To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is his intention to use the radio division of the IBA as a planning nucleus during the transition period to the new Radio Authority.

The IBA will continue to be responsible for carrying out the duties with regard to local radio laid on it by the Broadcasting Act 1981 until relieved of them by new legislation. In the meantime, we shall welcome advice and assistance from the IBA's radio branch in preparing for the new structure of radio broadcasting.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the location and status of all buildings within his Department located in London and the annual cost of rents, rates and maintenance of each.

The Department's office, storage and specialised accommodation is held in the name of the Secretary of State for the Environment and administered by the Property Services Agency, which makes an accommodation charge instead of direct payment for rent, rates, maintenance and minor works. That charge includes the agency's associated administration costs. The Home Office occupies all or part of 21 buildings in the London area on this basis. The total accommodation charge for these buildings, which are listed below, is £23,931,049 in 1987–88.The seven prison service establishments in London—Her Majesty's prisons: Brixton, Holloway, Pentonville, Wandsworth and Wormwood Scrubs; Her Majesty's Remand Centre, Ashford; and Her Majesty's Youth Custody Centre, Feltham—are held in the name of the Secretary of State for the Home Department. No rent is paid for them; the total cost of their rates and maintenance for 1986–87 was £3,081,700.The building occupied by the Police National Computer Organisation at Hendon is held in the name of the Secretary of State for the Home Department. The total cost of the building's ground rent, rates and maintenance for 1986–87 was £225,000.

Building	Predominant Use	Accommodation Charge 1987–88 to PSA £
Abell House John Islip Street London SW1P 4LH	Office	3,204,153
Africa House 67–78 Kingsway London WC2B 6BW	Office	72,055

Building	Predominant Use	Accommodation Charge 1987–88 to PSA £
Avondale Gardens Hounslow Middlesex TW4 5HX	Storage	44,929
Bourne Avenue Hayes Middlesex UB3 1RF	Storage	63,453
Cleland House Page Street London SW1P 4LN	Office	2,365,476
Colnbrook-By-Pass Bath Road Harmondsworth Middlesex UB7 0HB	Specialised	308,289
Clive House Petty France London SW1H 9HD	Office	1.064,666
Greycoat House Greycoat Street London SW1P 2QF	Storage	68,808
Heathrow Airport Terminal 1 Hounslow Middlesex	Office	90,742
Heathrow Airport Terminal 2 Hounslow Middlesex	Office	108,339
Heathrow Airport Terminal 3 Hounslow Middlesex	Office	226,815
Heathrow Airport Terminal 4 Hounslow Middlesex	Office	311,542
Heathrow Airport (Queen's Building) Hounslow Middlesex	Office	45,995
Isis House 67–69 Southwark Street London SE1	Office	121,486
Headstone Drive Wealdstone Harrow Middlesex HA1 4TZ	Specialised	352,427
Horseferry House Dean Ryle Street London SW1P 2QF	Office	2,159,789
Lunar House 40 Wellesley Road Croydon CR9 2BY	Office	3,193,568
50 Queen Anne's Gate London SW1H 9AT	Office	9,995,209
60–66 Rochester Row London SW1	Office	71,640
St. Christopher House Southwark Street London SE1 0TE	Office	14,018

Building	Predominant Use	Accommodation Charge 1987–88 to PSA £
London Road Stanmore Middlesex	Office	47,650

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of staff within his Department are located within each region outside London; what percentage this constitutes of staff within his Department; and what were the comparable figures, in absolute and percentage terms in 1979.

Non-industrial staff serve in the Home Office at the following places:

Region	As a percentage of all staff in the Home Office
South-East (excluding Greater London)	6,223	17·2
South-West	2,796	7·7
East Anglia	1,665	4·6
East Midlands	2,784	7·7
West Midlands	2,811	7·8
North-West	4,195	11·6
Yorkshire and Humberside	2,485	6·9
North	2,022	5·6
Wales	882	2·4
Scotland	128	0·4
Northern Ireland	23	0·1
Greater London	10,091	27·1
Total	36,105	100·00

Comparable figures for 1979 are not readily available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received concerning the workings of the Data Protection Act; whether he has any plans to seek to amend the Act; and whether he will make a statement.

Since 11 November 1987, when the Data Protection Act came fully into force, we have received 15 representations from hon. Members and members of the public of which 11 were requests for information. We have undertaken to review the working of the Act after a reasonable period of experience of its operation, and are considering the form and timing of such a review.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further steps he is taking to combat crime in inner city areas.

