asked Her Majesty's Government:What are their plans for Civil Service participation in the Youth Training Scheme and whether they will make a statement.

The following organisations are considering offering places under the Youth Training Scheme:

• Royal Mint.
• MOD Civilian Establishments (including Royal Dockyards, Royal Ordnance Factories and Procurement Executive).
• Her Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO).
• Ordnance Survey.
• Export Credits Guarantee Department.
• Ministry of Agriculture, Commodities Division.
• Off-Shore Supplies Office, Glasgow.
• Forestry Commission.
• Customs and Excise (particularly at Southend).
• Some office/common services areas (including computers).
• Government research activities.
• MSC.
• Museums and Galleries.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether broadcasting organisations are required by statute to employ registered disabled performers on appropriate occasions.

Broadcasting organisations with 20 or more employees, have, like other employers, a duty to employ 3 per cent. registered disabled people, although not necessarily as performers.

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

(a) The 28 non-departmental advisory or consultative and 12 executive bodies for which the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is the sponsoring department and to which the Minister appoints members, observers or chairmen are listed in Public Bodies 1982 prepared by Management and Personnel Office and published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Details of the numbers of members appointed are also given. A copy of this publication is in the Library of the House. Since it was printed the Central Council for Agricultural and Horticultural Co-operation has been replaced by Food From Britain and the Thames Barrier Advisory Team has been wound up. In addition the Minister appoints members to the bodies listed in the attached Appendix "A" which are sponsored by other departments.(

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will identify all the agricultural co-operatives which have received assistance from the EEC under Regulation 1035/72 in each of the last three years; and specify the amounts in each case; andWhether they will list all agricultural co-operatives which have been awarded grants from the EEC Regulation 355/77 in the last two years; and specify the amount received in each case.

I am writing to my noble friend giving details of EEC grants to agricultural co-operatives.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many local authorities have, under Section 14 of the 1981 Education Act, served written notice on the Secretary of State of their proposals to cease to maintain special schools; how many schools are involved; and how many proposals have been accepted and how many rejected.

To date 21 local education authorities have served written notice on the Secretary of State of proposals to cease to maintain special schools; 34 schools are involved; 21 school closures have been approved and none has been rejected. In four cases the statutory periods allowed for objections to be made and forwarded to the Secretary of State have still to expire; proposals involving the remaining nine schools are still under consideration by the Secretary of State.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What annual grants are made to the British Council; how many persons from overseas were aided to visit here during 1982; and from which countries they came.

The British Council receives a grant-in-aid from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office diplomatic wing and a grant from the Overseas Development Administration. For the financial year 1982–83 these payments were £39,450,000 and £19,623,000 respectively. In addition, the ODA also makes contributions in respect of aid administration, higher education and for technical education and training in developing countries.The council does not keep its records by calendar year and it is not possible to give the precise breakdown of figures of aided visitors requested for the year 1982. The council's records, however, show that there were 5,970 aided visitors in Britain on 31st March 1982 (of whom some will have arrived in 1982) and that a further 15,020 arrived between 1st April and 31st December 1982, making a total of 20,990. The visitors came from 156 countries.A breakdown of the countries concerned and the numbers of aided visitors who arrived in Britain from them will be the subject of a separate letter.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the outcome of the recent negotiations in Moscow between British and Soviet delegations regarding the Soviet Trade Delegation rates.

In negotiations between British and Soviet delegations held recently in London and Moscow, arrangements were worked out on the question of the rating of the building of the Trade Delegation of the USSR in London at 33 Highgate West Hill. The arrangements provide a mutually satisfactory settlement of this question for the period from 1969 to the present and also for the current rating year. They are without prejudice to legal positions. They provide for a Soviet contribution which corresponds to 60 per cent. of the rates. This has been paid by the Soviet Embassy to the British Government. The British Government have made it up to 100 per cent. and transmitted the whole sum to Camden Council. In addition there are certain flats to which the usual arrangements as regards rating relief will apply, on the basis that they are occupied by persons personally enjoying diplomatic privileges. These arrangements as a whole apply to the arrears and also to the rating year from 1st April 1983 to 31st March 1984. As regards matters concerning the rating of the above mentioned building in subsequent years, these will be further discussed with a view to reaching a settlement during the current rating year.