To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any information regarding the storage of (i) Paveway II and (ii) Paveway III laser-guided bombs in the United Kingdom by the United States Air Force.

I understand that the 48th tactical fighter wing at RAF Lakenheath is currently the only United States formation in the United Kingdom whose aircraft are equipped with laser-guided bombs. It is not our practice to release information concerning the storage of weapons at particular locations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to discuss with the United States Secretary for Defence the future deployment into the United Kingdom of United States Air Force air-superiority fighters and long-range air-lifters capable of sustaining an air-portable reinforcement policy, instead of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's current large-scale American ground forces.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Army unit was used recently to test the security systems at AWE Aldermaston.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the calculation of the additional refuse collection charge for mixed hereditaments following the introduction of the community charge.

The introduction of the community charge should have no effect on the calculation of the refuse collection charge for mixed hereditaments. Local authorities will continue to be able to recover a reasonable charge for dealing with such waste, making due allowance for its domestic content.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give estimates on the basis of assumptions on which his draft revenue support grant distribution report (England) is based of (a) the average long-run poll tax, (b) the average poll tax with safety nets and special grants and (c) the average rate bill per adult for 1989–90 plus 4 per cent. for each county and metropolitan area, and for each region, showing outer London, inner London and the rest of the south-east separately.

[holding answer 28 November 1989]: The information requested has been placed in the Library. The figures are consistent with the exemplifications in the consultation paper which my right hon. Friend issued on 6 November.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether any guidelines have been issued to local authorities concerning the establishment of bottle banks.

[holding answer 28 November 1989]: No formal guidelines have been issued to local authorities concerning the establishment of bottle banks. The Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee has issued a guide to the provision of bottle banks, and the glass industry, through the main companies involved in glass recycling, and the British Glass Manufacturers' Association offers extensive advice to local authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the estimated cost of the loans scheme in the years 2000, 2005 and 2010.

On the assumptions made in the White Paper "Top-up Loans for Students" Cm. 520, the estimated net cost of the scheme is some £13 million in 2000; in 2005 there is estimated to be a net saving of some £37 million rising to some £49 million in 2010. For the estimated cost of the scheme on different assumptions I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Oxford, East (Mr. Smith) on 2 November 1989 at columns 53–74ֵ

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what would be the estimated cost of abolishing means-tested grants and the paying of full grant to all students in full-time advanced education.

The cost of abolishing means-testing under the existing mandatory awards system would be approximately £400 million in the current academic year. The cost of extending non-means tested maintenance grant to all full-time higher education students, other than postgraduates, would be of the order of a further £60 to 90 million per annum.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what response he has made to the letter from the head teacher of Southwark junior school, Old Basford, Nottingham.

My right hon. Friend received a letter from Miss E. M. Howse, the head teacher of Southwark junior school, Old Basford on 16 November 1989. A reply will be sent shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what figures he has for how many cases of suspected child abuse were reported by teachers in the years 1987–88 and 1988–89.

Such figures are not centrally available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the prison workshops at each London prison that are working and the number of inmates employed in such workshops as at 20 November.

A total of 413 inmates were employed on 20 November as follows:

Workshops	Inmates employed
Holloway
Textiles	12
Pentonville
Tailoring	43
Contract services	35
Wandsworth
Laundry	79
Heavy textiles	60
Brushmaking	30
Contract services	26
Tailoring	25
Textiles	22
Woodwork (joinery)	15
Wormwood Scrubs
Engineering (3 shops)	44
Tailoring	11
Central cutting unit	11

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will call for a report from the governor of Wakefield prison as to why Mr. John Michael Dunn is being held in hospital in conditions of security less stringent than those applied to his imprisonment;(2) if the implementation of fresh start has resulted in changed procedures or practice relating to the security arrangements for prisoners serving life sentences who are temporarily admitted to hospital;(3) what guidance he issues to prison governors with regard to the security of prisoners serving life sentences who are temporarily admitted to hospital.

In determining the precise arrangements to be made when a prisoner has to be taken out of prison in order to receive hospital treatment the governor acts within guidance which emphasises the need to have full regard to security requirements in the particular case. "Fresh Start" has not altered this requirement. I understand that in the case to which the hon. Member refers, the governor's decisions while the prisoner was in hospital were based entirely upon consideration of the needs of security and that he has explained the circumstances fully to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the present position of the Government with regard to section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966.