I have today announced an important initiative, the "Safer Cities" programme, which will support the Government's policies for the regeneration of inner city areas with strong new action against crime. Twenty safer city projects will be established in inner city areas over the next three years. Their effect will be to promote an active partnership between the police, local authorities and concerned individuals in a well targeted programme of effective action against locally identified crime problems. The programme is more fully described in a note, copies of which I have placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the capacity for handling telephone calls from the public at the passport office in Peterborough; and what is the current average time after dialling and ringing that a caller is answered and connected to a member of staff to assist his or her query.

A new 24 exchange line telephone system was installed at the Peterborough passport office in July 1987. The time callers have to wait before being connected first to the operator and subsequently to the required extension varies according to the volume of calls at the particular time and the equipment does not have the capability to monitor response times. Planned modifications to the system, which will enable callers to be routed to a recorded message giving the answers to most general enquiries, should be completed within the next few weeks.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current number of passport applications awaiting action at the passport office in Peterborough; and what is the average time within which the documents are issued to the applicant, assuming the application form has been correctly completed.

Correctly completed non-urgent applications are being dealt with within 20 working days. Urgent applications are given priority. Applications are now being received at a rate of about 22,000 a week and it is estimated that a total of some 77,000 are now at the various stages of processing within the office.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current staff of the passport office in Peterborough; what is the authorised establishment; and when the last staff inspection took place.

The authorised permanent complement is 169 and there are now 208 staff in post, 43 of whom are casuals. The last formal staff inspection was in 1979. As I said in answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon (Mr. Amess) on 4 February, at column 687, work is well advanced on the computerisation of passport issuing in the United Kingdom. The computerised system will be installed at the six passport issuing offices over the next two years and staffing levels will be reviewed when the new system is operational.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on the advice offered by Scotland Yard officers to the West Berlin public prosecutor, Dettlev Mehles, in connection with his inquiry into the La Belle discotheque bombing.

No. I encourage co-operation and liaison between our police forces and foreign police forces in counter-terrorism matters including the investigation of specific terrorist incidents. I see no need to call for reports whenever such co-operation or liaison takes place.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) chief constables, (b) superintendents, (c) chief superintendents and (d) sergeants in police forces in England and Wales are (i) members of ethnic minorities and (ii) women; and if he will make a statement.

The position as at 31 December 1987 is as follows:

Rank	Ethnic minorities	Women
Chief constable	—	—
Chief superintendent	—	8
Superintendent	—	27
Sergeant	61	725

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when Mr. John Byrne, a former member of the British armed forces in Northern Ireland, was sentenced to life imprisonment; what was his crime; and if he has been released;(2) when Mr. Stan Hathaway, a former member of the British armed forces in Northern Ireland, was sentenced to life imprisonment; what was his crime; and if he has been released.

At Belfast Crown court in January 1981, Stanley Hathaway, then a serving soldier, pleaded guilty to the murder of two civilians while on patrol duty in October 1972. On the same date, John Byrne, also a serving soldier, pleaded guilty to one of the murders. Both men were sentenced to life imprisonment and were subsequently transferred to England to serve their sentences. Neither has been released.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when and by whom the McKay report on firearms was commissioned; and when the inquiry was announced or made known to the House.

Sir John McKay's working party was commissioned to review firearms controls in December 1970 by the then Home Secretary. The review was first announced in the other place on 15 December 1970.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any undertaking was given that the McKay report on firearms would be published, or a copy placed in the Library.

I am not aware of any such undertaking.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now place a copy of the McKay report on firearms in the Library.

No. The report of Sir John McKay's working party on the control of firearms, prepared in 1972, was an internal document. Its main conclusions and recommendations were incorporated in the 1973 Green Paper, "The Control of Firearms in Great Britain", Cmnd. 5297.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has received representations from Canon Kevin Byrne of St. Lawrence's, Birkenhead, in the form of sermon delivered on 7 February, relating to Her Majesty's Government's policy on capital punishment, sexual offences reform, the media, racial discrimination and other related matters; and if he will make a statement.

Canon Byrne sent me a copy of his sermon for Sunday 7 February. His address discussed the theme of social cohesion which I had raised in a speech to the Peel Society on 5 February and which I returned to at a fringe meeting of the General Synod of the Church of England on 10 February. Mr. Byrne made a number of criticisms of successive Governments. A reply was sent from my office on 24 February.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prospective employees of local authority social service departments have been referred to the Metropolitan police for checks under his Department's circular (86)44 since July 1986; and how many checks were still outstanding at 31 January.

