To ask the Prime Minister which Department will be responsible for continuing contact and liaison with the authorities of the Federal Republic of Germany in respect of the Wormhoudt massacre.

Police Officers who had not completed 30 years' service (1987)1
Force	Chief Commissioner	Deputy Chief Commissioner	Assistant Chief Commissioner	Chief Superintendent	Superintendent	Chief Inspector	Inspector	Sergeant	Constable	Total
Avon and Somerset	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	10	72	83
Bedfordshire	—	—	—	—	2	1	1	1	32	37
Cambridgeshire	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	4	25	29
Cheshire	—	—	—	—	1	—	1	3	34	39
Cleveland	—	—	—	—	—	—	3	4	32	40
Cumbria	—	—	—	—	1	—	1	1	22	25
Derbyshire	—	—	—	—	—	1	3	5	51	60
Devon and Cornwall	—	—	1	—	—	1	—	8	56	66
Dorset	—	—	—	—	—	1	3	6	23	33
Durham	—	—	—	—	—	1	2	5	22	30
Dyfed Powys	—	—	—	—	—	—	2	5	11	18
Essex	—	—	—	—	—	3	1	8	67	79
Gloucestershire	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	4	26	30
Greater Manchester	—	—	—	1	—	1	11	16	175	204
Gwent	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	24	26
Hampshire	—	—	—	1	—	1	1	8	73	84
Hertfordshire	—	—	—	—	1	—	1	8	60	70
Humberside	—	—	—	—	—	2	2	5	50	59
Kent	—	—	—	—	—	2	4	5	83	94
Lancashire	—	—	—	—	1	2	5	11	55	74
Leicestershire	—	—	—	—	—	1	6	12	62	81
Lincolnshire	—	—	—	—	1	—	1	2	15	19
Merseyside	—	—	—	—	1	—	4	15	69	89
Norfolk	—	—	—	—	—	—	2	2	25	29
Northamptonshire	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	3	30	35
Northumbria	—	—	—	—	1	2	3	14	64	84
North Wales	—	—	—	—	—	1	2	3	19	25
North Yorkshire	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	1	23	26
Nottinghamshire	—	—	—	—	1	1	6	12	41	61
South Wales	—	—	—	—	—	—	5	16	72	93
South Yorkshire	—	—	—	1	1	—	2	11	62	77
Staffordshire	—	—	—	—	—	4	2	4	56	66
Suffolk	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	3	23	26
Surrey	—	—	—	—	—	2	—	4	40	46
Sussex	—	—	—	—	1	—	2	12	78	93
Thames Valley	—	—	—	—	—	—	4	7	124	136
Warwickshire	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	3	25	28
West Mercia	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	35	37
West Midlands	—	—	—	—	3	3	3	17	142	168
West Yorkshire	—	—	—	—	1	—	5	18	108	132
Wiltshire	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	—	31	33
City of London	—	—	—	—	—	—	4	4	23	31
Metropolitan	—	—	—	9	13	7	26	94	671	820
Total	—	—	1	12	30	41	124	376	2,831	3,410
1 Information on officers retiring on age grounds, which will include some who have less than 30 years' service, is not included because it is not possible to distinguish these from others in the same category who have achieved 30 years.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his reply of 8 March, Official Report, column 110, if he will take steps to keep statistics of domestic violence cases in order to monitor the effectiveness of the Metropolitan police force order; and if he will make a statement.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that he is now maintaining a central record of incidents of domestic violence. The latest available figures, which are given in the table, show an increase of 118 per cent. in the number of recorded domestic conflicts—which are defined as assaults

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, in consultation with the other Government Departments involved, will be the principal channel for communication with the authorities of the Federal Republic of Germany.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to how many police officers do not complete 30 years' service, and if he will break the answer down into individual constabularies and ranks.

The information is as follows:involving husbands, wives, relatives and cohabitees—in the whole of the Metropolitan police district over the period January-April 1988, compared with the corresponding period in 1987. The rise is thought to reflect an increase in the level of reporting following the issue of the new force instruction in June 1987.

Violence against the person—domestic conflicts—offences recorded in the MPD
	Number
January-April 1987	422
January-April 1988	918
Per cent. increase	118

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to whether he has yet completed his evaluation of the force order relating to domestic violence.

I understand that the evaluation is not yet complete.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the local referral points for victims of domestic violence within the Metropolitan police district.

No. To do so might endanger those who have sought refuge.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been brought in the last three years for exceeding the mandatory speed limits on the M11 and M25 when there are road works; and how many resulted in convictions.

