asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average number of hours worked per week by male and female workers, respectively, in Wales, Scotland, and all the regions of England for the last five years.

AVERAGE TOTAL WEEKLY HOURS* WORKED BY FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES† WHOSE PAY WAS NOT AFFECTED BY ABSENCE
	April 1975	April 1976	April 1977	April 1978	April 1979
Full-time men aged 21 and over
South East	42·6	42·3	42·5	42·6	42·8
East Anglia	43·5	43·0	43·4	43·6	43·7
South West	42·5	42·1	42·1	42·5	42·5
West Midlands	42·7	42·6	43·1	43·0	43·1
East Midlands	43·2	43·0	43·3	43·6	43·5
Yorkshire and Humberside	43·3	43·0	43·4	43·7	43·8
North West	42·9	42·9	43·2	43·3	43·3
North	43·2	43·2	43·4	43·7	43·6
England	42·8	42·6	42·9	43·0	43·2
Wales	42·8	42·5	43·0	42·9	43·3
Scotland	43·9	43·5	43·6	44·0	44·0
Great Britain	43·0	42·7	43·0	43·1	43·2
Full-time women aged 18 and over
South East	37·1	37·0	37·3	37·3	37·4
East Anglia	37·2	37·1	37·7	37·3	38·0
South West	37·3	37·3	37·0	37·2	37·3
West Midlands	37·5	37·1	37·4	37·4	37·3
East Midlands	37·6	37·4	37·6	37·7	37·8
Yorkshire and Humberside	37·5	37·3	37·5	37·5	37·4
North West	37·5	37·4	37·5	37·6	37·6
North	37·5	37·4	37·5	37·7	37·6
England	37·3	37·2	37·4	37·4	37·5
Wales	37·9	37·7	37·7	37·9	37·5
Scotland	38·0	37·9	37·9	38·0	38·0
Great Britain	37·4	37·3	37·5	37·5	37·5
* Normal basic hours plus overtime hours when subject to overtime payments.
† Employees with normal basic hours of 30 hours or more or, exceptionally, for less than 30 hours where an employee is regarded as full-time—for example, teachers. Employees—mainly non·manual—without specified normal basic hours are not included in calculating the average.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Merseyside and his meeting with the Liverpool inner city partnership.

My right hon. Friend has not visited Merseyside recently. During my visit to the North West on 10 March I spent some time in Merseyside, where I met representatives of Merseyside county council and visited a local

The following figures relate to hours worked by full-time adult employees whose earnings were not affected by absence in a specified pay period in April each year.Further details distinguishing hours worked by manual and non-manual employees are given in part E of the annual publication of the new earnings survey.employer. The visit afforded me a further opportunity to discuss at first hand the problems of Merseyside with those who live and work in the area.The meeting of the Liverpool inner city partnership planned for that day had unfortunately to be postponed.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the normal criteria which are used by the Manpower Services Commission to assess the viability of revenue-earning schemes, particularly enterprise workshops (a) at point of application and (b) at mid-term review stage.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that it is no longer operating special arrangements under the STEP to assist enterprise workshops to become financially viable. The criteria for those currently funded have been that forecasts of accounts should indicate that the scheme could become self-financing within the period of MSC funding—a maximum of two years—and that the forecasts should be feasible. Assessment at the point of application has been based on technical capability and potential sales and overall profitability. The mid-term assessment examines performance during the first period of funding as well as prospects for the second.

Group	Estimated percentage increase in earnings	Estimated cost of award in financial year 1980–81
		£ million
Local Authority Manuals	10·9	236·5
NHS Ancillaries	11·7	83·2
Ambulancemen	23·0	18·6
University Manuals	6·3	1·9
Nurses and Midwives	19·6	311·0
Professions Supplementary to Medicine	14·2	19·6
British Waterways Board Salaried Staff	4·8	0·2

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the European Economic Community Commission's claims in Camera Care v. European Economic Community Commission, she will instruct Departments not to agree to any proposal which could subsequently be interpreted by the European Economic Community Commission to extend its powers in a way which would not be tolerated under United Kingdom law.

In this case, there is no question of the EEC Commission extending its powers. The Court of Justice has ruled that regulation 17/62, which implements the Community's competition rules and was adopted before the United Kingdom acceded to the Treaty of Rome, includes the power to take interim measures which are indispensable for the effective exercise of its functions

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the estimated cost during the financial year 1980–81 of awards by the Clegg Commission since its inception; and what percentage increase that figure represents on the salaries of those receiving the awards.

