To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list those Government Bills which did not receive the Royal Assent for each Session since 1958.

The following Government Bills introduced in the Commons or brought from the Lords from Session 1958–59 to Session 1986–87 did not receive the Royal Assent:

To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list in the Official Report those (a) Government Bills and (b) private Member's Bills which were rejected by the House of Lords in each Session since 1958.

The following Bills introduced in and passed by the House of Commons were not passed by the House of Lords, from Session 1958–59 to Session 1986–87:

To ask the Lord President of the Council what guidance is given to right hon. and hon. Members as to their statutory responsibility in respect of staff employed by them.

The Fees Office has responsibilities for guidance to Members in respect of statutory obligations to their staff. Guidance is given by means of personal advice, circulars on relevant topics and, recently, by the provision of a draft statement of the main terms and conditions of employment together with a completed set of guidance notes. These notes include details of employees' statutory rights and entitlements.Members have also been issued with a copy of the Fees Office handbook "Parliamentary Salaries, Allowances and Pensions", which includes advice on their statutory obligations to their staff in relation to income tax and national insurance.An advisory service on questions of employment legislation is maintained with the close support of ACAS. In addition ACAS offers assistance on a wide range of employment issues, and various publications are available in the Fees Office on request.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will raise the issue of the United Kingdom's trade balance in manufactured goods with the European Economic Community at the next meeting of the European Council; and if she will make a statement.

No. I have nothing to add to the reply I gave my hon. Friend on 17 May at column 367.

To ask the Prime Minister if she has conveyed or will convey her comments in the House on 19 May, Official Report, column 1087–88, in regard to New Zealand's food exports to the United Kingdom to the European Economic Community Commission before any proposals are made by the Commission on New Zealand's butter exports to the United Kingdom.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will ensure that the Government's views on this issue are communicated to the European Commission at the appropriate time.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the future of British involvement in Belize; and if any plans exist to reduce that involvement, with specific reference to any planned transfer of responsibilities to any third Government.

The British garrison is in Belize at the request of the Belize Government to assist in external defence and the training of the Belize defence force. It will remain for an appropriate period. There are no plans to transfer this responsibility to any third Government.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 July.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 July.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 July.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 July.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 July.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 July.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 July.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 July.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 July.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 July.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 July.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 July.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 July.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 July.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 12 July.

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. I was present at Victoria station to mark the arrival of the President of Turkey. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I will be attending a state banquet in honour of President Evren.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with (a) the Scotch whisky industry and (b) his European Community counterparts on the taxation of whisky.

My right hon. Friend received various representations from the Scotch whisky industry in the run-up to his annual Budget. My right hon. Friend meets his European Community counterparts from time to time to discuss a variety of subjects.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will apply section 20 of the Value Added Tax Act 1983 to the Meat and Livestock Commission to allow it to reclaim value added tax on non-business expenditure.

No. The Meat and Livestock Commission is not a body to which it would be appropriate to apply section 20 treatment. However, I have agreed to meet the chairman of the Meat and Livestock Commission to discuss the impact on his members of the recent court ruling about reclaiming. VAT on non-business expenditure.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will apply section 20 of the Value Added Tax Act 1983 to the Apple and Pear Development Corporation to allow it to reclaim value added tax on non-business expenditure.

The Apple and Pear Development Council is not a body to which it would be appropriate to apply section 20 treatment. However, I have agreed to meet representatives of the agricultural levy-funded bodies to discuss the impact on them of the recent court ruling about reclaiming VAT on non-business expenditure.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of recent interest rate adjustments on the level of domestic investment.

My right h on. Friend the Chancellor estimated, at the time of his Budget, that business investment would grow by 9 per cent. in 1988.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the cost to the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency of employing management or computer consultants for each year from 1983 to 1987.

The relevant cost was as follows:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has made to the French Government about the implications for the Channel tunnel of the costs of value added tax on the French portion of the project.

