To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report a table, covering the years 1979–80 to 1990–91, which provides a summarised revenue account for universities in Great Britain, distinguishing (a) gross expenditure and (b) income, differentiating student fees paid by the United Kingdom Government, students' fees paid directly by United Kingdom students, overseas students' fees, research and contract income from other United Kingdom Government sources, research and contract income from charitable foundations, research and contract income from the United Kingdom private sector, other research and contract income, public donations, trading profit, or miscellaneous sales income declared gross and other miscellaneous income and (c) net expenditure on a definition consistent with the entries for current expenditure in universities in table 12·1 of Cm 288-II.

Universities' income and expenditure in years up to the academic year 1985–86, the latest for which the information is available, is set out in successive annual editions of "University Statistics: Volume Three, Finance". Copies are in the Library. The Government make no forecast of these figures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many pupils in (a) Durham city and (b) the county of Durham lost their entitlement to free school meals in the last month.

Information for Durham city is not separately available. In October 1987 about 8,660 pupils in the county of Durham received free school meals because their families were in receipt of family income supplement, or through the operation of LEA discretion. From 11 April the families of those in the former category will receive a cash benefit of £2·55 per week throughout the year under the new family credit scheme, which will also cover many in the latter category. Children from families in receipt of, or who are themselves in receipt of, income support (the successor to supplementary benefit) continue to be eligible for free school meals. Nationally it is estaimated that about 100,000 more school age children will benefit under the family credit scheme compared with those who currently receive free school meals under family income supplement and LEA discretionary schemes combined.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate he has of how many children within the Leicestershire education authority area have lost entitlement to free school meals as a result of the benefit changes which came into effect in April.

In October 1987 about 4,840 pupils in Leicestershire received free school meals because their families were in receipt of family income supplement, or through the operation of LEA discretion. From 11 April this year the families of those in the former category receive a cash benefit of £2·55 per week throughout the year under the new family credit scheme, which will also cover many in the latter category. Children from families in receipt of, or who are themselves in receipt of, income support (the successor to supplementary benefit) continue to be eligible for free school meals. Nationally it is estimated that about 100,000 more school age children will benefit under the family credit scheme compared with those who currently receive free school meals under family income supplement and LEA discretionary schemes combined.

To ask the Lord President of the Council how many non-government amendments have been carried at the Committee stage of Government-sponsored public Bills for each year since 1979.

This information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement about the chairmanship of the Top Salaries Review Body.

Lord Plowden has advised me that he will wish to retire as chairman of the Top Salaries Review Body after it has completed its next report in 1989. I shall accept his resignation with great regret and I wish to place on record the Government's gratitude for his outstanding service as a member of the Top Salaries Review Body since 1977, and as chairman for the last seven years.I am glad to be able to announce that Sir David Nickson has agreed to take over the chairmanship from Lord Plowden and to serve as a member of the review body for its 1988–89 review.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the number of prosecutions in each of the last five years for under-age drinking against publicans and juveniles.

The information available to me, which may be incomplete, relates to prosecutions under sections 169(1) and 169(2) of the Licensing Act 1964, and is given in the following table. Data for 1987 are not yet available.

Persons proceeded against for offences under sections 169(1) and 169(2) of the Licensing Act 1964
England and Wales	Number of persons
	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986
Prosecutions under:
Section 169(1)	323	307	314	274	296
Section 169(2)	1,931	1,627	1,171	790	949

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with the Prison Officers Association to seek to resolve the action by prison officers at Wandsworth prison; and if he will make a statement.

Meetings have taken place recently between officials and the Prison Officers' Association aimed at the resolution of the current dispute. A further meeting has been arranged for today.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley on Thursday 5 May, whether the state of Jersey has passed a protection of employment opportunities law; if it has been seen by his Department; when the state of Guernsey plans to discuss similar legislation which would involve restrictions on United Kingdom citizens; what action he proposes to take to protect their interests; and if he will make a statement.

The Protection of Employment Opportunities (Jersey) Law 1988 was examined by the Home Office before my right hon. Friend advised Her Majesty The Queen in Council on the matter of Royal Assent which was given on 17 February 1988. The law enables the island authorities to make regulations, should the need arise, to protect employment opportunities in prescribed categories of employment for those having a connection with the Bailiwick. At present, no such regulations have been made and I understand none is planned in the foreseeable future. The freedom of movement of British citizens between the United Kingdom and the island is not curtailed by the Law.I understand that the states of Guernsey intend to debate legislation, which might include matters relating to employment controls, in the near future. As with Jersey, should any such measures be proposed, they will be examined by the Home Office in the light of the need to ensure that those with close links with the island have adequate opportunities for employment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress of installation of the new message switch system in local authority emergency centres.

