To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list by year for the last five years, the economic development that has been made available in South Yorkshire by (a) the EEC and (b) by central Government.

The question as drafted calls for a major exercise of economic impact assessment which could only be provided at disproportionate cost. The hon. Member may have a more specific query in mind, in which case he may wish to rephrase the question.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list, in a manner consistent with the reply to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) of 31 March 1988, Official Report, columns 604–6, for each privatisation

Company	Date of sale	Government Merchant Bank Adviser	Government Broker	Reporting Accountant	Advertising Agency	Solicitors
				(Joint appointment unless otherwise stated)
Professional and Executive recruitment	1988	Lloyds	—	Coopers and Lybrand	—	Field, Fisher Martineau
Rover Group	1988	Barings Brothers	—	—	—	Slaughter and May
British Steel	1988	Samuel Montagu	Rowe and Pitman	Coopers and Lybrand	Saatchi and Saatchi	Norton Rose
General Practice Finance Corporation	1988	Hambros	—	Peat, Marwick McLintock	—	McKenna and Company
Harland and Woolff	1989	Lazards	—	—	—	Lovell White Durrant
Short Brothers	1989	Kleinwort Benson	—	Deloitte Haskins ad Sells	—	Norton Rose
Water Companies	1989	Schroders	Rowe and Pitman	Touche Ross1	Collett Dickenson Pearce	Clifford Chance
Skills Training Agency	1990	Deloitte Corporate Finance	—	Deloitte Haskins and Sells	—	Field, Fisher Waterhouse

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the formula used to calculate Northern Ireland's attributed share of United Kingdom taxes.

The ways in which certain taxes are collected means that, for Northern Ireland, a share of the revenue yield must be attributed by applying a set formula. These are set out in Statutory Instruments 1975/1313, 1977/1879, 1983/1599 and 1988/1667, made under section 15 of the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973.

The Government's merchant bank advisers, brokers and solicitors in each privatisation 1987 are listed below. Reporting accountants and advertising agencies employed in the sales were usually joint appointments with the company, and are also listed. In addition, a number of sales of subsidiaries were carried out by nationalised industries. Details of the advisers for these sales are not held centrally.In each of the privatisations the appointment of merchant bank advisers, brokers and advertising agencies was subject to competition.The appointment of reporting accounts was subject to competition in all except two of the cases listed. In the case of Short Brothers the company's auditors were appointed without obtaining alternative tenders, to take advantage of their existing knowledge as this was expected to give rise to worthwhile savings in terms of time and costs. In the case of the Skills Training Agency, Deloitte, Haskins and Sells were appointed on a single tender basis, following the appointment of Deloitte Corporate Finance as merchant bank advisers. In each case a competitive rate was negotiated.The appointment of solicitors was subject to competition in all cases except Rover, where Slaughter and May were appointed jointly with Barings Brothers.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates were used by the Inland Revenue in concluding in paragraph 9 of a press release of 20 March, entitled "Oil Taxation", that the longer-term revenue effects of the taxation charges discussed in the press release are expected to be broadly revenue-neutral overall.

Costings of this sort, involving many projections well into the future, are inevitably extremely uncertain. Estimates of abandonment expenditure are based on surveys of industry intentions. The revenue effects of the measures referred to in this part of the press release also depend on a wide range of other assumptions, such as about oil prices and production levels and about other expenditure.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the longer-term annual revenue effects of the measures proposed in (a) clause 52 and clause 53, (b) clause 54, (c) clause 55 and clause 56, (d) clause 96 and (e) clause 97 of the Finance Bill.

I have nothing to add to the aggregate estimates in the annex to chapter 4 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1990–91 and, as far as clauses 55 and 56 are concerned, in the 22 January 1990 Inland Revenue press release entitled, "North Sea Oil—Restriction of Capital Losses".

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest available figures for (1) annual and (2) total direct foreign investment in the United States by (a) Great Britain, (b) Japan, (c) the Netherlands, (d) West Germany and (e) France.

[holding answer 1 May 1990]: Information is published by the Central Statistical Office on United Kingdom outward foreign direct investment by United Kingdom companies in the United States. Figures are also published by the United States Department of Commerce on inward foreign direct investment into the United States by a number of countries. Because of differences in coverage, country attribution, accounting practices and methods of compilation, figures for United Kingdom direct investment in the United States from these two sources will not correspond. The latest available information from both sources is as follows:

United Kingdom information
United Kingdom direct investment in the United States	Net outflow 1988	Book value of investment end-1987
£ million	9,854	30,635
(equivalent to $ million)	(17,536)	(57,808)

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, following the meeting of the 12 Finance Ministers in Galway on 31 March and 1 April, what proposals have been made for the timetable of introducing phase 2 and phase 3 of European monetary union.

[holding answer 3 May 1990]: No such proposals have been made. It was agreed at the special meeting of the European Council on 28 April that the preparations for an intergovernmental conference on economic and monetary union which will begin in December this year should be intensified with the objective of finishing the work of that conference in time to permit ratification of the results before the end of 1992. It is too early to say how feasible such a target will be.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what responsibilities he has in respect of the level and type of academic research carried out by the British Museum (Natural History); and if he will make a statement.

The day-to-day running of the Natural History museum, and decisions on the museum's research programme, are matters for the director and trustees of the museum.I understand, however, that the Natural History museum fully intends to continue to undertake a wide range of academic research work, but that it plans to concentrate research effort primarily into important scientific programmes relevant to contemporary needs and issues such as the environment and human health.

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service in 1989 what percentages of successful applicants for the Civil Service administration trainee direct entry scheme were (a) educated at Oxford and Cambridge, (b) arts graduates and (c) attended fee-paying schools.

