To ask the Prime Minister if she will now set up an inquiry into the policy considerations and decisions which led to the recent operation involving military personnel in Gibraltar and the shooting of three Irish Republican Army personnel.

No. The inquest in Gibraltar is the proper occasion for the matter to be examined. We hope it will be held as soon as possible.

To ask the Prime Minister what is her practice with regard to answering letters from right hon. and hon. Members directly from her Office or referring them to other Departments.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Burnley (Mr. Pike) on 22 April 1988 at column 583.

To ask the Prime Minister what information she has as to the proportion of civil servants at grade 3 and above in the Cabinet Office who were educated in (a) private schools and (b) state schools.

The names of the schools attended by civil servants at grade 3 level and above in the Cabinet Office are recorded on personal files in only a few cases.

To ask the Prime Minister why British Nuclear Fuels plc made it a condition of its offer to fund a news media unit at the University of Newcastle that Mr. Bernard Ingham be associated with the project.

Mr. Ingham remains my Chief Press Secretary and is not available to take up any post in Newcastle.

To ask the Attorney-General what was the basis for the decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions to ask the Commissioner of the City of London police for an inquiry into contacts between the two principal Crown witnesses at the recent appeal in relation to the Birmingham pub bombings.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer that I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin).

To ask the Attorney-General what line of inquiry the Director of Public Prosecutions suggested to the City of London police when asking them to inquire into contacts between the two principal Crown witnesses at the recent appeal hearing of the six men convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) on 17 June 1988, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Attorney-General what action the Director of Public Prosecutions proposes to take following the completion of the investigations by the City of London police into contacts between the two principal Crown witnesses at the appeal of the six men convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) on 15 June 1988, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Attorney-General what representations he has received concerning the introduction of the taping of court proceedings in England and Wales to replace shorthand writers.

Representations in writing have been received by the Lord Chancellor's Department from 13 sources.

To ask the Attorney-General when he last met the Director of Public Prosecutions; and what matters were discussed.

To ask the Attorney-General when he last met the Director of Public Prosecutions; and what subjects were discussed.

To ask the Attorney-General when he last met the Director of Public Prosecutions; and what matters were discussed.

I last met the Director of Public Prosecutions on Wednesday 15 June 1988 to discuss matters relating to the Crown Prosecution Service.

To ask the Attorney-General what costs have been incurred to public funds to date in legal proceedings involving the bones of Edward, King of England, Saint and Martyr.

Costs expended to date amount to £2,361·99.

To ask the Attorney-General what information he has as to the proportion of civil servants at grade 3 and above in his Department who were educated in (a) private schools and (b) state schools.

There is only one such person in my Department. He was educated at a private school.

To ask the Attorney-General what are the implications for the Crown Prosecution Service of the recommendations in the North report on fatal road accidents.

The road traffic law review, chaired by Dr. Peter North, published its report on 12 April this year. The report contains 137 recommendations, several of which propose major restructuring of the current road traffic offences which may be applicable when a fatal accident occurs, including those where drink is involved. The report is currently receiving detailed scrutiny, and whilst I cannot anticipate any future legislation, the Crown Prosecution Service would naturally welcome any move which would assist in bringing to justice on appropriate charges those who commit serious driving offences.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the average percentage of gross national product given in aid by the members of the European Community that are also members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development assistance committee, excluding the United Kingdom, in 1987 or for the latest available year.

In 1986, the latest year for which figures have been published, the net official development assistance of these countries represented 0·55 per cent. of their combined GNP.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the estimated expenditure on overseas aid in the current financial year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current level of expenditure on overseas development.

The overseas aid budget, including aid administration, for the current financial year is £1,337 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in the light of Vietnam's 25 May undertaking to withdraw half its troops from Kampuchea by the end of the year, he will reconsider the provision of development assistance to Kampuchea.

We see no reason at the present time to change our position on aid to Cambodia.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support Her Majesty's Government are giving to programmes of structural adjustment in Africa.