I am presently considering the scrutiny report with a view to ensuring that section 11 grant meets more effectively the needs of the ethnic minorities. I hope to be in a position to announce the results of that consideration in the not too distant future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road accidents involving under-age drivers occurred in the Bolton area during each of the past three years; and how many fatalities resulted from such accidents.

The information requested is given in the table.

Accidents involving under-age drivers Bolton district council area 1986 to 1988
Year	Number of accidents	Number of fatalities
1986	28	0
1987	21	1
1988	26	0

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will appoint consultants to recommend a route for the proposed Ormskirk bypass on the A59; and if he will make a statement.

I expect to invite competitive bids from consultants for this scheme early next year; and to seek the public's views on possible routes within two years of appointing a consultant.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions since May 1979 legislative changes have been introduced in arrangements for the road and rail transport of toxic and inflammable chemicals arising from reviews of the rules in place.

Six for road transport. British Rail produces its own conditions of acceptance which are broadly in line with existing international provisions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to change regulations governing driving tests and licences; and if he will make a statement.

There are a number of issues currently under consideration which will require changes to driver testing and licensing regulations. These are: the first EC directive on driver licensing which was the first stage bringing driver licensing and testing into line and introduced a Community driving licence; the second EC directive which will harmonise driver licensing and testing throughout the Community; and the White Paper "The Road User and the Law" (Cm. 576) which proposed compulsory re-testing of offenders. Copies of these documents, and consultation papers issued about them, have been placed in the Library.We are about to consult on the detailed regulations needed to meet our obligations under the first directive, and to pave the way for the introduction of the more acceptable provisions in the second directive which is still to be negotiated.We are also about to consult on the detailed proposals for the introduction of compulsory training for all new riders of motorcycles and mopeds under the Road Traffic (Driver Licensing and Information Systems) Act 1989. This will replace part I of the current two-part motorcycle test.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what effect the deregulation has had on the levels of bus patronage.

Between 1985–86 and 1988–89, there was a 10 per cent. fall in the number of passengers carried on local bus services outside London, in line with the long-term historic decline. However, real costs per vehicle mile fell by 30 per cent. over the same period, enabling operators to increase mileage by 18 per cent., reversing the long-term trend of declining service levels.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he is taking to reduce the amount of freight carried by road.

The volume of freight carried by road is a reflection of the lorry's flexibility in terms of goods carried, destinations reached and the timing and planning of journeys. It is for Government to ensure that fair conditions for competition exist between the different modes of transport; but customers must then be free to choose for themselves. Where the transfer of goods from road to rail or inland waterway is shown to provide clear and worthwhile environmental benefits, grants may be paid.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many lives have been lost in accidents on unlit stretches of motorway in the last 10 years.

During the last 10 years, a total of 634 people died as a result of road accidents on unlit sections of motorway during the hours of darkness.In greater detail, the requested information is as follows:

Number of fatalities on unlit sections of motorway
	Unlit
Year	Daytime	Darkness	Lighting present but unlit during hours of darkness	All other conditions	Total
1979	71	60	0	70	201
1980	83	56	1	66	206
1981	100	67	1	55	223
1982	61	62	0	83	206
1983	81	54	0	52	187
1984	72	61	0	78	211
1985	90	70	0	81	241
1986	86	82	1	79	248
1987	122	63	1	97	283
1988	97	59	1	84	241

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many motorway service stations there are on the M25 (a) north of the Thames and (b) south of the Thames; and when he expects more such service stations to be in operation.

There is currently one motorway service area operational on the M25; this is north of the Thames at South Mimms. Three others are proposed. One is under construction at Thurrock just north of the Dartford crossing. It is hoped that it will begin operating next year. Our proposals for services at Clacket lane near Westerham, Kent are well advanced but await the outcome of legal proceedings by one of the landowners affected by the scheme.I recently announced a new search for a suitable site in the western quadrant of the M25; our original proposals for a service area at Iver have been dropped as they were not compatible with proposed widening of the motorway. I will make a further announcement about this in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many serious injuries or deaths are believed to have resulted in the last 10 years from accidents involving learner drivers under supervision of licence holders with less than 12 months' experience.

The information is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the present regulations governing the supervision of learner drivers; and what are the regulations operating in other member states of the European Community.

The present regulations require supervision by a driver who holds a full licence. A number of member states of the European Community allow only professional instruction. In others, there are varying requirements as to the age and experience of the supervisor.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to review the law governing the supervision of learner drivers.

