To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will give a decision on whether to permit an extension of operating hours at Leeds-Bradford airport.

A joint decision by my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Transport and for the Environment will he made as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what facilities motorway service areas offer to heavy goods vehicles and other professional drivers.

MSAs provide for all motorway users. They provide a minimum stipulated and increasingly widely known level of service. This includes free parking for all classes of vehicle for at least two hours; free toilets; hot and cold drinks; cold food 24 hours a day throughout the year.Parking areas for HGVs, coaches, and cars are apportioned in relation to traffic demand.At all but one existing MSA, HGV drivers can stay overnight for a small charge which often includes a meal voucher. Many service areas provide separate eating facilities for commercial drivers and showers and shaving points. Provision of showers and shaving points will be the norm at new MSAs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the purpose of his Department's coach trip in London for journalists on 2 June; how many journalists accepted the Department's invitation; and if he will make a statement.

The purpose of the visit was twofold; to show at first hand the environmental benefits to residents along and around Rochester way from the new relief road, which has reduced accidents by 30 per cent. in six months and to contrast this with the road congestion problems currently afflicting the Archway area. The Department's proposals for a new western environmental improvement route (the only major road proposal in inner London made by the Department in the past three years) would relieve the many transport problems in the area around the Earl's Court one-way system and improve conditions for residents and shoppers.The visit was organised following a series of press reports in publications as diverse as

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the provision of motorway service areas on the M25.

The strategy for provision of MSAs on the M25 was developed following public consultation in 1983. Decisions in principle were made in 1984 to promote four MSAs, at the compass cardinal points and at very roughly 30 mile intervals, the interval used on the motorway network as a whole.The then Minister of State agreed in August 1985 that the MSA for the northern sector at South Mimms would be developed by BP. This was an exceptional arrangement. The other three sites, at Clacket lane, Thurrock and lver, were to be developed following competitive tender, in conformity with Government policy for marketing MSAs announced by the then Secretary of State on 4 August 1980. Current policy has been reaffirmed in this House on 17 March this year at columns

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many Chinese students are studying full or part-time in the United Kingdom.

In 1987–88 there were 1,200 full-time and part-time students in further and higher education in the United Kingdom from the People's Republic of China.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received on why the Institute of Arable Crops Research has not introduced chargeable payroll deductions for charities; and what information he has on whether the payroll computer system it is introducing would be able to make such deductions.

This Department has received no such representations. The new payroll computer system, which is currently under consideration for use in the agricultural and food research service, would enable all staff, including those at the Institute of Arable Crops Research to participate in the payroll giving scheme, if they wished to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many inspections of private schools there have been by Her Majesty's Inspectorate in the past five years; and what steps were taken to follow-up recommendations about necessary improvements either in the teaching or the quality of the school buildings subsequent to the publishing of a report on a school.

Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools operates a continuing programme of visits to independent schools which do not necessarily result in full inspection reports. Nevertheless, the inspectorate has issued 34 reports on independent schools other than those which serve children with special educational needs since June 1984. In each case, the recommendations made in the report were drawn to the proprietor's attention in an accompanying official letter. In certain cases, the proprietor may also have been asked to provide a report on progress within a specified timescale. In subsequent visits, the inspectorate takes particular note of failure to implement the recommendations made. Such failure may lead me to serve a notice of complaint against the proprietor. Between January, 1984, and December 1988, 16 notices of complaint were served following full inspections; a further five were served where fire precautions were found to be deficient and three were served where a proprietor or teacher was not considered a proper person.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will introduce legislation to provide that all private schools should have a board of governors; and if he has any plans to seek to amend the legal structure covering such establishments so as to give parents adequate opportunities for consultation and representation about the staffing and welfare provision.

I have no plans to do so. However, I would certainly encourage individual schools to establish a broadly based governing structure, where they do not already have one, and to involve parents closely in all aspects of its activity. Parents are well placed to demand a voice.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what measures are taken by Her Majesty's inspectorate to assess the social welfare of pupils; whether any of his inspection staff have any training in matters relating to child abuse.