The information collected centrally on proceedings, finding of guilt and fixed penalty notices for speed limit offences does not include whether there were road works at the scene of the offence. The available information, including that by police force area, is published annually in "Offences Relating To Motor Vehicles England and Wales, Supplementary Tables" (tables 5, 16 and 19 of the issue for 1986), copies of which are in the Library. Figures for 1987 will be published later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the implications for retaining clerks in the magistrates' courts of the differences in pay between the Crown Prosecution Service and magistrates' clerks; what action he proposes to take; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Shersby) on 23 June, at column 683.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation (a) to consolidate the law relating to the punishment of idle and disorderly persons and rogues and vagabonds, as set out principally in the Vagrancy Act 1824, and (b) to repeal that Act; and if he will make a statement.

We have no present plans to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to the answer to the hon. Member for Gainsborough and Horncastle of 27 June, why 16 category C prisons have a population lower than their certified normal accommodation.

Prison population may fluctuate for a number of reasons. The population is mobile; prisoners arrive at local prisons, are transferred to training prisons of the appropriate security category, may be transferred later to training prisons of lower security category and are finally released. Consequently, vacancies in some establishments are likely to appear in any count of population against certified normal accommodation, unless the establishments are regularly overcrowded. Additionally, the Government's construction programme is delivering extra accommodation in both existing and new prisons, the occupation of which takes time to build up.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the total amount spent per annum for each category C prison in the United Kingdom on foodstuffs; and what proportion of this was purchased from small local retail shops.

In 1986–87 the total amount spent in each category C prison on foodstuffs purchased to meet the dietary scale was as follows:

Prison	Amount
	£
Acklington	148,394
Camp Hill	184,910
Channings Wood	152,876
Featherstone	186,230
Haverigg	185,831
Highpoint	300,245
Lancaster	77,534
Lindholme	249,295
Northeye	56,238
Preston	181,946
Ranby	140,086
Send	32,346
Shepton Mallet	80,254
Stafford	243,136
Stocken	104,254
Thorp Arch	44,826
The Verne	195,013
Wayland	160,673
Wymott	265,251
	2,989,338

Information on the proportion of these foodstuffs, and of inmate canteen items, purchased from small local retail shops is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to the written answer of 27 June, to the hon. Member for Gainsborough and Horncastle, why there was a delay between the acquisition and sale of properties at (i) High Point, (ii) Northeye, and (iii) Erlestoke; what effect the delay had on the fabric of the properties, and what effect this had on the price gained for the properties on resale.

With the exception of six terraced houses at Highpoint, which were in poor condition on acquisition, properties sold at Highpoint, Northeye and Erlestoke had been used as married quarters for prison officers. There was no delay in selling these properties as and when they were declared surplus to requirements. The condition of the six terraced houses had deteriorated and they were sold for an average price of £16,850 each. Information on what the price would have been had the six houses been in a satisfactory condition is not readily available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to his answer of 27 June to the hon. Member for Gainsborough and Horncastle, what was the approximate distance of those houses sold to private ownership from the prison fence.

The approximate distances from the prison fence to the nearest house sold to private ownership at Highpoint, Northeye and Erlestoke, were 60m, 60m and 400m respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will request chief constables to collate information relating to offences committed by escaping prisoners other than the common law offence of escaping.

No. It is not always possible for the police to identify separately recorded offences committed by escaped prisoners: collection of information on those which can be identified could involve disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals there are to develop prisons on the surplus sites listed by the Secretary of State for Defence in the answer to the hon. Member for Gainsborough and Horncastle on 27 June.

Of the 34 listed sites in England and Wales. 17 have been considered and rejected as unsuitable for prison purposes, except for Binbrook, and the remainder are under consideration; none of these could, however, meet the need which would be met by Binbrook.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has had recently on under-age drinking in pubs and clubs; and if he will make a statement.

Since 1 March we have received some 80 letters either calling for tougher action to curb under-age drinking or criticising the provisions of the Licensing Act 1988 which strengthen the law on the sale of alcohol to those under the age of 18.In our opinion these are crucial provisions which should enable landlords, police and prosecuting authorities to act more effectively to curb a serious mischief. We shall be urging this course in our forthcoming circular to magistrates and the police, which will also encompass other provisions of the licensing laws which we believe could be more robustly used.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received recently from licensed victuallers and others seeking an identity card system for young people.

We have received recently some representations from licensed victuallers and members of the public in support of local identity card schemes for young people. I am aware of a number of such voluntary schemes for young people around the country which are led and financed by local licensees or licensed victuallers associations with the co-operation of the police. I am pleased to see licensees and the police working together on initiatives of this kind and welcome the introduction of voluntary schemes which take full account of local circumstances.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the length of time (a) taken or (b) expected to be taken for applications to be processed for British citizenship in regard to the deadline of 31 December 1987 for certain Commonwealth citizens; and, of those applications made, how many have yet to be given their initial consideration by his Department.

