stations and he and his staff participated in more than 40 radio and television appearances and numerous press interviews. Copies of the registrar's advisory leaflet, together with the guidelines on the Data Protection Act, have been deposited in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will hold discussions with the Data Protection Registrar to produce a code of practice covering personal data held for the purpose of national security.

No. Under section 27(1) of the Data Protection Act 1984 it is for the Secretary of State concerned to determine, in the light of the particular circumstances, whether personal data should be exempt from the provisions of the Act for the purpose of safeguarding national security.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the annual budget within the prison service for the distribution of bibles to prisoners;(2) how much of the annual budget within the prison service for the distribution of bibles to prisoners remained unspent at 1 January;(3) if chaplains to Her Majesty's prisons are experiencing any difficulty in obtaining bibles to distribute to prisoners;(4) whether the remainder of the annual budget within the prison service for the distribution of bibles to prisoners will be spent on the purposes for which it was originally allocated by 31 March.

The budget for the distribution of bibles to prisoners is reviewed annually. The amount allocated for this purpose in 1987–88 was £7,260. All of this was spent by 1 January 1988. It was hoped that a further sum could have been made available in the current financial year, but this was not possible because of other severe pressures on the prison Vote.A small number of copies of the authorised version and the revised standard version (used by Roman Catholics) remain in stock, but all copies of the good news version of the bible have been distributed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider seeking to reintroduce a British standard time to give people in Britain an extra hour of evening daylight.

The Government are aware of the interest in having extended daylight hours in the evenings and are considering how best to assess support for any change in the present arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many reported assaults there have been on licensed taxi drivers for each of the last five years in (a) the United Kingdom, and (b) the Basildon area;(2) how many

The information requested is not available. It is not possible from the records held centrally to distinguish the occupation of victims of assault.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the ratio of police officers to (a) population and (b) crimes in (i) Northumberland police authority area and (ii) Northumberland county.

The information available is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the scientific name of the antidepressant given to Audrey Ann Bergeman on 23 July 1987 at Risley remand centre; what other medical treatment was given to Miss Bergeman while she was at the centre; whether she made any requests for medical treatment whilst she was at the centre; whether she made any statements about her medical condition while she was at the centre; and what was the assessment of the medical staff who examined her upon her admission to the centre.

Miss Bergeman was received at Risley remand centre on 20 July 1987. At the reception examination she was found to be in good general health except for a bronchial condition, for which medication was prescribed. She reported sick on 23 July and was prescribed small doses of amitriptyline. No other medical application was made and no other treatment was given.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is currently considering for the improved protection of prisoners from infection with the HIV virus.

High priority continues to be given to preventive measures, which currently include systematic medical inquiry and examination at the reception stage, counselling of individual prisoners, precautionary regime restrictions at the discretion of the medical officer for prisoners identified as HIV antibody positive, and a strong emphasis on educational initiatives directed to all prisoners. A purpose-designed video film for prisoners is being developed. All aspects of the prevention strategy are kept under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek advice as to whether the pamphlet "Sex", published by the Terrence Higgins Trust and distributed by Wimbledon citizens advice bureau, contravenes the provisions of the Obscene Publications Act.

Whether the publication of a particular article contravenes the Obscene Publications Act 1959 is a matter which only a court can determine. It is not a matter on which my right hon. Friend has any authority to offer advice.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster why he has announced the appointment of inspectors to investigate possible contravention of the insider dealing legislation in relation to the securities of Peachey Property plc; and why when doing so he made reference to any transaction with which Mr. John Ritblat, chairman of British Land plc. may have been connected.

My right hon. and noble Friend decided that the appointment of inspectors in this case was necessary in the light of information provided. Such information is received from various sources including the stock exchange. It has been the practice for some time to announce such appointments where the fact that a particular person would be involved in an investigation might, if it became known, be likely to affect the share price of a company with which he is connected. The purpose — to which the stock exchange as the listing authority attaches importance—is to avoid a disorderly market in the shares of the company through such information becoming known only gradually and partially. The appointment of inspectors carries no implication of guilt, but only of the existence of circumstances needing investigation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the responsibilities (a) of local authorities in relation to the administration of housing benefit locally and (b) of his Department in relation to the administration of housing benefit centrally; and if he will make a statement.

