Written Answers of 2 July 1987

TRANSPORT

  Manchester Airport (Railway Extension)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what plans there are for the southern link railway extension to Manchester airport.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  The local authorities and British Rail have made proposals for an electrified single track spur from the styal line to the airport. I am currently considering an application for grant towards its cost.

  BR (Inter-City Services)
  Mr. Parry
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if British Rail has any plans to reduce the inter city services; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  I am not aware of any plans for alterations to Inter-City services apart from normal adjustments to meet changed demand.

  Needles Lighthouse
  Mr. Barry Field
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consult inshore fishermen and yachting interests before reaching a decision on the recommendation of the report to the Lights Advisory Committee to make the Needles lighthouse redundant.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  The Lights Advisory Committee has proposed that there should be a review of the traditional navigational aids provided by the lighthouse authorities, with a view to reducing numbers and saving costs. In support of this proposal it has submitted to my noble Friend the Minister with responsibility for aviation and shipping a report which contains an illustrative list of aids which it is suggested arc not needed by commercial ships carrying electronic navigation equipment. The Needles lighthouse is included in that list. The lighthouse is the responsibility of Trinity House, as lighthouse authority for England and Wales, and any question of its closure would be a matter for it. Representatives of the users are always consulted by the lighthouse authority if the withdrawal of a navigational aid is being contemplated.

  Merchant Shipping (Defence Role)
  Mr. Strang
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each of the last 10 years the number of merchant ships that were available from the merchant navy for use in the event of a war; and what is the number of such ships that are expected to be available in each of the next five years.

  Mr. David Mitchell
  The number of ships of 500 GRT or over in the United Kingdom registered merchant fleet including the Isle of Man and Channel islands, was as follows:124

  End Year

  Number of ships

  1977

  1,545

  1978

  1,421

  1979

  1,305

  1980

  1,275

  1981

  1,118

  1982

  985

  1983

  866

  1984

  777

  1985

  693

  1986

  546

  These ships would have been available for use in the event of war. They would have been supplemented by ships registered in the dependent territories, those made available through the operation of the NATO pool, and other ships open to charter.

  The Government do not make forecasts of the size of the merchant fleet, but availability of shipping for defence purposes is closely monitored and a number of initiatives are being taken to help to ensure the future adequacy of these resources.

  EC (Air Fares)
  Sir Fergus Montgomery
  asked the Secretary of State For Transport why the European Community Council of Transport Ministers on 30 June failed to agree an aviation package.

  Mr. Channon
  When the Transport Council met on 30 June it was not able to adopt a package liberalising air transport in the Community because Spain refused to allow the package to apply to Gibraltar. I was not prepared to compromise Gibraltar's legitimate rights in this way. Despite the fact that every other member state supported the package, the Spanish Government blocked it when they found they could not secure Gibraltar's exclusion.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Voting
  Mr. Tom Arnold
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the operation of the new statutory arrangements for (a) postal and proxy voting and (b) overseas voting; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have received a number of suggestions for ways in which the law governing applications for absent votes, and the registration of overseas electors, might be changed.

  We are consulting the political parties and electoral registration officers and will review the arrangements in the light of suggestions received.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Ashdown
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is his policy towards seeking assurances on the imposition of the death penalty from the People's Republic of China on behalf of fugitives returned to Hong Kong, on the warrant of the Secretary of State, who may be surrendered to the People's Republic of China on 30 June 1997; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what is his policy towards seeking assurances on the imposition of the death penalty from the Governor of

  125
  Hong Kong on behalf of fugitives returned to Hong Kong on the warrant of the Secretary of State, who may be surrendered to the People's Republic of China on 30 June 1997; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) if, in the exercise of his discretion under section 9(4) of the Fugitive Offenders Act 1967, he takes account of the sentencing policies of any state to whom it is likely a fugitive may be surrendered by a requesting state; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  Section 9(4) of the Fugitive Offenders Act 1967 provides discretion not to order the surrender of a fugitive accused or convicted of an offence not punishable with the death penalty in Great Britain, if the death penalty could be imposed on that person in the requesting Commonwealth country or dependency. It is the practice in such cases to seek an assurance, before surrendering the fugitive, that the death penalty will not be carried out. In the case of the return of a fugitive to Hong Kong such an assurance would be sought from the Governor. Extradition arrangements after 1997 must be the subject of consultation with the Chinese Government. The United Kingdom has no extradition treaty with China and therefore it is not possible to extradite a fugitive to that country.

  Extradition
  Mr. Ashdown
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the United Kingdom has an extradition treaty with the People's Republic of China; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  The United Kingdom has no extradition treaty with the People's Republic of China.

  Mr. Ashdown
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy towards surrendering fugitives to countries with whom the United Kingdom does not have an extradition treaty; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  There is at present no power to extradite fugitives to foreign countries with which the United Kingdom has no extradition treaty. Clause 11 of the Criminal Justice Bill, recently introduced in another place, would, if enacted, enable the United Kingdom to extradite fugitives in the absence of a treaty, provided that the requesting state established a prima facie case against the fugitive.

  Mr. Ashdown
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is his policy towards delaying the signing of extradition warrants until relevant applications lying before the European Commission on Human Rights are decided; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what is his policy towards delaying the signing of extradition warrants where there are allegations of likely ill-treatment in the requesting country, until relevant applications lying before the European Commission on Human Rights are decided; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  The United Kingdom accepts the right of individual petition to the Commission, but is under no obligation under the European Convention on Human Rights to defer the surrender of a fugitive pending consideration of a petition. I understand that it is not the practice of the Commission to ask for surrender to be 126
  delayed except where, for example, there are allegations of likely ill-treatment in the requesting state. It is the practice to defer surrender where this is requested by the Commission.

  Criminal Records and Car Registration Numbers
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) charges and (b) convictions relating to abuse of (i) criminal records and (ii) car registration numbers there have been in each year since 1983; and if he will give details of such cases.

  Mr. John Patten
  This information is not available centrally.

  Motorways (Traffic Offences)
  Mr. Marlow
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce photographic machines on the M1 for recording vehicles that overtake on the inside or exceed the speed limit; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The scope for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of road traffic law enforcement through the further use of technology, and any necessary legislative changes, are being considered by the Road Traffic Law Review under the chairmanship of Dr. Peter North. The review's report is expected later this year, and it would be premature to contemplate the introduction of piecemeal change before that report has been received.

  Passports
  Mr. Wiggin
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why unusual delays are being experienced by applicants for United Kingdom passports; what arrangements he is making to overcome these delays; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hurd
  Continuing heavy demand added to severe disruption to the passport-issuing process by industrial action has led to the delays currently experienced. These vary across the regional offices with current delay times in dealing with non-urgent applications as follows:

  Weeks

  London

  12

  Newport

  10

  Glasgow

  8

  Liverpool

  6

  Peterborough

  5

  At the small Belfast office, which caters for Northern Ireland residents, the normal turnround time of one week is being maintained.

  Special measures have been taken to help those with an urgent need to travel where applications are locked in the system. These include:

  (1) the recruitment of additional casual staff (for the hardest pressed offices virtually doubling 1986 levels);

  (2) overtime working by non-striking staff;

  (3) giving priority to personal callers with an urgent need to travel;

  (4) the grant of short-term extensions to expired passports, free of charge, for personal callers;

  (5) issuing emergency travel documents to personal callers whose postal applications cannot readily be traced.

  In addition, Governments of countries to which British citizens travel most frequently have been approached and

  127
  invited exceptionally to accept travellers using out-of-date passports. To date the following countries have agreed to accept uncancelled United Kingdom passports which expired within the last five years:

  United States of America

  until 29 September 1987

  New Zealand

  until 31 August 1987

  Hong Kong

  until further notice

  They have also agreed, exceptionally and for the same periods, to accept travellers using British Visitors Passports. These passports, which are available from the 1,500 main post offices throughout Britain, are of course already accepted by all countries in Western Europe.

  Information about these developments is being made available through the travel trade, on Prestel, through the media and through recorded telephone messages at the London passport office.

  People whose applications for 10-year passports have been delayed and who have therefore to obtain a BVP from a post office shortly before they are due to travel will be able to obtain a refund of the BVP fee later if the following criteria arc met:

  (1) the standard passport application must have been properly completed and accompanied by the necessary documents, fee and photograhs;

  (ii) it must have been lodged in good time and at least four weeks before the stated travel date as requested in passport application forms;

  (iii) the application for the British visitor's passport was made not more than a week before the date of travel indicated on the standard passport application.

  Inquiries about refunds should be addressed to the passport office which handled the standard passport application and should be accompanied by the British visitor's passport and the number and date of issue of the standard passport or the date on which the application was submitted if the standard passport has still not been received. It is unlikely that passport offices will be able to deal with requests for refunds before the end of September.

  In the longer term, arrangements are in hand to disperse work on postal applications now done in London to an enlarged office in Glasgow. This will enable the London passport office to concentrate its attention on applications lodged at the public counter for which the demand is heavy. Computerisation of the entire passport-issuing and record-keeping operation in the United Kingdom is due to begin in 1988 and over the next three years each of the six passport offices will be computerised. By enabling the passport department to give a faster service to all its customers computerisation should help to reduce substantially the problems currently being experienced during periods of peak demand.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Insider Dealing
  Mr. Ron Davies
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what action he has taken on information so far received from the inspector appointed by him to inquire into insider dealing in the Department of Trade and Industry.

  Mr. Maude
  Inspectors were appointed last December to investigate possible unlawful insider dealing involving information relating to the exercise of functions under the 128
  Fair Trading Act 1973 of the Secretary of State, the Director General of Fair Trading or the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

  My Department is keeping the Director of Public Prosecutions, who would be responsible for any prosecution in this case, informed of its progress, but has not taken any other action on information received from the inspectors.

  Yorkshire Woollen Textile Industry
  Mr. Cryer
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the number of employees in the Yorkshire woollen textile industry for 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987 to the most recent practicable date.

  Mr. Atkins
  [pursuant to his reply, 30 June 1987, c. 58]: Data are not yet available for 1986 and 1987. Employment in Yorkshire for establishments classified to the woollen and worsted industry1 from 1978 to 1985 is as follows:

  Year

  Employment (thousands)

  1978

  54·0

  1979

  50·4

  1980

  40·3

  1981

  33·7

  1982

  31·7

  1983

  29·0

  1984

  28·1

  1985

  27·9

  1 Minimum List Heading 414 of the Standard Industrial Classification, Revised 1968, for the years 1978 and 1979. Activity heading 4310 of the Standard Industrial Classification, Revised 1980 for later years.

  Source: Annual Census of Production.

ENERGY

  Magnox Reactors
  Mr. Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will update to 31 March 1967 the information on thermal energy generated and spent fuel discharged by each of the Central Electricity Generating Board magnox reactors given in reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy on 26 June 1986, Official Report, column 269;

  (2) if he will update to 31 March 1987 the information on thermal energy generated and spent fuel discharged by the Hunterston A station in the reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy on 10 July 1986, Official Report, column 238; and if he will revise the figure for fuel discharged in 1985–86 given in that answer;

  (3) if he will update to 31 March the information on the allocation of plutonium produced in the Central Electricity Generating Board and South of Scotland Electricity Board magnox reactors given in reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy on 21 July 1986, Official Report, columns 10–11.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Nuclear Power Stations (Emergencies)
  Mr. Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) when he expects to receive the results of the post-Chernobyl review of emergency plans and procedures for nuclear power stations; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) whether the Government's post-Chernobyl review of emergency plans and procedures for nuclear power stations will examine the size of emergency planning and evacuation zones; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 22 April at columns 547–51, by my hon. Friend the Member for Eddisbury (Mr. Goodlad). Work on the review is continuing.