About 134,000 applications which were subject to the 31 December 1987 deadline have been acknowledged and had their passports returned but have not yet been given initial consideration. The majority of these applications will be considered in the Liverpool nationality office, which will open in September. A substantial proportion of these applications will be decided by April 1989 and the remainder during the following year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether any telephone calls were answered by Glasgow passport office on Wednesday 29 June;(2) why the telephone exchange at the Glasgow passport office does not have a call-queuing system.

Calls to the six exchange lines at present available for incoming inquiries are held on a stacking system and should be dealt with when an inquiry extension is clear. A substantial number of callers were answered on 29 June, although precise figures are not available as the telephone system does not at present log incoming calls. Among other improvements to the telephone system being considered in the light of the planned expansion of the Glasgow passport office is the use of recorded message facilities to filter out calls seeking general information.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to the names of the arresting officers and of the other witnesses for the prosecutions brought by the Metropolitan police in the following cases which were dropped at Knightsbridge Crown court in October 1985 and January 1986 (a) for possession of drugs against Mr. Alan Waite, (b) for possession of drugs against Mr. Geoffrey Pope, (c) for possession of drugs against Mr. Marcel Mullins, (d) for obstruction and assault against Mr. Mark Whittaker and (e) for supplying drugs to Ms. Theresa James against Mr. Paul Brown, as to the shift relief at west end central station in which they served at the time, and as to where these officers are currently serving.

[holding answer 28 June 1988]: I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that there are outstanding civil proceedings in these cases. It would not therefore be right to provide the information requested.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will give for the last five years the cost to the Lord Chancellor's Department of the immigration appeals system and judicial reviews arising from that system.

Administrative responsibility for the immigration appellate authorities was transferred to the Lord Chancellor's Department from the Home Office only on 1 April 1987. The cost of the immigration appellate authorities to the Lord Chancellor's Department in 1987–88 was £2,411,088. Details of the cost to the Lord Chancellor's Department of judicial review cases arising from the immigration appeals system could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Attorney-General if the Lord Chancellor will allow the release of files by the Public Records Office relating to the sinking of the SS Politician in 1941; and if he will make a statement.

The only record relating to the sinking of the SS Politician that has been identified in the Public Records Office from the information given is the cancellation by the Registry of Shipping and Seamen of the vessel's certificate of registration (BT 110/1270). This document is available for public inspection at the PRO in Kew.

To ask the Attorney-General what was the outcome of the application to the High Court last week in relation to the writs recently served on right hon. and hon. Members.

An application to the High Court in connection with the proceedings recently issued by Mr. Anthony Hill against right hon. and hon. Members was heard in the Sheffield district registry on 30 June. The application was successful and the proceedings were struck out as against all defendants.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many (a) primary schools, and (b) secondary schools within the area covered by the Valleys initiative were built before 1914; and how many major refurbishments or replacements of these schools will take place within the time scale of the valleys initiative.

Information on the age of school buildings is not held by the Department. Local education authorities are responsible for schools in their areas, and will decide what refurbishments or replacements to undertake in the next three years in the light of the resources available and their own priorities for expenditure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make a statement concerning the application of Firegreen Ltd. for investment grant from his Department;(2) if he has received applications from Firegreen Ltd. for grant aid concerning its plans to create jobs at Hawarden, Clwyd.

Applications for grant-aid have been received from Firegreen Ltd. Details of these applications are confidential.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last reviewed the purple airspace rules for royal flights.

The Civil Aviation Authority is responsible, through the national air traffic services, a joint CAA and Ministry of Defence organisation, for all aspects of air traffic control.The purple airspace rules for royal flights were last reviewed in 1985 and found to be satisfactory by both the Queen's flight and the national air traffic services.The next review is scheduled for later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what response he has made to the recommendation of the report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on road safety that further consideration be given to random breath testing.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is the number of staff in each of the last five years employed by the Transport and Road Research Laboratory directly involved in researching ways of reducing accidents and casualties;(2) how many people have been employed in the road safety division of his Department both regionally and nationally, in each of the last five years for purposes directly related to accident prevention;(3) how many people have been employed by the vehicle standards and engineering division of his Department in each of the last five years in employment directly related to reducing road accidents and casualties;(4) what is the percentage and number of people employed by the highways division of his Department in each of the last five years whose primary function has been work on ways of reducing accidents and casualties;(5) how many people have been employed in each of the last five years at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre in employment directly related to road safety matters;