A limited scale of equipment has been installed in one county in each of the home defence regions, except London, and additional installations have taken place in regions 4, 7 and 10.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement of the performance of Chernikeef Telecommunications in the provision of message switch equipment for local authority emergency centres.

It is not the practice to comment on matters which are commercially confidential.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether his Department will meet grant-aid requirements incurred by the installation of the new message switch system in local authority emergency centres;(2) why expenditure relating to the installation of the new message switch system in local authority emergency centres is eligible for 100 per cent. grant-aid at county level installations but only 75 per cent. grant-aid at district level installations.

Subject to prior approval, adaption work necessary for the installation of civil defence communications equipment at local authority emergency centres is eligible for grant aid at the relevant rate. Differential rates of grant were determined at a time when shire district centres contained little or no Home Office communications equipment, and it was decided that available funds should be concentrated elsewhere. The policy is under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he expects any additional costs to be incurred as a result of problems encountered during the installation and commissioning of the new message switch system in local authority emergency centres; and if he will make a statement.

No, although some additional costs may arise in connection with the provision of extra features in the equipment specification.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has concerning the likely schemes or proposals for satellite television services capable of being received in the United Kingdom which are the responsibility of (a) companies or organisations subject to United Kingdom legislation, (b) not in (a) above, but subject to legislation of the European Economic Community, and (c) not susceptible to either (a) or (b) above; and if he will make a statement concerning any activities or initiatives by Her Majesty's Government concerning international agreements concerning the standards of broadcast material in respect of (c) above.

There is a distinction between services transmitted by satellite for reception and distribution via cable systems, and services for direct reception in the home. Services of the former type are subject to regulation by the Cable Authority under the Cable and Broadcasting Act 1984 in the same way as other cable services. Since May 1985 it has, however, been open to anyone to obtain a licence for the direct reception of any satellite programme service, whether primarily intended for cable distribution or not.Services broadcast direct to the home by satellite and not distributed on cable are not subject to Cable Authority regulation. I am aware of two current schemes for such services. British Satellite Broadcasting Ltd.(BSB) has been awarded the contract by the Independent Broadcasting Authority to provide a three-channel direct broadcasting by satellite service for the United Kingdom as part of its television broadcasting services under the Cable and Broadcasting Act 1984 and the Broadcasting Act 1981. BSB plans to launch its service in autumn 1989.The Luxembourg-based company, Societe Europeenne des Satellites, plans to launch the Astra medium-powered satellite to provide a 16-channel service to Northern Europe, including the United Kingdom. Up to 11 channels are likely to be in English. I understand that Astra hopes to start its service towards the end of 1988 or early in 1989.In addition, I understand that the European Telecommunications Satellite Organisation (EUTELSAT) has undertaken a feasibility study, in collaboration with the European Space Agency, into the possible implementation of a European satellite for direct broadcasting. EUTELSAT has yet to make a decision as to whether to proceed.The Government are continuing to play an active part in the Council of Europe in negotiations on a draft convention on transfrontier broadcasting. The purpose of the convention will be to facilitate the transfrontier transmission and retransmission of television programme services that comply with prescribed minimum standards. The Government are seeking to ensure that the code of standards is compatible with the United Kingdom's national standards on taste and decency. It is hoped that the convention can be agreed in time for it to be open for signature and ratification at the Stockholm conference of European broadcasting Ministers in November.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prosecutions have been brought under the Intoxicating Substances (Supply) Act in the most recent years for which figures are available;(2) how many convictions have been recorded under the Intoxicating Substances (Supply) Act in the most recent years for which figures are available.

The information available to me, which may be incomplete, shows no prosecutions under the Intoxicating Substances (Supply) Act 1985 in 1985 and six prosecutions in 1986, two of which resulted in convictions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to seek to increase the sentences available to the courts under the Intoxicating Substances (Supply) Act; and if he will make a statement.

No. We consider the existing maximum penalties—six months' imprisonment or a fine of £2,000, or both—to be adequate.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of employees of his Department is registered disabled.

One hundred and fifty three members of staff are registered disabled. They represent 0·4 per cent. of all staff, including the prison service in England and Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total cost to the public funds of the Home Office sponsored experiment carried out by the West Midlands police air support unit in February over a stretch of the M42.

The Home Office share of the cost of the three patrol flights over the M42 in February was £1,064. There were no additional police costs incurred.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans for further sponsored experiments by his Department involving police air support units being used for road traffic purposes.

