asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will lay before the House new immigration rules; and if he will make a statement.

I have today laid before Parliament, in accordance with section 3(2) of the Immigration Act 1971, a statement of changes in the Immigration Rules. The new rules will come into force on 1 March and will remain in force unless disapproved by either House of Parliament within 40 days or until replaced by further changes. They will apply to all decisions taken on or after that date, except as provided under the transitional provisions in paragraphs 157–162. Under these all applications made before 14th November 1979—when the Government published their proposals for revision of the rules—will be decided under the present rules. Also, further applications to remain in the same capacity by those already given leave to enter or remain in certain categories will be decided under the present rules.The rules follow broadly the draft rules contained in the White Paper we published on 14th November (Cmnd. 7750), which has been debated and approved in this House. In the light of what was said in the debates in this House and in another place I have made several changes. The most significant are as follows.As already mentioned, the new rules contain transitional provisions. These give effect to our undertaking in paragraph 13 of Part 1 of the White Paper. They ensure in particular that any appeal against refusal of an application covered by that paragraph will be determined on the basis of the old rules.As I announced in the debate on 4th December, there are two changes in our proposals relating to husbands and fiances. It remains the case that a husband or fiance will be ineligible to enter or remain if the marriage has been contracted primarily in order to obtain his admission to the United Kingdom or if one of the parties has no intention of living permanently with the other or if the parties to the marriage have not met. But where there is no reason to believe this, an entry clearance will—not "may"—be issued to the husband or fiance provided that the woman is a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies who was born here herself or one of whose parents was born here. The latter addition brings within the rules those cases which we had first proposed should be dealt with by administrative discretion. There remains scope for discretion where a woman's connection with this country is very substantial (for example, by descent from people in Crown Service overseas) but she does not meet the formal requirements.We undertook in the debate to reconsider the changes proposed in the qualifications for entry of elderly parents and grandparents. There seems to us to be force in the argument that there would be great difficulty in some circumstances in showing that an applicant was both being supported by children in the United Kingdom and enjoying a standard of living below that of his own country. I have therefore removed the latter requirement. It will still, however, apply, as now, to more distant relatives, and to parents and grandparents under the age of 65, except widowed mothers.It has also been argued that our proposals to prohibit from working the wives and children of students and of people allowed to stay in approved employment could severely affect the prospects of students and unnecessarily deter people whose scarce qualifications or skills make their presence here desirable. We accept this argument and the rules will accordingly not be changed on this point.Our proposals for changes in the provisions relating to au pair girls and working holidaymakers set an upper age limit of 25. We have decided to relax this slightly to take account of those who are engaged in studies from their early to mid-twenties. The age limit will now be 27.Paragraph 91 of the new rules governs applications to remain for employment from those admitted as visitors or students or for some other temporary purpose. We have, however, ensured that it does not debar the employment on completion of their training of nurses and midwives at hospitals in this country, provided that the training was not financed by an international scholarship agency or by their home Government.The drafting of the provisions about refugees has been improved.Finally, we undertook to look again at the proposed condition of stay of writers and artists, which would have prohibited them from taking employment or engaging in any business or profession. We have decided to substitute a condition which would allow them to engage, with consent, in business. Consent would be given for business which is part and parcel of an artist's or writer's profession, such as the holding of an exhibition.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the entitlement of United Kingdom police seconded to Southern Rhodesia to compensation in the event of death or injury.

Arrangements are being made to ensure that the provisions of the Police Pensions Regulations 1973 (as

											Minimum point on the salary scale effective from 1 January 1980 (National rates)
1 Assistant Solicitor			…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	£14,772 per annum
1 Legal Assistant			…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	£5,330 per annum
6 Senior Executive Officers				…	…	…	…	…	…	…	£7,350 per annum
1 Senior Research Officer				…	…	…	…	…	…	…	£6,650 per annum
3 Higher Executive Officers				…	…	…	…	…	…	…	£5,950 per annum
1 Information Officer			…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	£5,950 per annum
2 Research Officers			…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	£4,200 per annum
9½ Executive Officers			…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	£3,200 per annum
1 Graphics Officer Grade IV				…	…	…	…	…	…	…	£4,635 per annum
4½ Personal Secretaries			…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	£3,277 per annum
1 Clerical Officer			…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	£2,021 per annum
1 Messenger		…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	£55·30 per week
10 Clerical Assistants			…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	£35·32 per week
½Typist	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	£48·84 per week

These figures exclude the costs of superannuation and National Insurance contributions for which the Commission is liable.I understand that on 1 February 1980 the number of staff employed by the Commission was 159, and that in early May 1979 the number was 153.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in the next financial year, he will seek to reduce by half the funds allocated to the Equal Opportunities Commission.