In 1987–88 Britain provided an estimated total of over £90 million of quick-spending balance of payments finance in support of structural adjustment programmes in African countries. We have pledged at least £250 million of similar assistance over the next three years in association with the World Bank's special programme of assistance to low-income, debt-distressed countries in sub-Saharan Africa that are following appropriate programmes of economic reform. We are also giving very substantial support to the IMF's enhanced structural adjustment facility. Our contribution to the interest subsidy account will be greater than that of any other country, and will be sufficient to subsidise the interest on lending up to SDR 1 billion—about £750 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the value, in 1980 prices, of British bilateral aid to the Southern Africa Development Co-ordination Conference and the front line states in (a) 1980, and (b) 1986.

In 1980 prices gross bilateral aid to the member states of the Southern African Development Co-ordination Conference was £133 million in 1980 and £73·5 million in 1986. The 1980 figure is particularly high because of large post-independence expenditure in Zimbabwe. Finance pledged to the Southern African Development Co-ordination Conference is recorded as aid to a particular country once expenditure has taken place.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to increase British and European aid to Afghanistan after the withdrawal of Soviet troops and advisers.

I have already pledged £10 million to support the work of multilateral organisations and British voluntary agencies once properly co-ordinated international relief arrangements have been established. If appropriate, additional resources will be made available later.When the situation in Afghanistan allows, the European Community could also make an important contribution to international aid efforts. Emergency and food aid, channelled through international organisations, will be priorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's assistance to Afghan refugees.

Following signature of the Geneva agreements in April, I have announced a doubling of our annual programme of support for Afghan refugees to £10 million in the current financial year. These funds will support the work of British voluntary agencies and multilateral organisations such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Committee of the Red Cross. This assistance will be conditional on properly co-ordinated international arrangements for the resettlement of Afghan refugees being put in place.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance he is providing to counter the threat of locusts in north and west Africa.

I have recently agreed to provide £1·3 million of new bilateral aid for a programme to help combat locust infestations in 16 countries of north and west Africa. This support is in addition to some £1·5 million already provided bilaterally and through the European Community.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is, for each year since 1970, the amount of bilateral aid to Nicaragua.

Between 1970 and 1987 British bilateral aid to Nicaragua amounted to £2·49 million. I shall publish in the Official Report a breakdown by calendar year.Following is the information:

	£'000
1970	4
1971	21
1972	66
1973	87
1974	248
1975	398
1976	287
1977	405
1978	186
1979	246
1980	127
1981	91
1982	49
1983	64
1984	9
1985	116
1986	86
1987	—

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will reconsider his decision not to respond to the Government of Vietnam's request for emergency food aid as a result of the drought in northern Vietnam.

No. The European Community has, however, agreed to provide 20,000 tonnes of cereals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the famine relief effort in Ethiopia.

The international community has responded promptly and generously to the renewed threat of famine in Ethiopia and estimated food aid requirements for 1988 have been largely met by pledges made. For our part, we have committed over £45 million in famine relief assistance since the beginning of 1987, including the cost of some 95,000 tonnes of bilateral food aid and our share of European Community assistance. The relief effort is, however, being seriously hampered by increased military activity in Eritrea and Tigray. As a result the number of people, particularly in Tigray, who can be reached by current relief operations has been substantially reduced. The situation is further aggravated by the Ethiopian Government's continued refusal to permit full resumption of the relief activities of the voluntary agencies and the ICRC.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to provide reconstruction aid for Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement.

When I visited Sri Lanka this year, I signed an agreement for the provision of £20 million in reconstruction aid to Sri Lanka. A number of projects have already been agreed, and others identified, for expenditure against this aid.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what special assistance Her Majesty's Government are providing for African countries affected by the spread of AIDS.

We have already committed £7·75 million, including £4·5 million this year, to the World Health Organisation's global programme on AIDS which is working with 44 countries in Africa. In addition, we have offered to provide a total of £4·6 million over five years for national AIDS control programmes agreed with the World Health Organisation in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will express Overseas Development Administration expenditure as a percentage of gross national product (a) in the financial year 1978–79 and (b) in the current financial year.

Expenditure under the net aid programme in 1978–79 represented 0·41 per cent. of GNP. The comparable figure for the current financial year will not be available until later next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on current provisions for technical aid to underdeveloped countries.