EMPLOYMENT

  Top-Tier Sites
  Mr. Bill Michie
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many large inventory top-tier sites were known to the Health and Safety Executive in (a) December 1986, and (b) December 1987; and for how many of these sites the plans required by CIMAH regulation 11 have been prepared.

  Mr. Cope
  The information is not available in the form requested. However, at 31 March 1987, the Health and Safety Executive was aware of 210 large inventory top-tier sites and 66 small inventory top-tier sites and plans required by regulation 11 of the Control of Industrial Major Accident Hazard Regulations 1984 were known to have been prepared for 173 sites. Local authorities are not required to inform the HSE when such plans are completed.

  Average Earnings
  Mr. Forth
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the latest average earnings figures for each region of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Lee
  The latest information relates to April 1986 and is published, for males and females respectively, in tables 9.3 and 9.4 of 1987 "Regional Trends", a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Manpower Services Commission Schemes
  Mr. Ken Hargreaves
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment why the rules of the Manpower Services Commission schemes are not published.

  Mr. Lee
  The Manpower Services Commission publishes leaflets for all its schemes. These contain information about the scheme and the main eligibility criteria, and advise on where further information may be obtained. Leaflets for schemes which are open to members of the public are freely available at jobcentres and careers offices. Additionally the "Action for Jobs" leaflet which has been issued to just over 6 million people includes a summary of the eligibility conditions which apply to each scheme run by the Department of Employment and the MSC.

  Enterprise Allowance Scheme
  Mr. Ken Hargreaves
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment why people in receipt of housing benefit supplement are not eligible to receive enterprise allowance.
  130
  Mr. Cope
  The Manpower Services Commission is currently considering whether housing benefit supplement should be treated as a qualifying benefit for the enterprise allowance scheme. I shall write to my hon. Friend when that consideration is complete.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Parry
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the latest unemployment figures.

  Mr. Lee
  The following information is in the Library. On 14 May 1987 the number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom was 2,986,453. This was 284,000 lower than a year ago, the largest 12-month fall since similar records began in 1948.

  Mr. Parry
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what plans he has to reduce unemployment on (a) Merseyside and (b) Liverpool; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what plans he has to reduce unemployment in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lee
  The Government will continue to pursue policies of sound financial management designed further to reduce inflation and to promote investment, enterprise and increased employment in Liverpool, Merseyside and throughout England and Wales. These policies have so far produced more than one million new jobs since 1983.

  Merseyside and Liverpool attract very high levels of Government assistance which helps support and create employment. The whole of Merseyside has development area status, and local authorities in Merseyside also benefit under the urban programme. A city action team and a development corporation operate in the county; and there is an enterprise zone in Speke. Liverpool is an inner city partnership area, and also has a freeport. Unemployment in Merseyside was 128,167 in May 1987 as against 139,502 in May 1986; corresponding figures for Liverpool were 96,974 and 105,684.

  My Department and the Manpower Services Commission operate over 30 employment, enterprise and training measures described in the "Action for Jobs" booklet, all of which are available in Merseyside and Liverpool.

  My Department is also consulting the Manpower Services Commission with a view to providing a comprehensive employment service for unemployed people and there will be a guaranteed place on YTS for every 16 or 17-year-old unemployed school leaver.

  Mr. Parry
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report the level of unemployment in all constituencies in England and Wales at the latest date.

  Mr. Lee
  The following information is in the Library:

  Constituency

  Unemployed claimants

  14 May 1987

  Luton South

  6,306

  Mid Bedfordshire

  2,556

  North Bedfordshire

  3,953

  North Luton

  4,053

  South West Bedfordshire

  3,383

  East Berkshire

  2,848

  131

  Constituency

  Unemployed claimants

  14 May 1987

  Newbury

  1,828

  Reading East

  3,206

  Reading West

  2,786

  Slough

  4,068

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  2,062

  Wokingham

  1,563

  Aylesbury

  2,157

  Beaconsfield

  1,468

  Buckingham

  2,257

  Chesham and Amersham

  1,334

  Milton Keynes

  6,055

  Wycombe

  2,477

  Bexhill and Battle

  1,775

  Brighton Kemptown

  4,453

  Brighton Pavilion

  4,423

  Eastbourne

  3,063

  Hastings and Rye

  4,190

  Hove

  3,962

  Lewes

  2,191

  Wealden

  1,523

  Basildon

  5,516

  Billericay

  3,290

  Braintree

  2,675

  Brentwood and Ongar

  1,964

  Castle Point

  2,801

  Chelmsford

  2,601

  Epping Forest

  2,597

  Harlow

  3,718

  Harwich

  4,360

  North Colchester

  3,541

  Rochford

  2,426

  Saffron Walden

  1,923

  South Colchester and Maldon

  3,686

  Southend East

  4,070

  Southend West

  2,994

  Thurrock

  5,170

  Aldershot

  2,440

  Basingstoke

  2,395

  East Hampshire

  2,065

  Eastleigh

  3,841

  Fareham

  2,984

  Gosport

  3,559

  Havant

  4,795

  Isle of Wight

  5,901

  New Forest

  2,177

  North West Hampshire

  1,882

  Portsmouth North

  4,423

  Portsmouth South

  7,222

  Romsey and Waterside

  3,081

  Southampton Itchen

  6,438

  Southampton Test

  5,480

  Winchester

  1,917

  Broxbourne

  2,622

  Hertford and Stortford

  1,760

  Hertsmere

  2,441

  North Hertfordshire

  2,794

  South West Herfordshire

  1,934

  St. Albans

  2,076

  Stevenage

  3,476

  Watford

  2,874

  Welwyn Hatfield

  2,467

  West Hertfordshire

  2,826

  Ashford

  3,191

  Canterbury

  3,704

  Dartford

  2,959

  Dover

  4,145

  Faversham

  4,819

  Folkestone and Hythe

  4,267

  Gillingham

  4,126

  Gravesham

  4,355

  Maidstone

  2,809

  Medway

  4,138

  Mid Kent

  3,943

  North Thanet

  4.998

  Sevenoaks

  1,937

  132

  Constituency

  Unemployed claimants

  14 May 1987

  South Thanet

  4,262

  Tonbridge and Mailing

  2,339

  Tunbridge Wells

  1,942

  Banbury

  2,641

  Henley

  1,420

  Oxford East

  3,267

  Oxford West and Abingdon

  2,205

  Wantage

  1,575

  Witney

  1,889

  Chertsey and Walton

  1,708

  East Surrey

  1,336

  Epsom and Ewell

  1,659

  Esher

  1,171

  Guildford

  1,611

  Mole Valley

  1,240

  North West Surrey

  1,756

  Reigate

  1,701

  South West Surrey

  1,343

  Spelthorne

  1,900

  Woking

  1,927

  Arundel

  2,763

  Chichester

  2,003

  Crawley

  2,047

  Horsham

  1,753

  Mid Sussex

  1,592

  Shoreham

  2,007

  Worthing

  2,411

  Cambridge

  3,092

  Huntingdon

  3,122

  North East Cambridgeshire

  4,026

  Peterborough

  7,290

  South East Cambridgeshire

  1,648

  South West Cambridgeshire

  2,151

  Great Yarmouth

  6,716

  Mid Norfolk

  2,923

  North Norfolk

  3,106

  North West Norfolk

  4,428

  Norwich North

  3,599

  Norwich South

  5,596

  South Norfolk

  2,722

  South West Norfolk

  3,758

  Bury St. Edmunds

  2,818

  Central Suffolk

  2,804

  Ipswich

  3,935

  South Suffolk

  3,059

  Suffolk Coastal

  2,414

  Waveney

  5,847

  Barking

  3,386

  Battersea

  6,101

  Beckenham

  2,788

  Bethnal Green and Stepney

  7,779

  Bexley Heath

  2,166

  Bow and Poplar

  7,769

  Brent East

  6,903

  Brent North

  3,012

  Brent South

  6,350

  Brentford and Isleworth

  3,596

  Carshalton and Wallington

  2,524

  Chelsea

  3,576

  Chingford

  2,454

  Chipping Barnet

  1,900

  Chislehurst

  1,999

  Croydon Central

  2,991

  Croydon North East

  3,454

  Croydon North West

  3,609

  Croydon South

  1,726

  Dagenham

  3,585

  Dulwich

  4,359

  Ealing North

  3,586

  Ealing Acton

  4,391

  Ealing Southall

  5,224

  Edmonton

  3,827

  Eltham

  3,268

  Enfield North

  3,360

  Enfield Southgate

  2,630

  133

  Constituency

  Unemployed claimants

  14 May 1987

  Erith and Crayford

  3,650

  Feltham and Heston

  4,364

  Finchley

  2,632

  Fulham

  5,010

  Greenwich

  4,426

  Hackney North and Stoke Newington

  9,402

  Hackney South and Shoreditch

  10,365

  Hammersmith

  6,461

  Hampstead and Highgate

  5,541

  Harrow East

  3,320

  Harrow West

  2,368

  Hayes and Harlington

  2,702

  Hendon North

  2,592

  Hendon South

  2,562

  Holborn and St. Pancras

  8,100

  Hornchurch

  2,513

  Hornsey and Wood Green

  6,976

  Ilford North

  2,625

  Ilford South

  3,926

  Islington North

  9,034

  Islington South and Finsbury

  7,034

  Kensington

  4,975

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  2,174

  Lewisham East

  4,238

  Lewisham West

  4,978

  Lewisham Deptford

  7,730

  Leyton

  5,151

  Mitcham and Morden

  3,513

  Newham North East

  5,440

  Newham North West

  5,325

  Newham South

  5,388

  Norwood

  7,989

  Old Bexley and Sidcup

  1,669

  Orpington

  2,070

  Peckham

  8,647

  Putney

  3,493

  Ravensbourne

  1,833

  Richmond-upon-Thames and Barnes

  2,188

  Romford

  2,577

  Ruislip-Northwood

  1,381

  Southwark and Bermondsey

  7,043

  Streatham

  6,061

  Surbiton

  1,328

  Sutton and Cheam

  1,808

  The City of London and Westminster

  4,827

  Tooting

  5,181

  Tottenham

  9,307

  Twickenham

  2,010

  Upminster

  2,590

  Uxbridge

  2,273

  Vauxhall

  9,929

  Walthamstow

  3,671

  Wanstead and Woodford

  1,953

  Westminster North

  8,003

  Wimbledon

  2,378

  Woolwich

  5,863

  Bath

  3,220

  Bristol East

  4,487

  Bristol North West

  4,365

  Bristol South

  6,461

  Bristol West

  6,033

  Kingswood

  3,471

  Northavon

  2,987

  Wansdyke

  2,526

  Weston-Super-Mare

  3,643

  Woodspring

  2,410

  Falmouth and Camborne

  5,616

  North Cornwall

  4,732

  South East Cornwall

  3,590

  St. Ives

  5,222

  Truro

  4,511

  Exeter

  4,370

  Honiton

  2,669

  North Devon

  3,576

  Plymouth Devonport

  4,965

  134

  Constituency

  Unemployed claimants

  14 May 1987

  Plymouth Drake

  5,738

  Plymouth Sutton

  3,568

  South Hams

  3,622

  Teignbridge

  3,453

  Tiverton

  2,619

  Torbay

  5,319

  Torridge and West Devon

  3,698

  Bournemouth East

  4,508

  Bournemouth West

  3,671

  Christchurch

  2,013

  North Dorset

  2,042

  Poole

  3,534

  South Dorset

  3,600

  West Dorset

  1,815

  Cheltenham

  3,732

  Cirencester and Tewkesbury

  2,467

  Gloucester

  4,341

  Stroud

  3,091

  West Gloucestershire

  4,049

  Bridgwater

  3,648

  Somerton and Frome

  2,428

  Taunton

  3,399

  Wells

  2,782

  Yeovil

  2,723

  Devizes

  3,061

  North Wiltshire

  2,948

  Salisbury

  2,718

  Swindon

  5,833

  Westbury

  3,308

  Bromsgrove

  3,726

  Hereford

  3,606

  Leominster

  2,936

  Mid Worcestershire

  5,288

  South Worcestershire

  3,133

  Worcester

  4,206

  Wyre Forest

  4,596

  Ludlow

  3,263

  North Shropshire

  3,861

  Shrewsbury and Atcham

  3,628

  The Wrekin

  8,507

  Burton

  4,411

  Cannock and Burntwood

  4,819

  Mid Staffordshire

  3,814

  Newcastle-under-Lyme

  3,772

  South East Staffordshire

  5,395

  South Staffordshire

  4,788

  Stafford

  3,759

  Staffordshire Moorlands

  2,939

  Stoke-on-Trent Central

  5,348

  Stoke-on-Trent North

  5,296

  Stoke-on-Trent South

  4,522

  North Warwickshire

  4,822

  Nuneaton

  4,599

  Rugby and Kenilworth

  3,859

  Stratford-on-Avon

  2,877

  Warwick and Leamington

  4,054

  Aldridge-Brownhills

  3,776

  Birmingham Edgbaston

  5,090

  Birmingham Erdington

  7,632

  Birmingham Hall Green

  5,494

  Birmingham Hodge Hill

  7,211

  Birmingham Ladywood

  8,973

  Birmingham Northfield

  7,747

  Birmingham Perry Barr

  7,536

  Birmingham Small Heath

  9,733

  Birmingham Sparkbrook

  8,701

  Birmingham Yardley

  4,871

  Birmingham Selly Oak

  5,905

  Coventry North East

  7,964

  Coventry North West

  4,623

  Coventry South East

  6,215

  Coventry South West

  4,139

  Dudley East

  7,531

  Dudley West

  5,898

  Halesowen and Stourbridge

  4,534

  135

  Constituency

  Unemployed claimants

  14 May 1987

  Meriden

  6,641

  Solihull

  3,191

  Sutton Coldfield

  3,279

  Walsall North

  7,347

  Walsall South

  6,712

  Warley East

  6,165

  Warley West

  5,260

  West Bromwich East

  5,592

  West Bromwich West

  6,553

  Wolverhampton North East

  7,912

  Wolverhampton South East

  6,531

  Wolverhampton South West

  5,951

  Amber Valley

  4,010

  Bolsover

  5,394

  Chesterfield

  5,665

  Erewash

  4,688

  Derby North

  5,002

  Derby South

  7,508

  High Peak

  3,574

  North East Derbyshire

  5,159

  South Derbyshire

  4,063

  West Derbyshire

  2,673

  Blaby

  2,399

  Bosworth

  3,051

  Harborough

  2,116

  Leicester East

  4,953

  Leicester South

  6,501

  Leicester West

  6,104

  Loughborough

  3,007

  North West Leicestershire

  3,980

  Rutland and Melton

  2,577

  East Lindsey

  5,204

  Gainsborough and Horncastle

  3,885

  Grantham

  4,129

  Holland with Boston

  3,579

  Lincoln

  6,539

  Stamford and Spalding

  3,001

  Corby

  4,133

  Daventry

  2,305

  Kettering

  2,725

  Northampton North

  4,226

  Northampton South

  3,663

  Wellingborough

  3,325

  Ashfield

  5,042

  Bassetlaw

  5,500

  Broxtowe

  3,606

  Gedling

  3,724

  Mansfield

  3,303

  Newark

  4,173

  Nottingham East

  9,044

  Nottingham North

  6,995

  Nottingham South

  6,126

  Rushcliffe

  3,329

  Sherwood

  5,121

  Beverley

  3,171

  Booth Ferry

  4,062

  Bridlington

  4,551

  Brigg and Cleethorpes

  5,976

  Glanford and Scunthorpe

  5,903

  Great Grimsby

  6,937

  Kingston-upon-Hull East

  7,180

  Kingston-upon-Hull North

  8,239

  Kingston-upon-Hull West

  7,345

  Harrogate

  2,950

  Richmond

  3,392

  Ryedale

  2,765

  Scarborough

  4,626

  Selby

  3,317

  Skipton and Ripon

  2,380

  York

  5,752

  Barnsley Central

  5,841

  Barnsley East

  5,456

  Barnsley West and Penistone

  5,626

  Don Valley

  7,077

  Doncaster Central

  7,712

  136

  Constituency

  Unemployed claimants

  14 May 1987

  Doncaster North

  8,195

  Rother Valley

  5,719

  Rotherham

  6,480

  Sheffield Central

  9,817

  Sheffield Attercliffe

  5,926

  Sheffield Brightside

  7,693

  Sheffield Hallam

  4,483

  Sheffield Heeley

  7,154

  Sheffield Hillsborough

  5,615

  Wentworth

  6,228

  Batley and Spen

  4,714

  Bradford North

  7,324

  Bradford South

  5,700

  Bradford West

  8,135

  Calder Valley

  3,840

  Colne Valley

  3,570

  Dewsbury

  4,832

  Elmet

  3,219

  Halifax

  5,147

  Hemsworth

  5,442

  Huddersfield

  5,191

  Keighly

  3,708

  Leeds Central

  6,989

  Leeds East

  6,755

  Leeds North East

  4,283

  Leeds North West

  3,643

  Leeds West

  5,273

  Morley and Leeds South

  4,178

  Normanton

  3,560

  Pontefract and Castleford

  5,879

  Pudsey

  2,784

  Shipley

  3,113

  Wakefield

  4,939

  City of Chester

  5,200

  Congleton

  2,624

  Crewe and Nantwich

  4,451

  Eddisbury

  4,373

  Ellesmere Port and Neston

  5,856

  Halton

  7,091

  Macclesfield

  2,822

  Tatton

  3,380

  Warrington North

  5,981

  Warrington South

  5,745

  Altrincham and Sale

  2,748

  Ashton-under-Lyne

  4,697

  Bolton North East

  4,963

  Bolton South East

  6,043

  Bolton West

  4,551

  Bury North

  3,922

  Bury South

  4,081

  Cheadle

  2,198

  Davyhulme

  4,146

  Denton and Reddish

  5,427

  Eccles

  5,126

  Hazel Grove

  3,157

  Hey wood and Middleton

  5,382

  Leigh

  5,608

  Littleborough and Saddleworth

  3,369

  Makerfield

  5,889

  Manchester Central

  10,796

  Manchester Blackley

  6,477

  Manchester Gorton

  6,817

  Manchester Withington

  6,602

  Manchester Wythenshawe

  6,121

  Oldham Central and Royton

  5,652

  Oldham West

  4,206

  Rochdale

  5,904

  Salford East

  7,944

  Stalybridge and Hyde

  5,498

  Stockport

  4,237

  Stretford

  8,476

  Wigan

  6,590

  Worsley

  5,509

  Blackburn

  7,090

  Blackpool North

  5,190

  137

  Constituency

  Unemployed claimants

  14 May 1987

  Blackpool South

  5,524

  Burnley

  5,103

  Chorley

  4,076

  Fylde

  2,586

  Hyndburn

  3,372

  Lancaster

  3,098

  Morecambe and Lunesdale

  4,150

  Pendle

  3,763

  Preston

  6,802

  Ribble Valley

  1,799

  Rossendale and Darwen

  3,822

  South Ribble

  3,741

  West Lancashire

  6,455

  Wyre

  3,483

  Birkenhead

  9,200

  Bootle

  10,168

  Crosby

  4,957

  Knowsley North

  8,824

  Knowsley South

  9,044

  Liverpool Broadgreen

  8,206

  Liverpool Garston

  7,532

  Liverpool Mossley Hill

  7,150

  Liverpool Riverside

  10,818

  Liverpool Walton

  10,498

  Liverpool West Derby

  8,995

  Southport

  4,307

  St. Helens North

  6,253

  St. Helens South

  7,222

  Wallasey

  7,235

  Wirral South

  3,683

  Wirral West

  4,075

  Barrow and Furness

  4,126

  Carlisle

  3,802

  Copeland

  3,495

  Penrith and the Borders

  2,851

  Westmorland and Lonsdale

  1,960

  Workington

  3,787

  Hartlepool

  8,504

  Langbaurgh

  7,233

  Middlesbrough

  9,884

  Redcar

  7,957

  Stockton North

  8,118

  Stockton South

  7,019

  Bishop Auckland

  5,999

  City of Durham

  4,105

  Darlington

  5,500

  Easington

  5,841

  North Durham

  6,137

  North West Durham

  5,241

  Sedgefield

  4,647

  Berwick-upon-Tweed

  3,697

  Blyth Valley

  4,832

  Hexham

  2,163

  Wansbeck

  5,523

  Blaydon

  4,831

  Gateshead East

  6,494

  Houghton and Washington

  7,836

  Jarrow

  7,279

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne Central

  5,508

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne East

  7,145

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne North

  6,097

  South Shields

  7,171

  Sunderland North

  10,397

  Sunderland South

  8,221

  Tyne Bridge

  9,009

  Tynemouth

  6,340

  Wallsend

  7,845

  Alyn and Deeside

  3,805

  Clwyd North West

  5,027

  Clwyd South West

  3,671

  Delyn

  4,318

  Wrexham

  4,431

  Carmarthen

  3,696

  Ceredigion and Pembroke North

  3,884

  Llanelli

  4,319

  138

  Constituency

  Unemployed claimants

  14 May 1987

  Pembroke

  6,146

  Blaenau Gwent

  4,953

  Islwyn

  3,666

  Monmouth

  2,875

  Newport East

  4,553

  Newport West

  5,134

  Torfaen

  4,903

  Caernarfon

  3,227

  Conwy

  3,474

  Meirionnydd nant Conwy

  1,692

  Ynys Mon

  4,566

  Bridgend

  3,381

  Caerphilly

  5,116

  Cynon Valley

  4,158

  Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney

  4,737

  Ogmore

  4,316

  Pontypridd

  4,428

  Rhondda

  4,801

  Brecon and Radnor

  2,299

  Montgomery

  1,921

  Cardiff Central

  5,786

  Cardiff North

  2,379

  Cardiff South and Penarth

  5,078

  Cardiff West

  5,566

  Vale of Glamorgan

  4,428

  Aberavon

  3,791

  Gower

  3,132

  Neath

  3,783

  Swansea East

  4,999

  Swansea West

  5,340

  Mr. Parry
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Offical Report the latest unemployment figures in the regions of England and Wales at the latest available date.

  Mr. Lee
  The following information is in the
  Library.

  Unemployed Claimants

  Region

  14 May 1987

  South-East

  690,901

  (including Greater London)

  (368,900)

  East Anglia

  75,054

  South-West

  178,582

  West Midlands

  310,531

  East Midlands

  187,101

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  289,786

  North-West

  407,880

  North

  216,594

  Wales

  157,779

  Mr. Parry
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the level of unemployment in the Liverpool travel-to-work area at the latest date; and what were the figures in June 1979.

  Mr. Lee
  The following information is in the Library. On 14 May 1987 the number of unemployed claimants in the Liverpool travel-to-work area was 96,974. Comparisons with June 1979 are difficult to make because of changes in the coverage of the data. However, in June 1979, the number of unemployed registrants in jobcentre areas closely corresponding to the Liverpool travel-towork area, as defined in 1978, was 59,399.

  Mr. Parry
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the latest level of youth unemployment in (a) Liverpool and (b) Merseyside.