The following table which excludes the award for university technicians, which was of an interim nature, and the award for municipal airport manual workers, the cost of which will depend on a grading exercise still to be undertaken, gives the information requested on the basis of the standing commission's published estimates. An adjustment has been made to the published estimate for the salaried staff of the British Waterways as the final stage of the award is not to be paid until September 1980.under the regulation. The power to grant interim relief is frequently available in United Kingdom legislation.

asked the Prime Minister if she will take steps to protect United Kingdom citizens from having their homes searched by officials of the European Economic Community Commission without the authority of the courts.

Rights of entry into premises conferred on officials of the Community in connection with their duties to investigate abuses of Common Market benefits or breaches of competition rules, are linked with business, industrial or agricultural activities. I am not aware of any powers to search homes, except perhaps if they were used as a base for such activities.In any event, unless there is a voluntary submission to the search, it cannot take place without judicial authority.

asked the Prime Minister what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government in relation to raids by the European Economic Community Commission on the premises of British companies; and whether she is satisfied that the raid which occurred in June 1979 was not an infringement of civil liberties.

The EEC competition rules, which are directly applicable in the United Kingdom, give officials of the European Commission the power to investigate suspected breaches of those rules, including the power to enter business premises. Firms have to submit to investigations when ordered by a decision of the Commission. Such decisions may be the subject of an appeal to the Court of Justice. In view of this safeguard, the power conferred on the Commission by the competition rules does not I believe represent an unacceptable infringement of civil liberties. In the case to which I assume the hon. Member is referring, I understand that the firm is appealing against the Commission's decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much of the £300,000 saved on abolishing the Centre for Information and Advice on Educational Disadvantage will be spent on combating educational disadvantage.

When, on 15 November, my right hon. and learned Friend announced his decision to close the centre, he did not have in mind any specific new expenditure by his Department in this field. Opportunities do arise from time to time, however, to support activities which help to combat educational disadvantage. These will continue to be considered on their merits, and this Department will continue to be closely involved through the work of Her Majesty's Inspectorate and the Educational Disadvantage Unit.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when Weelsby Hall school for maladjusted boys, Grimsby, was last inspected by his Department; and how many inspections have been carried out in the two years prior to that.

Weelsby Hall school was the subject of a full inspection by Her Majesty's inspectors in November 1979. In the two years prior to that date the school was visited by Her Majesty's inspectors on three occasions and three further visits have been made this term.The proprietor has informed my Department that the school will close at Easter, and eight of the 20 pupils have already left the school.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, in view of the publication of the Flowers report, if he will set up an investigation into conditions in the provincial centres of medical education, because of the substantial difficulties in some of the newer centres, such as Southampton and Nottingham, and also in well-established centres, such as Leeds, where the expansion of student intake has had to be considerably reduced.

The Flowers report is the report of an internal working party set up by the University of London to consider the particular problems facing medical education in London. I see no need for a separate inquiry into medical education outside of London where student intake has, in general, continued to expand. The UGC is, at present, conducting a series of meetings with universities, including those with medical schools, to discuss their future plans.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what discussions he has had with the Association of County Councils about the decision not to allow county councils to make a modest charge for school transport.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will consider seeking to relax the raising of school leaving age legislation.

My right hon. and learned Friend is keeping under review the operation of the school arrangements which were last amended by the Education (School Leaving Dates) Act 1976. He has no present plans to change the law.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will circulate in the Official Report a statement showing the staff age structure and prospective retirement position through to 1990 in respect of each of the universities whose funding is principally serviced from the Government by way of the University Grants Committee.

This information is not available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the current average cost of a university place and a polytechnic place; what proportion of that cost is paid for directly by overseas students; and how this compares with the figure five years ago.

The figures are as follows:

(a) AVERAGE GROSS INSTITUTIONAL COSTS PER STUDENT
Outturn prices
	Financial years
	1974–75	1978–79*
	£	£
Polytechnics in England and Wales:
non-advanced students	1,040	1,430
advanced students	1,680	2,220
Universities in Great Britain:
all students	1,725	2,525
* The latest year for which figures are available.

