To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he will be in a position to publish his proposals for teachers' negotiating machinery for pay and conditions of service.

My right hon. Friend has received various responses from interested parties to the Green Paper "Teachers' Pay and Conditions: A Consultative Document". He will be undertaking discussions with those parties in the course of the next few months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Greenway) of 23 May, Official Report, column 13, he has now obtained a complete copy of the MacDonald inquiry into Burnage high school; and if he will make a statement.

I have received a copy of the published report from Manchester city council and have placed copies in the Library. I have not seen a copy of the complete text. I consider that the report raises issues of public interest and should be published in full, unless the council can demonstrate overwhelming arguments to the contrary. I do not believe that considered conclusions can be drawn on the basis of the present severely foreshortened report. Accordingly I have asked the council for a clear statement of the specific difficulties which it sees in publishing the report in full and why these cannot be met if necessary by excising only particular and limited passages.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing in ranked order the contributions, as a percentage of their total aid budget, made by the

Net official development assistance from Development Assistance Committee donor countries to Nicaragua in 1986 as a percentage of their total official development assistance was as follows:

To ask the Attorney-General how many days on average each social security commissioner has conducted oral hearings in (a) London, (b) Edinburgh, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) Cardiff (non-resident) in the period from January to the end of April 1988.

The table shows the average number of days over that period on which each of the resident commissioners conducted oral hearings in each of the places mentioned, except for Cardiff for which the table shows the average number of days on which each of the visiting, non-resident commissioners conducted oral hearings.

To ask the Attorney-General if, in the light of the judgment of the High Court in Australia, he will give the latest total amount spent by Her Majesty's Government on all aspects, including legal, travelling, administrative and other costs, relating to the Government's legal action on "Spycatcher" in the United Kingdom and elsewhere.

The total amount expended to date on legal costs both here and abroad in respect of litigation and advice and on travelling and subsistence is about £848,000. To seek to quantify administrative costs would involve disproportionate expense.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information his Department holds on the numbers of approved driving instructors licences issued for each of the last 10 years; and at what level of regional disaggregation this information is available.

The national figures for the numbers of approved driving instructors on the Department's compulsory register and for the numbers of trainee licences to give instruction are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what requirements have recently been imposed by (a) the United States Government and (b) the international Atomic Energy Agency regarding the transport of plutonium by air.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Brent, East (Mr. Livingstone) on 1 February 1988, at column 509.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans for double-decking motorways.

None at present.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those road schemes which have been built to the same specification as the M25 between Leatherhead and Reigate and identify any defects in the concrete construction of these carriageways which required rectification.

The information requested, for national roads, is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on the proposed introduction of the changes in the role of the consulting engineer in motorway and trunk road construction contracts which he announced in the House on 23 July 1987, Official Report, column 288–89.

Details of the proposed amendments to the conditions of contract to give effect to the changes have recently been sent to the professional bodies for comment. The proposals maintain an important role for the consulting engineer, within a framework which places responsibility for major decisions on the Department as employer. Initially, the Department plans to let three contracts under the new arrangements, for which tenders are expected to be invited this autumn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he is now in a position to make a statement on the progress made in establishing responsibility for the issues arising out of the construction of the M25 between Leatherhead and Reigate.

We have commissioned a leading consulting and testing engineer to undertake an independent investigation of the important and complex issues underlying the views reached by the engineer to this contract. The investigation will cover other concrete roads built to the same specification, which have apparently not suffered from such extensive problems. We expect to reach a view on the question of responsibility by about the end of the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the highest traffic count of (a) all vehicles and (b) heavy commercial vehicles on urban roads that has been reported to his Department in the last two years; what was the date of the count; and where was the road.

[pursuant to his reply, 25 March 1988, c. 267–68]: I made a mistake in my answer. The information given regarding the highest "all vehicle" traffic count on a built-up road in 1987 was incorrect. The highest recorded 12-hour count was:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many shipments of plutonium have taken place (a) by air from and (b) by surface, within the United Kingdom, over the past two years; and if he will give details of airports and routes used.

For consignments of plutonium by air, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 16 February 1988 at column 592. Plutonium is normally sent from Carlisle airport but small samples for safeguards purposes go from Manchester airport.Surface consignments are primarily shipments from Dounreay to Sellafield. For this I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Member for Hampshire, North-West (Mr. Mitchell) to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas) on 9 March 1988 at column 205–206.Information relating to such movements over a short period and to specific shipments is confidential, for reasons of security and commercial sensitivity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when it is expected that THORP will begin commercial scale reprocessing; and what its expected lifetime will be.

