To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the education for mutual understanding project, in the light of the delay in granting maintained status to fully integrated schools.

In addition to various initiatives designed to improve cross-community contacts I am continuing my support for the education for mutual understanding project under the auspices of the Northern Ireland Council for Educational Development. Work on an EMU guideline for teachers is at an advanced stage and should be published in time for the start of the 1988–89 academic year.The operation of this project has no relationship to the granting of maintained status to integrated independent schools. In order to achieve this status, these schools must be able to prove their future viability.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many civil servants are employed in his Department; what are their average weekly working hours; and how many are (a) on flexitime, (b) on job-sharing schemes, (c) on a four-day working week or nine-day fortnight and (d) able to retire with full pension rights at 60 years.

There are some 23,800 non-industrial civil servants employed in the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Departments (excluding prison officer grades). The normal conditioned hours are 41 hours a week for staff in London and 42 for staff in Belfast inclusive of meal breaks.Taking each of the elements

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what figures are available to indicate the number of four-year-olds in Northern Ireland, the number of three-year-olds and the proportion of the population which is under five years old.

The latest available figures, taken from the 1986 mid-year population estimates, are as follows:

	Number
Four-year-olds	26,594
Three-year-olds	26,753
Under five years old	18·7
1 Percentage of the population.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what figures are available to indicate the numbers of four-year-olds in Northern Ireland who attend (a) nursery education, (b) pre-school playgroups or (c) primary school;(2) what figures are available to indicate the numbers of three-year-olds in. Northern Ireland who attend

The available information is as follows:

Numbers of three and four-year-olds in education in 1986–87
	Age three		Age four
	Full time	Part time	Full time	Part time
Nursery schools	1,232	1,464	1,321	715
Nursery classes in primary schools	1,017	361	783	215
Primary schools (primary classes only)	106	—	16,859	—

The information on pre-school playgroups is not available in the form requested. However, at 30 June 1987, the latest date for which figures are available, the total number of children under five years of age who attended pre-school playgroups, including playbuses, was 12,954.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what figures are available to indicate the proportion of three-year-olds in Northern Ireland (a) in single parent families, (b) whose parents are unemployed and (c) whose parents receive family income supplement.

The information is not available. However the proportion of three-year-olds in families receiving one parent benefit is approximately one in 17 of all three-year-old children in families receiving child benefit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he intends to publish the Northern Ireland public expenditure commentary; and if he will make a statement.

The "Northern Ireland Commentary on Public Expenditure Plans 1988–89 to 1990–91" has been published today. Copies are available in the Vote Office. This is the first Northern Ireland commentary and it aims to improve the information available to Parliament and the public by amplifying the material in the Northern Ireland chapter of "The Government's Expenditure plans 1988–89 to 1990–91". (Cm. 288–II).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been taken and convictions made under the Wildlife and Countryside (Amendment) Act 1985, section 1.

The information requested is not available from the records of court proceedings held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions to date have arisen under the Licensed Premises (Exclusion of Certain Persons) Act 1980.

The information held centrally, which may be incomplete, is given in the table.

Persons proceeded against and found guilty under s.2 of the Licensed Premises (Exclusion of Certain Persons) Act 1980 England and Wales
	Number of persons
Year	Total proceeded against	Total found guilty
1981	1	—
1982	9	9
1983	3	3
1984	3	3
1985	2	2
1986	1	1

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to rescind regulation C5 of the Police Pensions Regulations 1987; and if he will make a statement.

No. Regulation C5 provides for the payment of modified pension benefits to the widow of a police officer who marries in retirement, on the basis of service after 6 April 1978. To extend the provisions to cover service before that date would breach the important principle that improvements in public service pension entitlements are not made retrospectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether child benefit is treated as support from public funds for the purposes of the immigration rules; and if he will make a statement.

No. The definition of "public funds" in the immigration rules deals with access only to those benefits that are means tested and non-contributory.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the trends in crime in London in 1987.

I am very pleased to note that the Metropolitan police recorded 4 per cent. fewer crimes in 1987 than in 1986. The falls of 7 per cent. in theft of and from cars and 4 per cent. in burglary are an indication of what is possible and lend support to the efforts to persuade the public to take crime prevention measures. The drop of 11 per cent. in recorded rape offences is also encouraging. We are of course concerned about the increases in robbery (up 12 per cent.) and in violence against the person (up 11 per cent.), and we fully support the Commissioner's policy of concentrating resources on these types of crime.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will provide a breakdown by nationalities of people currently held under section 12 or section 13 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984, or articles 4 or 9 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Order 1984;(2) if he will provide a breakdown by nationalities of people currently held under section 12 or section 13 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984, or articles 4 or 9 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Order 1984.

On 23 February 1988 no one was detained in Great Britain under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984 or the Prevention of Terrorism (Supplemental Temporary Provisions) Order 1984. Examinations at ports under article 4 of the order are recorded only where a person is examined for more than one hour. On 23 February 1988 no one was examined for more than one hour.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to furthering mutual assistance in criminal matters between the United Kingdom and other countries; and if he will make a statement.