Her Majesty's Inspectorate assesses the quality of pastoral care provision in schools as well as assessing teaching and learning in all subjects. This range of activities includes tutorial arrangements, the social structures devised by the schools and the quality of pupils' responses to these. More generally, Her Majesty's Inspectorate pays attention to children's attendance and behaviour, to relationships both within lessons and about the school, and to teachers' records on pupils' development and progress. Inspectors also have regard during inspection to the qualifications and experience of teachers at the school.In schools where residential accommodation is provided, Her Majesty's Inspectorate pays attention to the nature and suitability of the accommodation, and to the daily routines of pupils both during school time and at evenings and weekends in order to assess the contributions that these make to the pupils' overall education.Her Majesty's inspectorate has designated inspectors with national responsibility for child abuse and for counselling. A number of Her Majesty's inspectors have dealt with child abuse cases before joining the inspectorate; others have worked as educational psychologists and therefore also have experience of case-work relating to child abuse. In addition, Her Majesty's inspectorate runs internal training courses on child protection, and is currently running a course for "named persons" in LEAs who have responsibility for child protection. In December, Her Majesty's inspectorate will run a course for representatives from each LEA for those involved in training for child protection. The training programme therefore extends beyond the inspectorate itself.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has completed his consideration of the registration and approval of Castle Hill school, Shropshire.

Nearly all its pupils are being withdrawn from the school. My right hon. Friend is accordingly seeking confirmation from the proprietor that he is taking steps to close it.

To ask the Prime Minister which sector of European Community negotiations she will control personally in the run-up to 1992.The Prime Minister: The Government as a whole are responsible for policy towards the European Community.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list those European Community directives currently not fully implemented; which topics they relate to; and when Her Majesty's Government will implement each of them.

The Official Journal of the European Communities, c310, volume 31 of 5 December 1988, which is available in the Library, shows that at 31 December 1987 the United Kingdom had not fully implemented 148 of 784 applicable directives. Detailed information on the topics to which these relate and the projected date of enactment of United Kingdom legislation could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Prime Minister what was the cost to public funds of supplying the answer to the hon. Member for Pembroke (Mr. Bennett) of 25 May, Official Report, columns 695–719.

The reply was assembled from material provided by a wide range of Departments. The total cost of time of those who contributed, including secretarial staff, measured by salary, overheads and other costs, including printing, is estimated at £4,600.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received in the past two years supporting an extension of eligibility for voting rights of United Kingdom citizens living abroad; and when he expects to be able to make an announcement concerning possible legislation on the subject.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends making a statement about the reform of the franchise qualifications for Britons living abroad.

Between January 1987 and May 1989, we received eight parliamentary questions and 47 letters from hon. and right hon. Members and 70 representations on this subject directly from members of the general public and organisations representing Britons abroad. We hope shortly to be in a position to announce our plans to extend the franchise for British citizens living overseas.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average time spent on remand in custody awaiting trial at the latest date for which figures are available; and what was the comparable figure 12 months previously.

In 1987 the average time spent on remand in custody awaiting trial was 56 days for men and 45 days for women, compared with 57 days for men arid 44 days for women in 1986 (Table 2·1 of "Prison statistics England and Wales 1987" (Cm. 547), a copy of which is in the Library). Provisional data for 1988 indicate very little change for males but a further increase for females.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present male and female prison remand population for England and Wales; and how many of those remand prisoners belong to an ethnic minority group.

The latest readily available information is given in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were remanded in custody in England and Wales during 1987 for an offence of criminal damage involving less than £2.000.

The available information on those proceeded against for an indictable offence of criminal damage who were remanded in custody, which may be incomplete, is published in tables 8·8 and 8·10 of "Criminal statistics, England and Wales, 1987". Such figures will not include proceedings for single offences involving criminal damage of value £400 or less.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, pursuant to his answer of 23 May, Official Report, column 499, to the hon. Member for Don Valley in respect of female police officers and firearms, he will publish such information on this subject as is either held centrally or could be obtained without disproportionate cost.

No information on this subject is held centrally, and no statistical information could be obtained at this time without disproportionate cost. Female police officers are, however, fully entitled to volunteer to become authorised firearms officers and are subject to the same selection and training procedures as male officers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when he expects to announce the composition of the inquiry into privacy and related matters;(2) whether the terms of reference of the inquiry into privacy and related matters will include aspects of the law of defamation.

Consideration is still being given to the composition and terms of reference of the review of privacy and related matters. My right hon. Friend expects to make an announcement shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigration detainees have escaped from Harmondsworth immigration detention centre in each of the last 10 years.