  Mr. Lee
  The following information is in the Library. On 9 April 1987, the latest date for which an analysis of
  139
  unemployment by age is available, the number of unemployed claimants aged under 18 years in the Liverpool local authority area was 2,130 and in the Merseyside metropolitan area was 5,070.

  Mr. Parry
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the latest level of unemployment on Merseyside at the latest date.

  Mr. Lee
  The following information is in the Library. On 14 May 1987 the number of unemployed claimants in the Merseyside metropolitan area was 128,167.

  Mr. Parry
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the level of youth unemployment in England and Wales at the latest date.

  Mr. Lee
  The following information is in the Library. On 9 April 1987, the latest date for which an analysis of unemployment by age is available, the number of unemployed claimants aged under 18 years in England was 93,324 and Wales was 6,348.

  British Shipbuilders Ltd.
  Dr. Godman
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many former employees of British Shipbuilders Ltd. have had their claims for unemployment benefits met in light of the decision made by Mr. M. J. Goodman, social security commissioner, in Southampton on 23 September 1986; and if he will now authorise similar payments to other redundant British Shipbuilders' employees.

  Mr. Lee
  Some 25,000 claims for arrears of unemployment benefit have been made following the commissioner's decision. These are being examined individually. Many claims have been met, but a precise figure is not available from benefit statistics. The law requires each benefit claim to be determined individually by independent adjudicating authorities who take account of case law laid down in commissioners' decisions. Individual claimants will be informed about the outcome of their claim as soon as possible.

  Mrs. Pamela Simmons (Member's Correspondence)
  Mr. John MarkTaylor
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment when the hon. Member for Solihull can expect a reply to his letter of 5 May concerning his constituent Mrs. Pamela Simmons.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I shall be writing to my hon. Friend shortly.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  AIDS
  Mr. Pawsey
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action his Department is taking to alert young people to the risk of AIDS; and what advice is being given about its avoidance.

  Mr. Dunn
  In June last year my Department published "Children at school and problems related to AIDS". This booklet addressed primarily the care of HIV infected pupils at school.

  To help teachers in introducing AIDS education into their teaching programmes and to help them answer
  140
  pupils' questions authoritatively, "AIDS: Some Questions and Answers" containing factual information about AIDS, was published in March. The BBC has been commissioned to produce a video resource package for use in schools with pupils in the 13 to 16 age range. The package will seek to inform pupils of the facts about AIDS and will encourage them to behave responsibly. Pupils will be warned of the risks of casual or promiscuous sexual behaviour, whether heterosexual or homosexual, and of sharing equipment for intravenous drug misuse.

  My right hon. Friend will continue to consider ways of supporting and promoting AIDS education.

  Veterinary Colleges, Scotland
  Mr. Galbraith
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has for the future development of the two veterinary colleges in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  There is a recognised need to rationalise provision for veterinary education. The Government welcome the initiative of the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow in discussing arrangements for closer co-operation, and the establishment, announced today, of a UGC working party to begin work in November 1987 under the chairmanship of Sir Ralph Riley FRS. If by then the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow have made significant progress with their plans, the UGC's review will be confined to the four English universities with veterinary schools.

  Interim Advisory Committee on Teachers' Pay
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science who has been appointed to the interim advisory committee on teachers' pay; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  No appointments have yet been made to the interim advisory committee. We hope shortly to be in a position to announce appointments to the committee.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Magistrates
  Mr. Greg Knight
  asked the Attorney-General what is the number of stipendiary magistrates currently holding office in England and Wales; and if he will identify each petty sessional area served by the same.

  The Attorney-General
  A stipendiary magistrate is appointed to a commission area and may serve in each petty sessional area within that commission area. In the inner London commission area there are 48 stipendiary magistrates. Outside this area there are 14 stipendiary magistrates in the following commission areas:West Midlands (3), Greater Manchester (2), Mid- Glamorgan (2), South Yorkshire (2), West Yorkshire (2), Humberside, Merseyside and South Glamorgan (1 each).

  Mr. Greg Knight
  asked the Attorney-General what action he has taken or proposes to take to encourage the increased use of stipendiary magistrates.

  The Attorney-General
  A consultation paper, issued jointly by the Lord Chancellor's Department and by the Home Office, on the numbers of magistrates allocated to petty sessional areas has been published and comments on
  141
  it are presently being considered. The paper, which contains suggested criteria for the appointment of more stipendiary magistrates, has been placed in the Library.

  Even in areas where stipendiary magistrates are not currently appointed, they are used to hearing long or complex cases where a request for a stipendiary magistrate has been made by the clerk to the justices.

  Scheduled Offences
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  asked the Attorney-General what representations have been received by him concerning current arrangements for trying scheduled offences in the courts in Northern Ireland; what changes have been called for; and if he will list the individuals and organisations concerned.

  Mr. Tom King
  [pursuant to his reply, 29 June 1987, c. 14]: The various debates which led up to the enactment of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1987 enabled those right hon. and hon. Members who contributed to raise a very wide range of proposals for changing the arrangements for the trial of scheduled offences in Northern Ireland. Over the years, and particularly during the passage of the Act, a number of bodies and individuals, including the Irish Government, have made many different representations for changing the current arrangements.

  It would require disproportionate effort to list all the representations which have been made and the organisations and individuals concerned.

WALES

  Lambs and Sheep
  Mr. Ray Powell
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many lambs and sheep are still under restriction for sale in north Wales as a result of the Chernobyl fall-out.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  About 200,000 sheep are within the areas subject to movement and slaughter restrictions. However, arrangements for these sheep to be marketed following live monitoring, and where necessary marking to prevent slaughter, are available to affected farmers.

  Women's Needs
  Ms. Richardson
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the main needs of women in the policy areas within the sphere of his Department's activities; what has been done to identify and quantify these needs and to monitor services delivery; what consultation is carried out with women to ensure their views are adequately represented; and what training is given to his staff to raise their appreciation of the needs of women.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The relevant activities in my Department primarily relate to education, employment opportunities, health and social services. The specific needs of women, both as providers and consumers of services, are identified, quantified and monitored on a continuing basis by my Department and bodies with direct responsibilities for services. In particular, emphasis is placed on primary and secondary education in ensuring that boys and girls benefit equally from measures designed to improve the quality and relevance of the school curriculum and to raise standards.
  142
  My Department is funding a research project involving the study of girls' knowledge of and attitudes towards training and employment following the Cardiff Women's Training Roadshow. In the further education sector my Department is committed to improving the provision of guidance and information about the increasing range of opportunities available to women, including those in traditionally male-dominated areas such as engineering and technology. In the autumn the introduction of the Open College in Wales, with courses that aim to meet the needs and circumstances of individual students, will be of especial interest to women with domestic responsibilities. More generally the Department seeks to encourage a growing consensus within the Welsh education system on the importance of continuing and adult education, particularly part-time and using modern methods such as distance and open learning, that will benefit women.

  In so far as employment is concerned, the main need is to create jobs. Employment measures include the full involvement of girls in training, award and work shadow schemes which are operated to attract young people into industry. A number of MSC initiatives are designed specifically for women. The Development Board for Rural Wales is undertaking courses for women interested in establishing their own businesses. In health, particular attention is being given to improve women's health by enhancing cervical cancer screening facilities, making preparations for the establishment of a national breast cancer screening service, addressing women's needs in the Government's anti-smoking and drug education programme and in implementing recommendations from an expert survey group to stimulate improvements in maternity and neo-natal care. The majority of informal carers are women and my Department has consistently encouraged social services departments and voluntary organisations to develop policies to assist both men and women carers. The particular problems faced by informal carers of mentally handicapped people are recognised by the introduction of the all-Wales mental handicap strategy. Finally, the Department funded a seminar to enable Welsh Women's Aid and the police to consider their roles in matters relating to domestic violence.

  My Department collects and analyses a comprehensive range of data which differentiates between men and women across the range of my responsibilities particularly in relation to agriculture, education, health and social services and housing. These data highlight differences which assist in the formulation of policy options.

  Consultation on policy developments take place with a large number of bodies and the views of women are reflected in responses. The Minister of State is represented on the inter-departmental ministerial group on women's issues. My Department is seeking to develop improved links with the Wales Assembly of Women. Finally, my Department's staff training programme includes sessions on a range of courses, designed to raise the level of appreciation by staff of the needs of women.

  Nuclear Waste Disposal
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those parts of Wales which are being investigated by the Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive as possible dumping sites for nuclear waste.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment made clear in his
  143
  statement on 1 May, at column 504, NIREX is still some way from identifying suitable locations for a deep multipurpose facility for the disposal of low and intermediate level waste.

  At this stage, it is not possible to rule out any part of the United Kingdom.

PRIME MINISTER

  Greenock and Port Glasgow
  Dr. Godman
  asked the Prime Minister if she has any plans to pay an official visit to Greenock and Port Glasgow in the near future.

  The Prime Minister
  I have at present no plans to do so.

  "List of Ministerial Responsibilities"
  Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop
  asked the Prime Minister when an up-to-date version of the document, "List of Ministerial Responsibilities" will be published.

  The Prime Minister
  The new edition of the "List of Ministerial Responsibilities", which in non-election years would be published at the end of the summer recess, has been brought forward to reflect ministerial appointments following the general election; it will be published tomorrow afternoon.

  Auchmithie
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  asked the Prime Minister if she will pay an official visit to Auchmithie.

  The Prime Ministers
  I have at present no plans to do so.

  Council of Ministers
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the outcome of the European Economic Community Council of Ministers' meeting held on 29 June.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made on Wednesday 1 July, at columns 493–501.

  Scotland
  Mr. David Marshall
  asked the Prime Minister when she next intends to visit Scotland.

  The Prime Minister
  I make official visits to Scotland from time to time.

  Engagements
  Mr. Stern
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 2 July.

  Mr. John Mark Taylor
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagemants for Thursday 2 July.

  Mr. Atkinson
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 2 July.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today.

  St. Helenians ( Student Grants)
  Dr. Marek
  asked the Prime Minister if she will make it her policy to treat St. Helenians as United Kingdom nationals with regard to study and grant awards at United Kingdom polytechnics or universities; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  Eligibility for student awards depends on residence, not nationality. To qualify for an award students must have been ordinarily resident in the British islands for three years before the start of their course, for purposes other than that of receiving full-time education. The Government also have a number of scholarships, offered through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which are open to students from St. Helena.

  Non-Government Organisations (Grants)
  Mr. Pawsey
  asked the Prime Minister (1) if she will give the total amount of grants made to tax-receiving independent non-government organisations in 1986–87 and the likely amount in 1987–88;

  (2) what are the criteria used in awarding grants to tax-receiving independent non-government organisations; and if she is satisfied that the taxpayer gets value for money.

  The Prime Minister
  I shall reply to my hon. Friend shortly.

  British Nuclear Fuels plc
  Mr. Thomas
  asked the Prime Minister to which Government Department British Nuclear Fuels plc is responsible for the operational cycle of its reactors at Calder Hall and Chapel Cross for the production of nuclear materials for defence uses.

  The Prime Minister
  The operation of these reactors is a matter for British Nuclear Fuels plc.

  Afghanistan
  Mr. Dalyell
  asked the Prime Minister what current contacts exist between Her Majesty's Government and the Afghan resistance movement; what use Her Majesty's Government make of these contacts in formulating their policy towards Afghanistan and, in particular, towards the provision of military assistance to the Afghan resistance; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  We have regular contacts with leaders of the Afghan resistance movement and take their views into account when formulating our policy on Afghanistan.

  Mr. Dalyell
  asked the Prime Minister what information Her Majesty's Government have about the use of Blowpipe missiles in Afghanistan and as to the sources of supply direct or indirect of those weapons.