No, but we shall be considering this matter again when we have received the report on the recently completed experiment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 18 May, when he intends to reach a conclusion on the outcome of the experiment of using police air support units for road traffic purposes; and if he will make it his policy to make an oral statement to the House when he has reached a decision.

A report on the experiment, which formed a minor part of an evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of the midlands police air operation, is being prepared. I shall write to my hon. Friend when it is available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police for the City of London as to whether inquiries into the Liechtenstein subsidiaries of Lonhro plc, Blarg and Contargo have now been completed; and whether the papers have been referred to the Crown Prosecution Service.

I understand that the papers have now been referred to the Crown Prosecution Service.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 18 May, Official Report, column 462, if, in the light of the acquittal of eight defendants at Knightsbridge Crown court on 20 May, following the sending of the log books of police officers involved for forensic examination after irregularities were found, he will now reconsider his refusal to adopt the proposal to time-stamp police officers' notebooks where it is intended that the contents of these notebooks are to be used as evidence in court proceedings; arid if he will make a statement.

The circumstances which led to the acquittal are being investigated by the metropolitan police under the supervision of the Police Complaints Authority. It would be wrong to make any comment or decision on any matter which may be covered by that investigation until it has been completed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received a report on the pilot bail information schemes set up in 1987.

The Vera Institute of Justice has today published its report on eight pilot bail information schemes which were established during 1987 under the auspices of the Association of Chief Officers of Probation. The object of these schemes is to provide the Crown Prosecution Service with verified information about defendants, for example, on accommodation or community ties, which is relevant to the decision on whether to oppose bail.The report shows that the schemes enabled the Crown Prosecution Service to take better informed decisions on whether to oppose bail or not. This in turn enabled the courts in the pilot areas to make more use of bail, without any increase in the failure rate of those on bail.I am now urgently considering how best we can build on the experience of these schemes in co-operation with the courts, the Crown Prosecution Service, the police and probation service.Copies of the report have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Liverpool prison has been without the services of an optician for eight months; and why it was four months before the vacancy was advertised.

The visiting optician to Liverpool prison resigned without notice last October. Local medical management sought to arrange a temporary appointment but experienced difficulty in identifying a suitable optician. In the meantime, the matter was referred to prison service headquarters for local advertising to be arranged. Regrettably, the advertisements were considerably delayed by staff sickness and work pressures in the personnel division concerned.Throughout the period in which the prison was without the service of a visiting optician, optical referrals were made as appropriate to the visiting consultant ophthalmologist.A visiting optician has now been appointed and commenced work on 23 May.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedure is used to ensure that prisoners can have eye examinations.

A prisoner who requests optical treatment will be examined by the medical officer who will refer him to the optician if he considers that to be medically appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisons are currently without the services of an optician.

The Department is not aware that any establishment is without such a service.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to when tape recording facilities will be installed for police interviews in the Isle of Wight.

I understand that a phased programme to install tape recording facilities at police stations throughout the whole area served by the Hampshire constabulary is well under way. Work to equip interview rooms at police stations in Newport and Shanklin on the Isle of Wight has already begun, and work will start shortly at Ryde and Cowes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to announce further details on the community radio stations licence procedures; and if he will make a statement.

The position remains as set out in my replies to various questions on 27 January from the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, Central (Mr. Fisher) at columns 251–54.

To ask the Attorney-General whether any changes will be made to the serious fraud office's cash limit and running cost limit for 1988–89.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the cash limit on class XI, vote 12, will be increased by £606,000 from £5,480,000 to £6,086,000 and the running costs limit by £606,000 from £4,174,000 to £4,780,000. It was originally hoped that the serious fraud office, in line with other departments, would be able to restrict its expenditure to the provision agreed during the 1987 public expenditure survey. It is not clear that this will not be possible, the PES provision having necessarily been agreed at a stage in the office's development when precise information about its costs—particularly those relating to accommodation—was not available. No net increase to public expenditure results from this change as the cash limit increase will be charged to the 1988–89 reserve.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the promotion of energy efficiency in Scotland.

The Government have achieved considerable success in encouraging the efficient use of energy in all sectors in Scotland. There are now over 1,000 energy managers in Scotland. Grants of about £0·7 million have been given for energy surveys which have identified potential estimated savings of almost £20 million per year. In addition, through the energy efficiency demonstration scheme, £2·1 million has been provided to test new energy-saving technologies. In the domestic sector, 412,000 grants totalling just under £9·25 million have been provided through the homes insulation scheme. On 11 May I opened a successful conference in Glasgow on energy efficiency in commercial properties in Glasgow.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what are the Government's intentions for ownership and management of Nirex following privatisation of the electricity supply industry.