Full records are not available for the period before 1986. The number of absconders in each year since 1986 was:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were received into prison as fine defaulters in the latest year for which figures are available.

The latest readily available information was published in table 7·2 of "Prison statistics England and Wales 1987" (Cm. 547), a copy of which is in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what regulations cover the searching of prison visitors.

Rule 86(1) of the prison rules 1964 and rule 70(1) of the young offender institution rules 1988 provide that any person entering or leaving an establishment may be searched.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received, and from whom, regarding cash-point theft.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has now concluded his consultation with the Central Conference of Chief Constables on its recommendations regarding the proposed register for missing persons; and whether he will make a statement.

No. My right hon. Friend is now considering the implications of the ACPO report.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were remanded in custody and subsequently bailed and failed to surrender to court on the date of their trial in England and Wales for the latest year for which statistics are available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were bailed and subsequently failed to surrender to court on the date of their trial in England and Wales for the latest year for which statistics are available.

The available information, which may be incomplete, relates to those who failed to appear having been bailed at magistrates' courts or the Crown court and is published annually in "Criminal statistics, England and Wales, 1987" (table 8·12 and paragraph 8·16 of the issue for 1987, Cm. 498).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were bailed by the court in England and Wales and subsequently committed a further offence before the date of their trial in the latest year for which figures are available.

The most recent figures available on offending while on bail relate to 1978 and were published in Home Office Statistical Department Bulletin 22/81, "Estimates of Offending of those on Bail".

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the remand and convicted and unsentenced prison population in England and Wales for the latest available date.

According to records held centrally on 30 April 1989 there were about 8,780 untried and 1,780 convicted unsentenced prisoners in prison service establishments in England and Wales. A further 55 untried prisoners were held in police cells.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the following information in respect of each passport office for each of the past five years, the (a) number of staff, (b) number of passport applications, (c) number issued, (d) number of applications per member of staff employed and (e) number of passports issued per member of staff.

The information as to numbers of staff employed and passports issued is given in the tables. The figures for staff employed include headquarters, management and support staff, who are not directly involved in the examination of passport applications. The daily output of examining staff varies according to the volume of applications being dealt with in a particular period, and yearly averages are not calculated. During the present

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received from Salisbury district council an application under section 13 of the Public Order Act 1986, to make an order prohibiting processions; and if he will make a statement.

Salisbury district council, in response to an application from the chief constable of Wiltshire, sought my consent on 23 May to an order under section 13 of the Public Order Act 1986. This was based on the chief constable's assessment that other powers available to him would not be sufficient to prevent the holding of certain classes of public procession in the vicinity of Stonehenge from resulting in serious public disorder. I have therefore given my consent to an order prohibiting the holding of all public processions within a radius of four miles from the monument at Stonehenge, moving in the direction of Stonehenge, other than normal funeral processions, from Saturday 10 June until Sunday 25 June.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures his Department implements to police large-scale wastes transported internationally, and used as a medium for smuggling.

I have been asked to reply.The importation of special and hazardous waste is regulated by the Control of Pollution (Special Waste) Regulations 1980 and the Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations 1988. Consignments of such wastes must be accompanied by consignment notes, copies of which are sent to the waste disposal authority for the area in which the waste enters the United Kingdom and the area of final disposal. Customs retain the power to regulate importations and exportations of goods, and to search all vessels in United Kingdom territorial waters. Waste is subject to normal customs checks which are based on local knowledge, risk assessment and intelligence.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what response has been received from the National Association of Funeral Directors to the report on funeral costs by the Office of Fair Trading published in January.

This is a matter for the Director General of Fair Trading. I shall ask him to write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what guidelines he follows in determining which journalists are invited to press briefings by his Department.

This depends upon the matter under discussion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the fall in the number of people coming forward for eye tests since April 1989 in (a) West Glamorgan and (b) Wales.

The information is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the total expenditure of the Welsh Development Agency in each parliamentary constituency in each year since 1983–84.

The Welsh Development Agency does not maintain details of expenditure in the form requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list on a district council basis the amount of funding received from the European Community's regional fund, social fund and agricultural guidance and guarantee fund since 1 January 1980.

The information as requested is given in the following tables:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much South African coal was discharged by the SS Ave during its recent visit to Teesport.