The approved expenditure for 1980–81 will be published in the Supply Estimates in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will itemise in the Official Report the additional posts in the Equal Opportunities Commission approved in late 1978, and the current annual cost of each; and what is the number currently employed in this body, as compared with the numbers employed in May 1979.

In late 1978, the approved complement of the Equal Opportunities Commission was increased from 134½ to 172 posts. A total of 42½ new posts were approved and five existing posts were deleted from the complement. Details of the additional posts are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in the light of the Broadcasting Bill, he will arrange for the British Broadcasting Corporation and Harlech Television to avoid overlapping programmes and repetitions of important items, and consider making an early announcement of extra financial assistance.

Clause 20 of the Broadcasting Bill requires the BBC and the IBA to consult each other so as to ensure that the scheduling of their respective Welsh language programmes is such as will best serve the interest of Welsh and non-Welsh speakers as a whole. There are already informal arrangements between the authorities which are designed to prevent clashes between Welsh language programmes on the BBC and on HTV Wales. I have no plans to make available any extra financial assistance for the provision of Welsh language programmes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will arrange for United Kingdom policemen seconded to supervise the elections in Southern Rhodesia who sustain death or injury to be entitled to at least as large compensation as they would be in similar circumstances in the United Kingdom from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.

HOME DEFENCE EXPENDITURE IN ACTUAL TERMS
						1974·75	1975·76	1976·77	1977·78	1978·79
						£ million	£ million	£ million	£ million	£ million
Department of Health and Social Security					…	0·8	0·8	0·8	0·9	0·7
Scottish Home and Health Department					…	0·6	0·8	0·9	0·8	1·0
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food					…	9·4	11·6	7·6	3·0	3·3
Department of the Environment				…	…	0·1	0·0	-0·1	0·1	0·1
Property Services Agency			…	…	…	0·1	0·8	1·2	0·6	0·4
Department of Transport			…	…	…	0·2	0·3	0·2	0·1	0·2
Department of Industry			…	…	…	—	—	—	—	0·1
Home Office	…	…	…	…	…	6·9	7·7	8·4	8·2	8·4
TOTAL	…	…	…	…	…	18·1	22·0	19·0	13·7	14·2

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Council of Europe convention on the custody and kidnapping of children has been received by Her Majesty's Government; and what consultations on the document are envisaged prior to a decision of ratification.

The text of the European convention on the recognition and enforcement of decisions relating to the custody of children and the restoration

As my hon. Friend is no doubt aware, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme does not apply to injuries sustained outside Great Britain, but I am considering alternative arrangements with my noble Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, with a view to making extra funds available to the BBC, he will consider taking steps to permit advertising on both channels.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now produce the actual figures for Civil Defence expenditure for the years 1974–75 to 1978–79, following his answer to the hon. Member for Harrogate's question on 12 February.

The figures are as follows:of the custody of children was adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in November. The Government are consulting interested bodies about its acceptability in the United Kingdom, with a view to deciding whether the convention should be signed when it is opened for signature in May.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he has had with the chief constable of Merseyside regarding local reorganisation of police divisions.

A major reorganisation of the force has been in progress since 1977, with the agreement of the police authority. Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary and Home Office officials have kept in touch with developments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he