Total staffing levels in the appropriate parts of the Department are set out in the following table. The figures reflect the total number of staff

Table 11
	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988
Road Safety Division	28·0	20·5	20·0	25·5	29·0
Vehicle Standards and Engineering Division	60·0	54·0	52·0	60·0	51·0
Chief Highway Engineer	296·5	272·5	275·5	275·5	2602
TRRL	79	86	109	117	112
Driver Licensing Division of the DVLC	932	915·5	965	964	915
DTp Regional Offices	1,037	1,089	1,136·5	1,172	1,226·5
Total staff numbers	2,432·5	2,437·5	2,558·0	2,614·0	2,593·5
1 Part timers counted as 0·5.
2 Reorganisation of CHE has put some staff into highway policy directorate in 1988.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what steps his Department is taking to reduce the size of the problem drinking driver population;(2) what evaluation and research into the high-risk drink-driving offender scheme has been undertaken or is planned by his Department.

Following a request from the ministerial group on alcohol misuse we are considering how to extend the scope of the high-risk offenders scheme. Under the present scheme, some categories of drink-driving offenders have to satisfy the Secretary of State that they no longer have a drink problem and are otherwise fit to drive before restoration of their driving licence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of convicted drinking and driving offenders are estimated to be clinically definable as problem drinkers; and what measures are used to determine this.

This information is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what specific medical or other criteria are used by the medical advisers to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre to refuse restoration of a driving licence to drink-driving offenders classified as high-risk offenders.

Applicants undergo a structured clinical assessment and examination, including an evaluation of their history of alcohol abuse. In addition, details are obtained about alcohol withdrawal fits in the past two years and attitude to attendance at alcohol treatment units. Their blood alcohol level at the time of the examination is assessed. A blood sample is taken at the examination and used to evaluate the levels of gamma GT, AST, MCV, serum B12 and folate.These criteria are based on the recommendations of informed medical opinion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of high-risk offenders were refused restoration of their driving licence by the medical advisers of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre in the most recent three years for which figures are available.

The only figures available are those from a recent small sample exercise. These suggest that 5 per cent. of those who apply for restoration are refused on medical grounds. A further 10 per cent. are refused because they fail to co-operate with medical inquiries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of high-risk drink-driving offenders do not request restoration of their licence at the end of their period of driving ban.

It is estimated that 35 to 40 per cent. do not apply for the restoration of their licence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who are the medical examiners employed to administer the high-risk drink-driving offender scheme; and how they are selected.

Specialists in occupational medicine selected by the Department of Transport.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to encourage British Rail to run Channel tunnel trains direct to Britain's major cities; and if he will consider a transport grant for this purpose.

Under section 40 of the Channel Tunnel Act 1987 it is the responsibility of the British Railways Board to prepare a plan by the end of 1989 setting out its proposals for international through services serving various parts of the United Kingdom. Section 42 of the 1987 Act specifically rules out grants to British Rail in connection with its Channel tunnel rail services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from (i) British Rail and (ii) others, regarding the economic effect the use of several rail carriages for customs procedures will have on British Rail's proposals to have Channel tunnel trains running direct to major cities; and if he will make a statement.

None. The amount of space needed for on-train controls is still under discussion between British Rail and the authorities concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with British Airways regarding sonic booms from aircraft over Cornwall.

The Department is in regular touch with British Airways about this. The airline does what it reasonably can to minimise sonic boom disturbance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will review the policy set out in the 1985 airports policy White Paper (Cmnd. 9542); and if he will make a statement.

The strategy set out in the airports policy White Paper needs to be carried forward in the light of latest expectations about the level of air traffic from 1995 through into the next century. The Civil Aviation Authority already has a duty under section 16(2) of the Civil Aviation Act 1982 to consider and make recommendations to me about airport capacity, and I have today written to the chairman formally asking for advice on the adequacy of airport capacity in the United Kingdom in the period to 2005. I have asked for a report by July next year.In view of the authority's recent announcement that the central control function will not produce a substantial increase in usable airspace capacity before 1995, I have also asked the chairman to let me have rather earlier a separate report on strategies for making good use of the airspace we shall have available until then.A copy of my letter has been placed in the Library.