I am reviewing urgently whether there is a case for making changes in the law governing the supervision of learner drivers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many prosecutions his Department brought for illegal discharges of oil from ships in United Kingdom waters between 1978 and 1988.

Figures prior to 1983 are not readily available. Since 1983 no prosecutions have been brought by the Department which until April 1988 had to rely soley on reports by passing ships and aircraft. Because these proved to be insufficient to link slicks positively to particular ships, limited regular air surveillance patrols of United Kingdom waters by a specialist oil detecting aircraft of the Department's marine pollution control unit were then instituted on a trial basis. The development of the conduct of these patrols continues but it is too early to say whether they will lead either to ships being detected in the act of illegal discharge at sea or to successful prosecutions. Evidence of alleged offences in United Kingdom waters by passing non-United Kingdom ships has to be passed to the flag state of the vessel concerned. They cannot be prosecuted by Her Majesty's Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many salvage agreements were entered into for the salvage of Government-owned wrecks and cargoes for the last 10 years for which information is available; and what were the names of the wrecks and cargoes covered by these agreements;(2) how many successful salvage operations were carried out on Government-owned wrecks and cargoes in the last 10 years for which information is available; what were the names of the wrecks and cargoes on which these operations were carried out; and what were the sums accruing to the Government as a result.

[holding answer 30 November 1989]: Information on the total numbers of salvage agreements entered into in the last 10 years is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Those that resulted in successful operations are as follows. The total sum accruing to the Government from these wrecks is £5,884,880.

To ask the Prime Minister what is her estimate of (a) total costs, and (b) numbers employed in (i) the Prime Minister's Department, (ii) the Prime Minister's press office, (iii) remainder of 10 Downing street establishments in the latest available year and the increase in each since 1979.

The total cost of maintaining and running my office in 1988–89 was £6,533,712. However, since 1979 there have been several developments which have affected the way in which the costs are assessed, including:

introduction of charging for aircraft by the Ministry of Defence in 1981–82;

abolition of the CPRS in 1983, and the absorption of some of its staff within the No. 10 policy unit;

introduction of charging for buildings and services by the PSA in 1983–84;

introduction for charging of service personnel at Chequers by the MoD in 1984–85;

changes in the allocation of charges for the Government car service in 1984–85;

inclusion of costs of office services from 1986–87;

inclusion of the cost of redecoration of certain State Rooms and of major and security works in 1988–89.

When the effects of these developments are excluded (as far as it is possible to do so) and the result expressed in constant price terms, the cost has decreased by some 4 per cent. between 1979–80 and 1988–89.The costs of my press office were not recorded separately before 1987–88; in 1988–89 these amounted to £419,326, an increase in constant price terms of 3·4 per cent. over the previous year.The total number of staff in my office at present is 68, including eight in the press office, compared with 71 in 1979.

To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions she has travelled officially on a British Rail train within the past 12 months.

I refer the hon. Member to the Official Report, 27 November 1989, column 92.

To ask the Prime Minister what is the average cost of answering (a) a written and (b) an oral parliamentary question.

[holding reply 30 November 1989]: As many questions have to be transferred, we do not calculate these items specifically here. As a guide, I refer the hon. Member to the Official Report, 14 November 1989, column 172, which sets out average figures for all Government Departments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has as to the number of babies born live after undergoing a prostaglandin abortion after 18 weeks.

The information requested is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of food poisoning in the period for which most recent figures are available were caused by fresh cream or egg products.

In the first three quarters of 1989, 32 outbreaks of food poisoning, comprising 426 known cases, associated with eating egg or egg products were reported to the communicable disease surveillance centre by laboratories and local authorities in England and Wales. Thirty of these were due to salmonella infection. No outbreaks associated with eating cream were recorded.In 1988, 39 outbreaks of food poisoning, comprising 741 known cases, associated with eating egg or egg products were recorded by CDSC. Thirty-five of these were due to salmonella infection. Five outbreaks in the same period comprising 73 known cases, were associated with eating cream, including at least one outbreak associated with eating pasteurised cream. Three of these were due to salmonella infection.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what percentage of pay was overtime in the National Health Service for nurses and midwives in 1960, 1970, 1979, 1983, 1985 and 1989 or the latest date possible;(2) what was the amount paid to nurses and midwives, as a total and as an average salary for 1960, 1970, 1979, 1984 and 1989 or the latest date possible; and what was the average working week in hours for nurses and midwives, for those years.