At present the United Kingdom can provide only limited assistance to other countries in the investigation and prosecution of criminal offences. Unlike most other European states, we are not a party to any treaties or conventions establishing mutual assistance arrangements of wide scope. The assistance we receive from other countries is inevitably limited by our inability to offer them the full assistance which we would wish. The nature of much crime ߞ terrorism, drugs, fraud, kidnapping, racketeering and so on ߞ has become increasingly international and we must play our part in combating it.In November 1986 my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary set up an interdepartmental group of officials to review the position. They have concluded that there are strong arguments in favour of legislation which would enable us to accede to the European convention on mutual assistance, implement the scheme relating to mutual assistance in criminal matters within the Commonwealth adopted at Harare in 1986, and enter into bilateral arrangements of a similar nature. Their proposals are outlined in a discussion paper which has been issued today. Copies have been sent to a wide range of interested organisations, and I have placed a copy in the Library. The Government would welcome the views of hon. Members and others on the group's proposals, and we shall be glad to receive comments by 30 April.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has to the current price of wines and

Country	Wine Excise Duties		Vat	Excise Duty Spirits at 40 per cent. alcohol by volume (pence per 75 cl bottle)	Spirits VAT
	Table wine not exceeding 12 per cent. alcohol by volume (pence per 70 cl bottle)	Fortified wine at 18 per cent. alcohol by volume (pence per 75 cl bottle)	Per cent.		Per cent.
Belgium	17	33	25	273	25
Denmark	78	154	22	1956	22
France	2	93	18·6	233	18·6
Germany	0	26	14	258	14
Greece	0	1	6	8	26,16
Ireland	125	194	25	524	25
Italy	0	7	9	47	18
Luxembourg	30·7	415,22	56,12	183	12
Netherlands	17	34	20	285	20
Portugal	0	0	68,17	43	717,30
Spain	0	0	12	83	12
United Kingdom	69	127	15	473	15
Notes:
1 Duty on spirits in Denmark consists of a specific element (£12·57 per litre of pure alcohol) and an ad valorem element (60 per cent. of taxable value).
2 The higher rate of VAT applies to ouzo and brandy.
3 The nil rate applies to Luxembourg produced wines.
4 The lower rate applies to Luxembourg and Netherlands produced wines.
5 The lower rate applies to still wine not exceeding 13 per cent. alcohol of volume.
6 The lower rate applies to table wine.
7 The lower rate applies to non-aged wine brandy and grappa brandy.

Rates of exchange as at 8 February 1988.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will exempt the Royal British Legion from value added tax on goods and services connected with its welfare activities.

Decisions on changes in taxation are a matter for my right hon. Friend's Budget Statement.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to the policy of the European Community Commission on excise duty distinctions between sherries out of proportion to relative alcoholic strengths.

Although the EC Commission has tabled certain proposals on the harmonisation of excise duties, the rates charged at present are a matter for individual member states.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what evidence there is of an improvement in the speed with which goods are cleared through customs since the adoption of the single administrative document.

[holding answer 22 February 1988]: The introduction of the single administrative document and spirits in the European Economic Community and the level of duty imposed on them; and what equivalent information he has for the United Kingdom.

Information on prices of wines and spirits in the EC member states is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Rates of excise duties and VAT in each of the member states, according to the latest information available, are set out in the table:the harmonised system of tariff classification on 1 January 1988 were designed to facilitate trade. The effect of the changes on customs staffing has been broadly neutral, but there should be savings in costs in the commercial sector.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with his European Community colleagues about evidence of the incidence of bribery of customs officers at internal borders; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 22 February 1988]: None.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting of the European Community Budget Council on 23 February.

The Budget Council met in Brussels on 23–24 February. I represented the United Kingdom.The Council reached agreement in principle, subject to a reserve by Italy and clarification of some technical details, on a draft Community budget for 1988. The Italian delegation agreed to signify its assent or otherwise by Monday 29 February. The proposed draft budget reflects the conclusions of the Brussels European Council on 11–12 February.The proposed draft provides for total expenditure of 44·7 billion ecu (becu) (£31·0 billion) in commitment appropriations and 43.4 becu (£30·1 billion) in payment appropriations, the latter being equivalent to about 1·11 per cent. of Community GDP. (All sterling equivalent figures are calculated at the rate of 1·44 ecu to the pound, used by the Commission in its latest budgetary proposals).In keeping with the Brussels European Council conclusions, the proposed draft makes basic provision for agricultural guarantee expenditure of 27·5 becu (£19·1 billion), with a further 1·24 becu (£0·9 billion) for disposals of existing stocks and a monetary reserve of 1 becu (£0·7 billion) to be called up, as agreed at the European Council, only if changes in the ecu/dollar rate increase spending requirements by more than 400 million ecu (mecu) (£277 million). The Council agreed that budgetary provision would be adjusted if necessary later in the year to enable implementation of the new arrangements which are to be agreed for systematic depreciation of new stocks. On other compulsory expenditure, the draft provides for 3·9 becu of commitment and payment appropriations, equivalent to £2·7 billion.On non-compulsory expenditure, the Council agreed on figures of 11·0 becu (£7·6 billion) for commitment appropriations and 9·8 becu (£6·8 billion) for payment appropriations. The increases over 1987 are 7 and 5·8 per cent. respectively, compared with the "maximum rate" of increase, calculated in accordance with the treaty, of 7·4 per cent. The European Parliament will have the right under the treaty to add a further half maximum rate "margin" to these amounts (some 380 mecu for commitment and 341 mecu for payment appropriations). The draft includes provision for the structural funds of 7·8 becu (£5·4 billion) in commitment appropriations, as agreed at the European Council, and 6.8 becu (£4·7 billion) in payment appropriations.The Brussels European Council conclusions provided that, in order to cover the Community's 1988 budget requirements pending entry into force of the new own resources decision, member states would make available any necessary sums in excess of the existing own resources ceiling, after completion of the appropriate national procedures, in the form of non-repayable advances on payments due after entry into force of the new own resources decision.In accordance with this, 11 members of the Council agreed to a provisional and indicative draft of an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA). This follows the precedent set after the 1984 Fountainebleau European Council. On the basis of the Commission's expenditure proposals, before amendment by the Council and the European Parliament, the indicative draft envisages that member states would pay a sum of some 7·7 becu (£5·3 billion) corresponding to the new fourth own resource, with a United Kingdom share of some 1,274 mecu (£884 million). This extra financing would be partially offset by smaller VAT payments, leaving total extra financing, compared with the maximum amount available under the existing own resources ceiling, of around 6·0 becu (some £4·2 billion). The intention is that member states should contribute to whatever extra financing is finally agreed in accordance with the amounts which they would have paid if the new own resources decision had taken effect immediately. I made it clear at the Council that the United Kingdom will not be able to pay over any of the additional sums unless and until the United Kingdom Parliament's approval has been obtained.