Stations closed	Stations opened	Stations re-opened
1978
	Newton Aycliffe: Aigburth; Liverpool Central Low Level; Garston (Merseyside); Liverpool Lime Street, Low Level; Moorfields; Hattersley; Longbridge; University; IBM; British Steel Redcar; Barrhead	Cressington; St. Michaels; Five Ways; Clitheroe
1979
	Lelant Saltings; West Ham; Argyle Street	Anderston; Bridgeton; Glasgow Central, Level low; Dalmarnock; Finnieston
1980
Bury Bolton Street	Bury; Hackney Central; Hackney Wick; Moulscoomb; Birchwood	Partick
1981
New Holland Pier; Gateshead	New Holland; Gateshead and Heworth (renamed Gateshead Metro Centre in 1987)	Dronfield; Honeybourne Valley; Kentish Town West; Wetheral
1982
	Fitzwilliam; Crossflats; Deighton; Milton Keynes Central; Watford Stadium; Watton at Stone	Blaenau Ffestiniog
1983
Coulsdon North; Corkerhill; Mosspark; Crookston; Paisley Canal; Houston; Bridge of Weir; Kilmacolm; Bingham Road; Coombe Road; Selsdon; Radipole; Skelmanthorpe; Clayton West	Cathays; Moss side; Runcorn East; Slaithwaite; Dalston Kingsland	Bramley; Pinhoe; Kings Cross Midland City

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 24 June, Official Report, column 771, what assessment he has made of the accuracy of the topographical model showing his Department's consultants' preferred future route for the A27, with particular reference to the height used to depict the South Downs in relation to lateral distance and the effect on this on the perception of the depth of any cuttings or tunnels on the Findon Gap route; what is his assessment of the resultant implications for the ability of those attending the exhibition of the consultants' study to reach an objective conclusion about the merits of the various routes; what representations he has received on this matter; and if he will make statement.

[holding answer 4 July 1988]: The topographical model was intended as an aid to supplement the plans at the public exhibition and the information in the consultants' report. It is usual to exaggerate the vertical scale (in this case by five times) so that particular landmarks can be identified.Over 400 letters have been received since the publication of the consultants' report. Nearly three quarters disagree with all or part of the consultants' findings and recommendations. One petition containing 450 signatures in support of the consultants' route has also been received.We will take account of all comments received during the consultation period in considering the next steps.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list stations (a) closed, (b) opened and (c) reopened in 1978 and each subsequent year to date.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list in the Official Report all the organisations which are in receipt of the current European Economic Community quota of multilateral authorisations for heavy goods vehicles in each traffic area, and if he will also list the number of authorisations held by each organisation.

[pursuant to his reply, 5 July 1988]: The table for Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and Gibraltar was omitted:

Area	Operators	Permits
Scotland
Central	2	3
Dumfries and Galloway	3	8
Fife	2	5
Strathclyde	1	1
Northern Ireland
Antrim	6	15
Armagh	4	15
Down	4	7
Fermanagh	1	2
Londonderry	1	2
Tyrone	5	13
Wales
Clwyd	2	4

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what price will be received by the London Residuary Body for County Hall; what is the proposed timetable for the conversion of the site; and which individuals and organisations were involved in the successful bid.

Details of the terms of the bid accepted by the LRB for the sale of County Hall are commercially confidential. Conversion of the site and its timing will be dependent on matters that have yet to be determined. The purchasers are the County Hall Development Group, a consortium including New England Properties, London and Metropolitan, Touche Remnant Property Investment and Lazard Brothers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he was consulted by the London Residuary Body in respect of the bids submitted for the development of County Hall, SE1; and if he will make a statement.

The LRB did not formally consult my right hon. Friend as there is no requirement for it to do so, but it did inform him of the sale prior to its announcement on 29 June.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the consistency of the proposed development of the County Hall site with his decisions, as set out in his Department's press release No. 407 of 20 October 1987; and if he will make a statement.

None. This is in the first instance a matter for the local planning authority, the London borough of Lambeth. Development of the County Hall site will be subject to the granting of planning consents to the extent that any proposed development is not already permitted.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his recent meeting with members of Cheshire county council in respect of proposals to import domestic waste from America.

My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment and Member for Lewisham East (Mr. Moynihan) met members of Cheshire county council, who were accompanied by my hon. Friend the Member for Warrington, South (Mr. Butler).The council members made clear their concern about the proposal to import domestic waste from USA for disposal in their area. They said that it would have serious consequences for the county's long-term waste disposal plan, would pose problems for the satisfactory supervision and operation of the site and would involve risks for plant and animal health.The Minister shared the council's concerns, but said that under existing statutory arrangements it was first for the council, as operator of the site in question and as waste disposal authority and planning authority for the area, to decide on the proposal before it. He pointed out that the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food maintains a constant vigilance against the risk of diseases coming into this country in material of animal or plant origin, and any proposals to import such material would have to satisfy him that no risk exists.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when he intends to take a decision on approving outstanding partnership grants for community projects for the London borough of Hackney for the current financial year;(2) if he will explain the delay in approving partnership grants for community projects in the London borough of Hackney for the current financial year.