  The Prime Minister
  It has been the practice of successive Administrations not to comment on matters of this kind.

  Wales
  Mr. Wigley
  asked the Prime Minister when she next plans to pay an official visit to Wales.

  The Prime Minister
  I have at present no plans to do so.

ENVIRONMENT

  Conservation
  Dr. David Clark
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether mention was made in the United Kingdom report to the conference of the parties to the Ramsar convention of the threat to important wetlands and peatlands in Caithness and Sutherland; and if he will reproduce in the Official Report that section of the United Kingdom report which deals with Caithness and Sutherland.

  Mr. Ridley
  The United Kingdom report to the conference of the parties to the Ramsar convention referred to Caithness and Sutherland in the following terms:"The blanket mire areas of Britain and Ireland and the landscape of Sutherland and Caithness, in the Flow Country of Scotland, in particular have recently been identified by the International Mires Conservation Group and others as being of global importance and one of the world's outstanding ecosystems. A study in Wales has shown that 35 per cent. of the mires examined have been completely lost since 1900. Lowland raised mires in Scotland and northern England have been reduced by 87 per cent. since 1940 mainly due to afforestation but prior to this agricultual reclamation and peat extraction have taken place. In 1986 the Nature Conservancy Council published a major policy document which reviewed the effects of afforestation on nature conservation in Great Britain, and the Government is considering the recommendations it contains. Of the 192,000 ha of the Flow Country, 35,000 ha have either been planted or approved for planting. Some areas are safeguarded as Sites of Special Scientific Interest and the Government is considering possible ways of ensuring that an appropriate balance betwen conservation and other land uses is achieved."

  Community Charge
  Ms. Harman
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the likely level of the community charge, without safety nets, in the London borough of Southwark.

  Mr. Howard
  Since the new system will not come into effect until 1990, it is not possible to say what the level of the community charge in the London borough of Southwark will be when it is introduced. However, I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Copeland (Dr. Cunningham) on 29 June, at column 45.

  Mr. Barry Field
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the effect on the community charge calculations of the reduction in the rate of grant payable for approved coast protection schemes; and what steps he intends to take to mitigate these effects.

  Mr. Howard
  The reduction in the maximum rate of grant for approved coast protection schemes will not necessarily have any impact on the community charges levied in particular areas. Under the proposals set out in the Green Paper "Paying for Local Government" (Cmnd. 9714), all areas will be compensated, through the general grant system, for variations in their need to spend on local services. That compensation will be calculated so as to include the cost of financing approved coast protection schemes, to the extent that these costs are not already met by specific grant.
  146
  Mr. Spearing
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he expects to publish Green or White Papers in respect of his proposed legislation for the introduction of a community charge.

  Mr. Howard
  The Government's proposals for changes to the local finance system were set out in the Green Paper "Paying for Local Government" (Cmnd. 9714) published on 28 January 1986. Consultation on the proposals ran until 31 October 1986 and the Government published a further document "Paying for Local Government, the Community Charge" confirming that they intended to proceed and setting out the proposed administrative arrangements on 15 December 1986, at column 392. The commitment subsequently appeared in the manifesto on which the Government were convincingly re-elected.

  County Court, Birmingham
  Mr. John Mark Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the progress of the Property Services Agency in assessing, in relation to the proposed new county court in Birmingham, the relative merits of (a) preserving the existing Citadel and Central hall site in Corporation street and (b) erecting a new building on a separate site; and what representations the Property Services Agency has received on this matter from Birmingham city council.

  Mr. Chope
  The Property Services Agency (PSA) is considering various options, including the two referred to, for a new county court complex in Birmingham. The Lord Chancellor's Department is fully involved in an appraisal of the various options and a decision is expected shortly.

  Apart from normal negotiations, no other representations have been received from Birmingham city council by the PSA.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  State Retirement Pension
  Mr. Speller
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the basic state retirement pension as a percentage of the average manual worker's wage in the years 1957, 1961, 1971 and the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Scott
  The table shows the rate of basic pension expressed as a percentage of the net average income' of male manual workers at uprating dates in the years specified or the nearest to them. No uprating took place in 1957.

  Single person

  Married couple

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  January 1958

  23·9

  36·0

  April 1961

  23·9

  36·2

  September 1971

  27·3

  42·0

  April 19872

  29·8

  45·3

  1 Net average income is gross average earnings less tax and national insurance contributions at the non-contracted out rate.

  2 Estimated figures. Provisional earnings figures available only for April 1987.

  Cervical Cancer Tests (Liverpool)
  Mr. Parry
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set up a public inquiry into the errors

  147
  made by the Liverpool area health authority concerning cervical cancer smear tests; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Currie
  An extensive review is already being carried out under the chairmanship of Mr. James Fitzpatrick, chairman of Liverpool health authority. Any further corrective action must await the report of the review team.

  Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening (Private Clinics)
  Ms. Richardson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he will ask private clinics offering laboratory services for breast and cervical cancer screening facilities for details of any cases of mistakes which have been made and notified to them;

  (2) what steps he takes to monitor the effectiveness of the laboratory services for breast and cervical cancer screening offered by private clinics;

  (3) whether he will introduce controls on the effectiveness and accuracy of the laboratory services for breast and cancer screening offered by private clinics before licensing their operation;

  (4) whether he is satisfied with the standard of quality control provided by private clinics offering laboratory services for breast and cervical cancer screening.

  Mrs. Currie
  My right hon. Friend has at present no statutory powers enabling him to monitor or control private screening clinics or the laboratory or other services they use.

  Breast cancer screening clinics using mammographic x-rayss, whether private or National Health Service, will be covered by regulations on the protection of patients from ionising radiation whcih will be laid before the House later this year. These will require that all medical exposures to ionising radiation conform to accepted medical practice, and that those directing and effecting the exposures are adequately trained in radiation protection and the techniques appropriate to their work.

  No licensing system could ensure absolute diagnostic accuracy. Screening techniques are not infallible. There will always be a few false negative and false positive results. The objective must be to keep these to an absolute minimum.

  We are however, considering whether statutory control for private breast or cervical cancer screening clinics and the laboratories they use would help to meet this objective. Such control would, however, require primary legislation.

  The rules of professional conduct enforced by the General Medical Council apply to all doctors working in NHS or private cancer screening.

  Speech Therapists (Upper Waiting Hall)
  Mr. Hoyle
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition relating to speech therapists to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday 13 July to Friday 17 July.

  Mr. Newton
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Services Committee, arrangements have been made with the authorities of the House for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 13 to 17 July 1987.

  Board and Lodgings Regulations
  Ms. Ruddock
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many staff hours and what costs are incurred in administering the board and lodgings regulations with particular reference to the time limits imposed on young people.

  Mr. Portillo
  I regret that the information requested is not available.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Squire
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements the Government are making to monitor the operation of the social fund.

  Mr. Scott
  Responsibility for monitoring the quality of individual decisions will rest in the first instance with local office management assisted by specialist regional teams. The fund will also be monitored at all levels of management on the basis of extensive statistical evidence, which it is planned to gather through the social fund microcomputer system.

  Leighton Hospital, Crewe (Waiting Lists)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will specify the waiting list for Leighton hospital, Crewe, in the following specialties (a) surgery, (b) geriatrics and (c) orthopaedics.

  Mr. Newton
  The latest information centrally available is given in the table. The hon. Member may wish to write to the chairman of the Crewe district health authority for current information.

  Leighton Hospital, Crewe

  Cases on in-patient waiting list at 31 December 1985

  Specialty

  Number

  Traumatic and Orthopaedic

  Surgery

  402

  All other surgical

  5,947

  Geriatric Medicine

  nil

  Psychogeriatric

  2

  Mobility Allowance
  Mr. Tom Arnold
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has for the future of the mobility allowance; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  We intend to continue to improve the framework of benefits for disabled people. We have significantly increased the value of the mobility allowance and taken it out of tax. It would be premature to consider further major changes in advance of the results of the current Government survey of disabled people, due to be published next year. We have said that we will consider nearer the time what should be done about the age 75 limit for the allowance, which will not affect any current recipients until November 1989.

  NHS (Agency Staff)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list how many operating department assistants now working in the National Health Service have been supplied by outside agencies; and what payment has been made to them in fees over the last 12 months.
  149
  Mr. Newton
  Information on the numbers of operating department assistants supplied to the National Health Service by outside agencies, and on any payments in fees made to such agencies over the last 12 months, is not collected centrally.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the cost to the Health Service in the Crew health authority for staff who have been employed through agencies of (a) nurses, (b) operating department assistants, (c) ancillary and (d) other staff.

  Mr. Newton
  The 1985–86 annual accounts of the Crewe health authority show the following expenditure for non-National Health Service (agency, etc) staff:

  £

  Medical

  59,142

  Nursing

  4,257

  Total

  63,399

  AIDS
  Mr. Pawsey
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what funding is available to responsible bodies for counselling on matters relating to AIDS.

  Mr. Newton
  This year we have allocated the following money for counselling:

  — £ 200,000 for counselling training. This is double last year's allocation. There are currently two training centres, at Bolton and St. Mary's hosptial, Paddington. Another centre is to open at Birmingham.

  — £1 million to drug misuse centres to help them provide, among other things, counselling on AIDS for drug misusers.

  — a total of £280,000 to the six haemophilia reference centres, to counsel haemophiliacs and their families.

  A number of voluntary bodies in the AIDS field are involved in counselling. Last year we allocated £469,000 to such bodies, though it is not possible to identify how much of this has been spent in counselling. We are making available increased resources to voluntary bodies for the current financial year and we are now considering their allocations. We will also be providing up to £800,000 over the next year for the new National AIDS Trust, which will co-ordinate voluntary effort on AIDS.

  We are currently considering the future role of telephone services, including the National Advisory Service on AIDS, in the light of evaluation of the service during the first phase of our public education campaign.

  Mr. Pawsey
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total funding his Department is making available for research into AIDS; and what plans he has for 1988–89 and 1989–90.

  Mr. Newton
  The Department has so far made available £2 million for research into AIDS in 1987–88. No decision has yet been taken on the level of funding for 1988–89 and 1989–90.

  Research on AIDS in the United Kingdom is coordinated by the Medical Research Council which receives its grant-in-aid from the science budget of the Department of Education and Science. This has been increased by £14·5 million over the next three years to support a
  150
  directed research programme aimed at developing a vaccine and anti-viral drugs. An extra £3 million has also been made available for general AIDS research.

  Mr. Pawsey
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his Department's latest estimate of the number of AIDS sufferers in the United Kingdom in 1990.

  Mr. Newton
  The Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, which collects information about persons suffering from AIDS, has predicted that the numbers of new cases of AIDS will be 1,300 in 1987 and 3,000 in 1988. As yet there are insufficient data for reliable forecasts beyond 1988 to be made.

  Pharmaceutical Research
  Mr. Pawsey
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if his Department has any part to play in coordinating the research efforts of pharmaceutical companies operating in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Newton
  Individual companies decide their own research programmes in the light of their areas of special interest and their commercial judgments. We include a significant element of support for research and development in the prices paid for medicines by the National Health Service, but do not seek to interfere in the decisions by companies operating in the United Kingdom which have an excellent record in medicines discovery and development.

  Childhood Leukaemias
  Mr. Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the Committee on the Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment will take account of the incidence of childhood leukaemias in West Berkshire and North Hampshire district health authority areas and specifically study and investigate any possible link between these leukaemias and the nuclear processes, discharges and emissions from the Aldermaston and Burghfield atomic weapons plants.

  Mr. Newton
  Evidence on the incidence of childhood leukaemia in west Berkshire and north Hampshire districts is already under consideration by the Committee on the Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment.

