asked Her Majesty's GovernmentWhat research, if any, is being conducted by the Home Office or other government agencies into the problems of stress in the police services; how much is being spent on these researches; and what plans, if any, exist for future investigations into these problems.

The results of a preliminary study on mental stress in the police service, which was organised by the Home Office on behalf of the Association of Chief Police Officers and cost £42,000, were published last year. The study indicates a number of areas in which action might usefully be taken and we are now considering how further progress might best be made.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether prisoners in dispersal prisons in England and Wales have been allowed to send 20 Christmas cards this year, compared with 12 in previous years; whether they will extend this privilege to prisoners in all prisons in 1985 and whether they will amend Standing Order 5 accordingly; and whether they will at the same time allow prisoners to buy Christmas cards directly from recognised charities and voluntary bodies, either from their earnings or from private cash.

In 1984 it was decided that prisoners in dispersal prisons would be permitted to send out up to 20 Christmas cards; previously, practice at individual dispersal prisons had varied. We are reviewing the provisions for the number of Christmas cards which inmates who are not located in dispersal prisons may send out and we shall be considering methods by which inmates may purchase cards produced by charities if they wish.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why there is not enough clothing for the hospital at Parkhurst Prison to allow each prisoner two changes per week, and what steps they are taking to remedy the shortage.

Prisoners held in the hospital at Parkhurst Prison are normally allowed two changes of clothing a week; there have been difficulties in meeting this target in recent weeks largely because of the difficulty in keeping up with the necessary repairs to prisoners' clothing. Sufficient additional stocks of clothing have been ordered and have now arrived at the prison.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which countries organise national lotteries in connection with health services.

We have no firm information about state controlled lotteries in other countries. The reports of the Royal Commission on Gambling (Cmnd. 7200, published in 1978) and of the Interdepartmental Working Party on Lotteries (Cmnd. 5506, published in 1973) mentioned the following as countries in which such lotteries were then in operation:

asked Her Majesty's Government:What changes they propose to introduce in the immigration appeals system following consideration of comments on the discussion document,

The primary aim of the Government's review was to identify ways of reducing the unacceptable delays in the appeals system. Over the period of the review, however, delays have been greatly reduced. At the end of November 1984 the number of appeals awaiting hearing was about 9,500 compared with 16,350 at the end of 1979, and the average delay in the hearing centres was reduced, over the same period, from 14 months to three to four months. The objective of the review has therefore largely been achieved. We do not propose at this time to introduce any changes in rights of appeal, for example for illegal entrants before removal, although this will be considered when a suitable opportunity presents itself to amend the Immigration Act 1971. In the meantime there are a number of minor and tidying up changes which it is proposed to make to the Immigration Appeals (Procedure) Rules 1972 and the Immigration Appeals (Notices) Regulations 1972; and revised Rules and Regulations, both of which are subject to negative resolution of both Houses, will be laid shortly. These changes have the support of the appellate authorities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps they are taking to ascertain whether there is general parliamentary support for the recommendations of the Working Party of the Statute Law Society on Consolidation of Enactments, bearing in mind the statement by the Attorney General on the 16th November 1984 that he would not wish to propose amendments to consolidation procedure until both he and the Lord Chancellor were satisfied that the proposals had such support.

This interesting report was not commissioned or produced by the Government and it is not, therefore, for the Government to seek to ascertain the views of Parliament on it. Nevertheless, any views received on the conclusions contained in the report would be welcome and considered with interest.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many days intervened between the giving of the guarantee of the Sequestrator's costs (in carrying out his duties in connection with the fine for contempt of court imposed on the NUM) and the notification to Parliament, and whether there are sufficient precedents to establish that such a lapse of time is normal where a contingent liability has been entered into without the knowledge of Parliament.

There was an interval of 27 days between the giving of the indemnity and the presentation of the relevant Revised Supplementary Estimate to the House of Commons. The indemnity was given in order to ensure that a penalty imposed by the High Court for a deliberate contempt of court was not successfully evaded. The Attorney General's action thus arose from the exercise of his normal function, ex officio, as the guardian of the public interest and the indemnity fell within the ambit of the Law Charges Vote. The Revised Supplementary Estimates for the Law Charges Vote were then being prepared for early presentation to Parliament and the incorporation in them of a sub-head for the indemnity, together with an accompanying explanatory memorandum from the Financial Secretary to the Treasury provided the appropriate means of notifying the indemnity to Parliament.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have completed their consideration of President Reagan's invitation to share in the development of the space station proposed by NASA, and when they expect to be able to make a statement?