To ask the Minister for the Arts, whether he will publish in the Official Report the attendance figures for 1987 reported by the national museums and galleries in England for which he is responsible, broken down into the individual institutions but comprising their outstations, with figures in each case of the percentage increase or decrease on the attendance figures for 1986; and whether, in the case of such museums or galleries as charge for admission, he will in addition specify the number of tickets sold.

[holding answer 18 January 1988]: The estimated numbers of visitors during 1987 to the 11 national museums and galleries for which I am responsible are as follows:

	Estimated attendance in 1987	Percentage change from 1986
British Museum	4,007,885	+3·6
Imperial War Museum	1,184,959	+0·8
National Gallery	3,566,568	+12·1
National Maritime Museum	442,005	+16·3
National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside	1,328,844	+14·2
National Portrait Gallery	590,841	-14·5
Science Museum	4,732,784	-1·9
Tate Gallery	1,742,156	+51·1
Victoria and Albert Museum	1,398,668	-2·8
Wallace Collection	168,109	-1·6

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to order a replacement for tracked Rapier.

It is too early to say when, or with what, Tracked Rapier may be replaced. An improved mark of the existing equipment will shortly enter service to maintain the capability of the system against the threat.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many contracts or agreements for research and development have currently been placed directly or indirectly with United Kingdom universities and other educational institutions by the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment at Burghfield; what is their total value; and with which United Kingdom universities or other such education institutions they have been placed;(2) how many contracts or agreements for research and development have currently been placed directly or indirectly with United Kingdom universities and other educational institutions by the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment at Llanishen; what is their total value; and with which United Kingdom universities or other such educational establishments they have been placed;(3) how many contracts or agreements for research and development have currently been placed directly or indirectly with United Kingdom universities and other educational institutions by the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment at Foulness; what is their total value; and with which United Kingdom universities or other such educational institutions they have been placed;(4) how many contracts or agreements for research and development have currently been placed directly or indirectly with United Kingdom universities and other educational institutions by the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment at Aldermaston; what is the total value and with which United Kingdom universities or other such educational institutions they have been placed.

The Atomic Weapons Establishment has currently 41 contracts or agreements placed with 23 United Kingdom universities and other educational institutions, all arising from the work at Aldermaston. Their value is £2 million. It is not our policy to give further details of these arrangments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when, following his announcement on 20 October 1987, he intends to publish the findings of the internal inquiry conducted by the director general of the Meteorological Office into the weather forecasts that the Meteorological Office made in the period preceding the storms of Thursday 15 and Friday 16 October 1987 over southern England; when he intends to publish the report prepared by Sir Peter Swinnerton-Dyer FRS, and Professor Robert Pearce; and whether he will make a statement.

Sir Peter Swinnerton-Dyer and Professor Pearce presented their report in January. They considered the findings of the internal inquiry by the director general.Their report found that the lack of adequate public warning occurred because uncertainty about atmospheric conditions in the Biscay area led to a lack of agreement between computer forecasts and, although no individual was seriously to blame for this, because the forecasters did not recognise that the computer forecasts would underestimate the speed of wind over Britain.Their report recommends changes in training forecasters, the use of more senior staff for forecasting, enhanced computer and associated facilities, and changes in menthods of working (including the way in which weather information is presented by the media).In saying all this, their report endorses the findings and recommendations of the director general's report which are concerned in particular with the need for more and better observations, for developments in the computer models and for a review of the procedures for handling severe weather warnings to the emergency authorities.I have accepted all the recommendations of both reports, and where further action is required, it will be taken as soon as possible.Copies of both reports are being published; and copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 16 February, Official Report, columns 540–41, why he is unwilling to call for a report from the general officer commanding British Sector, West Berlin, on the progress of police investigations into the La Belle discotheque outrage; and if he will make a statement.

The case of La Belle discotheque bombing has already been thoroughly investigated. The Government remain satisfied that there is no evidence available implicating Syria or any country other than Libya.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy artificers left the following branches in each year since 1979; and how many left early (a) air engineering, (b) marine engineering and (c) weapon and electrical engineering.

[holding answer 15 February 1988]: The numbers of Royal Navy artificers who left the specified branches in each year since 1979 are as follows:

	Air engineer	Marine engineer	Weapon/Electrical engineer
(a) Total numbers leaving
1979	29	298	244
1980	31	340	169
1981	22	233	138
1982	33	208	131
1983	69	291	292
1984	62	312	314

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy artificers qualified to serve in the following branches in each year since 1979 (a) air engineering, (b) marine engineering and (c) weapon and electrical engineering.

