asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average weekly cost in 1978–79 of keeping a male inmate in a dispersal prison, a closed training prison, a local prison, a remand centre, an open prison, a borstal, a young persons' centre and a detention centre.

As shown in the annual report on the work of the prison department 1978—Cmnd. 7619, paragraph 16—the average weekly costs in 1977–78—the latest year for which information is available—were:

	£
Six Category A/B dispersal prisons	187
Other closed training prisons	91
Local prisons and remand centres	85
Open prisons	72
Borstals and YP centres	104
Detention centres	104

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the board of visitors at Cookham Wood prison about the prescribing of drugs, especially night sedatives, to female inmates; how many women were alleged to be on medication in June 1979; what was the actual number on medication; and if he will make a statement.

We have received no formal representations. But at the boards of visitors conference on 10 October, the representative of the board of visitors at Cookham Wood prison said that on a routine visit to the prison on 18 June he had been told that 50 prisoners were receiving night sedatives. In fact on that date 42 prisoners were receiving night sedatives. The question whether to prescribe medicines including night sedatives for a prisoner is a matter for the individual doctor responsible for the inmate's medical care.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what supervision over the use of drugs in penal institutions is exercised by the chief medical adviser to the prison department.

The chief medical officer of the Home Office, who is also the chief medical officer of the Department of Health and Social Security, advises my Department when necessary on any medical aspects of its responsibilities including matters relating to prisoners.The management of medical services in prison department establishments is the responsibility of the director of prison medical services. The director and his senior medical colleagues discuss clinical matters, including the use of drugs, with doctors working in establishments, although it would not be appropriate to give instructions to such doctors about how they should exercise clinical judgment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy with regard to filling the post of chief administrator of Her Majesty's prison service from within the ranks of the governor grades.

I have under close consideration the May committee's recommendations on the future management of the prison service in England and Wales, including the recommendation relating to the chairman of the prison board, but I am not yet ready to announce any conclusions on these matters.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to improve the col- lection and analysis of immigration statistics.

The collection and analysis of statistics on the control of immigration is kept under review and improved as the need arises and the available resources allow. For example, the last quarterly statistical bulletin was expanded to include regular publication of statistics on entry clearances in the Indian subcontinent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what date he expects to introduce a register and a quota system for potential immigrants.

Both these matters require legislation to be effective and we have decided to give priority to changes in the immigration rules.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the figure, actual or estimated, of the number of British women not born in the United Kingdom who currently have the right to settle in the United Kingdom.

Such an estimate is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the different ways in which a citizen of Pakistan or the New Commonwealth may come to settle in the United Kingdom as a legal immigrant; what are the means most frequently used by illegal immigrants; and what measures are being taken to control them.

Citizens of Pakistan or the New Commonwealth may settle in the United Kingdom if they qualify to do so under the statements of immigration rules HC 79, 80, 81 and 82, as amended. The rules provide for the settlement of the wives and children under 18 of men settled here; the unmarried and dependent children over 18 forming part of the family unit if the whole family are settled or being admitted for settlement; parents and grandparents over 65 wholly or mainly dependent on children settled in the United Kingdom who can support and accommodate them; distressed relatives in certain closely defined circumstances; men or women marrying partners settled here where the marriage is not one of convenience as defined in the rules; returning residents; and people who have been in the United Kingdom for four years in approved employment or as a businessman or a self-employed person or as a person of independent means.Entry is illegal when it is made either by avoiding the immigration control altogether, or by deceiving the immigration officer on arrival as to identity or entitlement to admission. It is not possible to say which means is the most frequently used. All reasonable and practicable measures are taken to prevent illegal entry. The immigration service is vigilant in the detection of those attempting to enter by deception, and keeps in touch with its counterparts overseas. It also works closely with the police in the detection of those who have managed to enter illegally. Information about those detected is published in the control of immigration statistics published quarterly and annually by the Home Office.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the difference in immigration rights between citizens of Pakistan and citizens of New Commonwealth countries.

The main differences are as follows.Section 1(5) of the Immigration Act 1971 has the effect of protecting Commonwealth citizens settled in the United Kingdom at the coming into force of the Act and their wives and children against adverse changes in the rules.Section 7(1) of the same Act confers immunity from deportation on Commonwealth citizens ordinarily resident here on 1 January 1973 who subsequently completed five years ordinary residence before a decision to deport them was taken.Citizens of Pakistan are not covered by these provisions unless they also hold the citzenship of a Commonwealth country. But Pakistani overstayers who have not committed criminal offences have by an adminstrative concession normally been treated in the same way as Commonwealth citizens under section 7(1). Citizens of Pakistan are, however, unlike Commonwealth citizens settled here on 1 January 1973, required to be able and willing to support and accommodate their wives and children without recourse to public funds.Section 2(1)(

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many immigrant marriages vetted over the past 12 months were found to be intact;(2) what is the number of immigrant marriages vetted over the past 12 months.

8,734 men were granted settlement on removal of time limit by reason of marriage in the 12 months ended June 1979, but inquiries into the subsistence of the marriage would have been made only where there was reason to suspect that it might be one of convenience. Information on the number of cases in which inquiries were instituted or in which, as a result of those inquiries, the marriage was judged to be still intact could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigrant fiancés or husbands have been sent home in the past 12 months.