PERSONS FOUND GUILTY AT MAGISTRATES COURTS FOR OFFENCES UNDER SECTION 4 VAGRANCY ACT 1824 BY TYPE OF SENTENCE OR ORDER
METROPOLITAN POLICE DISTRICT 1978
Number of persons
Sentence or order							Sleeping out	Found in enclosed premises	Frequenting ('Sus')
Absolute discharge			…	…	…	…	6	1	3
Recognisance		…	…	…	…	…	2	4	12
Conditional discharge			…	…	…	…	36	60	314
Hospital order under s. 60 Mental Health Act 1959	…	…	…	…	…	…	3	2	8
Probation order		…	…	…	…	…	3	2	42
Supervision order		…	…	…	…	…	—	8	19
Fine	…	…	…	…	…	…	56	111	601
Community service order				…	…	…	—	5	42
Attendance centre order			…	…	…	…	1	4	25
Detention centre order			…	…	…	…	1	10	33
Care order	…	…	…	…	…	…	—	1	12
Suspended sentence			…	…	…	…	4	9	151
Immediate imprisonment				…	…	…	7	19	199
Committed for sentence under s. 28 Magistrates Courts Act			…	…	…	…	—	5	22
Otherwise dealt with			…	…	…	…	—	9	37
Total found guilty			…	…	…	…	119	250	1,520

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what guidance he issues to Departments on the provision of office management services.

The Civil Service Department publishes guidance about staffing levels in a whole range of activities common to all Departments such as messengerial typing, registry and catering services. I have asked my officials to review all of these.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he has any further plans for reducing Civil Service manpower.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Mem-

[pursuant to his reply, 13 February 1980, c. 647]: The latest available information is for 1978 and is shown in the following table. Information for other offences under section 4 of the Vagrancy Act 1824 is not available.ber for Blackburn (Mr. Straw) on 23 January.—[Vol. 977, c. 205.]

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what steps he is taking to achieve expenditure cuts throughout the Civil Service.

I refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made on 6 December 1979.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what evidence he has of racial discrimination in the recruitment, job placement, reports on individuals and promotion of Civil Service staff.

I have no evidence of this, but, as the hon. Member will know from my answer to her on 11 February, a joint working party with the unions has been established to consider the monitoring of race relations policy in the Civil Service. It has not yet reached any conclusions.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what steps are being taken to apply efficiency techniques in all Departments throughout the Civil Service.

All Ministers are actively seeking to improve the efficiency of their Departments using a range of techniques. The Civil Service Department and Sir Derek Rayner are assisting.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what stage has been reached in the evaluation of the last pay research exercise.

The Pay Research Unit has now delivered the majority of its updated reports to the negotiating parties, and the normal joint processing of the evidence is now proceeding.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will make it his policy to award an annual cycle allowance for public officials who use their bicycles on official business.

I believe that the current system of allowances described in my reply to the hon. Member for Ipswich (Mr. Weetch) on 18 January [Vol. 976, c. 888] is satisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if it is his policy to regard the National Union of Students as a representative negotiating body.

So long as substantial numbers of student unions remain affiliated to the National Union of Students my right hon. and learned Friend will be happy to continue to consult it on student affairs.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how his Department monitors grants for the training of shop stewards to ensure that the operation of such grants is in the public interest.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Orpington (Mr. Stanbrook) on 31 January.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will give a general direction to the British Steel Corporation to retain steel works in working order once they are closed to enable them to be reactivated.

No. This is a matter for the corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will publish any estimates made by the Post Office of (a) the number of additional personal accounts likely to be opened with National Giro and (b) the number of additional transactions likely to be transacted on National Giro accounts at post offices if claimants are able to have national retirement pensions or other social security benefits credited direct to a National Giro account.

The National Girobank would expect to attract a proportion of new accounts if recipients were able to have national retirement pensions or other social security benefits paid direct into bank accounts. I understand, however, that the Post Office has not made estimates of the likely number of new personal accounts which would be opened with National Girobank or of the number of additional transactions likely to be undertaken through National Girobank accounts at Post Offices.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry in what ways his Department gives recognition to the Welsh language; and if he will list the statutory forms used by his Department which are either bilingual or have Welsh versions.

The Department gives recognition to the Welsh language by following both the provisions and the spirit of the Welsh language Act 1967.There has been insufficient demand so far for any of the statutory forms used by my Department to be either bilingual or to have a Welsh version; but assistance would be provided for anyone in Wales having difficulty in completing a form in English.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what action has been taken by the Government to publicise the importance of the resources of the oceans, other than gas and oil; and what further action is envisaged.

[pursuant to his reply, 19th February 1980]: Should the has been taken and none is envisaged in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether any future legislation in the United Kingdom on deep seabed mining will include any reciprocity arrangement with the United States of America arising from legislation in that country.