  Cancer Screening
  Ms. Ruddock
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many health authorities use their own pathology laboratories for dealing with cervical smears; and how many put them out to private contractors.

  Mrs. Currie
  [pursuant to her reply, 30 June 1987, c. 70]: All health authorities have pathology laboratory facilities suitable for the examination of cervical smears. Some health authorities sent smears to private laboratories, particularly where backlogs arose following the sharp increase in the number of cervical smears taken in the last two years. Detailed information on the use of private laboratories is not collected centrally.

  Hospitals (Dorset)
  Mr. Butterfill
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on the hospital building programme in Dorset.
  151
  Mrs. Currie
  [pursuant to her reply, 30 June 1987, c. 78]: Dorset is benefiting from the largest ever sustained National Health Service capital building programme. Current hospital building schemes in Dorset include the first phase of the West Dorset district general hospital costing £10·5 million, which is due to take its first patients in September 1987, and the first phase of the Bournemouth district general hospital costing £14·1 million, which is due for completion in December 1987. At Poole general hospital an extension to the maternity unit costing £1·5 million will soon become fully operational, and work is scheduled to commence on 6 July on an assessment/day unit for elderly people, costing £3·6 million. Work is also scheduled to start in July on a mental illness unit at St. Ann's hospital, Canford Cliffs, at a cost of £2 million. The second phase of the Bournemouth district general hospital is approved at a cost of £13·7 million and is scheduled to follow immediately upon completion of the first phase.

SCOTLAND

  Forestry
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans for a comprehensive revision of forestry policy.

  Mr. Rifkind
  A comprehensive review of forestry policy took place in 1979–80. Since then a number of modifications have been made to reflect changing circumstances. Forestry policy will continue to be kept under review and appropriate changes introduced as and when they are considered necessary.

  Councillors (Travel and Subsistence)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now undertake a fundamental review of the level of travel and subsistence allowances paid to councillors; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No. The level of travel and subsistence allowances for councillors is reviewed each year as a matter of routine. The views of the local authority associations, as expressed from time to time, are taken into account in these reviews.

  Farmers (Subscriptions and Charges)
  Mr. Home Robertson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many farmers had access to free advice from the Scottish agricultural colleges before the introduction of subscriptions and charges; and how many farmers have now paid subscriptions in order to participate in the new system.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Prior to the introduction of subscriptions and charges all farmers in the agricultural industry in Scotland had access to free advice from the Scottish agricultural colleges. Since 1 April 1987 some 3,100 farmers have contracted to purchase services from the SAC. Advice specifically on conservation, diversification and animal welfare continues to be available without charge.

  Electoral Register
  Mr. Home Robertson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate how many electors who should have been qualified to vote in the recent general election
  152
  were not able to do so because of errors or omissions from the electoral register; and if he will take any steps to improve the accuracy of the register in future.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  A study by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys of electoral registration in Great Britain in 1981 estimated that almost 95 per cent. of the eligible people in Scotland were included in the electoral register. A more up-to-date figure is not available. Steps taken to improve the accuracy of the register include an annual publicity campaign to encourage those eligible, especially young people, to make sure that they are included in the draft register, arid to check the draft register when it is published at the end of November each year.

  Housing (Waiting Lists)
  Mr. Dewar
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the numbers of people on Scottish local authority housing waiting lists in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Reliable information on a consistent basis is not available centrally.

  Contaminated Food
  Mr. Ron Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has received representations about contaminated food found in Safeways' Edinburgh stores; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received no representations about this matter other than the private notice question from the hon. Member himself on 30 June.

  The Lothian and Borders police force is continuing its investigation in close consultation with the director of environmental health of Edinburgh district council and it is important that that investigation should proceed unhampered.

  Voluntary Bodies
  Mr. Wallace
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will detail the financial assistance given to voluntary bodies under section 16B of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978, as amended, in 1985–86 and 1986–87., respectively.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The amounts of grant paid by the Scottish Home and Health Department to voluntary organisations in respect of their national activities, under section 16B of the National Health Service (Scotland) ) Act 1978 as amended, in the financial years 1985–86 and 1986–87 were £567,000 and £686,0001 respectively.

  1Provisional figure.

  Health Boards
  Mr. Wallace
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial resources he has made available in the present financial year to (a) Orkney health board and (b) Shetland health board to enable them to give financial assistance to voluntary organisations under section 16B of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978, as amended; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. and learned Friend, in terms of the National Health Service (Functions
  153
  of Health Boards) (Scotland) Order 1983, delegated to health boards the power under section 16B of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 to give financial assistance to voluntary organisations in respect of their local activities. Health boards may, from within their general revenue allocations, make grants of up to £5,000 to voluntary organisations for such local activities within the boards' areas which are complementary to the health services required by statute. It is for the boards concerned to decide what organisations they wish to assist.

  Fisheries Protection (Fokker Aircraft)
  Mr. Home Robertson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the delay in commissioning his Department's recently acquired Fokker aircraft for offshore fishery protection patrols; how long he expects this duty to have to be covered by Cessna Titans from the inshore patrol service or other temporary arrangements; and what will be the cost of this delay.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The provisional date for the acceptance trials of the Fokker F27–200 being acquired to undertake fisheries surveillance is 8 July 1987. The tender specification called for an aircraft to be delivered by 31 July 1987 and the acquisition contract indicated a delivery date of 1 June 1987. In order to have the endurance of the selected aircraft enhanced by the installation of extra fuel tanks a revised delivery date of early July was agreed. The introduction of the aircraft is therefore on programme. The interim surveillance Dornier 228 ceased operations on 26 June 1987 and the Cessna Titan will operate temporarily in the offshore role until mid/late-August when the Fokker F27 and aircrew have completed their pre-operational training. No additional costs are involved.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Farming Policy
  Mr. Wigley
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to introduce controls to prevent farming areas which have been traditionally dependent on cereals from moving into sheep and beef production to the detriment of upland areas currently dependent on sheep and beef rearing.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Government will continue to provide support for livestock through compensatory allowances to meet the special need of the uplands. We will not allow grain producers to use any future set aside scheme to move into sheep or beef production.

  Agricultural Land
  Mr. Chapman
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will review the criteria for classifying the grades of agricultural land.

  Mr. Gummer
  This Department is undertaking work which will improve the objectivity of agricultural land classifications. We plan to consult external practitioners later this year with a view to introducing the revised system early in 1988.

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Mr. Marlow
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he anticipates major reforms in the common agricultural policy.
  154
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the progress of reform of the common agricultural policy.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Major reforms have been achieved in the dairy and beef sectors, and significant further progress has just been achieved in the cereals and oilseeds sectors at the price fixing concluded yesterday. I shall continue to work for further reforms.

  Mr. Favell
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on recent discussions with fellow European Economic Community Ministers on the funding of the common agricultural policy.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

  Agriculture Policy (White Paper)
  Mr. Home Robertson
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a White Paper on agriculture policy.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The Government set out their approach to agricultural policy on 10 March 1987 in the publication "Farming UK", which was part of the "Farming and Rural Enterprise" package.

  Cereals
  Mr. John Carlile
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he intends to curb cereal production; and what measures he proposes to introduce to reduce cereal surpluses.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I shall continue to pursue a policy of bringing cereals production more into line with demand by continuing price restraint, supporting measures to make intervention a safety net rather than an alternative market outlet and promoting the diversion of land out of cereals.

  Mr. Conway
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to convey to his European Community colleagues the support of British farmers for the Government's rejection of the two-tier cereals pricing policy.

  Mr. Gummer
  I welcome the support of British farmers for the Government's rejection of a two-tier pricing policy for cereals and have made clear to my European Community colleagues that I am not prepared to accept policies of this kind which discriminate against British farmers.

  Mr. Yeo
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations he has received regarding cereal surpluses.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Over recent months we have continued to receive representations about the overproduction of cereals, including from Members of Parliament, representatives of the farming community and the cereals trade, and members of the general public. It remains our policy to bring production of cereals more into line with demand.

  Sheepmeat
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he

  155
  will be making to the European Community Council of Ministers in the negotiations on the sheepmeat regime at the forthcoming meeting.

  Mr. Livsey
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he is putting forward to the European Community on the sheepmeat regime.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  Our sheepmeat sector is buoyant and expanding, and the Community sheepmeat regime has been an important factor underlying this.

  Dairy Industry
  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will next meet the president of the National Farmers Union to discuss the dairy sector of the agriculture industry.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I have already met the president of the National Farmers Union and intend to have further meetings at which current issues in the agricultural sector—including milk—will be discussed.

  Green Pound
  Mr. Robert Hicks
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he hopes to make an announcement regarding the revaluation of the green pound; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood).

  Food Labelling
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations he has received on food labelling.

  Mr. Donald Thompson
  I regularly receive comments and inquiries from many sources on a wide range of labelling matters. The most recent representations I have received have been on various aspects of the EC proposals to amend the food labelling directive (and on the EC proposals to protect the designations used for dairy products.)

  Food Surpluses
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his latest estimate of the sums which will be spent per week in the current calendar year by the European Economic Community on the disposal and storage of food surpluses; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The 1987 Community budget provides for expenditure of about 335 mecu (£240 million) a week on the storage and disposal of agricultural products.

  Mr. Madden
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to reduce surpluses in production arising in the United Kingdom from the operation of the European Economic Community common agricultural policy.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Mr. Hunter).

  Compassion in World Farming (Exhibition)
  Mr. Cohen
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition relating to the Compassion in World Farming organisation to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Services Committee, arrangements have been made with the authorities of the House for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday 6 July to Friday 10 July.

  Coast Protection
  Mr. Barry Field
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the effect on the finances of South Wight borough council of the reduction in the rate of grant payable for approved coast protection schemes; and what steps he intends to take to mitigate these effects.

  Mr. Gummer
  The revised maximum grant rate will come into operation only for coast protection schemes submitted after 30 September. There will therefore be no effect on schemes already approved.

  As for future schemes, I can make no estimate of the effect the new maximum rate may have, since consideration of the particular schemes to be submitted from its area is a matter for the South Wight borough council, not for my Department.

  Light Dues
  Mr. Salmon
  d asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the total cost to the fishing fleet in (a) Scotland and (b) England and Wales of the Government's decision to extend to fishing vessels liability for light dues.

  Mr. Gummer
  The estimated annual yield of £1 million for light dues would be split fairly evenly between various sectors of the fishing fleet.

  A fishing boat will now save more than 50 per cent. on the cost of a United Kingdom navigation transmitter and this therefore prepresents a significant reduction in its costs.

  EC Payments
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek clarification from the European Economic Community Commission on whether the 19 million lire paid by the Italian authorities to organisations linked to the Mafia organisation, for the alleged delivery of non-existent fruit juice to bodies including North Atlantic Treaty Organisation headquarters in Sicily, qualified for reimbursement by the European Economic Community; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  [pursuant to his reply, 1 July 1987, c. 121]: This is a matter solely for the Commission and the Italian authorities. My officials have, however, established that the Commission is aware of the allegations.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Disarmament
  Mr. Strang
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what preparations Her Majesty's Government are making to participate in the United Nations conference on disarmament and development to be held in New York from 24 August to 11 September; and whether documents detailing Her Majesty's Government's proposals to the conference will be made available to the public.

  Mr. Mellor
  The United Kingdom has played an active and constructive role throughout the preparations for this conference in particular during the four meetings of its preparatory committee.

  Texts of United Kingdom statements at the conference will be made available to the public and subsequently reproduced in the "Quarterly Review" published by the FCO's arms control and disarmament research unit.

  Mr. Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what considerations have been given to the Soviet Union's proposals on the verification of a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty as tabled at the United Nations disarmament conference in Geneva in June; and when he expects to respond formally to this initiative.