(b) PROPORTION OF (a) REPRESENTED BY RECOMMENDED FEE LEVELS FOR OVERSEAS STUDENTS
	Academic years
	1974–75	1978–79
	Per cent.	Per cent.
Polytechnics in England and Wales:
non-advanced students	14	27
advanced students	15	32
Universities in Great Britain:
undergraduates	14	28

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether any future grant to Fircroft college, Birmingham is conditional on the non-appointment of former members of the staff; and if he will make a statement.

No. While the former tutors have no automatic right of appointment to the academic staff posts currently being advertised by the new governing body of Fircroft college, it is, of course, open to them to apply. My right hon. and learned Friend has agreed in principle to resume grant-aid to Fircroft to open as a long-term residential college, in autumn 1980, following agreement by the new governing body that it could be run within the stringent financial limits specified. Formal confirmation of this decision is subject to our satisfaction on a number of other points.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied that county emergency planning officers have sufficient knowledge about the distribution and use of radiac instruments in time of war.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Rugby, Official Report, 14 March, what standards he uses to judge the progress made by local authorities in their planning for the provision of civil defence.

Those in the Civil Defence (Planning) Regulations 1974; and there is informal contact between my officials and local authority staffs with emergency planning responsibilities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Rugby on 18 March, what level of provision of survey meters and dosimeters he regards as sufficient for essential radiological monitoring purposes.

Various factors determine operational requirements: numbers of survey metres needed to ascertain the fallout picture are based on land area; survey meters and dosimeters for use by those performing essential tasks, on population. County councils have been informed of their provisional allocations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will establish a full inquiry into the cult known as the exegesis programme.

No. Indications that the activities of this cult may involve breaches of the law should be reported to the police.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the law so far as it relates to the forcible detention of persons attending meetings of religious cults, such as the exegesis programme.

Yes. The unlawful detention of someone against his will is a criminal offence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all the places in the United Kingdom to which persons resident or staying in Greater London were invited to travel for the purpose of interviews concerned with entry clearance and related matters; and how many such interviews were carried out at each location in 1979.

According to where they live in the Greater London area and the availability of immigration service staff at offices in and around this area persons may be invited to travel for interview at any of the following offices:

Location	Number of Interviews in 1979
Adelaide House (London Bridge)	61
Gravesend	210
Harmondsworth (Heathrow)	342
Sheerness	1,653

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all the places in the United Kingdom where the imigration service is located; and how many interviews concerned with entry clearance and related matters were carried out at each location in 1979.

Ports where members of the immigration service are stationed are listed below under their district organisa- tion. Numbers of interviews concerned with entry clearances are given for districts as these are not readly available from individual ports.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures he is taking to encourage conservation of energy in Scotland; and, in particular, what measures he is taking to encourage home insulation.

Responsibility for policies of energy conservation in the United Kingdom and for publicity for them rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy.The Scottish Office implements these policies in Scotland in functional areas for which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland is responsible and as agent for the Department of Energy in certain other fields.As regards home insulation, grants are available to owners, tenants and landlords in the private sector and to tenants in the public sector towards the cost of providing basic insulation in uninsulated houses. District and islands authorities are encouraged to give priority to the insulation of their uninsulated housing stock and provision has been included for this purpose in their capital expenditure allocation for 1980–81.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has replied to the request by the British Broadcasting Corporation, Scotland to the Scottish Office for financial support for the educational broadcasting programmes which it produces for schools in Scotland.

The British Broadcasting Corporation, Scotland, has been informed that, while I have no doubt that these programmes are greatly appreciated by schools in Scotland, I take the view that it would not be acceptable in principle for the Government to provide any financial support for these programmes. While recognising that it is for the corporation to decide how the resources available to them should be used, I have expressed the hope that it will be prepared to reconsider this aspect of its proposals.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what aid has been provided to Tanzania specifically in order to help that country with the burden incurred in assisting in the liberation of Uganda and in maintaining troops and police in Uganda in order to help restore stability.

None.

asked the Lord Privy Seal when he expects to have determined the total amount of British aid to be made available to Zimbabwe; and if he will make a full statement to the House at that time.

As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Wirral (Mr. Hunt) on 21 March—[Vol. 981, c. 364]—we have offered an immediate grant of £7 million for reconstruction. My right hon. Friend will tell the House as soon as possible the total amount of aid to be offered to Zimbabwe.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what are the total numbers in post of the following grades in the Government Information Service (a) deputy secretary, (b) executive director (middle branch), (c) chief information officer "A", (d) chief information officer "B", (e) principal information officer, (f) senior information officer, (g) information officer, and (h) assistant information officer.