THORP is expected to begin commercial reprocessing in late 1992. The lifetime of the plant will be governed by a combination of economic, commercial and operational factors. Experience of other reprocessing plants suggests that THORP can be expected to operate well into the second decade of the 21st century.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has as to what countries currently send spent fuel to Sellafield for reprocessing; what countries are expected to use THORP; and what countries are currently in negotiations for its use.

British Nuclear Fuels plc currently receives spent magnox fuel from Italy and Japan. Utilities in the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland have entered into contracts for reprocessing in THORP. Ongoing negotiations with potential customers are commercially confidential.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he plans any future initiatives to promote energy efficiency in the home; and if he will make a statement.

My Department's Energy Efficiency Office, in collaboration with the Building Societies Association, is now launching a new initiative to help building societies to promote energy efficiency to their customers.For the purpose of this initiative, the Energy Efficiency Office and the Building Societies Association have together published a new leaflet, "Monergy in Your New Home", which building societies will be able to make available to their new and existing borrowers. The leaflet gives basic information on energy efficiency measures and finance, and invites the householder to ask the Energy Efficiency Office for a monergy pack. The pack gives more detailed advice, including a home energy survey checklist and a set of energy saving guides. I am placing a copy of the leaflet and the pack in the Library of the House.I very much welome this new initiative, and I am grateful to the Building Societies Association and the participating building societies for making it possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what arrangements have been made in preparing the Central Electricity Generating Board for privatisation.

In his statement to the House on 25 February at column 454, my right hon. Friend set out the Government's proposals for the privatisation of the electricity supply industry in England and Wales. Subject to the passage of the appropriate legislation, it is his intention to make the following appointments to the companies which will emerge from the Central Electricity Generating Board.The first company will own some 70 per cent. of the CEGB's generating capacity, both fossil-fuelled and nuclear. Lord Marshall, chairman of the CEGB, is also to be chairman-designate of this new company and Mr. John Baker, managing director of the CEGB, is to be the chief executive-designate.The second new generating company will own the remaining 30 per cent. of the CEGB's capacity, all of it non-nuclear. Mr Robert Malpas CBE, currently a managing director of BP, will be taking up the appointment of chairman-designate of this company when he leaves BP in mid-1989. Between now and then he will be available for consultation. Mr. Ed Wallis, presently director of operations for the CEGB, is to be the chief executive-designate of the new company.The chairman-designate of the national grid company is to be Mr. David Jefferies, the current deputy chairman of the Electricity Council. The chief executive-designate is to be Mr. Bill Kerss at present deputy chairman of the South Wales electricity board.The chairmen and chief executives-designate will be involved in the work which is now beginning within the CEGB to plan for the transfer of the existing business to the new companies once the legislation to restructure and privatise the industry has been approved.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he is in a position to announce his decision on the future role of the Energy Efficiency Office.

[pursuant to his reply 22 January 1988, c. 885–86]: As I indicated in my answer of 22 January at columns 885–86, consumers are now well aware of the case for energy efficiency. The Energy Efficiency Office is therefore entering a fresh phase. I have decided that its aims will now be to run specific and targeted services backed by technical support, including guidance on the use of the energy efficiency industries; and to ensure that builders and property managers have the necessary technical advice.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to enable local education authorities in Wales to have the freedom to experiment with new concepts and ideas that are not imposed by the centre, consequent upon his statement to the Welsh Grand Committee on 25 May; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to prevent them from so experimenting. The Education Reform Bill proposes specific powers to enable him to disapply or modify the national curriculum requirements in a school for the purpose of development or experiment.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the latest balance of trade in manufactured goods.

In the first four months of 1988, there was an estimated deficit on trade in manufactures of £3·9 billion.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many citizens advice bureaux have legal aid panels.