The Government are continuing to give full consideration to President Reagan's invitation to participate in the development of an international space station. The proposal is being examined in conjunction with the Long Term Plan of the European Space Agency, and both topics will be discussed at a Ministerial Council of the agency at the end of the month, at which time the Government will announce their conclusions.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are yet able to announce the timing of vesting day for Royal Ordnance plc.

Vesting day for Royal Ordnance plc was 2nd January 1985. On that day a scheme was made pursuant to Section 1 of the Ordnance Factories and Military Services Act 1984 which transferred the assets and liabilities of the ROF trading fund and certain other establishments to Royal Ordnance plc. The shares in the company are all in the ownership of my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Defence. A copy of the scheme has been laid before Parliament. I have placed a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding between my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Defence and the chairman of Royal Ordnance plc in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why the only all-British contender for the new RAF trainer contract has not, unlike the non-NATO, non-EEC entries, been invited to submit revised tenders and whether the British companies who have submitted foreign aircraft designs will be required to obtain assurances that are legally binding from their Swiss or Brazilian principals that they will be permitted to procure and manufacture the aircraft ordered by third countries as a consequence of the prestige conferred by the RAF contract in the interests of British exports and employment; and if such assurances are not forthcoming, whether they will re-examine the decision to exclude Firecracker from the final assessment.

The tenders from British Aerospace and Shorts offer clear-cut advantages in terms of the combination of cost and performance over the other two tenders, as I advised noble Lords on 19th December. Both companies have now been formally invited to submit best and final offers. Hunting Firecracker and AAC-Westlands have indicated, nevertheless, that they wish to submit revised bids and we have agreed that their proposals will be considered.As part of our final evaluation we shall take account of the information provided by the British companies on the manufacturing arrangements they have made with their overseas partners for the sale of aircraft to third countries.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether it is to be the general practice for companies who respond to the invitation of the Ministry of Defence to participate in competition for defence contracts to learn of the elimination of their bid through the press and not from the Ministry, as happened in the case of Firecracker Aircraft Ltd. in the competition for a basic trainer for the RAF.

No, my Lords. My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Defence Procurement informed honourable Members in another place in a Written Answer on 18th December of our decision about the basic trainer aircraft. In parallel that evening, a senior official of the Ministry of Defence telephoned representatives of all four companies, including the deputy chairman of Hunting Firecracker Aircraft Ltd. In each case, this was the first news which these representatives had of the decision. I informed noble Lords of the decision on 19th December in a Written Answer to my noble friend Lord Sandys.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will confirm or deny the truth of a press report to the effect that Customs and Excise are in the habit of seizing and selling diesel cars if they find evidence that the car has been driven, on some date unknown, using fuel on which insufficient duty had been paid.

Although diesel cars may become liable to forfeiture if fuel is used on which the full rate of duty has not been paid, seizure is made by Customs and Excise only after a full investigation of the circumstances and they are satisfied that such action is justified. No central records are kept but it is most unlikely that a car would be seized in the circumstances described. In most instances a seized vehicle is restored to the owner on payment of a sum substantially less than its value.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the street value of the heroin and cocaine seized by the Customs and Excise in 1984, and the comparable figures for each year since 1978.

The figures for 1984 are not yet available. I shall write to the noble Lord when they are.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend to publish a White Paper explaining how environmental concerns will in future be taken fully into account in framing their agricultural policies and those of the European Community; and if so, when.

My right honourable friend is considering whether to publish a statement of the Government's view on future agricultural and food policy including environmental aspects.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they took into account their duty under Section 22 of the Water Act 1978 as amended by Section 48 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 when they refused grant aid under Section 91 of the Land Drainage Act 1976 towards the drainage scheme proposed for North Duffield Carrs, Derwent Ings in Yorkshire.

In making decisions on grant aid under Section 91 of the Land Drainage Act 1976 the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food takes into account all the duties and requirements set out in the relevant legislation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why the digitisation of Ordnance Survey large-scale maps will not be completed before 2015, when the Ordnance Survey and the Ordnance Survey Advisory Board proposed its completion by 2000 and the Select Committee on Science and Technology recommended completion not later than 1994.

When considering the proposals to accelerate the Ordnance Survey digital mapping programme, the Government had to balance the currently known requirements for digital data with the national requirement to contain public expenditure.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why their response to recommendation 49 of the Ordnance Survey Review Committee contains no commitment to the digitisation of Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 scale maps, notwithstanding the recommendation of the Select Committee on Science and Technology and the needs of the Ministry of Defence, among others.