In 1987 some £320 million was spent on technical assistance.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of drink-driving convictions in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

The available information is for findings of guilt at all courts for driving and so on after consuming alcohol or taking drugs. It is published for 1976 to 1986 in table 7 of Home Office statistical bulletin 36/87, "Offences Relating to Motor Vehicles, England and Wales 1986", copies of which are in the Library. In 1986, there were about 107,000 such findings of guilt. The figures for 1987 will he published later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current average period required to process applications for passports in each passport office in the United Kingdom.

The current times for straightforward non-urgent applications are shown in the table. Urgent applications are given priority.

Passport office	Delay (Working days)
London	59
Glasgow	38
Peterborough	35
Newport	22
Liverpool	14
Belfast1	4
1 The Belfast office is by far the smallest and deals only with Northern Ireland residents.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has in relation to the number of social workers, teachers, medical staff, ancillary staff and other members of the public who have been vetted by police before they are employed in jobs where they work with children; and whether his Department keeps information as to the number of people refused employment and the reasons therefore.

The police do not vet applicants for posts which involve close contact with children; they supply information which they may have about the criminal background of individuals to prospective employers, who then decide whether or not to employ the individual in the light of all the information they may have about him or her.The latest figures available on the number of checks undertaken under these arrangements were given in a reply I gave to a question from the hon. Member on 29 April at column

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received seeking the withdrawal of his announcement of 18 May regarding the rise in the cost of concessionary television licences; what response he has made; and if he will make a statement.

Between 19 May and 14 June, 12 members of the public and six hon. Members complained about the concessionary licence fee increase. Replies have explained that the increase is necessary to cover the costs of administering the concessionary scheme and of extending it.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next intends to meet the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis; and what he expects to discuss.

My right hon. Friend has arranged to meet the Commissioner on Wednesday 22 June. He plans to discuss a number of policing issues, including football hooliganism.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied with the progress being made by the broadcasting authorities in improving television reception in areas at present experiencing difficulties.

The BBC and IBA do their best to assist viewers who experience difficulty in obtaining good television reception. They have undertaken a joint programme to extend UHF television coverage to all unserved areas with a population of at least 500. and smaller communities where practicable. Twenty-six new relay transmitters were installed in 1987 serving some 20,000 people. Some 99·4 per cent. of the population are now able to receive BBC and IBA services.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigration officers are at present employed at the port of Holyhead; and what are the corresponding figures for 1979 and 1984.

No immigration officers are at present stationed at the port of Holyhead; none were stationed there in 1979 or in 1984.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the availability of Welsh language television and radio programmes and other programmes made in Wales to viewers outside Wales.

I am aware of only one such representation in recent months.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he intends to propose any changes in the method of valuation of ex-police houses for the purpose of their sale to serving officers.

It is for police authorities to arrange for the valuation of surplus police houses which they propose to offer for sale. They are authorised by the general consents issued by the Secretary of State for the Environment in 1981 to sell such houses to serving police officers on the same terms and at the same rates of discount as those offered by housing authorities to council tenants. It is for individual police authorities to decide whether a discount should be offered and, if so, what the rates of discount should he, subject to the maximum rates of discount set by the general consents.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will hold discussions with representatives of the Metropolitan police concerning the future establishment of appropriate structures to monitor and settle problems of racial equality in the service, the promotion of black officers and appraisal procedures, and training improvements.

Since December 1986, the Metropolitan police have been implementing an equal opportunities programme with the help of the Commission for Racial Equality, the Equal Opportunities Commission, and the race relations advisory service of the Department of Employment. Issues of race and sex equality are handled by the equal opportunities unit which has been set up in the force and last year a procedure was introduced to enable officers to seek redress for grievances under the Race Relations Act 1976.I understand from the Commissioner that recruit selection is undertaken only by those trained in equal opportunities. All probationers, and other serving officers, also receive such training. The force is also developing a computerised system to monitor equality of treatment, and the staff appraisal system has recently been modified taking account of the need to ensure equal opportunities. At present, 7·1 per cent. of the 442 officers from ethnic minority backgrounds hold supervisory ranks.Given the continuing progress being made by the Metropolitan police in this area, we do not consider that discussions are needed at present.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in the light of the national shortage of court clerks and inadequate space and facilities in many courts, he will make a statement about planned additional funding for the magistrates courts.