[holding answer 6 June 1989]: It is not normal practice to disclose information about the nature or quantities in specific importations.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what dues and other taxes were paid by the owners of the SS Ave which recently discharged a cargo of South African coal at Teesport.

[holding answer 6 June 1989]: Imported coal is free of customs duties and zero-rated for VAT purposes. Port authority dues are usually payable on a ship and its cargo.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the National Savings Department has decided to increase the minimum purchase of premium bonds to £100 on 1 July; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 8 June 1989]: 1 refer my hon. Friend to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave to the right hon. Member for Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale (Mr. Steel) on 5 May at column 255.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will consider making it compulsory for all factory-farmed animals to be labelled as such.

No, Sir. While I fully recognise the importance of informative food labelling I see no need for a statutory labelling requirement for factory farmed products. There would, in any case, be serious enforcement difficulties as it is not possible to distinguish analytically between free range and factory farmed products. There is, of course, nothing to prevent voluntary labelling to indicate when meat is not from factory farmed products.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many female police officers are currently qualified to carry firearms; what were the figures five and 10 years ago; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will list by year for the last 10 years

The information is not available in the form requested. However I understand from the chief constable that female officers in the RUC do not normally carry firearms, nor are firearms normally issued to officers in respect of specific operations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what guidelines he follows in determining which journalists are invited to press briefings by his Department.

This depends on the matter under discussion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what advice his Department gives to small companies seeking specialist financial assistance with

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will introduce legislation to permit a legal strike without a ballot amongst the strikers; and if he will make a statement.

The Department's small firms service provides advice on financial management and control, and the presentation of a case to potential lenders or investors. It also gives information on sources and methods of raising finance, including the loan guarantee scheme (LGS), which enables banks to lend to small firms without security or a track record.Publications by the small firms service and the Department include free leaflets giving advice on trade credit, accounting, prompt payment and the LGS.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what further steps he is taking to reduce the exposure to occupational radiation of workers in the nuclear industry; and by how much the present exposure level has been reduced from earlier levels.

[holding answer 6 June 1989]: Under the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1985 which are enforced by the Health and Safety Executive, all employers are required to ensure that, amongst other matters, doses of ionising radiations received by employees are kept as low as reasonably practicable and not merely below the relevant statutory limits. In the light of recent international advice and continuing revision of risk estimates for ionising radiations, HSE inspectors are ensuring that greater attention is paid to this requirement. Dosimetric information published by the principal employers in the industry indicate an overall long term downward trend in exposure levels.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, by region, how many 16 and 17-year-olds were in receipt of bridging allowance for each of the latest available three months.

Figures for the number of young people in receipt of bridging allowance by region are provided in the table:

No. It is not illegal for a union to call a strike without a ballot of its members. However, if a union chose to do so, it would render itself liable to legal action for damages from the employers at whom the action is directed, or from the suppliers of customers of those employers, and to an action in restraint from any of those parties or from any of the union's members which it had induced to take action.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of registered vacancies as a percentage of the unemployment figure in the Leeds metropolitan district for each of the years April 1979 to 1989; and what was the average number of vacancies in the Leeds area for the years 1979 to 1989.

The following is the available information which is also in the Library. The table shows the monthly average numbers of unfilled vacancies at jobcentres covering an area closely corresponding to the Leeds metropolitan district, together with the monthly average number of unemployed claimants in Leeds, for the years 1983 to 1988. Unemployment figures will be slightly affected by changes to the count.It is not valid to compare ratios of unfilled vacancies to numbers of unemployed claimants since only about a third of vacancies in the economy are reported to jobcentres and this proportion will tend to vary over time and between regions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has as to why the Council for Social Aid in Manchester, and training manager for employment training, has gone into liquidation.