Of the 65 candidates recommended for appointment as administration trainees/higher executive officers (development), 55 per cent. were educated at either Oxford or Cambridge and 56 per cent. were arts graduates. The identity of schools attended by candidates is not recorded for statistical or other purposes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will obtain for his Departmental library a copy of the Consumers Association's report on British Rail services dated March 1990; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend received a copy of the Consumers Association's report on 1 March. He will be meeting representatives of the Consumers Association on 24 May to discuss the article.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which driving test centres had (a) the 10 highest percentage pass rates and (b) the 10 lowest percentage pass rates per annum for each of the last five years; and how many people these figures represent.

It is not the Department's policy to publish comparative pass rates for test centres.

	1985	1986	1987	1987–88	1988–89
North Eastern (Newcastle)	47	49	51	55	54
North Eastern (Leeds)	46	46	48	48	51
North Western	50	50	52	54	54
West Midland	48	47	49	48	49
Eastern (Nottingham)	50	50	51	51	52
Eastern (Cambridge)	47	48	50	51	53
South Wales	49	50	50	51	53
Western	51	51	52	52	54
South Eastern	49	48	49	50	51
Scotland	50	50	53	53	54
Metropolitan	47	47	48	50	50
National average	49	49	50	51	52

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will review procedures for dealing with complaints from those whose personal environment has been badly affected by noise from new motorways.

I am satisfied with the procedures for dealing with complaints from those affected by noise from new motorways and that the Department handles these complaints sympathetically.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will outline his Department's policy on the provision of ribbed edgelines on motorways;(2) what regional differences of policy exist in his Department on the provision of ribbed edgelines on motorways to reduce the number of accidents on motorway hard shoulders;(3) what plans he has to introduce ribbed edgelines onto all motorways in the United Kingdom as standard carriageway markings.

The Department has encouraged the use of ribbed edgemarkings on motorways since 1987 following experience earlier on. The extent of installation in each region is influenced by the need for replacement and maintenance of existing lining systems. We are shortly to offer advice to English regional offices which should encourage further installation of ribbed edgemarkings on motorways and appropriate all-purpose dual carriageway trunk roads.It is our intention to include these markings in our consultation document on the traffic signs regulations and general directions, due to be circulated in the early autumn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the success of experimental schemes to fit ribbed edgelines on motorways in reducing the number of accidents on motorway hard shoulders.

The Transport and Road Research Laboratory is encouraged by the results of earlier experience and trials conducted so far. On the basis of the available evidence it is not possible to establish the likely balance of costs and benefits across the network as a whole. Conclusive research would take many years to yield results. Operationally these lines appear to offer benefits in terms of enhancing visibility and driver awareness of the edge of the carriageway. Both these factors help to reduce the risk of accidents.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he proposes to create any new categories of driving offences.

Our proposals for the reform of road traffic law are set out in the White Paper, "The Road User and the Law" (Cm. 576). These include the creation of a new offence of

"causing death by careless driving while unfit through drink or drugs"

and the reformulation of the reckless driving offences.Legislation to implement these proposals will be introduced at the earliest opportunity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his approval was required for the exemption given to the helicopter companies operating over the North sea from the new rules against excessive fatigue for pilots.

The statutory responsibility for the safety regulation of United Kingdom civil aviation rests with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). I understand that of the 540 pilots employed on offshore helicopter operations on 1 May 1990, the date of the new requirements, 10 were in excess of the new limit of 800 hours flying time in any 12-month period. Of these, the highest had completed 835 hours and was inside the old limit of 900 hours maximum.In order to avoid grounding these pilots for approximately three months, the authority has issued exemptions valid until the end of August 1990 when all 10 will be within the new reduced maximum 12-monthly flying hours limit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with British Rail and the developers of the King's Cross site about the choice of the London terminal for the channel tunnel rail link.

The choice of preferred location for the second London terminal for channel tunnel rail services was made by British Rail. My approval to British Rail's investment plans for the station will be required before they can proceed. The terms of the agreement with the developers and other land owners are a matter for British Rail; but this Department has had discussions with British Rail and the developers on the implications for the road and public transport networks in the King's Cross area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give a geographical breakdown of the traffic forecasts which have produced the average estimates for 2025 of 83 per cent. to 142 per cent. increase in road traffic.

The national road traffic forecasts 1989 (NRTF) apply to Great Britain as a whole. Local forecasts, consistent with the NRTF, are made where necessary when particular problems and improvements are considered. These forecasts take into account local differences and can be lower or higher than the national forecast.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the closure of the Circle line at Liverpool Street station on Wednesday 2 May.

London Underground Ltd (LUL) tell me that Liverpool Street Underground Station was closed and evacuated on Wednesday 2 May between 09.45 and 10·20 whilst the London fire brigade attended following a report of smoke. The current was discharged to allow the firemen on to the track. The cause of the smoke was found to be burning paper, probably ignited by a train "arcing". The fire brigade extinguished the burning paper, the "all clear" was given and the station was reopened.I understand that LUL is currently carrying out a programme of improved cleaning measures, in particular, to remove litter from the track. It is also looking of eliminating or minimising arcing of trains.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fires have been reported on London underground in each of the last 12 months; for how many the fire brigade was in attendance; and how many required evacuation of the premises.

London Underground Ltd. (LUL) tells me that the latest 12-month period for which details of fires are available is April 1989 to March 1990. The record consists of four-week periods rather than calendar months. The figures are as follows:

Period	No. of Fires Reported
129.4.89	464
127.5.89	584
124.6.89	456
122.7.89	436
119.8.89	385
116.9.89	398
114.10.89	370
111.11.89	276
19.12.89	393
16.1.90	1259
13.2.90	303
13.3.90	339
131.3.90	424
1 Four weeks ending

The London fire brigade was in attendance at all fires. LUL do not keep records of evacuations of stations as a result of fires, though in 540 cases the train service either did not stop at the station or was suspended, which suggests that the station was evacuated.It was not necessary for LUL to report all fires to the Secretary of State. Those which had to be reported fell into the categories at Schedule 1, Sections 6(d), 6(e), 7(e) and 7(f) of the Railway (Notice of Accidents) Order 1986. This was set out in the answer to the hon. Member on 23 March 1990,

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about his Department's decision not to participate in the Government supply index.