At least 356 applications to settle on the basis of marriage to a woman settled in the United Kingdom were refused in the two years ended 31 March 1979 but some refusals may not have been recorded. Information on the number of cases in which the man returned to his own country, whether voluntarily or otherwise, is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) for each year since 1974, how many persons who were permitted to enter the United Kingdom from (a) India and Pakistan, (b) other New Commonwealth countries, (c) old Commonwealth countries, (d) EEC countries and (e) other countries as fiancés of women settled in the United Kingdom, had their permission to stay varied or withdrawn as a result of their failure subsequently to comply with their conditions of entry as to marriage;(2) for each year since 1974, how many persons who were permitted to enter the United Kingdom from (a) India and Pakistan, (b) other New Commonwealth countries, (c) old Commonwealth countries, (d) EEC countries and (e) other countries as husbands of women settled in the United Kingdom, had their permission to stay varied or withdrawn as a result of their failure to comply with their conditions of entry as to the married status.

The only readily available information is that at least 356 applications to settle on the basis of marriage to a woman settled in the United Kingdom were refused in the two years ended 31 March 1979, but some refusals may not have been recorded. Of those recorded, the breakdown requested by the hon. Member is as follows:

India and Pakistan	115
New Commonwealth excluding India	54
Old Commonwealth	0
EEC countries	0
Other countries	187

The other information requested by the hon. Member could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take into account the question of political bias, as evidenced by the Panorama programme on immigration on Monday 5 November, when preparing any supplemental charter for the British Broadcasting Corporation.

As I made clear in my recent speech to the Royal Television Society at Cambridge, it is a long-established principle endorsed by successive Governments and the Annan committee that the BBC should have editorial re- sponsibility for the content of its programmes, in exercise of which it acknowledges a duty to treat controversial subjects with due impartiality. The governors of the BBC, who are appointed as the guardians of the public interest in these matters, will no doubt take note of feelings expressed in this House and elsewhere about the way in which the Corporation discharges its responsibilities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what numbers of refugees from Indochina the British Government have undertaken to accept; how many of these have already arrived; when the rest are expected; and whether the figures include all possible wives and dependants.

From 1975 to the end of October 1979, approximately 4,500 Indochinese refugees had been accepted in the United Kingdom. This includes 700 from the commitment made in July to accept 10,000 refugees. It is expected that by the end of this year 2,000 of that 10,000 will have arrived. Every effort is being made to select complete family units.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish his proposals for changes in the immigration rules.

At 11 am on Wednesday 14 November.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions have taken place with the European Commission about European social fund contributions towards the cost of section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966; what claims have been made since 1975 against the European social fund; and what receipts have been obtained.

The regular discussions which take place between officials of the EEC Commission responsible for the operation of the European social fund and officials of the Department of Employment who co-ordinate the Government's interests in this field, touch from time to time, on the contributions from the fund towards expenditure eligible for grant under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966.Since 1975, application has been made to the European social fund for the following assistance towards all the expenditure eligible for grant aid under section 11 which falls within the scope of the fund:

1975	£8·36 million
1976	£8·43 million
1977	£9·50 million
1978	£10·64 million
1979	£11·13 million
1980	£14·47 million

The fund has been able to approve claims for assistance only in respect of certain elements in this expenditure which are related to the fund's changing priorities. The amounts received since 1975 to date are shown below:

1975	£3·31 million
1976	£0·32 million
1977	£2·15 million*
1978	£0·28 million*
* Full payment of assistance approved by ESF still awaited.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the working of the Home Office consolidated circular to the police on crime and kindred matters concerning incitement or procurement of the commission of a crime, in the light of the events surrounding the arrest of Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Tibbetts.

I am not aware of any need to revise the existing guidance to chief officers of police on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will request a report from the chief constable of the West Yorkshire police on the circumstances leading to the arrest and prosecution of Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Tibbetts on 25 August 1976.

I understand from the chief constable of the West Yorkshire metropolitan police that complaints against members of his force made by Mr. and Mrs. Tibbetts in connection with their arrest and prosecution in 1976 have been dealt with in accordance with the statutory procedures for the investigation and consideration of such complaints. It would not be appropriate for me to intervene in matters which under the law are the responsibility of the chief constable, the Director of Public Prosecutions and, in relation to complaints about incidents occurring on or after 1st June 1977, the Police Complaints Board, or to call for a report about them.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schoolchildren in South Tyneside metropolitan borough council take school meals; and how many of them receive free meals.

On a day in October 1978, the latest date for which reliable figures are available, the number of pupils in the area of the South Tyneside metropolitan borough council who took a school meal was 13,902, of whom 5,253 received the meal free of charge.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate he has made of the impact of a reduction in the kitchen capacity of the school meals service, and a change in the type of food provided, on the meals on wheels services provided from school canteens throughout the United Kingdom; what representations he has received about this matter; what replies he has sent; and if he will make a statement.

None; and my right hon. and learned Friend has received no representations on this matter. If, in the area of a local education authority, the meals on wheels service is dependent on the school meals service, this is a factor the authority concerned will no doubt take into account in deciding what changes to make in the operation of the school meals service.

asked the Secretary of for Education and Science when he now expects committee B of the universities' negotiating machinery for the pay of university teachers to meet; and how long after that meeting it would be before he would make an offer which restore pay levels to those recommended by the Leggatt arbitration.