[holding answer 4 July 1988]: The effects of VAT on the construction of the Channel tunnel were considered jointly by the United Kingdom and French authorities at the planning stage. Special provisions were considered unnecessary.

To ask the Minister for the Arts if he anticipates any call in the near future on the Contingency Reserve for a work of art offered in lieu of capital transfer tax.

I am very pleased to be able to announce that heritage Ministers have accepted in principle two paintings by William Hogarth. The formal exchange of memoranda will complete the acceptance in the near future. The amount of tax satisfied will be in the region of £1·3 million. This will be met by a call on the reserve.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the implications for his Department's policy towards compensating service men for the alleged effects of radioactivity suffered during the nuclear tests in the 1950s of the letter, dated 20 September 1951, sent by Rear-Admiral Turlesse of the trials metering section at the Admiralty to Vice-Admiral Brooking of the armament research establishment at the Ministry of Defence, stating with regard to the hurricane tests that (a) some degree of risk had to be run by some people if the Government were to achieve the full purpose of the trial, (b) all Government servants were entitled to compensation for injury on duty and (c) the ill-effects from the tests may be long delayed.

The letter to which the hon. Member refers from the naval commander of Operation Hurricane, written more than a year before the first United Kingdom test at Monte Bello, exemplifies what those planning the whole operation had long recognised, namely, the need to control exposure to ionising radiation so that no one should suffer harm. The resulting system of radiological control applied with only minor modifications throughout the whole United Kingdom atmospheric trials programme at Monte Bello, Maralinga and at Christmas Island. It was based on advice from the Medical Research Council and its main provisions are closely comparable with the radiological protection regulations which apply today throughout the nuclear industry. I am confident that it was wholly effective.The radiation protection standards, both at Hurricane and later, catered specifically for Rear Admiral Torlesse's concern that to achieve the full purpose of the trial some personnel might experience higher exposure and hence correspondingly higher risk. The risk, though higher, was still very small indeed. The regulations required all such operations to be specially authorised by a senior officer for the small number of personnel who were concerned.It is acknowledged that illnesses caused by exposure to radiation may be long delayed and that they are often indistinguishable from illnesses which occur in people not known to have been exposed. These features of radiation-related illnesses are among the reasons for commissioning the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) study of the health of United Kingdom test participants which confirmed that the chance of anyone suffering harm to health was extremely small. The NRPB

study, which analysed mortality data up to end of 1983 and included participants who experienced significant exposure, did not show an association between radiation related diseases and exposure to radiation. The provisions of the war pensions arrangements administered by the Department of Health and Social Security exist to provide compensation in cases where "reliable evidence of reasonable doubt that harm is attributable to Service", can be shown. Furthermore, in answer to the hon. Member for Knowsley, South (Mr. Hughes), I stated that

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures he is taking to assist British companies in securing North Atlantic Treaty Organisation infrastructure contracts; and if he will make a statement.

Assistance to United Kingdom companies in securing NATO infrastructure projects is provided by the Ministry of Defence for electronics projects and by the Department of the Environment for civil works projects. The address of the MOD contact point is given in each issue of the "Defence Contracts Bulletin". There is also a free booklet "Infrastructure Guide to Defence Contractors", which sets out infrastructure procedures in detail.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what information he has as to (a) what missiles are known to be carried by Iranian F14 fighters in the Persian Gulf, (b) how such missiles would be fired and (c) at what speed and level these aircraft would normally be flying in the course of an attack; and what would be their angle of descent;(2) what information he has as to the maximum speed of an F14 fighter armed for attack on a naval vessel.

It would not be in the interests of the safety of our ships to reveal details of intelligence of the equipment and tactics which might be employed in attacks on shipping in the Gulf.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has as to whether Iranian F14 fighters are stationed at Bandar Abbas airport.