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that up to 29 February 1988 15,042 prospective employees of local authority social services departments have been referred to the Metropolitan police for checks since the arrangements announced in Home Office circular (86)44 came into force; 703 enquiries were outstanding on that date.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a table showing (a) the number of applicants to local authority social services departments who have been referred to each local police authority for checks under the terms of his Department's circular (86) 44 and (b) the average delay in each authority.

The information requested is shown in the table. The latest figures available are for the period 17 July 1986 to 31 August 1987.

Police force	Number of enquiries received from social services departments	Total number of enquiries received from all sources	Average response times (days)
Avon and Somerset	4,850	9,800	4–10
Bedfordshire	1,118	1,437	7–10
Cambridgeshire	3,426	4,911	3–14
Cheshire	6,578	7,208	14
City of London	7	7	14–21
Cleveland	3,084	4,964	7
Cumbria	484	512	2–7
Derbyshire	43	477	21
Devon and Cornwall	3,586	5,944	4
Dorset	2,567	2,662	14
Durham	2,312	5,049	2
Dyfed-Powys	924	1,625	21
Essex	2,011	4,545	42–56
Gloucestershire	2,180	2,341	2
Greater Manchester	1—	8,628	14
Gwent	1,142	2,013	10
Hampshire	1—	2,844	10
Hertfordshire	1—	128	7
Humberside	1,653	2,045	14
Kent	1,165	7,963	28–42
Lancashire	4,626	5,670	14
Leicestershire	957	1,010	7
Lincolnshire	2,163	4,317	3

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his Department has received any representations on delays in recruitment to local authority social service departments caused by police checks under his Department's circular (86)44; and if he will make a statement.

We have received 11 representations from, or on behalf of, local authorities about delays in recruitment caused by police checks under the arrangements announced in Home Office circular (86)44. We are discussing the points raised with the police and the local authority associations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to how many local councillors in England and Wales are members of ethnic minorities and as to the total number of local councillors in England and Wales.

There are 22,775 county, district and borough councillors and about 65,000 parish and community councillors in England and Wales. Up-to-date information about the number of councillors who are members of ethnic minorities is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young people under the age of 18 years have been prosecuted for obtaining or attempting to obtain alcoholic drink over the past 10 years up to the latest date for which figures ar available.

[pursuant to his reply, 18 February 1988, c. 712]: I regret that the figure given for 1986 was incorrect. The table should have read.

Persons found guilty of offences under section 169(2) of the Licensing Act 1964
England and Wale	Number of Persons
Year	Total found guilty
1979	4,091
1980	3,954

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the reasons for the delay in ratifying the United Nations convention against torture.

The position has not changed since my answer of 16 November to the hon. Member for Ogmore (Mr. Powell), at column 397. It remains our intention to introduce legislation to allow ratification of the convention as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many civil servants were engaged in the information research department of his Department in each year since 1971.

The staff establishment of the information research department in each year from 1971 until disbandment in May 1977 was 117, 99, 91, 91, 88, 85 and 85.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many members of the armed forces and civil servants were engaged in the information research department of his Department in Northern Ireland in each year since 1971.

No member of the armed forces served in the information research department. One IRD officer served in Northern Ireland on secondment from November 1972 to December 1973.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with the American Government (a) the implications for President Reagan's policy towards Libya of recent West Berlin police discoveries regarding Christina Endrigkeit and (b) the implications of these discoveries for the joint management by the allies of police in West Berlin.

We are in constant and close contact with the United States authorities as well as the German authorities in Berlin about all aspects of the bombing of La Belle discotheque on 5 April 1986. It is not our practice to comment on cases, such as this, which are still subject to judicial inquiry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what grounds the allied Kommandatura exercised their right to instruct the Berlin authorities to remove from the western sector persons identified as posing a threat to the population of Berlin in April 1986; how such persons were identified; and whether their names are known to him.

The decision referred to was taken for the safety and security of the city. The people concerned were identified as posing a threat on the basis of information available to the allied and German authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Syrian Government about the alleged supply to terrorists of Semtex bombs by the Syrian embassy in London prior to 1987.

We broke diplomatic relations with Syria in October 1986 because of official Syrian involvement in the attempt to blow up an E1 Al aircraft with a Semtex bomb.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Halifax (Mrs. Mahon) on 2 March, what representations he has received from the Organisation of American States on the forthcoming military exercise in the Falkland Islands; if he will list the individual Governments who have expressed concern; what response he has made to the Organisation of American States' representations; and if he will make a statement.