I have nothing yet to add to the answer I gave to a similar question from my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridge (Mr. Rhodes James) on 25 October.—[Vol. 922, c. 255.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science by what average percentage the pay of university teachers now falls behind the levels recommended by the Leggatt award.

An abritration board in June 1975, under the chairmanship of Mr. Andrew Leggatt, QC, awarded salary scales for university non-clinical teachers which the board deemed appropriate as at October 1974—but payable only from October 1975—having regard to the salaries recommended by the Houghton committee 1974—Cmnd. 5848—for teachers employed in further education establishments other than universities.University teachers have received various salary increases subsequent to that arbitration award, including a supplement of 12·1 per cent. on average designed to rectify an anomaly that arose from the introduction of the Labour Government's pay policy in July 1975. There is no unique measure of the amount by which the pay of university teachers may be deemed to have fallen relatively behind what was intended by the 1975 arbitration award.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of expenditure on free milk is at present paid for by EEC subsidies.

Forty-nine per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is his estimate of the present shortage of teachers of craft and design in primary and secondary schools;(2) what action he is taking to relieve the shortage of teachers of craft and design;(3) what action he is taking to improve the teaching of craft and design in schools.

In January 1979, local education authorities in England and Wales reported 294 vacancies for teachers of craft design and technology. However, preliminary analysis of data from the Department's 1977 secondary school staffing survey indicates that the real shortage could be in excess of 2,000 teachers.The Department is currently examining ways in which the shortage might be overcome. As an interim measure, the Government's special one-year courses to retrain teachers, or to train other appropriately qualified people, to teach these subjects are continuing in this academic year and have been approved for a further year, with financial support from the Manpower Services Commission.The Department also offers short courses to raise the standards of existing teachers and in conjunction with local authorities, has initiated a series of regional conferences to inform head teachers and departmental heads of the standards which should be achieved.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of the shortage of occupational therapists in Strathclyde, he will bring forward proposals for providing increased training facilities for prospective therapists.

Occupational therapy training courses are available in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen. The Edinburgh course was transferred on 1 September 1979 to Queen Margaret college, resulting in an increase in student places in that course. While there are no immediate plans to increase student intakes to the other courses, a review is under way of the likely demand for newly trained occupational therapists over the next few years. The aim will be to ensure that an adequate number of training places is provided to meet requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many gynaecologists were serving in the National Health Service in 1965, 1970 and 1975; and what is the figure currently.

It is not possible to differentiate between gynaecologists and obstetricians, since the medical staffing statistics show them in a single speciality. The number of hospital doctors in the speciality in Scotland for the following years are:

1965	314
1970	340
1975	377
1978	392

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the money spent on the arts in England and Wales per head of population; and what is the revenue received from the arts through the application of value added tax.

Expenditure in England and Wales in 1978–79 on museums, libraries and the arts by central and local government is estimated to have been very approximately of the order of £7 per head of the population. Comparable figures for expenditure by private consumers are not available.The VAT charged on admissions and sales by registered persons involved in music, dance, drama, art, sculpture and literature in 1978–79 was £83 million.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is satisfied with the politeness and efficiency of the counter staff at the London passport office.

Yes. The London passport office maintains its record of courtesy and efficiency despite enormous seasonal pressures. I am heartened by the numbers of people who write to express their appreciation.

asked the Lord Privy Seal how long it takes to deal with a passport application (a) by post and (b) in person at the London passport office; and how this compares with the position 12 months ago.

Straightforward applications submitted by any means are currently being processed by the London passport office in seven working days. The position was much the same this time last year.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the total amount of public funds that have been paid to members of the Patriotic Front since their arrival in Great Britain for the Lancaster House talks; on what items these funds were spent; whether receipts have been produced in return for funds received; and what auditing procedure he intends to initiate to ensure that the funds were properly spent.

Up to 10 November expenditure in connection with Mr. Mugabe and Mr. Nkomo's delegation amounted to £110,817.Mr. Nkomo and nine others are staying at hotels where their room charges are paid by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Mr. Mugabe and nine others are now living in flats rented by the delegation to whom a pro rata payment, based on the rental costs, is paid in lieu of hotel accommodation. In addition there is a non-accountable subsistence allowance of £25 a day for each of the official representatives.Return air fares to and from London are also being paid by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.Receipts are obtained for all payments made by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the accounts will be subject to normal audit procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what legislation provides for adequate washing and toilet facilities for workers on farms; and whether this legislation covers casual and seasonal workers equally with permanent workers.

The requirement to provide adequate toilet and washing facilities for workers on farms in Great Britain is contained in the Agriculture (Safety, Health and Welfare Provisions) Act 1956 as amended by the Health and Safety (Agriculture) (Miscellaneous Repeals and Modifications) Regulations 1976 and the Health and Safety (Enforcing Authority) Regulations 1977. The provisions apply equally to permanent, casual and seasonal workers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what legislation provides for the safety of workers on farms; and whether this legislation covers casual and seasonal workers equally with permanent workers.