We are aware of the concern expressed by justices' clerks and others about difficulties in recruiting and retaining court clerks, especially those qualified as solicitor or barrister. I understand that the joint negotiating committee (JNC) which negotiates pay and conditions for magistrates' courts staff is collecting information on recruitmemt and retention, and will take it into account when considering the pay settlement for 1988. We will consider very carefully whatever proposals the JNC puts forward. Capital funds are available for replacing or improving accommodation and are allocated in order of operational need.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money has been spent on section 11 grants under the Local Government Act 1966 in each of the last four years.

The amount of grant paid under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966 in respect of each of the last four years was:

	£ million
1984–85	73·6
1985–86	81·2
1986–87	87·8
1987–88	98·8

The figures for 1986–87 and 1987–88 are estimates subject to adjustment when claims from local authorities are finally settled. The grant represents 75 per cent. of the eligible expenditure incurred by local authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the numbers of prisoners who have escaped, or attempted to escape, from all category C prisons in the last 20 years.

Statistics on escaps 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 escapd from category C prisons:

Year	Number
1969	9
1970	12
1971	20
1972	45
1973	36
1974	26
1975	44
1976	50
1977	48
1978	44
1979	94
1980	62
1981	76
1982	98
1983	91
1984–85	105
1985–86	98
1986–87	68

The 1984–85 figure is for the 15-month period from 1 January 1984–31 March 1985. Subsequent reports relate to the year from 1 April. Between 1 April 1987 and 31 May 1988, a total of 103 prisoners escaped.The figures need to be viewed in the context of the substantial increases which have occurred during the period in both the number of category C prisons, and the total average population of such establishments.As to attempted escapes, the information readily available centrally relates to 1986–88 and shows that, during these years, the following numbers of prisoners were reported as having attempted to escape:

Year	Number
1986	72
1987	93
1988 (to 31 May)	26

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what rules govern entry into the United Kingdom by (a) citizens of Eire and (b) citizens of Commonwealth countries; and if privileges granted are reciprocal for United Kingdom citizens in Eire.

Because the Irish Republic forms part of the common travel area, its citizens are generally free to enter the United Kingdom, whether coming from within or outside that area. Irish citizens, may, however, be subject to deportation, or to exclusion under either the immigration or the prevention of terrorism legislation. Under regulations in place in the Republic of Ireland, complete reciprocity is accorded to British citizens, thus allowing them unrestricted access to the Republic. The entry of Commonwealth citizens to the United Kingdom is controlled by the Immigration Act 1971 and by the immigration rules made under it.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what entry documents are required for (a) citizens of Eire entering the United Kingdom and (b) Commonwealth countries; and if these rights are reciprocal for United Kingdom citizens entering Eire.

Under the provisions of the Immigration Act 1971 a person must produce a valid passport or some other document establishing his identity or citizenship if required to do so by the immigration officer examining him. This applies to all nationalities without distinction. Additionally, any person requiring an entry clearance must be in possession of this at the time of entry. Entry clearance requirements however do not apply to citizens of the Irish Republic.Persons arriving in and departing from the United Kingdom on a local journey within the common travel area, that is to say, the Channel islands, the Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland, are not generally subject to control under the Immigration Act and would not therefore normally be required to submit to examination by an immigration officer, nor required to produce entry documents under the provisions of that Act. Arrangements for the operation of the common travel area are reciprocal.Requirements placed on persons entering the Republic of Ireland from outside the common travel area are matters for the Irish Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the progress being made against computer crime; what steps are being taken to combat it; and if he will make a statement.

We are concerned about computer crime, but it is a complicated matter and my right hon. Friend is awaiting a report from the Law Commission about it before deciding what, if any, action needs to be taken by Government to deal with it. In the meantime, the subject is receiving close attention from the police. I know, for example, that the Metropolitan police give lectures and talks to companies and have contributed to conferences on the dangers, and security aspects, of computer crime.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he proposes to take to ensure that companies who are the victims of computer crime are co-operating fully with the police; and if he will make a statement.

All citizens have a general duty to co-operate with the police in the investigation of offences. We have no information to suggest that companies which have become victims of computer crime are not co-operating fully with the police.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated total involved in known mortgage fraud; what steps are being taken to identify those responsible; and if he will make a statement.