[pursuant to his reply, 19th February 1980]: Should the Government decide to introduce legislation on deep seabed mining they would need to consider whether such legislation should make provision for reciprocal arrangements with the United States and any other States legislating for deep seabed mining.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the total value, at constant prices, of assistance to industry in the North-East Lancashire sub-region in respect of regional development grants and other assistance under sections 7 and 8 of the Industry Act 1972, in each of the years 1973–74 to 1979–80; and what will be the estimated value of such or similar assistance in 1980–81.

The information relating to selective financial assistance offered under sections 7 and 8 of the Industry Act 1972 is as follows:

	Value of offers made (£'000)
Section 7:
1973–74	954
1974–75	1,376
1975–76	1,332
1976–77	1,321
1977–78	730
1978–79	6,235*
1979–80 (to 31 December 1979)	1,812
Section 8:
1973–74	—
1974–75	13
1975–76	205
1976–77	16
1977–78	1,403
1978–79	4,014
1979–80 (to 31 December 1979)	297
* Includes £3·8 million for a share of on project covering two regions.

I regret that the corresponding information relating to regional development grants and the forecast of expenditure for the North-East Lancashire sub-region cannot be provided without disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many men aged between 60 years and 65 years he estimates are at present employed; and how many and what percentage of such men are unemployed.

It is estimated that in Great Britain in 1977, the latest year for which information is available, there were about 1 million male employees aged 60 to 64. On 10 January 1980 there were 128,000 unemployed males aged 60 to 64. This gives an unemployment rate (the unemployed as a percentage of the employed plus the unemployed) of about 12 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many staff were employed by the wages councils for each year since 1971; and how many it is estimated will be employed on 1 June;(2) how many inspectors were employed by the wages councils for each year since 1971; and what is the estimate of the number to be employed on 1 June.

The number of inspectors and other staff in the Wages Inspectorate in post at 1 January each year is shown below:

	Wages Inspectors	Other Staff
1971	151	119
1972	138	131
1973	141	130
1974	137	125
1975	135	133
1976	128	128
1977	125	129
1978	132	133
1979	150	148
1980	166	142

There is no current plan to change the present level.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the aggregate number of working days lost through unemployment in 1978.

Multiplying the monthly average number of registered unemployed for 1978 by the estimated number of days worked in the year by those in employment gives very approximately 300 million days.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest number of personnel employed by his Department in Wales and how this figure compares with that of 3 May 1979.

On 1 January 1980 the number of DE group permanent staff in post in Wales was 2,934 and at 1 April 1979, which is the nearest date for which figures are available, the number was 3,034.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the percentage of apprenticeships gained by entrants to industry in Wales and England, respectively, in each of the years from 1976 to 1979.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many men have taken advantage of the job release scheme in each month since it was introduced, and at what age.

Following is the information:

ACCEPTED APPLICATIONS—MEN AGED 64
	1977	1978	1979
January	4,365	753	1,725
February	2,418	542	1,727
March	1,871	575	1,200
April	1,489	672	1,651
May	2,050	823	—
June	1,106	1,537	—
July	551	2,124	—
August	508	1,480	—
September	428	2,106	—
October	670	1,763	—
November	494	1,664	—
December	514	1,710	—

ACCEPTED APPLICATIONS—MEN AGED 60–64
May 1979	2,574
June 1979	8,621
July 1979	9,899
August 1979	7,726
September 1979	6,730
October 1979	5,411
November 1979	3,754
December 1979	2,142
January 1980	3,848

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) whether he will now extend the job release scheme either immediately or by stages to cover all men aged over 60 years;(2) when he expects to announce the outcome of his annual review of the current job release scheme due to end on 31 March.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is yet in a position to announce whether the job release scheme will be extended beyond 31 March.

I refer the hon. and learned Member and hon. Members to my right hon. Friend's statement to the House on Thursday 14 February 1980. —[Vol. 978, c. 1755–66.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number and percentage of registered unemployed in the Manchester travel-to-work area, and the number of vacancies for the latest available month and for the same month of each preceding year back to and including 1970; and if he will break down the unemployment figures according to sex and, where possible, age, including those unemployed aged 18 years and under, and, if the figures are available, unemployed according to ethnic origin for those aged 21 years and under and 18 years and under.