All legislation providing for the health and safety of workers on farms in Great Britain applies equally to permanent, casual and seasonal workers. It comprises:

1. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Health and Safety (Agriculture) (Poisonous Substances) Regulations 1975 made thereunder;

2. The Agriculture (Poisonous Substances) Act 1952; and

3. The Agriculture (Safety, Health and Welfare Provisions) Act 1956 and the following regulations made thereunder:

(i) Agriculture (First Aid) Regulations 1957

(ii) Agriculture (Ladders) Regulations 1957

(iii) Agriculture (Power Take-Off) Regulations 1957

(iv) Agriculture (Avoidance of Accidents to Children) Regulations 1958

(v) Agriculture (Circular Saws) Regulations 1959

(vi) Agriculture (Safeguarding of Workplaces) Regulations 1959

(vii) Agriculture (Stationary Machinery) Regulations 1959

(viii) Agriculture (Lifting of Heavy Weights) Regulations 1959

(ix) Agriculture (Threshers and Balers) Regulations 1960

(x) Agriculture (Field Machinery) Regulations 1962

(xi) Agriculture (Tractor Cabs) Regulations 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many categories of officials from the National Dock Labour Board have a statutory right to enter land to promote the welfare amenities available for dockers; what are the current numbers in each category; and whether he has any plans to review this entry right.

Officials of the National Dock Labour Board may be authorised to enter land for this purpose only if the Secretary of State has made art order under section 29(1) of the Docks and Harbours Act 1966 declaring that a person has failed to comply with a requirement imposed on and notified to him under section 25 of that Act. No such order has been made and therefore no officials of the Board are so authorised.I have no plans to review this provision.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many women between the ages of 16 and 45 years are in full-time employment.

It is estimated that in Great Britain in 1977, the latest year for which information is available, about 3½ million women aged between 16 and 45 were full-time employees.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of fatal accidents occurring in agriculture in 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979 to the most recent practicable date.

The number of fatal accidents which occurred in agriculture in Great Britain in the years 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1978 was as follows:

1975	101
1976	108
1977	105
1978	73

Up to 5.11.79, the number of fatal accidents in agriculture in Great Britain reported to Her Majesty's agricultural inspectorate was 64.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he proposes to extend the temporary short-time working scheme when the current scheme expires; and if he proposes now or in the future to enable firms to benefit from the scheme on more than one occasion.

A decision about the future of the temporary short time working compensation scheme will be made as part of the annual review of the special employment and training measures, which will take place later this year. This has been established practice since their inception. Decisions will be announced as soon as possible before 31 March 1980.

asked the Secretary of State or Employment whether any of his departmental files have been released to the Public Records Office since 1 January; and, if so, if he will list them in the Official Report by piece reference number and title.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 November 1979]; Since 1 January 1979 my Department has released 1,109 items to the Public Record Office. I am having a copy of the list placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, further to his reply of 6 November, what was the value of contracts issued by his Department by selective tender.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 November 1979]; It will take a little further time to establish what information can be provided without disproportionate costs.I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many persons on average use the restaurants and cafeteria in the House of Commons daily; and of this number how many are Members of Parliament and how many staff and journalists.

I have been asked to reply.It is estimated that 3,500 covers are served each sitting day by the Refreshment Department. Four hundred are served to Members, the remainder to staff, journalists and visitors to the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Carmarthen, Official Report, 5 November, column 20, on the Development Board for Rural Wales, whether his reply referred to the northern half of the constituency; and if he will give the figures on which his reply was based and any necessary corrections to his earlier reply.

Yes. The Carmarthen and Llandeilo travel-to-work areas had unemployment rates in October of 3·6 per cent, and 7·7 per cent, respectively which are below the Wales average. The Lampeter—Llandysul travel-to-work area, part of which comes into the constituency, had an unemployment rate of 12·9 per cent, but has and will retain development area status.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will now take steps to ensure that all Welsh community and town councils receive a fair share of the needs element of every rate support grant in respect of their areas.

The question of distributing rate support grant to community and parish councils has been considered by successive Governments, but in view of the large number of councils involved and the wide variety of local circumstances it has not proved possible to find a practicable way of doing so.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will consider bringing forward legislation to amend section 147 of the Local Government Act 1972, for the purpose of removing all doubt with regard to the powers of Welsh district and borough councils to make community and town councils in their allocations of their rate support grants to community and town councils in their areas.

I do not think it necessary to do so. The discretionary powers that district councils have under the terms of section 147 of the Local Government Act 1972 do not in themselves allow district councils to pass on payment of rate support grant to community councils. However, it is my view that section 147(3) and section 136 taken together enable community and district councils to make arrangements locally which would assist community councils in the financing of their expenditure and can reduce the rate levied on community council ratepayers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action is being taken to control sheep grazing in the Forest of Dean.

After consultation with local interests, the Forestry Commission has negotiated with the Commoners' Association a scheme for controlling the grazing. This includes the registration and licensing of the graziers; provisions for overall numbers of sheep grazed in the forest and improved marking; and other arrangements for reducing the effects of uncontrolled grazing in the area of Cinderford.I have written to my hon. Friend with full details of the scheme.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he plans to seek an early devaluation of the green pound, in view of the increasing disparity in the value of the green pound and the £ sterling.

I have no immediate plans to seek a further devaluation of the green pound, but I keep the matter under continuous review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how he proposes to reconcile free movement of milk and sheepmeat within the EEC with various member countries' traditional arrangements for marketing and support.

The provisions of the Treaty of Rome relating to the free movement of goods, as interpreted by the European Court, are binding on all mem- ber States, and any national measure which conflicts with these provisions must therefore be altered or abolished. These provisions are subject to the exceptions listed in article 36, which include restrictions justified on grounds of the protection of health.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the areas of the United Kingdom now subjected to low-flying Royal Air Force aircraft since the enlargement of the United Kingdom flight training area programme on 1 January.