Bandar Abbas is both a civil and military airport. It is common knowledge that there are F14 aircraft stationed there.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at what range and at what height the Royal Navy ships operating in the strait of Hormuz are able to identify aircraft leaving the airports at Bandar Abbas, Shajah and Dubai.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 6 July, at column 646.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Her Majesty's ships patrolling in the Persian Gulf are aware of the timing and routes of scheduled flights by civilian airliners in the region.

Yes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Government will instruct the Royal Navy to co-operate with the Iranian authorities to help recover the black box of the aircraft shot down by the United States to enable the flight path to be established beyond all reasonable doubt.

Any such request from the Iranian authorities would be carefully considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether ships of the Royal Navy have helped to recover bodies from the Iranian airliner shot down by the United States Navy.

No Royal Navy ships were in the immediate vicinity and no requests for assistance were received from the Iranian authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will ask the commanders of Her Majesty's ships operating in the Persian Gulf and the strait of Hormuz for their records of the flight path taken by the Iranian airbus on leaving Bandar Abbas airport, their interpretations of its movements and the identity that they gave to it; whether he intends to provide that information to the United States Government; and if he will publish it in the Official Report.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave on 11 July, at column 4.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if his Department has any plans for joint military operations or training exercises in Belize with any military power other than that of Belize; and if he will make a statement;(2) if any joint military operations or training exercises have been carried out in Belize with foreign Governments other than that of Belize; and if he will make a statement.

No such operations or exercises have taken place, and the Ministry of Defence has no plans to hold any.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the progress of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's investigation into competition in the licensed trade.

The Secretary of State announced today that he had granted the Commission an extension of up to six months for this investigation, until 3 February 1989.

To ask the Attorney-General whether the Lord Chancellor has any proposals to eradicate any disparities in the sentencing of black and white defendants; and if he will make a statement.

It is not for the Lord Chancellor or any other Minister to intervene in the sentencing of individual defendants. Sentencing in every case, except where mandatory sentences are provided by statute, is a matter of judicial discretion, in the light of the circumstances of each particular case and bearing in mind any guidelines which may have been laid down by the appellate courts. It is open to each convicted defendant to appeal against the sentence passed by the court if he or she is aggrieved by it.

To ask the Attorney-General how many representations the Lord Chancellor has received concerning current disparities in sentencing policy between black and white defendants, as outlined in the recent report by the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders, a copy of which has been sent to him.

The Lord Chancellor has received no representations from organisations other than the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders, nor from individual members of the public, concerning the sentencing of black defendants. He is, however, meeting representatives of NACRO shortly to discuss its concerns on this and other issues outlined in NACRO's recent report.

To ask the Attorney-General how many black members have been appointed to the Judicial Studies Board.

No black members have been appointed to the Judicial Studies Board.

To ask the Attorney-General what measures exist in relation to the training of the judiciary prior to appointment or during tenure of office which ensure that sentencing reflects fully the multicultural nature of society; and if he will make a statement.

On appointment and at regular intervals during their careers, members of the judiciary attend training seminars. Sentencing exercises form part of this training, during which the principles of sentencing are explored. These principles require the sentencer to take into account the nature of the offence, the circumstances of the offender and any relevant judicial authority. The cultural background of the offender may well be a significant factor to be considered.

To ask the Attorney-General (1) how many prosecutions have been brought in relation to events surrounding the capsize of the Herald of Free Enterprise in 1987; how many prosecutions are presently being considered by his Department in relation to events surrounding the capsize of the ferry; and if he will explain the delays in bringing forward any such prosecutions;(2) what information he has as to how many

Police inquiries were instituted in November, 1987, after the coroner's jury returned a verdict of unlawful killing. The inquiries are, of necessity, complex and extensive. A preliminary report was received from the police in June, and is now being considered by the Director of Public Prosecutions and Counsel. Counsel will advise as to any further inquiries that may be required. No criminal proceedings have as yet been instituted.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is Her Majesty's Government policy on on-train passport controls following the opening of the Channel tunnel.