[pursuant to his reply, 11 February 1980, c. 362]: Table 1 gives

TABLE 1
								Unfilled vacancies
		Registered unemployed						At employment offices	At careers offices
		Numbers			Percentage rates
		Males	Females	Total	Males	Females	Total
January 1970	…	..	..	16,474	..	..	2·3	5,850	1,657
January 1971	…	..	..	18,218	..	..	2·6	4,729	1,469
January 1972	…	..	..	29,894	..	..	4·3	2,770	1,004
January 1973	…	..	..	27,657	..	..	4·1	3,628	1,178
January 1974	…	..	..	19,271	..	..	2·7	5,717	2,292
January 1975	…	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	..
January 1976	…	..	..	37,249	..	..	5·3	1,895	728
January 1977	…	33,349	8,033	41,382	7·9	2·9	5·9	..	423
January 1978	…	34,660	9,979	44,639	8·2	3·6	6·4	3,524	339
January 1979	…	31,230	9,328	40,558	7·4	3·3	5·7	5,050	616
January 1980	…	31,035	10,234	41,269	7·3	3·6	5·8	4,338	672
The vacancy statistics relate only to those notified to employment offices and careers offices; vacancies notified to employment offices are estimated to be about one-third all vacancies in the country as a whole. Because of possible duplication the two series should not be added together.
The unemployment figures for January 1980 may be affected by the introduction, in September 1979, of fortnightly attendance and payment of benefit. Estimates are not available for individual local areas, but for the country as a whole, the figures are about 1½ per cent. higher than they would have been under weekly attendance.

TABLE 2
				January 1979			January 1980
				Males	Females	Total	Males	Females	Total
Aged under 18			…	1,712	1,310	3,022	1,606	1,357	2,963
18	…	…	…	1,332	807	2,139	1,074	884	1,958
19	…	…	…	1,325	666	1,991	1,413	888	2,301
20–24		…	…	5,393	2,301	7,694	5,748	2,588	8,336
25–29		…	…	4,048	1,112	5,160	3,952	1,299	5,251
30–34		…	…	3,323	629	3,952	3,156	659	3,815
35–44		…	…	4,591	886	5,477	4,589	867	5,456
45–49		…	…	2,149	431	2,580	1,974	492	2,466
50–54		…	…	2,124	536	2,660	2,144	501	2,645
55–59		…	…	2,251	625	2,876	2,368	661	3,029
60–64		…	…	2,870	25	2,895	2,917	38	2,955
65 and over			…	112	—	112	94	—	94
Total, All Ages				31,230	9,328	40,558	31,035	10,234	41,269

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what estimate he

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to make available the 1977 and 1978 census of employment information; whether investigation of the 1977 figures is complete, and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 14 February 1980]: The results of the 1977 census of employment are now available. The national results will be published in the Department of Employment Gazette at the end of February. Compilation of the 1978 results will begin shortly and it is hoped that they will be published by the end of this year. The serious delay in the results stems from problems encountered in the computerisation of the census operation. This was embarked upon in 1976 to achieve a rapid saving in staff but without allowing for adequate preparation and testing of the complex systems involved. Intensive efforts have been and are being made to overcome the problems.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will investigate allegations that officers in the Northern regional office of his Department are demanding from applicant firms for short-time working compensation scheme subsidies, what are the names of those persons being made redundant if he will ensure that this new practice ceases and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply 18 February 1980]: The explanatory leaflet on the temporary short-time work- ing compensation scheme makes it clear that support under the scheme is available only where employers adopt short-time working as an alternative to implementing redundancies. It is stated in the leaflet that employers must provide evidence that they genuinely intend to make 10 or more workers redundant in each establishment concerned; the nature of the evidence to show this may vary in particular cases.It is also stated in the leaflet that employers must ensure that the workers on short-time in any week can be identified in their records.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list, by country of origin, the waiting list of applicants for work permits from the dependent territories.

[pursuant to his reply, 18 February 1980]: Applications for work permits are not listed. However, 48 applications, all from Hong Kong, for workers who do not satisfy the skills criteria of the general work permit scheme are being held pending a decision on the continuance in 1980 of the special arrangements for the issue of work permits for citizens of the dependent territories.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the average number of males and females registered as unemployed for the past five years and what these figures represent in total and percentage terms in Hull, Stoke and the United Kingdom.