We received only last week the annual report and final details necessary to allow decisions on Hackney's 1988–89 inner area programme. These decisions will be taken as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has yet reached a decision on the allocation of the additional £21 million resources for homelessness which he announced on 17 June.

The allocations have been made to this Department's regional offices as follows:

Region	Allocation
	£ million
Northern	0·8
Yorkshire and Humberside	1·1
North West	2·8
East Midlands	0·8
West Midlands	1·3
Eastern	0·5
London	10·5
South Eastern	2·5
South West	0·5
Merseyside task force	0·3
TOTAL	21·1

These extra resources will enable local authorities to provide additional units of accommodation for homeless people, with the emphasis being given to bringing empty properties back into use and reducing dependence, particularly in London, on bed-and-breakfast accommodation.That is a far more sensible and cost-effective use of resources than, for example, leasing hotel space, which can, in certain circumstances, attract subsidy under the detailed rules of the Housing Act 1985 system. Because of the present subsidy system, such arrangements can be virtually without cost to local authorities, which could serve to encourage extended use of bed-and-breakfast hotels rather than other better forms of provision. This is wholly unsatisfactory. Where subsidy is available it must be put to better purpose to help the homeless through provision of permanent accommodation.I intend, therefore, that payments by local authorities on the leases of whole or part of hotels, signed after midnight tonight, will not qualify for subsidy. The existing arrangements for subsidy on the leasing of separate and self-contained premises will not be affected.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many employees within his Department are currently employed in London and the south-east of England; what percentage of these are engaged in work which can only readily be done within this area; and what consideration he has given to the relocation of units within his Department to Manchester and other regional centres.

[holding answer Tuesday 5 July]: Some 5,200 of the 6,600 staff in my Department, excluding the Property Services Agency, are employed in London and the south-east. Of the 25,400 staff in the Property Services Agency, 11,800 are employed in London and the south-east. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on 31 March, at columns 610–11, that Departments would be reviewing the location of their work. In pursuit of that announcement, I am presently reviewing my Department to determine whether any work might be suitable for relocation from London and the south-east to other areas of the country.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what date his Department was asked for scheduled monument consent for remedial works to the medieval packhorse bridge known as Old Perry bridge, Aldridge road, Birmingham; what factors are being considered; and when a decision will be announced.

An application for schedule monument consent was received from Birmingham city council on 10 December 1987 and referred to English Heritage for advice on 23 December. Following a site visit in January, I understand that English Heritage asked for further details of the proposed works and the methods to be employed; it will be in touch with the council shortly to discuss them. As soon as these matters are resolved, my officials will ensure that formal consent is granted as quickly as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a further statement on the future of the electricity industry in Wales.

I refer the hon. Member to the statement that my right hon. Friend made to the House on 25 February 1988, at columns 454–56.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what controls there are on the use of pentachlorophenol in the United Kingdom; and what are the circumstances in which its use is permitted.

The Health and Safety Executive recommends that all occupational exposure to pentachlorophenol should be controlled to a recommended limit of 0·5 mg m^-3 8-hour time weighted average (8 hour TWA) and 1·5 mg m^-3 10-minute TWA. In addition, HSE guidance note EH 40 draws attention to the risk of absorption of pentachlorophenol through the skin.Pesticides containing pentachlorophenol can only be used following formal ministerial approval based on the advice of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides. Conditions of use have to be specified on the label.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has as to the circumstances under which pentachlorophenol (PCP) is permitted to be used in the United States of America.

I am informed that in the United States of America the American Conference of Government Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) recommends for occupational exposure to pentachlorophenol a threshold limit value of 0·5 mg m^-3 8 hour TWA and draws attention to the risks of skin absorption. The use of pentachlorophenol in products other than wood preservatives is not permitted in the United States of America.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has as to which European countries ban pentachlorophenol (PCP) and as to the particular circumstances in which other European countries prohibit the use of (PCP).

I am informed that the Federal Republic of Germany has recently announced a total ban on the use of pentachlorophenol. The Health and Safety Executive is not aware of any other country in Europe which has banned or prohibited the use of pentachlorophenol.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of full-time working men in Cornwall earn less than £100 a week; and what is the figure for the United Kingdom as a whole.