I understand that the directors of Manchester Diocesan Church of England Council for Social Aid Ltd. felt that they were unable to meet their financial obligations and for this reason, and in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act and the Insolvency Act, decided to cease trading and to place the company into voluntary liquidation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is the number of workers who will be made redundant as a result of the failure of the Council for Social Aid, Manchester; what is the number of workers who will be or are being offered alternative employment; what guarantees were given to staff in terms of redundancy payments and outstanding earnings; and if he will make a statement;

I understand that approximately 200 people have been made redundant following the closure of Manchester Diocesan Church of England Council for Social Aid Ltd.Any redundancy payments or outstanding earnings are a matter for the company's liquidators who will deal with these matters in the normal way in such cases.The number of employees who are offered alternative employment will depend on the local demand for their services.At the time Diocesan Church of England Council for Social Aid Ltd. ceased trading there were 1,011 ET trainees in training. All of these have been, or will shortly be, offered a training place with an alternative training manager. In the meantime all trainees remain on their training allowance.In addition, until trainees are found alternative training managers, child care costs will be met where this is necessary.The total amount of the company's debt is not known to my Department and is a matter for the liquidators.My major concern now is to ensure that everything possible is being done to minimise the disruption for trainees so that they can carry on developing their skills and improving their job prospects.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the salary negotiations for clinical cytogeneticists.

The pay of clinical cytogeneticists is a matter for negotiation between the management side of the Scientific and Professional Staffs Council and the staff side representing scientists employed in the National Health Service. Negotiations are continuing on the staff side pay claim for 1989–90.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which countries, having undertaken the fluoridation of their water supplies, have since abandoned it and on what grounds.

Although no specific legislative power was provided, fluoridation was introduced experimentally in the Netherlands in the 1950s. It was discontinued in 1973 when the Amsterdam Supreme Court decreed that there was no legal basis for fluoridation.In the late 1977 the Highland regional council decided that water fluoridation should not be pursued in its region and the operation in Wick, Scotland, which had provided fluoridated water since 1969, was discontinued in 1979 to bring it into line with the rest of the region.Water fluoridation was introduced in Chile in 1968 but was discontinued in 1975 partly because of adverse publicity at the time, and partly due to costs. It is understood that fluoridation has since been re-introduced in that country.Information on the position in other countries is not held.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies his Department has made of dental fluorosis; what evidence it has received on whether fluoridation of the water supplies has had any harmful effect on those consuming fluoridated water and, in particular, on children; and if he will now reconsider his advice to local and water authorities on the subject.

The Department has not carried out any studies on dental fluorosis, but a study by Levine et al; (British Dental Journal 1989; 166/249), confirmed that although significantly more children had higher levels of enamel fluorosis in fluoridated areas the levels were not aesthetically unacceptable.The Government remain of the opinion that the fluoridation of water constitutes a safe and effective means of reducing tooth decay. We will of course continue to monitor any relevant evidence on the safety and effectiveness of fluoridation and will bring any significant new developments to the attention of health authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for a new contract for general practitioners if the medical profession do not accept the agreement reached between him and their negotiators on 4 May.

The agreement was a package deal, and it involved a good deal of compromise by both parties. It is for the profession to decide whether or not to endorse the agreement reached by their negotiators. But if they do not, 1 would feel bound to ensure that the Government's objectives were still achieved. I would therefore have to re-examine the various elements of the agreement before laying regulations before Parliament and determining the contents of the statement of fees and allowances. Between them these documents will secure better services for patients, relate pay to performance

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what medical help the Government are providing for the victims of the oil gas pipeline-train disaster in the Soviet Union.

The British Government have both offered, and responded to requests for assistance from the Soviet Union. We have already dispatched £64,000 worth of medical equipment.In addition, an official request was received yesterday from the Soviet embassy in London and the Soviet Ministry of Health for a team of British specialists to fly out to the Soviet Union to advise and help with the treatment of the patients.A British team of three burns and plastic surgery specialists, together with a renal dialysis expert, a nurse and technician with dialysis equipment is on its way today to the Soviet Union.We have offered to take a number of burns cases, but no request has so far been received from the Soviet authorities. Voluntary organisations in Britain are also offering their assistance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what amounts and what percentages of (a) budgeting loans and (b) community care grants were awarded to each of the 15 client groups defined by his Department for each of the three offices serving the Leyton constituency for the financial year 1988–89.