For Eurotunnel shuttle train journeys beginning or ending at Cheriton, static inward and outward controls are planned at Fréthun and Cheriton respectively. For journeys beginning or ending in London, the Government's view remains that the most convenient and practicable option is a quick and effective static control at Waterloo. For trains proceeding beyond London, the Channel Tunnel Act provides for immigration controls to be carried out on-train, subject to the provision of satisifactory facilities on those trains and to the payment of any fees or charges that may be imposed. Discussions with British Rail and Eurotunnel are continuing.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will issue guidelines to taxi and mini-cab drivers on safety precautions to deal with situations involving assault; and if he will make a statement.

We have no present plans to do so. The taxi trade has been invited to take part in the deliberations of a Department of Transport standing committee which is considering the problem of violence towards road transport staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the police to establish a more satisfactory method of vehicle registration; and what consideration is being given to a lifetime personal registration plate.

We have received no representations from the police that the current vehicle registration system should be altered. Any proposal for a change in that system would in the first instance be for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport to consider.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will seek to introduce a system of photographic identity cards to be issued to all who desire to purchase alcohol from public houses, off-licences or supermarkets.

We have at present no plans to introduce such a scheme nationally but welcome, and are watching with interest the effect of, the introduction of local voluntary identity card schemes by local licensees or licensed victuallers associations with the co-operation of the police.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department will have supplies of pre-paid envelopes for claims for help with prison visits.

There are no plans to issue pre-paid envelopes: the assisted prison visits unit, when making payment to successful claimants, already adds 18p to cover postal costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have undergone prolonged detention for each year since 1986; and what were their nationalities.

[holding answer 4 June 1988]: The information readily available and shown in table A gives the numbers of asylum applicants at the ports who, on the first day of each month since January 1987, had been detained for more than one month. They are listed by the principal nationalities involved. Monthly numbers include detainees carried forward from previous months. On 1 June 1988, 66 persons who had sought asylum at ports were in detention. Their nationalities are shown in table B and the periods they had been detained in table C.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to publish the report of the review of student financial support.

The Government will publish their proposals for the future of student support when they are ready to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he last met representatives of disability organisations to discuss the provision of education for pupils with special needs; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend met representatives of MENCAP in January 1987. As the Minister with specific responsibilities for special education in schools, I meet representatives of disability organisations frequently.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he last met representatives of the university of Wales; and what matters were discussed.

On 29 January 1987, when matters relating to the funding of the university were discussed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he proposes to take to up-date courses currently offered by colleges of further education and universities related to the tourist industry.

It is for institutions of further and higher education, in consultation with accrediting bodies where appropriate, to determine the content of courses. One aim of the current reforms is to make the educational system at all levels more responsive to the needs of all sectors of the economy, including tourism.Many colleges are working closely with the tourism industry, for example through advisory groups and industrial fellows, to help keep their courses up to date. This work is complemented by the Department's PICKUP (professional, industrial and commercial updating) programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to prevent the sale of all or part of the collection of British pictures from Royal Holloway college; and if he will make a statement.

No. This is a matter for the college authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to publish draft guidance and model articles of government for institutions in the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council sector: what bodies and organisations have been consulted before publication; and if he will make a statement.

I have today issued draft guidance including model articles of government for institutions which will form the PCFC funding sector, as proposed in the Education Reform Bill. The draft guidance, including model articles, is being issued now in order to give those concerned an opportunity to comment and to help institutions prepare for the introduction of the new arrangements. Comments have been requested by 16 September. Copies of the texts have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.In preparing the draft, officials had discussions with the Committee of Directors of Polytechnics and the Standing Conference of Principals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schools in England and Wales provide systematic information or teaching about (a) water fluoridation and (b) other aspects related to the purity of drinking water and its effect on the health of people.