Criminal statistics do not distinguish between mortgage and other types of fraud and no information is therefore available on numbers of offences or amounts of money involved. It is the responsibility of chief officers of police to take whatever steps they think appropriate to investigate suspected offences and to identify offenders.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out for each police authority area in England and Wales the current establishment of police officers and the shortfall where applicable in the actual numbers of police officers in service below that establishment.

The information is as follows:

Force	Establishment as at 31 March 1988	Vacancies
Avon and Somerset	3,030	17
Bedfordshire	1,020	21
Cambridgeshire	1,160	—
Cheshire	1,845	8
Cleveland	1,474	8
Cumbria	1,144	3
Derbyshire	1,793	3
Devon and Cornwall	2,802	15
Dorset	1,235	1
Durham	1,357	28
Dyfed Powys	935	18
Essex	2,742	14
Gloucestershire	1,164	11
Greater Manchester	6,943	—
Gwent	986	7
Hampshire	3,105	2
Hertfordshire	1,631	28
Humberside	1,972	19
Kent	2,911	3
Lancashire	3,158	19
Leicestershire	1,733	—
Lincolnshire	1,183	15
Merseyside	4,679	32
Norfolk	1,318	10
Northamptonshire	1,086	—
Northumbria	3,453	—
North Wales	1,316	16
North Yorkshire	1,368	—
Nottinghamshire	2,259	7
South Wales	3,109	—
South Yorkshire	2,931	19
Staffordshire	2,156	21
Suffolk	1,186	—
Surrey	1,639	—
Sussex	2,923	29
Thames Valley	3,486	—
Warwickshire	981	2
West Mercia	1,963	17
West Midlands	6,684	45
West Yorkshire	5,204	20

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Stretford of 31 December 1987 and 14 April 1988 concerning the practice of writing directly to constituents on matters raised by a right hon. or hon. Member.

I hope to do so shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to the proportion of civil servants at grade 3 and above in his Department who were educated in (a) private schools and (b) state schools.

About one half of officers at grade 3 level and above attended private (including the then direct grant) schools: the remainder either attended state schools or the information is not readily available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of those held on remand in custody awaiting trial have been held (a) over three months and (b) over six months, at the latest date for which figures are available.

The latest available information on the length of time since the initial remand in custody of untried prisoners relates to 30 June 1987 and was given in the reply to a question from the hon. Member for St. Helens, South (Mr. Bermingham) on 27 May at columns 379–80.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is yet in a position to make a statement about the pay of home tutors in Cheshire.

I understand from the Cheshire local education authority that it will be reinstating the rate of pay applicable before 1 October 1987 for those home tutors who had a contract with the authority on that date, for the duration of those contracts. I have written to my hon. Friend on this matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has on the operation of education support grants in Norfolk, in particular those which are specifically geared to the needs of rural areas.

The total expenditure that has been approved for support by education support grants in Norfolk in the four years to 1988–89 and the amount of expenditure on which grant has been claimed is given in the table.The authority has taken part in the pilot project to improve the quality or the range of the curriculum provided in primary schools in rural areas and figures are given in the table. This is the only activity that is specifically geared to the needs of rural areas.

Education support grants: Norfolk
£ cash prices
	Expenditure supported by ESGs on
	All activities1		Curriculum in primary schools in rural areas (included in all activities)
Financial year	Approved	Claimed	Approved	Claimed
1985–86	386,400	368,203	66,600	66,600
1986–87	1,412,850	1,005,444	123,600	123,600
1987–88	1,461,400	—2	107,300	—2
1988–89	1,833,200	—2	134,100	—2
1 As well as curriculum in primary schools in rural areas the other activities are:
Mathematics in Schools
Science in Primary Education
PICKUP
Midday Supervision
IT in NAFE
Education needs of unemployed adults
DP equipment in FE
Misuse of Drugs
GCSE
Education for a multi-ethnic society
Portage.
2 Figures not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to the answer of 14 June to the hon. Member for Wakefield, if he will take steps to encourage the greater availability of rugby league as part of the content of physical education courses at teacher training colleges.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the additional estimated transport costs faced by local authorities as a result of the implementation of the Education Reform Bill.

We do not consider that there need be any significant additional transport costs associated with the implementation of the Education Reform Bill.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to issue guidance on admissions to county and voluntary schools in the light of the more open enrolment provisions of the Education Reform Bill.