The Department makes use of GSI by sharing facilities with DOE. The driver and vehicle licensing agency in Swansea has its own subscription.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department proposes to introduce legislation to compel heavy goods vehicles to carry first aid kits; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 3 May 1990]: Knowing the right thing to do when serious injury occurs can make the difference between life and death. I welcome the steps taken by responsible employers and by individuals themselves to spread this knowledge. Carrying a first aid kit is something that many road users sensibly already do, but it is no substitute for human common sense and knowledge and I do not propose to make it compulsory.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has concerning the draft code on nuclear waste transboundary transport drawn up by the experts panel of the International Atomic Energy Agency; how the United Kingdom was represented on the experts panel; and how the report will affect current safety regulations for nuclear materials transport in the United Kingdom.

I have been asked to reply.An official of the Department of the Environment attended the meeting of the expert panel which drew up the draft code of practice. Current safety regulations for the transport of all radioactive materials in the United Kingdom comply with the recommendations of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Any proposed changes to these recommendations resulting from the adoption of the code of practice will need to be agreed by the IAEA before they are embodied into United Kingdom law.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what work has been undertaken by the inter-departmental committee on rural re-generation under the chairmanship of the permanent secretary in the Department of Agriculture; and when it will report its findings, proposals and recommendations.

The inter-departmental committee on rural development has been in operation since January 1990. It continues to work to its general remit of preparing advice for Ministers on how best to carry forward action to tackle the social and economic problems in the most deprived rural areas.Discussions have taken place with district councils, the rural action project and the promoters of rural development projects. Following a recommendation from the committee it was agreed to fund the rural action project for a further year to 31 March 1991.The committee will report to Ministers as soon as possible commensurate with a comprehensive review and positive recommendations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the estimated cost of providing the necessary infrastructure in Northern Ireland to ensure maximum availability of natural gas in the main centres of population in Northern Ireland;(2) what is the estimated cost of linking Northern Ireland by pipeline to the national gas grid of Great Britain.

No information is available on these costs which could only be obtained through detailed and expensive financial and technical studies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what evidence exists of the likelihood of natural gas reserves in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) off the coastal areas of Northern Ireland.

Small amounts of natural gas have been encountered in hydrocarbon exploration wells in County Fermanagh but work on enhancing the yields to commercial levels was not considered warranted by the prospecting companies as gas shows were so small. Elsewhere in Northern Ireland some geological features exist which control the formation and accumulation of hydrocarbons but to date exploration has not confirmed the presence of any significant traces of natural gas or oil. Exploration is continuing under three prospecting licences for areas in Co. Antrim.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the nearest identified source of natural gas in Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

Previous studies of the options for the supply of natural gas from Great Britain to Northern Ireland indicated that the most convenient route would be a supply via the west coast of Scotland. The studies also concluded that such a supply would not provide the basis of a viable gas industry for the Province.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether any scientist at the Northern Ireland forensic science laboratory has published articles in peer-reviewed journals on the subject of DNA profiling.

No such articles have been published.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many samples have been taken from how many persons suspected of (a) scheduled offences and (b) non-scheduled offences, distinguishing between (i) samples taken with the consent of the suspect and (ii) samples taken without the consent, and further distinguishing between intimate, and non-intimate, excluding mouth samples, and mouth swabs as defined in schedule 14 to the Criminal Justice Act 1988, under the terms of schedule 14 to the Criminal Justice Act 1988, and subsequently under the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989, since the commencement of schedule 14 to the Criminal Justice Act 1988.

The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will publish in the Official Report the administrative guidelines for records of DNA samples taken from persons acquitted or not proceeded against in Northern Ireland.

Guidance to the police on the identification, by body samples, swabs and impressions, of persons detained under the general criminal law has already been published in the codes of practice issued under the Police and Criminal Evidence (NI) Order 1989 (copies of which are in the Library of the House). Guidance on the identification, by similar means, of persons detained under emergency legislation will be published shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many students in second-level education reached their 19th birthday and completed their courses in each year since 1980.

The information is as follows:

School year	Number of 19-year-old leavers
1979–80	542
1981–82	615
1983–84	705

School year	Number of 19-year-old leavers
1985–86	789
1986–87	672
1987–88	695

Figures are not available for the school years 1980–81, 1982–83 and 1984–85 and not yet available for 1988–89.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many copies of the proposals for the teaching of Irish in Irish-medium schools were sent out by the Northern Ireland Curriculum Council; how many schools were consulted; how many questions there were in the consultative proposals to be answered; weeks each school was given to reply to the consultative proposals; what was the closing date for replies; how many schools replied to the consultative proposals; and if he will make a statement.

Copies were sent to all grant-aided schools and to other bodies. A total of 7,800 copies were issued and 165 responses were received, of which 50 were from teachers or schools. The copies were issued on 19 February and schools were asked to reply by 30 March, a total of six weeks. To assist the analysis of comments, the council issued a proforma which contained 25 questions but respondents were at liberty to comment also on other matters.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications relating to terrorist offences have been made for extradition from the Irish Republic to Britain (a) between 1972 and 14 November 1985 and (b) since 15 November 1985; how many have been refused; how many have been granted; and for how long any outstanding cases have been under consideration.