We have noted the resolution passed on 1 March by the Organisation of American States of which the United Kingdom is not a member. A number of Governments of states which are members of the Organisation of American States have expressed concern to us about the exercise.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what communications were received by the British military government, West Berlin, from the United States military police regarding the likelihood of a terrorist attack in West Berlin during the hours before the attack at La Belle discotheque on 5 April 1986; what response was made; and if he will make a statement;(2) what information has been made available to the British military government, West Berlin, on the type of explosive used to bomb the La Belle discotheque on 5 April 1986;(3) whether the allied authorities made any inspections, under paragraph 8 of BK10/58/3, of police information relating to the La Belle discotheque in April 1986; and if he will make a statement;(4) whether, in accordance with paragraph 6 of BK10, the Berlin police president reported to the Kommandantura the timing of any alerts in relation to events surrounding the bombing of the La Belle discotheque;(5) whether, in accordance with paragraph 9 of BK10/58/3, the possibility of issuing direct instructions to the police in relation to the La Belle discotheque bombing was discussed by the allied Kommandantura with the West German authorities in April 1986; and if he will make a statement.

We have throughout the period in question kept in close touch with the American and French authorities, and with the German authorities in Berlin. I have nothing further to add to the many statements we have made on these matters.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what communications there were in April 1986 between the allies and the Soviet authorities about the alleged use of embassies in East Berlin for promoting terrorist activities.

The allies were in close contact with the Soviet authorities in April 1986 regarding their joint rights and responsibilities for the security of Greater Berlin.

During my right hon. and learned Friend's discussion of human rights, Mr. Shevardnadze raised alleged violation of human rights in the United Kingdom and handed over a list of so-called "political prisoners" in Northern Ireland. We have so far established that, of the eight individuals on the list, seven have been duly convicted of murder and one of attempted murder.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information he has on the relative retail prices of (a) alcoholic and (b) non-alcoholic beers and lagers; if he has any plans to refer the price differential to the Office of Fair Trading; and if he will make a statement.

My Department does not have information on the relative retail price of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beers and lagers. The Director General of Fair Trading referred the supply of beer in the United Kingdom for retail sale on licensed premises to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on 4 August 1986. The commission is due to submit its report to my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State by 3 August 1988.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many subject access requests under the terms of the Data Protection Act his Department has received; what was his estimate of this number; whether he is reconsidering the subject fee charged by his Department as a result; and whether he will make a statement.

My Department has received three requests for subject access under the terms of the Data Protection Act. This is in keeping with the low level of applications which was anticipated. The subject access fee has been set at a level which will cover the cost of providing access and I am not reconsidering it.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on recent developments in the Airbus programme.

I met my ministerial colleagues from France, Germany and Spain in Paris on 1 March to review recent developments in the Airbus programme.We noted with satisfaction the continuing commercial success of the products of the Airbus consortium, particularly the A320. The A320 received its certification from the airworthiness authorities of France, the United Kingdom, Germany and the Netherlands on 26 February, and we congratulated the manufacturers on the fact that this major milestone had been achieved on schedule and that the first A320s would enter airline service at the end of this month. We also noted with satisfaction the continuing commercial success and technical development of the A330/A340 programmes.My colleagues and I also gave Airbus Industrie and its partner companies a mandate to pursue expeditiously the negotiations begun with McDonnell Douglas about possible collaboration. These will be undertaken with the aim of reaching an agreement that would be beneficial to both parties.We reviewed the position reached in the trade talks with the United States on civil aircraft in the context of the GATT, and expressed a wish that these discussions should reach an early and satisfactory conclusion in accordance with the principles and objectives agreed with United States Trade Representative Clayton Yeutter on 27 October 1987.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps are being taken to co-ordinate the Government's inner city policy more effectively.