Present expectations are that the Central Electricity Generating Board's shareholding in UK Nirex Ltd. will pass to the successor operator of CEGB nuclear power stations. The management of the company is a matter for the company and its shareholders.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the traffic lights scheme at the Bartington crossroads on the A49 to be completed.

During this financial year. Work will start as soon as design and land entry details are finalised.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will publish in the Official Report the payments made to (a) Captain Tony Barrett, director and general manager of P and O European Transport Services Ltd., and (b) other members of the steering committee investigating safety measures for British roll-on/roll-off ferries.

No payments are made to members of the steering committee other than expenses for travelling and subsistence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will remove Captain Tony Barrett from the steering committee investigating safety measures for British roll-on/roll-off ferries.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish in the Official Report a list of road, bridge and tunnel facilities in each of the four countries of the United Kingdom for which tolls are levied, with a note for each entry of the name and address of the responsible authority; whether it produces published accounts for that specific facility; which Minister is responsible for authorising changes in such tolls and on which (i) public expenditure programme and (ii) class, vote and subhead, the toll revenue and associated expenditure is to be found.

I can answer for tolled facilities in England.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport is responsible for the Severn bridge. Toll revenue and associated expenditure there is part of the roads public expenditure programme and appears in class VIII, vote 1, under subheads A 1.7—new construction and renewals; A1.8—toll and operating equipment; B1.5—toll collection and breakdown service; and B2.1—toll revenue.Toll revenue and associated expenditure at other crossings does not appear in the roads public expenditure programme. The Secretary of State is responsible for authorising changes in the tolls on a number of other bridges, floating bridges and roads. Details of ownership and accounting arrangements are not readily available for all minor crossings and roads. The major estuarial crossings in England, for which accounts are published annually and the authorities responsible for those crossings, are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the cost figure used for the acquisition of publicly owned land in the metropolitan green belt for the purpose of enabling the A40 improvement scheme to be undertaken at the junction with Long Lane, Hillingdon.

At the 1987 public inquiry the total cost of all the land, including Hillingdon station, needed for this scheme was estimated at £3·375 million. No separate estimate was made for metropolitan green belt land. The actual purchase price will be a matter for negotiation with the landowners concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cars and how many motor cycles were registered and used on the roads of the United Kingdom in each of the last five years; and how many were involved in road accidents with (a) other vehicles, (b) no other vehicles involved and (c) pedestrians in each of the last five years.

Cars and motor cycles: Great Britain: 1982 to 1986
	New registrations	Currently licensed vehicles	Total involved in single vehicle accidents	Total involved in multiple vehicle accidents	Total colliding with a pedestrian
1982
Cars	1,584,300	15,453,000	65,603	203,154	44,543
Motor cycles	231,600	1,370,000	19,571	53,462	6,907
1983
Cars	1,806,100	15,854,000	62,622	192,864	46,138
Motor cycles	174,500	1,290,000	16,831	49,131	5,938
1984
Cars	1,759,300	16,529,000	66,105	207,324	48,020
Motor cycles	145,200	1,225,000	16,593	48,747	5,658
1985
Cars	1,842,100	16,829,000	65,228	207,037	46,860
Motor cycles	125,800	1,148,000	14,261	43,561	4,719
1986
Cars	1,883,200	17,389,000	65,978	218,003	46,908
Motor cycles	106,400	1,065,000	12,831	40,731	4,305

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if, in the light of his Department's promotion of the European single market, he will bring forward proposals for revising competition rules so as to be based on the European Community rather than the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the timescale for such reforms.

Proposals for reform of restrictive trade practices legislation were published in my Department's Green Paper of March 1988, Cm. 331. These envisage a system which will be broadly consistent with the equivalent Community rules. The Government are participating fully in working party discussions of the draft