[holding answer 23 March 1990]: The information is as follows:

Application submitted (persons)	Persons returned	Extradition refused	Other1
1 January 1972 to 14 November 1985
80	3	38	238
15 November 1985 to date
32	4	3	226
1 The category "other" includes cases where warrants were returned or withdrawn for a variety of reasons; or where the person sought was found to be deceased (2 cases) or was subsequently arrested in the United Kingdom (15 cases). There were 19 applications outstanding as at 3 April 1990; since the majority of these persons have not so far been arrested, an account of time spent by each under consideration would not be appropriate.
2 The figures within each category do not tally because in one pre-15 November 1985 case the individual concerned was returned after that date.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which organisations were responsible for the 37 terrorist killings which have been carried out in the constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone since 15 November 1985; and in how many of these killings (a) someone has been convicted for murder by the courts, (b) there is a murder charge presently outstanding and (c) there has been a failure to charge anyone with murder.

[holding answer 23 March 1990]: Republican terrorist groups are believed to have been responsible for each of the 37 terrorist murders about which the hon. Gentleman has asked. One person has been convicted in respect of two of them; and five persons are awaiting trial charged with two additional murders, as well as related serious offences. Police inquiries still continue in respect of the remaining 33 murders, but to date no-one has been charged.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give the target reductions for energy consumption in the buildings occupied by his Department.

[holding answer 30 April 1990]: The target reduction for energy consumption over the period April 1990 to March 1995, on buildings occupied by the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments, is 15 per cent. of the total energy bill for the year 1989–90.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what applications for European Community funding under the Valoren energy development programme in respect of lignite mining or peat extraction for fuel use are currently under consideration; and if he will indicate the project name, site location, date and level of European Community funding sought.

[holding answer 3 May 1990]: No such applications are under consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list for each of the last three years those projects which have received European Community funding under the Valoren programme in respect of lignite mining or peat extraction for fuel use, and in each case indicate the project name, site location, date and level of European Community funding.

[holding answer 3 May 1990]: Since the Northern Ireland Valoren programme commenced in May 1986, £23,411·35 of European Community funding has been provided to LEDU in respect of financial assistance paid to two investment projects involving the extraction and processing of peat for fuel.

To ask the Lord President of the Council what arrangements have been made to permit the BBC to broadcast a radio programme from a Committee Room of the House; on what terms; and whether he will make a statement.

Arrangements have been made for a radio programme to be recorded in the Grand Committee Room. The authority for any direct broadcast from the House, other than of Proceedings of the House, is the Select Committee on House of Commons (Services); it is permissible, however, to record a meeting sponsored by an hon. Member, for broadcasting at a later date.

To ask the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith), as representing the House of Commons Commission, whether any House of Commons staff are involved in the arrangements for a BBC programme to be recorded in a Committee Room of the House on 8 May; and whether any reimbursement is being made by the BBC to the Commission for staff or other costs.

Staff of the House are available to administer Committee Rooms with regard both to sittings of Committees of the House and private meetings sponsored by hon. Members; in the case of the meeting arranged in the name of the Leader of the House on 8 May no additional costs have been identified and the question of reimbursement does not arise.

To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list for the current year by Committee the names, qualifications, experience and remuneration of advisers to Select Committees of the House.

The appointment of specialist advisers is a matter for the Select Committee concerned. The names of the specialist advisers who assisted Select Committees during the 1988–89 Session of Parliament can be found in the most recent Sessional Return (HC(1989–90)110). During the current Session, the following advisers have also assisted Select Committees:

• Defence Committee
• Mr. A. Preston
• Education, Science and Arts Committee
• Mr. J. Fish
• Dr. D. B. Thomas
• Professor J. M. Ziman
• Employment Committee
• Professor A. Likierman
• Energy Committee
• Professor Sir Herman Bondi
• Environment Committee
• Professor J. N. Bell
• Professor R. Y. Cartwright
• Mr. D. Gould
• Mr. R. B. Macrory
• Professor R. Perry
• Mr. A. J. Rosenfeld, CB
• Foreign Affairs Committee
• Dr. J. Barber
• Sir Patrick Moberly
• Mr. R. Pollock
• Dr. A. Pravda
• Dr. P. Sabin
• Social Services Committee
• Dr. B. Castleton
• Dr. D. Hunter
• Mr. D. Plank
• Professor D. Piachaud
• Mr. D. Willetts
• Professor J. Wing
• Mr. G. Wistow
• Miss J. Young
• Committee on the Televising of Proceedings of the House
• Mr. R. Wright
• Trade and Industry Committee
• Dr. C. Preston
• Dr. B. Rider
• Transport Committee
• Professor D. Heald
• Mr. E. Humphreys
• Mr. F. Taylor
• Mr. G. Wilkinson
• Welsh Affairs Committee
• Professor P. J. Cloke
• Miss M. Constable
• Dr. R. W. Vickerman
• Dr. R. William

Advisers currently retained by select commitees have a wide range of experience and qualifications and include retired civil servants and service officers, university academics and consultants.Specialist advisers are remunerated on a

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to the hon. Member for Hendon, South (Mr. Marshall) on 24 July 1989 at column 454 and 4 December 1989 at column 9. Figures for expenditure in 1989 should be available later this month.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth of 26 April, Official Report, column 282, what plans exist to increase the £2·3 million so far provided for Poland under the know-how fund.

We expect that expenditure under the know-how fund for Poland in 1990–91 will be considerably higher than the £2·3 million spent in 1989–90. It is too soon to predict an exact figure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth of 26 April, Official Report, column 282, what plans exist to increase the size of the know-how fund.