The 16 Government task forces co-ordinate the programmes of all Government Departments in the small core districts of the cities they serve and initiate projects of their own on behalf of the whole Government.City action teams pull together and focus the efforts and resources of the Departments of Trade and Industry, Environment and Employment over wider urban areas in Birmingham, Liverpool, London (Hackney, Islington and Lambeth), Manchester-Salford, and Newcastle-Gateshead and the county of Cleveland. Apart from improving the effectiveness of Government programmes, the teams have a major role in encouraging the involvement of companies in urban regeneration. In view of their success, the Government are setting up two new city action teams, to cover Nottingham, Leicester and Derby, and Leeds and Bradford. The three Departments concerned will be spending over £1 billion in the areas covered by the CATs in 1988–89.I have also been asked by the Prime Minister to help her to co-ordinate the Government's policies on inner cities. As part of that task, I will launch on 13 April in Newcastle a series of Government working breakfasts with Ministers and senior industrialists and business men to promote more co-operation with the local leaders of business in urban regeneration. Other cities to be visited will include Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool and London and I intend each working meeting to lead to increased efforts in each city concerned.The Government have also set up a central free telephone link (0800 181518) so that businesses can find out from a single contact point in our action for cities unit how they can play their part.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress has been made in providing more managed workshops in inner city areas.

English Estates is to be the focus for a major new DTI-funded programme to bring the public and private sectors together to provide managed workspaces for business start-ups in inner cities. Up to £11 million of public funding will go into the programme in the first year through English Estates which has set up a new subsidiary company to spearhead the programme. Companies are being invited to adopt workshops in the town or city of their choice by investing directly in the projects or by providing land, buildings or experienced managers to give business support on site. English Estates is looking for as much private sector involvement as possible and is already working up projects in Manchester, Rochdale, Preston, Nottingham, Doncaster, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Spitalfields, Hackney and Peckham.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received, other than from the management of British Aerospace, asking for British Aerospace's negotiations for the acquisition of Rover Group to be conducted on an exclusive basis; what consultations he undertook before deciding to accede to such requests, and with whom; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State consulted the chairman of Rover Group, Mr. Day, who advised that the Rover Group board considered exclusive negotiations with BAe should be pursued. The Government have accepted this advice, provided that negotiations are concluded by the end of April.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proposals the British Venture Capital Association has to increase investment in small enterprises in the Houghton and Washington area.

The British Venture Capital Association is a private sector body for which there is no ministerial responsibility. I have drawn the hon. Member's question to the attention of the chairman of the British Venture Capital Association.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he has now received the report from the stock exchange surveillance department into alleged insider dealing in the shares of Matthew Brown prior to the takeover by Newcastle Breweries; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 4 March 1988]: It is not the practice to reveal in particular cases whether reports about possible insider dealing are under consideration.

Number of Sheep Farmed in each County in Wales
	1975	1980	1983	1986
Breeding Flock
Clwyd	457,738	512,999	574,938	622,078
Dyfed	597,824	704,677	775,955	860,415
Gwent	159,581	171,701	186,767	200,516
Gwynedd	717,331	779,560	859,021	926,011
Mid Glamorgan	144,608	154,829	168,136	170,412
Powys	1,262,929	1,445,758	1,560,250	1,640,040
South Glamorgan	19,692	23,371	24,729	26,479
West Glamorgan	64,806	73,308	75,203	83,529
Wales	3,424,509	3,866,203	4,224,999	4,529,480
Total Sheep and Lamb
Clwyd	915,362	1,076,281	1,203,619	1,320,390
Dyfed	1,165,187	1,445,363	1,584,948	1,788,670
Gwent	314,345	344,048	373,633	405,417
Gwynedd	1,376,008	1,579,960	1,727,800	1,889,871
Mid Glamorgan	254,885	292,752	318,736	325,910
Powys	2,553,537	3,019,463	3,253,353	3,451,847
South Glamorgan	41,344	52,517	53,995	57,911
West Glamorgan	113,585	136,358	140,653	163,250
Wales	6,734,253	7,946,742	8,656,737	9,403,266

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support Her Majesty's Government are giving to the European campaign for interdependence and solidarity of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

The Government support the aims of this campaign. Last November I announced a grant of up to £70,000 to the campaign: £40,000 for the United Kingdom National Organising Committee and £30,000 for the European Organising Committee (EOC). Since the inception of the campaign the Government have also met the expenses of the British representative to the EOC. On 15 February this year I addressed a round table on developing country debt organised as part of the campaign.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on UNICEF's global immunisation programme and on the United Kingdom's contribution to it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the number of sheep farmed in each county of Wales in the following years., 1975, 1980, 1983, 1986 and 1987.

The number of sheep farmed in each county in Wales for the years requested is given in the following table. 1987 figures are not yet available.

I have no new information to add to the answer I gave my hon. Friend on I February at columns 460–61.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the use by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank of social welfare indicators to measure the impact and viability of structural adjustment programmes on the poorest groups in developing countries: and if he will make a statement.