Such information as is available for nursing and midwifery staff (including unqualified staff) in Great Britain is given in the tables. Pay has increased by some 43 per cent. on average since 1979 and is now at one of its highest-ever levels in real terms. The standard working week (excluding meal times) has been reduced from 44 hours to 42 in 1966, to 40 in 1972, and 37·5 in 1980–81.

Table A
	Gross Paybill1 £ million	Overtime as percentage of Paybill Percentage
1983–84	3,045·0	0·7
1984–85	3,281·0	0·9
1985–86	3,513·2	1·0
1988–89	5,100·7	1·5
1 Excluding London additions and Employers' costs.

Information is not available for earlier years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies have been undertaken on the treatment of medical disorders in a patient's home as an alternative to hospital; what reduction in costs such treatment would result in for the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement.

The "Hospital at Home" scheme managed by Peterborough health authority has been the subject of independent studies published by the King's fund and the Medical Care Research Unit at the University of Sheffield. The Peterborough initiative does not appear to have resulted in significant cost saving.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the census return form he intends to use for the 1991 census.

Facsimiles of the 1991 census forms will be included in the Census Regulations to be laid before Parliament when the Census Order has been made. Copies of "Census Newsletter No. 11", which shows how the proposed questions would look on the census forms, have been placed in the Library and will be made available from the Vote Office before the Census Order is debated.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many general managers at district health authorities are (a) men and (b) women;(2) how many general managers at regional health authorities are

Of the 190 district health authorities in England, 180 are managed by men and 10 by women.Of the 14 regional health authorities in England, 13 are managed by men and one by a woman.

To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement about Ministers' pay.

The salaries of Members of Parliament will increase by £2,594 from 1 January 1990 in accordance with the terms of the resolution of 21 July 1987. In the light of this the Government propose that ministerial salaries should be increased by the same cash amount, which will mean an increase in the ministerial pay bill of 6·5 per cent. The details are set out in the following table and I have today laid the draft Ministerial and Other Salaries Order 1989 to implement these changes.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the current workload of the serious fraud office.

The present caseload of the serious fraud office includes 16 cases where proceedings have been commenced and a further 50 cases are under investigation. Since 1 April 1989 there have been eight trials involving 14 defendants of whom 10 have been convicted on one or more counts. A further seven cases stand listed for trial during the second half of this current year.In tackling this substantial caseload the serious fraud office continues to develop its working practices by means of an extensive training programme, with the emphasis on the introduction of information technology as an aid to investigation and the presentation of evidence. A high priority is afforded to the development of working relationships with other law enforcement agencies and prosecuting authorities both at home and abroad.

To ask the Attorney-General how many magistrates have been removed from the Bench for each year since 1980 for (a) being convicted of a criminal offence and (b) any other reason.

Figures are available from 1984 onwards. Before that time the cost of ascertaining the information required would be excessive.

Justices removed by Lord Chancellor
	On conviction	For other reasons
1984	2	11
1985	2	4
1986	2	5
1987	0	4
1988	2	4
19891	3	4
1 To date.

To ask the Attorney-General whether the Director of Public Prosecutions has taken over the private case in respect of water pollution at Camelford; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The proceedings in question were instituted (on behalf of the Bodmin Angling Association) at a time when police inquiries requested by the Director of Public Prosecutions were still in progress.On 14 October 1989 the Director of Public Prosecutions instituted criminal proceedings for public nuisance and consequently there were in being two separate criminal cases with two different prosecutors but against the same defendant and arising out of the same circumstances. The interests of justice required that the proceedings be amalgamated, and the director used his statutory power accordingly.

To ask the Attorney-General what was the total number of criminal cases heard in (a) magistrates courts, (b) Crown courts and (c) higher courts in 1988.

During 1988 the number of defendants proceeded against in magistrates courts was 1,863,000. In the Crown court 104,773 trials, 12,695 cases for sentence and 15,849 appeals from magistrates courts were disposed of. The Court of Appeal Criminal Division dealt with 8,001 applications and appeals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on his energy policy.