[holding answer 15 February 1988]: The numbers of Royal Navy artificers who qualified to serve in the trained strength of the specified branches is as follows:

	Air engineering	Marine engineering	Weapon and electrical engineering
1979	27	85	138
1980	21	114	152
1981	27	107	195
1982	13	107	183
1983	32	162	319
1984	41	169	417
1985	42	180	386
1986	63	119	311
1987	33	167	402

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy mechanicians qualified to serve in the following branches in each year since 1979 (a) air engineering, (b) marine engineering and (c) weapon and electrical engineering.

[holding answer 15 February 1988]: The numbers of Royal Navy mechanicians who qualified to serve in the trained strength of the specified branches are as follows:

	Air engineering	Marine engineering	Weapon and electrical engineering
1979	25	121	168
1980	23	140	189
1981	23	83	189
1982	22	109	158
1983	1	1	1

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy technicians qualified to serve in the following branches in each year since 1979 (a) air engineering, (b) marine engineering and (c) weapon and electrical engineering.

[holding answer 15 February 1988]: There are no technicians in any of the branches quoted, and the term "technician" is therefore taken to refer to mechanics. The numbers of Royal Navy mechanics who qualified to serve in the trained strength of the specified branches in the years quoted is as follows:

Year	Air engineering	Marine engineering	Weapon & electrical engineering
1983	125	284	785
1984	50	382	708
1985	26	255	637
1986	85	329	744
1987	95	335	626

1. Records for the years prior to 1983 do not reliably identify the groups specified.2. Weapon and electrical engineers include marine and air engineers with electrical engineering qualifications.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy mechanicians left the following branches in each year since 1979; and how many left early (a) marine engineering, (b) air engineering and (c) weapon and electrical engineering.

[holding answer 15 February 1988]: The numbers of Royal Navy mechanicians who left the specified branches in each year since 1979 are as follows:

	Marine Engineer	Air Engineer	Weapon/Electrical Engineer1
(a) Total numbers leaving
1979	131	40	251
1980	67	27	172
1981	80	14	122
1982	104	26	101
1983	15	4	34
1984	2	2	2
1985	2	2	2
1986	2	2	2
1987	2	2	2
(b) Numbers leaving prior to completion of their engagement
1979	72	18	103
1980	24	12	61
1981	18	3	37
1982	26	9	13
1983	2	2	4
1984	2	2	2

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy technicians left the following branches in each year since 1979; and how many left early (a) marine engineering, (b) air engineering and (c) weapon and electrical engineering.

[holding answer 15 February 1988]: There are no technicians in any of the branches quoted, and the term "technician" is therefore taken to refer to mechanics. The numbers of Royal Navy mechanics who left the specified branches in each year since 1979 are as follows:

	Marine engineer	Air engineer	Weapon/Electrical engineer
(a) Total numbers leaving
1979	1,180	251	1,266
1980	969	167	1,134
1981	662	142	736
1982	567	90	494
1983	547	98	496
1984	554	122	652
1985	825	275	912
1986	823	180	893
1987	715	178	839
(b) Numbers leaving prior to completion of their engagement
1979	1,020	174	1,017
1980	847	125	942
1981	566	115	564
1982	459	71	358
1983	440	75	352
1984	433	97	465

	Engineers
	Seaman	Supply	Instructor	Weapon	Marine	Pilot	Observer
1979	274	53	55	68	62	71	33
1980	200	42	36	56	41	68	27
1981	236	63	44	48	37	80	36
1982	254	57	52	60	50	93	32
1983	290	69	74	63	48	86	43
1984	207	46	46	58	34	60	33
1985	192	46	46	76	48	55	35
1986	253	53	42	57	33	66	34
1987	250	57	50	46	42	74	64

The numbers leaving before the end of their commission were:

	Engineers
	Seaman	Supply	Instructor	Weapon	Marine	Pilot	Observer
1979	181	40	16	42	46	49	26
1980	150	32	11	37	29	54	22
1981	167	46	21	33	18	67	30
1982	138	35	17	28	29	80	24
1983	151	43	38	36	27	63	34

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy officers graduated in the following branches for each year since 1979 (a) seaman, (b) supply and secretariat, (c) instructor, (d) weapons engineer, (e) marine engineer, (f) pilot and (g) observer.

[holding answer 15 February 1988]: The term "graduated" is taken to refer to those RN officers qualifying to join the trained strength. Numbers in respect of the specialisations and sub-specialiations listed were as follows:

	Seaman	Supply	Instructor	Engineers1	Pilot	Observer
1979	127	36	37	45	36	15
1980	187	43	56	134	53	18
1981	199	42	36	95	57	18
1982	207	30	35	63	40	22
1983	234	30	17	133	61	24
1984	133	31	32	99	45	29
1985	144	27	23	93	44	33
1986	181	30	24	107	42	42
1987	154	27	36	77	50	45
1 All engineers join as engineer officers; separate figures for weapon and marine engineers are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy officers left the following branches in each year since 1979; and how many failed to complete their engagement (a) seaman, (b) supply and secretariat, (c) instructor, (d) weapon engineer, (e) pilot and (f) observer.

[holding answer 15 February 1988]: The numbers of Royal Navy officers leaving the specialisations and sub-specialisations listed were as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research has been undertaken by his Department into any decrease in the value of properties adjacent to airports arising from the problems of aircraft noise.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has made any estimates of the likely traffic flow over the second Severn bridge.