I understand that about 450 of the 74 main citizens advice bureaux in the United Kingdom currently operate solicitors' rota schemes. Another eight bureaux directly employ salaried lawyers.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what estimate he has made of the trend in volume car production over the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

There are no official estimates available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if the Government are proposing or supporting any special projects related to tropical forest conservation at the forthcoming meeting of the International Tropical Timber Organisation Council session, 22 June to 1 July, in Rio de Janeiro;(2) when he last met representatives of the International Tropical Timber Organisation; what support has been given to the International Tropical Timber Organisation in its administration of funding for tropical reforestation, conservation and management of tropical forests and market research relating to the international trade in tropical hardwoods; and if he will make a statement;(3) pursuant to the answer of 21 April,

We will be represented at the forthcoming council session of the International Tropical Timber Organisation, which is expected to discuss the organisation's future role and work programme, including project assessment. We are currently considering our position on the various questions raised as we prepare for this meeting.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the division of responsibility between the Department of Trade and Industry and the Overseas Development Administration with regard to the International Tropical Timber Organisation, particularly in relation to the tropical forestry action plan.

The International Tropical Timber Organisation was established under what is primarily a trade-related commodity agreement; the Department of Trade and Industry has lead responsibility, particularly on trade-related matters. The Overseas Development Administration is responsible for the tropical forestry action plan, co-ordinated by the Food and Agriculture Organisation. The TFAP's overall framework for action in the field of tropical forestry extends to such areas as forestry and land use, conservation and fuel and energy. The tropical timber agreement requires the ITTO to avoid duplication of efforts and co-operate with United Nations organisations such as the FAO. We would expect to see this reflected in the ITTO's future activities.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what specific initiatives his Department has already taken and plans to take, in support of the Montreal protocol for reducing the production of chlorofluorocarbons; and if he will make a statement.

The Secretary of State for the Environment has lead policy responsibility in respect of the United Kingdom's obligations under the Montreal protocol, in consultation with my right hon. and noble Friend.Her Majesty's Government were an initial signatory to the protocol last September and have actively participated in the subsequent discussions on the proposed EC implementing measures, in particular the provisions relating to the scheduled freeze and cuts in production and consumption, and to identity scope for substitutes and increased opportunities for recycling and recovery. We are also supporting the initiatives being taken by industry at a European level to reduce dependance on these chemicals.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if his Department's submission to the Foxley wood planning inquiry in Hampshire represents his policy in respect of proposals for large-scale housing developments in the south and south-east of England.

My Department does not have policies in respect of housing developments in south-east England or anywhere else. Whether the Department considers it has something to contribute depends on the merits of each case.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish his Department's submission to the planning inquiry being held into the housing proposals at Foxley wood, Hampshire.

Under normal DOE procedures, copies have been sent to the appellant and to the local authority. In addition I have arranged for a copy of the submission to be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what are the implications for his policy towards the future of the film industry of the reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission of alleged restrictive labour practices in that industry.

The reference is intended to establish whether certain specified restrictive labour practices exist in the broadcasting and film industries and, if so, whether they operate against the public interest. The Government will consider whether action is appropriate in the light of the MMC's report.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will make a statement on the position of the Insurance Brokers Registration Council as a recognised professional body under the Financial Services Act.

Recognition of professional bodies under the Financial Services Act is a matter for the Securities and Investments Board. In January the board made an interim recognition order in respect of the council pending the making and coming into effect of the council's new rules on investment business. An order approving the Insurance Brokers Registration Council (Conduct of Investment Business) Rules 1988 has been laid before Parliament and copies of the rules have been placed in the Library. The order and with it the rules will come into effect on 21 June 1988.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he will make a statement on the current position of the Rio Tinto Zinc Corporation plc tin mining operations in Cornwall.

[pursant to his answer, 22 March 1988.]: The loan of £15 million offered in 1986 to Carnon Consolidated Ltd., then a subsidiary of RTZ Corporation plc, is repayable in the years 1996–2001. The loan of £10 million offered this year to Carnon Holdings Ltd., (the new parent company of Carnon Consolidated Ltd.) replaces guarantees of £10 million commercial loans under the 1986 offer. This loan is repayable from 1993 onwards. Both loans are interest-free and both are linked to capital expenditure. Repayments of both loans are related to the after-tax profits of the preceding year above a minimum level. There are provisions for repayments to be waived if profits are insufficient.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the proposed increase in the charge for searches at the Companies Registration Office and as to why the request for a duplicate of the roll film of information received at the office each day as a cost-effective service to the public and to the Companies Registration Office was not accepted.

[holding answer 7 June 1988]: The proposed increase in the fee for searches at the Companies Registration Officies is intended to ensure that the full cost of providing this service is met by those using it. The Registrar of Companies has been discussing with major users the possibility of supplying them with roll film copies of company documents and expects to write to them shortly about such a service.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many searches were undertaken by the Companies Registration Office during 1987 on behalf of Government and other public authorities listed as major users.