I refer the hon. Member to the announcement made by my predecessor on 12 December 1978.—[Vol. 960, c. 194.] A map showing the essential features of the revised low-flying system was published by the Civil Aviaition Authority on 1 January 1979 and a copy placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he is giving to the capability of British Aerospace to meet United Kingdom needs for cruise missiles.

No decision has been taken to acquire cruise missiles for the United Kingdom Armed Forces.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department is directly represented on NATO's study group on the United State's Patriot ground-to-air missile.

A NATO project group is currently discussing arrangements for procurement of the US Patriot surface-to-air missile system as a replacement for Nike Hercules systems deployed in Central Europe. We are not participating in the work of this group since we have no operational requirement. We are, however, actively participating in other work on possible successor systems to the improved Hawk and United Kingdom Bloodhound medium and low-level systems.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the extra £248 million, at 1979 survey prices, to be spent on defence in 1980–81 will comprise extra spending on (a) hardware, (b) military personnel and (c) administrative personnel.

I assume that the right hon. Gentleman is referring to the increase in the defence programme between 1979–80 and 1980–81 announced on 1 November—Cmnd. 7746, table 2—which amounts to £238 million. Since Defence Estimates for 1980–81 are still in preparation it is too early to say how total expenditure will be divided among equipment, Service personnel and other goods and services, but a breakdown will be shown in the Statement on the Defence Estimates. Our intention, however, is to devote the additional funds to strengthening the fighting efficiency of the forces and modernising their equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what steps are being taken to encourage small businesses to take on labour, and so help the unemployment problem.

The Government's policy is to encourage the start-up and growth of small firms by improving the economic climate in which they operate and by reducing the burdens imposed on them. A number of steps have already been taken, for example, the fiscal changes in the Budget and amendments to the Employment Protection Act, and others are being actively examined.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what representations he has received on regional policy from the Yorkshire and Humberside region; and what action he proposes to take on the representations.

Representations have been received from a wide range of interests, including many right hon, and hon. Members, local authorities, chambers of commerce, organisations representing employers and employees, political parties and members of the general public. They are being considered as quickly as their thorough examination permits.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what reply he has made to the representations on 5 November from representatives from Bradford metropolitan district council for the retention of intermediate area status for Keighley.

I am still considering them.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he intends to issue new guidelines to the National Enterprise Board; and, until he does so, whether it is intended that the provisions of the Industry Bill when enacted will override the guidelines issued on 22 December 1976.

My right hon. Friend envisages issuing a draft of the new guidelines shortly and that they should become effective when the Industry Bill becomes law.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he intends to issue a direction to the National Enterprise Board for it to transfer Rolls-Royce to him; and if he will make a statement.

The Government are considering ways in which the current difficulties in the relationship between Rolls-Royce and the NEB can best be resolved. In any case the Government have no power at the moment to issue such a direction.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what representations he has received recommending that Rolls-Royce should be removed from any connection with the National Enterprise Board.

The board of Rolls-Royce has drawn attention to difficulties which it finds in the existing relationship with the NEB.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what steps have been taken by his Department to improve management structure of those authorities dealing with coastal disaster and their ability to respond rapidly to disaster at sea as a result of their experience during the "Eleni V" incident.

The reports entitled "Accidents at Sea Causing Oil Pollution", "Improved Arrangements to Combat Pollution at Sea" and "Liability and Compensation for Marine Oil Pollution Damage", copies of which have been placed in the Library, together contain the results of a comprehensive study of national contingency arrangements for dealing with pollution incidents at sea, carried out in the light of the three tanker disasters which occurred during 1978. Their recommendations are being progressively implemented. In particular, a marine pollution control unit, consisting

I. COTTON AND MAN-MADE FIBRE YARN AND THREAD*
									£ million January-September
			1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979
Imports (cif)	…	…	51·6	86·7	77·0	115·5	149·2	181·2	151·2
Exports (fob)	…	…	39·5	56·1	49·5	81·7	94·7	106·0	103·1

									Thousand tonnes January-September
			1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979
Imports	…	…	55·7	71·4	65·5	78·6	89·3	101·3	77·1
Exports	…	…	41·8	48·2	37·7	54·3	54·0	60·4	53·7

II. WOVEN COTTON AND MAN-MADE FIBRE CLOTH (EXCLUDING NARROW AND SPECIAL FABRICS)†
£ million January-September
			1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979
Imports (cif)	…	…	67·6	90·1	104·2	144·3	204·6	320·3	259·5
Exports (fob)	…	…	26·5	33·5	36·9	59·8	80·3	96·3	84·0

									Thousand tonnes January-September
			1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979
Imports	…	…	N/A	34·6	34·1	40·5	48·5	73·1	58·7
Exports	…	…	N/A	16·1	16·0	22·5	24·5	27·6	23·9
Source:
United Kingdom Trade Statistics.
* SITC(Rev 2) Sub-groups 651.3 to .8.
† Groups 652 and 653 and corresponding items under Rev 1.
Note: Details of the weight of woven cotton and man-made fibre cloth imported and exported in 1973 are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what are the annual figures for the United Kingdom exports of spun cotton and man-made fibre yarn and thread to the EEC in the period 1973 to the latest year for which figures are available; and what are the corresponding figures of imports from the EEC, what are the annual figures for the United Kingdom exports of woven cotton and man-made fibre cloth to the EEC in the period 1973 to the latest year for which figures are available; and what are the corresponding figures of imports from the EEC.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 November 1979]: Following are the figures:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether, following the representations which the EEC Comission has made to the United States of America about the advantage its industry enjoys as a result of lower oil prices, he will press for the imposition of countervailing duties on imports from the United States of America to offset the advantage which it enjoys as a result of lower food prices.