We fully support the policy of the IMF and the World Bank to take account of the impact on the poorest groups in developing countries when helping to design structural adjustment programmes. We regard it as important in this process to use appropriate indicators of social welfare. Such indicators are, however, not always readily available in the countries in question. We therefore support the World Bank's recent initiative to help monitor living standards and improve statistical information on the condition of the poorest groups in African countries.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements have been made in accordance with the requirements of section 18(8) of the Agriculture Act 1986 to monitor the effect on wildlife and the landscape of agreements concluded with the farmers in the environmentally sensitive areas already operative in England; whether he will make details of these arrangements available in the Library; and whether he will make a statement.

A programme has been established to monitor the environmental effects of designation in all environmentally sensitive areas in England. Monitoring will be based on surveys of land use, landscape, ecology, and farming practice in each area. I expect to publish a first report, as required by section 18(8) of the Agriculture Act 1986, before the end of the summer. This report will include the information requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received about his plans to give greater control over schools to headmasters; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has received a large number of representations about the proposals for the management of schools included in the Education Reform Bill. The proposals would increase substantially the powers of school governing bodies and enhance the role of head teachers. The principle of greater delegation has been welcomed by many.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent representations he has received regarding subjects outside the core curriculum.

Since the Second Reading of the Education Reform Bill on 1 December, over 800 letters have been received commenting on the Government's proposals for a national curriculum. A number of these have mentioned subjects other than those defined as core and other foundation subjects in the Bill.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a further statement on the progress in the number of city technology colleges to be instituted.

Sponsorship for five city technology colleges has now been announced. The Kingshurst CTC will open in September and the Nottingham CTC next year. We are making good progress in discussions with a number of other prospective sponsors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received on city technology colleges; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Rochford (Dr. Clark) on 19 January 1988, at column 620.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what further plans he has for encouraging closer links between schools and businesses.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on 1 December to my hon. Friend the Member for Stockport (Mr. Favell), at columns 755–56.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps are being taken to ensure adequate staffing levels to cope with the subjects of the national curriculum.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to ensure that there are enough qualified teachers to teach all the subjects of the proposed national curriculum.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett) on Monday 11 January, at column 53 and to the answer my right hon. Friend, gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Pembroke (Mr. Bennett) on 19 January, at columns 629–30.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any further indication as to when the whole of the national curriculum will be available for teaching purposes; and if he will make a statement.

The date of full implementation remains dependent on actions and decisions which have still to be taken. Amongst such decisions are included when the remaining subject working groups will be established. My right hon. Friend hopes to set up those for English and technology shortly after Easter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many school reorganisation plans have been with his Department awaiting a decision for more than six months; and if he will list them.

My right hon. Friend has before him 26 proposals under sections 12 to 15 of the Education Act 1980 which were published over six months ago. These are shown in the table below. The list includes a number of proposals which affect only one school, and some which are held in abeyance for reasons beyond the Department's control.

Current proposals over six months old (as at 1 March 1988)
LEA and proposal	Date of publication
Brent: Establishment of the Islamia Primary School.	25 April 1986
ILEA: Change of status of Yesodey Hatorah Primary from Independent to Voluntary Aided School.	2 January 1987

To ask the Prime Minister what consideration has been given to banning trade unions from the Defence Intelligence Service.

None.

To ask the Prime Minister what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards trade union membership in those sections of (a) the Home Office, (b) the Ministry of Defence and (c) the Foreign and Commonwealth Office which deal with security matters or which handle highly classified information; and if she will make a statement.

Apart from members of the Ministry of Defence Police, civil servants in these Departments are free to join trades unions irrespective of whether they deal with security matters or handle classified information.

To ask the Prime Minister how many civil servants were trained in psychological warfare in each year from 1972 to 1987 in England, in the United States of America, or in both.

One civil servant received two weeks' training in England in 1983. Records are not available before 1982.

To ask the Prime Minister which Minister was responsible for the security services in Northern Ireland (a) from 1974 to 1979 and (b) from 1979 to the current date.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is responsible for all aspects of security policy in Northern Ireland. The position before 1979 is not a matter for me.

To ask the Prime Minister if she has received any representations about the repatriation to Poland of the remains of General Sikorski; what reply she has made; and if she will make a statement.

Representations have been received from various quarters both in Britain and in Poland. The Polish Foreign Minister raised with me last December the long-standing desire of the Polish authorities that the remains of General Sikorski be transferred to Poland. I told him that this was a delicate and difficult matter which divided the Polish people, and that the time had not yet come when we could agree to the transfer.