[holding answer 7 June 1988]: No Government Department or other public authority is among the major users of search facilities at the Companies Registration Offices. In 1987, some 170,000 searches were carried out for the CROs' own working purposes and those of other parts of the Department of Trade and Industry. Searches for other Government Departments and other public authorities attract the normal search fee and are therefore not always separately identified, but total at least 70,000.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of businesses with a turnover of £250,000 or less are currently subject to a surcharge as a result of late submission of their quarterly value added tax returns.

Customs do not keep separate surcharge statistics for businesses with a turnover of £250,000 or less.At the end of May 1988 approximately 20 per cent. of all businesses registered for VAT were in receipt of extant surcharge liability notices. About half of these had not yet incurred a surcharge.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the nature of representations he has received from small businesses concerning the restriction on companies taking advantage of the new instalment system for value added tax payments to those which are up to date on payments; and if he will make a statement.

No such representations have been received.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the rate of growth in consumer credit over the past year; and if he will make a statement.

In the 12 months to 31 March 1988, the amount outstanding on all consumer credit agreements rose by 18·1 per cent.

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what was the level of interchange between the Civil Service and industry and commerce in 1987.

Returns from Departments show that there were 278 outward and 195 inward secondments in 1987, a total of 473. This is more than double the figure in 1979 and is 1 per cent. higher than in 1986. The figure for secondments to other bodies rose by 5 per cent.I welcome this high level of interchange and will be reviewing ways of strengthening the links still further. A copy of the 1987 interchange report has been placed in both Libraries of Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions were made for each of the last five years in (i) the United Kingdom, by region, and (ii) Basildon for litter-related offences; and how much was recovered in fines.

The information available to me, which may be incomplete, is brought together in the following tables. Data is not collected centrally on moneys recovered in fines for individual offences.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders already convicted of litter-related offences were (a) re-prosecuted and (b) re-convicted at later dates for similar offences in the United Kingdom, by region, and in Basildon, in each of the last five years.

The information requested is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there were for litter-related offences on British Rail property for each of the last five years;(2) how many

The information requested is not available. Details of the precise location of such offences are not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there were in connection with the illegal dumping of industrial waste (i) in rivers and seas and (ii) by other methods in the United Kingdom, by region, and in Basildon for each of the last five years.

It is not possible to distinguish prosecutions for the unlawful disposal of industrial waste from the records of court proceedings held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provisions of the single European market in 1992 will apply to (a) the Isle of Man, (b) Guernsey and (c) Jersey; and under what powers.

The provisions of the treaty of Rome which apply to the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are governed by articles 25–27 and protocol 3 to the treaty of accession. Provisions for achieving the completion of the internal market will apply to the islands only within this framework. They are primarily concerned with the harmonisation of custom controls and the free movement of agricultural and animal produce.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the arrangements for the issue of the common European passport in (a) the Isle of Man, (b) Guernsey and (c) Jersey; and how this will affect the right of movement, work and abode in the United Kingdom and other European countries of residents of the islands.

Passports will continue to be issued in the islands through the lieutenants-governor in exercise of the royal prerogative. The common format passport, which is not a European Community passport as such, will merely bring about changes in form to the present passport. The status, entitlements and privileges of the holder are in no way affected.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there will be any change to the scope of the definition of public funds, as contained in the statement of changes in immigration rules July 1985, when the wording is revised to take into account the Social Security Act 1986.

There will be a slight change of scope but only insofar as family credit and income support, which are to be included in the definition, do not cover precisely the same ground as supplementary benefit and family income supplement, which they replace.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the revised definition of public funds in the statement of changes in immigration rules July 1985 will allow overseas students to be exempt from 80 per cent. of the community charge, on the same basis as students from the United Kingdom.

Yes, in that whatever criteria are decided for this concession will apply equally to overseas and home students.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the cost to a person appealing against the decision of an entry clearance officer; and if he will make a statement.