  Mr. Mellor
  The Soviet text gives welcome recognition to the importance of verification, and suggests a willingness on the part of the Soviet Union to take matters forward on a co-operative basis. However, there is still no agreement at the Geneva conference on disarmament on the terms for a mandate for an ad hoc committee on nuclear testing issues. Such a committee would be one method of taking forward discussion of the Soviet proposal, to which no formal response is required.

  Iran-Iraq War
  Mr. Parry
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent measures Her Majesty's Government have initiated concerning the ending of the Iran-Iraq war; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  We are active at both the United Nations and EC in seeking an end to the conflict. We have refused to sell any lethal equipment to either side since the conflict began and would support a United Nations-sponsored arms embargo. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs set out our position more fully in his speech in the House on 26 June.

  Mr. Parry
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will now ban any sale of arms to Iran or Iraq forthwith.

  Mr. Mellor
  Our policy is well known. As a direct result of our impartiality in the conflict, we prohibit the export to either Iran or Iraq of defence-related equipment that could significantly enhance the capability of either side to prolong or exacerbate the conflict.

  The detailed guidelines were set out by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 29 October 1985, at column
  158
  454, in his answer to the right hon. Member for Tweeddale, Ettick and Lauderdale (Mr. Steel), and they remain in force.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Ashdown
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, after 30 June 1997, the laws of Hong Kong will be varied to conform to the criminal law of the People's Republic of China by the introduction of the death penalty for economic crimes such as bribery, theft, speculation and embezzlement; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  Under the joint declaration, such matters fall within the high degree of automony to be enjoyed by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

  Mr. Ashdown
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, during the transitional period before 30 June 1997 the laws of Hong Kong will be varied, to conform to the criminal law of the People's Republic of China, by the introduction of the death penalty for economic crimes such as bribery, theft, speculation and embezzlement; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  No.

  Mr. Ashdown
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether safeguards embodied in the Fugitive Offenders Act 1967; and in particular those guaranteeing the post custodial treatment of any person extradited under provisions of this Act, will be continued in force in Hong Kong after 30 June 1997; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if the basic law of the Hong Kong special administrative region will prohibit the removal of prisoners detained in Hong Kong to other parts of the People's Republic of China after 30 June 1997; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) if the basic law of the People's Republic of China will prohibit the removal of prisoners detained in Hong Kong to other parts of the People's Republic of China after 30 June 1997; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) whether current United Kingdom extradition treaties to and from Hong Kong are to be renegotiated; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  As my hon. Friend, the then Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the Member for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Renton) told the then hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Meadowcroft) on 14 May, at column 292, the arrangements currently in force in respect of Hong Kong as regards the return of fugitive offenders to and from the territory cannot subsist in their present form, beyond the resumption by China of sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997. We have been considering what action would be appropriate to ensure that suitable arrangements can continue in force for Hong Kong after that date. The continuity after 1997 of such arrangements affecting Hong Kong must be the subject of consultation with the Chinese Government. Any such consultation would be confidential.

  Mr. Ashdown
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Governor of Hong Kong has authority to make any arrangements with

  159
  foreign states, including the United Kingdom, guaranteeing the policies of the Hong Kong special administrative region after 30 June 1997; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The future Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will determine their own policies within the limits of the high degree of autonomy which they will enjoy under the terms of the Sino-British joint declaration, a legally binding international agreement. Under its terms we and the Chinese Government have also agreed to consider in the period before 1 July 1997 the action necessary to ensure the continued application after that date of international rights and obligations affecting Hong Kong.

  Mr. Ashdown
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the basic law of the special administrative region of Hong Kong will contain any constitutional prohibition on the retroactive application of legislation by the People's Republic of China; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The drafting of the basic law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is a matter for the Chinese Government. The policies of the Chinese Government towards Hong Kong, as set out in the joint declaration, will be stipulated in the basic law. The joint declaration provides that the laws of the Special Administrative Region will be the basic law, the laws previously in force in Hong Kong, and laws enacted by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region legislature. The joint declaration contains no reference to the retroactive application of legislation by the People's Republic of China.

  Mr. Ashdown
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the right and power to interpret the basic law of the Hong Kong special region will be vested with the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China or with the special administrative region of Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  Under the Chinese constitution, the basic law, like other Chinese statutes, is subject to interpretation by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. The joint declaration provides that judicial power, including the power of final judgment, will be vested in the courts of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

  Mr. Ashdown
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if death sentences passed in Hong Kong prior to 1997, but commuted to life imprisonment by the Governor of Hong Kong, may be carried out after 30 June 1997 by the authorities of the special administrative region of Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The joint declaration provides that the laws currently in force in Hong Kong will remain basically unchanged. In Hong Kong the commutation of a death sentence is irrevocable.

  St. Helena
  Dr. Marek
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was spent on conserving the endemic plants of St. Helena for each of the last five years for which figures are available.
  160
  Mr. Chris Patten
  The approximate figures are:

  £

  1982–83

  2,500

  1983–84

  2,500

  1984–85

  5,000

  1985–86

  23,000

  1986–87

  27,000

  In addition, the World Wildlife Fund gave a grant of £7,000 in 1984, which has been used to provide new equipment for the St. Helena Government's special nursery.

  Dr. Marek
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what attempts are being made, and with what success, to stop the St. Helena olive from becoming extinct.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  A number of attempts have been made to propagate from the single surviving specimen of the St. Helena olive discovered on the island in 1977. Ninety five cuttings were taken in 1986, of which five rooted and two survived. These are being nurtured carefully in St. Helena's special nursery. Two more seeds germinated earlier this year and recent cuttings are showing promise. The parent tree is healthy and is visited regularly by Agriculture and Forestry Department personnel. A number of legal and practical measures have been taken to protect the endemic flora of St. Helena, including the St. Helena olive.

  Iran
  Mr. Parry
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's current relations with Iran; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs set out the position fully in his answer to my hon. Friend, the Member for Surrey, North-West (Mr. Grylls) on 1 July, at columns 478–79.

  Cyprus
  Mr. Hayes
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to make a response to the third report from the Foreign Affairs Committee on Cyprus, HC 23, Session 1986–87.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We shall study the report with the greatest care; we shall respond in due course by the publication of a Command Paper. It is well understood by all concerned that the Committee's report and recommendations represent its own views, not those of the Government.

  EC Research Programme
  Sir Russell Johnston
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the United Kingdom will remove its objection to the European Community 1987–91 framework research programme.

  Mrs. Chalker
  [pursuant to her reply, 1 July 1987, c. 108]: The following is a corrected answer.

  The European Council agreed that the appropriations in the budget for the 1987 financial year should he used for

  161
  current programmes pending the definitive adoption of the multiannual framework programme. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made clear our agreement that spending could continue at this year's level over the five years of the framework programme.

  Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the cost so far to public funds of the secretariat of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference; how many civil servants are employed there; what functions they perform; and on which Vote this expenditure falls.

  Mr. Torn King
  [pursuant to the reply, 29 June 1987, c. 281]: The cost to United Kingdom public funds of the salaries and running expenses of the secretariat up to 31 May 1987 has been approximately £313,000. This expenditure falls to the Law, Order, Protective and Miscellaneous Services, Northern Ireland Vote. The function of the secretariat is to act as a channel of communication between the United Kingdom and Irish Governments, and to service the Intergovernmental Conference. This work is undertaken on the United Kingdom side by three officials, along with support staff.

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in what ways the Anglo-Irish Agreement has contributed to peace, stability and reconciliation in Northern Ireland since 15 November 1985.

  Mr. Tom King
  [pursuant to the reply, 29 June 1987, c. 28]: We believe that the agreement respects the proper interests of all sections of the community in Northern Ireland and does not diminish the rights of any; it, for example, offers a further reassurance on the rights of the majority in Northern Ireland, it has contributed to the bringing forward of measures to recognise the rights and identities of both traditions, and it has opened the way to intensified cross-border co-operation. In doing so, it has pointed the way towards peace, stability and reconciliation; further progress can be made which will, in part depend on the willingness of constitutional politicians to engage, irrespective of their attitudes to the agreement, in renewed dialogue.

DEFENCE

  Women's Needs
  Ms. Richardson
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the main needs of women in the policy areas within the sphere of his Department's activities; what has been done to identify and quantify these needs and to monitor services delivery; what consultation is carried out with women to ensure their views are adequately represented; and what training is given to his staff to raise their appreciation of the needs of women.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Ministry of Defence is not responsible for any policy areas relating specifically to the needs of women. The recruitment and management of civilian staff in the Ministry of Defence is conducted in accordance with the equal opportunities policies of the Civil Service; and equal opportunities issues are addressed on appropriate supervision and management training courses.

  RTM 322 Engine
  Mr. Page
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps are being taken to evaluate the effectiveness of the RTM 322 helicopter engine in the EH 101; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The RTM 322 engine is a possible option for the EH 101 helicopter. The implications of introducing it into this programme are being evaluated but no decision has yet been taken.

  Mr. Page
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what results have emerged from the evaluation of the RTM 322 engine in the SH 60B

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The United States Navy's evaluation of the RTM 322 engine in an SH 60B helicopter is a matter for the United States authorities. I understand that it did not begin until 6 June.

  Trident Submarines
  Ms. Ruddock
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence when contracts for the third Trident submarine will be tendered.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The invitation to tender for the third Trident submarine is likely to he issued within the next year.

  Soviet Submarines
  Mr. Strang
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether current North Atlantic Treaty Organisation plans involve attacks against Soviet submarines north of the Greenland-Iceland-Norway gap in the early stages of a future war; and whether any such plans detail the use of Royal Navy forces for the task of attacking Soviet submarines.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The wartime tasks of the Royal Navy in support of NATO are described in paragraph 404 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1987". In accordance with the practice of successive Governments, I am not generally prepared to disclose details of operational plans.

  United States Maritime Strategy
  Mr. Strang
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Royal Navy has adopted any part of the maritime strategy of the United States; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  The maritime strategy to which the hon. Gentleman refers is a United States national strategy. The United States Navy have kept us fully in touch with their thinking. There have been no recent changes in the basic maritime strategy of either NATO or the Royal Navy.

  Royal Navy Exercises
  Mr. Strang
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list for each of the last 10 years (a) the naval exercises in which Royal Navy vessels have taken part, (b) the naval exercises in which Royal Navy vessels have taken part which have mainly involved ship manoeuvres north of the Greenland-Iceland-Norway gap, (c) the naval exercises in which Royal Navy vessels have taken part

  163
  which have partially involved ship manoeuvres north of the Greenland-Iceland-Norway gap and (d) the naval exercises in which Royal Navy ships have taken part which have mainly involved vessel manoeuvres in the Norwegian sea;

  (2) if he will list for each of the last 10 years (a) the naval exercises in which Royal Navy vessels have taken part which have partially involved ship manoeuvres in the Norwegian sea, (b) the naval exercises in which Royal Navy vessels have taken part which have involved any ship manoeuvres in the Barents sea, (c) the Royal Navy forces assigned to the east Atlantic region and (d) naval exercises that have included simulated air strikes against targets in the north of the USSR that the Royal Navy has taken part in.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  The major exercises, and their approximate location, in which Royal Navy vessels have taken part are described in the annual "Statement on the Defence Estimates". It is not our general practice to give details of the operational manoeuvres of Royal Navy surface ships and submarines, or details of exercise scenarios. The vast majority of Royal Navy major surface ships and submarines are committed to the Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic and the Commander-in-Chief Channel. Of these vessels, the numbers committed to SACLANT are significantly greater, and in practice a high proportion of these vessels has been maintained in the eastern Atlantic.