Local authorities are statutorily responsible for the administration of the housing benefit scheme which includes informing the public about the scheme, determining claims, making payments and reviewing decisions on appeal. It also includes making payments to householders who qualify for housing benefit because they are in receipt of supplementary benefit (from April 1988 income support). The detailed rules and benefit rates which determine entitlement are set out in regulations issued by the Department. The Department is responsible for issuing guidance on the regulations and determining the arrangements for reimbursing most of the costs of the scheme incurred by local authorities. Information is collected centrally both to enable subsidy payments to be made and to inform Ministers, Parliament and the public on the costs and operation of the scheme nationally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how much rebate from community charge he estimates a young person in Coventry with an annual income of £2,500 would be entitled to, following the abolition of the domestic rating system.

The details of the community charge rebate scheme have yet to be decided and benefit rates for 1990 are not yet known, so it is not yet possible to make such an estimate. Rebate entitlement will also depend on a claimant's circumstances and on the level of community charge set by the local authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what provision he is making to ensure that local authorities are able to secure adequate training for all food handlers in retail and manufacturing outlets.

On 30 October 1987 my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food announced that officials had been asked to review the proposals contained in the joint consultation document on food legislation, which was issued in December 1984, in the light of comments received from interested organisations. One of these proposals is that local authorities should be empowered to provide food hygiene training for food handlers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current annual cost of providing drugs in the National Health Service as a whole and to family practitioners; if he is satisfied with the control and accountability of these costs; and what measures he proposes to prevent fraud by the sale of drugs overseas by those who have received them at public expense.

The net cost of providing drugs in the National Health Service in England in 1986–87, including fees, remuneration and payments to hospital pharmacists¹ was £2,016 million. Of this £1,639 million was paid in the family practitioner services, including £120 million to dispensing doctors.For proprietary medicines, pharmaceutical companies with sales to the NHS of £4 million or more provide audited financial returns each year covering their costs and capital. These returns are scrutinised under the terms of the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme. Companies with sales of between £0·5 million and £4 million also provide information annually, but of a more limited nature. For generic medicines, the prices reimbursed to chemists are shown in the drug tariff. In the main, the drug tariff reflects the competing prices in this market.A patient may receive drugs at public expense only in exchange for a prescription form signed by a doctor. It is the doctor's responsibility to ensure that any drugs he prescribes are, in his judgment, needed by that patient. Once dispensed, the drugs become the patient's property. The clinical control expected of doctors militates against patients receiving drugs in large quantities, and there are special arrangements for drugs controlled by the Misuse of Drugs Act and its regulations. Any cases of suspected fraud are investigated by family practitioner committees or health authorities in the first instance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any new schemes to increase parental compliance with the need for increased vaccination against measles, whooping cough and polio.

Levels of vaccination have risen in recent years to 67 per cent. for whooping cough, 86 per cent. for polio and 71 per cent. for measles (1986). We do not regard these figures as high enough to give adequate protection from these preventable diseases.We announced on 17 December plans to introduce a triple vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) from 1 October 1988. We intend that the introduction of MMR is preceded by a national and local publicity campaign aimed at parents and the health professions, which we hope will lead to a substantial increase in uptake levels. We are also considering how best to continue to promote the benefits of vaccination against whooping cough and polio.Every district health authority has now appointed an immunisation co-ordinator who will have a very important part to play in securing our objective of improved uptake of the childhood immunisation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will gather and publish from each district health authority information regarding the number, kind and cost of operations which they have bought from privately owned health facilities; and what priority his Department attaches to such information in the carrying out of the review on the funding of the National Health Service.

An annual return is made of contractual arrangements between National Health Service hospitals and private hospitals and a copy of the most recent return (1986) has been placed in the Library. This information relates to the number of patients treated by specialty. Details of the number, type and cost of operations performed under these arrangements are not kept centrally. We have already indicated that our internal review of the NHS will be wide ranging and fundamental. In reaching conclusions, we will want to take into account all relevant information.