There is no charge for exercising any statutory right of appeal provided under the Immigration Act 1971.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if there has been any change in the period of residence in the United Kingdom required before indefinite leave to remain can be granted at the discretion of his Department.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a question from the hon. Member for Norwood (Mr. Fraser) on 5 November 1987, at columns 833–34. There have been no subsequent changes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Copeland of 17 December 1987, Official Report, column 626, he will publish the report and recommendations of the inquiry into security arrangements at Haverigg prison, Millom, Cumbria;(2) if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Copeland of 17 December 1987,

Statistics on escapes are published in annual reports on the work of the prison department, copies of which are available in the Library, and show that the following numbers of prisoners escaped from Haverigg:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what investigations have been carried out into alleged drugs abuse at Haverigg prison, Millom, Cumbria, in the last 10 years.

We attach much importance to keeping illicit drugs out of prison establishments and are determined that counter-measures are taken. The regular

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the various categories and numbers of prisoners held at Haverigg prison, Millom, Cumbria, in each year since 1979.

The readily available information is given in the table.monitoring of the incidence of drugs is a normal management function. Following the issue of further guidance last autumn, governors were required to review and report upon the situation in their establishment and the need for additional measures to be taken. A full search by drug dogs took place at Haverigg on 23 March, when some cannabis was found. Allegations concerning the availability of drugs at Haverigg will be investigated by the deputy director general of the prison service as part of his inquiry into the recent incidents at the prison.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will reconsider the limit on Vietnamese refugees allowed into the United Kingdom from Hong Kong, in the light of the recent additional influx of refugees to the colony.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member for Wrexham (Dr. Marek) on 26 April at columns 85–86.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now consider DNA fingerprinting as conclusive evidence of parentage; and if he will make a statement.

Due weight is already given to the results of DNA tests submitted by applicants in support of entry clearance applications. The results of the pilot trial to evaluate the role of DNA testing in immigration procedures will be available shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the application of Mrs. Nanette Ida Goodman of 12 Avenue terrace, Southend-on-Sea, to the Petty France office for a passport renewal on 19 April, explaining the urgency of her application, has still not been dealt with; and if he will make a statement.

Without Mrs. Goodman's date of birth, the London Passport Office is unable to trace her application on the computerised record of postal applications awaiting processing. If my hon. Friend will let me have this information, we will do all we can to ensure that the application is expedited. The passport department has tried to contact Mrs. Goodman by telephone, but her number is unavailable.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the recent ministerial meetings he attended in Munich.

The Ministers of the States of the European Community responsible for counter-terrorism and immigration met on 3 June in Munich under the chairmanship of Dr. Zimmermann, the Minister of the Interior of the Federal Republic of Germany. Lord Cockfield, a Vice-President of the European Commission, was present for the discussion of immigration matters.In the immigration meeting we reviewed the position on possible changes in controls at the internal borders of the Community in the light of the Single European Act. Some of my colleagues envisaged that it might become possible to abolish immigration frontier controls within the Community if a series of conditions were fulfilled. These conditions would include the strengthening of controls at the external frontiers of the Community, including the full harmonisation of visa requirements. Others agreed with the United Kingdom that it was not possible to envisage the abolition within the foreseeable future of all immigration controls over third country nationals at intra-Community borders. All the Ministers present endorsed the statement by the presidency that no decision to abolish these controls had been taken.Frontier controls were also discussed, at my initiative, in the Trevi meeting in view of their importance in continued international cross-border co-operation to combat terrorism, drug trafficking and other crime. My colleagues unanimously accepted my suggestion that the Trevi machinery should be used to consider the implications of changes in frontier controls and the kind of measures which could be taken to off-set potential security disadvantages which might otherwise result from the implementation of the European internal market.At the immigration meeting, we had before us a further report from the ad hoc group of senior officials established in 1986 during the United Kingdom presidency. We endorsed the recommendations made by that group, including recommendations for improved co-ordination between the representatives of member states in third countries, in assessing conditions in those countries which are relevant to the grant of visas, and to the consideration of applications for asylum.My colleagues and I continue to be concerned at the considerable increase in some member states of the European Communities in the number of applications for asylum from persons who do not satisfy the criteria laid down in the 1951 Geneva refugee convention and appear to be exploiting the asylum procedure for purposes for which it is not intended. We therefore reaffirmed our aim of guaranteeing every asylum seeking the right to have his application examined in one of the member states but equally the aim of preventing the abuse whereby the same foreign national made different asylum applications in several member states. We welcomed the progress made towards establishing the necessary criteria for determining which state should be responsible for considering any individual application.In the Trevi meeting we also discussed events since our previous meeting in Copenhagen in December, including the recent murderous attacks by the Provisional IRA in the Netherlands. There was unanimous and wholehearted condemnation of the Provisional IRA and my colleagues supported my suggestion that this should be recorded in the presidency press statement issued after the meeting.Various measures to intensify co-operation were agreed including priority search measures for major terrorists, improved gathering of information on terrorist movements and the immediate exchange of information following a major terrorist incident. Proposals for greater co-operation between Trevi states in the forensic field will be developed by officials. We also agreed a refined and updated assessment of the terrorist threat to Community countries.Further co-operation to combat drug trafficking using the drug liaison officer network was agreed.My colleagues also agreed to my proposal that we should study ways of confiscating funds intended to support terrorism. The United Kingdom Government's proposals for legislation to replace the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984, which expires in March 1989, will provide a starting point for that study.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women in prison mother and baby units on the most recent convenient date had not previously served a custodial sentence; what were their ages; and for what offences they had been sentenced.