The consultant's study of the second Severn crossing showed that for a bridge of the kind proposed, that is at English Stones with links to the M4 and M5, the high growth forecast (16-hour average annual daily flow) for the year 2010 was 14,100 vehicles for the existing bridge and 41,200 vehicles for the second crossing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what discussions have taken place between his Department, the Civil Aviation Authority and British industry on the specification for airline passenger protection smoke hoods;(2) when he expects the Civil Aviation Authority to publish their draft specification for airline passenger protection smoke hoods.

The Civil Aviation Authority is wholly responsible for aviation safety regulation. I will ask the chairman of the authority to write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has about the underspending on road maintenance by Hertfordshire county council in (a) 1986–87 and (b) the current year.

Hertfordshire county council's expenditure on road maintenance in 1986–87 and its budgeted expenditure for 1987–88 are broadly in line with its share of Government provision for road maintenance as used in the calculation of its rate support grant entitlement. This grant-related expenditure assessment (GRE) is formula-based and represents the cost of providing a standard level of service in each authority.

Outturn (£ million)	GRE (£ million
18·731	18·752
120·789	20·163
1 Budget figure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will publish draft regulations regarding the flying hours of two-pilot crews on long-distance flights.

The Civil Aviation Authority is wholly responsible for aviation safety regulation. I will ask the chairman of the authority to write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport why no account is taken in the cost-benefit analysis for transport supplementary grant road schemes of benefits to be derived from new industrial developments occasioned by a road improvement; and if he will make a statement.

The Department requires local authorities to provide an assessment of the costs and benefits of highway schemes submitted for transport supplementary grant. In addition to an estimate of the benefits to traffic, the assessment should cover the effects of the scheme on the local community, local industry and commerce, road safety and the environment. Departmental circular 1/87, "Transport Policies and Programme Submissions for 1988–89" provides guidance to local authorities. A copy is in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list in the Official Report, in terms of pounds sterling per mile, the net present value returns for each transport supplementary grant approved road scheme (i) in Lancashire and (ii) for the highway authorities in the west midlands economic region, for the financial years 1987–88 and1988–89.

The table lists all local road schemes supported with transport supplementary grant (TSG) in 1987–88 and 1988–89 for which the net present value is available in (i) Lancashire, and (ii) the West Midlands economic region. A number of other schemes in both Lancashire and the west midlands are similarly supported with TSG. Net present values for these are not available. It is not always practicable to calculate a net present value for a scheme, particularly in an urban area; other measures, such as first year rate of return, are often more relevant.

Authority and scheme	TSG support in	Net present value1(£ million)	Length (miles)
(i) Lancashire
M65 Nelson—Colne	87–88 and 88–89	32·8	1·1
A6068 Shuttleworth Hall link road	87–88 and 88–89	10·5	1·1
A56 North Valley link road, Colne	87–88 and 88–89	9·3	0·7
Burnley inner relief road (phase II)	88–89	4·6	0·4
(ii) Wolverhampton

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the safety of tyres, tyre tread depths and acceptable tread depths across the tyres.

I have nothing to add to the answers I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridgeshire, South-West (Sir A. Grant) on 15 January, Official Report, columns 457–58 and my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. King) on 22 February, Official Report, column 74.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe, from the hon. Member for Hampshire, North-West (Mr. Mitchell), of 19 February, how many of the responses to the consultation paper support his Department's proposal; and when he expects to come to a decision on the proposal.

The responses so far received are, in varying degrees, opposed to the proposal. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales will be making an interim statement to Standing Committee E on 25 February. I will take into account further comments and representations in coming to a final decision before the Report stage of the Local Government Finance Bill is reached.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the present position on Victoria coach station.

It remains the intention that Victoria coach station should be sold by the National Bus Company to London Regional Transport, so that it will stay in the public sector for the time being; as I have previously indicated, this will enable options to be kept open pending the outcome of the public inquiry into London Regional Transport's proposals for a new coach station at Paddington. The arrangements for this sale of Victoria coach station are now being made, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has made a modification to the National Bus Company's disposal programme accordingly. A copy of the modification has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the employment consequences of the 30p increase in rates in Cleveland.

The 30p in the pound charge in rates in Cleveland is a 12 per cent. precept increase. If the council had decided to budget in line with the Government spending assumptions the precept need have increased by only 1.4 per cent. Whilst it is not possible to make any specific estimate, it can only harm employment opportunities in businesses in the area.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the rate support grant paid to Sunderland borough council in each of the financal years since 1979, expressed in (a) cash terms and (b) real terms expressed in 1987–88 prices; and what percentage of the council's total spending in each year this represented.

The figure requested are provided in the table.Expenditure figures quoted are total expenditure as defined for the purpose of the rate support grant system. Comparable figures are not available for 1979–80 and 1980–81.The rate support grant figures for 1979–80 and 1980–81 are not comparable with those for 1981–82 and 1987–88. For the earlier two years they comprise needs, resources and domestic elements, whereas from 1981–82 onwards they comprise block grant and domestic rate relief grant.Figures for 1979–80 to 1982–83 are final entitlements. Figures for the later years are subject to change when RSG supplementary reports are implemented and when final entitlements to domestic rate relief grant are calculated. Real terms figures are cash figures uprated by the GDP deflator.