This information is not collected by my Department or by the Education Department of the Welsh Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what special measures he will take to ensure that University college, north Wales, avoids insolvency and receives sufficient block grant to meet its existing commitments; and if he will make a statement.

The UGC monitors the academic and financial plans of all the university institutions it funds. As appropriate, University college, north Wales will be eligible for assistance from the committee's special three-year £250 million restructuring programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the block grant received by University college, north Wales, in real terms, for each of the years since 1978–79; and if he will make a statement.

The information is as follows. These payments of recurrent grant to individual universities are made on the advice of the University Grants Committee.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he intends to publish the annual report of Her Majesty's inspectors on local education authority provision for education and the quality of response in schools and colleges in England; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hyndburn (Mr. Hargreaves) on 23 October 1987, at column 907, and to the reply which my hon. Friend the Member for Mitcham and Morden (Mrs. Rumbold) gave to the hon. Member for Barnsley, West and Penistone (Mr. McKay) on 17 May at column 792. I hope to publish the next annual report in January 1989, which will cover the whole of the 1987–88 academic year rather than just one term.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he has the power to impose on a mineral planning authority a programme of proposed sites if that authority refuses to agree one with British Coal Corporation;(2) if mineral planning authorities were obliged to agree with British Coal a programme of proposed sites for opencast coal extraction, as suggested in "Minerals Planning Guidance 3".

The Government's recently issued advice in "Minerals Planning Guidance 3" on planning control over opencast mining recommends the industry to discuss with the mineral planning authorities plans for future opencasting in their areas. There is no power to require an authority to agree long-term plans or impose a programme of sites on them. However, we do consider that negotiations between authorities and both British Coal and private operators on possible future working can help facilitate the consideration of opencast coal planning applications.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will accept as a sound planning basis for an appeal against refusal by a mineral planning authority to grant permission for an opencast coal development, the refusal of that authority to agree a programme of proposed sites with British Coal Corporation;(2) if the inclusion of a site within a programme of proposed sites in paragraph 20 of "Minerals Planning Guidance 3: Opencast Coal Mining" is material consideration to be taken into account by mineral planning authorities when deciding an individual application for that site.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to paragraph 22 of "Minerals Planning Guidance 3" which advises that where programmes have been agreed the Secretary of State will have regard to them in approving development plans and deciding opencast appeals. I must stress, however, that while such programmes would provide helpful indications of where opencasting might be acceptable, they have no statutory basis, and the existence or otherwise of a programme would be one of the factors to be taken into account when determining an application or an appeal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if, in the light of paragraph 19 of "Minerals Planning Guidance 3", a mineral planning authority may deem it appropriate to draw up a policy of no development or of very limited developments on the basis of strong or overwhelming local opposition;(2) whether, in the light of the statement in paragraph 19 of "Mineral Planning Guidance 3" that where appropriate mineral planning authorities should draw up policies for opencast coal mining in their area, an authority may deem it inappropriate to do so on the basis of strong or overwhelming local opposition to that development.

Mineral planning authorities are advised to draw up appropriate development plan policies for mineral working and the content of these should follow the advice in MPG 1 and 3. When approving structure plan policies, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State should have regard to all relevant considerations, including any representations and objections received.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to increase the provision of housing in rural Wales; and if he will make a statement.

We are encouraging local authorities in rural areas to use their considerable powers to provide homes for local people. Dwyfor district council has received additional allocations for this purpose totalling £0·5 million over the last three years. In addition, in approving the Housing Corporation's development programme, we have asked it to invest at least 25 per cent. of its increased allocation of £60 million in rural areas. Officials are discussing with the corporation and Mid Wales Development ways in which they can harness private finance to further increase the number of projects to provide housing for rent and low-cost home ownership schemes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to increase the provision of housing in Mid Wales in relation to incoming industrial projects; and if he will make a statement.