We, together with other member States, are pressing the European Commission to find an early solution to this problem. The imposition of countervailing duties is one of a number of possibilities that are being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what special provision it is proposed to employ to ensure that the Oil Lamps (Safety) Regulations 1979 are imposed on imported lamps; what standards are currently imposed; and by what means it is proposed to prevent importers circumventing the regulations before commencement date.

I will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what action Her Majesty's Government now intend to take to investigate the effects of duality of oil prices by the United States of America upon the United Kingdom textile industry.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 November 1979]: The EEC Commission, with support from the member States, led by the United Kingdom, has already investigated this question. We expect to discuss its findings and recommendations in the Foreign Affairs Council on 20 November.

asked the Minister of Transport what charges will be levied under the new arrangements for the orange badge scheme for disabled drivers.

Local authorities have discretion whether or not to make a charge for the issue of badges, which are valid for three years. Under the new proposals the maximum will be £2.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is satisfied with the traffic figures submitted by his Department to justify the construction of the M11 motorway; and what are the reasons why so little traffic uses it.

Construction of the southern dual-lane sections of the M11 began in 1972, when assumptions about national traffic growth were higher than those used today. Traffic flows will, moreover, remain comparatively low until the route is complete: the section to Stump Cross will open shortly, the Cambridge Western bypass to the A604 should be finished next year, and the A604 improvement connecting it to the A1 near Huntingdon in 1981. More traffic will also use the M11 when the connecting sections of M25 open.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is satisfied that a coherent national transport strategy currently exists.

I am not satisfied with the policies I inherited from the previous Administration and I am proposing to take action on a number of issues in my forthcoming transport Bill. At the same time I am considering what changes need to be made in the longer term to secure an approach to transport policy consistent with the Government's overall objectives.

asked the Minister of Transport why the public inquiry into the Winchester ring road has been adjourned until April 1980.

I understand that the public local inquiry into the orders for Hampshire county council's scheme, known as Easton Lane link road, was adjourned to 8 April 1980 by the inspector at the council's request to enable some further evidence to be prepared. There is no ministerial responsibility for this local road scheme.

asked the Minister of Transport what traffic flows were predicted for the Dronfield bypass to justify its construction; and what traffic flows are currently to be found on it.

The traffic flows predicted for the design year—1988—for the bypass north and south of the Sheep-bridge interchange were 14,000 and 19,100 vehicles per day respectively. In October 1979 the actual traffic flow on the northern section was above 9,600 vehicles per day but that can of course be expected to increase by 1988. No figures are available for the southern section.The predicted flows assumed improvement of the A61 south of Chesterfield. This has not taken place, but instead the A61—now A38—has been linked to the M1 at Alfreton—junction 28. This reduces the volume of traffic taking the A61 route past Dronfield.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will apply the principles set out in the Leitch report on trunk road assessment to the possible construction of the dockland southern relief road.

It is for the Greater London Council to consider what extent the recommendations of the Leitch report may be usefully applied when assessing its dockland southern relief road scheme. There is no ministerial responsibility for this scheme.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the Government's policy on routing heavy vehicles in and around London.

The Government are giving the highest national priority to the completion of the M25 to provide an adequate route around London for heavy vehicles.Lorry routing within London is primarily for the GLC as the strategic planning authority.

asked the Minister of Transport how many local authorities have detailed plans for cycle schemes in their transport policies and programmes submission for 1980–81.

I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will list the closure options he has received from British Railways; and if he will confirm his intention to refuse authority for such closures.

I have received no list of closures from British Rail. As I told the House on Wednesday 7 November, the Railway Board's 1979 corporate review which was sent to me on 25 October contains financial evaluations of a number of options drawn up by the Board at the end of last year, including an option on closing some services.I have not yet discussed the corporate review with the Board. However, it is my firm policy that there should be no substantial cuts in the passenger rail network. I have therefore written to the chairman to make it clear that the Government rejects the option of substantial closures, and a copy of that letter is in the Library of the House.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has discussed with British Railways the possibility of accounting the costs and benefits of rail services outside the Inter-City network that are loss-making in revenue terms but provide an essential local transport service.

No. But the Board is making progress with its avoidable costing system.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will ensure that all proposed closures of passenger services will be referred to a public hearing by a transport users' consultative committee.

The Transport Acts 1962 and 1968 already provide for objections to a proposed passenger rail closure to be put to the relevant area transport users consultative committee. The committee then normally holds a public hearing into the objections before reporting to me on any hardship that the closure would be likely to cause to users. The final decision on the closure is then for me to take.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the proposal by the European Commission to seek a £500 million supplementary budget to pay in part for the increased costs of the common agricultural policy and the subsidisation of the export of butter to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and other non-EEC States.

