To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much below its full staffing complement is the forensic analysis department in London.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that there are at present 203 scientific staff in post at the Metropolitan police forensic science laboratory, eight less than the approved establishment of 211.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the average length of time for forensic analysis of drugs when a defendant on a drugs charge has been remanded in custody:(2) what is the longest time period on record for which a defendant has been kept on remand awaiting forensic analysis of drugs.

This information is not available in the form requested. The Home Office forensic science service and the Metropolitan police forensic science laboratory do, however, give the highest priority to the analysis of drug samples where a defendant is remanded in custody because of drug-related offences. Information is usually available to assist the investigation within two to three days and frequently within a very much shorter time.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the procedures to warn the civilian population of the United Kingdom of an impending missile attack would be initiated if a ballistic missile attack against the United States of America or any other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation members was detected.

The procedure would be initiated if the United Kingdom population was thought to be at risk.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many petitions he received alleging wrongful conviction in the years 1986 and 1987; how many of these were sent (a) by prisoners and (b) on behalf of prisoners; and how many related to (i) summary trials and (ii) trials on indictment.

The number of representations received alleging wrongful conviction was 785 in the year ended 30 September 1986 and 722 in the year ended 30 September 1987. Fuller details are not readily available, but I will write to my hon. Friend shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any proposals to prohibit sales of body armour or flak jackets which might be used by a person resisting arrest or committing an offence; and whether he has received any representations to this effect.

We are considering representations from the Association of Chief Police Officers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is his intention that licences for national commercial radio stations, once acquired, will be freely transferable.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a similar question from him on 27 January at columns 251–52.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is his intention to auction licences for national commercial radio stations by means of (a) a lump sum, (b) a percentage of future pretax profits, (c) a percentage of future revenue or (d) a combination of the above.

We envisage that the radio authority will invite tenders in the form of a single cash figure, though it may be payable in instalments over the period of the licence.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether radio stations granted licences by the new radio authority will be able to promote (a) lotteries, (b) bingo and (c) other gaming activities during their programmes.

We envisage no need for restrictions in broadcasting legislation additional to those in current gaming legislation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many arrest warrants were issued for rates default in 1987 in (a) England and Wales and (b) Stoke on Trent;(2) how many people imprisoned for rates default in 1987 in

According to the latest information held centrally, which is approximate, about 370 persons were received into prison department establishments in England and Wales from all courts in 1986 for nonpayment of rates. Of these, six were known to have been sentenced by courts in Stoke on Trent. Information or the receipt of social security benefits immediately prior to imprisonment and on arrest warrants issued for rate default is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of visitors

Number of visitor and business visitor admissions in 1985. 1986 and 1987, by nalionality and period of leave granted
Estimated numbers1
Period of leave	Bangladesh			India			Pakistan
granted on entry2	1985	1986	1987	1985	1986	1987	1985	1986	1987
			Jan-Sept			Jan-Sept			Jan-Sept
Up to 1 month	2,000	2,000	1,000	13,400	13,900	7,500	10,300	10,200	5,100
Over 1 and up to 3 months	1,000	1,200	700	10,200	10,900	5,000	8,000	9,200	3,800
Over 3 and up to 6 months3	8,000	8,300	5,800	145,000	142,000	108,000	62,600	63,000	45,600
Over 6 months and up 1 year	100	100	100	400	400	300	200	200	200
Total admissions	11,200	11,600	7,600	169,000	167,000	121,000	81,100	82,600	54,700
1 Individual figures may not add to totals due to rounding.
2 Initial period of leave granted by the immigration officer at the port of entry and therefore before taking account of any subsequent extension of stay.
3 Almost all admissions relate to a period of leave of exactly six months.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners who were convicted for offences in courts in Northern Ireland have subsequently been transferred to prisons in England and Wales during 1986 and 1987.

I have been asked to reply.No such permanent transfers were made in 1986 or 1987.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many new companies were established in Scotland during 1987; and if he will make a statement.

5,926 new companies were registered in Scotland during 1987.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects the Registrar of Companies to have secured the accounts of the Economic League for the year ended 31 December 1986; and if he will now consider prosecution.