Draft guidance is being issued today. Its purpose is to inform discussion of this topic during the remaining stages of the Bill's passage through Parliament; to guide local education authorities and others in any preparatory work they wish to undertake and to give all concerned an early opportunity to comment. Comments are invited by 16 September 1988.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the number of letters his Department has received to date from parents of children attending schools in the Inner London education authority area who (a) expressed opposition to the abolition of the authority and (b) approved of the abolition.

Some 3,350 letters have been received since the announcement of the Government's proposals on 4 February. Correspondents do not always give their circumstances and it is therefore not possible to state how many are parents. Initially, many correspondents expressed concern at the proposals, but as these have become better understood the emphasis has shifted to inquiries about specific areas of education.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the current, average, annual, per student full cost of undergraduate tuition, excluding capital costs, for degree courses in veterinary science, medicine, law, physics, modern languages and English, at (a) university and (b) polytechnic.

Table 9 of "University Statistics 1985–86—Volume 3, Finance" provides information (excluding some central costs) about university academic provision within each of 37 cost centres. Similar information about polytechnic provision in each of 17 cost centres is contained in "Polytechnic Expenditure, Actual 1986–87". Copies of both volumes are in the Library. The cost centres do not necessarily tally with the individual subjects identified in the question but, in any case, the figures do not permit the separation of first degree course tuition costs from other departmental activity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research into amnesia has been and is being supported by his Department; and what plans there are to increase it.

I understand that the Medical Research Council (MRC) is currently supporting 10 research projects on amnesia. In the financial year 1986–87, the last year for which figures are available, the council's expenditure on this research was £254,000. The MRC also supports a variety of other projects which have a bearing on aspects of memory. University departments and medical schools also undertake research in this area supported by UGC block grant funds. The MRC will consider soundly based scientific proposals for further research in amnesia in competition with other applications.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a detailed statement on the up-to-date progress being made on the individual plans to set up the various city technology colleges in the various sites earmarked for this purpose.

Sponsorship for six city technology colleges has now been announced. The first, sponsored by Hanson plc in Kingshurst, Birmingham will open in September this year, the second CTC, in Nottingham, sponsored by Mr. H. Djanogly, CBE, will open in September 1989 when I hope that the Teesside CTC sponsored by BAT Industries will also open. Dixons plc, the Sir Philip and Pauline Harris Trust, and jointly, the Mercers' Company and Thamesmead Town have announced their sponsorship of three more CTCs. We are making good progress in discussions with a number of other prospective sponsors and over prospective buildings-sites.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether his Department has incurred any cost in drawing up a proposal to establish a city technology college in Thamesmead; and if he will make a statement.

No. The cost of planning for the proposed Thamesmead CTC is being borne by the prospective sponsors. The cost of local consultation prior to a decision on the publication of related proposals under section 12 of the Education Act 1980 would be met by Bexley local education authority. As part of their normal duties, officials in the Department have given information and advice to the prospective sponsors and to the local education authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has discussed with the sponsors of the proposed city technology college in Thamesmead the college's admission policy; and if he will make a statement.

Officials at the Department have advised the prospective sponsors of the proposed Thamesmead CTC of the general policy for admission to city technology colleges and ways in which it might be applied in the particular circumstances in Thamesmead.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to publish the draft financial memoranda covering relationships between his Department and the PCFC and between his Department and the UFC; and if he will make a statement.

These documents will set out formal financial requirements on matters such as transfer of funds and accounting and audit. They will be drafted in discussion with the interested parties and made publicly available in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has on the comparative expenditure in medical and in scientific research for each year since 1974 in Belgium, France, Holland, Italy, Denmark and the Federal Republic of Germany in pounds sterling of 1988.

Figures showing international comparisons of expenditure on research are published in the 1987 annual review of Government-funded R and D, which is in the Library. For 1985, the latest year for which figures are available, the details are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is, for each year since 1974 and in 1988 moneys, the expenditure on medical or scientific research in (i) Scotland, (ii) Wales. (iii) Northern Ireland, (iv) England and (v) the whole of the United Kingdom.

The information is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the public spending per head for senior school pupils and those in non-advanced further education in pound sterling for Germany, France, the United States of America and Italy.