Sunderland
		Rate support grant
	Total expenditure £ million	Cash terms £ million	Real terms £ million	Rate support grant as a percentage of expenditure
1979–80	—	656·46	114·158	—
1980–81	—	77·125	113·913	—
1981–82	97·280	63·787	85·219	65·5
1982–83	108·042	64·724	80·646	59·9
1983–84	106·321	65·252	77·650	61·3
1984–85	105·848	65·556	74·668	61·9
1985–86	106·650	67·012	72·037	62·8
1986–87	145·164	69·813	72·745	48·0
1987–88	149·881	79·761	79·761	53·2

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Houghton and Washington, Official Report, 17 February, column 967, he will publish a table showing the cost of the use by the Property Services Agency of private contractors and consultants for each year since they were first used to the latest date for which data are available.

£ million (cash)	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85	1985–86	1986–87
Private contractors
new construction	520	599	793	968	1,051	1,109
maintenance	450	550	590	581	614	685
Consultants	50	61	80	125	155	171
Total	1,020	1,210	1,463	1,674	1,820	1,965

Information for earlier years would be obtainable only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the increases in housing association rents which would be necessary on the level of housing association grant outlined in the report of his Department's senior economic advisor on "Grant Percentage and Rents Paid by Housing Association Tenants"; and if he will make a statement.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish planning guidance for the metropolitan district councils in the west midlands; and if he will make a statement.

I have today written to councillor Peter Kellie, chairman of the west midlands planning and transportation sub-committee of the metropolitan borough councils, to convey the Secretary of State's strategic planning guidance for the west midlands, which will provide a framework for the preparation of unitary development plans. Copies have been sent to all local authorities in the region. The west midlands is the first metropolitan area for which we have issued strategic guidance and I welcome the co-operative, constructive approach of the local authorities and everyone else involved in this process. A commencement order enabling six of the seven metropolitan boroughs to begin preparation of their plans will come into force on 29 February. Dudley has been excluded from the order for the moment, at its own request, because it is completing local plans for parts of its area. The effect of a commencement order there would be to halt work on local plans not yet completed, and to require procedural stages to be repeated unnecessarily in the preparation of the unitary development plan.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he had an opportunity to raise the subject of postal communications with the Soviet Foreign Minister during his recent visit to Moscow.

The costs of private contractors and consultants used by the Property Services Agency since 1981–82 are as follows:

No. However, my right hon. and learned Friend spent some time discussing general human rights questions with Mr. Shevardnadze and pressed for a more humane Soviet approach. We have made our concern about Soviet interference with postal communications known to the Soviet authorities on several occasions, notably at the CSCE meeting in Vienna where we have tabled a proposal on the privacy and integrity of postal and telephonic communication.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, during his recent visit to the Soviet Union, he specifically raised with Mr. Shevardnadze outstanding scientific verification problems related to the completion of a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty.

No. The scientific problems connected with verifying a comprehensive test ban are technical and complex. They must be solved by scientists rather than politicians. That is the purpose of the ad hoc group of scientists of the conference on disarmament which is working on precisely these problems.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, during his meetings with Soviet officials on his recent visit to the Soviet Union, he discussed the prospects for a joint Anglo-Soviet initiative to develop the 1963 partial nuclear test ban treaty into a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty.

No. My right hon. and learned Friend discussed with Mr. Shevardnadze the progress of the United States-Soviet negotiations on nuclear testing which are aimed at step-by-step progress. It is this approach which we support rather than the impractical aim of an immediate ban on testing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report a statement on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council held on 22 February.

My right hon. and learned Friend and I attended the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 22 February. The Council confirmed agreement to the package of stabilisers for eight agricultural commodities on which France had reserved its position at the European Council in Brussels. The adoption of these stabilisers, without amendment or reserve, enabled us, and our Netherlands colleagues, to confirm our agreement to all the other conclusions of the Brussels European Council and opens the way to their implementation.The consolidated text of the European Council conclusions, distributed in Brussels on 22 February (Document SN 461/1/88), has been placed in the Library. Copies are also available in the Vote Office.This Council thus concludes a further significant stage in the United Kingdom's long-standing campaign for effective Community action to deal with excess farm production and agricultural expenditure. The Community will now be able to concentrate on its major long-term goal; completion of the single market in goods and services by 1992.The Council also approved textile arrangements with Egypt and Turkey and adopted a proposal, for discussion in the GATT multilateral trade negotiations, on reductions in obstacles to trade. In addition, the Council discussed preparations for the forthcoming meeting with Foreign Ministers of the Central American and Contadora group countries in Hamburg from 29 February to 1 March (San José IV). The Council also agreed to a ministerial meeting on European demographic issues; and expressed interest in a French proposal for a congress of young people to discuss European Community issues.

To ask the Prime Minister if, during her recent visit to North Atlantic Treaty Organisation headquarters in Brussels, she discussed the military implications for NATO defences of developments in the bilateral discussions in Geneva between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on negotiating a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty.

No. The current negotiations are aimed at agreeing a verification regime which would permit ratification of the threshold test ban and peaceful nuclear explosions treaties. Their ratification would not have military implications for NATO defences. Any further restrictions will be scrutinised to ensure their compatability with NATO security.

To ask the Prime Minister if, during her recent visit to NATO, she discussed the commitments made by NATO member states under article VI of the non-proliferation treaty for future nuclear weapon modernisation and adjustments within NATO.

No.

To ask the Prime Minister if, during her recent visit to the NATO headquarters in Brussels, she made any initiative towards the updating of the Harmel report of December 1967 on redefining future tasks for NATO.

No. The course set out for the Alliance in the Harmel report in 1967 remains as valid today as it was then.

To ask the Prime Minister if, during her recent visit to NATO headquarters in Brussels, she raised the possibility of strengthening the role of the Eurogroup within NATO in terms of (a) nuclear weapons deployment, (b) conventional force deployment and (c) troop deployment in Europe and within European airspace and territorial waters.