To ask the Prime Minister if, further to her reply at 1 March, Official Report, column 813, she will list those district health authorities which, as part of the Government's National Health Service review, had told her that they are satisfied with their current level of funding.

The hon. Gentleman will be aware from press reports and in other ways that many district health authorities have budgeted effectively within the resources allocated to them, and have provided full and comprehensive health care to those needing it. Since the review was announced a large number of submissions have been received dealing with the experiences of many health authorities. It would not, however, be appropriate to publish information which may have been given in confidence.

To ask the Prime Minister whether Her Majesty's Government are now in a position to remove the differences which currently exist between the pension entitlements of pre-1973 and post-1973 war widows.

All war widows receive pensions under the war pension scheme administered by the Department of Health and Social Security at the same standard rate regardless of when the husband served or died. Differences in total entitlement arise from changes made in the armed forces occupational pension scheme in 1973. These changes improved the provision made for widows where the husband gave service on or after 31 March 1973 and died from causes attributable to his service. It was recognised at the time that in accordance with normal superannuation practice, and in view of the very great costs which would have been involved, the new provisions could not he applied retrospectively. That position has not changed.

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a statement on the implementation of the Efficiency Unit report on "Improving Management in Government: The Next Steps".

I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said on 18 February. I hope to make a further announcement to the House in due course.

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service when he last visited the Civil Service training college at Sunningdale.

On 9 November 1987.

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service whether he is satisfied with the diversity of background of applicants for Civil Service posts; and what guidance he gives the Civil Service Selection Board in this respect.

Applications for Civil Service posts are welcome from all qualified individuals, irrespective of background. Publicity arrangements are specifically designed to attract as wide a field of candidates as possible.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what representations he has received regarding the future funding of the Arts Council in the light of recent grant announcements.

There has been general recognition that three-year funding through the Arts Council offers a firm basis to arts bodies on which to plan their future.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what information he has received from the Arts Council as to its intended application of moneys set aside for incentive funding.

My office has discussed with the council the detailed arrangements for its incentive funding scheme. A summary is given in the council's brochure "Better Business for the Arts", copies of which have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Minister for the Arts whether (a) small and (b) innovative arts organisations will quality for incentive funding under the Arts Council's scheme.

The Arts Council published "Better Business for the Arts", containing full details of its scheme on 24 February.The minimum grant will be £5,000. To qualify for this an organisation will be required to increase its income from outside sources by £10,000 in the third year of a business plan. A major criterion for all incentive funding awards will be the artistic excellence of the programmes; innovation is an important feature.

To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he will give financial support to establish a national museum of popular music.

To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he will give financial support to establish a national museum of popular music.

Any initiative in this area might look first to the entertainment industry for financial and practical help.

To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he has had discussions with regional Arts associations on developing a national plan for the arts and employment.

To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he has had discussions with regional Arts associations to develop a national plan for the Arts and employment.

No, but I meet regional arts associations regularly and see the contribution that they are making. I do not think a national plan is required: the initiatives must arise locally. Some of them are referred to in the inner cities document launched by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister this morning.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what assessment he has made of the extent to which plural funding can aid the preservation of Britain's heritage.

I expect the heritage to continue to be supported by a mixture of public and private funding. Objects saved with the help of the national heritage memorial fund almost always attract private contributions. In addition, the Government indemnify many privately sponsored exhibitions.

To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he will conduct an audit of national museums to identify the potential for further regional development.

I have no plans to conduct such study.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what was the cost of the Office of Arts and Libraries' report entitled "Arts and the Inner City".

To ask the Minister for the Arts what was the cost of the Office of Arts and Libraries report entitled "Arts and the Inner City".

£5,900 for research fees, travel and subsistence costs.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what was the cost of the Office of Arts and Libraries' paper "Arts and the Inner City".

[holding answer Friday 4 March 1988]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Hackney, South and Shoreditch (Mr. Sedgemore) earlier today.

To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he has had discussions with the West Midlands Arts Association about the potential for developing employment in the arts in the west midlands.

I have not had specific discussions with the west midlands arts associations, but I am aware of negotiations between WMAA and various local authorities, including Birmingham city council, Shropshire county council, and Dudley and Wolverhampton borough councils, covering employment initiatives within the field of the arts.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what discussions he has had with regional arts associations about the use of funds available for developing equal opportunities policy in implementing arts projects.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what discussions he has had with regional arts associations about the use of funds available for developing equal opportunities policies in implementing arts projects.