Much of the £50 million know-how fund for Poland has yet to be committed to specific projects, and

United Kingdom bilateral aid 1984–1988 at current prices
£ Thousands
		1984	1985	1986	1987	1988
	Burma	821	983	2,945	4,717	2,222
	China	561	1,201	2,190	4,011	28,383
	India	146,537	106,466	143,481	78,464	101,045
	Indonesia	28,292	33,649	8,898	12,223	17,365
	Jordan	6,105	2,332	5,641	4,809	4,091
	Malaysia	4,992	7,454	55,494	9,779	10,057
	Philippines	3,803	1,840	205	262	1,042
	Sri Lanka	26,203	17,316	15,981	18,690	21,718
	Thailand	20,036	7,437	4,215	5,358	23,244
	Yemen Arab Republic	3,103	3,104	3,775	5,168	6,603

United Kingdom bilateral aid 1984–1988 at constant 1988 prices
£ Thousand
	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988
Burma	1,003	1,137	3,291	5,029	2,222
China	686	1,390	2,447	4,276	28,383
India	179,095	123,180	160,344	83,657	101,045
Indonesia	34,578	38,932	9,944	13,032	17,365
Jordan	7,461	2,698	6,304	5,127	4,091
Malaysia	6,101	8,624	62,016	10,426	10,057
Philippines	4,648	2,129	229	279	1,042
Sri Lanka	32,025	20,034	17,859	19,927	21,718
Thailand	24,488	8,605	4,710	5,713	23,244
Yemen Arab Republic	3,792	3,591	4,219	5,510	6,603

Percentage of aid and trade provision to gross bilateral aid 1984–1988
Per cent.
	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988
Burma	30·7	31·9	69·0	79·4	29·1
China	—	—	—	27·1	80·8
India	16·7	8·3	6·0	0·1	9·4
Indonesia	20·7	58·6	0·6	8·5	6·6

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth of 26 April, Official Report, columns 282–83, what is his estimate of the number of people who have benefited from the specific training provided for potential local joint venture partners with Poland.

The initiative under the know-how fund relating to the training of potential local joint venture partners has been introduced only recently and detailed arrangements are being worked out. A number of companies have registered their interest in the initiative in respect of Poland and we are looking carefully at their proposals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a table in the Official Report correlating for the last five years for which data are available (a) United Kingdom bilateral aid to (i) Burma, (ii) China, (iii) India, (iv) Indonesia, (v) Jordan, (vi) Malaysia, (vii) the Philippines, (viii) Sri Lanka, (ix) Thailand, (x) the Yemen Arab Republic in real and cash terms and (b) the proportions in each case of this aid tied to trade deals involving United Kingdom companies.

The answer is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will update figures for the occupied territories in his answer of 20 April 1989 to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East (Mr. Nellist), Official Report, columns 241–2, on Overseas Development West Bank and Gaza Strip; and if he will give a project breakdown between (a) the territories and (b) projects with Israel.

Updated details of our assistance to the West Bank and Gaza are as follows:

	£
NGO projects
Order of St. John
Outreach programme based on St. John ophthalmic hospital	615,000 (1984–90)
Support for surgery, nurses training, clinical trials	80,000 (1987–88)
Oxfam
Mennonite central committee land reclamation and water system construction	24,539 (1988)
Bethlehem arab society for the physically handicapped	26,703 (1988–90)
Annahda women's association centre for the mentally handicapped	17,800 (1988)
Oxfam (ex-progressive action for childhood education)
Early childhood resource centre	63,042 (1986–90)
Quaker Peace and Service
Middle East placement programme	51,576 (1985–89)
Action around Bethlehem, children with disability
Water catchment project	23,800 (1987–88)
Solar energy project	31,300 1987–88)
Save the children fund
Resource centre	85,500 (1988–89)
Physiotherapy training	97,300 (1988–91)
Rafah sewerage project	44,600 (1987)
Revolving loan fund	46,875 (1990)
Drinking water development project	100,000 (1990)
Small scale sewage treatment project	50,000 (1990)
Primary Health care project	25,000 (1990)
Small enterprises project	18,750 (1990)
Co-operation for development
Small enterprise revolving credit funding programme	813,700 (1987–90)
Women's education and training programme	74,140 (1985–89)
Gaza enterprise training scheme	28,816 (1987–88)
Universities educational fund for Palestinian refugees (UNIPAL)
English language teaching project	37,000 (1984–89)
War on Want
Zababdeh early childhood resource center	58,636 (1988–89)
Abasan biscuit factory project	20,920 (1988)
Baby food production project	17,200 (1989)
Mobile clinic Gaza	8,960 (1989–90)

	£
Appropriate health resources technologies group (AHRTAG)
Bir Zeit community health unit	62,235 (1988–92)
United Nations association international
service (UNAIS)
Seed propagation/botanist project	20,328 (1990–92)
Food technician project	20,328 (1990–92)
Business administrator	20,328 (1990–92)
Development research project	20,328 (1990–92)
Women's cooperative worker	6,940 (1989)
Medical aid for Palestinians (MAP)
A1 Rajaa centre for special education	20,975 (1989)
Physiotherapy centres	98,736 (1989–90)
Christian aid
YMCA affected children project	22,670 (1989)
Y care international
Relief for victims of the uprising, dependants, and training	83,000 (1987–90)
British Red Cross—ICRC
Provision of tents for emergency housing	38,000 (1988)
World vision of Europe
Emergency relief to dependants of victims of the uprising	24,000 (1988)

Request from NGOs for additional funds amounting to over £1 million are under consideration.

	1989–90 £
Training programme	200,000
Book presentation programme	12,000

The sum of £5·5 million is being contributed through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in 1990. About £0·7 million was attributable to the United Kingdom in 1989 of the European Community programme for the West Bank and Gaza. In addition £3 million of the Community's contribution to UNRWA was attributable to the United Kingdom.The United Kingdom does not support any projects either with or in Israel.

To ask the Prime Minister what information the Defence Export Services Secretariat had about the export to Iraq of steel equipment for use in weapon construction.

In the light of the charges laid against individuals on 25 April, and in the light of the continuing investigations by Customs and Excise, it would be inappropriate to give any further information.

To ask the Prime Minister what value for money savings have been achieved by the Cabinet Office in the last year; and how much of this was as a result of advice from the central unit on purchasing.