On 16 October, the Commission transmitted to the Council of Ministers the preliminary draft of a third supplementary budget for 1979 which proposed increases in expenditure totalling 831·28 MEUA—about £525 million at the rate of exchange applicable to the 1979 budget, that is, £1=1·5875 EUA. The supplementary budget is required to cover increased expenditure, mainly for the guarantee section of the European agricultural guarantee and guidance fund.Member States, including the United Kingdom, considered that supplementary provision would be necessary to enable the Community to meet its obligations arising out of agreed policy.On 29 October the Council therefore established a draft supplementary budget increasing provision by a further 100 MEUA—about £63 million—to a revised total of 931·28 MEUA—about £588 million. This draft supplementary budget is now being considered by the European Parliament.The costs of the CAP, including export refunds, reflect the large surpluses of major agricultural products within the Community resulting from the present level of price support. The Government have emphasised the importance of reducing the level of support in real terms, in order to eliminate the surpluses and to make subsidised sales in non-EEC markets unnecessary. In this year's price-fixing the Government were instrumental in securing the first price freeze on milk products—which account for the largest element of the surpluses—since the United Kingdom's accession to the EEC. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has pro tested to Commissioner Gundelach about the subsidised sale of butter to the USSR, as a result of which the Commission has introduced a system of export licensing for butter which should enable exports to be monitored more closely than hitherto.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the United Kingdom's total gross contribution to the EEC budget for 1980–81 is estimated to arise from (a) agricultural services, (b) customs duties and (c) value added tax contributions.

I will let the right hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the net balance of payments deficit on the non-oil account has been in each of the last five years; and on what data he bases his conclusion in the public expenditure White Paper Cmnd. 7746, that without the contribution of North Sea oil during this period there would have been scarcely any growth in output or productivity.

The balance of trade in goods other than oil in the last five years has been as follows:

£ million
1974	-1,810
1975	-125
1976	+372
1977	+1,047
1978	+840

In the first three-quarters of 1979 non-oil trade was in deficit by about £2 billion.Information on the growth of total output other than exploration and extraction of petroleum and natural gas is published in the national income and expenditure Blue Book 1979, edition P22. The figures show growth between 1973 and 1978 averaging ⅓ per cent, per annum. The total number of employees in employment was virtually unchanged between 1973 and 1978; so output per head also grew on average by ⅓ per cent, per annum between these years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the annual increase in gross domestic product, manufacturing output, and productivity in manufacturing and non-manufacturing, other than oil and gas, in the United Kingdom in each of the years 1952 to 1978; and what was the corresponding rate of unemployment.

UNITED KINGDOM TABLE
Percentage change on previous years
				Output		Output per person employed	Unemployment rate (percentage)
			Whole economy	Whole economy other than extraction of petroleum and natural gas	Manufacturing industries	Whole economy other than extraction of petroleum and natural gas
			(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)
1952	…	…	-0·7		-5·0	-0·6	1·6
1953	…	…	+4·1		+7·1	+3·4	1·5
1954	…	…	+4·1		+5·4	+2·5	1·2
1955	…	…	+3·3		+6·3	+2·2	1·0
1956	…	…	+1·0		-0·2	+0·3	1·0
1957	…	…	+1·7		+2·4	+1·8	1·2
1958	…	…	-0·1		-0·9	+0·9	1·8
1959	…	…	+4·6		+5·8	+4·2	1·9
1960	…	…	+5·3		+8·0	+3·6	1·4
1961	…	…	+1·8		+0·2	+0·8	1·2
1962	…	…	+1·4		+0·2	+0·9	1·7
1963	…	…	+3·3		+3·6	+3·0	2·1
1964	…	…	+6·1		+9·1	+4·7	1·5
1965	…	…	+2·8		+2·8	+1·8	1·2
1966	…	…	+1·8		+1·8	+1·5	1·2
1967	…	…	+1·8		+0·6	+3·1	2·1
1968	…	…	+4·2		+7·1	+4·7	2·3
1969	…	…	+2·0		+3·7	+2·0	2·2
1970	…	…	+1·7		+0·4	+2·1	2·4
1971	…	…	+1·4	+1·4	-1·1	+3·2	3·2
1972	…	…	+3·1	+3·1	+2·5	+2·4	3·5
1973	…	…	+5·9	+6·0	+8·8	+3·8	2·5
1974	…	…	-1·8	-1·6	-1·2	-1·8	2·3
1975	…	…	-1·9	-1·9	-7·0	-1·3	3·7
1976	…	…	+2·2	+1·7	+2·1	+2·2	5·6
1977	…	…	+2·5	+1·5	+1·6	+1·2	6·0
1978	…	…	+2·9	+2·3	+0·5	+1·8	6·0
Column 1 Derived from output-based measure of gross domestic product (GDP(O)).
Column 2 Derived from GDP(O) excluding activities classified to exploration for, and extraction of, mineral oil, natural gas and natural gas condensates on land and offshore.
Column 3 Derived from index of industrial production for manufacturing industries adjusted, as from 1970, to allow for the use of delivery rather than production indicators in certain industries.
Column 4 Derived from Column 2—representing the output of manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors, other than oil and gas—divided by the total employed labour force.
Column 5 Total unemployed including school leavers as a percentage of total employees (employed and unemployed) at June each year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the effect on (a) collection costs and (b) net revenue of abolishing the value added tax threshold.

The information is not available to make reasonable estimates.

Such information as is readily available is shown in the table below:The increase in net revenue would be small in relation to the yield of VAT and the increase in costs disproportionate to the increase in revenue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much the lowest band of income tax could be reduced by restoring the highest band to the pre-1979 Budget level.