Information on the distribution of earnings from the new earnings survey sample indicates that, in April 1987, some 8 per cent. of full-time male employees in Cornwall on adult rates, whose gross earnings were not affected by absence, earned less than £100 per week. The equivalent figure for the United Kingdom as a whole is just under 5 per cent.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information he has as to how many foreign companies have set up operations to assemble electronic printers in the United Kingdom in the last five years.

The total number of foreign companies known by the Invest in Britain Bureau to have set up operations to manufacture electronic printers since 1984 is seven. Details prior to 1984 are not recorded.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will report on the Internal Market Council held on 22 June.

The Council, at which my hon. Friend the Minister for Trade and I represented the United Kingdom, reached agreement on 15 individual measures which contribute towards completion of the single market. This has brought the total number of single market measures agreed under the German presidency to well over 50, thus maintaining the momentum we started under our presidency 18 months ago.Important decisions reached by the Council included the adoption of a directive on non-life insurance services; a package of four directives relating to food law (on flavourings, materials and articles intended to come into contact with foodstuff;, food additives and quick-frozen foodstuffs) and the agreement on common positions on directives on the mutual recognition of higher education diplomas; on the pricing of pharmaceutical products; and on construction products under the Commission's "new approach" to technical harmonisation.Those measures, together with other notable agreements reached over the last month—for example, on the liberalisation of capital movements and international road haulage—are a clear demonstration that barriers to trade in the Community are being cut, to the benefit of both business and the consumer.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he intends to publish the report by the Director General of Fair Trading for the year 1987.

The 14th annual report by the Director General of Fair Trading has been published today. It covers the period 1 January 1987 to 31 December 1987. Copies of the report have been laid before Parliament.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement about the profit targets of the Post Office.

The profit target for 1988–89 set following consultation with the Post Office for its postal business, covering the letters, parcels and counters businesses, is 3·25 per cent. return on turnover, before net interest and tax, on the current cost accounting basis. Profit targets for the three businesses in 1988–89 separately calculated on the same basis are 2·8 per cent. for letters, 6·8 per cent. for parcels and 1·2 per cent. for counters. The profit target for Girobank plc in 1988–89 is to make a return, before tax and interest on long-term loans from the Secretary of State, of 20 per cent. of mean net assets on a historic cost accounting basis.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will agree to meet a deputation from the work force at Elstree film studios to discuss the implications for employment and redundancies of the sale of the studios by the Cannon Group; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 5 July 1988]: The Government regret the redundancies announced by Cannon, but note that employees in the post-production department will be offered jobs when that department is relocated. It would not be appropriate for the Government to intervene in a commercial decision taken by the company.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on his policy towards the future development of the British film industry in the light of the sale by the Cannon Group of its Elstree studios.

[holding answer 5 July 1988]: The fortunes of the British film industry have traditionally been cyclical. The Government maintain the view that current economic conditions offer a sound framework for the British film industry to operate successfully on a commercial basis.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has to the additional administrative cost to (a) building societies and (b) the clearing banks of each half per cent. change in interest rates.

No details of the costs are held centrally.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will meet the charity value added tax and tax reform group to discuss the ruling on value added tax by the European Court of Justice as it affects the building programmes of charities, including those for severely disabled people.

Customs and Excise officials have already met the group to discuss the implications of the European Court of Justice ruling for charities, and my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary has also invited them to meet him shortly.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, pursuant to his statement of 21 June, Official Report, column 959, he will give his assessment of the likely effects of the value added tax ruling of the European Court on the cost of the Channel tunnel; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 28 June 1988]: I cannot comment specifically on individual taxpayers. However, any contract entered into prior to 21 June 1988 will continue to be zero-rated for the life of the contract. In addition, firms registered for VAT will be able to reclaim VAT on construction contracts entered into on or after 21 June 1988, subject to the normal rules for deduction of input tax.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has had any recent discussions with the Government of the United States of America regarding the conditions under which the impending plebiscite in Chile will be held.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has had any recent discussions with the Government of the United States of America regarding the conditions under which the impending plebiscite in Chile will he held.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has had any recent discussions with the Government of the United States regarding the conditions under which the impending plebiscite in Chile will be held.

We consult frequently and at all levels with the United States Administration on a wide range of topics, including Chile.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what initiatives he has taken following his speech at the United Nations special session on disarmament.