The table below shows the relevant number of staff in post in central Government Departments at 1 January 1980:

Deputy secretary	0
Unified intermediate pay point (lower)*	1
Under-secretary	1
Executive directing (middle band)	7
Chief information officer (A)	21
Chief information officer (B)	37
Principal information officer	123
Senior information officer	328
Information officer	552
Assistant information officer	173
Total	1,243
* This grade falls midway between deputy secretary and under-secretary.

Unified Intermediate Pay Point (Lower)	Chief Information Officer A	Chief Information Officer B	Principal Information Officer	Senior Information Officer	Information Officer		Assistant Information Officer
£	£	£	£	£	£		£
18,252	14,250	11,750	8,850	7,350	5,950	Entry Age
	15,000	12,750	9,200	7,600	6,150
	15,750	13,750	9,550	7,900	6,350	18	3,200
	16,500	15,000	9,950	8,200	6,575	19	3,325
	17,000		10,350	8,550	6,850	20	3,450
Executive Directing (Middle Band)			10,750	8,900	7,250	21	3,600
			11,250			22	3,750
			11,750			23	3,900
						24	4,050
£						25	4,525
17,000								Main
							4,400	4,200
							4,525	4,500
							4,650	4,750
							4,800	5,050
							4,975	5,325
							5,175	5,700
							5,400
							5,700

There are no information service posts at deputy secretary level—present salary £20,314. Instead the table shows the salary for the unified intermediate pay point (lower). Salaries above chief information officer (

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what are the pay scales of the following grades of the Government Information Service on 1 January (a) deputy secretary, (b) executive director (middle branch), (c) chief information officer 'A' (d) chief information officer 'B', (e) principal information officer, (f) senior information officer, (g) information officer and (h) assistant information officer.

The information is given is the table:

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much money was allocated to the arts in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and all the regions of England, in each of the past five years.

Expenditure on arts bodies, museums, etc., for which the relevant Ministers are responsible was as follows:disproportionate expenditure. I am writing to the hon. Member to explain why this is so.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if, in view of the current exhibition at the Victoria and Albert museum stimulating the importation of Japanese goods, he will reduce the grant made to that museum in 1981.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he is satisfied with the contract and price fetched by the sale of House waste paper for recycling.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress he has made with his proposals for improving vehicle excise duty administration.

When I announced the Government's decision to retain VED, I proposed a number of changes to improve its administration. Together these were designed further to reduce the number of civil servants involved by over 1,000 and to save £7 million in administrative costs.I gave further details of my plans for transferring virtually all relicensing work to an increased number of post offices on 19 March. I have now completed the consultation I promised on the proposals to change the minimum licensing period from four to six months and to introduce a savings stamps scheme.In the light of this, and with the agreement of my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, I have decided to go ahead with both proposals. Five-pound stamps will be on sale in post offices from 11 August. They will be able to be used in whole or part payment for any vehicle licence issued either by post offices or my local vehicle licensing offices.

asked the Minister of Transport what grant will be made by Her Majesty's Government towards the construction of the M602 salford docks spur.

Since, on completion, the M602 is to become a trunk road, a 100 per cent. specific grant is to be paid to Greater Manchester council for the construction of the proposed extension to Salford docks.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a further statement on the implementation of proposals for roofs, brakes, and seats aimed at improving coach safety.

Technical requirements for roof strength are now being finalised, and will be discussed in June in the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. It is hoped to persuade other countries to adopt the requirements on an international basis. The proposals for seat strength will be discussed at the same time. We hope by the end of May to have started formal consultations on new braking requirements.

asked the Minister of Transport what reactions he has now had from organisations of and for disabled people to his proposals for revising the orange badge scheme of parking concessions for disabled people; what further action he will be taking; and if he will make a statement.

These organisations generally accepted that changes were necessary in order to curb abuse of the scheme and supported a number of our proposals, but most considered that the proposed eligibility criteria were too restrictive. We are now considering the views expressed by these organisations and by other bodies consulted.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will introduce legislation to prevent the stimulation of imports to the United Kingdom which is caused by promotional exhibits and demonstrations of foreign goods.

United Kingdom manufacturers rely on exhibitions overseas to promote their exports and any attempt to interfere with exhibitions in the United Kingdom would invite retaliation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he is considering lifting the export licensing restriction on sending live cattle to the Middle East for slaughter; and if he is satisfied as to the conditions under which such animals would be slaughtered.

I have been asked to reply.The Department of Trade will, on my Department's advice, continue to refuse licences to export food animals to any country which does not have satisfactory welfare arrangements. No Middle Eastern country wishing to import such food animals has been able to offer welfare safeguards which we have considered adequate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many European Economic Community grants, in respect of work which is the normal responsibility of his Department, have been paid direct to the beneficiary in each of the last three years; and if he will announce their total value and express that as a percentage of EEC grant paid to or via his Department.

All grants for infrastructures in England from the Euro- pean regional development fund are paid to the implementing authority via my Department. In the case of infrastructure not within my Department's field, payment is via both my Department and the other Department concerned. Of the successful applications for such grants, those in my Department's field numbered 156 in 1977, 144 in 1978 and 96 in 1979. These qualified for £51·8 million grant payable as expenditure is incurred. Those not within my Department's field qualified for £37·7 million in the same period. The Community has also made grants via my Department for flood relief works. In 1977–78, £312,835 went to local authorities in England and in 1979–80, payments of £83,961 are going to local authorities in England for onward transmission to householders whose properties have suffered flood damage. Of all these grants, totalling £89·5 million the proportion due to beneficiaries in my Department's field is approximately 58 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of the housing stock his Department estimates is badly affected by damp.

Information collected in the 1976 English house condition survey indicates that about 1½ million dwellings in England are affected by damp to some degree. Information on how many of these are badly affected is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many claims for compensation under section 169 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 in respect of refusals by planning authorities for consent to erect tower silos at agricultural premises have been made within the past five years; and how much compensation in respect of such refusals has been paid during that period.

The information is not readily available; claims are made to and determined by local planning authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much his Department expects to allocate for the provision of health care in the new towns budget for 1980–81 and 1981–82, respectively; and how much of the total will be allocated to Peterborough New Town Development Corporation.

Allocations for health care are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services.I imagine that my hon. Friend has in mind the transfer of resources from my Department's new towns programme to the DHSS programme for the years 1978–79 to 1981–82 for the provision of health service facilities in Milton Keynes, Northampton and Peterborough. Cambridgeshire health authority's share in 1980–81 for use in Peterborough is £178,000 at outturn prices.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when next he will meet the officers of the London Boroughs Associations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to meet representatives of the local authority associations

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when next he intends to meet the chairman of the Association of District Councils.

On 15 April, when I chair the next meeting of the Consultative Council on Local Government Finance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many housing authorities will underspend on their housing capital investment programmes in the current financial year; and what is the total sum involved.

Until firm information on actual expenditure for the year is available it will not be possible to say how many authorities have underspent in 1979–80.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total and percentage underspend under the housing investment programme allocations in each financial year between 1975–76 and 1978–79.

The information is as follows. Figures are shown at outturn prices for the year in question.

• 1975–76—£42·3 million (11·9 per cent.)
• 1976–77—£97·7 million (15·7 per cent.)
• 1977–78—£31·8 million overspend (1·5 per cent.)
• 1978–79—£291·4 million (11·7 per cent)

Allocations for 1975–76 were for improvement of local authority dwellings only. Those for 1976–77 included in addition lending to private persons. Allocations for 1977–78 and 1978–79 related to total local authority housing investment. The system of local housing strategies and investment programmes (HIP's) was introduced for the year 1978–79.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received over the housing investment programme.

By 21 March, 25 of the 367 housing authorities in England had written to the Department to say that their HIP allocations for 1980–81 were insufficient.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further steps he has taken in relation to the setting up of the proposed urban development corporation.

Following my announcement of the names of the shadow chairman and shadow deputy chairman of the London UDC, the chief executive appointment has been advertised. I am considering further the area to be designated, and appointments to the boards of the shadow UDCs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is yet able to announce the names of the members of the board of the proposed Merseyside urban development corporation.

I hope to do so shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce the conclusions of his review of the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977.

We will announce our conclusions as soon as practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the proportion of the population accounted for by single person households; and whether he expects this proportion to increase.

It is estimated that one-person households currently account for about 8½ per cent. of the population, and that about two-thirds of them are over retirement age. Extrapolation of past trends suggests that the proportion may rise to 11 per cent. by 1991.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the closing date for objections to his proposed modifications to the West Yorkshire structure plan.

The closing date for representations on the modifications to the West Yorkshire structure plan will be six weeks after they have been advertised by the county council in the London Gazette and elsewhere. The council advertised the modifications on 24 March 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the average cost of building a local authority dwelling.

The present estimate of the average cost of providing a local authority dwelling started in the fourth quarter of 1979 is about £19,250, including a sum—likely to be subject to considerable variation from scheme to scheme —of about £6,250 for land, site works and fees.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environmet if he will call a meeting of the Waste Management Advisory Council.

The Government nave not yet reached a conclusion on the future pattern of work in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what financial provisions have been agreed for the transfer of new town housing assets to districts councils.

For the first round of housing transfers, which took place on 1 April 1978, the local authorities concerned received a transitional grant under section 10 of the New Towns (Amendment) Act 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the future development of the Vauxhall Bridgefoot site.

The public inquiry into alternative proposals for its development closed on 23 January. I have not yet received the inspector's report, and it would be improper for me to make any statement now.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ensure that a specific allocation of resources is made available through the Homes Insulation Act for the elderly and disabled in the coming year.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Mr. Bowden) and the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Foulkes) earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek powers to enable local authorities to publish and advertise details of privated owned houses for sale within their area; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of new lettings and re-lettings under the new housing mobility scheme will be allocated to people who wish to move for employment reasons.

The scheme is intended to cater for urgent moves both for employment and personal reasons: the balance between them will depend upon the decisions made by individual local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the current compilation and sending out of domestic rate demands; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has assessed the impact of the National and Local Government Officers Association's decision to cease all work relating to the issuing of rate demands by the local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that individual local authorities and the local authority associations are considering the implications of the industrial action currently affecting the preparation of rate demand notes. It is primarily for the authorities themselves to consider these matters, and it would be premature for me to comment at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the level of rate increases reported for 1980–81.

No. Some authorities have clearly made no serious attempt to reduce their expenditure levels and this is reflected in their rates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the rate increases proposed for 1980–81 for each of the Greater London boroughs in both poundage and percentage terms.

The figures for those London boroughs from which information has been received are:

	Increase in general rate
	Poundage p	Percentage
City of London	17·30	22·24
Camden	26·77	25·25
Greenwich	16·70	19·55
Islington	34·00	33·27
Lambeth	41·50	40·53
Lewisham	34·00	38·20
Southwark	34·02	34·36
Tower Hamlets	28·00	29·17
Wandsworth	11·90	14·02
Barking	22·00	22·92
Barnet	15·00	18·18
Brent	30·50	31·28
Bromley	11·50	13·94
Croydon	6·00	8·11
Ealing	23·00	25·70
Enfield	20·00	22·99
Haringey	35·00	30·43
Hillingdon	11·10	11·37
Harrow	22·00	22·45
Havering	22·00	23·78
Hounslow	29·15	32·75
Kingston	14·00	16·09
Merton	16·00	18·60
Richmond	14·00	15·73
Sutton	15·00	18·40
Waltham Forest	36·00	34·95

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities in England and Wales have announced a rate of less than £1·19 for 1980–81.

Rate details have been received for 324 of the 402 rating authorities in England and Wales. Of these 207 are levying a rate of less than £1·19 for 1980–81.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the average rate bill demanded from ratepayers in the London area for the year 1979–80; and how this compares with a similar ratepayer in the Isle of Wight.

The estimated average domestic rate payment in 1979–80 is £200 in London compared with £156 in the Isle of Wight.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what repre- sentations he has secured from the Suffolk county council concerning the continuing inequity in central Government funding terms in the rural counties.

A number of hon. Members for Suffolk constituencies, including my hon. Friend, have made representations on the council's behalf.While I note the approval of the county council that the drift away from shire counties was ended in this year's distribution, I can confirm that we are working with the local authority associations on more satisfactory methods of assessing needs in future years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish full details of his proposals for the application, incidence and scale of charges for planning applications.

Very soon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to complete his consideration of the report of the review group on the Development Commission and its associated organisation, the Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas.