[pursuant to his reply, 13 February 1980, Vol. 978, c. 449]: The following table gives the available information for the Hull employment office area, for Stoke (taken as the employment office areas of Stoke, Burslem, Hanley and Longton), and for the United Kingdom. Percentage rates of unemployment are calculated only for the whole of a travel-to-work area and not separately for its constituent parts. Hull and Stoke form only parts of their respective travel-to-work areas and the monthly average rates of unemployment shown in the table are for these wider areas. They are readily available only from 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of registered unemployed under 21 years in the borough of Walsall; how long they have been unemployed; and what action he intends to take to reduce the amount of youth unemployment in the Black Country districts of the West Midlands.

[pursuant to his reply, 13 February 1980, c. 449]: Information for the precise age range is not available. The following is the information at 10 January for those aged under 20 years for the area covered by the Walsall, Brownhills, Darlaston and Willenhall employment offices, which closely corresponds to the Borough of Walsall. Youth unemployment in the West Midlands and elsewhere will only be reduced when general unemployment is reduced, and the Government's economic policies are designed to achieve this. Meanwhile the youth opportunities programme continues to provide temporary work experience and training for the young unemployed, and has succeeded in helping 7 out of 10 former trainees find jobs immediately on completing their training.

One week or less	68
Over 1 and up to 2 weeks	87
Over 2 and up to 4 weeks	99
Over 4 and up to 6 weeks	103
Over 6 and up to 8 weeks	106
Over 8 and up to 13 weeks	161
Over 13 and up to 26 weeks	268
Over 26 and up to 39 weeks	181
Over 39 and up to 52 weeks	53
Over 52 and up to 65 weeks	26
Over 65 and up to 78 weeks	13
Over 78 and up to 104 weeks	15
Over 104 and up to 156 weeks	5
Over 156 weeks	—
Total	1,185

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what study he has made of the industrial shortage of computer operators and allied staff.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the level of unemployment among textile and clothing workers at the latest available date.

[pursuant to his reply 18 February 1980]: At 8 November 1979, the numbers of people registered as unemployed in Great Britain who last worked in the textiles and clothing industries were 25,584, and 18,262, respectively.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations he has received on motor cycle safety.

I am now midway through my programme of discussions with leading organisations and I have received a number of useful written representations. While my discussions are covering the whole field of motor cycle safety, the main interest has been in ways of getting more learners to take training and pass their test.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the future of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre at Swansea.

I have already announced changes in the vehicle excise duty system, which will enable us to cut out over 1,000 posts in administration. Most of these posts are in the local vehicle licensing offices which operate under the control of the centre at Swansea and are in addition to some 400 posts already saved over the last year at the centre. Apart from issuing driving licences the main function at the centre is to maintain the central register of drivers and vehicles which we continue to need for road safety and other purposes.

asked the Minister of Transport how many accidents in the winter were due to drinking and driving.

I regret that information in this form is not available. But I would draw attention to the findings of the Blennerhassett committee that alcohol was a factor in 25 per cent. of accidents. Over the Christmas and new year period special campaigns were carried out by a number of police forces.

asked the Minister of Transport what effect he estimates road improvements have had on the accident rate over the last 10 years.

Road improvements undoubtedly contributed substantially to the impressive fall in the injury accident rate, from 129 per 100 million vehicle kilometres in 1969 to 95 in 1978, but it is not possible to isolate their effect from that of other road safety measures.

asked the Minister of Transport when he now expects to publish the report of the inspector into the M3 inquiry held in 1976–77.

When my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport announce their joint decision following consideration of all objections and representations, together with the inspector's comments and recommendations.

asked the Minister of Transport when next he expects to meet the chairman of British Railways.

asked the Minister of Transport when next he plans to meet the chairman of the British Railways Board.

asked the Minister of Transport when he plans to meet the chairman of the British Railways Board.

asked the Minister of Transport when he next proposes to meet the chairman of British Railways.

asked the Minister of Transport when he intends next to meet the chairman of British Railways.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to meet the chairman of the British Railways Board.

asked the Minister of Transport when he proposes next to meet the chairman of British Railways.

I met him on Monday and will meet him again soon.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will relax the cash limits applied to the British Railways Board.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply earlier today to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Bagier).