Final figures for 1989–90 are not yet available. Provisional figures prepared for the central unit on purchasing show value for money improvements of £1,510,000 achieved by the Cabinet Office during 1989–90.It is not possible to attribute particular value for money savings to advice from the CUP. The role of the unit is to provide advice and guidance on best purchasing practice.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement about the Cabinet Office's decision not to participate in the Government supply index.

Because the Cabinet Office spends only a comparatively small amount on items covered by the Government supply index, full membership would not represent good value for money for the Department.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will seek to amend the Parliamentary and Health Service Commissioners Act 1987 to include training matters in Scotland among those subject to the ombudsman's scrutiny.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Scottish Office, on 2 May at column 587.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 May.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 May.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 May.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 May.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 May.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 May.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 May.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 May.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 8 May.

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others, including Chancellor Vranitzky of Austria and received a delegation representing the Eisenhower centennial committee led by Vice-President Quayle of the United States of America. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I hope to have an audience of Her Majesty the Queen.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the estimated contribution to power generation in the 1990s of (a) wind power, (b) tidal power, (c) estuary barrages and (d) geothermal power.

Renewable energy technologies are at an early stage of development and there is great uncertainty about future projections. No estimates are available for the 1990s. Longer term estimates for 2025 have been published in Energy Paper 55, copies of which are in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his intervention of 4 December 1989, Official Report, column 41, what was the value of British Coal on 31 March 1990.

The value of British Coal as at 31 March 1990 will depend on a detailed assessment of the earnings potential of each mine over its remaining life. I expect this work to be completed by late summer. I cannot prejudge in the meantime what this final figure will be. I have, however, satisfied myself that under any likely scenario over half the Corporation's collieries are likely to show a negative cash flow over their remaining lives, and that this will lead to the write-off of at least half the industry's £4 billion fixed assets. On this basis, and taking into account the losses incurred in 1989–90 and earlier years, I have in accordance with section 1(3)(b) of the Coal Industry Act 1990, paid British Coal an interim sum of £3 billion in deficiency grant. This sum was paid on 29 March 1990 and allowed an immediate and corresponding repayment of outstanding debt.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will make a statement on the chairmanship of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority.

I have today appointed Mr. John Maltby as part-time chairman of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority from 1 July 1990 in succession to Mr. John Collier. This appointment is for three years.Dr. Brian Eyre's appointment as a full-time member of the UKAEA which was due to expire on 31 July 1992 will now expire on 30 April 1995. The UKAEA has appointed Dr. Eyre as chief executive and deputy chairman.

To ask the Attorney-General what is the practice of the prosecution authorities in cases of fraud involving sums of money in excess of £1 million; what is the Director of Public Prosecution's policy where culprits are over the age of 67 years; what consideration is given to the length of time a crime has remained undetected; and what consideration is being given to the implications for prosecution policy in respect of the War Crimes Bill of these policies.

The principles set out in the code for Crown prosecutors promulgated by the Director of Public Prosecutions under section 10 of the Prosecution Offences Act 1985, govern all decisions taken by the Crown prosecution service including those relating to alleged fraud. First, the evidence must be sufficient to afford a realistic prospect of conviction; second, the circumstances must be such that the public interest requires a prosecution.The factors referred to in the hon. Members question are relevant to assessment of the public interest which can arise only if the evidential criterion is satisfied. The sum involved goes directly to the seriousness of the offence which, together with any aggravating features, for example, persistence or breach of trust, must be balanced against other factors militating against prosecution such as advanced age. So far as time elapsing since the commission of a crime is concerned, the Crown prosecution service is slow to prosecute if the last offence was committed three or more years before the probable date of trial, unless, despite its staleness, an immediate custodial sentence of some length is likely to be imposed. Less regard will be paid to staleness, however, if it is contributed to by the accused himself, the complexity of this case has necessitated lengthy police investigation or the particular characteristics of the offence have themselves contributed to the delay in its coming to light. Generally, the graver the allegation the less significance will be attached to the element of staleness.If Parliament enacts the War Crimes Bill currently before it, the same principles will apply to the offences made justiciable by that legislation.

To ask the Attorney-General what progress has been made in the investigations into allegations of a £1 million fraud by Mr. Alex Swern and Mr. Laurence Rosen; whether the police have now completed their investigations; when a decision with regard to prosecution will be made by the Director of Public Prosecutions; and if he will make a statement.

A report relating to the case to which the hon. Member refers was submitted to the Crown prosecution service on 30 March 1990. Having considered the report and had the benefit of advice from counsel, the Crown prosecution service concluded that the criteria set out in the code for Crown prosecutors were not satisfied. The Metropolitan police were advised that no proceedings should be instituted against either proposed defendant.

To ask the Attorney-General when he anticipates that he will be heard by the court on his application for a fresh inquest into the death of Petty Officer John Black, RN in Spain in December 1983; and if he will make a statement.

The case is in the warned list for hearing during the current law term, but no date has yet been fixed for the hearing. I will write to my hon. Friend informing him of the hearing date as soon as it is fixed.

To ask the Attorney-General what is the average delay between a social security commissioner's oral hearing and notification of the decision to the claimant; and how much of this is ascribable to administrative delay.

The average time taken between the oral hearing by a commissioner and the despatch of the decision to the parties for the quarter ending March 1990 was 105 days, of which it is estimated that the time taken in processing decisions by administrative staff, including typists, was 50 days.The Lord Chancellor's Department and the Office of the Social Security Commissioners are actively considering ways of reducing delay in this area.

To ask the Attorney-General what consideration has been given by the Crown prosecution service to initiating proceedings in relation to the posting of lottery tickets to the United Kingdom from West German state and institutional lottery groups; and if he will make a statement.