The Government seek to ensure that the United Kingdom has adequate, diverse and secure supplies of energy in the forms that people want at the lowest realistic prices. They aim to achieve this wherever possible by ensuring that energy prices reflect their true economic costs and by subjecting as much of energy supply as is practicable to the operation of market forces, bearing in mind the state's strategic responsibilities for health and safety, the protection of the environment and the elimination of energy waste.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the output of gas being flared off by the energy industry for the last year for which he has figures.

My Department has responsibility for controlling and monitoring gas flared from producing oilfields in the United Kingdom continental shelf.Details of the amounts of gas flared are published in my Department's annual report to Parliament (the Brown Book).

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what plans he has to introduce legislation to encourage energy efficiency.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 22 November to my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Hannam), at column 8.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what consideration he has given to the likely effect on gas imports of further gas-fired generating capacity.

I welcome the numerous proposals for gas-fired generating capacity which are now being pursued. Known reserves of UKCS gas are, on present assessment, fully capable of meeting competitively the needs of the United Kingdom gas market, including the power generation sector, for the foreseeable future. I look forward to seeing UKCS producers take up the full range of opportunities open to them within an increasingly competitive gas market.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what is the capital investment in the Selby coalfield; and if he will outline the amount of capital invested over the years, giving each year separately;(2) what is the total capital cost for the provision of waste disposal from the Selby coalfield; and if he will make a statement.

These are matters for the British Coal Corporation, and I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the original estimate of the amount of waste to be produced from the Selby coalfield; what is the total amount of waste up to 31 March; what is the estimated waste to be disposed of in 1989–90 and 1990–91; and if he will make a statement.

The production of waste from the Selby coalfield is the responsibility of British Coal and I am asking the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what advice he has received from the Nature Conservancy Council concerning the proposed Cardiff bay barrage.

The proposal for a Cardiff bay barrage is primarily for the promoters, Cardiff Bay development corporation and South Glamorgan county council, to which the Nature Conservancy Council has made representations. The council has exercised its right to make its views known direct to Parliament by petitioning against the Bill, and these views will be considered in detail at the Select Committee stage. If Parliament approves the Cardiff Bay Barrage Bill the Nature Conservancy Council has confirmed that it will work with the promoters to diminish any detriment to bird life and to develop and conserve flora and fauna in the inland bay and provisions to this end have been included in the Bill.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much money was raised in prescription charges in Wales in each year from 1970–80 to 1987–88; and into what fund these receipts are paid.

Prescription charges, including receipts from the sale of pre-payment certificates, in the family practitioner service in Wales amounted to:

Year	£ million
1979–80	2·9
1980–81	5·0
1981–82	5·8
1982–83	6·4
1983–84	6·8
1984–85	7·2
1985–86	8·0
1986–87	8·5
1987–88	9·5

The prescription charges collected in the family practitioner service in Wales are credited to class XVII, vote 7.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has had from the National Farmers Union in Wales regarding the proposed sheepmeat regime; and if he will make a statement.

I received numerous representations from the National Farmers Union in Wales during negotiations on the reform of the sheepmeat regime.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all schemes, together with their cost, suported by the Welsh Office and the Welsh Development Agency in Tenby in each of the past three financial years.

[holding answer 24 November 1989]: The schemes are shown in the following tables:

1. Regional Assistance
	Value of offers £	Related project cost £
1986–87	100,000	248,000
1987–88	111,000	492,000
198–89	129,000	348,000

Regional assistance includes offers, where made, of regional selective assistance, regional development grant (the revised scheme) and regional enterprise grant.

2. Grants
	Total cost £	Welsh Office grant £
1986–87
Nil	Nil	Nil
1987–88
Paragon and Sluice (Coast protection scheme)	54,824	74,400
1988–89
Housing Enveloping	866,000	866,000

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the total amount of public service obligation grant paid in 1988 to British Rail spent on the railway network in Wales; and what percentage this is of the total grant paid to British Rail.

I have been asked to reply.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the future of the Trawsgoed laboratories.

I have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend, the then Minister, told the House on 21 March 1989 that the MAFF laboratories at Trawsgoed would be reduced in size and that alternative uses for the Trawsgoed analytical chemistry laboratory were being sought. Discussions with interested parties are continuing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to release sufficient funds to enable the National Subtitling Library for Deaf People to maximise the benefit of recording, subtitling and distributing broadcast material for the deaf.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if Her Majesty's Government will provide funds to the National Subtitling Library for Deaf People; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 29 November 1989]: The Department of Health may award grants to voluntary organisations in the health and social services field under section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968. All applications for Section 64 grants are considered very carefully and awards are made to those which meet the relevant criteria, subject to the funding available in a particular year. It is open to the National Subtitling Library for Deaf People to apply for a grant under these arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what statistics are held by his Department on the numbers of homeless who are in receipt of benefit other than income support.