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Bodmin (Mr. Hicks).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether payments made by district councils to internal drainage boards in accordance with agreements made under section 81 of the Land Drainage Act 1976 are relevant expenditure for the purposes of the rate support grant.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a Green or White Paper on wildlife and countryside matters.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State to my hon. Friend the Member for Brighouse and Spenborough (Mr. Waller) on 27 February.—[Vol. 79, c. 1346–47.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what he now expects the total expenditure of local authorities to be during the present financial year; and what account he has taken of the views expressed by councillors on this subject in making his estimate.

I shall not be in a position to estimate the provisional outturn of local authority expenditure for 1979–80 or the planned expenditure for 1980–81 until the preliminary analysis of the annual return of expenditure and rates has been completed—late spring or early summer. Until then I cannot add to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 10 December 1979.—[Vol. 975, c. 477.].

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to encourage the Nature Conservancy Council to seek private capital in order to acquire and manage nature reserves.

I am sure the council needs no encouragement from me in this matter.

asked the Secretary of State, for the Environment what representations he has received from the Nature Conservancy Council regarding the renegotiation of agreements and leases affecting beauty spots in the United Kingdom.

The Nature Conservancy Council has no responsibility for beauty spots per se. However the council, in its annual report for 1978–79, has drawn attention to the need to take account of substantially increased land values when it reviews leases and agreements affecting 44 national nature reserves which are due to expire in the 1980s.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total number of schemes within the urban programme, referred to in the reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North Official Report, 22 February, column 364, which provide advice and services to the unemployed, together with the total cost of these schemes.

I shall write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will raise with the Confederation of British Industry, pursuant to his declaration in the treatment of public employees who propose to take part in the Olympic Games, Official Report, 17 March, c. 155–56, the position of employees of private industry who propose to participate in the Games.

It would not be appropriate for the Government to raise this matter with the CBI. We naturally hope that all United Kingdom citizens, including employees of private industry, will heed our continuing advice against going to the summer Olympic Games in the Soviet Union in the present circumstances. But it is for private employers themselves to decide what advice they give their own employees.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local government officers and employees in England and Wales have been made redundant since May 1979.

The information requested is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, from the figures available to date, what will be the likely national average rate increase.

According to the latest figures available the average non-domestic and domestic rate increases are estimated to be 23 per cent. and 27 per cent. respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he has received representations for the repeal of the Water Charges Equalisation Act; and if he will make a statement;(2) if Her Majesty's Government have any plans to repeal the Water Charges Equalisation Act.

On 17 December 1979, when the House debated the draft Water Charges Equalisation Order 1979, I announced that the Government had it in mind that the Act should be repealed, but that before legislation was introduced officials would be asked to consider the whole question and to recommend what, if anything, might be done in the future. I expect to receive a report from officials soon.Since the debate I have received no written representations for the repeal of the enabling Act of 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current charge made by the North-West water authority for the installation of fire equipment water sprinkler systems; and how these compare with other water authorities.

In the current financial year 1979–80, the North-West and Northumbrian water authorities levy annual charges for the availability of supply to sprinkler systems as follows:

North West: From £5·50 to £1,793 according to size of connection, however these charges will be reduced from 1st April 1980.

Northumbrian: Different charges in three Divisions:

Wear: £12 per installation.

Tees: From £6 to £30 according to size of connection.

Northumberland-Tyne: £10 per inch diameter of connection.

The Anglian and Thames water authorities make annual charges, but these cover the costs of periodic inspection and similar activities and are not comparable with the charges made by the North West and Northumbrian authorities. They are, respectively, £3·50 per annum per 100 sprinkler heads and £2·18 per annum per 100 sq. ft. of protected floor area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further reduction in the charges for fire equipment water sprinkler systems are being considered by the North-West water authority; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Northwich (Mr. Good-lad) on 18 March.—[Vol. 981, c. 161–62.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department has had any recent representations about the need for legislation on leisure plots; and whether he regards this matter as still requiring legislation to regulate it.

I have received representations calling for both tightening and loosening of planning controls over leisure plots. Decisions made in enforcement appeals about leisure plots at Blackwater Estuary are at present being challenged in the High Court. I shall review the need for legislative change when the court has reached its decision.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue a circular to local authorities on the need to institute effective recycling schemes for waste paper, along the lines of the cardboard recycling project being undertaken by the Covent Garden Market Authority and the Thames Waste Paper Group.