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the need to restrict public expenditure, he will transfer effort and expenditure away from schemes for new trunk roads and concentrate available resources on providing for bypasses for historic towns and villages, in order to arrest deterioration of their fabric caused by heavy lorries and other traffic.

We are reviewing the roads programme. The only completely new trunk roads contemplated are on major industrial routes but these themselves will relieve many historic towns and villages. In assessing priorities we intend to find room for an early start on a number of urgently needed bypasses which will achieve the aims described by my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is satisfied with the type approval regulations for imported trucks.

There is no general type approval scheme for lorries in this country, but I am currently reviewing the situation.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is satisfied that consignments of nuclear fuel by British Railways are carried under the most stringent safety conditions and if he will make a statement.

Yes. I am fully satisfied.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is satisfied with the security provision laid down by legislation in respect of the transport of dangerous materials by rail.

Yes. The carriage of dangerous substances by British Rail conforms with the regulations prescribed under the international convention concerning the carriage of goods by rail, to which we and other European Governments are signatories. The ultimate responsibility for security on railway property rests with the British Transport police force. I am satisfied that these arrangements adequately protect the public.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations he has received about the safety of trains carrying nuclear waste through South London.

There have been numerous questions and letters on this subject from hon. Members representing constituencies affected by these movements, including the hon. Member for Battersea, South. I have consistently emphasised in my responses that I am satisfied that there is full and adequate protection for the public.

asked the Minister of Transport when he intends to place a speed restriction upon that section of the trunk road A27 running through the residential parish of Chilworth, Hampshire.

The A27 through Chilworth is a principal road, so this is in the first instance a matter for Hampshire county council. If the council concludes that a limit is desirable, it will need to apply for my right hon. Friend's consent; any such application will be carefully considered.

asked the Minister of Transport when he hopes to make a statement as to the outcome of his discussion with the chairman of British Railways over the ban on bicycles on commuter trains.

As my hon. Friend knows, I have written to the chairman asking him to consider whether the board could adopt a more flexible attitude towards the carriage of bicycles on commuter trains. I understand that the board is now considering what might be done. I very much hope that it will be able to devise a more acceptable scheme.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will take steps to permit the use of minibus services from rural areas to larger town areas, in view of the inadequacy of the national omnibus group services.

I wish to encourage any initiatives to provide new bus services in rural areas. The changes to the licensing system made by the Transport Bill are designed to do just that.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals he has received for participation of private investment in British Railways subsidiaries.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply earlier today to the hon. Member for Swansea, East (Mr. Anderson).

asked the Minister of Transport if, in order to endeavour to meet the conflicting wishes of those who want the M3 and M27 joined urgently, and those who disrupted the Winchester bypass inquiry, he will complete the road without any Winchester interchanges.

My hon. Friend's suggestion would not meet the wishes of objectors, many of whom questioned the need for this proposed section of motorway. Neither would it commend itself to those who agreed with the Department's proposal. The final decision will have to depend on a judgment of all the objections and representations and a consideration of the report of the inspector who conducted the public inquiry.

asked the Minister of Transport what efforts have been made to encourage the greater use of the waterways rather than roads and railways for the transportation of both raw materials and manufactured goods.

The Government's policy is that each mode of transport should carry the traffic for which it is best suited. Nevertheless, I am keen to encourage the development of waterway transport wherever it is commercially viable, and am keeping in close touch on this subject with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, who has primary responsibility for the canal network.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a breakdown of his Department's planned expenditure in 1980–81 as between (a) motorway construction, (b) bypass construction, (c) realignments and (d) maintenance.

Details of planned expenditure on trunk roads will be given in the roads White Paper, which we hope to publish in April 1980.

asked the Minister of Transport what research his Department has conducted into minimising surface noise arising from motorways.

The Department has a continuing programme of research on the specification of road surfaces with the aim of achieving the lowest noise levels commensurate with safety and structural integrity.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will provide financial assistance to bus operators when the present capital grant system for the purchase of new buses is phased out.

Local authorities give financial assistance to bus operators with the help of grant from central Government, and these arrangements will continue.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the Government's attitude to the proposed larger types of lorry; and if he will investigate the possibility of a new kind of compensatory tax to offset the damage to roads, buildings, and the environment.

Until I have received the report of the inquiry on lorries, people, and the environment, which Sir Arthur Armitage is conducting, I will not take any decision on whether the United Kingdom maximum limits on lorry weights or dimensions should be changed.On the question of taxation, the Government's proposed restructuring of vehicle excise duty on heavy lorries will enable us to ensure that all the different classes of goods vehicles at least pay in motoring taxation for their fair share of allocated road costs.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations he has received concerning the powers of the traffic commissioners.

I have received about 80 representations about the changes to the powers of the traffic commissioners made in the Transport Bill, the majority of which welcome my proposals.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the latest position regarding the submissions for the St. Ann's Square scheme in Manchester.

Greater Manchester council has made application to my right. hon. Friend for an order to pedestrianise a substantial part of St. Ann's Square and St. Ann's Street, Manchester. The current position is that we are waiting for the council to provide additional information which will enable us to reach a decision on the matter.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations he has received about the level of the transport supplementary grant allocation to the West Midlands county council.

None.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will publish in the Official Report the results of the limited survey of local authority transport concessions referred to in his written answer on 5 February.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will publish in the Official Report the results of the sample survey of local authority travel concessions referred to in his written answer on 5 February.

The report on the survey is too long for the Official Report, but I am sending copies to my hon. Friend and the hon. Member, and I a m placing copies in the Library.

asked the Minister of Transport what studies his Department has made of the effect on road safety of central crash barriers and road markings and if he will make a statement.

The safety value of crash barriers is well established, and means of increasing it are regularly examined, as are possible improvements in road markings. I shall write to the hon. Member with details of published material.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will arrange for all the evidence submitted to the Armitage inquiry to be placed in the Library of the House of Commons.

I shall arrange for copies of the evidence so far submitted by my Department in response to requests from the Armitage inquiry on lorries, people and the environment to be placed in the Library of the House. Copies of further evidence from my Department will also be placed in the Library as it becomes available.The availability of other evidence submitted to the inquiry is a matter for those submitting it, and for Sir Arthur Armitage.

asked the Minister of Transport how much in total road users will pay in vehicle excise duty, fuel duty, car tax and value added tax on fuel and car sales in 1979–80; and how this compares with funds spent on roads.

asked the Minister of Transport what proportion of the income derived from the road fund licence is currently being spent on the roads; and what is the total sum expected from licences in the year 1979–80.

Total revenue from motoring and vehicle taxation for 1979–80 is estimated to be £5,570 million. This comprises £1,120 million vehicle excise duty, £2,610 million fuel duty, £510 million car tax and £1,330 million VAT on fuel and car sales.Central and local government expenditure on road construction and maintenance in 1979–80 is estimated to be £1,850 million—1979–80 outturn prices.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has completed his discussions with organisations representing the disabled regarding his proposed changes in the orange badge scheme.

Most of the organisations consulted about our proposals have now replied and the views put forward are being considered.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the progress of the Haslingden bypass in Rossendale.

Construction began on 18 June 1979 and is progressing satisfactorily, I hope that the bypass will be open to traffic by the end of next year.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the latest developments in contacts between his Department, the Greater London Council, the Essex county council and London Transport designed to reach agreement on the provision of financial help from public funds intended to assist the Epping-Ongar section of the Central Line.

The position has not changed since I met the hon. Member and the local authorities concerned on 27 November 1979. The Government remain willing to consider sympathetically for the purposes of determining transport supplementary grant in future years any contribution which Essex county council may choose to make towards meeting the losses incurred on London Transport rail services in the county. That grant is the appropriate channel for Government support which is, in effect, on offer to the county. I understand that Essex county council has refused to make any revenue support contribution to these services in 1980–81; and that the Greater London Council has accordingly asked London Transport to consider alternative ways of reducing its losses on these services.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to receive the final report of the steering group on railway electrification.

I expect to receive the final report from the steering group by early summer.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the delays to the A12-A13 section of the M25.

The section between North Ockendon and A13 is under construction. The orders for the section from A12 to North Ockendon have been made, but the compulsory purchase orders for the acquisition of the necessary land have been challenged in the High Court. Progress depends upon the outcome of this challenge.

asked the Minister of Transport what proportion of industrial costs is accounted for by transport.