  Naval Expenditure
  Mr. Strang
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list for each of the next five years the current projected total anti-submarine warfare expenditure and total naval expenditure.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  It has been the practice of successive Governments not to publish detailed information about the Department's internal expenditure projections. We do, however, plan to maintain a substantial investment in naval expenditure, including anti-submarine warfare.

  Mr. Strang
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list for each of the next five years the current projected expenditures for (a) nuclear hunter-killer submarines, (b) non-nuclear submarines, (c) frigates, (d) minesweepers and (e) anti-submarine warfare capable aircraft.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  It has been the practice of successive Governments not to publish detailed information about the Departments' internal expenditure projections.

  Mr. Strang
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether he will list for each of the last 10 years the total anti-submarine warfare expenditure and the total naval expenditure by Her Majesty's Government;

  (2) whether he will list for each of the last 10 years Her Majesty's Government's expenditure on (a) nuclear hunter-killer submarines, (b) non-nuclear submarines, (c) frigates, (d)minesweepers and (e) anti-submarine warfare capable aircraft.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The information is not available in precisely the form requested. However, I refer the hon. Member to the functional analysis of the defence budget which has appeared in volume 2 of successive Statements on the Defence Estimates since 1980.

  Vessel and Aircraft Statistics
  Mr. Strang
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will list for each of the past 10 years the number of (a) nuclear attack submarines, (b) non-nuclear submarines, (c) frigates, (d) minesweepers and (el antisubmarine warfare capable aircraft in service with the Royal Navy.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  I refer the hon. Member to the Annex entitled "Strength of the Fleet" which has appeared in successive Statements on the Defence Estimates over this period. It contains the information requested, with the exception of the numbers of operational aircraft which it is not our practice to reveal.

  Anti-tank Operations
  Mr. Marlow
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the findings of the investigation comparing attack helicopters with tanks in the anti-tank rôle.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Project Foresight, which commenced in 1981, is part of a continuing series of studies aimed at maintaining the most effective balance of weapons systems within the central region of Europe. The most recent study examined the relative cost-effectiveness of a number of anti-armour weapon systems. It concluded that the future mix of weapons should be derived from a broad-based investment strategy, in which a place should he found both for a light attack helicopter equipped with a long range anti-tank weapon, and for a main battle tank: the details of the study are classified. Its conclusions will be taken into account in our future decision-making in the normal way.

  Radioactive Discharges
  Mr. Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make available to the committee on the medical aspects of radiation in the environment a complete and unabridged record of all known radioactive discharges, both intentional and otherwise, at the Aldermaston and Burghfield atomic weapons plants to assist the committee on the medical aspects of radiation in the environment in its investigations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  During the last year my Department provided to the National Radiological Protection Board a complete record on an annual basis of the airborne and liquid radioactive discharges from the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment at Aldermaston and the Royal Ordnance Factory at Burghfield, since their inception NRPB have used this information to estimate doses and risks to members of the public from the discharges. These have been made available to the Committee on the Medical Aspects of Radiation in the environment and were recently published in NRPB R-202.

  Research Contracts
  Mr. Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list Ministry of Defence research contracts currently placed with United Kingdom universities and other institutions of higher education.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The defence research establishments have currently 742 research agreements and 68 contracts
  165
  with a wide range of United Kingdom universities and other institutions. It is not our policy to publish details of these arrangements.

  Mr. Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Royal Aircraft Establishment has any research agreements or contracts with any universities or other institutes of higher education in the United Kingdom or abroad.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Royal Aircraft Establishment has currently 226 research agreements or contracts with United Kingdom universities and other institutes of higher education. There are currently no such agreements or contracts with institutions abroad.

  Mr. Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Royal Signals and Radar Establishment has any research agreements or contracts with any universities or other institutions of higher education in the United Kingdom or abroad.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Royal Signals and Radar Establishment has currently 77 research agreements or contracts with United Kingdom universities and other institutes of higher education. There are currently no such agreements with institutions abroad.

  Mr. Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment at Aldermaston has any research contracts or agreements with any universities or other institutions of higher education in the United Kingdom or abroad.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Atomic Weapons Research Establishment has currently 30 research contracts or agreements with universities and other institutions of higher education in the United Kingdom. There are currently no such contracts or agreements with institutions abroad.

  Mr. Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether (a) the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Aircraft Establishment at Boscombe Down, (b) The Royal Armament Research Development Establishment, (c) the Admiralty Research Establishment, (d) the Chemical Defence Establishment at Porton Down, (e) the Royal Ordnance factory at Burghfield and (f) the Royal Ordnance factory at Llanishen have any research contracts or agreements with universities or other institutions of higher education in the United Kingdom or overseas.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The establishments concerned currently have the following research agreements or contracts:

  Number

  A& AEE

  Nil

  RARDE

  123

  ARE

  115

  CDE

  73

  ROF Burghfield

  Nil

  ROF Cardiff

  Nil

  There are currently no such agreements or contracts with institutions abroad.

  Mr. Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many research projects in universities and other institutions of higher education have been funded under the Joint Research Council — Ministry of Defence research grants scheme in each year since the inception of the scheme.
  166
  Mr. Sainsbury
  Numbers of research agreements approved for funding under the joint Research Council/MOD research grants scheme, by financial year, are as follows:

  Number

  1986–87

  63

  1987–88 (April-June)

  19

  Mr. Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence which United Kingdom universities or other institutions of higher education have received research contracts under the United States strategic defence initiative programme.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  It is for those universities or other institutions of higher education who hold such contracts to decide whether to divulge such information publicly.

  Defence Scientific Advisory Council
  Mr. Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will name all the chairmen of the Defence Scientific Advisory Council since 1979.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Chairman of the DSAC in 1979 was Professor Sir Sam Edwards, PhD, FInstP, FIMA, FRS. He was succeeded in 1981 by Mr. P. E. Trier, CBE, DTech, FEng, FIEE, FInstP, FIMA. The current Chairman is Dr. J. I. G. Cadogan, CBE, DSc, CChem, FRSC, FRSE, FRS, who was appointed in 1985.

  Defence Scientific Advisory Group
  Mr. Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the technology boards of the Defence Scientific Advisory Council and the function of each inidividual board.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The function of the Defence Scientific Advisory Council is to advise the Secretary of State for Defence on scientific and technological aspects of research and development work in the Ministry of Defence. The boards provide specialised inputs in aerospace technology, marine technology, military technology and the technologies associated with systems and electronics, chemical and biological defence, information processing and assessment.

  Mr. Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many academics from universities or other institutions of higher education sit on the Defence Scientific Advisory Council.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Currently 13 academics, from universities or other institutions of higher education, sit on the Defence Scientific Advisory Council.

  Defence Lectureship Scheme
  Mr. Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many academics are at present sponsored under the defence lectureship scheme; and at which universities or other institutions of higher education.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Ministry of Defence currently sponsors a total of five defence lectureships in British academic institutions. These are at the University of Aberdeen; the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth; Kings College, London; and two posts at the University of Cambridge. A sixth defence lecturer will take up his post
  167
  at the University of Birmingham on 1 October 1987. A former defence lecturer, at the University of Leeds, will continue to receive support funds from the Ministry of Defence until the end of the 1987–88 academic year.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. John Greenway
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements are being made, during the current industrial action by Customs and Excise staff, to ensure that value added tax repayments are expedited; and if businesses receiving their repayments late will automatically receive the late payment supplement.

  Mr. Brooke
  Industrial action at the VAT computer system at Shoeburyness ceased on Monday 29 June. The system is currently being restored to normal working and repayments of VAT will be given a high priority during this period of recovery. Repayments unreasonably delayed more than 30 days will automatically receive an additional payment of 5 per cent. of the repayment claimed.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has on the effect on retailers of the delay arising from the breakdown of the value added tax computer at Shoeburyness in the repayments of moneys due to them; if he will take steps to ensure the earliest possible repayment of such moneys; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lawson
  [pursuant to his reply, 1 July 1987, c. 95]: No detailed information is available but I understand that temporary cash flow difficulties have been reported by a number of traders. The computer system at Shoeburyness is currently being restored to normal working and repayments of VAT will be given a high priority during this period of recovery. Repayments unreasonably delayed more than 30 days will receive an additional payment of 5 per cent. of the repayment claimed.

  EC Budget (United Kingdom Contribution)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total net contribution made by the United Kingdom to the European Economic Community in each of the previous five years; and if these figures take account of the transfer from European Economic Community to national responsibility of expenditure on agricultural policies like the disposal of butter surpluses.

  Mr. Brooke
  [pursuant to his reply, 1 July 1987, c. 95.]: Details of the United Kingdom's net payments to European Community institutions for the past five financial years are contained in the last public expenditure White Paper (Cm. 56-II, table 3.3, page 68). These figures take account only of payments actually made to or received from the institutions concerned. During this period there was nothig analogous to the scheme for the deferred reimbursement of expenditure on the disposal of butter stocks which was agreed by the Agriculture Council this year.

  Civil Servants (Local Government Service)
  Mr. Tom Arnold
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the likely level of requests
  168
  for special leave by civil servants who are also elected councillors serving on police authorities or residuary bodies, following the abolition of the metropolitan counties; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  None. It is a matter for individual employing Departments. The rules covering special leave for voluntary public service are laid down in paragraphs 870–873 of the "Civil Service Pay and Conditions of Service Code", a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library.

  Group of Five
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next intends to meet his G5 partners.

  Mr. Lilley
  The Finance Ministers of the major industrial nations meet from time to time to discuss a range of international economic issues.

  R v Taylor and Muller Butcher (Costs)
  Mr. Ashdown
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the overall charge on public funds including an estimate of expenditure in time and money by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, arising from the outcome of the case of Regina v Taylor and Muller Butcher in Reading Crown court on 23 June; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  Some administrative costs cannot be ascertained but the estimated overall charge on public funds is £11,437; of which the estimated expenditure by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise is 105 man days and £11,017.

  Queen's Speech
  Mr. Thurnham
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about proposals in the Queen's Speech for which he is responsible; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The proposals have been widely welcomed.

  Widows' Pensions
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates are available to him of the cost of introducing the payment of a widow's pension to the widows of post-retirement marriages to public servants.

  Mr. Brooke
  In accordance with the Social Security Pensions Act 1975, public service pension schemes already provide pensions for the widows of post-retirement marriages in respect of their husband's service since 6 April 1978. The act did not require occupational pension schemes to make similar provision for those retiring before 6 April 1978, and it has been the practice of successive Governments not to make retrospective changes in public service pensions schemes. Estimates of the cost of extending the provision for those retiring before 6 April 1978 are not readily available, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Liverpool Freeport
  Mr. Parry
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied with the working of the Liverpool freeport; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  [pursuant to his reply, 1 July 1987, c. 95]: The free zone experiment was initiated for a fixed five-year period. Liverpool has reported a steady growth in business since it commenced operations, and I hope that this trend will continue.
  170
  Mr. Parry
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has assessed what effects the Manx freeport will have on the Liverpool freeport; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  [pursuant to his reply, 1 July 1987, c. 95]: The Manx freeport is not yet operational and so has had no effect on trade through Liverpool. But we will continue to monitor the free zone experiment during its five-year life.

  PASSPORTS: DELAYS IN ISSUE
  PASSPORTS: DELAYS IN ISSUE
  SINGLE EUROPEAN ACT
  SINGLE EUROPEAN ACT
  DELEGATED LEGISLATION: APPROVAL
  DELEGATED LEGISLATION: APPROVAL
  EC AND JAPAN: ANTI-DUMPING MEASURES
  EC AND JAPAN: ANTI-DUMPING MEASURES
  FALKLANDS WAR: NUCLEAR WEAPONS UNDERTAKING
  FALKLANDS WAR: NUCLEAR WEAPONS UNDERTAKING