[pursuant to his reply, 23 May]: I regret that incorrect information was contained in that answer. The reply should have read as follows:Forty-two women including seven remand prisoners in mother and baby units on 13 May 1988 had not previously served a custodial sentence. Their ages are shown in table 1. Table 2 lists the primary offences for each of the 35 sentenced women.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what overall savings will be obtained by the proposal in the Northern health board operational plan to replace ward accommodation at Holywell hospital by provision of local psychogeriatric units in Lame and Whiteabbey.

This is primarily a matter for the Northern Health and Social Services Board. Rather than achieve savings, however, I understand that the proposal, which is only at the planning stage, is intended to improve services for elderly people in the areas mentioned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the employers in Northern Ireland which the Fair Employment Agency has (a) chosen or (b) had discussions with to revoke or modify directions previously given under subsection 2(i) or 2(ii) under Part II, section 13 (5)(a) or (b) of the Fair Employment Act (NI) 1976.

[holding answer 20 May 1988]: The information is as follows:

• Cookstown District council;
• Armagh district council;
• Lough Neagh Fishermen's Co-operative.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to introduce legislation to ensure that the producers of waste are responsible for its disposal; and if he will make a statement.

We intend, following our September 1986 consultation paper, to announce our conclusions on waste disposal law amendment very shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Government propose to compile a register of persons authorised to handle waste.

Our consultation paper on amendments to the law relating to waste disposal included a proposal to register waste handlers. We plan to make an announcement on the results of the consultation very shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many tonnes of (a) domestic litter and (b) industrial waste were legally disposed of for each of the last five years in (i) the United Kingdom, by region and (ii) Basildon;(2) if he will estimate how many tonnes of

Responsibility for the regulation of waste disposal lies with waste disposal authorities. Statistics on the amounts of waste disposed of by the authorities or by the private sector under licence, and the costs to local authorities, are not collected centrally.The two major methods of disposal of domestic and industrial waste are incineration and landfill, with or without prior treatment. It is estimated that about 100 million tonnes of controlled waste is generated in England and Wales annually. Of this 50 million tonnes is industrial waste, 28 million tonnes is domestic and commercial and the remainder is ash, slag and building waste. Within this total, about 1·5 million tonnes is defined as special waste under the Control of Pollution (Special Waste) Regulations 1980 as being dangerous or difficult to dispose of.Industrial waste is disposed of almost entirely by the private sector and the costs are borne by the industry generating the waste.Approximately 10 per cent. of the domestic and commercial waste collected by local authorities is incinerated; the rest is landfilled.No valid estimates are available of the volume of waste disposed of illegally throughout the country but the London Waste Regulatory Authority estimates that about 1 million tonnes are dumped in the London area at any one time.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many tonnes of (a) domestic litter and (b) industrial waste were disposed of in the sea or in rivers for each of the last five years in the United Kingdom, by region, and in Basildon; and if he will make a statement;(2) how many tonnes of

Waste disposal at sea is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Quantities and types of waste disposed of in United Kingdom sea areas from 1981–85, the last five years for which published figures are available, are given in the 8th-12 annual reports of the Oslo commission, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. Data for 1986 will be available shortly. Wastes are normally licensed for disposal at sea only if they are biodegradable or inert and non-toxic. Discharges of waste to internal waters is a matter for water authorities and figures are not kept centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment who is responsible for monitoring landfill waste sites once local authority responsibility ceases after they are closed; and if he will make a statement.