The Registrar of Companies expects to receive the outstanding accounts without further delay. If, however, they are not received within the next few days, the Registrar will follow his normal practice and write individually to the directors of the company, reminding them of their obligations under the Companies Act 1985. He will also point out that they would render themselves liable to prosecution if acceptable accounts continue not be be delivered.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what will be the total cost of the Government's

holding answer 17 March 1988]: The information available is given in the table.publicity campaign on the EEC internal market; and, in particular, what is the cost of the 19 breakfasts in cities around the United Kingdom.

[holding answer 21 March 1988]: We are planning a sustained five-year campaign. The initial phase of the campaign will cost about £5 million. The campaign will also include 20 regional conferences, each for up to 250 to 300 business people, at a cost of around £300,000. The cost of breakfast provided before each conference will be about £5 per head.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will cause an inquiry to be held into the handling of correspondence by the office of the Secretary of State for Social Services in view of its loss of correspondence from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, forwarded by the Secretary of State for the Home Department in October 1987, and its failure to notify the Department of Employment that on 21 January it was forwarding to it correspondence from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton.

I understand that extensive inquiries have already been carried out by the Department of Health and Social Security and I see no need for a further inquiry. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services has already undertaken (on 14 March at column 470 and on 17 March at column 664) to look into the matter raised in the October 1987 letter on receipt of a copy of the correspondence. A further copy of the 21 January 1988 letter and the relevant correspondence is being sent to the Department of Employment.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on co-ordination between the Secretary of State for Social Services and the Secretary of State for the Environment in relation to Government policy towards the correlation between housing standards and health.

My right hon. Friends consult and co-operate as necessary on matters of concern to their Departments.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide additional funds for the London borough of Tower Hamlets to permit the removal of asbestos on the Lanfranc estate in Bow, London.

The council has been allocated over £15 million of capital resources for 1988–89 and is free to supplement this with part of its capital receipts. It is for the council to decide on priorities for repairs and improvement within its housing stock.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Department plans to instruct the Property Services Agency to repair the fountain of the Charles Buxton memorial in the Victoria gardens.

The water supply to the drinking fountain in the memorial to Sir Thomas Powell Buxton has been turned off since 1980 because the design of the memorial makes it expensive and difficult to maintain the necessary standard of hygiene in the water supply to satisfy standards of public health.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Bradford, South (Mr. Cryer) of 10 February, Official Report, column 289, his Department has received any request from the European Parliament special committee of inquiry on nuclear waste and transport in the EEC to present written or oral evidence on matters concerning the United Kingdom.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many cases of long-term damage to sites of special scientific interest were reported over the past three-years; and how many of them were due to works initiated or approved by a public department.

Details of damage to SSSIs, have, since 1983–84, been published in the Nature Conservancy Council's annual report. However, the information is not available in the precise form requested. It is currently being compiled by the NCC, and I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as it is available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence his Department has as to the effect of Government cutbacks on local authority finance on the ability of councils to carry out essential repairs to their housing stock; and if he will make a statement.

Local authorities' expenditure on the renovation of their housing stock, which includes all major repairs, has increased every year since 1981–82. We have provided for a further increase in 1988–89 of more than 11 per cent. over the estimated outturn for the current year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he proposes to widen the range of outside advice available to the Property Services Agency.

Under present arrangements my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I are advised by the chief executive of the Property Services Agency who chairs the PSA board comprising his senior colleagues and three non-executive members drawn from the private sector. We have now appointed to the PSA board Mr. Jack Rodin, a senior partner and chief executive in Building Design Partnership. The appointment will run for a period of three years from March 1988. Mr. Rodin is a chartered engineer and fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers. His appointment will add to the valuable input provided by Mr. Brian Hill (Higgs and Hill Building Ltd), Mr. Leslie Cousins (Price Waterhouse) and Mr. John Brown (Peachy Property Corporation plc) in the fields of building, finance and estates respectively. In line with the other non-executive members Mr. Rodin will be paid £4,000 per annum during the tenure of his appointment.

To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list in the Official Report the names of all right hon. and hon. Members, other than those who were at the time members of Her Majesty's Government, who in the 1983 to 1987 Parliament (a) were not appointed to serve on any Standing Committees and (b) were so appointed but did not attend any meetings thereof.

The information requested can be derived from the Standing Committee Return, published each Session, which lists the names of all Members appointed to serve on Standing Committees during the 1983 to 1987 Parliament, and includes the number of sittings they attended. The information could be provided in the form requested only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what figures he has on the numbers of shareholders in Scotland in (a) January of the current year and (b) May 1979; and if he will make a statement.

The Treasury-Stock Exchange survey carried out by NOP Market Research Ltd. between 20 January and 15 February 1988 found that approximately 1/2 million individuals in Scotland were shareholders. The Target Group index survey, carried out by the British Market Research Bureau between April 1978 and March 1979 found that approximately 1/4 million individuals in Scotland were shareholders. Both sets of figures are produced by statistical surveys of Great Britain as a whole — the figures are therefore subject to sampling error, which may be substantial for component categories.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if there will be a new design for the £1 coin.

Yes. Her Majesty the Queen has been graciously pleased to approve my recommendation for a new design for the £1 coin. The obverse will continue to show the Raphael Maklouf portrait of Her Majesty. The new reverse design will feature a shield of the royal arms ensigned by a representation of the royal crown. Coins bearing the new design will be available for general circulation on 21 April 1988.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy that responses received to consultative documents issued by his Department be made publicly available in his Department's library, except where the respondent has specifically asked that this not be done; and if he will arrange for this procedure to be made clear when future consultative documents are issued.

Each case is considered on its merits.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now consider the repayment of 3½ per cent. war stock.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to redeem 3½ per cent. war loan.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, to assist the work of the Zeebrugge disaster fund, the Government will donate to the fund sums equal to those levied on it in taxation.

[holding answer 7 March 1988]: The Government have donated £1 million to the Zeebrugge disaster fund.

Product	Commission proposal	1987–88 United Kingdom duty rate	Approximate per cent rate changes
Alcoholic drinks
Spirits	2·71 ECU (£8·54) per litre of alcohol	£15·77 per litre of alcohol	-46
Beer1	1·36 ECU (0·91) per hectolitre/degree Plato of finished product at 15°c (£8·77 for average beer)	£25·80 per hectolitre plus 86p for every degree of original gravity over 1030° (£31·82 for average beer)	-72
Table wine	17 ECU (£11·43) per hectolitre	£98·00 per hectolitre	-88
Fortified wine
(15–18%)	85 ECU (£57·13) per hectolitre	£169·00 per hectolitre	-66
(18–22%)	85 ECU (£57·13)	£194·90 per hectolitre	-71
Tobacco products

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the report and recommendations of the United Nations Secretary General's advisory group on financial flows for Africa; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 14 March 1988]: Her Majesty's Government welcome this report which is a useful analysis of the African debt problem. We were among the first to draw attention to the emerging problem and our aid programme is substantially directed towards Africa. Last year my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer put forward a three-point debt relief plan for low-income debt-distressed countries which has been well received. Last December the United Kingdom doubled its planned contribution to the newly established IMF enhanced structural adjustment facility which will provide extra finance and support structural adjustment programmes in low-income countries. We have also committed £250 million to the World Bank's special programme of assistance 1988–90 for sub-Saharan Africa. Over the next few months we will be studying the report further and discussing it with our partners.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will tabulate in the Official Report those commodities subject to proposals for harmonisation of excise duty set out in the draft regulations of the Commission of the European Economic Community and tabulated in the eighth report of the Select Committee on European Legislation, HC 43 viii, stating for each category of goods (a) the basis of excise duty levied in the financial year 1987–88 and that proposed by the Commission, (b) the approximate respective revenue for each assessment that has accrued or would accrue to Her Majesty's Government, in 1987–88 prices, (c) the percentage increase or decrease in excise duty levied and (d) the approximate increase or decrease in retail sale price, together with indications of where the proposed increases in the rate of value added tax would further increase or decrease final price to the purchaser, adding totals for each broad category of commodity and totals of cumulative increase or decrease, together with net grand change in expected revenue.

[holding answer 18 March 1988]: The information requested is given in the tables.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how he will implement value added tax on United Kingdom registered passenger cruise liner operations when their passage is partially, or wholly, outside EEC territorial waters; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 21 March 1988]: It is necessary to distinguish between supplies by the cruise lines themselves and supplies by tour operators of places on cruise ships. The former are only liable to United Kingdom VAT to the extent that the cruise is in United Kingdom waters. As regards supplies by tour operators, tour operators based in the United Kingdom are liable to United Kingdom VAT on their gross margin attributable to the part of the cruise undertaken in the territorial waters of EC member states, including the United Kingdom. The apportionment of the margin between EC and non-EC elements will have to be done on the basis of the number of days per cruise spent in EC waters or travelling between EC ports. Similar apportionments will have to be done for coach tours taking in both EC and non-EC countries.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which EEC nations have implemented value added tax charges on passenger cruise line operations; and what information he has as to the reasons for delay by certain countries in implementing such charges.

[holding answer 21 March 1988]: There is no detailed information readily available on the practices of other member states in this respect, but there is no special VAT relief for passenger cruises under the EC sixth VAT directive. As regards tour operators, only Ireland and Denmark have not imposed tax on tours operators' margins. I understand that they claim not to do so under a transitional derogation in article 28 of that directive.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what concern has been expressed by local authorities about the number of education welfare officers; and if he has any plans to seek to increase their number, to alter their role or to seek to improve their performance.

Education welfare officers are employed by local education authorities, and it is for them to determine the number needed in their area in the light of local circumstances. Our recommendations on the role and working methods of education welfare officers were set out in DES circular 2/86 "School Attendance and Education Welfare Services". We are considering issuing a further circular on good practice later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to seek to pay United Kingdom subscriptions into CERN on a basis of a basket of currencies rather than on the basis of the Swiss franc.

The method of calculating the contribution of CERN member states is currently being examined by a working group set up by the CERN finance committee. The United Kingdom is actively participating in the work of this group.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will introduce legislation to seek to amend section 27(1) of the Education Act 1980 to cover peripatetic and advisory teachers both at school and when undertaking pre-school teaching; and if he will make a statement.

Both peripatetic and advisory teachers already come within the scope of section 27(1) of the 1980 Act in so far as they are teachers at schools. Teaching of children of pre-school age is similarly covered in so far as it takes place at a school. We have no plans to extend the scope of the section to further categories of staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children currently receive free school meals in (a) the Inner London education authority area and (b) the London borough of Lewisham.

In October 1986, the latest date for which information is available, 90,237 pupils in ILEA received a free school meal. I regret that information in respect of Lewisham is not separately available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what figures he has to show the number and percentage of

Source of Aid
£ million
Year	European Regional Development Fund (Quota)—Net	European Investment Bank1	European Social Fund2
1975	0·382	—	0·115
1976	0·343	26·000	0·269
1977	0·370	—	—
1978	3·314	22·900	0·142
1979	2·133	120·600	—
1980	1·121	—	—
1981	1·944	—	0·047
1982	1·499	—	0·001

The available information is as follows:

Employees in employment (thousands)
SIC 801		Per cent.
Mid Glamorgan
0 Agriculture, forestry and fishing	1·1	0·7
1 Energy and Water Supply	17·7	11·7
2 Extraction of minerals and ores other than fuels; manufacture of metals, mineral products and chemicals	6·1	4·0
3 Metal goods, engineering and vehicles industries	19·2	12·7
4 Other manufacturing industries	19·4	12·8
5 Construction	8·6	5·7
6 Distribution, hotels and catering; repairs	21·2	14·0
7 Transport and communication	6·0	3·9
8 Banking, finance, insurance, business services and leasing	7·5	4·9
9 Other services	44·9	29·6
All industries and services	151·7	100·0
Rhymney Valley district
0 Agriculture, forestry and fishing	0·4	1·6
1 Energy and Water Supply	3·2	13·1
2–4 Manufacturing industries	7·6	31·0
5 Construction	1·2	5·0
6 Distribution, hotels and catering; repairs	3·2	13·2
7–8 Transport and communication, banking, finance, insurance, business services and leasing	2·2	8·8
9 Other services	6·7	27·3
All industries and services	24·7	100·0
1 Standard Industrial Classification (1980) Divisions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the amount of identifiable grants and loans received in Gwynedd by the European Economic Community for each of the years of United Kingdom membership.

Total identifiable European Community grants and loans to Gwynedd are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, further to his reply of 16 March, he will list by year the predicted average and peak traffic numbers by total and broken down by freight and passenger cars for

	1984	1986		1987		1993		2008
			Per cent. HGV		Per cent. HGV		Per cent. HGV		Per cent. HFV
Lydden-Whitfield road (A256)	14,000	15,000	13	16,000	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Whitfield-Deal road (A258)	13,000	14,000	28	17,000	23	7,000	7	9,000	9
						8,000	8	12,000	8
Deal road-Dover Eastern docks	15,000	16,000	25	17,000	21	12,000	6	14,000	7
						14,000	6	19,000	6

The net present values were assessed using the Department's standard cost-benefit analysis. It was assumed that dualling would be undertaken at the same time as major maintenance, that the programmed M20/A20 improvement schemes would be completed, and that the accident rate on the A2 would improve as a result of street lighting installation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will introduce legislation to make the wearing of helmets for cyclists compulsory.

There are no plans to make the wearing of pedal cycle safety helmets compulsory. It is sensible for cyclists to wear helmets. Almost half of cycle casualties suffered some sort of head injury. Three quarters of all cycle deaths involve head injuries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether those persons whose vehicles have been allocated cherished registration numbers as a result of criminal action will be permitted to retain them.

Cherished registration numbers found by the Department to have been obtained through criminal action are normally withdrawn from circulation. Requests to reinstate such numbers are granted where the Department is satisfied that the keeper of the vehicle bearing a particular number acquired that number in good faith and that there is no risk of other claims to it arising.

The actual and predicted annual average daily traffic flows available are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what representations he has received about the 30 mph speed limit; and if he will make a statement;(2) what representations he has received concerning the 70 mph speed limit; and if he will make a statement.

Speed limits are the subject of much correspondence, reflecting a wide range of views. We believe that the 30 mph national speed limit in built-up areas and the 70 mph national speed limit on motorways and dual carriageways — unless signs show otherwise — strike the right balance between mobility and safety. Departmental circulars set out the general criteria for assessment of the most appropriate speed limit under different circumstances.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicle registration numbers have been wrongly allocated by the driver and vehicle licensing centre as a result of criminal action.

About 1,200 registration numbers have been withdrawn in the last six years because of doubts over their validity arising from criminal trials. The majority have been reinstated after the completion of the relevant court cases and detailed investigation by the Department, either because criminal action had not been proved, or because the numbers were in the possession of innocent parties and there was no risk of duplication. Exact figures could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action is being taken to provide a coordinated transport system for disabled travellers in London; and if he will make a statement.

Considerable co-ordination between British Rail and London Regional Transport—the main transport providers in the capital—has already been achieved, with benefits to all public transport users. Of special interest to disabled travellers is the introduction this weekof LRT's "Carelink" bus, serving all London's main line railway stations with an hourly service connecting with the wheelchair-accessible "Airbus" for Heathrow. This now completes the link between BR's already accessible InterCity routes and the capital's major airport. Dial-a-Ride users in London can also be linked up with these services. In addition, there is a steadily growing pool of wheelchair — accessible taxis available in London, the majority of which are on radio circuits and able to provide a door-to-door service or connect with other accessible forms of transport.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the outcome of the negotiations held on 17–18 March between the British and United States Government about United States carrier access to Manchester international airport; and if he will make a statement.

Regrettably, agreement was not reached with the United States Government at the discussions held on 17–18 March that would permit the immediate commencement of additional services to Manchester by United States carriers.Both sides agreed to pursue matters emerging from the discussions that might lead to early progress being made. At the very latest, a second round of talks will be held after the volume of air traffic during the summer season is known.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many complaints he has received since I April 1987 about the reduced level of service on the Woolwich ferry caused by the industrial dispute; and if he will make a statement.

The Department has received 10 letters and some 10 telephone calls.We are concerned about both the poor level of service and the disproportionate cost to the taxpayer. I am meeting the leader of Greenwich borough council in the next few days to assess the likelihood of a successful outcome to the negotiations with its workforce to end the work-to-rule and start a cost-effective and efficient service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance is being given by Her Majesty's Government to the Tumelong project in Bophuthatswana.

A cooking stove and school equipment to the value of £771·60 have been donated for the use of a creche run under the auspices of the Tumelong mission, a non-government institution.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what communication he has had with the authorities in Gibraltar following his statement to the House on 7 March about the killing of three unarmed United Kingdom citizens by members of Her Majesty's forces.

Such communications are confidential.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to meet the other EEC Foreign Ministers to discuss Third world debt; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 3 February 1988, at column 639.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about the NATO summit meeting he attended in Brussels in March; and if he will make a statement.

A number of individuals and groups have written about the NATO summit. The vast majority of these have rightly welcomed what was a most successful reaffirmation of NATO's principles and objectives.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why, in the case of Mr. Ghulam Farid, he is not able to offer an interview for an entry clearance application until spring 1989; and if he will give the reason for this delay.

Priority is given to first-time applicants. Mr. Farid has previously been refused entry clearance on the grounds that the entry clearance officer was not satisfied that he was related to his sponsor in the United Kingdom, as claimed. His subsequent appeal was dismissed by an independent adjudicator. In fairness to the many other applicants awaiting first interview, Mr. Farid must continue to wait his turn in the re-applicants queue.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking to promote exchanges and educational visits by young people from the Soviet Union and Britain.

Such exchanges are explicitly provided for in the memorandum of understanding signed during my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's visit to the Soviet Union last year. We are actively supporting them through assistance to organisations such as the British Council and the Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the current draft negotiating text of the Antarctic minerals convention.

Yes. I am placing copies in the Library today.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to inform the House of Commons when he receives a response from the South African Government to Her Majesty's Government's representations on behalf of the Sharpeville Six.

On 17 March the South African Supreme Court ordered a stay of execution until 18 April on the Sharpeville Six. We await the outcome of the court proceedings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council on 22 March.

My right hon. and learned Friend attended the Foreign Affairs Council and a subsequent meeting of European Community Foreign Ministers in Brussels on 22 March. Most of the meeting was devoted to political co-operation issues. In particular, there was a full discussion of the current Vienna negotiations of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE). There was agreement on the importance of securing a balanced outcome to the Vienna meeting, ensuring progress in all aspects of the CSCE process. The NATO summit having established a sound framework for negotiation on conventional arms control, discussions concentrated on the issue of human rights, and it was agreed to instruct our delegations in Vienna to maintain firm pressure for substantial improvement in the performance of the Soviet Union and the countries of eastern Europe in this field. We shall be seeking significant new commitments, together with machinery to ensure the implementation of both new and old undertakings in the sphere of human rights. My right hon. and learned Friend emphasised that, for us, this was an indispensable part of the CSCE process.A number of other current international issues, including South Africa, were also discussed.The Council reviewed follow-up to the European Council in Brussels last month and considered the development of the Community's relations with Israel and Hungary.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Her Majesty's Government will be in a position to ratify the United Nations convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Further to my reply of 7 March at column 8, we intend to introduce amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill which will enable us to ratify the United Nations convention against torture later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy who will be liable to bear the cost of compensation in the event of an accident involving a nuclear power station after the privatisation of the electricity supply industry.

Existing arrangements under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 will continue after privatisation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to the answer of 7 March, Official Report, column 20, if he will list by Civil Service grade the number of officials in his Department located outside London; and what proportion they represent of all officials employed by his Department in each grade.

The table gives the information:

Grade	Number	Percentage
Unified Grading 5	4	10
Unified Grading 6	8	36
Unified Grading 7	22	18
Senior Executive Officer	3	8
Higher Executive Officer	10	11
Executive Officer	11	9
Administrative Officer	21	18
Administrative Assistant	7	13
Senior Personal Secretary	1	10
Personal Secretary	7	14
Typist	21	56
Typing Manager	2	50
Messenger	4	22
Storekeeper	1	100
Senior Professional Technology Officer	5	23
Professional Technology Officer	1	100
Assistant Librarian	1	33
Petroleum Specialist IV	4	19
Petroleum Specialist V	1	100
Reservoir Evaluation Specialist IV	3	22
Area Meter Examiner	6	67
Meter Examiner	7	70
Area Gas Examiner	3	100
Gas Examiner	5	100
Gas Meter Examiner II	6	60
Gas Meter Examiner III	6	60
Chief Gas Meter Examiner	1	100
Assistant Chief Gas Meter Examiner	1	100
Senior Scientific Officer	3	43
Higher Scientific Officer	3	60
Scientific Officer	4	100
Assistant Scientific Officer	1	100
Experimental Worker V	3	100
R & D Craftsman	1	100

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from local authorities and others in the county of Suffolk about the impact on United States air crews stationed in the United Kingdom and on the Anglo-American liaison committees in Mildenhall and Lakenheath of allegations that United States pilots in charge of Fill strike aircraft fly them under the influence of heroin, alcohol and sexual delusions.

I have so far received two letters from hon. Members about the image of the USAF portrayed in the play "Airbase" recently screened by the BBC and an associated article in the Radio Times. In addition I am informed that representations have been made direct to the BBC by local authorities, who have expressed their strong support for the role of the USAF in this country. I should add that the Government retain the highest confidence in the professional standards of the US forces stationed here.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the present field of view, in all dimensions, of the Fylingdales ballistic missile early warning system station; and if there is any other early warning system that would detect a ballistic missile attack on the United Kingdom which did not pass through the field of view of the Fylingdales station;(2) if Her Majesty's Government or Her Majesty's forces have access to information gathered at BMEWS sites in Greenland and Alaska.

I have nothing to add to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Member for Kettering (Mr. Freeman) to the hon. Member for Monklands, West (Mr. Clarke) on 24 March 1987 at column 136. I am not prepared to reveal the detailed operational characteristics of the Fylingdales system.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidance or position locating systems are to be used by the Vanguard class submarines or their Trident missiles.

Vanguard class SSBNs will be equipped with an electrostatically supported gyro navigator (ESGN), a gravity sensing system (GSS) and a range of radio and sonar navigational aids. The Trident D5 missile has a stellar aided inertial reference navigational system.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to recall a number of those units of the British Army currently serving in Northern Ireland to a mainland location from where they could readily reinforce the troops remaining in Northern Ireland in the event of an emergency.

No. Force levels in Northern Ireland are kept constantly under review, and no reductions are currently planned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what terms Private Ian Richard Thain was retained by the Army during his imprisonment, detailing his status and arrangements made regarding his wages.

While in prison Private Thain continued to be a serving soldier, but was not paid his military salary. Nor did his period of imprisonment count as reckonable service towards his term of engagement or his pension.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the solicitor acting on Private Thain's parole was (a) contracted, (b) paid or (c) advised by his Department.

No public money was used to meet the cost of Private Thain's solicitor. It is normal practice to give such assistance as necessary to service men in custody; they are entitled to seek legal advice, and their advisors are given such assistance by the services as is deemed necessary. In Private Thain's case, his solicitors were provided with factual and background information concerning his service in the Army.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received on his proposals for the privatisation of the electricity generating and supply industry in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

Ten representations have been received since my right hon. and learned Friend's statement to the House on 2 March. These will be taken into account in formulating our detailed plans.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received on his plans to safeguard the economic well-being of remoter mainland and island communities under his electricity privatisation proposals.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer which I have given today to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce).

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received about the increasing afforestation of the border hills.

My noble Friend the Minister of State has received representations from the right hon. Member for Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale (Mr. Steel). In addition, a number of representations have been made to Scottish Office Ministers about individual planting applications.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations he has had with the Forestry Commission concerning the new forestry grant arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

Advice given to Ministers by their departments is confidential.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is in a position to announce details of the new forestry grant scheme referred to in his answer of 16 March, Official Report, columns 585–87.

In the answer I gave on 16 March to a question put by my hon. Friend. I stated that the changes to the tax and grant arrangements announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer were designed to provide a simpler and more widely acceptable system of support for private forestry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to be in a position to give details of the new forestry grant arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 21 March 1988]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given today to my right hon. Friend the Member for Dumfries (Sir H. Monro).

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received on the implications for the economy of the Highlands and Islands of the level of charges for postal and related services.

My right hon. and learned Friend has received no such representations. Specific arrangements exist for consumers to make detailed representations about tariffs to the Post Office Users' Council for Scotland. The Post Office's corporate plan forms part of a framework of monitoring and control of the business set by my noble Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of operations cancelled in Scottish hospitals since the industrial action by the trades unions began; and if he will make a statement.

Health boards report that, as at 18 March, 2,609 operations had not taken place because of industrial action. In addition, almost 30,000 man-days have been lost, over 40,000 disposable sheets have been used and nearly 80,000 meals have been affected. On 24 February there was inadequate emergency cover for one or more services in more than 20 hospitals, and there have been similar instances on other days. I deplore the adverse effects upon patients and waiting lists.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Government of Iceland on the question of energy supply.

I met the Icelandic Minister of Industry on 22 January when, in the course of a brief discussion, he drew attention to various ideas which have been aired regarding a possible power link between Iceland and the United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he proposes to implement Project 2,000.

We want to receive an education and training which not only equips them for their future roles, but is sufficiently attractive to recruit and retain those who might otherwise be tempted into other fields. We fully recognise the importance of the proposals that the UKCC has put forward which are designed to meet these ends, and hope to be in a position to make a response very soon.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what facilities exist within his Department for the assessment of Scottish public opinion on matters relating to Government policy.

My Departments consult extensively on all appropriate issues with those most concerned; my colleagues and I take careful account of representations made to us, and public inquiries and official meetings are arranged as required.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many inward investment announcements have been made in Scotland since 1981; how many jobs and what level of investment is involved; and if he will make a statement.

Since 1981 Locate in Scotland is aware of 386 decisions involving planned investment in Scotland by inward investors of £2·6 billion leading to the creation and safeguarding of 50,000 jobs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many in-patients and out-patients were treated in Scottish hospitals (a) in 1979 and (b) in 1987.

In the year ending 31 March 1979 there were 737,816 in-patient discharges from NHS hospitals in Scotland and 5,206,078 out-patient attendances. The corresponding figures for the year ending 31 March 1987 were 842,524 and 5,670,434. In addition, day cases treated increased over the same period from 80,271 to 158,841.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the average council house rent in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

Scottish local authorities budgeted for an average council house rent of £14·65 per house per week in 1987–88. They have now set rent levels for 1988–89 and the average is 16·27 per house per week.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received regarding the care of ancient monuments in Scotland.

My right hon. and learned Friend receives many representations covering a wide range of topics, from both organisations and individuals. We can provide more information on my hon. Friend's specific area of interest if he would let us know what that is.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he proposes to take to protect employment in the Scottish mining industry.

The Government are, of course, always concerned that overall employment levels within Scotland should be as high as possible, but within particular sectors this must depend on the strength and competitiveness of the industries involved.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received on "Curriculum and Assessment in Scotland: A Policy for the 1990s".

Some 400 responses to the consultation paper have been received to date from members of the public and from a range of bodies including education authorities, colleges of education, schools, school councils, parents organisations and churches. I expect to have further responses before the consultation period closes at Easter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the average level of rates increases announced by Scottish local authorities to date for 1988–89; and if he will make a statement.

The average domestic rate bill for a Scottish household will increase by 5·2 per cent. in 1988–89; 47 per cent. of the population will experience no rate increase at all. This confirms the generosity of my right hon. and learned Friend's rate support grant settlement for the year and renders all the more unacceptable the high rate increases imposed by some authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last discussed the Inverclyde initiative with Sir Robin Duthie, chairman of the Scottish Development Agency; and if he will make a statement.

The Secretary of State for Scotland regularly meets the chairman of the Scottish Development Agency to discuss the whole range of activities of the agency, including the Inverclyde initiative.The Government remain fully committed to the regeneration of Inverclyde, in particular to its support, through the Scottish Development Agency, for the Inverclyde initiative. The initiative has already made substantial progress and I am encouraged by the further developments planned and in hand.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received on provisions for the future educational needs of the handicapped children presently attending St. Bede's school, Balornock; and if he will make a statement.

We have received 11 representations about handicapped children attending St. Bede's primary school. It is for Strathclyde regional council to decide what provision it will make for these children.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will meet the parents and staff of Merksworth high school, Paisley, to discuss the future of the school.

I have no plans to visit Merksworth high school at present. The future of the school is a matter for Strathclyde regional council in the first instance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of private health service contractors; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to my replies to him of 24 and 26 February, at cols. 237, and 367–68.