asked Her Majesty's Government:Why the Enterprise Allowance Scheme was not more widely advertised, and whether the target of 77,000 people has now been reached; what new targets have been set and how they propose to amend the qualifying conditions and financial incentives to assist more unemployed people to start new businesses.

The enterprise allowance scheme is widely advertised in jobcentres and information is available in other organisations where enquiries can be expected, such as unemployment benefit offices, post offices, banks, local enterprise agencies and the Department of Trade and Industry's small firms service. Local press and other media advertising is used where appropriate.By the end of February 1985, nearly 70,000 unemployed people had joined the scheme since it was introduced nationally on 1st August 1983. As my right honourable friend the Secreary of State for Employment announced in another place on 12th November 1984 [

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the total weight of salmon caught by the Northumberland Drift Net Fishery from 1975 to 1984 inclusive.

The information for 1984 is not yet available. The total weights of salmon catches recorded in the Northumbrian Water Authority's area by both drift nets and inshore nets in 1975 to 1983 were:

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will nominate Sheffield as the British candidate for the location of the proposed European Economic Community Trade Mark Office in view of the city's experience in dealing with trade marks since 1554, the facilities it has available and the need for alternative employment in the light of the decline of its traditional industries.

The Government consider that the Community Trade Marks Office should be located in London, as was said most recently by Mr. Pattie, Minister of State for Industry and Information Technology, in another place (Official Report, col. 6) on 8th November 1984. The possibility of putting forward a regional candidate has been thoroughly examined, but the Government are convinced that London has the best chance of success over the strong rival nominations made by other Community states.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are satisfied with the manner in which certain holiday tour companies seek to impose their rules on travel agents under the threat of withdrawal of services; and whether this is in the consumer's interest and whether they will indicate the extent to which the Competition Act 1980 is being breached by some holiday tour operators who are seeking to deny to the consumer the benefits of competition by threatening to withhold services, contrary to the Act.

The Competition Act 1980 does not of itself make practices unlawful but gives the Director General powers to conduct an investigation, following which he may consider whether to make a reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.The supply of tour operator services through travel agents is currently being investigated by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission following a reference by the Director General of Fair Trading under the monopoly provisions of the Fair Trading Act 1973. Moreover, the Director General stands ready to consider investigating any possible anticompetitive practices by tour operators which are not covered by that reference.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are satisfied that in the event of a collapse by tour operators similar to that which occurred in 1984 the arrangements being made at present by the holiday travel industry will ensure that consumers are fully protected.

As far as air tour operators are concerned the Government are satisfied that in the event of a failure of a major operator the present arrangements will ensure that their customers are fully protected. Travellers who book tours through ABTA travel agents, irrespective of the mode of travel involved, are protected against the consequences of insolvency of travel agents or tour operators through ABTA's bonding scheme and other arrangements. Over 90 per cent. of travel agents in the United Kingdom are members of ABTA. In addition to using licensed air tour operators and ABTA travel agents, travellers can take other steps to protect their interests. They can for example avail themselves of insurance cover against insolvency of travel companies.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether in elaboration of their reply to Baroness Burton of Coventry's Starred Question on 14th March (col. 227) they will inform the House of the contents of the statement made by Commissioner Clinton Davis on the work he intends to carry out regarding consumer policy and consumer protection and information.

In his statement to the 11th February Internal Market/Consumer Affairs Council, Commissioner Clinton Davis emphasised the Commission's intention to give a new impetus to the Community's consumer protection programme while continuing to make strenuous efforts to open up the internal market. Mr. Clinton Davis is concerned to ensure that, while removing barriers to trade, the consumer is not put at risk from defective or dangerous products. He sees the Commission concentrating its efforts in three important fields: health, safety and safeguarding the consumer's economic interest.The Commission, while seeking agreement on a number of outstanding proposals, intends to bring forward further measures in the summer, including a revision of the directive on food labelling, a draft directive on dangerous chemical preparations used in the household, and two implementing directives on toys covering toxological and electrical hazards. The statement also looked further ahead to proposals on consumer information and education, comparative price studies, an action programme to prevent accidents in the home and at leisure and further measures to protect the consumer's economic interest. For the further information of the House, I have placed a copy of the complete statement in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether Lord Elton's statement in his Written Answer to Lord Melchett (col. 467, 18th February) on the subject of the atmospheric consequences of nuclear exchanges that, "It would not be sensible to anticipate the validation of the hypotheses", implies that they have, in effect, anticipated the non-validation of the hypotheses, and if so, on what grounds.

My Written Answer indicated no more than that, in the Government's view, the nuclear winter hypothesis requires detailed scientific work to establish its validity or otherwise. The Government have not in any way prejudged the result of that work.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When Mr. Ian Brady, a prisoner in Gartree, will be visited by the eminent psychiatrist whose visit was promised at the beginning of December and referred to in debate on 12th December (col. 355).

I understand that the psychiatrist to whom the noble Earl refers will be interviewing Mr. Brady shortly.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish a list of the bodies to which appointments are made by the Home Office on the basis of representations by local interest groups.

There are no bodies to which appointments are made by the Home Office on the basis of representations by local interest groups.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps they are taking to find out whether the proposals made in the Statute Law Society's Report on Consolidation of Enactments have general parliamentary support.

I would refer my noble friend to the Answer I gave to a similar question by the noble Lord, Lord Wigoder (Official Report, 14th January 1985, col. 858). Since that Answer was published, neither my department nor, so far as I am aware, the Law Commission, has received any comments on the report.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will take steps to increase the proportion of women members of the House of Lords and encourage the adoption of women as candidates for election to the House of Commons; and whether they will state what is the proportion of women in other legislatures, or prepare a record of this and place it in the Library of the House.

The Government have no proposals to modify the present basis of membership of the House of Lords. The number of women selected as candidates for membership of the House of Commons is a matter for the political parties in which it would be inappropriate for the Government to intervene.As regards the final part of the noble Lord's Question, it has not proved possible to trace any available statistics relating to the proportion of women in all other legislatures, but the European Parliament published earlier this year a press release showing the portion of women in all the legislatures of countries within the European Community. A copy is in the Library of the House.