The Government are pleased to note the arrangements made between the Covent Garden Market Authority and the Thames Waste Paper Group for the reclaiming of packaging materials from market refuse. Such arrangements are not uncommon, and the Government consider that no further advice is needed at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his analysis of the effect the industrial action being taken by the National and Local Government Officers Association will have on housing transfers.

It is for the local authorities concerned to assess the effect of such action.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will indicate whether the Royal Aircraft Establishments, Farnborough, Bedford and Cardington are subject to Government economies; what savings have been imposed; and what form they are likely to take.

The Royal Aircraft Establishment, like other establishments of the Ministry of Defence, is subject to the Government's drive for greater efficiency and economy in the public service. Its roles and functions are being examined as part of a review of R & D establishments by a steering group under the chairmanship of my noble Friend the Minister of State for Defence. A reduction in manpower at the establishment and its outstations will also be required in the context of the reductions in Civil Service staff announced in the House on 6 December 1979—[Vol. 975, c. 627]—and on 14 March 1980—[Vol. 980, c. 748.] The implications of these reductions have yet to be worked out in detail for individual establishments. Meanwhile, however, restrictions on recruitment have been introduced.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if any contracts have yet been agreed or any work commenced to provide for the basing of cruise missiles in the United Kingdom.

No decision has yet been reached on the basing of cruise missiles. No contracts have therefore been let or work services commenced.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is intended that the next generation of United Kingdom main battle tank will be of British design and manufacture.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ruislip-Northwood (Mr. Wilkinson) on 15 February 1980.—[Vol. 978, c. 821.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost to Her Majesty's Government of maintaining the British forces in Northern Ireland over the past five years to the latest available date.

The estimated extra costs of military operations in Northern Ireland since 1975 are as follows:

1975–76	£60 million
1976–77	£65 million
1977–78	£69 million
1978–79	£81 million
1979–80	£96 million

The figures are based on the January forecast of outturn for each year.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimate to Her Majesty's Government for maintaining British forces in Northern Ireland in the next financial year.

It is estimated that Northern Ireland extra costs in 1980–81 will be about £100 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if his Department has made any plans for a gradual withdrawal of British troops from Northern Ireland in the long term; and if he will make a statement;(2) what is the total number of troops of Her Majesty's forces currently in Northern Ireland.(3) if there are any plans for a reduction in Her Majesty's forces in Northern Ireland or their gradual withdrawal to barracks in the immediate future.

Twelve major units of the British Army, together with a wide range of supporting elements, and small numbers of Royal Navy and Royal Air Force personnel, are currently deployed in Northern Ireland. There are also 11 UDR battalions, making in all nearly 20,000 members of Her Majesty's Forces. The forces deployed now and in future depend on a number of factors, including the level and type of violence and the increasing capability of the RUC. These are kept under close review and it would not be helpful to discuss future plans, which can anyway change at short notice.Subject to these considerations, it remains our intention to lower the regular Army force level in Northern Ireland and return soldiers to their main NATO role. Thus, one "roulement" unit was not replaced earlier this year. Further changes will be made only when we are satisfied that they will allow the fight against terrorism to continue unabated.In the longer term, and subject to all these considerations, I look forward to the time when it will be possible to withdraw more regular units from the Province and for those that remain to return to their normal role and training.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current daily rate of flying pay for each rank in the Royal Air Force.

Rates of flying pay in the Royal Air Force are dependent upon both rank and aircrew category. The current daily rate of flying pay for each rank and aircrew category is given in the following table.

	Daily Rate
Flying Pay	wef 1 April 1979
	£
(i) Officer aircrew except specialist aircrew and Air Loadmaster
Acting Pilot Officer	3·17
Pilot Officer	3·17
Flying Officer	3·47
Flying Officer after 2 years	3·78
Flight Lieutenant	4·00
Squadron Leader	4·00
Wing Commander	3·78
Group Captain	2·77
Air Commodore	2·15
(ii) Air Loadmaster	2·46
(iii) NCO aircrew
(a) Pilots and Navigators
Sergeant	1·98
Flight Sergeant	2·46
Master Aircrew	2·77
(b) Air Electronic Operators, Air Engineers(A) Air Signallers
Sergeant	1·68
Flight Sergeant	1·98
Master Aircrew	2·46
(c) Air Loadmasters
Sergeant	1·03
Flight Sergeant	1·39
Master Aircrew	1·68