No.

To ask the Prime Minister if, during her recent visit to the NATO headquarters in Brussels, she discussed NATO's cultural arid scientific programmes arid the specific benefits which accrue to the United Kingdom from these programmes.

The subjects did not come up during my visit.

To ask the Prime Minister if, during her most recent visit to NATO headquarters in Brussels, she raised the issue of the compatibility of the increase in warhead and strike capacity of the Trident II D-5 SLIM system with article I of the North Atlantic treaty of 4 April 1949.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consideration he has given to evidence presented by the Professional Association of Teachers in the spring issue of the magazine The Professional Teacher, a copy of which has been sent to him, that 32 per cent. of teachers had suffered physical violence at the hands of pupils.

The information provided by the association shows that 32 per cent. of the 1,500 members of the association who replied to their questionnaire which represents about 4 per cent. of the total membership, had been attacked by a pupil at some time. We are looking carefully at this and other available information in considering whether to establish a committee of inquiry into discipline in schools.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied that effective disciplinary procedures exist in schools to ensure proper teaching can take place; and if he will set out those procedures, together with any guidelines that may have been laid down by his Department for their cases.

Disciplinary procedures within schools are primarily a matter for the headteacher and the governors of individual schools. The Education (No. 2) Act 1986, will strengthen their authority by giving them direct responsibility for maintaining discipline. A recently published report by Her Majesty's inspectorate, "Good behaviour and discipline in schools", which has been issued to schools, gives advice on best practice in maintaining discipline. A copy of the report has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the schools in the Inner London education authority area that he has visited since becoming Secretary of State and the date of each visit; and if he will list separately the schools in the Inner London education authority area that have been visited by any other of the present Ministers in his Department since their appointment, and the date of each visit.

Since his appointment my right hon. Friend has visited one school within the Inner London education authority area, Notre Dame high school on 14 January 1988. On 4 November 1986 I visited Paragon Hill school, an independent school in Hampstead. Visits by other present Ministers in the Department are as follows:

	Date
Minister of State (Mrs. Angela Rumbold)
Alleyn's school (independent)	22 May 1986
Francis Holland school (independent)	13 November 1986
St. Luke's CE primary school	31 March 1987
St. Paul's girls school (independent)	6 May 1987
Mulberry girls school	25 January 1988

The Department does not maintain records for visits prior to 1986.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list those organisations which responded to the consultative letter issued in July 1987 on collective worship in schools; how many of these organisations expressed a view on whether the requirement to take part in collective worship should be relaxed in the case of pupils over the school leaving age; and how many of those organisations who expressed a view on this issue (a) favoured such a change and (b) were opposed to it.

Of the 34 bodies formally consulted, 28 responded. A list of those responding is given in the table. Fourteen expressed a view on the application of the law to pupils above compulsory school age. Five expressed support for a change in the law, so that the statutory requirement would no longer apply to pupils above the compulsory school age. Nine were against any change in the law. Copies of the responses are held in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many of those organisations which responded to the consultation paper on the keeping and disclosure of pupil records and expressed a view on whether references should be disclosable stated that (a) they should be and (b) they should not.

Sixty one organisations commented on the disclosure of references. Twenty four favour disclosure, 27 do not. The remainder did not express a preference.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recommendations have been issued by him about fees for students on courses of further and higher education in the academic year 1988–89.

For the academic year 1988–89 I have recommended the following fee levels for home students and for students from other European Community countries on full-time courses (fees for 1987–88 are shown in brackets):

	£	£
Postgraduate courses	1,800	(1,730)
First degree and diploma courses	578	(556)

In relation to other courses I understand that the Council of Local Education Authorities has recommended fees for 1988–89 for home and EC students as follows (fees for 1987–88 are shown in brackets):

	Advanced further education		Non-advanced further education
	£	£	£	£
Full-time	578·00	(556·00)	390·00	(360·00)
Sandwich/block release (weekly rate)	16·00	(15·50)	11·00	(10·00)
Part-time per course hour	0·54	(0·52)	0·37	(0·34)
Part-time annual fee for one session per week	57·80	(55·60)	39·00	(36·00)

The Government's policy is that students from outside the European Community should pay fees that reflect the full cost of their education here. It is for institutions and local authorities to determine the actual fees to be charged to overseas students in the light of this policy and of their own circumstances.For the universities, the University Grants Committee has recommended minimum fee levels for overseas students on undergraduate and postgraduate courses in 1988–89 as follows (recommended minima for 1987–88 are shown in brackets):

	£	£
Arts courses	3,950	(3,690)
Science courses	5,180	(4,840)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will provide for students attending international degree courses to receive mandatory awards.

Subject to Parliament's approval of the necessary regulations, mandatory awards will be payable from the 1988–89 academic year to eligible students attending degree courses provided by an establishment in the United Kingdom in conjunction with a university or other institution in another country. Such courses will no longer require individual designation provided that they lead to a first degree of a United Kingdom university or of the Council for National Academic Awards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will list the number of inspectors of education in each of the outer London boroughs;(2) how many inspectors are employed by the Inner London education authority; what areas of the curriculum they cover; how many inspectors are employed in total by outer London boroughs who administer education; and how many inspectors he estimates will have to be employed by the proposed inner London local education authorities in order to ensure effective monitoring of the delivery of the curriculum.