Estimates based on the data on client groups for the period June 1988 to March 1989 are shown in the table. The totals of the amounts awarded are provisional estimates for 1988–89.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the social fund monthly budget profiles in respect of loans and grants as a percentage of the total annual budget in respect of his local offices at Eston, Hartlepool, Middlesborough and Stockton.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will publish a table showing (a) the numbers of claimants of all supplementary benefits, (b) the numbers of claimants of supplementary pensions, (c) the numbers of claimants of supplementary allowances and (d) the numbers of claimants of supplementary benefits required to be available for work, in respect of his Department's local offices at Eston, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Stockton each April 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985 and 1987;

Details showing the monthly anticipated level of expenditure for the period April 1989 to March 1990 as a percentage of the total annual budget for each of the offices are given in the table.Details of the national anticipated level of expenditure are available in the Library.(2) if he will publish a table showing

The information is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish information relating to the estimated numbers of claimants of family income supplement in Cleveland in 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985 and 1987, along with any estimates of families entitled to but not claiming family income supplement in Cleveland during those years.

We do not collect such information on a local basis.

To ask the Attorney-General what documentation and advice has been recently sent to adjudicators and members of the immigration appeals tribunal by the Lord Chancellor's Department or any other branch of the Laws Officers Departments arising from judgments on cases involving marriage; and if he will make a statement.

The Treasury Solicitor acts as solicitor to the independent immigration appellate authorities established under the Immigration Act 1971 and represents the immigration appeal tribunal when its decisions are challenged on judicial review.In December 1988 the Treasury Solicitor so acted for the immigration appeal tribunal in a case, R.

To ask the Attorney-General if the Lord Chancellor will have inquires made into the background to the recent proceedings involving endangered species legislation and consider the implications of the judge's comments.

This would not be an appropriate course of action for the Lord Chancellor to take.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to the defence implications of the Soviet proposal to thin out front line forces in Europe.

Reductions in the Warsaw pact's massive concentrations of forces in Europe would be very welcome. However, their current zonal proposals would make it very difficult to sustain NATO's strategy of forward defence. Nevertheless, we are studying them with care.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the extent in the delay of the contract awarded to AVIMO for the procurement of the TOGS sighting system for main battle tanks; and if any penalty clauses have been put into operation.

Deliveries are some months behind schedule and we shall be seeking redress under the terms of the contract.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many schools have been removed from the list of those approved for the education of service personnel on his Department's grant within the last five years; and if he will give reasons for these decisions in each case;(2) how often officials from his Department visit independent schools where children of service personnel are educated with the assistance of his Department's grants; what criteria are used before including such a school on the approved list; how often further visits are made to ensure the school is providing a proper academic education and the right moral and social guidance; and what store is placed on the result of any of Her Majesty's inspectors reports on such schools;(3) what steps his Department takes to satisfy itself that a private school is a fit place for the children of service men to be sent under grant; how many schools are on the approved list; and if he will list them.

Boarding school allowance is payable to service parents who are eligible for all schools which are registered with the Department of Education and which offer a standard of education which is comparable to that obtainable within the state system. In addition, the school authority or local education authority must manage, control and wholly maintain the boarding facilities.Although the Ministry of Defence maintains an internal record of those boarding schools which parents are currently using, and which satisfy the above criteria, this is not a comprehensive list of approved schools for BSA purposes. All schools which satisfy the basic criteria may qualify for BSA. Schools fail to qualify for BSA purposes only if they no longer meet the criteria or when they close. There is no centrally kept record of the changes in the pattern of usage over the last five years but indications are that these would have been almost entirely as a result of schools closing or ceasing to offer the necessary general education, or, conversely, as a result of the appearance of newly established or expanded schools. The choice of a particular school is a matter for the parents. However, the Service Children's Education Authority will on request assist parents in making their decisions. The SCEA visits many boarding schools on an ad hoc basis in order to be able to advise parents on matters of school facilities and curriculum. In giving such advice SCEA also takes account of any relevant Her Majesty's inspector's reports. Alternatively, service parents like any others are free to consult local education authorities, ISIS or any other appropriate advisory body.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to what plans the Ordnance Survey has (a) to extend the outdoor leisure map series, (b) to issue a second series of outdoor leisure map of Snowdonia, Conwy valley and (c) to use water resistant paper for any other sheets in the series beyond the one for Ben Nevis.

Ordnance Survey is continually reviewing its range of maps and services to ensure that the needs of the market are met within the resources available and that the required return on investment is achieved. The outdoor leisure map series is no exception to this and any change in specification on coverage will be dictated by these marketing principles.At the moment there are no firm plans to extend the range of outdoor leisure maps but a number of new opportunities are under active consideration. These include the option for publication of a combined Snowdon-Conwy valley map and publishing more Mountainmaster maps of popular climbing areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidelines he follows in determining which journalists are invited to press briefings by his Department.