The study of user needs for digitised Ordnance Survey small-scale maps has been recently completed. A summary and commentary on the study has been prepared and I have placed a copy in the Library. This shows that, although there is some need for 1:50,000-scale digital data, the project would not be self-supporting. However, a further consideration is being given to digitising at this scale and, in particular, discussions are being held with the Ministry of Defence.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the survey of user needs for small-scale digital map data has been completed; whether the results will be published; and when the programme for digitising promised in paragraph 28 of Cmnd. 9320 will be prepared.

The study of user needs for small-scale digital map data has been recently completed. A summary and commentary on the study has been prepared and I have placed a copy in the Library. The full report will be published in the next few weeks. Since it has been shown that a small-scale digital programme would not be self-supporting, further consideration is being given to digitising at the small scales.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will make a statement about the elimination of lead from petrol in the United Kingdom, and in the EEC.

The Council of Environment Ministers agreed at their meeting on 6th December on the text of a new Directive on the lead and benzene content of petrol. The Council could not adopt the directive formally at that meeting because the opinion of the European Parliament had not then been received.The Directive as now agreed requires that unleaded petrol should be introduced in all member states no later than 1989. It may be introduced on the market of a member state earlier. It will have a minimum octane rating of 95 RON/85 MON at the pump, although a second, lower grade of unleaded petrol may be sold in addition. Member states are invited to use measures they think appropriate to promote the use of unleaded petrol. A limit of 5 per cent. is placed on the benzene content of petrol from 1989.One question still to be resolved is the date, or dates, from which member states would be able to require new cars to be capable of running on unleaded petrol. This requirement is contained in the Commission's separate proposals for a new directive for tighter emissions controls. Some progress was also made on this question at the 6th December Council meeting.The new petrol-lead directive also requires all member states to reduce the lead content of their leaded petrol for cars that need it—to 0.15 grammes per litre—as soon as they think it appropriate. The Government's decision to reduce petrol-lead to this level in the United Kingdom from the end of 1985 was of course announced in 1981.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they agree with the Inspector's report on the proposed Oxford-Birmingham motorway that the original preferred route between Wheatley and Wendlebury should now be substituted for the Eastern R.2 route, and if so

The decisions of my right honourable friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment and Transport following the 1982/83 inquiry into the proposals on the Oxford/Birmingham M40 motorway were announced on 14th December. The decision letter explained that, before coming to a conclusion on the section of the route south of Wendlebury, the Secretaries of State thought it right to investigate the possibility of finding an eastern route which would meet the desire of the objectors and the conclusion of the Inspector that Otmoor and the Bernwood Forest should be avoided, but which would have less disadvantage overall than the R.2 route. My right honourable friends therefore deferred their decision on this section of the route.The investigations will start shortly and a further announcement on the outcome will be made as soon as possible. Whatever the outcome, a further public inquiry is almost certain to be needed. Until a final decision is made, the original published route across Otmoor is not ruled out as one of the possibilities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have any plans to prevent the merchant vessels of any foreign country with which the United Kingdom maintains diplomatic relations from entering British ports, where the prime function of the port is commercial and such vessels are engaged in the ordinary business of trade between nations.

The Government currently have no plans to prevent foreign merchant vessels from entering British ports.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will make a statement on the future management of the Osborne House Convalescent Home.

I am glad to be able to announce that the Civil Service Benevolent Fund have agreed to enter into a contract to manage the home on behalf of my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, with effect from 1st July 1985. I am confident they will be able to maintain standards and to preserve the traditions of the home.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will make a statement about the advantages to members of the Commonwealth of the recently renegotiated Lomé Convention.

The 35 Commonwealth members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States will derive substantial benefits from the recently concluded Third Lomé Convention. The trade provisions of the convention provide generous access to ACP exports (although we would like to have seen even more trade liberalisation). And each ACP state will receive its fair share of the Sixth European Development Fund (7400 million ecu—£4,405 million) and of the enhanced lending by the European Investment Bank (up to 1,100 million ecu—£655 million). The predominant beneficiaries of the special arrangements for rum, bananas, beef and sugar are Commonwealth countries. Other benefits include access to the Stabex scheme (for the stabilisation of export earnings from commodities) and the Sysmin facility (to help mineral producers whose production and income falls as a result of factors beyond their control).

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will reconsider the decision to make a 9 per cent. cut in grant from the Department of Education and Science to the Workers' Educational Association.

No. The levels of the Department of Education and Science grants for the 15 Workers' Educational Association districts were established nationally following a review at the end of 1983 when phased reductions were announced in the planned aggregate total of grants amounting to 8.3 per cent. over the three-year period 1983–84 to 1986–87.