The readily available information is shown in the table. As my hon. Friend the Member for Dartford (Mr. Dunn) explained in his reply of 10 June to the hon. Member, for international comparisons, non-advanced further education is included with secondary education at the second level. Figures for the United Kingdom have been included for comparison.

Recurrent public expenditure per pupil/student at the second level at 1984 values1
	Year of data (beginning in)	£ purchasing power parity2 (1984 values)3
Germany, Federal Republic of4	1984	1,410(1,340)
France5	1982	1,610(1,520)
United States of America6	1983	15207
United Kingdom4	1984	1,400(1,280)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give Government expenditure, excluding home student fee income, in total and per head of university population for each year since 1978–79 at constant prices, including planned expenditure per head for 1988–89 to 1990–91; and if he will give the number of new undergraduate entrants for 1978–79.

In the table, Government expenditure has been taken as the University Grants Committee recurrent grant to universities. Otherwise, the per capita figures are on the same basis as those contained in the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 13 June at columns 8–9. The full-time home undergraduate intake for the academic year for 1978–79 was 72,994.

Government expenditure (constant 1986–87 prices)
		Per student
	£ million	£
1978–79	1,120·3	4,352·4
1979–80	1,156·4	4,386·9
1980–81	1,267·4	4,671·6
1981–82	1,211·1	4,380·1
1982–83	1,401·2	5,095·3
1983–84	1,396·5	5,147·4
1984–85	1,371·4	5,096·2
1985–86	1,324·5	4,914·7
1986–87	1,320·1	4,855·1
11987–88	1,394·4	5,066·9
11988–89	1,441·7	5,145·3
11989–90	1,441·2	5,058·6
11990–91	1,424·2	4,941·7
1 Based on estimated figures.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will place in the Library a copy of the business case on which his decision on the CHIEF computer project was made.

No. The business case for CHIEF contains commercial information that was supplied in confidence. This confidence would be breached if the report became a public document during the course of the contractual negotiations which are still taking place.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated cost over the next 10 years of granting the CHIEF project to British Telecom, rather that its being continued in-house.

Contractual negotiations for the development and operation of CHIEF are currently taking place with British Telecom and will not be concluded until towards the end of the year and figures will not be finalised until then. The release of information about the costs of the options for CHIEF could compromise these negotiations.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to privatise the Customs and Excise computers project.

I assume that this question refers to the CHIEF project which is currently being negotiated between Customs and British Telecom. CHIEF will replace the current DEPS system which British Telecom already operate under contract with Customs. There is therefore no privatisation involved.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average weekly Civil Service pension; and what percentage of Civil Service pensioners are on or below this average.

The average pension in payment to retired civil servants is £54 a week; the average in payment to dependants is £21 a week. Some two thirds of retired civil servants and of dependants are on or below their respective averages.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements he proposes for customs clearance on high-speed trains to and from the north of England using the Channel tunnel; and if he will make a statement.

Section 12 of the Channel Tunnel Act provides for customs and immigration checks to be undertaken on board trains going beyond London via Olympia, subject to adequate facilities being provided. Discussions are at present taking place between Customs and British Rail about the facilities that would be required on these trains and the back-up accommodation needed at Olympia.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the trading concerns and companies which are still either fully or partly owned by Her Majesty's Government.

Details of Her Majesty's Government's holdings of shares and other securities are shown annually in the "Consolidated Fund and National Loans Fund Accounts, Supplementary Statements", a copy of which is held in the Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce a special and additional tax on alcohol and tobacco, the proceeds of which are to be spent exclusively on the National Health Service.

It is not the Government's policy to introduce taxes whose revenues are hypothecated to particular programmes.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to the proportion of civil servants at grade 3 and above in his Department who were educated in (a) private schools and (b) state schools.

Information on the type of school attended is not held on personnel records or in any other form.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the early payment of non-value added tax own resources to the European Communities in June.