If the top rate of income tax were increased to 83p in the £, the estimated reduction that could be made in the lower rate of 25p in the £ would be about 1p.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the annual increase since 1970 for each of the principal industrial countries, plus Canada and Sweden in the savings ratio; and how this compares with the increase in manufacturing output, the money supply and wholesale and retail prices.

ANALYSIS OF DEBT INTEREST FIGURES IN CMND. 7746
£ million, 1979 survey prices
							1978–79	1979–80	1980–81
							outturn	projection	projection
Total public sector debt interest payments						…	9,900	9,900	9,800
less:
Public corporations* debt interest payments to the private sector and overseas					…	…	733	600	500
General government interest receipts from public corporations*, the private sector and overseas	…	…	…	…	…	…	2,513	2,600	2,300
Interest provision from trading activities of certain public corporations† and general government		…	…	…	…	…	3,433	3,400	3,400
Interest support costs			…	…	…	…	300	200	400
equals:
Debt interest on a White Paper basis					…	…	2,921	3,100	3,200
* Other than certain public corporations, listed on page 249 of Cmnd. 7439.
† Interest payments to general government and private sector and overseas.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the increase of £117 million, at 1979 survey prices, on expenditure on industry, energy, trade and employment is applicable separately to each of these items.

The information is as follows:

	£ million at 1979 survey prices
Industry	-63
Energy	+10
Trade	+149
Employment	+21

As stated in Cmnd. 7746, the increase in trade follows the once-for-all reduction achieved in 1979–80 by the Trustee Savings Bank taking over some £200 million of outstanding refinance.

I regret that this information cannot be provided without a disproportionate expenditure of time and resources.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report a breakdown of the figures given in Cmnd. 7746, the Government's expenditure plans 1980–81, in respect of total public sector interest payments quoted in paragraph 6 of the explanatory and technical notes so as to correspond with the figures for public expenditure debt interest given in table 1, line 6.

The information is given below:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the gain and loss to the gold and foreign currency reserves each month since the beginning of 1976 to date, and the amount spent in the course of each month on exchange intervention.

The monthly change in the official reserves from the beginning of 1976 to date is set out in column (1) of the table below. Column (2) shows the effect on the monthly reserves change of public sector foreign currency debt transactions, as contained in the monthly reserves announcement. The monthly reserve change, after taking account of these public sector debt transactions, which is set out in column (3), is the result of a variety of transactions including market intervention, Government foreign currency expenditure and trans-

$ million
Date				Column (1)	Column (2)	Column (3)
				Reserves change	Public sector external borrowing	Reserves change net of public sector borrowing
January 1976		…	…	+1,356	+1,341	+15
February 1976		…	…	+239	+253	-14
March 1976		…	…	-1,119	+158	-1,277
April 1976	…	…	…	-1,057	+429	-1,486
May 1976	…	…	…	+575	+1,041	-466
June 1976	…	…	…	-111	+395	-506
July 1976	…	…	…	+58	+326	-268
August 1976		…	…	-341	+185	-526
September 1976		…	…	+129	+336	-207
October 1976		…	…	-455	—	-455
November 1976		…	…	+453	+604	-151
December 1976		…	…	-1,027	+102	-1,129
January 1977		…	…	+3,067	+1,173	+1,894
February 1977		…	…	+591	+260	+331
March 1977		…	…	+1,831	+756	+1,075
April 1977	…	…	…	+512	-2	+514
May 1977	…	…	…	-229	+376	-605
June 1977	…	…	…	+1,671	+780	+891
July 1977	…	…	…	+1,850	+56	+1,794
August 1977		…	…	+1,430	+474	+956
September 1977		…	…	+2,319	+551	+1,768
October 1977		…	…	+3,040	+4	+3,036
November 1977		…	…	+183	—	+183
December 1977		…	…	+163	-94	+257
January 1978		…	…	+311	+73	+238
February 1978		…	…	-167	-403	+236
March 1978		…	…	-381	-100	-281
April 1978	…	…	…	-3,282	-1,167	-2,115
May 1978	…	…	…	-377	+273	-650
June 1978	…	…	…	-119	-68	-51
July 1978	…	…	…	+193	-135	+328
August 1978		…	…	-330	-179	-151
September 1978		…	…	+106	+43	+63
October 1978		…	…	-540	-647	+107
November 1978		…	…	-302	-120	-182
December 1978		…	…	+25	-130	+155
January 1979		…	…	+564	+489	+75
February 1979		…	…	+359	+186	+173
March 1979		…	…	+837	-180	+1,017
April 1979	…	…	…	-480	-1,155	+675
May 1979	…	…	…	+65	-238	+303
June 1979	…	…	…	+538	-50	+588
July 1979	…	…	…	+1,429	-276	+1,705
August 1979		…	…	-194	-48	-146
September 1979		…	…	-554	-123	-431
October 1979		…	…	-253	-43	-210

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total value of public sector assets that still have to be sold in 1979–80 to achieve his objective of total sales of the value of £1 billion.

Public sector assets to the value of £310 million have been sold so far in the current financial year, leaving £690 million to achieve the Government's £1 billion target in 1979–80.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list current Automobile Association scales of car running costs, and compare them with scales of benefit as at present assessed.

I will let the right hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.