asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Chilver Report on Teacher Education in Northern Ireland underestimated the probable school population up to 1995; and if so by how much.

The school population projections contained in this Report were based on the Government Actuary's Department January 1978 population projections. The most recent estimates are based on the Government Actuary's Department January 1980 population projections. These indicate that the projected school population is at its lowest in the late 1980's for which period the projections are about 6 per cent. above those shown in the Chilver Report. I would refer the noble Lord to the detailed breakdown of these latest estimates given in the reply to Lord Blease on 25th November 1981.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in view of the controversy over the siting of the proposed nuclear power station in Dorset, consideration has been or will be given to building combined heat and power stations in some or all of the major towns of the South-West; and whether CHP stations such as already exist at Hereford would not reduce transmission losses as well as being more efficient and more environmentally appropriate, when fired by oil, coal or wood.

The overall economics of any combined heat and power scheme will depend upon a number of factors of which the most critical is the availability of an adequate heat load within reach of a suitable power station site. The electricity supply industry is willing to consider the possible economic advantages of CHP schemes, whether in the South-West or elsewhere. The industry is also helping the Department of Energy in its programme of work to investigate the most promising sites for CHP and district heating, although no cities or towns in the South-West have applied to participate in the possible lead city scheme.

asked Her Maiesty's Government:What precautions were taken to step up the level of supervision, by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland fishery officers, of hunters licensed to take grey seal pups during the 1981 season.

A fishery officer from my department was stationed in Orkney throughout the period of the 1981 grey seal pup hunt and was engaged exclusively on the general supervision of the hunt during that time. As in previous years, a number of seal colonies, including all those where hunters were licensed to take pups, were visited on a regular basis. In addition to witnessing a high proportion of the hunting activity, the officer inspected a number of the consignments of skins. The whole level of supervision was more intensive than in previous years including in particular a higher level of sea time through an extended charter of a vessel. In addition, a senior officer maintained a general supervision through reports from the officer on the spot and visited the Orkney Islands during the period of the hunt.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many grey seal pups were authorised to be taken under licence during the 1981 season from each of the islands of Ruskholm, Wartholm, Faray and Faray Holm, Holm and Point of Spurness, Holm of Huip and Auskerry, and how the returns by hunters were checked.

The licences issued in terms of the Conservation of Seals Act 1970 in respect of the grey seal pup hunt in Orkney limit the number of pups to be taken by individual hunters from certain named islands. The licences do not, however, limit the numbers of pups to be taken from particular islands. Information based on the returns from the hunters was contained in the reply given to the noble Lord on 17th December 1981. The check of the returns made by the hunters was backed up by observations of hunting activity made by the DAFS officer supervising the hunt. Sample checks were also made of the consignment of skins which were sent from the islands.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their response to the resolutions adopted by the European Parliament by 84 votes to 69 asking EEC Foreign Ministers (i) to place "serious infringement of human rights" in El Salvador and other Central American States on the agenda of the United Nations Human Rights Commission, (ii) to contact the United States and Mexican Governments with a view to mediating in El Salvador; and expressing the view that the elections in El Salvador on 28th March "cannot be regarded as free".

The question of human rights in El Salvador and other Central American States is already on the agenda of the United Nations Human Rights Commission. We support the appointments of special representatives to investigate human rights abuses in El Salvador and Guatemala. The Foreign Ministers of the European Community meet regularly to discuss foreign policy questions. We have taken note of the resolution and will have it in mind in any future discussions with our partners.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In relation to a married man aged 30 with two children, accepted as an immigrant five years ago, immediately employed and making statutory contributions to the social services: (

A man in the circumstances prescribed by my noble friend who became unemployed in March 1982 would receive £48·50 a week in unemployment benefit and child benefit. He would also be eligible for supplementary benefit if his and his wife's income fell below his requirements as assessed for supplementary benefit purposes, and their capital resources did not exceed £2,000. His requirements for himself and his wife and children, if both were under 11 years old, would be £53·55 a week, plus allowable housing costs plus, possibly, special allowances for items such as heating. Supplementary benefit would be payable to bring the family income up to that level. If his wife was working, £4 a week of her net earnings would be disregarded and the rest taken into account.At age 65, and assuming that he worked continuously, his contributions in this country would entitle him to a basic retirement pension of 89 per cent. of the standard rate, namely £2·34 for himself and £15·80 for his wife at current rates.Depending on the country of residence prior to entry to the United Kingdom, there might be reciprocal agreements which would enable the United Kingdom basic pension to be increased to more than 89 per cent, because of residence or insurance before 1977. Assuming that he were contracted into the state pension scheme, entitlement to the earnings-related additional pension would be payable but would depend on the amount of his earnings in his 20 years of highest earnings. If they were the equivalent of current adult male average earnings, at current rates this could represent about £22·50 a week.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps they will take to provide continuing education for mentally handicapped people after they have reached the age of 19 years bearing in mind that at that point their mental ages will vary from about 6 to 12 years, depending on the severity of their handicap.

The securing of provision of continuing education after 19 years for mentally handicapped young people is primarly a matter for local education authorities as part of their duties and powers under Section 41 and 42 of the Education Act 1944. The Government recognised, in paragraph 52 of the White Paper Special Needs in Education published in August 1980 (Cmnd. 7996), the need to clarify the law in the interest of students with special educational needs. They also considered this should be done as part of a wider review of the legal framework governing further education. The review was carried out jointly by central and local government officials last year and the Secretary of State, as announced in another place on 17th February, is currently considering their proposals in the light of the consultations thereon. The Government have already accepted, in the White Paper just referred to, the importance attached by the Warnock Report to the transition to adult life of persons with these other handicaps; and that they should have the widest possible choice of avenues for continued education or training in accordance with their aptitudes.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will make known their response to the Wilson Committee's Report on Modern Public Records.

The Government's response is published today in a White Paper.House adjourned at twenty-five minutes before ten o'clock.