This depends upon the matter under discussion.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to strengthen the law and penalties relating to trade in endangered species following the United Kingdom's first case under the convention; and if he will make a statement.

Trade in endangered species is already strictly controlled within the United Kingdom under EC Regulations 3626/82 and 3418/83, which implement the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora throughout the European Community. Adequate provisions for enforcing the EC regulations already exist under the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 and The Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations 1985 (SI 1985 No. 1155). There have been many prosecutions for import-export offences under the 1979 Act, most of which have been successful.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action his Department is taking to protect rare species of orchids from extinction by smuggling activities based in the United Kingdom.

The Department complies fully with the requirements of EC Regulations (3626/82 and 3418/83) implementing the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora within the United Kingdom when considering applications for import/export permits. Enforcement of the import/ export controls at the points of entry is the responsibility of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what international co-operation exists between Governments on the protection of endangered species of orchids; and what steps he is taking to improve this.

International trade in orchids is strictly controlled under the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora, to which the United Kingdom and over 100 other countries are party. The EC Regulations (3626/82 and 3418/83) implementing CITES within the European Community already impose more stringent controls on many species of orchids than the convention requires.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department's advice to local authorities on the provision of low cost housing in rural areas is related to such areas located within the green belt.

[holding answer 25 May 1989]: My February statement on 3 February at column 433 did not alter the general presumption against inappropriate development in the green belts. Green belt policy remains as stated in planning policy guidance note 2.Most green belt areas are by their nature close to the main conurbations, and conditions are not typical of the generality of rural areas to which the statement was addressed. Special considerations may, however, arise in some of the more extensive areas of green belt away from the urban fringe, particularly in areas where there are many small settlements and it may not be practicable or appropriate to define green belt boundaries around each one.In some of these areas local planning policies already recognise that very limited development within existing settlements may be acceptable and consistent with the function of the green belt. It is for local planning authorities to judge whether low-cost housing development for local community needs would fall within the scope of such policies.The release, exceptionally, for small-scale, low-cost housing schemes of other sites, within existing settlements which would not normally be considered for development under such policies would again be a matter for the judgment of the planning authority, having regard to all material considerations, including the objectives of green belt policy and the evidence of local need. As I made clear in my previous statement, where sites are released for low cost housing as an exception to normal policies of restraint, it will be essential for the planning authority to satisfy itself as to the adequacy of arrangements to reserve the housing in question for local needs, both initially and on subsequent change of occupant.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on statements made by Spanish Government officials concerning conflicts between British and Spanish police accounts of circumstances surrounding the Gibraltar shootings; and if he will make a statement.

The Spanish Government have assured us that the only authentic account by a Spanish official of the events in question is that of Inspector Rayo of 8 August 1988, a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House of Commons on 9 May. No other statement by an official has any validity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement about relationships between the Governments of the United Kingdom and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

In the last four years there has been a major improvement in Anglo-Soviet relations. We have developed a worthwhile and substantive high-level political dialogue. Contacts of all sorts have expanded rapidly, helping to break down the barriers of misunderstanding and distrust. But the recent expulsions have shown that there is still a long way to go before our relations with the Soviet Union reach the level of stability and mutual trust to which we aspire.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many United Kingdom citizens were helped in Spain last year by consular officials.

In 1988, Her Majesty's diplomatic and consular posts in Spain received over 119,000 visitors and received and made over 189,000 telephone calls. A large proportion of the visits and telephone calls were in connection with consular work.Our records, which do not fully reflect all the assistance given to British citizens, show the following:

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

We would like to develop fuller relations with the German Democratic Republic, but this would depend greatly upon progress in that country's fulfilment of its CSCE commitments, particularly on human rights. We shall continue to encourage such progress.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on any diplomatic efforts his Department are pursuing to secure the release of Nelson Mandela.

We continue to urge the South African Government to release, immediately and unconditionally, Mr. Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what level of funding the British Broadcasting Corporation world service has received in real terms in each of the last 15 years.

The total grants-in-aid of the BBC world service in the last 15 years, expressed in cash terms and at 1988–89 prices were as follows: