asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the purposes and functions of the incomes policy divisions of his Department and what is the annual cost to public funds of these divisions.

The incomes divisions of the Department of Employment provide information and advice as necessary on pay developments as they affect the Government's economic, industrial or social policies, and administer the Wages Councils Act and other legislation. The full annual cost to public funds is £3,600,000. Most of this is the cost of the wages inspectorate.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the purposes and functions of the Office of Manpower Economics; how many staff are employed in it; and what is the annual cost to public funds.

The Office of Manpower Economics provides a secretariat for the review bodies on doctors' and dentists' remuneration, top salaries and Armed Forces' pay; for the Standing Commission on pay comparability; the Civil Service arbitration tribunal; and the police negotiating board. It also undertakes research with Ministers' approval in the pay field. There were 60 staff employed at the Office of Manpower Economics on 1 October 1979, and its annual cost to public funds is estimated at £1·2 millions.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many redundancies were notified under section 100 of the Employment Protection Act in each of the last 12 months.

In accordance with section 100 of the Employment Protection Act 1975, the number of proposed redundancies notified to my Department in each of the last 12 months, was as follows:

November 1978	37,786
December	36,575
January 1979	45,491
February	42,913
March	50,114
April	39,913
May	35,690
June	46,232
July	33,519
August	38,085
September	43,105
October	62,040
Total	511,463

During the same period, notifications involving 116,956 proposed redundancies were officially withdrawn.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what progress has been made by the Health and Safety Commission in revising its proposals on regulations concerning the reporting of accidents caused by escalators;(2) what progress has been made on implementing the recommendations of the British Safety Council for improving safety on escalators.

I will reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, further to his reply on purchasing contracts to the hon. Member for Surrey, North-West [Official Report 6 November, c. 129.]—what work is involved in obtaining the information required and why the cost of obtaining such information would therefore be disproportionate.

To collect the information necessary to answer the question would first involve the identification from financial accounts of a substantial number of payments made in respect of purchasing contracts, and then a reference for each to contract files to determine whether they were awarded by (a) selective tender (b) open tender or (c) single tender. This activity would be necessary in each of the four constituent members of the Department of Employment group and in the case of the Manpower Services Commission and the Health and Safety Commission would need to be repeated in sub-organisations. The cost of collecting this information would far exceed an acceptable level of expense.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if, in view of the fact that former employees of firms that have gone into voluntary liquidation may have to wait years before learning if they can obtain their back pay or holiday pay due, he will consider giving priority to such claimants when the claim due has been outstanding for over three years for wages due.

Under the insolvency provisions of the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978, my Department is empowered to pay from the redundancy fund certain debts, within limits, owed to employees by employers who have become insolvent. These debts include arrears of pay, holiday pay and payment in lieu of notice. The provisions came into effect on 20 April 1976 under the Employment Protection Act 1975 and apply in respect of employers who became insolvent, including companies for which a resolution for voluntary winding-up has been passed, on or after that date.If my hon. Friend has a particular case in mind, I will be pleased to investigate it for him if he will write to me with the relevant details.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what consideration he has given to the review of "Disabled People and their Employment" undertaken for the Association of Disabled Professionals by Melvyn Kettle; what action he is taking; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 15 November 1979, c. 731]: The Minister of State in my Department has personally considered this review and in contributing the foreword to the publication has welcomed it as an important contribution to the understanding of the potential of disabled people in employment.I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission, which is responsible for the public employment service for disabled people, that it has also welcomed the review and has distributed leaflets—a copy has been placed in the library—on behalf of the Association of Disabled Professionals. The MSC has also included references to and extracts from the review in the publicity literature distributed during its current "Fit for Work" campaign to encourage more and better employment opportunities for disabled people.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from the mining industry about the under-recruitment of the mines and quarries inspectorate.

[pursuant to his reply, 15 November 1979]: In August 1979, the secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers wrote to my right honourable Friend expressing concern about vacancies in the mines and quarries inspectorate. I am also informed that the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission and the former chief inspector of mines met a delegation from the National Union of Mineworkers in August 1979 to discuss recruitment difficulties.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, what is the membership of the Clegg Commission: and whether any changes will be made by him.

[pursuant to his reply, 15 November 1979, c. 735]: The members of the Standing Commission on pay comparability are:

• Professor Hugh Clegg (Chairman)
• Mr. Peter Gibson
• Professor Joan Mitchell
• Sir William Ryland, CB
• Mr. Barry Urwin
• Sir Leslie Williams, CBE

I have no plans for any immediate changes in the Commission's membership.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will take steps to ensure that by 1 January 1980 at the latest the contents of explanatory memoranda attached to statutory instruments are made much fuller.

It is the Government's aim to ensure that all explanatory memoranda accompanying statutory instruments properly serve their function.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the total amount of revenue raised by the television licence system; and how much of this is produced by television colour licences;(2) if he will give details of the present rules governing the sales of television sets to the public and the subsequent sending to the television authorities of the names and addresses of buyers of such sets;(3) what estimate he has made of the amount lost yearly to the Government because of evasion of television licences.

The estimated gross television licence revenue for 1979–80 at current fees is about £385 million, of which an estimated £330 million is produced by colour television licences.The loss of revenue because of licence evasion in the current financial year is estimated to be of the order of £20 million.Under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1967 (Part I), television dealers are required to notify the national television licence records office of the details of all transactions within 28 days. The information required includes the name of the buyer or hirer, the address of the premises where the set is to be installed, the date of the transaction, whether the set is designed for reception in colour and the name and address of the dealer supplying it. Dealers are also required to keep a record of the particulars provided.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers he has over the operation of security firms; if he has any powers to prevent security firms from merging; and what estimate he has made of the number of people employed in security firms.

I have no powers relating to the operation of security firms. The control of mergers is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade. The only information readily available about the number of persons employed by security firms is that published in February in the Home Office discussion paper on the private security industry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide for the latest convenient date the number of police officers in England and Wales trained in the use of firearms.

It is for individual chief officers of police to decide how many police officers should be trained in the use of firearms. Fgures are not held centrally and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the minimum age limits for (a) buying a certificate, (b) purchasing, (c) possessing and (d) carrying in a public place the following weapons (i) firearms, (ii) shot guns, (iii) air rifles under 12 ft. lbs. kinetic energy, (iv) air rifles over 12 ft. lbs. kinetic energy, (iv) air pistols under 6 ft. lbs. kinetic energy and (vi) air pistols over 6 ft. lbs. kinetic energy.

INDICTABLE OFFENCES RECORDED BY THE POLICE IN WHICH AIR WEAPONS WERE REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN USED BY OFFENCE GROUP
ENGLAND AND WALES
Number of offences
			Violence against the person
		All offences	Homicide	Attempted murder and other acts (including wounding) endangering life	Other*	Robbery	Burglary	Criminal damage estimated at over £20	Other offences‡
1972	…	1,275	1	49	1,013	34	8	163	7
1973	…	1,642	—	79	1,279	25	16	234	9
1974	…	1,859	1	56	1,340	69	15	369	9
1975†	…	2,489	1	85	1,710	96	31	550	16
1976†	…	3,171	1	71	2,126	99	19	834	21
* Includes any wounding which was not classified as an act "endangering life".
† The figures for 1975 and 1976 have been revised since the publication of Criminal Statistics England and Wales 1976.
‡ Mainly sexual offences and theft.

The detailed information requested is in sections 1, 11, 22 and 23 of the Firearms Act 1968 and the Firearms (Dangerous Air Weapons) Rules 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) for the years 1977 and 1978, on how many occasions guns were discharged by police officers in the course of their duties; and how many injuries and killings resulted from those discharges;(2) for the years 1977 and 1978, what was the total number of occasions on which guns were issued to police officers in England and Wales; and what was the total number of guns issued to police officers in those years.

I am arranging for the relevant information to be collated and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for the years since 1972, what was the total number of indictable offences in England and Wales recorded by the police in which air weapons were reported to have been used, classified by offence group.

Figures for 1977 and 1978 are published in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales"—table 3.4 of the volume for 1977, Cmnd. 7289, and of the volume for 1978, Cmnd. 7670. Figures for 1972–6 are shown in the following table.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for the years 1972, 1975 and 1978, what was the total number of indictable offences in England and Wales where air weapons were used.

The information requested is published in table 3.6 of "Criminal Statistics' England and Wales 1978"—Cmnd. 7670.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for the years 1972, 1975 and 1978, what was the total number of indictable offences in England and Wales where air weapons were used which resulted in personal injury; and, for each year, how many such injuries were (a) fatal, (b) serious or (c) slight.

In 1972, 1,000 indictable offences were recorded by the police in England and Wales in which air weapons were reported to have caused injury—1 fatal, 101 serious and 898 slight.

INDICTABLE OFFENCES RECORDED BY THE POLICE IN WHICH AIR WEAPONS WERE REPORTED TO HAVE CAUSED INJURY BY DEGREE OF INJURY AND AGE OF OFFENDER
ENGLAND AND WALES
Number of offences
			Total	Fatal injury	Severe injury	Slight injury
1977
10 and under 17		…	907	—	82	825
17 and under 21		…	237	—	23	214
21 and over	…	…	132	—	14	118
Age not known	…	…	848	—	45	803
Total	…	…	2,124	—	164	1,960
1978
10 and under 17		…	931	—	98	833
17 under 21		…	277	—	34	243
21 and over	…	…	118	—	28	90
Age not known	…	…	986	—	56	930
Total	…	…	2,312	—	216	2,096

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many civil servants deal with queries about immigration;(2) how many are employed in his Department on immigration matters.

I have information only for my own Department. On 1 November, 2,796 staff were in post in the immigration and nationality department of the Home Office, including the immigration service

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for the years 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1978, what was the number of indictable offences in England and Wales in which air weapons were used and in which (a) fatal, (b) serious or (c) slight personal injury was caused, classified by age of offender, namely those under 17 years, those aged 17 years and under 21 years, those aged over 21 years, and those where age was not known.

The information requested for 1975 and 1976 is published in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales"—table 6.2 of the volume for 1975, Cmnd 6566, and tables 9.3 of the volume for 1976, Cmnd. 6909. Figures for 1977 and 1978 are given in the following table.but excluding staff dealing solely with nationality maters. Most of these staff deal with immigration queries of one kind or another, as do staff in ministerial private offices not included in the above figure.

asked the Attorney-General by what means judges in the courts of the United Kingdom apply to the Court of the European Communities for an opinion on Community law to be applied by their court in the United Kingdom; how many applications have been made during each of the years 1973 to 1978; and where such opinions are published.

Article 177 of the treaty establishing the European Economic Community gives United Kingdom courts a power, and in certain circumstances imposes on them an obligation, to refer to the Court of Justice of the European Communities questions of Community law for a preliminary ruling. The United Kingdom court may make a reference of its own motion or on the application of the parties or one of them. The procedure for making the reference will be governed by the appropriate rules of court.No references were made by United Kingdom courts in 1973; one reference was made in each of the years 1974, 1975 and 1976; and five references in each of the years 1977 and 1978.Judgments of the Court of Justice on references for preliminary rulings are published in the reports of cases before the court by the office for official publications of the European Communities in Luxembourg.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will postpone his decision on the Polaris replacement until after the Select Committee appointed by this House to consider defence matters has had an opportunity of considering the question, and until after the matter has been fully debated in Parliament and by the public at large.

So far as a debate is concerned, I am, of course, at the disposal of the House; but it is, I understand, a question of finding time in a very full Parliamentary programme. The House does, however, already have a good deal of relevant information at its disposal as a result of the evidence submitted earlier this year to the Defence and External Affairs Sub-Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what memoranda of understanding on defence procurement projects are currently in force; and if he will indicate, in each case, the foreign Government or Governments involved, the date of signature of the agreement concerned, and the period of its validity.

Since major international defence co-operation started in the 1960s, all our collaborative defence projects have been covered by memoranda of understanding. The memorandum which my right hon. Friend signed last month in Hamburg with his French and German colleagues, covering work on future anti-tank missile systems, is one of the most recent.Each main phase of the project may require a separate MOU. There are also memoranda with some other countries covering general procurement arrangements. Additionally, major purchases of equipment from abroad and some of our own defence sales will also involve negotiation of an MOU.It is not our practice to publish all these separate arrangements in detail, but if there is any particular arrangement about which my hon. Friend would like to write to me I will certainly consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what effects he expects the cancellation of the Iranian order for tanks will have on the production of the Royal ordnance factories in the current year and the two ensuing years; and if he will make a statement.

The cancellation of the Iranian order for tanks has already led to reduced production in the Royal ordnance factories. ROF Leeds, where 500 men left on voluntary redundancy, was the most seriously affected. Over the next two years no additional effects on production are expected.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence on what forecastt rate of inflation the cash limit on the Defence Vote was established for the year 1979–80; and what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to raise this cash limit in the light of the current rate of inflation.

The levels of increase in pay and prices assumed in calculating 1979–80 Defence Estimates varied according to the economic category of the expenditure concerned. Details were published in the general notes accompanying the Estimates—HC 244, pages I-ii and I-iii.Cash limit increases for defence totalling £409 million were announced last June—Cmnd 7604—to meet additional costs arising from the Armed Forces' pay award to restore full comparability, the civilian non-industrial pay award and expenditure on the equipment programme.In addition, the Government will shortly be seeking the approval of the House through a Winter Supplementary Estimate for a further increase of £140 million primarily as a consequence of additional costs arising from increases in VAT and petroleum duty and the civilian industrial pay award. This further increase would bring the cash limit total to £8,553·6 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether regulations for minimum levels of low flying continue to apply during special exercises to take place in North-West Scotland and central Wales during the period 12 November to 21 December, and 7 to 25 January 1980.

As already announced, the pilots engaged in the Red Flag work-up training between 12 November to 21 December and 7 to 25 January will be required to fly rather lower than the minimum heights normally prescribed for low level training in the United Kingdom, but only over remote districts which are very sparsely populated.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many sorties will take place on average each day during the exercise periods; and if the exercises will include night time and/or weekend flying.

It is not possible to quote an average daily figure; the intensity of the "Red Flag" work-up training will depend on the weather. None of the sorties will be flown at night or during weekends.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what altitude is defined by the RAF as simulating flying below enemy radar cover and missile defences.

In war, pilots would have to fly at or below 100 feet, depending on the terrain and prevailing weather. In peacetime, training and special exercises flying is normally carried out at 250 feet or above as a compromise between realistic training and the need to minimise disturbance to the public, but it is necessary from time to time to exercise the capability of our strike and offensive support aircrews to fly at true operational heights against defences which simulate as closely as possible those which they would face in war.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what inspectorate and surveillance procedures his Department has to ensure that during special exercises designed to test ability of aircrew to fly below enemy radar cover, the civilian population in exercise areas is not further endangered.

Special measures are taken to control the low flying in exercises such as the "Red Flag" work-up training. The flying is confined to remote districts which are very sparsely populated. The aircraft carry special equipment to warn the pilots if they are in danger of descending below the minimum height specified for the sorties. The aircrew taking part are fully qualified operational crews. Other pilots training in the general area are required to fly well above the heights of aircraft engaged in "Red Flag" work-up training.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will now undertake a full review of the strategic purposes of low-level military flying exercises overland; and if he will make a statement.

RAF tactics are kept continuously under review and it remains our conclusion that flying at low level and high speed is the most effective means of penetrating the air and ground defences our aircrews would be likely to encounter in war on their way to and returning from their targets. Such tactics are very demanding on aircrew skills and require regular and realistic training overland to maintain the necessary professional standards. Such training must provide for both single aircraft and formation flying and for the mutual exercising of offensive and defensive forces.The "Red Flag" and "Maple Flag" series of exercises which are held over uninhabited areas of North America provide an opportunity for such training under conditions which simulate as closely as possible those which our aircrews would encounter in war. The success of RAF aircrews in these exercises has been most encouraging and has confirmed the effectiveness of our day to day low level training over the United Kingdom and the specialised work up training necessarily undertaken prior to each exercise.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total amount of the gallonage of fuel consumed by military aircraft undertaking low-flying exercises during each year since 1974.

My Department does not maintain central records of the amounts of fuel actually consumed by RAF aircraft at particular altitudes and it would require disproportionate effort to collate this information in the form requested.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total number of sorties made by military aircraft on low-level training missions in each year since 1974.

The total number or military low level training sorties flown in the United Kingdom was:

1974	…	71,000
1975	…	78,000
1976	…	77,700
1977	…	76,000
1978	…	76,000
1979 (1 Jan. to 30 Sep.)	…	77,000

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many North Atlantic Treaty Organisation aircraft were involved in low-level flying exercises; and how many sorties took place.

Between January and September 1979, some 10,000 low-level sorties were flown over the United Kingdom by military aircraft belonging to our NATO Allies—including USAF aircraft based in this country. It would require disproportionate effort to establish how many individual aircraft were involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total estimated cost to his Department of its involvement in "Exercise Red Flag" to be held in Nevada in the United States of America in 1980; and how many Royal Air Force aircraft will be involved.

Twenty RAF aircraft, Vulcans, Buccaneers and Jaguars, will be involved in "Exercise Red Flag", which takes place in January and February 1980. It has not yet been decided whether the RAF will participate in a further such exercise later in 1980. The costs of participation are included in financial provision for the RAF's training as a whole in 1980, and it would require disproportionate effort to identify "Red Flag" costs separately. Its training value is, however, beyond question.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will recall Her Majesty's ambassador to Brazil for consultations, in view of the shooting and death of Santo Dias da Silva during a peaceful demonstration; and if he will make a statement.

I see no need to recall our ambassador for consultations. I have received a report from him on this matter. Official Brazilian inquiries are being conducted into the death of Santo Dias da Silva; the person alleged to have been responsible has been identified.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what has been the approximate cost to public funds of the conference on Rhodesian independence.

The conference costs are now estimated at £440,000.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will raise in the United Nations Commission on Human Rights the imprisonment of Wei Chung-Sheng by the Government of the People's Republic of China and seek to secure the release of this dissident.

The Government will consider at the appropriate time what matters might be raised at the next meeting of the Commission. The hon. Member will no doubt be aware that one of the charges on which Wei Chung-Sheng was convicted concerned the passing of military secrets to foreigners.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on the conference which was held in Bermuda earlier in the current year to examine constitutional issues arising from the recommendations of the report of the Royal Commission of inquiry into the 1977 disturbances.

The conference began in February 1979 under the chairmanship of the Governor. Following an adjournment, it was concluded in July. Copies of the conference report have been placed in the Library of the House. An Order in Council to amend the constitution in accordance with the conference decisions was laid before Parliament on 29 October, and will come into operation on 1 December.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many abortions were notified as being carried out in the National Health Service and in the non-National Health Service sector within the areas served by the Yorkshire regional health authority and the North-Western regional health authority in each of the years 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979; and how many of these were performed after a 20-week gestation period.

The numbers so notified of abortions to women normally resident in England and Wales were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from Mrs. Mary Chapple of the Royal College of Nursing with regard to car mileage allowances for community nurses; what reply he is making; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Chapple wrote on 31 October to seek support for an early improvement in car mileage allowances for community nurses, and I have sent the right hon. Gentleman a copy of my reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much was spent per thousand of population on services provided under section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons' Act 1970 by the city of Manchester, Trafford, and the counties of Lancashire and Cheshire.

It is not possible to identify separately expenditure on services provided under this legislation, but information about expenditure by local social services authorities, including expenditure on meals in the home, telephones, aids, adaptations and holidays, is to be found in "Personal Social Services Statistics", published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, copies of which are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on adult training centres for the mentally handicapped in the Greater London area.

Provision of adult training centres for mentally handicapped adults in Greater London, as elsewhere, is a matter for the local authoirities concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what discussions he has had with the North-East Thames regional health authority regarding the proposed new Whittington hospital, High-gate Hill, London N.19; and if he will make a statement.

None. The planning of major capital building schemes is the responsibility of the North-East Thames regional health authority. The authority has included a proposal for the redevelopment of the Whittington in the regional strategic plan 1978–88.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the likely return on capital in the next 12 months of money exported from the United Kingdom as a result of the removal of exchange restrictions; whether he expects these earnings to be brought back to the United Kingdom; and, if so what effect that is likely to have on exports of other goods and services.

The effects on the balance of payments of the removal of exchange controls are uncertain: most of these controls have been in force for 40 years and it is not possible to estimate with any precision how much capital will be invested abroad by United Kingdom residents, what the returns will be or to what extent foreign earnings will be remitted to the United Kingdom. But overseas investment should help our exports and strengthen our international trading position generally.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for the principal exporting countries the annual increase in gross national product between 1952 and 1978 in the form of an index or otherwise.

The information is given in the following tables. Estimates of gross national product at constant prices are not available for all countries, and in table 1 the figures are based on estimates of gross domestic product at constant

GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT AT CONSTANT MARKET PRICES
TABLE 1
Percentage increase (change over preceding year)
		United States	Japan	France	Federal Republic of Germany	Italy	United Kingdom
1953	…	+4·9	N.A.	N.A.	N.A.	N.A.	+4·6
1954	…	-2·2	+5·7	+4·2	+7·7	+3·6	+3·8
1955	…	+6·9	+8·6	+4·7	+12·0	+6·7	+3·3
1956	…	+2·2	+7·5	+5·9	+7·2	+4·7	+1·6
1957	…	+1·9	+7·3	+6·0	+5·6	+5·3	+1·9
1958	…	-0·5	+5·8	+2·9	+3·5	+4·8	+0·2
1959	…	+6·0	+9·1	+3·2	+7·4	+6·5	+4·0
1960	…	+2·1	+13·1	+7·0	+8·9	+6·3	+4·7
1961	…	+2·3	+14·6	+5·5	+5·1	+8·2	+3·3
1962	…	+5·6	+7·1	+6·7	+4·4	+6·2	+0·9
1963	…	+4·1	+10·5	+5·3	+3·0	+5·6	+3·9
1964	…	-5·1	+13·2	+4·1	+6·7	+2·6	+5·0
1965	…	+6·0	+5·1	+4·8	+5·6	+3·2	+2·3
1966	…	+6·0	+10·9	+5·2	+2·5	+5·8	+2·1
1967	…	+2·7	+12·4	+4·7	-0·2	+7·0	+2·6
1968	…	+4·5	+14·1	+4·3	+6·3	+6·3	+4·2
1969	…	+2·6	+12·2	+7·0	+7·8	+5·7	+1·5
1970	…	-0·1	+11·6	+5·7	+6·0	+5·0	+2·3
1971	…	+2·9	+5·2	+5·4	+3·2	+1·6	+2·8
1972	…	+5·8	+9·3	+5·9	+3·7	+3·1	+2·4
1973	…	+5·4	+10·0	+5·4	+4·9	+6·9	+8·0
1974	…	-1·3	-0·3	+3·2	+0·5	+4·2	-1·5
1975	…	-1·0	+1·4	+0·2	-2·1	-3·5	-1·0
1976	…	+5·5	+6·4	+5·0	+5·6	+5·9	+3·7
1977	…	+4·8	+5·2	+2·8	+2·8	+2·0	+1·3
1978	…	N.A.	N.A.	+3·8	N.A.	+2·6	+3·1
Source:
United Kingdom—National Income and Expenditure 1979 Edition, adjusted to international definitions.
Other countries—National Accounts of OECD countries 1952–77 (volume I Main Aggregates) updated by later estimates given in the International Financial Statistics Yearbook 1979.

TABLE 2
GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT AT CONSTANT MARKET PRICES
Percentage increase (change over preceding year)
				United States	Japan	Federal Republic of Germany	United Kingdom
1975	…	…	…	-1·3	+1·4	-1·9	-1·7
1976	…	…	…	+5·9	+6·5	+5·1	+4·0
1977	…	…	…	+5·3	+5·4	+2·6	+0·5
1978	…	…	…	+4·4	+5·6	+3·4	+3·5
Source:
United Kingdom—National Income and Expenditure 1979 Edition.
Other countries—International Financial Statistics Yearbook.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what progress has been made with the review concerning the availability of United Kingdom social benefits to nationals of other countries within the European Economic Community, with a view to preventing systematic abuses;(2) if, in view of the abuses by nationals of other EEC countries which affects South Coast holiday resorts, he will ensure that his review on the availability of United Kingdom social benefits is concluded and remedial action taken before the next holiday season.

I take my hon. Friend's point, but the scope for abuse by nationals of other EEC countries in south coast holiday resorts is limited. Claims by people, whether British or foreign, who move into areas where it is established that regular seasonal work is readily available are subject to special control arrangements. Awards of supplementary benefit are made in the usual way but suitable claimants are told that they ought to be able to find work within two weeks and further payments of benefit are conditional upon the production of evidence that serious attempts have been made to find work.On the progress of our study, I cannot add to the answer my hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend on 6 November. [Vol. 973, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the present position on negotiations with EEC countries about reciprocal health insurance arrangements for self-employed persons and their families.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) on 26 October. Vol. 972, c. 350.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the net weekly spending power of each family grouping using the same assumptions as in the written reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North, Official Report, 7 November, column 213, when entirely dependent on supplementary benefit; and if he will include the family group of a man with a wife and two children aged 12 and 14 years.

I will let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the numbers of women in work and the need to transfer resources to families with children, he will consider the abolition of the increment in the married men's tax allowance and transferring the moneys to an increase in child benefit.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many small businesses feature on the approved list of suppliers maintained by his Department for purchasing contracts by means of selective tender.

I will let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many general commissioners for income tax there are; how many cases are heard by them each year; of those cases, how many are cases which have been delayed; and what is the cost of the cases heard.

I will let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will circulate in the Official Report a table showing for each of the principal exporting countries, Canada and Sweden the change in the effective exchange rate for each quarter since the Smithsonian agreement, on a trade-weighted basis, in the form of an index, or otherwise.

The figures are as follows:

EFFECTIVE EXCHANGE RATES (MERM WEIGHTS, MAY 1970 = 100)
	United States	Canada	Japan	Germany	France	Italy	Netherlands	Belgium	Sweden	United Kingdom
1971	96·8	106·4	102·4	103·6	98·4	98·8	101·0	100·3	99·7	100·0
1972—
First quarter	90·2	104·8	113·3	107·2	100·7	98·2	103·2	103·5	101·1	100·9
Second quarter	89·5	105·8	114·0	107·2	101·8	98·2	102·2	103·0	101·4	100·3
Third quarter	89·4	106·8	115·1	107·0	102·3	98·6	102·2	103·2	102·3	94·3
Fourth quarter	90·0	106·4	115·6	106·8	101·9	98·8	102·0	103·3	102·5	91·4
1973—
First quarter	86·0	104·0	122·4	109·7	103·7	95·9	103·3	104·2	102·7	90·0
Second quarter	82·1	102·1	126·3	115·9	107·4	88·8	103·8	105·1	103·0	90·5
Third quarter	79·3	100·8	123·2	127·9	108·1	86·7	106·4	105·1	105·7	85·3
Fourth quarter	81·8	102·2	121·0	123·7	106·0	87·5	109·1	103·3	103·0	84·1
1974—
First quarter	85·7	105·9	117·5	122·2	99·0	83·6	109·0	102·6	99·8	84·2
Second quarter	82·6	106·3	119·4	128·5	96·0	81·4	112·0	106·1	104·1	85·8
Third quarter	84·3	105·4	113·2	124·1	100·1	80·8	112·5	106·4	103·7	85·3
Fourth quarter	84·0	104·7	111·3	127·3	101·9	78·2	113·3	106·9	106·2	83·7
1975—
First quarter	81·3	102·2	111·4	131·4	106·1	77·7	115·2	109·3	110·6	82·8
Second quarter	81·4	99·7	111·6	129·4	111·5	78·4	114·6	108·1	111·5	80·1
Third quarter	85·2	100·4	112·6	124·9	109·8	77·8	111·9	105·2	106·9	76·2
Fourth quarter	86·2	102·2	111·2	124·5	109·8	77·1	112·1	103·8	106·0	74·0
1976—
First quarter	86·9	104·9	112·4	127·2	108·7	68·7	113·1	104·6	107·1	73·0
Second quarter	88·1	107·2	114·9	130·6	106·4	61·7	113·7	106·0	108·0	66·7
Third quarter	87·7	107·2	118·4	132·4	101·1	63·4	115·7	106·7	108·4	65·0
Fourth quarter	88·0	105·8	116·9	139·1	98·4	61·1	120·8	111·0	113·4	60·4
1977—
First quarter	88·0	101·6	120·3	140·0	98·5	59·4	121·2	111·1	112·8	62·7
Second quarter	87·4	99·0	124·9	141·4	98·5	58·8	122·0	111·9	108·8	62·5
Third quarter	86·8	97·1	129·0	144·0	99·0	58·6	121·5	112·4	104·4	62·7
Fourth quarter	84·7	93·4	138·1	146·9	98·1	57·6	121·4	112·3	97·6	64·2
1978—
First quarter	81·9	91·3	141·0	152·6	95·9	56·7	125·2	116·0	98·0	66·3
Second quarter	80·7	89·7	152·0	151·3	98·8	56·2	124·4	114·4	98·1	62·4
Third quarter	76·6	86·9	171·5	150·5	100·3	55·7	122·4	113·0	98·2	63·3
Fourth quarter	75·2	83·6	171·2	158·0	99·2	54·4	126·1	116·3	98·8	63·6
1979—
First quarter	76·1	83·3	161·5	160·0	100·1	53·9	127·5	117·2	98·7	64·9
Second quarter	77·8	86·1	150·0	159·1	99·1	54·3	126·1	115·6	99·6	68·3
Third quarter	76·4	85·0	147·0	162·3	99·9	55·0	126·2	116·8	101·3	72·1
Source: International Financial Statistics.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any consideration has been given to making value added tax repayments quarterly, instead of monthly; and, if so, what consultations have taken place with representatives of the construction industry.

As part of the Government's policy to seek ways of reducing the size and cost of the Civil Service, I am looking at ways of reducing the cost of administering VAT. One possibility would be to withdraw the option which repayment traders at present have to submit their tax returns and obtain repayments of VAT on a monthly basis. This change would reduce by about 15 per cent. the number of returns which have to be processed by Customs and Excise. So far, no consultations with industry have taken place.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases are heard annually by the value added tax tribunals; how many members sit on these tribunals; and what is their total annual cost.

I will let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to end the imposition of value added tax on education visits by organised school parties which has been imposed as from 1 November.

[pursuant to his reply, 14 November 1979, c. 629]: No change has been made in the liability to value added tax of visits made by organised school parties. Subsidised visits arranged by local education authorities are treated as outside the scope of the tax. Non-subsidised visits are not liable to VAT provided that they are made for strictly educational purposes and the charge to pupils does not exceed the full cost. Non-subsided visits which are made primarily for recreational purposes are liable to VAT in common with recreational actitivies generally.It came to light at the end of last year that there was some uncertainty among local authorities about the treatment of organised school visits, and in April this year Customs and Excise provided them with further guidance. The operative date for any corrective action which local authorities found it necessary to take would be a matter to be settled between them and their local VAT office.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the answer given to the hon. Member for Upminster on 25 October, that information of the amounts of capital gains tax derived from the sale of homes used partly for business purposes is not available, he will consider removing this aspect of capital taxation on small businesses which may be set up in private homes.

I will let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, consequent upon his statements, Official Report, 12 June, c. 261–2, that as a result of his Budget a married couple with a husband earning £100 a week would be £1·30 a week better off, a couple with a husband earning £60 a week would be 75p a week better off, and a couple with a husband earning £150 a week would be nearly £2 a week better off, if he will now state the net gain or loss for each of these couples taking into account the factors involved in his original calculation, together with all price rises that have taken place since then, and in addition, the forthcoming increase in mortgage rates, assuming that those couples would each be buying an average two-bedroomed house.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Inland Revenue is planning in the near future to make any special arrangements with regard to income tax for any particular groups of workers.

The Inland Revenue makes arrangements from time to time in respect of various groups of employees—for example, flat rate allowances for tools or special clothing. If my hon. Friend has any particular point in mind, I will be pleased to look into it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many special commissioners for income tax there are; how many cases are heard by them each year; and what is the total cost of these cases.

I will let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the extent to which the operations of the credit card companies have contributed to the recent growth in money supply;

			Premium savings bond prices £m	Price fund interest expressed as average for year (%)	M.L.R./Bank rate expressed as average for year (%)
1956	…	…	—	4·0	5·500
1957	…	…	2·6	4·0	5·604
1958	…	…	6·3	4·0	5·452
1959	…	…	8·8	4·0	4·500
1960	…	…	10·5	4·21	5·359
1961	…	…	13·5	4·5	5·671
1962	…	…	15·4	4·5	4·851
1963	…	…	17·2	4·5	4·000
1964	…	…	19·3	4·5	5·041
1965	…	…	21·6	4·5	6·425
1966	…	…	23·9	4·5	6·471
1967	…	…	25·9	4·5	6·159
1968	…	…	28·2	4·54	7·466
1969	…	…	32·1	4·625	7·844
1970	…	…	34·5	4·625	7·226
1971	…	…	37·6	4·677	5·918
1972	…	…	42·3	4·75	5·900
1973	…	…	46·2	4·813	9·882
1974	…	…	51·9	5·19	11·936
1975	…	…	57·4	5·5	10·790
1976	…	…	61·3	5·521	11·717
1977	…	…	66·4	5·625	8·468
1978	…	…	70·8	5·625	9·130
1979*	…	…	65·2	5·75	13·280
*To end of October 1979
Note: Prizes are paid free of UK tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to lay an order for the ratification of new double tax convention between the United Kingdom and Canada.

[pursuant to his reply, 15 November 1979]: The draft order relating to the new double taxation convention between the United Kingdom and Canada was laid on 16 January 1979 and was approved on 23 February. The convention has not yet been approved by the Canadian Parliament.

I will let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the annual rate of interest paid on premium bonds since their inception; and if he will list each year's interest rate against the average minimum lending rate then prevailing.

[pursuant to his reply, 15 November 1979]: The information required is as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made on the proposed protocol to amend the double taxation convention between the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

[pursuant to his reply, 15 November 1979, c. 758]: In July 1978 agreement was reached at official level on a protocol to amend the double taxation agreement between the United Kingdom and New Zealand signed in 1966. A number of minor points have subsequently arisen and discussions on these are at an advanced stage.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made on the proposed new protocol to the double taxation convention between the United Kingdom and Cyprus.

[pursuant to his reply, 15 November 1979, c. 760]: A protocol amending the text of the double taxation convention between the United Kingdom and Cyprus was initialled in October 1978 and arrangements are being made for signature.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made on the proposed new double taxation convention between the United Kingdom and Denmark.

[pursuant to his reply, 15 November 1979, c. 760]: A new double taxation convention between the United Kingdom and Denmark was initialled on 14 July 1978. The convention is being translated into Danish; after which it is expected that it will be signed by the two Governments and laid before the House of Commons in the usual manner. I am not yet in a position to say when this will be.

	6 August 1976	1 January 1977	1 January 1978	1 January 1979	1 May 1979	1 November 1979	1 January 1980
Staffing ceiling	185	185	170	176	176	(174)	(174)
Staff in post	121	164	153	166	174	158	—

The staffing ceilings shown for 1 November 1979 and 1 January 1980 are notional only. The office is at present running down with target staffing levels of 145 at 1 April 1980, 110 at 1 April 1981, and with some further reductions thereafter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what tax relief would accrue to a person in Northern Ireland,

					Value of income tax relief
					(a)	(b)	(c)
Year of commencement of mortgage			Cost of house	Mortgage advance	First year	Average per annum	Total
			£	£	£	£	£
1974–75	…	…	10,000	5,473	198·70	134·80	2,697·00
1979–80	…	…	20,000	10,946	385·80	268·60	5,371·00

The maximum allowable mortgage depends upon the status of the purchaser and the building society's valuation of the property, but these calculations have been

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made on the proposed new double taxation convention between the United Kingdom and Italy.

[pursuant to his reply, 15 November 1979, c. 760]: A new double taxation convention between the United Kingdom and Italy was initialled on 16 April 1977, and is being translated into Italian. Negotiations have recently taken place to amend the proposed new convention to take account of the introduction by Italy since the earlier negotiations of an imputation system of corporation tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was (a) the staffing establishment and (b) the staff actually in post at the Development Land Tax Office on each of the following dates: 6 August 1976, 1 January 1977, 1 January 1978, 1 January 1979, 3 May 1979 and 1 November 1979; and what is the authorised establishment level for 1 January 1980.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 November, c. 420]: Following is the information:with the maximum mortgage allowable now and five years ago, over the normal life of the mortgage on a dwelling costing £10,000 five years ago and a dwelling costing £20,000 now, if the owner were earning the average industrial wage of the appropriate time and had: (a) a wife and two children and (b) a wife and four children.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 November 1979, c. 422]: The figures for both sizes of family are as follows:based on the assumption of a maximum mortgage of two and a half times the mortgager's annual earnings and repayable over 20 years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, for the purposes of the Inland Revenue, gratuities in the hotel and catering industry are deemed to be earned or unearned income.

[pursuant to his reply, 14 November 1976, c. 626]: Earned income.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what limits have been set on the external financing of the nationalised industries for the financial year 1980–81.

The limits are as follows:

Nationalised Industries' External Financing Limits 1980–811
	£ million
National Coal Board	834
Electricity Council and Boards	187
North of Scotland Hydroelectric Board	59
South of Scotland Electricity Board	73
British Gas Corporation	-400
British National Oil Corporation	101
British Steel Corporation	450
Post Office	652
British Airways Board	230
British Airports Authority	20
British Railways Board	750
British Transport Docks Board	-10
British Waterways Board	30
National Freight Corporation	24
National Bus Company	85
Scottish Transport Group	9
British Shipbuilders	120
Notes:
(1) No figure is included for British Aerospace in view of the prospect of selling shares in a successor company in 1980/81. In the case of British Airways and the National Freight Corporation limits have been set in view of the uncertainty about the timing of the proposed sales. As in the past, the forecast shown for BNOC does not represent a limit.
(2) The limit for the Post Office is set before taking account of the expected inflow of funds in 1980–81, resulting from delayed billing following

the recent industrial action by computer operators, and will be adjusted when the inflow is known accurately.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what plans Her Majesty's Government have for reassessing the North Sea gas gathering pipeline scheme in the light of the increasing cost of oil.

Oil prices will form part of the economic background to the assessment of the report expected next spring from British Gas and Mobil, to whose work I referred in my reply of 1 November to my hon. Friend.—[Vol. 972, c. 626–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Surrey, North-West, Official Report, 6 November, c. 103, concerning purchasing contracts, what work is involved in obtaining the information required and why the cost of obtaining such information would therefore be disproportionate.

Being small, my Department does not have a central contracts organisation. Most contracts placed arise directly from my Department's work—particularly research and development—so to provide the information requested would necessitate a general scrutiny of contracts to identify those few which involve purchasing.It is this administrative effort which would incur the disproportionate cost referred to in the earlier reply to my hon. Friend.