asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish in the

Since the document is lengthy, I am arranging for copies of the text of the Declaration concerning the Policy of Apartheid in South Africa, adopted by the 67th session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva on 17th June 1981. to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will update the information about Northern Ireland's share of the United Kingdom's taxes, as stated in the Written Answer on 13th May 1980 (H.L. Debates Vol. 409, cols. 247–248).

The share of United Kingdom taxes attributed to Northern Ireland under the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 is calculated in accordance with the requirements of the Northern Ireland (Share of United Kingdom Taxes) Regulations 1975 (S.I. 1975 No. 1313) and the Northern Ireland (Share of United Kingdom Taxes) (National Insurance Surcharge) Regulations 1977 (S.I. 1977 No. 1879).There has been no change in these regulations since the Written Answer given on 13th May 1980.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will update the information about the United Kingdom subvention to Northern Ireland as stated in the Written Answer on 13th May 1980 (H.L. Debates Vol. 409, cols. 248–250).

The revised figures for the subvention from the United Kingdom to Northern Ireland for 1979–80 and the provisional figures for 1980–81 are as follows:—

Information of the receipts flowing from the Guarantee section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund is not collected on a regional basis.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will list in the

The list of buildings is attached. This shows progress in that schemes have been completed in 43 of the 71 towns and we now expect schemes to be completed in a further 12 this financial year. The works in a number of cases have formed part of larger schemes but the information on separate cost details cannot be found except at disproportionate cost.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What research is taking place into a satisfactory substitute for lead for use by fishermen and in shotguns, what progress has been made, and whether and, if so, in what ways they are furthering these efforts.

A working group chaired by the Nature Conservancy Council was set up in 1979 to investigate the effect of lead poisoning in swans. The working party's terms of reference include the investigation of alternatives to lead. They are currently considering new evidence and will be making recommendations in due course.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which department is responsible for deciding whether the Kenwith Valley Flood Alleviation Scheme should be supported by Her Majesty's Government in an application for an EEC grant.

The Department of the Environment is responsible for deciding which applications from English infrastructure authorities for European Regional Development Fund grant shall go forward to the Commission. In such cases as the Kenwith Valley Flood Alleviation Scheme, my department would consult the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food before submitting an application.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in view of the proposed renewal of the sewerage system, they will consider separation of industrial from domestic sewage so that the latter could be composted and used on the land, thus providing much-needed organic matter, saving expenditure on artificial fertilisers and incidentally providing employment.

The separation of all industrial effluent from domestic sewage would be a major operation and though it would create employment it would put a considerable burden of cost upon the community in general and upon industry in particular. It could not be commended as a general policy.At present the water authorities exercise strict control over the volume and strength of industrial effluent discharged to sewers and they monitor regularly the toxic materials in sewage. As a result, about 44 per cent. of the total sewage sludge produced in the United Kingdom is utilised for its manurial value in agriculture, making a small but significant contribution to the nation's fertiliser requirement. Guidelines upon the disposal of sewage sludge to land produced by the Department of the Environment and National Water Council encourage the greater utilisation of sludge in agriculture and make recommendations for the prevention of soil pollution.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What consideration they are giving to the preparation of a Consolidation Bill embracing the statutory provisions in force relating to the constitution, organisation, administration, jurisdiction and powers of the sheriff courts in Scotland and their forms of process and procedure.

A proposal for this consolidaton was included in the Scottish Law Commission's Third Programme of Consolidation and Statute Law Revision which was published in November 1977. The work will be put in hand when departmental staff resources are available to prepare the necessary instructions.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are satisfied with the present statutory position with regard to the inspection of religious education in Scottish schools.

At present Section 66(2) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 prohibits HM Inspectors from inquiring into religious instruction in Scottish schools. This provision, which dates from 1872, was clearly designed to prevent central Government exercising undue influence over the content of religious instruction, and has been the basis for the long-standing tradition that my right honourable friend does not concern himself with the teaching of religious subjects in schools.In recent years, however, there has developed a general view that religious education should no longer be treated as a subject set apart from other subjects in the curriculum. In accord with this growing view, the then Secretary of State set up the Millar Committee in 1968 to review the practice of non-denominational schools with regard to moral and religious education and to make recommendations for its improvement. Subsequently, one of the important recommendations of the Millar Committee, that a Teaching Qualification (Secondary Education) in religious education should be available, was implemented, as was the recommendation that the Consultative Committee on the Curriculum, my right honourable friend's principal advisory body on the school curriculum, should take over responsibility for curriculum development in the field of moral and religious education. The further issue of an examination in religious studies is currently under consideration following a recommendation by the Consultative Committee on the Curriculum and the Scottish Certificate of Education Examination Board that such an examination should be introduced.In the light of these developments and of representations from the Churches and other interests about the state of religious education in schools, the Government have reached the conclusion that the long-standing bar on the inspection of religious subjects is no longer appropriate and that the opportunity of the Education (Scotland) Bill, currently before the House, should be taken to repeal Section 66(2) of the 1980 Act, so that religious subjects may in future be treated on the same footing as other subjects in the curriculum and may be open to review by Her Majesty's Inspectors as necessary. The Scottish Education Department have today asked the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, the Scottish Churches and other interested bodies for their views on this proposal.House adjourned at fourteen minutes before nine o'clock, until Thursday next.