In my speech at the special session on 7 June I put forward an initiative on chemical weapons. This stressed the need for wider accession to the 1925 Geneva protocol, which bans the use of chemical weapons in war, and proposed specific measures for immediate investigations of CW use and for international action against violators. We are pursuing those proposals vigorously at the United Nations, and bilaterally, as appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the South African Government about the Sharpeville Six.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken since the failure of the petition for a retrial of the case of the Sharpeville Six; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he proposes to make to the President of the Republic of South Africa seeking the exercise of his prerogative to commute the death sentences on the Sharpeville Six; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further action he is considering in the light of the recent court decision in South Africa in the case of the Sharpeville Six; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to President Botha regarding the position of the Sharpeville Six.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to make representations to the Government of South Africa regarding the case of the Sharpeville Six.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the South African Government regarding the Sharpeville Six.

Further appeals on behalf of the Sharpeville Six were made by Foreign Ministers of the Twelve on 14 June, by the Security Council on 17 June, by Heads of Government at the Toronto summit on 20 June, and by the European Council on 28 June. We have also raised the issue again direct with the South African Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli Government about the detention without trial of Mr. Shaher Sa'ed, general secretary of the General Federation of Trade Unionists in the West Bank and Gaza, along with others; and if he will make a statement.

We have asked the Israeli Government for details of Mr. Sa'ed's detention. If there is no case against him, we hope that he will soon be released to resume his trade union work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions took place at the recent Toronto summit on the subject of Central America.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions took place at the recent Toronto summit on the subject of Central America.

There was no general discussion of Central America at the Toronto summit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of the United States of America regarding the visit of the United Nations Secretary of State, George Shultz, to Central America.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received regarding the Government's policy on the situation in South Africa.

We receive representations about policy towards South Africa from many individuals and organisations, representing all shades of opinion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his assessment of the implications of the South African Government's decision to establish a council for constitutional reform for the prospects of a just settlement in South Africa.

We would welcome any move which led to genuine dialogue and to negotiations on early fundamental change.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent communications he has had with the South African Government; and if he will make a statement

We maintain regular contact with the South African authorities on a wide range of issues, both here and via Her Majesty's ambassador.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further representations he has made to the Government of South Africa on the case for the release of Mr. Nelson Mandela on his forthcoming 70th birthday; and if he will make a statement.

As I told the House on 8 June, we have long called, with the Commonwealth and our European Partners, for the unconditional release of Mr. Mandela. On 28 June the European Council strongly appealed to the South African authorities to free him and all other political prisoners.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will receive a petition from the 25 young people currently marching from Glasgow to London to demand the release of Mr. Nelson Mandela; and if he will make a statement.

We have long called for the unconditional release of Mr. Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners. I shall be ready to receive a petition calling for Mr. Mandela's release when the 25 marchers arrive in London.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans next to visit the Congo.

My right hon. and learned Friend has no present plans to visit Congo. I plan to visit Congo on 14–15 July.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to visit the United Nations headquarters.

My right hon. and learned Friend expects to visit the United Nations headquarters in New York during the General Assembly in the autumn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures have been taken to protect fishing round South Georgia; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Wrexham (Dr. Marek) on 21 June.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to institute a controlled fishery zone around South Georgia.

We have currently no plans to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about current relations with Israel.

I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. and learned Friend's reply to the hon. and learned Member for Leicester, West (Mr. Janner) on 4 May.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will devise with the United Kingdom's European partners a system of escalating measures against Israel until such time as that country enters into serious negotiations for Palestinian self-determination.

No. We aim to help the parties work towards mutual compromise, not to coerce them into negotiations against their will. Only a negotiated settlement voluntarily entered into can hope to achieve stable peace.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received seeking the application of limited selective economic sanctions against Israel; and if he will make a statement.

Economic sanctions would not help to bring about a solution to the problems of the region.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Israel about the abuse and denial of human rights in the occupied territories; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Israel in the light of the continuing killing and wounding of unarmed Palestinians by Israeli soldiers and settlers; and if he will make a statement.

We maintain our pressure on Israel to administer the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza in accordance with international law and human rights standards. The killing and wounding of Palestinians is one of the most serious areas of concern.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received urging Her Majesty's Government to ask the Government of Israel to investigate allegations about the use of high velocity dum-dum bullets as a method of crowd control in the occupied territories; and if he will make a statement.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Israel about the spraying of gas from aircraft into densely populated refugee camps; and if he will make a statement.

None. We cannot confirm reports of such incidents.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Israel about the detention without trial of Palestinians from the occupied territories.

We have made repeated representations to the Israeli Government both on the principle of detention without trial and in individual cases of particular concern.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the Government of South Africa following the broadcast by the British Broadcasting Corporation of a popular concert at Wembley on 11 June organised by the anti-apartheid movement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further exchanges there have been between Her Majesty's Government and the South African Government about the BBC's televising of the Wembley concert for Nelson Mandela; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend and the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Motherwell, North (Dr. Reid) on 28 June.