Crude balance of trade in manufactures1 (US$ Billion)
	Belgium/Luxembourg	Denmark	France	Netherlands	United Kingdom	United States of America	Federal Republic of Germany	Japan
1975	+3·4	-2·0	+9·4	-1·2	+7·7	+17·3	+38·7	+41·6
1976	+3·4	-3·3	+5·4	-0·8	+7·3	+9·8	+42·1	+51·2
1977	+3·0	-3·0	+9·0	-3·1	+9·0	+0·3	+46·9	+63·0
1978	+3·5	-3·3	+9·9	-4·8	+7·0	-14·7	+53·6	+74·8
1979	+3·5	-3·7	+11·5	-4·7	+2·6	-3·3	+59·1	+72·6
1980	+3·9	-2·2	+7·3	-3·9	+8·4	10·8	+63·2	+95·1
1981	+4·4	-1·1	+8·8	-0·5	+5·1	+3·1	+61·7	+116·4
1982	+3·8	-1·6	+3·4	-0·1	+0·3	-14·1	+67·5	+104·6
1983	+4·8	-1·1	+6·3	-0·1	-7·5	-41·0	+58·7	+110·9
1984	+4·1	-1·7	+8·9	-0·5	-8·6	-90·8	+59·5	+128·5
1985	+5·1	-2·4	+7·3	-2·1	-7·6	-115·3	+67·5	+134·7
1986	+4·7	-4·5	+1·3	-4·7	-12·1	-147·1	+89·4	+160·2
1987	2+1½	2-3½	2-2½	2-7½	2-16·3	2-154	2+105	2+164
1 Standard International Trade Classification Sections 5 to 8.
2 Estimate.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the level of regional development grant allocated, by region, for each financial year from 1979–80 to 1987–88, what these figures are as a percentage

The information requested for the last five years for which complete road accident data are available, is given in the table:EC proposals for a merger control regulation. It is expected that progress will be reviewed by the Council in June.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what, for each year since 1975, was the percentage change in the balance of trade in manufacturing goods of Belgium, Denmark, France, Holland, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, West Germany and Japan.

As the sign of the balance can vary from year to year, it is not appropriate to measure changes in the balance of trade in percentage terms. The balances in US dollars are in the table:of the total budget; and what they were in cash terms.

Expenditure on regional development grant by English region, and as a percentage of the RDG total for England, in the financial years 1979–80 to 1987–88 is as follows:

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the level of regional development grant allocated to each of the counties of Cleveland, Cumbria, Durham, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear, for each financial year from 1979–80 to 1987–88, in cash terms.

£ million
	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85	1985–86	1986–87	1987–88
Cleveland	61·6	43·7	43·7	22·8	22·6	20·6	10·6	30·0	15·5
Cumbria	15·4	16·5	34·1	35·8	32·5	25·5	19·7	10·8	3·7
Durham	7·3	7·3	9·4	8·3	4·6	7·1	5·2	11·3	9·5
Northumberland	2·5	4·3	5·9	5·4	2·2	3·1	0·9	2·1	3·4
Tyne and Wear	8·2	12·6	18·0	23·4	16·5	13·1	13·6	27·8	22·3

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will lift the restrictions on the sales and export of chemical weapon detection kits to enable humanitarian aid to be given to victims and potential victims of chemical attack; and if he will make a statement.

No. Equipment specially designed for detection of chemical weapons is controlled under the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1987. There is no absolute ban on export. Applications for licences to export such goods are carefully considered on their merits depending upon the destination and the potential end user.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the implications for British industry of the clauses relating to joint ventures between Soviet and Western enterprises in the Soviet law on state enterprises which came into effect on 1 January.

Soviet legislation permitting joint ventures with Western companies was introduced in January 1987 and amended in October 1987 to take account of some concerns expressed by potential Western participants. My Department and the British embassy in Moscow both constantly monitor the available information and provide advice to United Kingdom companies considering the possibility of joint ventures with a Soviet partner. It is for individual companies themselves to decide whether joint ventures are in their best commercial interests, and to negotiate terms which are acceptable to

Expenditure on regional development grant in the areas and financial years requested was as follows:both partners. So far, two United Kingdom companies have signed such contracts, and several more are under active discussion.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has received any proposals from the Soviet Government for British investment and involvement in the establishment of enterprise zones in that country; arid if he will make a statement.

No proposals for British investment or involvement in the establishment of enterprise zones in the USSR have been received from the Soviet Government. If any are received in the future, we shall study them with interest.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will give the figures for the amount of official credit to finance Anglo-Soviet trade for each year between 1975 and 1987; and what information lie has about any additional credit provided to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

It is not the practice of this or previous Governments to reveal the amount of official credit guaranteed by ECGD to individual countries. Figures for business insured and exports insured by area are published in ECGD's Summary of Audited Trading Results 1986–87. For information on other credit provided to the USSR one would need to approach those financial institutions involved.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the report of the inspectors appointed to investigate the affairs of Guinness plc will be delayed until completion of the associated criminal prosecutions.

Yes.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he now expects the inspectors appointed to investigate the affairs of House of Fraser (Holdings) plc to report.

The investigation continues, but I am unable to say when a report will be received.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he has received any representations from officials or Ministers of European Community member states concerning the new furniture fire safety regulations.