No such case can be identified within the Crown prosecution service from the information that is given. If the hon. Gentleman will write to me setting out more details about the alleged offence, I will cause further inquiries to be made.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth of 26 April, Official Report, column 282–83, how many companies have taken advantage of the investment protection and promotion agreement which exists for Poland; and what is the value of such contracts.

This information is not held centrally, since companies are not obliged to notify the Government in order to benefit from the existence of an IPPA.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth dated 25 April, what plans exist to increase the £150,000 currently made available by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office under the scholarships and awards scheme to enable Polish students to study in Britain.

We are looking at ways of increasing the overall provision for students from eastern Europe, including Poland, to study in the United Kingdom under the Foreign and Commonwealth Office scholarships and awards scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Vietnamese boat people refused refugee status by the Hong Kong authorities have been accepted by the UNHCR under its own mandate.

The UNHCR has chosen to exercise its mandate on behalf of 106 refugees so far. This is less than 1 per cent. of cases decided by the Hong Kong Immigration Department and the refugee status review board (RSRB).

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give the reasons why refugee status review boards sit in closed private session when reviewing cases of Vietnamese boat people refused refugee status.

The refugee status review board (RSRB) perform an administrative rather than a judicial function. It replaces a function originally performed by the Executive Council which also sits in closed private sessions during its deliberations. Although the refugee status review board make its final decisions in private session, a representative of the UNHCR is allowed to be present when a board interviews an asylum seeker. UNHCR and its operating partner, the agency for volunteer service (AVS), also have the opportunity to make representations on individual cases, before the final decision is taken, at their weekly meeting with the chairman of the board.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide for Vietnamese boat people's legal representatives to be allowed to attend screening interviews and sessions of the refugee status review boards.

The purpose of the screening interview is to record and assess the facts relating to an asylum seeker's claim to refugee status. The presence of a legal representative would serve little purpose in this context. The refugee status review board does invite UNHCR legal counsellors to be present during its interviews and a copy of the record is made available for comment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide for a legal adviser to be assigned to each Vietnamese boat person applying for refugee status before screening.

The provision for legal services to asylum seekers is not the responsibility of the Hong Kong Government. Under the statement of understanding agreed between UNHCR and the Hong Kong Government in September 1988, UNHCR accepted responsibility for providing legal advice to asylum seekers at all stages of the screening and review procedures. Legal aid is not available in Hong Kong except in the High Court and the district court.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give the figures for the number of cases regarding the refusal of refugee status to Vietnamese boat peope by refugee status review boards that have been decided (a) unanimously or (b) by a majority.

An application for review of a negative decision can be rejected only if all members of the review panel decide that the review should not be allowed. If one member of the panel decides in favour of the asylum seeker, the director of immigration's decision will be overturned. Any decision against the asylum seeker must therefore be unanimous.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to ensure that Vietnamese boat people awaiting screening for refugee status receive a written description of the nature and conduct of the process in Vietnamese before interview.

Under paragraph 6 of the comprehensive plan of action agreed at the UN conference in Geneva last June, provision of information about screening is the responsibility of UNHCR. They have distributed in all centres an information book describing the status determination procedures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has held with the UNHCR, the Law Society and the Bar Association regarding the possibility of lawyers from outside Hong Kong with expertise in refugee law being allowed to practise in Hong Kong.

UNHCR employs lawyers from outside Hong Kong as full-time legal counsellors to monitor the screening procedures. In addition, UNHCR provides individual legal representation at the review stage through its operating partner the agency for voluntary services (AVS). The AVS has, with the approval of the Law Society, been allowed to recruit lawyers from outside Hong Kong for this purpose.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Vietnamese boat people have escaped from Hong Kong detention camps; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 4 May 1990]: In 1989, 2,033 Vietnamese boat people escaped from the camps. The figure so far this year is 2,254. In most cases, the motive for escaping is to visit relatives in other camps or often simply to walk about Hong Kong, rather than to try to escape from the territory. Most of those who escape are returned to their camps.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current size of ivory stocks in Hong Kong; and on what date it was assessed.

[holding answer 23 April 1990]: The current size of commercial ivory stocks in Hong Kong was 472 tonnes (to the nearest tonne) as at 21 April 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his reply of 5 April, Official Report, column 765, if he will state the amount of ivory involved in each of the recent seizures; from whom it was seized; and what was the country of origin of the ivory and the current whereabouts of the ivory together with his proposals for its disposal.

[holding answer 23 April 1990]: The following seizures of ivory were made by the special task force of the Customs and Excise Department in Hong Kong between 1 June 1989 and 22 March 1990:

Quantity (kg)		Seized from	Country of Export
58·9	raw ivory	Kim Ki Woo	Korea
15	raw ivory (powder)	Au Kin Choi	China
8·5	raw ivory	Tsai Shin Sheng	Taiwan
11·7	worked ivory	Abandoned by Choi Don-soo	Korea
7·55	worked ivory	Lau Ming Hei	Thailand
0·2	worked ivory	Yue Hwa Chinese Product Emporium Ltd.	Japan
2·9	worked ivory	Lam Kin Pui	Taiwan
7·19	raw ivory	Kwong Fat Cheung Ivory and Mahjong	Japan
700	raw ivory	Pei Lei Lai Kai	Singapore
15·5	mammoth ivory	Lee Chor Mui	Japan
2·3	worked ivory	Andrew Stephen Yuen	Thailand
100	worked ivory	Sun Hung Ngai Trading Company	USA
55	worked ivory	Wong Wing Shing	Spain
4	worked ivory	Unclaimed baggage	France
26·3	worked ivory	Art of Sea Ivory Company	China
3·1	worked ivory	Liu Shih Haiao	Taiwan
3·8	worked ivory	Shih Shia Loon	Taiwan
1·3	worked ivory	Fang Tsu Chick	Thailand
2·5	worked ivory	Chang Lin Kuei Chuo	Taiwan
17·5	worked ivory	Left by Transit Passenger	Thailand

The confiscated ivory is kept in the Hong Kong Government stores. The Hong Kong Government have no plans at present to dispose of the confiscated items.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his reply of 5 April, Official Report, column 765, if he will state (a) the period covered from 26 February during which 35 kg of ivory was exported from Hong Kong, (b) how much ivory has been exported since that date; and to which countries it was exported.