Mid Wales Development has its own programme to provide key worker housing to help attract incoming investment to its area and is considering ways it can use private finance to encourage additional provision. Mid Wales Development also has an agreement with the Housing Corporation for housing associations to provide a further 30 key worker houses per annum throughout its area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of council and Mid Wales Development area houses completed for each of the years from 1979 to 1987 and the number of house starts in 1988–89 in the Mid Wales development area; and if he will make a statement.

Details of completions by local authorities and Mid Wales Development for the years 1979–1986 are published in "Local Housing Statistics," copies of which are available in the Library of the House. The figures for 1987 in the Mid Wales Development area are given in the following table. Figues for housing starts in 1988–89 are not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all quasi-autonomous non-government organisations and trading funds reporting to his Department.

The bodies which report to my Department are listed in "Public Bodies—1987", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.None of my Department's activities is organised as a trading fund.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now make it his policy to list in the Official Report all the sites in Scotland identified by Nirex as suitable for nuclear waste disposal and storage.

No. We are still awaiting a report by Nirex on sites worthy of further investigation, and this is not expected until early next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by region and district the area of land designated as of outstanding natural beauty up to (a) 1979 and (b) 1987 in Scotland.

The designation "area of outstanding natural beauty" does not apply in Scotland. Since 1980, 1,017,300 hectares have been designated as national scenic areas. A breakdown by district is not readily available but following is information by region:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the reasons for the refusal of urban aid support to the Easterhouse citizens advice bureau for the use of new technology and the expansion of its services.

The project did not fully meet the criteria for support under the urban programme, and the competition for funds is intense.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many schools in Scotland provide information and teaching on (a) water fluoridation and (b) the quality of drinking water and its effect on the health of the people.

This information is not held centrally. The relation between fluoridation and the incidence of dental caries has long figured in the ordinary grade biology syllabus and is now also covered in the standard grade science course. Exemplar curricular materials concerning fluoridation for this course have recently been distributed to education authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what study he has made of the effects of regional differentials in levels of pay for medical secretaries on the recruitment and retention of such staff in the Borders region.

I have made no such study.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received on the pay levels of medical secretaries.

Over the last two years, I have received a number of letters on this matter, both from individual medical secretaries and from hon. and right hon. Members writing on their behalf.I have explained that health boards are able to use their discretion to upgrade medical secretaries' pay to the highest salary available, but essentially the matter is one for the boards to decide.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all private landowners in Scotland who have received payment for the preservation of natural sites of environmental or historical importance under the terms of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (Scotland) 1981.

The Nature Conservancy Council is empowered to enter into management agreements with owners or occupiers of land designated as a site of special scientific interest, or within a national nature reserve. Details of individual payments are confidential, but data on the numbers and costs of such payments are published in the Nature Conservancy Council's annual report, copies of which are in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the authorised establishment and actual numbers of (a) police officers and (b) civilians employed in each constabulary in Scotland.

The information as at 31 March 1988 was as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to issue for consultation the code of practice under section 119 of the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984.

The draft code of practice has been issued today to a wide range of interests in the mental health field inviting comments on the code within four months. The issue of this draft code represents a further significant step towards improving the lives of people who suffer from mental disorder through the guidance it will offer to doctors, nurses and other professions in the care and treatment of such patients. I am sure the draft will stimulate much interest, and the Secretary of State and I look forward to considering responses to the consultation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for each year since 1974–75 (i) total National Health Service expenditure, (ii) current expenditure on hospital and community health services, (iii) capital expenditure on hospital and community health service, (iv) expenditure on family practitioner services, (v) expenditure on centrally funded National Health Service services and (vi) expenditure on personal social services; if he will give each (a) in cash terms, (b) adjusted using the relevant pay and prices index and (c) adjusted using the gross domestic product deflator; and if he will place in the Library details of the methods used to make these adjustments.

[holding answer 18 February 1988]: The information in the format requested is not fully available. Details of expenditure, broken down by service, in both cash terms and as adjusted by the gross domestic product deflator, are given in the following tables.