The only official approach to the Government on this subject of which I am aware has been from the Italian embassy in London. As a result a discussion of the implications of the draft regulations for Italian suppliers of furnishing fabrics took place on 9 May.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (I) what steps he has taken to discover the extent to which the pattern book industry has the capacity to replace the pattern books of furnishing fabric suppliers within the proposed time scale for the introduction of new furniture fire safety legislation;(2) what assessment he has made of the cost to the suppliers of soft furnishing fabric of replacing pattern books when the new furniture fire safety regulations are implemented;(3) what assessment he has made of the amount of time that small suppliers of soft furnishing fabric will require in order to replace their pattern books prior to the introduction of new furniture fire safety regulations.

I have received representations on these subjects and I am taking them into account in my consideration of possible changes to the draft regulations.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what technological assistance will be provided by his Department in order to help suppliers of soft furnishing fabric to conform with the requirements of the new furniture fire safety regulations.

Detailed technological assistance is available in industry from many furniture manufacturers, from the research associations for the furniture industry and textile suppliers, from fire retardant processing companies, from independent consultants and from test houses. Many of these bodies have done a great deal of work in the past in readiness for the announcement of a date when match resistance will be required and are ready to assist fabric suppliers in meeting the requirement.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) in how many domestic fires in each of the last five years furniture has been judged to be the point of ignition;

The last five full years' statistics give the following figures for fires where the material first ignited was upholstered furniture or covers:

Year	Number
1982	3,554
1983	3,325
1984	3,571
1985	3,551
1986	3,660

The numbers of deaths resulting from fires in which upholstered furniture was judged to be the item first ignited for the last available five years' statistics are as follows:

Year	Number
1982	145
1983	133
1984	148
1985	146
1986	156

I am not able at this point to provide specific data concerning cause of death for these, but there seems no reason to suppose that there is any disparity in the breakdown in the causes of death between these furniture fires and the general fire figures which are as follows:

Total Fires in Occupied Buildings
	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986
Death due to
Burns, number	258	249	262	281	300
as a percentage	33	31	32	30	33
Gas or Smoke asphyxiation, number	520	553	553	655	615
as a percentage	67	69	68	70	67

Accordingly the estimated answer to question (3) is as follows:

Fires in upholstered furniture
	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986
Death due to
Burns	48	41	47	44	51
Gas or smoke	97	92	101	102	105

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many representations he has so far received concerning furniture fire safety regulations.

I have received about 260 representations about the draft regulations circulated on 1 March.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what funding will be provided by his Department in order to assist the suppliers of soft furnishing fabric to conform to new furniture fire safety regulations.

All worthwhile proposals for financial assistance towards the development of products which make a contribution to consumer safety, such as chemical treatments which make textiles more resistant to fire, receive sympathetic consideration provided that such proposals meet the criteria for R and D policy set out in the White Paper.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment his Department has made of the effect that the new furniture fire safety regulations will have on European Community trade after 1992.

All suppliers of furniture, components, and furnishings to the British market will compete on an equal basis. It is possible that some continental suppliers will find the British market less attractive than they do at present, since our legal requirements for fire resistance of furniture will be so far ahead of those in the rest of Europe. But differences already exist and do not inhibit trade within the Community. I am satisfied that our new regulations will not have the effect of erecting new barriers to trade, in contravention of the treaty of Rome.As for any effect on British exports, the regulations will not apply to goods destined for export. Some exporters of furnishing textiles have claimed that the effect of the draft regulations would be to require them to offer separate ranges of fabrics for the home and export trades and that this would involve unacceptable extra costs, so that their export business would in practice be adversely affected. I am taking this possibility into account in my consideration of possible changes to the draft regulations.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the overall cost for soft furnishing suppliers of meeting the new furniture fire safety regulations.

All proposals for new regulations are subject to compliance cost assessment, a formal procedure carried out by professional economists within the DTI and designed to establish whether the compliance costs to industry, and to consumers, are proportionate to the benefits which the regulations will bring.A correct assessment of costs will depend on the final detail of the regulations to be determined in the near future.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what steps he has taken to discover the extent to which the capacity and the proven technology exist for the full variety of furnishing fabrics to conform to the new furniture fire safety regulations;(2) what assessment his Department has made of the effects of present fire retardant treatments on high quality textiles.

The objective of the draft regulations is to reduce the risk of fire associated with upholstered furniture and bedding. There is therefore no question of tailoring them to enable the full variety of furnishing fabrics now commercially available to conform. On the contrary, it will be necessary for suppliers of furnishing fabrics to modify the range of products which they offer. The majority of furnishing fabrics now in use can be effectively treated to make them match-resistant and still viable in other respects such as appearance and durability. I accept that some high quality textiles may be adversely affected, for example, in appearance. I am considering the ways in which the regulations may be modified in order to take account of consumer preferences for fabrics which present problems in this respect. But the industry should recognise that a reduction in consumer choice is part of the price to be paid for increased safety.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the military projects undertaken by the Government in the Falkland Islands and the cost of each to date both in current and 1988 prices.

[holding answer 20 May 1988]: The two major military works projects were the construction of the airfield at Mount Pleasant, and the works undertaken to concentrate the garrison at Mount Pleasant, for which the cash costs were about £300 million and £110 million respectively. The costs at September 1987 prices were about £370 million and £130 million respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to ensure that the Scottish electricity industry, if privatised, will not fall under foreign control.

The Government are considering whether any special share arrangements are required for the privatised electricity industry. Our decision will be announced in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to make a definitive statement on the Government's strategic priorities for the electricity supply industry, as foreshadowed in his White Paper, Cm. 327.

Discussions with the Scottish electricity boards on the future structure of the privatised industry and a range of other related issues are continuing. I 'will announce the outcome of these deliberations in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what further consultations he has undertaken on the privatisation of the electricity industry.

Detailed discussions with the Scottish electricity boards on a wide range of issues relating to privatisation are continuing on a regular basis. Representatives of customers and employees are also being consulted about matters of concern to them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the level of job creation in Scotland over the past five years.

Comprehensive figures on the level of job creation in Scotland are not available. However, in the period April 1983 to March 1988, offers of regional selective assistance (RSA) were associated with the creation of 48,000 new jobs, and the safeguarding of a further 32,000 jobs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from Scottish local authorities about the impact of changes in the housing benefit system on the application of the Government's housing policies in Scotland.

Seven letters from individual local authorities, and one from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities have included reference to the impact of housing benefit changes along with other comments on the Government's housing proposals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the impact of recent changes in the housing benefit system on the objectives set out in his White Paper "Housing in Scotland" (Cm. 242).

The changes made recently to the housing benefit system ensure that housing benefit is better targeted to those who need it. This will help them to take advantage of the new opportunities for renting being provided by the Housing (Scotland) Bill.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received concerning the effects on local government in Scotland of the recent alterations to the system of housing benefit payments.

Representations on the reformed housing benefit system, including the most recent changes, have been received from local authorities and members of the public. In addition, my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State and my hon. Friend the Minister of State have had discussions over the last year with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities about the new system as part of our regular round of meetings on local government finance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what changes will occur in the level of rate support grant paid to local authorities by his Department as a result of the alterations in the system of housing benefit payments.

The costs of preparing for the new system of housing benefit payments were met through a 100 per cent. specific grant. There was therefore no direct effect on rate support grant.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy on devolving political decision-making on exclusively Scottish matters from Westminster to Scotland.

The hon. Member must know that the Scottish Office already has responsibility for a very wide range of Government functions in Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he proposes to meet the chairman of the South of Scotland Electricity Board to discuss electricity generation; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend meets the chairman of the South of Scotland Electricity Board from time to time to discuss a wide range of issues affecting the industry, although he has no immediate plans for a meeting.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made with the privatisation of hospital catering and cleaning services; and if he proposes to seek further powers in this connection.

Health boards are making good progress with the current phase of competitive tendering and are now seeking tenders for domestic and catering contracts. No additional powers are required in this area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the clergy over the impact of the poll tax; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend has received 81 representations from the clergy and church organisations since the Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc. (Scotland) Bill was enacted in May last year. These representations covered a range of issues related to the introduction of the community charge including the effects of rating reform on church buildings, and the effects of the community charge on members of religious communities and on ministers of religion and their families.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library copies of all written guidance he has issued to community charge registration officers.

The procedural requirements for the community charge registration system are fully set out in the Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc. (Scotland) Act 1987 and the regulations which have been made under it. Copies of the departmental circulars drawing the attention of local authorities to the Act and the regulations have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on the latest numbers registering for exemption from the poll tax on the basis of returns to community charge registration officers.

This information is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has as to what level of community charge registration has been reached in the Highland region.

Detailed information on the progress of community charge registration is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many letters concerning poll tax registration his Department has received from members of the public since 1 April.

My right hon. and learned Friend has received 144 such letters since 1 April.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions have taken place between his Department and community charge registration officials concerning the process of registration for poll tax purposes since I April.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has had any communications with poll tax registration officers to ascertain what progress is being made in the registration process.

There have been no formal discussions. Informal contacts with registration officers indicate that the registration process is going smoothly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people are employed by nationalised industries in Scotland.