[holding answer 23 April 1990]: The period covered was from 26 February to 30 March 1990. The Hong Kong CITES management authority has not been notified of any ivory exports since 30 March 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is going to happen to the 116 tonnes of ivory currently held in Hong Kong without CITES documentation.

[holding answer 23 April 1990]: The owners may continue to keep the ivory under possession licence or to dispose of it locally. But export licences will not be issued for any exports.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to apply isotope analysis to ivory stocks in Hong Kong to ascertain their place of origin.

[holding answer 23 April 1990]: We do not propose to take a view on whether to apply isotope analysis to ivory stocks in Hong Kong until the technique has been properly evaluated. As my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, stated in his reply of 13 November to the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell), the proposals concerning this technique were not discussed in any of the formal sessions at the CITES conference in October 1989. But we will study any information which may be forthcoming about these techniques in consultation with our scientific advisers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his reply of 5 April, Official Report, column 764, if he will give details of the items which led to 92 prosecutions being initiated by the Hong Kong authorities.

[holding answer 23 April 1990]: Ninety-two prosecutions were initiated by the Hong Kong authorities in the second half of 1989 as a result of confiscation of the following items:

Item	Amount
Monkey	2hd
Slow Loris	8hd
Musk Deer	6 pc pod
	10·2 g grain
Ivory:
Raw ivory	769·9 kg
Worked ivory	123·62 kg
Rhino Horn	20 kg
Felidas (cat family):
(a) Stuffed specimen	1 hd
(b) Live	2hd
(c) Skins	226 pc
Pangolin:
(a) Live	2hd
(b) Scale	0·68 kg
(c) Meat	5·4 kg
(d) Meat and scale	1·4 kg and 20 pc
Cetacean spp Meat	0·4 kg
Owl:
(a) Dead	1 hd
(b) Live	6 hd
Birds of prey:
(a) Stuffed specimen	3 hd
(b) Live	2 hd
Parrots	64 hd
Yellow Tortoise	11 hd
Sea turtle:
(a) Stuffed specimen	13 hd
(b) Egg	40 pc
(c) Shell	1 pc
Lizards:
(a) Live	1 hd
(b) Skins	8,231 pc
Crocodile Meat	0·79 kg

Item	Amount
Python Skin	15pc
Giant Salamander	6 hd
Asiatic Bony Tongue	21 tails
Coral	15 pc
Giant Clam	14 pc

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria are used to determine the location, number and frequency of restaurant inspections in Hong Kong to ensure that no rare and endangered species of animals and plants are offered for sale as food; and what information he has on the number of restaurants in Hong Kong.

[holding answer 23 April 1990]: The criteria used to determine the location, number and frequence of restaurant inspections in Hong Kong, for the purpose of ensuring that no rare and endangered species of animals and plants are offered for sale as food, include known black spots, reports and intelligence from various sources and the type of restaurant and menu served. Random checks are made as a deterrent. There are approximately 7,400 restaurants in Hong Kong.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many overstayers were deported in the latest available year where evidence has been brought forward that they were in stable marriages to British citizens with the right of abode.

The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the results of the police and immigration officers' investigation carried out at weddings being held on 21 April at (a) Hackney and (b) Walthamstow and (i) how many people were detained, (ii) how many have since been charged and (iii) with what offence.

In a joint Metropolitan police/immigration service operation on 21 April, eight persons were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to contravene the Immigration Act 1971. Three persons were arrested at Hackney register office; four in a simultaneous visit to an address in Walthamstow; and one further arrest was made at a separate address later that day.Three of those arrested were subsequently released without charge and two persons have been given bail to return to the police station on 15 May. Three persons have been charged with conspiracy to contravene the Immigration Act 1971 contrary to section 1(1) of the Criminal Law Act 1977 (as amended)—two remanded in custody, the third released on bail.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received over the past 12 months about concessionary television licences for retirement pensioners and disabled people.

In the year ending 21 March 1990 we received four petitions and 696 letters calling for reduced price or free television licences for pensioners or disabled people. A total of 385 of the letters were cyclostyled, and clearly sent as part of a local campaign. Of the rest 139 were from hon. Members, and three of the petitions were submitted through them.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police houses are vacant in (a) Cardiff and (b) South Glamorgan; and what proportion this is of the total police housing stock in (a) the city and (b) the county.

This information is not held centrally, but I understand from the South Wales constabulary that there are currently 11 vacant police houses in south Glamorgan which represent 14 per cent. of the total police housing stock in the county. Six of these vacant police houses are in Cardiff and represent 11 per cent. of the total police housing stock in the city.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the future of Strangeways prison, Manchester.

As I said on 3 May in exchanges following the question from my hon. Friend the member for Staffordshire, Moorlands (Mr. Knox), an assessment of the structural damage to the wings at Manchester is being made. When it is completed, we shall review the various options for the prison's future. I can see the attractions, and the importance to the staff, of bringing at least part of the prison back into use as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that the costs of policing the Strangeways riot will be met fully by central Government.

The Greater Manchester police authority has asked for a meeting to discuss the financial implications of policing the Strangeways disturbance. We will listen carefully to its points but any request for special assistance would have to be judged against the normal criteria of exceptional and unforeseen expenditure of a scale that threatens the efficiency of the force.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied that the governor of Strangeways prison, Manchester was given every facility necessary to quell the riot at that prison.