I regret that the information is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many single parents claiming benefit he estimates will benefit financially from the increase in earnings disregard from £15 to £25; and if he will make a statement.

We estimate that around 50,000 lone parents on housing benefit and/or community charge benefit will gain financially from the increase in the earnings disregard from October 1990. In addition we estimate that a further 15,000 lone parents will float on to benefit as a result of the increase. This will provide particular help to lone parents who are working and riot receiving income support.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has anything to add to his reply of 27 November to the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) Official Report, column 428, concerning the date when invalid care allowance was introduced.

Invalid care allowance was introduced on 5 July 1976.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will place in the Library all communications between the then Governor of Hong Kong, the late Sir Edward Youde, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office which occurred between 30 November 1985 and 1 June 1987 on the subject of the request, from the then Governor of Hong Kong, to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for the extradition of Lorrain Osman and Dato Hashim Shamsuddin;(2) if he will place in the Library all communications between the then High Commissioner in Malaysia, Mr. D. H. Gilmore CMG, and his Department which occurred between 30 November 1985 and 1 June 1987 on the subject of the request, from the then Governor of Hong Kong, the late Sir Edward Youde, to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for the extradition of Lorrain Osman and Dato Hashim Shamsuddin;(3) if he will obtain and place in the Library copies of all communications between the then High Commissioner in Malaysia, Mr. D. H. Gilmore CMG, and the then Governor of Hong Kong, the late Sir Edward Youde, which occurred between 30 November 1985 and 1 June 1987 on the subject of the request, from the Governor of Hong Kong, the late Sir Edward Youde, to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for the extradition of Lorrain Osman and Dato Hashim Shamsuddin.

No. This matter is currently sub judice.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the level of aid at present being directed to refugee camps in the Gaza strip and the Israeli-occupied territories of the West Bank.

British assistance for refugees in the Gaza Strip and the occupied territories is channelled through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). Details of British and other donors' contributions to UNRWA were provided in the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to the hon. Member for Bournemouth, East (Mr. Atkinson) on 30 November at column 417.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the position taken by the Government in their vote with the consensus on United Nation General Assembly resolution 43/61 in December 1988 remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

Our agreement to join consensus adoption of UN General Assembly resolution 43/61 reflects our support for its broad aims, rather than a detailed expression of our policy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any recent reviews have been undertaken by his Department as to the procedures relating to security clearance of diplomatic baggage; and if he will make a statement.

In consultation with the Department of Transport, we recently reviewed security measures at United Kingdom airports. As a result, all diplomats going airside are now liable to be asked to submit to search. This includes their baggage. Diplomatic bags are not subject to search of any kind.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he raised the issue of human rights in South Korea during his meeting with President Roh Tae Woo.

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, in her talks with President Roh on 28 November, encouraged him to continue to make progress with domestic political reform.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each region the earnings of the highest decile for full-time male manual and non-manual workers in April 1989, together with the percentage increase since 1979.

Information for the years in question is published in part E table 116 of the 1979 and 1989 "New Earnings Survey" reports. Copies of the reports are in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement about trends in the level of unemployment in Hendon, South during the past six years.

In October 1989 there were 1,354 unemployed claimants in the parliamentary constituency of Hendon, South. This compares with 2,723 in October 1983, a fall of 1,369 or 50·3 per cent. over six years. The comparison is affected by the change in the compilation of the unemployment count in March 1986 to reduce over-recording and by the change in benefit regulations affecting under 18-year-olds in September 1988.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the average unemployment figures for Cleveland for 1988; and what were the average unemployment figures for 1978.

In 1988 the average monthly number of claimants unemployed in Cleveland was 3,367 compared with the number of registrants which was 4,461 in 1978. The figures are affected by changes in the coverage of the unemployment count.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the United Kingdom work force, split between men and women, is in employment; and what is the average for the European Community.

In 1987, the latest date for which comparable information for all European Community countries is available, 87 per cent. of men and 97 per cent. of women in the work force were in employment. This compares with 90 per cent. of men and 87 per cent. of women in the European Community as a whole.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the average number of years between visits by factory inspectors to manufacturing premises in Yorkshire and Humberside; and if he will make a statement.