The estimate of the latest employment in nationalised industries in Scotland is about 70,000. This estimate has been compiled from figures based on somewhat different dates and methods of compilation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board and the South of Scotland Electricity Board concerning the geographical divisions between the two boards following privatisation.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with education authorities on the opting out of Scottish schools; and if he will make a statement.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received concerning the opting out of schools from local authority management; and if he will make a statement.

We have published no proposals on this subject and have received few representations specifically concerned with it; but I am aware that a recent independent opinion poll indicated that 31 per cent. of parents supported the proposition that parents should be allowed to take their school out of education authority control if a majority wished to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to announce his plans for the opting out of Scottish schools; what arrangements will be made for consultation with interested parties; and if he will make a statement.

No decisions have been taken about the introduction of legislation on this subject.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what rate of inflation was used when he calculated the level of resources allocated to Scottish health boards for 1988–89.

4·5 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a further statement on the affairs of Co-Star Ltd.

The affairs of this company are still the subject of investigation by the liquidator who will report any evidence of criminality to the police or procurator fiscal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will arrange to meet representatives of the Scottish Development Agency and Renfrew district council to consider future industrial development plans for the Renfrew area.

My right hon. and learned Friend has no such plans at present. I understand, however, that the Renfrew Development Company, comprising representatives of the private sector, the Scottish Development Agency and the regional and district councils now meets on a monthly basis and discusses, among other things, the development of the local economy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met members of the Scottish National Farmers Union; and what issues were discussed.

My right hon. and learned Friend last met members of the union at their annual dinner in Glasgow on 10 March, where a wide range of matters of mutual concern was discussed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he proposes to publish the report commissioned by his Department on the relocation of Civil Service posts to the Overseas Development Agency establishment in East Kilbride.

I anticipate that the report, which was commissioned by the Industry Department for Scotland, will be published in the second half of June this year. A summary article will also appear in the next issue of the Scottish Economic Bulletin which is due to be published around the end of June.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received about the future of maternity services provision in rural areas.

My right hon. and learned Friend and I have received a considerable number of representations about the future of maternity services provision in Grampian. These will be fully taken into account when we come to consider the board's formal closure submissions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans there are to reform the structure of local government in Scotland.

I have no specific plans at present, but shall be taking views on whether and how the present structure could be improved.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent meetings he has had with the United Kingdom Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive; and what subjects were discussed.

My right hon. and learned Friend has had no recent meetings with the executive.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to introduce guidelines to chief constables in the matter of appointments to crime prevention panels; and if he will make a statement.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the latest evidence available to him of the trend in the population of seals around the coast of Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

The most recent advice obtained from the National Environment Research Council on grey seals estimated the population around the coast of Scotland to be approximately 87,000 in 1986 and 92,500 in 1987. Comparable figures for common seals are not available. The most recent surveys by the council estimated the minimum size of this population to be approximately 18,000 in 1986. Further surveys are planned for 1989 and 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the chairman of the Ayrshire and Arran health board to discuss the development of National Health Service facilities in Ayrshire.

I have not met the chairman of Ayrshire and Arran health board to discuss development of National Health Service facilities in Ayrshire. On behalf of my right hon. and learned Friend I meet health board chairmen three times a year to discuss a range of matters. The last in this series of meetings was on 18 March.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities; and what matters were discussed.

My right hon. and learned Friend last met representatives of COSLA on Friday 29 April to discuss local government finance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations the Lord Advocate has received about the introduction of class actions into Scottish legal procedure; and if he will make a statement.

Representations have been received recently from the Consumers' Association. My noble and learned Friend, the Lord Advocate, and my right hon. and learned Friend, the Secretary of State for Scotland, are considering steps to improve the availability in Scotland of an effective judicial remedy for a number of individuals with similar complaints against a common defender.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current level of unemployment in Scotland; and what it was in 1979.

On 14 April 1988 (the latest date for which information is available) the number of unemployed claimants in Scotland was 309,084 (12·6 per cent.). The corresponding figure for April 1979 was 164,432 (6·7 per cent.). The figures are not directly comparable due to changes in the compilation of the statistics.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the total number of beds in private medical clinics in Scotland.

In terms of the Nursing Homes Registration (Scotland) Act 1938 as amended, 5,063 beds were available in private nursing homes and hospitals as at 31 March 1987.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on the proposed closure of the pathology department at Ruchill hospital, Glasgow; what effect the closure will have on the treatment of AIDS; and what consultations have taken place with staff.

I understand that the Greater Glasgow health board is conducting a review of the laboratory services in its area, including the pathology units. No decision will be taken concerning the future of any of the pathology departments, including that at Ruchill, until the outcome of the review is known later this year. The board intends that there will be full consultation with the staff associations.