asked Her Majesty's Government:When the London boroughs should pay the first instalment of the precept for the Metropolitan Police; and what action they propose to take if any borough fails to make its payment by the due date.

The first instalment of the precepts levied by the Receiver for the Metropolitan Police District fell due on 12th April. He tells me that payment has been made by all but three of the 40 borough and district councils concerned. Under Section 15(1) of the General Rate Act 1967, responsibility for initiating action to recover outstanding precept payments rests with the receiver as the precepting authority.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many inmates of Brixton Prison have not been produced for remand hearings because of staff shortages since 1st January 1985.

The number of prisoners not produced at magistrates' courts because of shortage of staff at HM Prison Brixton was as follows:

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many manufacturing jobs have been created in the United Kingdom as a result of the expansion of cellular radio; what is the latest estimate of the number of manufacturing jobs that will be created in the United Kingdom as a result of the expansion of mobile radio services in Band III; and whether they are satisfied with both figures.

It is not possible to identify from the employment statistics the number of jobs created as a result of the expansion of cellular radio. Cellular radio was introduced into the United Kingdom earlier this year and the increase in manufacturing jobs will of course depend on the rate of take-up of the new service. It is too early to make a forecast of the number of jobs that might be created through the release of the additional spectrum, as no final decisions have been taken on the allocation of Band III waveband to the operation of mobile radio. The Government are, however, satisfied that the release of the additional spectrum to mobile radio in Band III and the use of 900 Mhz for cellular radio will generate a considerable number of new jobs in the manufacturing, distribution and service industries.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many people are employed in the United Kingdom civil land mobile radio manufacturing industry; whether the United Kingdom is a net exporter of civil mobile radio equipment; and whether they expect both figures to rise as a result of the expansion of mobile radio services in Band III.

It is not possible to isolate employment or export statistics for the civil land mobile radio sector. However, the United Kingdom is a net exporter of ground radio communications equipment, including defence equipment, and we expect the numbers employed in the manufacture of land mobile equipment to expand as a result of the growth of demand created by the availability of spectrum in Band III. We would certainly expect this to lead in turn to an increase in exports.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What representations they have received from the United Kingdom civil land mobile radio industry regarding the possibility of existing public telecommunications operators being eligible to operate systems in Band III.

A considerable number of responses were received as a result of the Green Paper published last year. These include a recommendation that existing public telecommunications operators should be eligible to operate systems in Band III.The Government have sought and received the advice of the Director General of Telecommunications on this question and hope to make an announcement in the next few weeks.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What representations they have received from the United Kingdom civil land mobile radio industry regarding the possibility of interconnection to the public switched telephone network in Band III.

Many of those who have commented on the possible use of Band III for mobile radio systems have drawn attention to the benefits to operators and users of interconnection to the Public Switched Telephone Network, as well as to the implications for the use of radio spectrum in Band III. The cellular radio operators have commented particularly on the possible consequences for them of unrestricted interconnection to the public switched telephone network.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What representations they have received from the United Kingdom civil land mobile radio industry regarding the desirability or otherwise of establishing national networks for mobile radio services in Band III.

Proposals have been received from several companies interested in establishing national mobile radio networks in Band III. There have also been discussions between the Department of Trade and Industry and representatives of the mobile radio industry as well as individual companies interested in such a network. A variety of views have been expressed about the desirability of national networks.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish for each region of the United Kingdom a comparison between average and quartile earnings and the cost of living for the most recent period for which figures are available.

Estimates of quartile and average earnings for regions of Great Britain for April 1984 are published in Tables 116 and 117 of the New Earnings Survey 1984, part C. A copy of this report is in the Library.Official comparisons of the regional levels of consumer prices are not compiled.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What the consultation arrangements are within NATO concerning the use at sea of nuclear weapons within the national jurisdictional zones of the various member states of NATO.

The arrangements within NATO for consultation over the use of nuclear weapons are those adopted at the Athens meeting of the North Atlantic Council in 1962.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are aware that a number of people living in the vicinity of British airports, especially Heathrow Airport, have suffered financially as a result of ice and other objects falling from aircraft, and whether, in view of the difficulties invoked in identifying the aircraft responsible, they will intiate a scheme whereby such victims may be compensated.

The owner of an aircraft is strictly liable for damage or injury caused to persons or property on the ground by ice or objects falling from the aircraft. Such incidents are relatively infrequent and the Government are not aware of significant financial loss suffered as a result. Where an aircraft cannot be traced, financial redress can be obtained under household and personal accident insurance policies. The Government therefore see no justification for a state compensation scheme.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What unpublished instructions were issued to members of the Dairy Produce Quota Tribunal for England and Wales on how they should decide quota awards; and whether they will make a statement.

The tribunal was authorised by the Dairy Produce Quotas Regulations 1984 to issue general guidance to local panels in England and Wales in respect of the criteria to be used by them in determining proceedings before them. This general guidance was published. In addition, the chairman of the tribunal, Lord Grantchester, issued a number of notes to members of the tribunal advising them on certain aspects of their work.In accordance with normal practice, these notes, which were concerned mainly with administrative matters, have not been published. However my right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is aware that there has been concern about one particular note, which was issued on 24th November 1984 and which gave guidance on the calculation of yields to be taken into account in dealing with development claims. The purpose of this note was to ensure consistency between tribunal decisions and fairness to producers. In view of the widespread interest in this particular note, with Lord Grantchester's agreement, copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.