The obligations of a waste disposal authority under the Control of Pollution Act 1974 to monitor landfill sites cease when the licence expires. However, district councils retain their duties under section 91 of the Public Health Act 1936 to inspect their districts for the occurrence of any statutory nuisance which may be caused by the deposit.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied that provisions relating to the density of house and other building and the provision of drainage and sewerage are not being exceeded on land in the vicinity of Cortons brook and the Brent river; and if he will make a statement.

Decisions concerning the density of development in Ealing, as elsewhere, are a matter for the local planning authority taking into account any general guidance. My Department's circular 17/82 emphasises that, where land drainage considerations arise, they should always be taken into account in determining planning applications. The adequacy of infrastructure is also a consideration for the local planning authority in consultation with the relevant utilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what high level nuclear waste of United Kingdom origin has been dumped in drums in the sea.

None. High level nuclear waste is being stored for at least 50 years before disposal is envisaged. In any case such waste is unsuitable for disposal in drums at sea.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to make funds available to Newcastle under Lyme borough council for Newcastle recreational project 1746/88 and to finance similar projects in operation throughout the United Kingdom now and in the future; and if he will make a statement.

Government money specifically allocated to sport and recreation is channelled through the Sports Council. The council dispenses these funds in accordance with its own policies on a regional and national basis. Priority is given to projects which provide sport and recreation opportunities for areas and groups of special need including the unemployed. I understand that the council's west midlands region provided some financial support last year for the Newcastle recreation project and that similar projects in other regions are also assisted by the council. The Government fully support the Sports Council's "areas of special need" policies and increased the council's grant by over £2 million for this purpose in 1988–89, to a total of £39 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take account of the projected rise in chlorine levels in the atmosphere from 3 parts per million to 5 parts per million by the end of the century, in deciding whether to support a ban on the use of aerosol sprays containing chlorofluorocarbons; and if he will make a statement.

The Government believe that emissions of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are best limited through controlling supply rather than specific uses, such as aerosols. The European Commission's proposals for implementing the Montreal protocol in the European Community also reflect this overall approach. We nevertheless welcome the recent announcement by the British aerosol industry that it will voluntarily phase out non-essential use of CFCs in aerosols by the end of 1989. The Government are keen to encourage voluntary reductions in CFC use by all sectors of industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will explain how the system for including environmental impact assessments in the planning process will operate in enterprise zones and simplified planning zones; and if he will make a statement.

I shall shortly be laying before Parliament regulations applying the requirements of the EC directive

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will estimate the average construction costs of a unit of housing association housing (a) in the area of the London Docklands development corporation and (b) in that part of the London borough of Southwark for which the planning authority is the London Docklands development corporation;(2) if he will estimate the change in investment on public housing in real terms in the area of the London Docklands development corporation since 1981.

I will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the average construction costs of a unit of new housing for private sale (a) in the area of the London Docklands development corporation and (b) in that part of the London borough of Southwark for which the planning authority is the London Docklands development corporation.

Information on average construction cost is not available, but average sale prices between October 1986 and September 1987 have been estimated as follows for the LDDC part of each of the three docklands boroughs:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the average weekly rent of a private unit of housing in the area of the London Docklands development corporation for each year since its establishment.

The only information available is for rents registered by the rent officer in the year in question in each of the three dockland boroughs, as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to ensure that, as a prerequisite to the granting of planning permission for an agricultural dwelling, the future economic viability of the farm is established beyond reasonable doubt.

No. Guidance about the viability of a farming enterprise is given in the annex to DOE circular 24/73. Each planning application for an agricultural dwelling is decided on its merits in the light of this guidance, the other factors listed in the annex, and all other material planning considerations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much public money has been spent and how much private investment attracted to the London Docklands development corporation in (a) Southwark, (b) Newham and (c) Tower Hamlets, for each year since the London Docklands development corporation was established.

I will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the population within the area of the London Docklands development corporation for each year since its establishment, and the predicted population for the 1990s.

Population estimates and projections for the LDDC area since 1981 are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Government will publish their response to the Widdicombe committee of inquiry into the conduct of local authority business.

Soon.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will update the table giving information on sales of dwellings by each local authority in England, referred to in the answer given to the hon. Member for Banbury on 2 March, Official Report, column 580.

I have today placed in the Library the latest version of table 2 giving information reported by each local authority in England on the progress of council house sales up to the end of December 1987.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to issue further explanatory material on tenants' choice; and if he will make a statement.