As I informed my hon. Friend the Member for Edmonton (Dr. Ian Twinn) on 8 June at columns 602–3, the European Commission estimates that its spending obligations during June will exceed the available resources available for that month, thereby leading to cash flow difficulties. In order to help ease these difficulties, and in accordance with article 10(2) of Council regulation 2891/77, the Commission has requested member states to advance into this month their payments of own resources other than VAT which would otherwise have been made in July. The Government are satisfied that the request complies with article 10(2). The gross amount of the advance is £147 million. However, the actual payment to be on 20 June in respect of the advance will be only some £36 million as a result of two adjustments to the gross figures:

• As I informed my hon. Friend the Member for Dulwich (Mr. Bowden) on 29 March at column 397, in accordance with the conclusions of the Brussels European Council of 11–12 February 1988, member states are entitled to deduct at source 10 per cent. of non-VAT own resources to cover collection costs. This replaces the previous arrangements whereby 10 per cent. of the amounts in question was refunded to member states.
• The outstanding amount of the Commission's borrowing up to 20 June under article 12(2) of Council regulation 2891/77 will be recovered.

The article 10(2) facility does not affect the total amount which the Community is authorised to spend during the year. The payment of levies and duties on 20 July will be reduced by the amount of the advance. The Commission's request does not, therefore, involve any net addition to public expenditure.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the latest meeting of the European Community's Economic and Finance Council.

The Ecofin Council met in Luxembourg on 13 June. I represented the United Kingdom. The Council approved the interinstitutional agreement between the Council, the European Parliament and the Commission on the implementation of the conclusions of the Brussels European Council on budget discipline.The Council reached agreement on a directive providing for complete liberalisation of capital movements in the Community and a regulation combining the two existing mechanisms for medium-term balance of payments support. The complete abolition of exchange controls by those countries that still retain them will represent an important move towards a freer and less-regulated Europe, and an essential step towards the completion of the single market.The Council also agreed that there should be further discussion on tax exemptions for temporary importations of means of transport.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement explaining the variation in the figures for general Government gross domestic fixed capital formation, purchases of land and existing buildings net of sales in 1987–88 as (a) forecast in the 1987 public expenditure White Paper, Cm. 56, (b) estimated in the 1988 public expenditure White Paper, Cm. 288, (c) provided in the Official Report, of 28 March 1988, column 321, and (d) most recently estimated, following publication of figures for sales by the new town commission.

[holding answer 14 June 1988]: The table gives planned expenditure and estimated outturn figures for purchases, net of sales, of land and existing buildings by Department for 1987–88.No detailed update to estimated outturns for 1987–88 has been made since these figures were produced for the 1988 public expenditure White Paper. The overall difference between planned expenditure and estimated outturn is mainly the result of substantially larger than expected sales.The table shows purchases, net of sales, of land and existing buildings included in the planning total. Between Cm. 56 and Cm. 288 the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and the Development Board for Rural Wales (new town activities) were given external finance treatment and their capital expenditure no longer features in the planning total. The presentation of the figures is consistent with the coverage used in the 1987 public expenditure White Paper (Cm. 56-II, Table 2–9) and in the table provided in the

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he plans to impose a 14 to 20 per cent tax on talking books for blind and disabled people, and on aids and equipment for disabled people, in accordance with proposals from the Commission of the European Communities.

[holding answer 10 June 1988]: I have made it clear on a number of occasions that Her Majesty's Government do not accept the Commission's proposals for the approximation of indirect taxation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has on the destination of the 377,000 individuals who left the unemployment register between May 1987 and March 1988 but did not apparently enter work.

In the 10 months May 1988 to March 1988 the total outflow from the United Kingdom claimant count was over 4·1 million. Information on the destinations of those leaving the count is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the Official Report the total number of persons out of work and claiming benefit for each (a) assisted area and (b) intermediate area on 8 April.

The following information is in the library. The table shows the total number of unemployed claimants for each development area and intermediate area on 8 April 1988.

Unemployed claimants—April 1988
Development Areas	Unemployed Claimants
South West
Falmouth	1,636
Helston	1,189
Newquay	1,817
Penzance and St. Ives	2,913
Redruth and Camborne	3,362
East Midlands
Corby	2,605
Yorkshire and Humberside
Rotherham and Mexborough	19,925
Scunthorpe	7,089
Whitby	1,138
North West
Liverpool	86,887
Widnes and Runcorn	8,931
Wigan and St. Helens	28,079
Wirral and Chester	30,936
North
Workington	3,593
Bishop Auckland	6,795