TNAG-0930-FCO40-1148-Sanctions-against-Iran-extension-to-Dependent-Territories-1980 — Page 118

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matter for the professional judgment of those responsible in the schools and local education authorities.

Mrs. Ann Taylor asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children, in how many schools, are currently being taught to read by the use of the initial teaching alphabet; and what are the figures for each of the last 15 years.

Mr. Mark Carlisle My Department does not collect this information. A sample survey conducted for the Bullock committee in 1973 indicated that the initial teaching alphabet was then used in about 10 per cent. of primary schools con- taining infants. There are grounds for supposing that this figure has since decreased.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Fourth Television Channel (Welsh Language Programmes) Mr. Best asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated cost of producing all Welsh language programmes on the proposed fourth television channel.

Mr. Brittan: The report of the Home Office working party on the Welsh television fourth channel project in 1978 estimated that the additional programmes of some 6 hours a week necessary to achieve a service of some 20 hours within three years would cost-at 1978 prices- £3.8 million in revenue costs and £2.5 million in capital costs. These estimates assumed that there would be no additions to existing and planned studio capacity. The report did not quantify the full cost of a Welsh language fourth channel, but noted that it would be much greater. The need to produce programmes to replace those taken from the existing BBC and IBA channels and the loss of potential advertising revenue to the fourth channel would also have to be taken into account.

Identity Laws

Mr. Skinner asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will recommend changes in the identi- fication laws along the lines of the report of Lord Devlin's committee of inquiry published in April 1976; and if he will make a statement.

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Mr. Brittan: On the committee's re- commendation concerning the trial judge's, summing-up, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Paddington (Mr. Wheeler) on 17 April. [Vol. 982, c. 709.] On other matters about which the committee made recommendations, we will give further thought to the need for legislation when we receive the report of the Royal Commission on criminal procedure. Meanwhile, a number of the committee's proposals have been imple- mented by administrative means.

Southall (Disturbance)

Mrs. Renée Short asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what procedures exist to ensure that the police do not have unauthorised weapons; and whether he plans to change the procedures;

(2) if he will hold a public inquiry into the events at Southall on 23 April 1979;

(3) if he will make a statement follow- ing the verdict of misadventure in the Blair Peach inquest and the riders added by the jury.

Mr. Whitelaw: In the course of my statement of 27 June 1979 on the events which had occurred at Southall on 23 April 1979 I indicated that I did not think that there were any significant gaps in the various inquiries which were then in hand which a public inquiry could usefully fill. That remains my view. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on the jury's verdict in the inquest on the death of Mr. Blair Peach until all judicial proceedings which might arise from it have been completed.

The jury's rider about the organisation and supervision of the Special Patrol Group as covered in the answer I gave on 10 March to my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen, South (Mr. Sproat) [Vol. 980, c. 395–96]. The other two riders are matters for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. The holding or use of unauthorised weapons by police officers is already under review by the Commissioner.

Mrs. Renée Short asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations for a public inquiry into the events of Southall on 23 April 1979 and the death of Blair Peach he