[holding answer 18 February 1988]: Figures on local education authority inspectors are not collated centrally. The structure of local inspectorates, including the allocation of inspectors to specialisms, is a matter for each local education authority. Inner London councils will be required to publish development plans during 1989, setting out the education service they propose to provide; these plans will be required to include their proposals for an inspectorate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science which new bodies he expects to set up under his proposal to abolish the Inner London education authority; and what he expects them to cost to operate in 1988–90.

[holding answer 18 February 1988]: My right hon. Friend has announced that he proposes to set up a staff commission to look after the interests of staff affected by the abolition of ILEA. The direct costs of the commission, which are not expected to be large, will be borne centrally.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will indicate the amount of regional development grants and regional selective assistance grants made in Houghton and Washington constituency for each year from 1979 to the latest date available.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave on 26 January 1988, at column 148.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps and initiatives have been developed to encourage foreign investment in the United Kingdom with special reference to the car industry.

My Department's Invest in Britain Bureau continues to promote the United Kingdom as a location for foreign investment and to assist individual companies to establish themselves in Britain. No specific initiatives have been undertaken by the 1BB with regard to attracting foreign investment in the car industry, although my Department has provided assistance to a number of foreign companies wishing to invest in that market.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what consideration his Department has given 1.o the effects on the growth of the mobile communications industry of any change in current Government policy regarding bands I and III of the VHF spectrum; and if he will make a statement.

The needs of the mobile communications industry, both current and future, helped to determine the Government's current policy in respect of bands I and III. If there is any change in that policy those needs will help to frame the nature of the change. At present, study of the technical scope for sharing use of these bands between mobile radio and broadcasting is continuing as part of the Government's wider review of the technical options for additional broadcasting services.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what advice he has given to furniture retailers on the foam standards they should consider when forward ordering supplies; and if he will make a statement;(2) when he expects to lay before Parliament regulations relating to the safety standards of foam used in furniture; and if he will make a statement;(3) what is the ignition source level selected for the consultation period on combustion modified high resilient foam for use in furniture; and if he will make a statement.

Draft regulations will be issued for consultation in the very near future. They will contain proposals for specifying combustion modifed foam to be used in upholstered furniture.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Worsley of 5 February, Official Report, columns 777–78, what information he has as to the names of companies and individuals operating value added services under the class licence granted on 30 April 1987.

[holding answer 23 February 1988]: Only limited categories of licensees operating under the class licence are required to register with the Office of Telecommunications. Their names are maintained on a list available from the Oftel library. No information is available on other operators under the licence.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster why special permits are required to take a personal computer or word processor abroad if its capacity is greater than 128K; how many computers have been confiscated since 1985 in accordance with this provision; whether the restrictions are ever revised, and what discussions he has had with other countries regarding the lifting of these restrictions.

[holding answer 23 February 1988]: Controls on the export of such equipment in the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1987 reflect those agreed with COCOM partners. The order raised the "total internal storage" level above which export licences are required from 128K to 640K. However, computers with a lower capacity may still require a licence for other reasons. The COCOM control lists are subject to periodic multilateral review. Aspects of the computer controls are still under consideration.Figures relating to the detention or seizure by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise of computers can be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total regional selective assistance which he is committed to paying out under offer letters already issued expressed in outturn figures for each year from 1987–88 to 1990–91.

Expenditure on regional development grant and regional selective assistance is as follows

£ million

1978–79

1979–80

1980–81

1981–82

1982–83

1983–84

1984–85

1985–86

1986–87

RDG

RSA

RDG

RSA

RDG

RSA

RDG

RSA

RDG

RSA

RDG

RSA

RDG

RSA

RDG

RSA

RDG

RSA

Wales

71·5

30·3

50·7

18·8

103·5

10·7

122·2

9·2

121·5

15·5

72·1

18·2

92·7

25·1

84·4

28·0

88·7

35·6

Clwyd

9·5

0·9

4·9

1·0

8·6

1·4

15·8

1·5

17·8

3·5

12·2

3·2

23·4

3·2

22·8

5·1

27·9

6·3

Dyfed

5·7

0·5

8·1

0·5

29·1

0·5

21·9

0·1

20·0

0·3

13·0

0·6

8·8

0·5

4·9

0·7

4·8

1·7

Gwent

5·5

1·3

3·0

1·3

6·0

3·2

8·7

4·2

12·1

6·4

6·4

4·4

7·8

9·1

7·4

5·9

12·5

6·9

Gwynedd

0·3

0·1

0·7

0·2

1·1

1·2

0·5

1·0

0·9

0·2

0·4

0·9

0·8

0·1

0·9

0·5

2·3

0·5

Mid Glamorgan

8·7

0·7

6·9

1·8

18·5

1·2

15·8

1·0

10·2

1·0

7·7

3·0

9·3

3·5

9·9

4·6

13·8

6·4

Powys

0·4

0·2

0·3

0·2

0·7

0·2

0·5

0·2

0·4

0·6

0·3

0·5

0·1

0·5

0·1

0·2

0·4

0·1

South Glamorgan

4·7

26·4

3·6

13·4

7·7

2·7

8·4

1·0

7·6

1·3

2·8

1·4

2·9

0·7

2·9

3·3

4·7

3·7

West Glamorgan

14·4

0·2

5·3

0·4

8·9

0·3

26·7

0·2

22·6

1·1

7·8

1·2

15·8

1·5

14·1

2·3

5·1

1·9

Shotton TTWA

2·8

0·3

1·7

0·2

1·4

0·3

7·6

1·0

8·8

2·1

8·8

1·8

12·4

2·2

12·9

2·7

6·9

3·3