An average figure would not be meaningful, given the differing purposes for which visits are made, and the wide variety of manufacturing premises. The information is not therefore collected as part of the Health and Safety Executive's monitoring systems.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many factory and agriculture inspectors were in post on the latest available date.

On 1 November 1989, the latest date for which figures are available, 631 factory inspectors and 170 agricultural inspectors were in post in the Health and Safety Executive.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the proportion of mothers with children aged between two years and five years old who work in (a) part-time and (b) full-time work for the latest year for which figures are available.

Among women in Great Britain whose youngest dependent child was aged at least two years but under 11 it is estimated, using information from the "Labour Force Survey," that in spring 1988 just over 31 per cent. were in part-time employment and about 12 per cent. were in full-time employment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of mothers with children aged five years old to 11 years old is in (a) part-time and (b) full-time education for the latest year for which figures are available.

Among women in Great Britain whose youngest dependent child was aged at least five years but under 11 it is estimated, using information from the "Labour Force Survey," that in spring 1988 about 31 per cent. were undertaking part-time education and just over 1 per cent. were undertaking full-time education.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what declaration as to their continuing obligations under the Official Secrets Act will have to be signed by the present staff of the Training Agency in the event of that being transferred to the private sector.

All civil servants leaving Government employment are reminded that they remain subject to the provisions of the Official Secrets Act and are asked to sign a declaration to this effect.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what declaration as to their continuing obligations under the Official Secrets Act was signed by those civil servants, formerly employed by his Department, who have transferred, along with functions, to the private sector; what monitoring procedures exist to see that the provisions of that declaration are maintained; and whether those who have transferred are permitted to use the records originally compiled under the rules of confidentiality relating to information held by the Civil Service.

All employees of the Department are required to sign a declaration that they will not disclose official secrets both when they join and on leaving. The declaration summarises the provisions of the Official Secrets Act 1911 as amended by the Official Secrets Act 1920. These provisions apply both during their appointment to a Government Department and after that appointment has ceased.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many (a) prosecutions and (b) warnings of possible prosecutions there have been since 1979 of firms failing to comply with legislation on the employment of disabled people.

There have been no prosecutions under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 since 1979. Information relating to warnings of possible prosecutions is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many area managers in the employment service have had experience of working in areas of the service concerned with the employment of disabled people; and what proportion this is of the total.

All area managers in the employment service, a total of 71, have a direct line management responsibility for managing the day-to-day operations of an area office-based disablement advisory service team. As such, they are required to be fully acquainted with all the employment service disablement operations and programmes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many disablement resettlement officers there are in the employment service; and what has been the percentage change since 1979.

In April 1989, 488 members of staff in the employment service were undertaking disablement resettlement officer duties, of whom 333 were doing so full-time. I regret that comparable figures are not available for previous years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many technical officers work in the employment service giving advice to disablement resettlement officers; and what has been the percentage change since 1979.

In 1979, there were 13 technical officers working in the employment service giving advice to disablement resettlement officers. There is currently a cadre of 17 (an increase of 31 per cent.).

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to raise the status of work for disabled people in the employment service and to give it greater priority.

People with disabilities are already one of the main priority groups for assistance from the Employment Department. A comprehensive network of services is available to help people with disabilities find and retain jobs through advice, assessment, rehabilitation and training; and in the case of people with severe disabilities, support in the form of sheltered employment.My Department is currently reviewing the full range of services for people with disabilities, and a consultative document covering the conclusions of the review will be published as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to ensure that applicants for senior positions in employment service are required to have had some experience of working in areas concerned with the employment of disabled people.

It is not always possible or indeed appropriate to fill all senior positions in the employment service with applicants who have had experience of working with some aspect of disablement services. Many in-service applicants from the employment service field network, or disablement specialists from employment service head office, will have had past experience; it is very unlikely that this would be the case for external candidates.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what central guidance is given regarding the issuing of permits which allow firms to take on able-bodied workers when they are not filling their quota of disabled workers.

Instructions issued to disablement resettlement officers require them to consider the availability of suitable registered disabled people, and the degree of commitment shown by employers towards meeting their obligations under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the annual turnover of disablement resettlement officers.

Details on the annual turnover of disablement resettlement officers are not readily available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the policy of his Department regarding prosecution of firms who do not comply with legislation on the employment of disabled people.