I have not discussed this matter with regional arts associations, but the Arts Council has an equal opportunities policy covering employment practices, and an action plan committing 4 per cent. of the council's expenditure to ethnic minority arts within two years. These policies are supported by regional arts associations.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what are the criteria for the distribution by the Arts Council of money set aside for touring companies.

The criteria for touring companies are similar to those for all arts companies. They take into account the company's artistic performance and standards, its strategic role and the quality of its management. The Arts Council is making a particular effort to expand regional touring over the next three years and I have made increased funds available for the purpose.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what assessment he has made of the financial and marketing skills of arts bodies; and whether the Arts Council is providing advice on these skills.

In assessing its clients the Arts Council has regard to management ability as well as to artistic excellence. The council's new marketing department has embarked on a full programme of marketing support. I am also giving direct encourgement to marketing and recently announced support for two new measures: a distance learning package and training courses for top management.

To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he has had discussions with the regional arts associations about the provision of Office of Arts and Libraries officers in the regions.

I am satisfied with the present arrangements, which provide for consultation whenever necessary between my officials and regional arts associations. There is no requirement for an OAL presence in the regions.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what assessments the Arts Council makes of the costs of individual productions by subsidised theatre companies in deciding its level of grant; and if he will make a statement.

In assessing its clients the Arts Council takes full account of their performance, both artistic and managerial.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what information he has on total annual attendance figures at (a) London theatres, (b) provincial theatres, (c) London concerts, (d) provincial concerts, (e) London opera and (f) provincial opera.

The most recently available and comparable figures (1984) are as follows:

	thousands
(a)	10,471
(b)	5,557
(c)	1,118
(d)	1,348
(e)	565
(f)	474

The figures at

To ask the Minister for the Arts what are the estimated capital costs of the new British Library at St. Pancras in each year from 1987–88 to 1990–91.

Provision for the estimated capital costs of the new British Library at St. Pancras for these years is as follows:

		£
	1987–88	24,500,000
	1988–89	33,088,000
	1989–90	41,549,000
	1990–91	46,159,000

The figures given are in respect of the construction and resource costs for stage 1A, apart from £500,000 included within the 1988–89 figure, which is earmarked towards the design work for the completion stage.The figures are larger than those which I announced on 5 November because they include additional amounts transferred from the British Library's grant-in-aid in respect of savings in rents previously paid by the British Library to the Property Services Agency now reallocated to the project.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what discussions he has had with the Arts Council with regard to the funding of ethnic arts within London and the appointment of black directors to arts bodies; and if he will make a statement.

I discuss funding matters with the chairman and secretary general on a regular basis. Employment practices, the composition of boards of directors, and the application of the council's equal opportunities policies are among the council's criteria for the assessment of its clients.

To ask the Minister for the Arts if he has any plans to seek powers to enable him to require the Royal Opera House to stage an appropriate proportion of black or ethnic arts.

No. It would be inappropriate for me to intervene in the artistic programmes of the Opera House, or any other funded theatre.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what has been the budget for the Arts Council minority arts unit in 1986–87 and 1987–88; and what is the proposed budget for 1988–89.

[holding answer 4 March 1988]: The council had no separate budget for a minority arts unit in 1986–87. For the two succeeding years, budgets for the unit, including a grant to the minority arts advisory service, in figures are:

	£ thousand
1987–88	50·5
11988–89	65·0
1 Projected.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what new steps he is taking to promote increased activity by oil companies in the North sea.

The licensing and fiscal arrangements for companies wishing to develop the resources of the United Kingdom continental shelf have encouraged a very high level of activity in recent years. Whilst activity fell as a result of the oil price collapse in 1986, it has since recovered strongly, which is further evidence of the success of the Government's approach to the North sea.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board regarding the conversion of oil-fired power stations to coal.

The CEGB keeps the possibility of conversion from oil to coal-fired power stations under constant review. I understand that the board has concluded that such conversion would be uneconomic at present.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has now decided whether to produce a White Paper on privatisation of the electricity industry; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if will make a further statement on progress in preparing plans to privatise the electricity supply industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what proposals he is considering for the control of the national grid after privatisation of the electricity industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what progress he has made regarding the proposed publication of a White Paper on electricity privatisation.

I refer the hon. Members to my statement to the House of 25 February 1988.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met the chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board to discuss the privatisation of the electricity supply industry; and if he will make a statement.

I meet Lord Marshall frequently. I refer the hon. Member to my statement to the House of 25 February 1988.